Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Dragon Slayer
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"Come in."
Guardian Spirit Siegfried was absorbed into Berddin's body as if melting away.
A technique where the contractor opens the door of their heart, becoming one with their Guardian Spirit.
Descent
All adventurers on the continent called this moment the blessing of the gods.
For a Guardian Spirit with miraculous power had descended for the sake of a mere human.
'As expected.'
I gazed at the mirror placed in one corner of the training hall, a satisfied smile spreading across my face.
My eyes and hair had turned golden, and blood-red flame patterns climbed up both arms to my elbows.
This was a transformation only the chosen few could achieve.
It referred to those chosen by the gods.
Swooooosh-
The moment Siegfried entered Berddin's body, he felt an indescribably ecstatic energy.
'Is this Lightning?'
The first words he uttered after feeling 'Lightning' for the first time in his life were a sigh of profound admiration.
"Insane!"
It was just a tiny spark, enough to sense the flow of energy, but it was sufficient to move even him, who had walked the path of the Sword God for ages.
'Lightning' did not provoke the impulsiveness and rage that were the fatal flaws of Aura, nor did it bring the alien sensory state induced by Mana.
It granted only the explosive power of a volcano and the serene mind of a lake.
"Disciple! This is truly incredible!"
Siegfried's voice echoed in Berddin's mind.
"Is it?"
"Yes! If I had learned this 'Lightning' back in the day, I would've conquered the tower ages ago!"
Berddin wanted to say, 'I doubt it. You could never conquer the tower with swordsmanship alone,' but he held his tongue and nodded in agreement.
"I see."
It was a wise response.
Siegfried would grumble all day if anything even slightly negative was said about him.
"You don't plan on going to the tower, do you?"
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"I'm only five years old."
It was an answer that needed no further explanation.
Children of the Strange Family were forbidden from leaving the castle until they turned seven. It meant he couldn't go to the tower even if he wanted to.
Siegfried knew this too. He'd already nagged to go outside the castle a hundred times since becoming a Guardian Spirit.
"Who said go now?! Later. We go later. When you're bigger, right?"
"I'll think about it."
"You cheeky brat! When your master says go, you just go!"
"Got it, Master. Now, show your disciple some swordsmanship."
Bess would arrive at the training hall soon.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the training hall door. He knew who it was without them entering.
There was only one person in the castle with that kind of presence.
"Guardian Knight Captain Bess reporting."
"Come in."
As Berddin nodded, two Guardian Knights opened the door.
Bess was dressed in formal training attire.
The Strange Family crest, the 'Crossed Swords,' was prominently displayed on his chest.
"Are you prepared, Young Master Berddin?"
Bess scanned Berddin from head to toe. His appearance clearly showed he'd used a Guardian Spirit.
He clenched his fists tightly, then slowly walked to the center of the training hall.
"You've heard I'm using a Guardian Spirit?"
"Yes, that's why you requested me."
Berddin replied with a face full of amusement.
"Exactly. The other knights couldn't withstand the Sword God's techniques."
"True, but I'm not sure I can either."
"You'll be fine, Bess. And we'll use real swords, not wooden ones."
Bess stated firmly, his expression resolute.
"No. Real swords can take lives, unlike wooden ones. If I make a mistake and you get hurt..."
Berddin scratched his head with a look of disbelief.
A 7-star knight making a mistake in sparring? Impossible. If Berddin got hurt, it'd be deliberate.
His swordsmanship was so exceptional that even Family Head Roys acknowledged it, granting him the position of Guardian Knight Captain.
In short, Bess was being ridiculously overprotective.
"What are you saying, Bess? Your sword would never harm me."
"B-but what if an accident..."
"I'm a member of the Strange Family too. I don't need excessive protection, Bess. Draw your sword."
Bess hesitated.
Unlikely as it was, what if the Young Master got hurt?
He knew Berddin was exceptional. But training with live steel was different.
Starting real sword training against someone who hadn't even learned swordsmanship yet.
Even with the Sword God as a Guardian Spirit, it was far too reckless.
If this stemmed from arrogance, correcting it was his duty.
"...Young Master, promise me one thing."
"A promise?"
"If you get even a scratch in this spar, we train with wooden swords from now on."
Bess looked as if he'd steeled himself to inflict a wound.
Berddin smiled brightly and drew the dagger Valentine had given him.
"Deal."
Bess couldn't believe it.
Even with the Strange Family blood, he was still only five years old.
'Impossible.'
No matter that he'd used the Sword God as a Guardian Spirit, he hadn't expected such an overwhelming difference in skill.
He couldn't extend his sword fully even once. No matter the stance, before he could complete it, Berddin's blade was at his vital point.
Bess felt like he was standing before a cliff. The skill gap was so vast he couldn't even grasp where to start or how to overcome it.
'...Amazing.'
He hadn't been careless at all.
He'd gripped his sword with full seriousness. Yet he couldn't block. He could follow with his eyes, but his body wouldn't respond.
The faint tremor in his fingertips reflected his emotions.
'To this extent.'
Was it just speed? No, pure speed alone wouldn't yield this result.
It was as if Berddin anticipated his every move.
'Different.'
He'd trained all of Family Head Roys's children, but none had this talent.
Not even with Guardian Spirit aid.
Today, 7-star knight Bess truly felt the terror of the Strange Family blood.
Through a five-year-old boy named Berddin, who displayed sword strikes beyond his decades of training.
"Young Master, didn't you say you've never learned swordsmanship?"
Moreover, he'd disarmed him without using the Guardian Spirit, which was astonishing, and the answer was even more shocking.
"Correct. Never."
"Yet without the Guardian Spirit... your sword handling is outstanding."
"Is it?"
"Yes. Honestly, this situation is hard to believe."
"Nah."
"It's true."
"Thanks for saying so. I just followed what the Sword God told me."
It wasn't a lie.
He truly hadn't learned swordsmanship formally in this life.
"...I don't know what to say. Even with the Sword God's guidance, for a complete beginner to exchange blows with me... it's incredible."
"Wasn't I lacking?"
"Far from it! Now I understand why Young Master Tony calls you a monster."
"..."
"It was the best first training session of anyone I've ever taught. The Family Head will be thrilled to hear about it."
"Good to know. If you have time later, may I ask for another round? I'll learn more from the Sword God by then."
Bess forced a smile as he replied.
"Of course. I'll be waiting."
To Berddin, it might've sounded casual, but to Bess, it was a solemn vow.
He wondered how far Berddin could grow.
At this rate, not only the next Family Head position, but becoming the continent's greatest Sword Master was only a matter of time.
On this day, a deep resolve took root in Bess's heart.
'...I must protect the Young Master.'
If word of this spar spread, his brothers' bullying would intensify to keep him in check.
Bess glanced at the Guardian Knights in the training hall. Surely some were connected to those who saw Berddin as a threat.
'We need to bolster the castle's defenses.'
For the future of the Strange Family, to let Young Master Berddin grow safely.
Berddin slung his sweat-soaked training attire over his shoulder and said,
Thud.
"That's it for today. I'll go rest."
"Rest well, Young Master."
"See you later."
As Guardian Knight Captain Bess watched Berddin's retreating figure, he immediately ordered his two closest knights.
"You two, protect Young Master Berddin from today onward. Never stray more than a hundred paces away, no matter what. Block anyone who poses a threat. Lethal force authorized if necessary."
The training with Bess was a success.
In this life too, I'd successfully completed Guardian Spirit Siegfried's first Descent, and confirmed my swordsmanship worked against a 7-star knight.
Now, until my body grew enough to hunt dragons, I just needed to wait and plan what to prepare with Siegfried.
'No one can stop me from now on.'
As long as the magic powerhouse Glazer Family didn't intervene.
"You're pretty good, huh? Disarming that guy without my help. And without even using Aura."
Siegfried eyed me suspiciously, as if I were hiding something. I lightly picked up a chocolate cookie from the table and replied.
Crunch.
"I just remembered how you moved and copied it."
"Damn it! You saw my swordsmanship once and copied it?"
"No? Three times."
"Once or three times!"
"Calm down and think. How did I block that knight's attacks earlier?"
No need to think. I'd clearly blocked them using swordsmanship Siegfried taught me today.
All with techniques he'd shown. Of course, not learned by eye today, but mastered in my past life.
Siegfried rolled his eyes, then let out a deep sigh.
Haa-
"Damn! They were all my techniques, weren't they?"
"Right? I told you, I just watched and followed what you did."
"No, these aren't techniques you can copy just by watching... Ah, no. You might be able to. Right, yeah. You're not normal, are you? Makes sense—the guy who created 'Lightning' can do anything!"
Siegfried was as simple-minded as ever. A five-year-old copying his techniques by sight, and he didn't even suspect.
How did that brain reach Sword God realm?
"Let's gradually increase the Descent time starting tomorrow."
"You sure? You pushed it today. We shared a body for ten minutes. Anyone else would've passed out."
True, even in my past life, five minutes of Descent made my mind reel.
"I need to adapt. To get stronger."
"Oho! That's the spirit. Now teaching's fun!"
"By the way, Sword God... how did you... uh? W-what's... suddenly happening."
My vision shook. Body swaying, mind growing hazy.
'No way.'
Poison in the cookie?
I grabbed the table to steady myself, closed and opened my eyes. Then something blunt slammed into the back of my head.
Whoosh-
Thwack!
It hurt. Hurt like hell.
What hit me? It snapped me awake, but I had no idea.
Slowly turning, a black-masked figure stood there.
He seemed flustered, waving his hands as he backed three steps.
Shing-
Suddenly, he drew his sword.
"W-why aren't you dead, you little brat?"