The Opportunity to Learn
The opportunity to learn had arrived, which was a good thing. But wasn’t this far too sudden? For now, I silently drew out Leihagen. Ivelin whistled at the sight.
“Whew. I did tell you to take it out, but my eyes keep going to those gloves instead of the greatsword. You said it was unique equipment, right? What exactly does it do?”
“It lets me register up to five weapons for storage in a pocket dimension, applies their possession and equip effects at all times, and adds beginner-level corrections when using registered weapons…”
It wasn’t like a new trait such as Beginner Greatsword Technique had appeared in my status window. Since I hadn’t even had time to swing it around yet, I couldn’t really feel the difference. Scratching my cheek, I said, “Beginner-level corrections, huh. I still can’t feel it.”
“In times like that, the important thing is to just swing it and move your body. Even if you just try swinging that one-handed sword called Barak right now, you’ll definitely notice a difference compared to when you weren’t wearing the gloves.”
Ivelin answered matter-of-factly, saying that items, including equipment, were honest. “Let’s start by swinging the greatsword. I guess we should call this an oversized greatsword or a giant blade. It’s a sword with a very clear purpose.”
If she was telling me to swing it, then surely… “You haven’t forgotten the two weeks of training, have you? I’ll adjust to your level, so tell me what your stats are roughly at right now.”
I wanted to ask if she couldn’t just give me feedback on my movements or teach me know-how about greatswords instead, but I soon pushed aside my weak thoughts and told her that with my physical reinforcement active, all my stats were around D-rank, with only Agility at C-.
When I finished speaking, Ivelin’s expression turned surprised. “You already have C-rank stats against people? Did you pick up some incredible elixir or something? Your growth is way too fast… As expected of an apostle candidate.”
Well, I did absorb traits from Isaac, but it wasn’t anything like that. “Anyway, this time we’ll start by matching everything to around C-rank. Got it?”
Not D-rank? “Wouldn’t it be better to match it to D-rank if I’m going to swing a sword?”
“Don’t say such weak things! Since it’s a defense-specialized weapon anyway, it’d be better to assume you’re facing a stronger opponent than your own rank. Are you saying you won’t fight if your opponent is C-rank or B-rank?”
‘Yeah. Even if an opponent so strong that I can’t possibly win appears, as long as I’m not alone anymore… I’ll have to struggle at least.’ Since she said she’d match it to a level where I could still put up a fight, I had no choice but to obey. I nodded and took my stance. Seeing that, Ivelin leaped backward to create distance.
“I’m going to start now, so treat this like a real fight.”
With a serious expression, Ivelin traced her hand through the air and pulled out an ironwood sword in the form of a two-handed blade. “Alright, stay sharp and try to hold out!”
—Fast! Thud!
“Kuh!”
My right hand gripping the hilt went up. My left hand supporting it without collapsing pressed against the center of the blade. I tried to absorb the impact with the flat of the sword as if raising a shield. No, I tried to. I managed to withstand the attack, but that was all. The moment I thought I’d blocked it, my feet, which had been firmly planted on the ground, unconsciously scraped against the earth and were pushed back. Then, unable to fully dissipate the remaining shock, I involuntarily coughed out the air from my lungs.
“Adventurers with average stats around C-rank and above each have their own specialized traits and techniques, you know?”
Thud! Scrape.
“Kuh.”
It was just a simple downward strike, yet it was endlessly heavy. “Among them, quite a few adventurers can produce destructive power beyond their own skill level.”
Clang! Thud! Boom!
I kept getting pushed back. Thanks to the sword’s ability, I could somehow block, but that was all. I couldn’t seize any initiative. Ivelin shouted, “Don’t just rely on the sword’s traits—try to make use of them! Are you going to just defend? Are you a shield-bearing vanguard?”
Bang! Boom!!!
“Hah, hah…”
…After continuously taking hits, I was starting to get a feel for it. Blindly trusting only in the sword’s ability and thinking only of blocking with the blade, standing there in a defensive posture and trying to endure the incoming attacks—that was truly foolish. After all, I could see every attack glowing red, showing exactly where and how it would swing. So what should I do?
‘What I need to do now isn’t just blocking. Every time a sword strike comes, I have to adjust my posture to receive it along its trajectory!’
I had to receive it at the perfect moment, thrust my sword forward first to break the attacker’s rhythm, deflect and redirect, and even find openings to counter. “Ho, your eyes are finally looking decent. Here I come!”
Ivelin swung her sword with delight. Clang! Clang! Once I focused and paid attention, even the sound of blocking felt different. From below upward. Clang! When the attack was deflected, she followed up with another continuous strike as if pleased. A downward slash like a guillotine coming down. A sharp diagonal cut that seemed ready to cleave my torso in one go. Even a thrust where she spun half a turn and gathered power at the tip.
“Haaaaa!”
Thud! Clang. Clang—!
After blocking the flurry and deflecting it at an angle, before the thrusting tip could even reach me, I thrust my greatsword forward first toward the point of contact. “Hup!”
A momentary opening. Without thinking about what came next, I swung the sword gripped firmly in both hands. Whoosh!
‘Damn it. That was supposed to be my decisive strike.’
Because she dodged it lightly, my attack went to waste. Seeing my broken posture, she continued her lesson. “Don’t let the weapon swing you—swing the weapon yourself! Whether it’s a greatsword or a one-handed sword, think of every blade as an extension of your arm and strike calmly!”
Right. I’d seen it somewhere before. Greatswords looked slow on the outside, but they were weapons that could be swung quickly by utilizing centrifugal force through rotational power. ‘Of course, there’s a big difference between modern two-handed swords and this bizarrely wide greatsword I’m swinging now. But.’ The difference in muscle strength was just as large.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Clang!
Stepping forward powerfully, I focused on horizontal slashes that carved through space while advancing. “Haha! Most people think greatswords are all about power, just repeatedly crushing with weight or slamming vertically. But you’re different, aren’t you?”
Praise came, but I had no time to respond. Flash. Ivelin’s red eyes gleamed. “You’ve roughly figured out what to do. Let’s finish this.”
“Kuh!”
Shing.
“Hah, hah.”
What was that? It was clearly a speed I should have been able to see and dodge, yet that last move was on a completely different level of movement. The sword tip moved so fluidly that even in a world slowed to a crawl, I couldn’t react, and before I knew it, it had stopped just barely touching my neck.
If Storm Sword Technique was about forcibly twisting an attack to change its trajectory, this was… I didn’t know. What was certain was that it was far beyond my current level. After retrieving her sword, she spoke to me. “There really is a correction. For a complete beginner who’s never used a greatsword before to maintain balance and apply movements to this degree—it would be difficult without the correction, unless they were one of those rare geniuses.”
“Hah, hah… Whew… I’m out of breath. Is that so? It did feel like the movements that came to mind were a bit easier to execute as I intended.”
“Good. Catch your breath for a moment. Let’s continue. You didn’t think that was the end, did you?”
Right, right. How much had I even swung it? Of course this wasn’t the end. “Hoo. Let’s go again.”
***
After that, I swung my sword like mad and received all sorts of advice and corrections. By the time the sun began to set, I collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion and finished training. After resting briefly in that state, Ivelin asked me to recount my first labyrinth expedition in a more vivid way…
As we chatted amicably, she grew fiercely angry upon hearing about the human hunter attack. She clicked her tongue and called Isaac a pathetic fool. After hearing everything about how things unfolded after the floor guardian appeared, she patted my back and ruffled my hair, saying I’d done well. Eventually, the conversation somehow turned to the complaints and worries Yeriel had shown after our return.
“Yeriel… said something like that?”
Ivelin rubbed her face dry. Then she let out a soft sigh. “Actually, as her older sister, I wanted to give her only the best and most special things. I wanted her to never face dangerous situations at all. But…”
Ivelin paused for a moment. “I worried that if I overprotected her too much, even the hardships she’d need to overcome with her own strength might disappear.”
She continued, “You know this too. Relying only on equipment and supplies and recklessly climbing floors without effort will eventually ruin yourself. Even a little thought makes that obvious, doesn’t it?”
I understood. In the worst case, if I equipped her with high-grade gear and stuffed her backpack full of rare magical tools or high-level magic scrolls every time she entered the labyrinth, when she faced strong monsters or hostile adventurers, would she try to fight with her own traits and skills? Or would she just pull out a scroll from her bag and try to win easily? Of course, even I would choose the latter.
“So in the end, all I gave her was some decent priestess equipment and a bit of spare funds…”
Ivelin’s voice hardened as if she’d made a decision. “I must have been too indecisive just because she’s my one and only little sister.”
She tightly closed her eyes and nodded. “Even now, my belief hasn’t changed that if she wants to live as an adventurer rather than just a priestess of the Holy Church, she needs to face a certain level of danger. However…”
However? “If that’s what she said, then I need to at least provide her with a foundation so she can keep following you without falling into despair.”
Ivelin’s red eyes burned fiercely. …Had I said something unnecessary? ‘No. She was so motivated yesterday, saying she’d work hard. This is an opportunity for Yeriel too. An opportunity that others would want but can’t have.’ This was basically a party member strengthening event.
“From tomorrow until you enter the labyrinth, tell her to come to me first.”
Holy laws? Faith? Those were important, but she said she had things to teach her first, so send her to her instead of the cathedral. “Understood. Then—”
Before I could finish, Ivelin looked at my expression and flicked my nose. “It already hurts my heart to think about making Yeriel work hard, but… don’t worry. You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”
“Of course! I’m sure Master will handle it well.”
I nodded and answered. She’d do fine. No need to worry. “Then, since I need to have a serious talk with Yeriel tomorrow… Hmm, will you come in a few days? The labyrinth still has quite a while before it opens.”
“Understood. Then I’ll tell Yeriel that Master wants to see her tomorrow, and I’ll come in a few days.”
“Good, good. Make sure you do, alright?”
Moving my aching body, I said goodbye to Ivelin and left the building. I’d finished the most important thing I needed to do during this return. Now I could handle other matters with a lighter heart. ‘For example, the spirit contract from the Whisper of Wind trait I obtained by killing Isaac. Or maybe—’
—Contract with a lesser wind spirit possible. Upon successful contract, the spirit will grow according to the user’s level.
‘Rotten definitely said that if the three of us safely completed this labyrinth expedition and returned, he’d teach us a useful technique, right?’
Given how he cherished Lumia like a granddaughter, it was unlikely he’d said it casually. I should bring it up subtly when I return to the inn today or when I see him tomorrow morning. ‘Of course, rather than me bringing it up first and making things awkward by mentioning promises and such, it would be better if he remembered on his own and enthusiastically offered to teach…’
I didn’t know. For now, let’s go. I needed to wash up and eat with the two of them. Yawning from the sudden wave of fatigue, I left the knight order building behind. Looking up at the sky where the sun was gradually setting, I headed toward the carriage station.
***
“Back in my adventuring days, the title people called me by was Extreme Point. ‘Rotten of the Extreme Point’—that was the name I proved as an adventurer in this city, in the Great Labyrinth.”
Rotten said this and laughed heartily. “Of course… now I’m just an old man forgotten in the back room, unable to reach the deeper layers.”
He looked at me with sharp eyes that belied his age. “One Point Concentration. I’ll pass on to you one of the roots that made me who I am today.”