Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The Path of the Swordsman
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Siegfried was indeed a man worthy of being called the Sword God.
His method of controlling the Aura Blade, shown through the spirit realm, was not easy.
It was so delicate that you understood how to do it but found it incredibly hard to follow—a high-level technique that allowed no mistakes whatsoever.
Shaaak!
"Can you see it?"
The Aura Blade gripped in his hand shrank and grew repeatedly, demonstrating the adjustment of its power.
"Yes, Master."
"Not easy? You're adjusting the size of the Aura Blade you're picturing in your head. At the same time, you're controlling the Aura injection into the hilt using the sensation in your fingertips."
I hesitated to answer.
If I said it was hard, he'd call me an idiot.
If I said it was easy, he'd boast that his teaching was superior.
I didn't want to hear either response, so my only option was to demonstrate it myself, even if imperfectly.
'I know the method.'
Even if it failed, I could control it to some degree.
Shiiiik—
First, maximum output.
Paaaaat!
The Aura Blade surged upward like blazing flames, expanding to the size of a small tree. It was larger than the full-power Aura Blade I'd used before.
Aura began to pour out relentlessly, like water spilling from a full cup.
'As expected, a technique not to be used carelessly.'
I closed my eyes and tried adjusting the Aura Blade according to Siegfried's instructions.
Sususu.
The Aura Blade began to shrink bit by bit.
Clumsy, but a success.
To onlookers, it might just look like the sword's size had changed.
But this was the moment I gained the ability to freely control one of Siegfried the Sword God's secret techniques—one of the sword arts hailed as the strongest.
I cheered inwardly.
'Good.'
I'd been pondering a technique needed to face mages, and I'd acquired the perfect ability right on time.
'Heaven is helping me.'
Moreover, after trying it hands-on, two or three practices seemed enough to use it on the battlefield.
"Eeeeeh?!"
Siegfried's brows furrowed in bewilderment. He swooped toward me like a descending eagle and let out an exclamation of admiration.
"You succeeded?"
"Why?"
"No, how did you do it on the first try...? You weren't hiding that you already knew how, were you?"
"No way. If I knew, I'd have been using it all along."
If that were true, I wouldn't have needed to grab a sword at Glazer Castle.
Siegfried circled my Aura Blade, inspecting it from every angle, spinning in place like a dog desperate to poop. His expression suggested he'd pick a fight over the tiniest flaw.
'Not the first time.'
In my previous life, Siegfried had done this to me.
'Well.'
He too had been called the Sword God and dominated his era. Seeing superior talent must have grated on him.
Siegfried muttered something to himself and turned his back to me.
He was surely monologuing lines like "lucky brat" or "he just got lucky this time."
"Thank you for teaching me."
I spoke to Siegfried as politely as possible.
This was to keep him from getting offended and ensure I could learn the other techniques in the Sword God realm without issue.
"As expected, thanks to my excellent Master, I can pick up techniques so quickly."
Pure flattery.
In my previous life, I could never say such things.
I'd thought them childish enough to make my hands and feet curl up.
"...Really?"
Siegfried slowly turned his head, flashing a radiant smile.
'That's it.'
Now I knew how to handle him.
Siegfried was weak to praise—especially when it came from my mouth.
"I'll look forward to our next lesson."
"Next lesson?"
"Yes. Just like how you caught my shortcomings and taught me earlier. Please keep watching over your disciple as my Master. Aren't you the greatest swordsman in our family history?"
Flowers bloomed on Siegfried's face.
Wearing a satisfied expression, he patted his chest and said to me,
"Whenever you want to learn a technique, just say the word! I'll teach you with everything I've got!"
"...Then, can I learn how to slay dragons right now?"
"Of course! Er... well... I'll teach you that later. You're not quite ready yet."
"Ready?"
"Yeah, I told you before, right? You're walking the path to slaying dragons. You're progressing perfectly, so don't rush it—take it slow."
In the end, he wasn't going to teach me.
"Yes, Master."
Still, he'd teach me eventually.
I was learning swordsmanship much faster than in my previous life, and there hadn't been a single point of conflict between us.
Brunhilt rubbed her face against my cheek and whispered,
"They say even tuna dances to praise. Now you're playing Siegfried like a fiddle."
"Playing?"
"Smart boy—you're growing on me! If I were just a hundred years younger, I'd drag you to the stables and—"
Theresia thrust her head between us, eyes sparkling.
"You don't mean to tie down Sir Berddin's arms and legs, do you?"
Brunhilt met her gaze.
"Exactly. Then lay him atop a haystack!"
"Dripping melting candle wax from the flame, one drop at a time onto his spine?"
"Filling the entire village with Berddin's screams—!"
Pak.
I grabbed Brunhilt by the scruff of her neck, spun her around wildly, and hurled her far away.
Paat!
"Lady Theresia, head back to the carriage."
Glazer and Rothschild began moving simultaneously.
Moreover, they were targeting me without declaring war, which gave me every justification to cut them down without hesitation from here on.
'Of course.'
All these incidents were undoubtedly orchestrated by Rothschild from the shadows.
'Is it because I fought them in my previous life?'
Their movements were plain as day.
I hadn't even met them face-to-face, but I could picture their thoughts, their preparations, the reason for attacking me right now, and how they'd act going forward.
Siegfried, who had crossed countless battlefields, knew it too.
"I've finished the power comparison, so now I'll go find the guy who can take you down. If such a guy even exists."
Siegfried said with an arrogant expression.
"There is one."
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
Of course, he was in the upper floors of the tower we hadn't reached yet.
He had no intention of coming down for now.
"Hmm. Then hurry up and prepare your countermeasures. The Rothschilds have been a pain since way back."
"Way back?"
"Yeah. Even in my lifetime, those sly foxes never brought anything good. They'd wag their tails from behind, stirring up fights without ever stepping onto the battlefield themselves."
Exactly like the Rothschilds I knew.
Even if the world changed, blood ran true.
-Hiiing!
The horse neighed and halted its steps.
With the village visible about a hundred meters ahead, I said to Theresia,
"We'll walk from here. Stick close behind me so you don't get separated."
"Yes, Sir Berddin."
Driving the carriage right into the village would be convenient, but if enemies were lying in ambush, we'd likely lose our means of transport. My Aura field hadn't detected any lifeforms yet.
'Just in case.'
Thud, thud, thud.
I'd thought the forest ground would be muddy from last night's rain, but as we neared the village, the earth felt firmer instead. I stopped at the village entrance and sniffed the air.
Snuuup—Phuu.
'...As expected.'
They were lying in wait along the path.
"Come out."
My Aura hadn't picked them up yet, but someone was definitely targeting us.
Who had taught them this technique? Their presence concealment was astounding—something I'd never encountered even once in my previous life.
It resembled the technique Philip had used at Louisnes Academy to slip past my notice.
Tadak!
Someone leaped down from the trees.
Thud.
"You're Berddin?"
A boy around my age with flowing red hair pointed at me with his index finger.
A crescent moon mark on his forehead marked him unmistakably as a Glazer mage.
'Hmm.'
But there was one oddity. Why was there a tiny star drawn inside the crescent on his forehead?
And emanating from him wasn't mana, but Aura.
Moreover, this guy was strong.
My instincts, facing the boy, told me so.
I couldn't gauge his full power yet, but the ominous Aura seeping out confirmed he was no ordinary foe.
He seemed at least on par with Monestier, who had been called the next Swordmaster.
'Who the hell is this guy?'
Someone I'd never heard of or seen in my previous life.
If simply revealing himself posed a threat, he had to be a renowned powerhouse.
'A sword.'
He carried a massive sword on his back—at least twice his body length.
Thinner than my Mistilteinn but far longer, with a blood-red blade that looked vaguely familiar. A saber-like sword radiating an enigmatic energy whose nature I couldn't pinpoint.
Huu—
He must have died to Gunter or Hysteria in my previous life.
That explained why I had no knowledge of him.
"Hey, why aren't you answering? I asked if your name is Berddin."
I shook my head firmly.
"No."
"Huh?"
"My name is Crystal King Calipha III. I'm a mage en route to Glazer territory on His Majesty's orders."
My purpose here was to evacuate the territory's people to safety.
Not to purge mages, so I needed to avoid pointless fights.
That's why I'd tried using an alias.
"Crystal, what? Don't lie! We already know everything."
"What do you think you know?"
"About you. We know."
"You know me?"
"Yes. Berddin de Strange. Roys's youngest son and the youngest Swordmaster."
Clank.
The red-haired boy drew his sword.
"Plus, word is you faced the dragon that appeared over Legion recently. True or not, rumors that big mean you're no ordinary guy."
So he'd asked despite knowing everything.
'Then, circumstances point to him definitely being from Rothschild.'
The way he gripped the sword and his hunched, waist-bent stance weren't imperial swordsmanship.
His freewheeling posture resembled the style of northern knights.
"Do you really want to fight me?"
"Yeah."
"Reason?"
"Wanna know who's stronger."
Simple enough.
The same reason I was climbing the tower.
Swipe.
"What's your name?"
"Name?"
"Yeah. Your name."
"...Since you're gonna die anyway, I'll tell you. My name is Asabragg."
"Asabragg?"
It sounded vaguely familiar.
"Rothschild de Asabragg. I'm here to kill you today and end the Strange era."