Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Guard Unit's Sword (2)
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To exaggerate a bit, it was an Overhead Slash that could make anyone fall in love.
Speed, power, stance, trajectory—there wasn't a single flaw to pick at. A perfect Overhead Slash.
It wasn't so fast that it vanished from sight. Nor was it a heavy blow infused with a giant's strength. But it was flawless. So, it wasn't all that surprising when Ban's wooden sword snapped Dolbi's in two.
". . . Huh?"
Dolbi stared down at his wooden sword with a dumbfounded expression. Wooden swords didn't break easily. If you clashed them that hard, you'd usually drop yours before it snapped.
He wasn't the only one feeling puzzled. Even Aidan had jumped to his feet to watch that moment.
'That Overhead Slash...'
Ban’s unexpected swordsmanship had stunned them all, but that last Overhead Slash was especially striking. Not just because it broke the wooden sword. Aidan recognized that trajectory... the perfect vertical line slicing straight down.
'Jensen's Overhead Slash? How in the world...'
Pondering could wait. Aidan raised his voice.
"Enough! That's sufficient, Ban."
Ban lowered the hand gripping his wooden sword. He glanced at Dolbi, who was too shocked to speak, and smirked.
"Did I win?"
Dolbi couldn't respond. It must have hit him hard—losing to someone who'd never even held a sword before. He just stared at his broken wooden sword.
"Woooah! Ban, you sneaky bastard!"
"How'd you train that much on your own?"
"I knew this guy had it in him. Told you, right?"
The guard unit members rushed over, cheering wildly. None of them had expected Ban to beat Dolbi. There was an insurmountable gap between someone who lived by combat and someone who didn't.
"That final Overhead Slash was killer! Damn, I couldn't pull that off even if you asked me to."
"How much have you been practicing alone?"
"Eh, well... a fair bit, I guess?"
"You cocky punk. Fine, we'll let it slide today. Hahaha, Dolbi, you idiot—why'd you have to show off like that and embarrass yourself?"
At their words, Dolbi flushed red and turned away. Ban watched him go with a faint smile.
Truth be told, he hadn't started out thinking he could beat Dolbi. All his experience came from Jensen, after all. Whether it'd hold up in a real fight was anyone's guess.
But the question had been answered.
Jensen's experience had become his own.
No—every sword he would ever hold from now on... the experiences of their previous owners were now his.
He could grow even stronger.
§
"Good work."
It was inside the captain's office. As Ban looked around the neatly organized room, Aidan spoke in a calm voice.
"That was better swordsmanship than I expected. It must have taken... quite a long time to hone."
"Yes. It did."
It wasn't entirely a lie. His own training time might be short, but Jensen's memories were anything but.
"You've worked hard."
Aidan had his doubts, but he didn't press further. If there was something to say, Ban would have spoken up first. All Aidan needed to know was two things: Was Ban a decent swordsman? And was he a decent man?
The first had been confirmed today. The second, over a lifetime of watching him.
Aidan opened his mouth.
"Our Yuri Guard Unit hasn't let a single villager die unjustly in the past ten years. No matter the bandits, beasts, or wraiths that come, any bloodshed ends with us. Do you know what that means?"
"Hmm... It means you're amazing. Honorable, too."
"Right. And now, you're one of that amazing, honorable guard unit."
Aidan placed a hand on Ban's shoulder.
"We always welcome skilled swordsmen. Start tomorrow. Any objections?"
"None."
"Good. Off you go. You probably have more to talk about with Jensen than me."
That was what Aidan said.
But contrary to his expectations—and everyone else's—Jensen took one look at Ban when he got home and spoke first.
"Passed, huh?"
". . . Yeah."
"Good work. Go rest."
Jensen acted like he already knew everything. Seeing that, Ban felt a sudden surge of emotion.
". . . Thank you, Master."
"Thanks my ass. Cut the cringey crap and get some sleep. Things'll get busy starting tomorrow."
"And... I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner."
Instead of replying, Jensen eyed Ban's hands. They were covered in fresh wounds with no time to heal lately. Just like his own hands once were. Jensen muttered,
"They say kids take after their parents."
". . . Huh?"
"Guess master and disciple do too. We're both equally stubborn."
Ban let out a groan at that. Come to think of it, Jensen had been a swordsman once. Should he ask about it?
'No, not today.'
Jensen hadn't pried into Ban's secrets either. Instead of questions, Ban made a promise.
"I'll become the world's strongest swordsman and make sure you live easy."
"Live easy? Just aim for the village's strongest first."
"Watch me. I will. Definitely!"
Yeah. Definitely.
§
"Hey, Ban. Heard you joined the guard unit?"
"Didn't Jensen beat the crap out of you?"
"Congrats anyway. Guess you're protecting us now? Heh, this is something..."
The villagers offered congratulations in their own ways. The village was big enough to warrant a proper guard unit, but small enough that everyone knew each other.
Ban walked tall, shoulders squared. Yeah. He was a guard unit member now. All that was left was to rise through the ranks. Hone his swordsmanship, enter the royal tournament later and win spectacularly... fight in the war against the rebels and sweep the enemy in one stroke.
And if he caught the king's eye and married a princess...
"Why're you grinning like a creep?"
"Ah, you scared me!"
It was Dolbi, glaring at him with a sour face. Ban patted his chest and said,
"What? Loser. Here to escort me?"
". . . Don't get cocky just 'cause you won once. I'll turn it around next time."
He looked seriously miffed. Fair enough—he'd been one-sidedly crushed by the Ban he'd always dismissed as a slacker.
"The captain sent me. To show you the ropes."
"Oh, got it. So, what'll my assignment be?"
"Newbies always get the gate. Once you build up some seniority, you can smack hoodlums around inside the village and skim some honey. But for the next few years? Forget it. You'll be holding a torch at the gate every day."
"Ooh, so I'll be searching merchants and stuff?"
"Did you hear a word I said? You'll just be wandering the walls with a torch."
"What if a wanted criminal shows up? Do I fight?"
". . . Forget it. What am I even saying to a delusional nut like you?"
Dolbi shook his head at Ban, lost in his fantasies. The kid's head was probably filled with heroic tales ending in a princess wedding.
"Let's grab your gear first. Can't be a guard without armor and a sword."
". . . Oh, right. I'll finally get a sword."
Ban’s eyes sparkled.
A sword. His very own sword at last. Dolbi smirked at him.
"Don't get your hopes up, man. It's just hand-me-downs from old-timers. New swords are for vice commanders or if you rack up a big achievement."
"Hand-me-downs are even better!"
". . . Better?"
Dolbi tilted his head, baffled. Ban just kept grinning instead of answering. Back then, he'd have dreamed of a shiny new one. But things were different now.
As soon as they entered the armory, Ban’s face lit up brighter than ever. He scanned the room. It was packed with weapons of every kind.
[ You have grasped the worn broad dao of a 'novice swordsman who has only trained in kingdom swordsmanship.' ]
[ You have grasped the hand-worn short tachi of an 'ordinary swordsman practicing quick-draw.' ]
[ You have grasped the honed longsword of a 'textbook swordsman with no strengths or weaknesses.' ]
To someone else, it might be an ordinary armory. To Ban, it was paradise.
He picked up one after another, beaming with joy.
'I knew joining the guard unit was the right call...!'
Time for some fun gacha.