Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Newbie Adventurer Bern (16) - Rising Star
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Whoosh!
The uneven bushes sprouting around them were sliced away by Blanca's swinging sword.
Bern, who had been carefully observing her stance and the sword's trajectory, asked a question.
"Have you ever trained formally in swordsmanship?"
"I didn't have a proper teacher or anything. Just got some basic pointers from a former party member. Does it look off to you?"
"No, it's better than I expected."
By Bern's standards, he couldn't call it high-level even as a compliment.
But it didn't have any particularly bad habits or flashy, unnecessary flourishes either.
It was solidly at a foundational level—just the basics done right—so while it lacked flair, that also made it easy to build on.
Bern had been prepared to overhaul it from the ground up if needed, but this foundation would allow for straightforward progression.
"Whoever taught you must've been a pretty good instructor."
"...Yeah, one of the two warriors you beat down. The one with the bushy beard. He was the quiet, stubborn type at first, but after I saved his life with healing magic during a pinch, he warmed up to me. He said he specialized in blunt weapons and wasn't great with swords, but he taught me diligently anyway."
"Hm? Oh."
Bern recalled the warrior from Karina's party who had clearly been reluctant to fight him.
No wonder the guy couldn't quite meet Blanca's eyes. So that's what it was.
"Well, damn. So you're his lifesaver, and he just watched you leave the party?"
Renya, standing nearby, sighed in dismay, but Blanca just gave a wry smile without any real anger.
"His family has a lot of mouths to feed. He probably couldn't keep dragging around a party member who was just holding them back."
"Ahh, ma'am. Your heart is as vast as the great sea itself!"
Blanca simply shook her head at Renya's exaggerated praise, showing no big reaction. She'd finally learned that responding to every bit of it was more exhausting.
"So, what exactly does this training involve? Should I hold back on fire magic and focus mainly on body enhancement and swordplay?"
"No, no need to discard your firepower and control when you've got both in spades. What I'm asking from you, Blanca, is this."
With that, Bern stepped closer to her.
Just two strides, close enough that their bodies would touch.
"This distance. From this range where you can strike an enemy with your sword at any moment, you need to hit them with spells. While swinging your sword in combat, of course."
Blanca paused to visualize the scene in her head.
Then she asked dubiously,
"Is that even possible? I might manage to land the magic somehow, but..."
"You'll probably catch some of the backlash yourself. That's why you'll stick to low-tier spells as your mainstay. Even if you spam them, it'll just be a bit of skin-warming heat."
"......"
"But if things get dire, you'll fire off mid-tier spells anyway, even accounting for getting caught in it."
She'd have to embrace getting swept up in her own attacks to keep enemies close.
Despite how ruthless—even barbaric—it sounded coming from Bern, Blanca didn't get mad.
Anyone else, maybe, but she trusted Bern wouldn't demand this without reason.
"Can you tell me why?"
"First reason: to get you used to casting attack spells, healing spells, and enhancement spells simultaneously. Right now, you finish one spell before switching to another, which kills your natural advantages."
It was like telling a painter not to use just their dominant hand but to coordinate with the other hand and foot for better efficiency.
But Bern's expression said, 'This much is obvious for you, right?' leaving Blanca unable to retort that it was nonsense.
"'First' reason means there's more?"
"If this range feels awkward for you, it'll be even more so for a pure mage."
"Ah."
It was such an obvious point that Blanca blinked in realization.
There were exceptions, but mages were fundamentally ranged damage dealers.
They could unleash powerful, wide-area destruction, but only by keeping distance to avoid getting caught in their own blasts.
That was why solo warrior adventurers were rare-ish, but solo mages were virtually nonexistent.
To reliably project firepower, they needed tanky allies to block enemy approaches.
"Our goal is taking down that lich. So growing in a way that counters the lich is the right path."
A low-rank like Blanca had slim odds of winning a standard mage duel against a lich.
So Bern said to use a non-standard approach.
It wasn't wrong, but telling a mage to swing a sword at a lich while spamming self-damage attacks wasn't easy to swallow either.
"It's fine, Blanca. You can definitely pull this off."
As he spoke, Bern gave her a trusting smile.
Blanca looked like she had a ton to say, but seeing his smile, she just nodded blankly.
[Sigh, how'd she end up tangled with a guy like this.]
The demon in the shadows gazed at Blanca with pitying eyes, but no human knew.
"B-Bro. So what training do I have to do?"
Renya, whose complexion was a shade paler than usual, asked with uncharacteristic unease.
He seemed scared of getting some absurd training regimen like Blanca's.
"You first need to learn mana manipulation, specialized toward detection rather than body enhancement."
"Th-That's it? Nothing like charging enemies with a blade or whatever?"
"A scout's job is recon without getting spotted. Combat ability is nice but low priority. Of course, if you want to get stronger, we can train that too—"
"No, no! I'll stick strictly to supporting you two! Focusing on our roles is the ideal party dynamic, right?!"
"—Hm. Good attitude."
Bern was satisfied, Renya relieved to survive, and Blanca glum that she couldn't weasel out the same way.
And so began days that were deeply rewarding for some... and utterly grueling for others.
"Blanca, hand and foot positioning are crucial in swordsmanship. To swing down again after a downward strike, you first have to raise the sword. But magic isn't like that. Once it's generated in your palm, you can freely choose direction and timing. No need to show your palm to the enemy every time."
"Blanca, a skilled swordsman can slice or bat away incoming spells. They can block an enemy's swing too. But they only have one sword. So if you swing to bait their guard and slip an attack spell through the gap, they'll be in a real bind. Same if you reverse the order of sword and spell."
"Blanca, keep your field of vision wide. Just because you're crossing blades up close doesn't mean you can ignore enemy groups at a distance. Pin down a tough foe with your sword while blasting mid-tier spells at far-off enemies, and you handle tank and DPS at once. Best part? You avoid your own blasts, and it makes the close enemy anxious, opening gaps."
"Blanca, you okay? Good. Don't worry—even if you mess up, that's why it's training. You can try again. As long as I'm here, nothing truly fatal will happen. Relax and go bold. Alright, let's run it again?"
Lately, among the adventurers at the eastern branch, one party's tales were constantly buzzing.
"Heard about Blanca's party? They cleared the Gruatang cleanup quest in just one day."
"What? Gruatang takes three Rank 3 parties a full four days. One day? No way—they probably skimped and bailed."
"Nah, they brought back so many monster parts the auction house and wholesalers freaked out. Top quality too, except some scorch marks."
"You hear about those newbies and the receptionist? Lizardman tribe over 50 strong was snatching travelers for food—a real headache. Three of 'em just stormed in and slaughtered the lot!"
"Weren't they hunting kobolds just three days ago? Already off to lizards? When do they even rest?"
"Don't ask—they bought and learned a scroll that converts mana to stamina. Barely sleeping since, just massacring monsters nonstop!"
"Tch, everyone's yapping about those guys. Same adventurers as us—what's the big deal?"
"Hey, trash-talk all you want behind their backs, but don't pick a fight. Some drunk idiot tried starting shit, and they kept beating him with sheaths, healing with magic, then beating again—till he was sobbing apologies. Gave me chills just watching."
"Heh, redhead beats, bluehead heals? They got killer rhythm!"
"Nah, bluehead was beating and healing. And stone-faced the whole time, like a craftsman tanning leather. No anger at all."
"......I said nothing."
"Man, the jerks who laughed when they first formed up saying they'd flop soon? All eating crow now."
"Talking smack against guys who let one member trash a whole Rank 3 party? That's not pride—that's an IQ issue."
"Oh yeah—whatever happened to Karina's crew? They grinding their teeth for revenge?"
"Nah, dead quiet since. Smart move, honestly."
"Notice the receptionists smiling ear-to-ear lately? Bern's party swept all those risky, low-pay quests everyone avoided."
"Their quest clear rate's like three to five times normal. Even low rewards add up huge."
"And they're the only three-man Rank 3 party when five-to-six is standard? Per person, even more."
"Tch. Think they'll recruit? Honestly, I'd be better than that bell-boy tagging along."
"Some guys already tried begging in. Entry test? Tag with the bell-boy."
"O? Results?"
"He was right in front—not even hiding—and they flailed for ten minutes straight. All failed. What'd you expect from someone who hangs with those two?"
"Fuck, nothing goes right."
"Hey, hey. You hear?"
"What?"
"Bern, Blanca, and that Renya tagalong. Word is they're promoting to Rank 4 soon."
"Damn, didn't Bern just start adventuring a month ago? Insane pace."
"Guy's that good, not even jealous. Weird."
"A true rising star."