Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Brudet
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Whoooosh...
The garden of the Buske family estate. A cloud of dust rose there once.
Grass and leaves sliced by something sharp scattered in the wind, and the ground around them was completely churned up by countless sword scars.
And in the midst of it all stood the hero Brudet and Han Do-yoon, their swords crossed.
Eloa clicked her tongue at the sight of the garden.
'The head maid's gonna be pissed.'
It was a friendly spar where neither side showed their full power, just exchanging techniques. But both Brudet and Do-yoon got carried away midway and turned it into this mess.
"Hoo..."
Brudet closed his eyes and slowly sheathed his sword.
Rarely, his hand and the tip of his sword trembled unsteadily.
It couldn't be helped. It had been a full century since he last crossed swords with his master's swordsmanship—and the Great Hero's.
It was on a completely different level from the sword he had honed for a hundred years, a distant and profound realm that he felt with his entire body.
Brudet opened his closed eyes and met Do-yoon's gaze. Do-yoon's pupils shone brilliantly with golden mana.
Undeniable, clear, and radiant eyes.
They were the eyes of the greatest man in history, Enoch Războinic.
"..."
Brudet closed his eyes again, slowly lowering his stance and bowing forward.
Soon, he prostrated himself fully, his knees, forehead, and palms touching the ground.
"This Brudet Buske, disciple of the Sword Emperor and hero of Skeletonia, pays his respects to Uncle Războinic, founder of our lineage and the first hero."
"It's been a while, Brudet."
Do-yoon sheathed his sword.
"Rise. What's with the grand bow all of a sudden?"
"After so long, finally seeing you again, this much courtesy is..."
"Why would I be your founder, you fool?"
Do-yoon said that, but inwardly, he smiled with pride. As expected, Buske had raised his son with impeccable manners.
Do-yoon had always thought about having kids of his own whenever he saw the cute, lively Eloa and the polite, respectful Brudet back in the day.
"Father said to regard Uncle Războinic as an equal master. The Buske Style is fundamentally based on the Războinic Style..."
"You'll give me calluses on my ears. Same old talk even after a hundred years?"
Do-yoon pulled Brudet to his feet.
"My swordsmanship is based on that guy's too. Friends influencing each other positively is natural. No need for founder treatment over that."
"Haha. Truly unchanging as ever, Uncle."
Brudet smiled, fine lines forming around his eyes. In that bearded, wrinkled smile, one could glimpse the young Brudet's face.
Eloa, who had watched the spar, approached Brudet and nudged him with her elbow.
"Told you it'd shock you."
"For real... Ha. Is this a dream or reality...?"
"Hee hee."
Do-yoon smiled warmly at the two fully grown adults. Seeing the aged Brudet and the fully matured Eloa side by side really drove home that a century had passed.
"By the way, Uncle. Your sword changed midway through..."
"Yeah. I felt it too. What was that? [Swordsmanship] level up?"
Brudet and Eloa had sensed Do-yoon's swordsmanship undergo a major shift during the spar. It wasn't just a skill level-up; it was a more fundamental change, altering the very foundation of his sword.
Both knew something extraordinary had happened.
Do-yoon gazed at the system window before his eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Skill ‘Buske Style Swordsmanship’ has been upgraded to S-rank. Superior skill of ‘Buske Style Swordsmanship’, ‘Swordsmanship’, has been upgraded to S-rank.
"The Buske Style, which was A-rank, reached S-rank."
"...Pardon?"
Brudet's face froze in shock, while Eloa doubted her ears and reflexively asked again.
"Looks like it was right on the verge of upgrading. But when's the Războinic Style gonna appear...?"
"S-, an S-rank skill...? And it's basic Swordsmanship...?"
"Wow, whoa..."
The two marveled at the fact that the owner of a legendary S-rank skill had just been born before their eyes.
"In-, incredible... Congratulations...!"
An S-rank skill was a top-tier ability that could shake the world on its own.
There was one S-rank skill holder in the World Tree, but even for World Tree Master Eloa or hero Brudet, witnessing the birth of an S-rank skill firsthand was a first.
And it wasn't just any skill—it was [Swordsmanship] reaching S-rank. This was unprecedented, something they'd never even heard of.
Brudet, his face stiff with awe, swallowed hard and asked,
"When the [Swordsmanship] skill was first created... was it A-rank?"
"Yeah. Back then, I was using a slightly degraded version. The Buske Style before I passed the sword enlightenment to your old man."
"Ah... So that means...!"
Brudet urged Do-yoon's answer with eyes full of longing.
"Seems the key to Buske Style being A or S-rank is that sword enlightenment."
"As expected...! Ah, but..."
Brudet clenched his fist, his expression turning complicated. Do-yoon sensed both passion and resignation in his face.
"Your Buske Style is still A-rank, right?"
"Yes..."
It was only natural. There had been no one to teach him.
And it was absolutely impossible for Brudet to grasp it on his own.
Do-yoon nodded at him.
"I'll teach you."
"Really!?"
"Yes."
Brudet and Eloa stared at Do-yoon with wide eyes.
"Wow... Jealous..."
"Ha, but... Do you think I can learn it?"
"What's the current level of your Buske Style?"
"Level 9."
Do-yoon had asked about confidential apostle status info, but no one there cared.
Forget that—with Enoch Războinic offering to teach an S-rank skill, who'd be stingy? They'd hand over liver and gall if asked.
"Level 9? Lower than I thought."
It was a statement that would've made others clutch their necks in disbelief, but to Do-yoon, it seemed that way. His benchmark was an outlier, after all.
Heineken, who hadn't even lived 50 years, was at [Spearsmanship] level 9.
Yet Brudet, who had lived a century and was the direct disciple of the Sword Emperor, was at the same level 9. It didn't add up.
Eloa spoke up at Do-yoon's reaction.
"Brudet's [Swordsmanship] can't be compared to other apostles' level 9 skills."
The system was created by the gods 70 years ago. The relatively young Heineken had been blessed with the system from birth thanks to his talent, generating a level 1 [Spearsmanship] skill early on.
But 70 years ago, Brudet was already well past forty, a renowned swordsman of his era. Yet his [Swordsmanship] was still level 1.
Those who had reached exceptional heights before the system's blessing couldn't be treated the same as others, even at the same level. Skills always start at level 1.
To put it in perspective, when Heineken was at [Spearsmanship] level 1, Brudet's level 1 [Swordsmanship] was already effectively level 7.
Level-ups get exponentially harder as levels rise.
Yet Brudet, far ahead of level 1 Heineken, was forced to grow at the same rate and receive the same proficiency bonuses just because of the level label.
Naturally, at the same level 9 now, Brudet's was vastly superior.
Do-yoon was an extreme case of this.
His Buske Style was already at an average level 8 equivalent, but the system still saw it as level 3, granting him rapid growth and bonuses upon leveling.
Thus, plugging Do-yoon or Brudet into standard level formulas didn't work.
The Cradle didn't teach this because cases like theirs were exceedingly rare—practically theoretical nonsense in reality.
"So, your current [Swordsmanship] is equivalent to a normal level 10?"
"Haha... Not quite. The gap between 9 and 10 is enormous..."
Both stat and skill levels widen dramatically in the late stages.
Brudet had reached [Swordsmanship] level 9 long ago, but level 10 was a distant wall even for him.
"Hm... Right. Anyway, level 9 means your Buske Style is near perfection."
"Haha..."
Brudet scratched his head, too embarrassed to affirm it himself.
"You asked if you could grasp sword enlightenment."
"Yes. Even Father said in his lifetime that his own insight into it didn't reach the tip of Uncle Războinic's toe..."
That was Brudet's worry.
Even his father, the Sword Emperor, hadn't fully comprehended sword enlightenment. Could someone like him even touch that lofty realm?
"Don't worry. As you said, that guy didn't know much about it either, but he was a genius, after all."
Do-yoon unfastened the sword he'd borrowed from his waist and handed it to Eloa as he spoke.
"Your father took his slight insight into sword enlightenment and masterfully wove it into his Buske Style. The version you've learned already has the perfect framework to accept it."
"Ah... So...!"
"You've mastered the Buske Style enough, so it'll drastically lower the difficulty of learning sword enlightenment. Thank your old man for that."
In truth, Buske hadn't failed to understand sword enlightenment due to any deficiency.
In his later years, rather than refining his own sword, he devoted himself to paving the way for Brudet.
The man who'd walked the sword's path steadfastly his whole life had veered off onto another after encountering that crucial insight.
"I'll drop by now and then when I have time."
"Thank you!"
Brudet bowed deeply with a booming voice. Do-yoon nodded contentedly at his passionate nephew.
"Good. But while training's fine, I have mountains of stories to share with you and Eloa. Got a moment?"
"If Uncle says so, I'll make time even if I don't have it. Then, please come inside for a chat... Ah!"
Brudet clapped his hands mid-sentence.
A mischievous glint appeared on his face, surprisingly playful. Visibly excited, he asked Eloa,
"Have you shown Uncle that yet?"
"What?"
"The Războinic Edition."
"Ah...! Ah, ahem, heh...!"
Eloa caught on and started chuckling. Do-yoon tilted his head, clueless.
"Uncle always enjoyed a good drink. I have my most precious liquor. I'd like to taste it today—would you join me?"
Eloa's laughter grew. She clutched her stomach, holding back with all her might.
"Hm... Sure. I'd be delighted."
"Yes! Then, please come in."
Do-yoon followed Brudet into the building, puzzled.