Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Choices for Advancement (5)
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It might have been blocked if it had been an ordinary Overhead Slash. If he hadn't had Jensen's memories, if he'd only had Lucas's...
But it was Jensen's Overhead Slash.
At least to Ban's senses, it was an Overhead Slash with no discernible flaws.
The blade traced a perfect vertical line, so flawless that it felt no air resistance whatsoever, not even giving Oben the split second needed to react. In the darkness, a flash of sword light streaked like lightning, and in the next instant, all that approached was the metallic tang of blood.
"...Ha... ha..."
Oben parted his lips as if to say something. But Ban's shortsword had already sliced through to his lungs. Oben glanced down at his chest with labored effort, then exhaled his final breath mingled with bloody foam.
That was his last moment.
Ban kicked Oben's body to pull his sword free. There was no time to bask in the afterglow of his first kill. He headed straight for Dolbi.
"You okay?"
"...I'm... fine, huuuh... now."
"Hang on a sec, you idiot. Is this what you call applying pressure?"
Ban sliced the hem of his pants with his sword to make bandages. He wrapped Dolbi's abdomen as best he could, and Dolbi's complexion improved slightly from moments before.
"I'm good... Go."
Dolbi muttered. Ban chuckled and replied.
"Don't talk like you're about to die. A stab to the gut doesn't kill you that easily. Looks like it missed your vitals too. You're bleeding a bit and making a huge fuss, you big baby."
"You're always like this... even when your friend's... hurt...!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down. You'll really croak at this rate."
His words were light, but Dolbi needed treatment. Not just medicine to prevent infection, but a proper physician in a clean place.
But for now...
'Master Urong... well, he doesn't seem to need worrying about. Same for Gintnel. The Captain's in the thick of it... and the Vice Commander.'
God seemed to be struggling hard. Fortunately, he didn't appear to have any major wounds yet, but the scratches covering his body gave the impression he was barely holding on.
Truth be told, Urong and Gintnel's fights were on a scale where Ban couldn't help. Every swing of sword or fist toppled trees and sent rocks flying like pebbles—could his sword even make a dent if he jumped in?
'Help who I can first.'
Ban charged toward God. His body was exhausted, his heart pounding like it might burst any second.
But it wasn't so bad.
§
"Any last words before you go?"
Urong's voice echoed coldly.
It had been a brutal fight. Dolbi was wounded in the gut, God had lost his left eye. Everyone bore large and small sword cuts, their bodies drenched in blood.
But it was fine. The battle had ended in their victory. Sonad laughed self-mockingly. His limbs had already been torn off like a beast's chew toy. No chance for counterattack.
"U... rong. Are you proud... of this kingdom?"
"Not proud, but I don't hate it either. No intention of stirring up trouble like you."
"You know nothing. You..."
"Ah, whatever. That all for last words?"
"......For the Revolutionary Corps."
"Farewell."
Gintnel's sword pierced Iseo's heart. That was the end. Urong let out a weary sigh. The abdominal wounds that had seemed to be healing had reopened, blood flowing anew.
"I'll treat you."
"Hm? Oh, right. You're a pharmacist, yeah."
"Not quite to the level of calling myself one, but..."
"Appreciate it."
Ban unwrapped Urong's bandages and applied the ground herbs directly. Urong grinned at him.
"Good work. I thought I'd finish quick and help the others, but it turned out the opposite."
"...I couldn't even provide worthwhile help."
"Just having you watching their backs with your sword was a huge help. Thanks to you, that Sonad bastard's range got way smaller."
In that sense, it wouldn't be wrong to say Ban had the biggest contribution in this battle. Right after finishing Oben, he'd stabbed a rebel in the back that God was fighting, tipping the scales fully in their favor.
"If it'd been six instead of five... might've been tough."
"Could be. Battles always turn on the smallest margins. ...First real combat, right?"
"Yeah."
"Impressive debut. Can't wait to see what you do next."
Urong clapped Ban on the shoulder. Ban tightened Urong's bandages and said.
"Be careful it doesn't come loose. The salve I applied only stops bleeding and disinfects. It'll take at least a week for the flesh to knit even roughly."
"Got it."
Urong grinned. As Ban turned to leave.
That sword... haven't seen it before. Loot?"
"Oh, yeah."
Ban touched the sword slung on his back. It was a long longsword.
"I like it. This one."
§
[You have gripped the bloodied longsword of 'The Swordsman Exploring Qi'.]
Material: Steel
Quality: Standard
Owner: Oben (2-Star)
Memory Retention: Low
Note: A well-balanced longsword. Made of finely tempered steel, it won't break easily.
'Not 3-Star, huh. Odd.'
On the final leg of the journey. Astride his horse, Ban stroked the longsword he'd taken from Oben.
He'd thought that 'Qi' Oben mentioned was the requirement for 3-Star, but apparently not. Or maybe he couldn't fully wield Qi yet, stuck at 2-Star. Given how rarely he used that thrust, it wouldn't be strange.
'Wish those knights had used swords too.'
But the ones Aidan and God fought were all 2-Stars like Oben, and Gintnel's opponent used a staff. Sonad, Urong's foe... had his sword-like limb shattered too.
Still, salvaging one blade wasn't bad. With that thought, Ban glanced sideways. Dolbi, mounted on his horse, looked a bit pale.
"You good?"
"...Just queasy."
"Can't be helped riding with a wound. Hang in there a bit."
"Will do."
"Heh, so how's it feel? Gonna live it up as Yuri's farm lord?"
"Why, jealous? You could just come to the farm too."
"Maybe when I'm older. Not now."
"......You just called me an old fogey, didn't you?"
"Think what you want. Not entirely wrong."
Dolbi sighed as Ban smirked. Dealing with that guy might worsen his healing wound.
"Oh yeah, Captain."
"What is it."
"......Do you know what Qi is, by any chance?"
"Hard not to."
Aidan nodded calmly. Ban asked again, voice excited.
"Can you use it? What even is it? That guy we fought got ridiculously fast every time he used that Qi or whatever..."
"If all it did was speed him up, he wasn't using proper Qi. Done right, it'd make him faster, stronger, sharper, heavier too. Even if you two handled it well, it'd have been rough."
"......Like Master Urong swinging trees around?"
"A bit different... but similar. Why? Want to learn?"
"Of course! Can I?"
"No. Qi isn't learned. It's cultivated."
"......What's the difference?"
Aidan smiled faintly and changed the subject.
"Eyes front. We're almost there."
The walls of the Cho Clan estate loomed before them.
§
The Cho Clan territory was an exotic place. Partly because it was Ban's first time in an eastern village, but the qi-tile roofs and people in flowing robes truly made it feel different.
"......First time outside the village for me."
"Same."
"Country bumpkins, quiet down. You're embarrassing me."
God grumbled at the awestruck Dolbi and Ban. But even he was gawking at the Cho Clan grounds.
"You're definitely eastern, huh. Everyone looks like you."
Dolbi said to Ban. The single eyelids, the straight black hair— all similar to him.
He half-worried they'd head straight to the patriarch's office, but luckily not. They unpacked in a lavish room beyond their wildest dreams.
No one sought them except maids. It wasn't boring. Urong kept nagging, 'Think hard about what wish to make.' So they were all busy pondering the wisest wish.
When it got a bit dull, Ban would pick up 'Oben's' sword and swing it. Learning swordsmanship from the man he'd killed felt off, but good technique was good technique.
[Your current swordsmanship level is 2-Star. Memory synchronization set to 'High'.]
[Training required!]
'That thrust from before...'
Even mimicking the exact motions, he felt no Qi. Maybe he needed deeper understanding of Oben's swordsmanship first.
The answer lay only in training. Ban's clothes soaked with sweat multiple times a day, needing constant washing. Even the servants at the Cho Clan's training grounds whispered and glanced at him.
Then, at last.
The Cho Clan patriarch summoned them.