Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Facing the Sword Emperor
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Whispers filled the Vallan family training grounds.
"How long has it been since we last saw the Captain wielding a sword...?"
"About a year, right? He used to occasionally spar with Lady Lilliana, but after mastering Aura Blade, even that stopped."
"Can't miss a chance like this."
"But who's the opponent?"
The knights waiting eagerly on one side of the training ground gazed at Woojin with curiosity.
"I heard he's some outsider who came with the young master..."
"Young Master Karlan?"
"Yeah. Apparently, he's the young master's swordsmanship instructor?"
"Pfft!"
The knight who burst out laughing clapped a hand over his mouth in surprise.
"Swordsmanship instructor...? For the Captain...?"
"That's why the Captain's checking him out—probably suspects he's a con artist."
"Ah."
The knights' stares burned hot.
'They're dying to know if he's a fraud or not.'
Woojin gave a wry smile under their scrutiny.
"Will you use a real sword?"
"No. I'll use this one. It's just more comfortable in my hand."
Woojin held up his sword.
[Raoul's Dragon Slayer Sword] looked like nothing more than a plain, crude iron blade, even to a sword master.
"Very well."
Since it was a real sword, there was no risk of accidental injury against this opponent. Woojin felt a thrill at the thought of swinging freely.
"Then I'll use this."
The Sword Emperor picked up a wooden training sword.
Aura Blade
Fierce aura engulfs the blade
Roaring flames of aura wrapped the blade.
'Different from Raoul's.'
The Sword Emperor's aura flickered like flames on the verge of exploding.
"I'll give you three chances. Show me skill worth respecting, and I'll grant your request."
Whoosh.
He raised his sword.
"If needed, I'll even teach you my swordsmanship."
The grounds buzzed.
It wasn't mere instruction—he was offering to pass down his own art.
"O steel—"
"O steel—"
⟨ Concentration Enchant ⟩
Aswell chanted the incantation.
Not that he was a magic swordsman.
It was a suggestion spell. Official info said it boosted focus and precision dramatically.
'Chanting even in a spar...'
BOOM!!!
He was dead serious.
"...!!"
The distance closed in an instant.
Too late to dodge.
Instead, Woojin dove into the Sword Emperor's guard.
The Sword Emperor's eyes flickered.
'Bold.'
WHOOSH!!!
A mere swing of the wooden sword created a sound like uprooting and swinging a massive tree.
BANG!!!
The wind pressure alone shattered Woojin's barrier.
"Urk?!"
Unable to withstand the force, his body flew backward.
"...!!"
In that instant, Aswell bent like a bow and accelerated forward again.
Faster than Woojin tumbling away.
Now behind him, Aswell leveled his wooden sword at Woojin's throat.
"One."
The bout ended in a flash.
"Twenty seconds."
"......"
His clothes were soaked with sweat.
It felt like twenty seconds had stretched into twenty minutes from the intense focus.
"Interesting spells. Magic swordsman? Might be useful in real combat, but... your fundamentals are lacking."
Woojin smirked at his words.
Clearly holding something back.
"I'll work harder."
Woojin rose.
"Hup—."
He inhaled deeply, then thrust at Aswell.
Bolton Secret Technique, Form 1 - Wind Wave
KRAKABOOM!!!
Sword strikes like crashing waves enveloped him.
Aswell's eyes changed.
Swish swish swish!
Incredibly, he deflected every incoming blade from Woojin.
His form blurred with afterimages.
"...!!!"
Pain lashed his body before he could even aim, forcing a gasp from Woojin.
"Ten seconds."
His body throbbed too much to hear the words.
Mind-numbing agony.
"...Damn."
This was the harshest beating since Raoul's training.
Staggering up, Woojin regripped his sword.
"Nothing special."
"Just some adventurer trash after all..."
The knights snickered at Woojin sprawled out.
"That sword art... Are you perhaps of the Bolton line?"
Unlike them, Aswell, who had seen it, asked with a grave expression.
A true Sword Emperor.
He recognized it instantly.
"No. I just helped with the Bolton family's issue and learned it."
"The Bolton family's issue...? Don't tell me..."
Shock filled Aswell's face.
"You're the one who conquered the Black Mist."
"Yes."
Whispers erupted again around them.
"An adventurer who unveiled an uncharted zone... Impressive. To witness the lost Sea King House's sword art again."
His eyes now gleamed with curiosity.
"Your attainment in the art?"
"My talent is poor—barely Form 1."
"Impossible."
Aswell looked baffled.
"I thought you'd grasped more...?"
Woojin shook his head.
His stats were enough for the next stage, sure.
But sword arts didn't learn themselves.
"I'll take that as praise."
"Hmm..."
Aswell nodded thoughtfully and raised his sword again.
Last chance.
"Stay calm now."
His encouraging tone made Woojin reassume his stance.
Clang!! Clang!!
Wood on steel rang sharply.
"Left side's open."
Aswell's sword targeted Woojin's flank.
"Urk!!!"
Unlike before, Woojin twisted to block.
But an upward sweep from below.
The impact flung his arms skyward.
"Haaah—!!!"
Clasping both hands on the hilt, Woojin slashed down.
WHOOOM!!!
A heavier whoosh than before.
The Sword Emperor easily sidestepped the straight overhead strike.
"Your sword's too honest. Didn't you say adventurer?"
Dodging sideways, he tripped Woojin's leg.
Thud!!
Back-first to the ground, breath caught in his throat.
Slash!!!
Even falling, Woojin swept at his thigh.
Crack!!
But he pinned the sword with his foot and struck down at Woojin.
Flames engulfed Aswell's body.
"...!!"
The watching knights' faces filled with shock. As Aswell retreated, Woojin reclaimed his pinned sword and launched himself forward.
"Haaaaah—!!"
Clang!! KRAKABOOM!!!
A flurry of strikes.
As he swung down, Woojin ducked low, targeting the thigh.
Scraaaape...!
Grazing the armor, he spun, driving the second strike home.
From side to rear, Woojin poured strength into his grip.
"Still slow."
Shedding the flames, Aswell faced the descending blade.
"...?!"
Then it happened.
Aswell's wooden sword slowed subtly as he parried.
Frost spread from the blade, encasing his upper body in an instant.
The tiniest distortion.
Crack!!
Aswell forcibly shattered his frozen body.
White ice dust rained down, and he grinned with delight.
"Clever idea, but... tricks like that are just gimmicks."
Swoosh!!!!
Fast.
Though Woojin struck first, Aswell's curving blade now threatened his throat.
What to do?
Thoughts cluttered his mind.
"Train until your body moves before you think."
Spotting the opening, Aswell struck.
Swoosh!! Clang!!!
Woojin whipped his sword to deflect the throat strike and retreated.
'Damn! My wrist's gonna snap!!'
His arm trembled violently, barely holding the sword. He grimaced.
Even hitting dragon scales hadn't shaken him like this...
Immense power.
He gritted his teeth.
Just once.
One success was enough.
"Haaaaah—!!!"
Woojin charged again.
"...Isn't this a bit weird?"
Woojin was dying against the Sword Emperor, but the knights watching had mixed reactions.
They'd thought it was to punish a fraud.
But they noticed Aswell's expression shift subtly as blades clashed.
'He looks... enjoying it.'
Longtime retainers knew it well.
'That look...'
'Like handling a disciple.'
'What's going on?'
They were baffled.
"Is that all the sword arts you know?"
Instead of answering, Woojin thrust.
Kraaang...!!
Sparks flew between blades.
He nearly buckled backward, but Woojin forced himself forward.
Retreating meant defeat.
"Haaaaah!!!"
Woojin stabbed with all his might.
Dragon Heaven, Gate 1 - Sever
"...!!"
Aswell's expression changed.
'Two styles...?'
KRAKAKABOOM!!!
Lightning burst from the blade, engulfing him.
A chill ran down his spine.
Aswell's face hardened.
"Hup...!!"
Unlike before, the living blade targeted vitals. Aswell hastily twisted his sword.
Thud!!!
His blade pierced Woojin's collarbone center.
"...Guh!!!"
The final blow was blocked.
Shock sent Woojin crashing down.
"...!!!"
The knights' eyes widened.
"Did you see that?"
"The Master used a sword art?"
"Unbelievable. He only uses basics even against vice-captains..."
"Why...?"
"Whose art was that?"
Ignoring the confused knights, Aswell gazed at the fallen Woojin.
"Hah, hah... Hah... It's... yours, Master."
Panting on the ground, Woojin answered hoarsely.
"Strange. You... from the future or something?"
An unexpected question.
"...Pardon?"
Aswell stared gravely at the flustered Woojin.