Chapter 17
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Second Guardian Spirit
Even the sturdiest giant tree can topple in a mere breeze if its roots aren't firmly planted.
Humans are no different from trees. Without a solid foundation, they'll inevitably face unexpected crises.
Just like how even the ultimate techniques are worthless if the body can't support them.
'Exactly.'
In my previous life, I was the strongest on the continent.
But I didn't have the best physique. To be precise, I couldn't obtain it.
Back then, no one knew how to push a growing body to its limits.
But now it's different.
Currently five years old.
I know superior growth methods from that time.
I understand how inefficient and misguided my childhood training was back then, and exactly how to forge a body stronger than anyone else's.
So from now on, I must train with absolute focus.
To awaken parts of me that a fully grown body could never unlock.
That's why I called my brothers to the training grounds.
To sculpt a body worthy of Brunhilt, who would soon form a contract with me.
"Brothers, please spar with me just this once."
I spoke as politely as I could.
Though who knows how it looked to others.
"Polite my ass. You mean help with your training?"
Fourth brother Tony scowled deeply.
Fifth brother Jony, who had followed him, shoved his fist right up to my face with a look of utter disbelief.
"This little shit's lost it. Wanna get beat today? Think you can talk to your brothers like that just 'cause we've been going easy?!"
Sixth brother Rony glanced around nervously and tried to calm them.
"B-brothers, cool it. Messing with him might bring Valentine sis."
Tony and Jony replied in unison.
"Don't care if Valentine sis shows up!"
"Yeah! Mom said she'd handle whatever happens, so don't worry about it?!"
"Even Valentine sis can't say shit to Mom."
"Right! Mom reamed us out big time last time for messing up our fingers like this."
Rony deflated and took a step back.
"Ah, yeah. Got it."
Just watching them made me sigh involuntarily. Mere six-year-olds scheming just to deal with me.
"Tony bro, I'm not here to fight today."
"What? You just said spar with me."
"Right. Sparring, not fighting."
"...So you want us to spar with you?"
"Yes."
"You're insane."
"Why?"
"Heard you're training swordsmanship with Bess lately. You think we can take someone like that?"
I nodded with an innocent smile.
"Yes."
Tony, fuming, pointed at me and yelled.
"You fucking psycho! How the hell am I supposed to beat someone practicing with a real knight? You're just screwing with me, aren't you?!"
"No."
"No my ass!"
"Really. And the spar I want today isn't swordsmanship."
"...Then what?"
I handed pre-prepared wooden swords to Tony, Jony, and Rony before continuing.
"Evasion."
"...Evasion?"
"Yes. I want you three to attack me all out with those swords. I'll just dodge."
Tony tilted his head.
"What? You want us to hit you with wooden swords?"
"Yes."
Jony jumped in.
"You've finally lost your mind. Thought it was weird when you asked to spar. Now you want us to chase and smack you while you run?"
"That's right."
Rony grinned excitedly and chimed in.
"If it's just hitting, sounds good. Berddin, if that's what you want, I'll give it my all."
Different reactions.
But none refused my proposal. It was their chance to vent all their built-up grudges.
The three brothers exchanged glances and smirked, then gripped their wooden swords. We began the spar immediately.
In the vast training grounds, it was like a game of tag. The three with swords chased to strike me, while I fled, reading their sword movements.
Whoosh—whoosh—!
Tony's sword looked sluggish, like the hilt had a heavy weight attached.
"This little bastard's filthy fast."
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Jony's was quick but couldn't control the distance, so it never reached me.
"Fuck? Why the hell won't it hit?!"
Slash! Slash-slash!
Rony's had the best form, but it repeated the same patterns, so I could predict and evade.
"Ngh!"
Easy. Too easy. Dodging was effortless.
I could see all my brothers' strikes clearly. Like waves approaching from afar, I read them in advance and slipped away.
As time passed, my body began reacting instinctively to their fluid attacks.
No need to think—my flesh moved on its own to evade.
This was the hypersensory technique later called 'Dodge.' A limited ability only a child in their growth phase could awaken.
Slash!
"Brothers, mix in some thrusts instead of just swinging."
Tony yelled in frustration.
"Din, you didn't descend a Guardian Spirit before coming, did you?"
"No way."
I glanced at their severed fingers and continued.
"Why would I risk that kind of trouble?"
"...You jinx."
Still, those three were better than expected. Mastering swordsmanship like that at just six.
If I hadn't reincarnated, they'd be strong enough to scare me.
Strong enough to top any year at the academy if they enrolled now.
'But.'
That's all.
Their skills were just top-tier for their age. Lacking stamina was slowing their movements more and more.
Tony, exhausted first, plopped down panting heavily.
Thud.
"Haa... haa... That's it for me."
Jony glanced at him and flopped beside.
Thud.
"Bro... me too..."
Unlike them, Rony kept coming at me till the end.
Even as his arms and legs trembled, his eyes burned fierce. He had the best swordsmanship of the three brothers, and the strongest will too.
'Different from back then.'
In my previous life, Rony relied on his Guardian Spirit due to poor sword skills.
Looking forward to when he claims Harlem later.
I crouched low to duck his horizontal swing, then stepped right up and grabbed the sword's hilt.
Thwap.
"Bro, that's enough for today."
Acquisition complete.
I've mastered the skill, no need for more practice.
Rony, heaving, met my eyes before averting his gaze and sheathing his sword.
"More."
"Later."
"Later? When."
"...Soon."
The training grounds after Berddin left.
Tony and Jony panted as they talked.
"Haa... Din's fast like a damn rat. How'd three of us fail to land a single hit?"
"Right, bro? He said he trained with Bess, and his footwork got crazy quick."
"Learned some special technique?"
"Maybe he's been practicing how to run away from us. Without Valentine sis, he'd be our punching bag, right?"
Tony let out a hollow laugh and scratched his forehead.
"Yeah, right."
They knew how exceptional Din was, yet they denied the truth they knew deep down.
Acknowledging it would plant a thick sense of defeat in their minds.
"Right? Rony, you think so too."
Jony grinned brightly as he asked, but Rony just ground his teeth without answering.
Even after the spar ended, he gripped his wooden sword and swung at empty air.
Whoosh—whoosh—!
"Goddamn it! Why! Why the fuck! Why's he always the special one?!"
As he swung with a wronged expression, Tony shot up and kicked Rony in the gut.
Thud!
Rony clutched his side and rolled on the ground.
"Guh!"
"Cut it out."
"B-bro."
"Rony, we're members of the Strange family. Don't spout weak shit like that."
"...Bro."
"Din's not the only special one. You, me, Jony—we're all special. We've all awakened, haven't we?"
Black smoke swirled behind Tony's back.
Shoooaaa—
Frightened, Rony backed away with a terrified look.
"O-okay. Calm down, bro."
"We might be weaker than Din now. But in a year, we'll enter the academy first. Just hold out till then."
"......"
"Just wait a bit, and we'll climb higher."
"...Yeah."
"Hold on till then."
Tony grabbed Rony's hand and pulled him up. He patted his head and continued.
"Gunter bro said he'd help us too."
Descendant of the great mage Brunhilt and son of Ogre Fortress leader Galsvint.
'Rox.'
He placed the glowing red-hot soulstone on the anvil. The heat was so intense that sweat poured from his forehead like rain.
Fwooosh—
Preparations complete, Rox began hammering with all his might.
Clang! Clang! CLANG!
The impacts were so powerful that the shockwaves through the anvil cracked the ground. The watching blacksmiths gaped in shock. Strength no human could produce.
The head blacksmith thought.
With that power, he could reforge anything in the world—even a dragon's hide.
A truly astonishing ability. He wanted to take him as his successor.
CLANG!
"Break already...!"
After repeated massive blows, the soulstone began to emit light. It looked like a mere hard gem, but the soul inside was starting to react. When Rox stopped, it made faint sounds tickling his ears.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
Like a sleeping infant's soft breaths.
Rox wiped his dripping sweat with his forearm and murmured.
"Ancestor... We're out of time. Please, come forth."
As if hearing his desperate plea, the soulstone began to crack in response.
Crack.
Spiderweb fissures spread across the surface, and Rox smiled brightly. He hurriedly thrust it back into the fire pit, pulled it out with tongs, and hammered again.
Soon after, the soulstone containing the Guardian Spirit Brunhilt split in half.
Clang.
At that instant, a blinding flash shot toward the sky.
BOOM!
The shock demolished the Strange Castle forge's roof, sending debris crashing down.
Rumble rumble.
Rox clutched his head with both hands and flattened himself on the ground. Falling rubble buried his view.
That was the last thing Rox remembered of the soulstone.
"Well done, son of Galsvint."
A mysterious male voice came from behind.
"Huh?"
Something blunt struck the back of his head.
Thwack!