Chapter 24

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 24

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There were twenty-five Sword Pavilions in the Grand Sword Pavilion complex.

One pavilion was used by the supreme commander, and the other twenty-four were used by the sword divisions.

Among them, the pavilion used by the Flying Sword Division was the largest and best equipped, apart from the supreme commander's pavilion.

That was because the Flying Sword Division ranked among the most prestigious sword divisions in Vishken.

“So today's finally the day.”

The members of the Flying Sword Division's Second Squad, gathered at the Sword Pavilion's training ground, were in a complicated mood.

It was the day their new squad leader would arrive.

Depending on what kind of person he was and how their relationship with him developed, the future of the Second Squad would change.

“Is everyone ready?”

“What's there to prepare? We'll just do it.”

“Let's put that young master in his place today.”

The members of the Second Squad had gathered around Bigra.

They looked full of determination, as though they were eagerly anticipating what was to come.

Watching them from a step away, Mary sighed.

‘Will this be all right?’

The squad members' opposition was greater than she had expected.

Some of them had veins bulging in their necks, looking as though they were about to head into battle.

The squad members were getting carried away.

Normally, calming them down would have been the deputy leader's responsibility.

However—

‘Well, I'm not much different.’

If she had actively tried to stop them, she might have succeeded. If she, as deputy leader, had lost her temper, they would have had little choice but to obey.

Nevertheless, the reason she hadn't done so was that she half agreed with them.

‘If he really is completely incompetent...’

She had even considered stepping forward herself and crushing the new squad leader before the others could.

As her thoughts reached that point, Mary's expression became much like those of the other squad members.

And so, time passed.

Step.

A new person entered the Second Training Ground, where all the squad members had assembled.

Recognizing his face, Mary hurriedly bowed her head in greeting.

“Greetings, Commander!”

““Greetings, Commander!!””

The person who had appeared at the Second Training Ground was Lucas.

The commander of the Flying Sword Division and the First Young Master of Vishken.

He was considered a leading candidate to become the next supreme commander and the young family head of Vishken.

“Everyone's here.”

“Yes, sir.”

“As you know, today is the day your new squad leader takes office.”

At Lucas's words, the squad members' gazes turned cold.

They did not conceal their hostility even in front of their commander.

Either they couldn't hide it or had no intention of doing so. Whichever it was, both were problematic.

“I know what you're thinking. Nevertheless, he'll be your superior from now on, so make sure you follow him properly.”

““Understood!””

“Come forward.”

At Lucas's words, another person appeared from behind him.

It was Allen, wearing the Flying Sword Division squad leader's uniform, which bore the image of two swords.

“I'm Allen Vishken. It's an honor to be appointed leader of the Flying Sword Division's Second Squad. I look forward to working with you.”

Although he had stepped forward and introduced himself, there was no response. As though they had agreed beforehand, not a single person reacted.

Silence hung over the training ground for some time.

It was then.

Clap, clap, clap.

Mary, the deputy leader of the Second Squad, began applauding alone.

For a while, only the hollow sound of her applause echoed through the training ground.

Then, glancing at one another, the other squad members began clapping one by one.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Their displeasure was plainly visible on their faces.

Their reactions seemed to say that they weren't applauding because Allen had spoken, but only because the deputy leader had started clapping and they had no choice but to follow.

Watching from a step behind, a faint smile appeared on Lucas's face.

—“It seems they've taken quite a strong dislike to you.”

Allen chuckled at Lucas's telepathic message and replied.

—“But this is my first time meeting them.”

—“They've probably heard your name many times. As the unfortunate young master afflicted with the Curse of Mana Deprivation.”

Within the family, Allen was almost as famous as Lucas.

Of course, his fame was of a negative sort.

Unlike Lucas, who had become the family's youngest Master and possessed outstanding abilities, Allen was an unfortunate young man who had not possessed even a trace of mana.

He was an object of pity rather than respect.

That was Allen's standing within the family.

—“Didn't word get around that I broke that idiot's arm?”

—“The Lord of Steel Castle has no reason to spread rumors that would harm his own reputation.”

—“That old man really is no help at all.”

If that incident had become known beforehand, the reception would probably have been somewhat better than this.

Perhaps he should have done something more drastic than merely breaking an arm, something that would inevitably have become a rumor.

—“The Second Squad has a poor record, but its previous leader was an exceptional man. He followed the orthodox path of an elite swordsman.”

—“Is that why they're even more upset about being given me as his replacement? What happened to that squad leader?”

—“He went to Blazing Flame Castle.”

—“He transferred from the Flying Sword Division at the main castle to Blazing Flame Castle? Why?”

The Flying Sword Division was one of the most prestigious sword divisions in the main castle.

It was an honorable division assigned missions directly by the family head.

Even if he had belonged to an underperforming squad, transferring from the Flying Sword Division to Blazing Flame Castle was practically a demotion.

—“Was he promised some important high-ranking position there?”

—“Who knows? I didn't investigate that far.”

—“Anyway, these guys are comparing me to their former squad leader who transferred to another castle?”

It was while the two were exchanging telepathic messages.

“Loyalty! I'm Bigra of the Flying Sword Division's Second Squad!”

One of the squad members stepped forward, holding out his sheathed sword and shouting loudly.

He looked as though he had something to say.

“Is there something you'd like to say?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, I sincerely apologize for what I'm about to say, as it may be disrespectful.”

Judging by how he was drawing things out, he seemed to have prepared thoroughly.

Allen smiled and spoke.

“It's fine. Go ahead.”

“Second Young Master... No, Squad Leader, I've heard that you're afflicted with the Curse of Mana Deprivation.”

Allen should have told him that the curse had already been lifted, but for the moment, he decided to watch.

He was curious to see what these adorable squad members had prepared.

“I understand that there's nothing anyone can do about the constitution they're born with. That's why I'd like to make a suggestion.”

“What is it?”

“Our Second Squad has a tradition. It's called the Acceptance Ceremony.”

“Acceptance Ceremony?”

“It's a series of one-on-one sparring matches between the newly appointed squad leader and the squad members. This time, as a special safety precaution, we'll use wooden swords without mana.”

He spoke as though they were generously making allowances for Allen's safety.

“Normally, we'd be expected to use mana as well, but surely that can't be helped in this case?”

At Bigra's words, Mary hurriedly sent him a telepathic message.

—“You crazy bastard! What the hell are you doing with the commander right here?”

—“Isn't this the perfect opportunity precisely because the commander is here? If he's humiliated in front of his own older brother, he'll step down on his own.”

—“Since when has our Second Squad had a tradition like that?”

—“What's the problem? It's not something completely unheard of. Other sword divisions really do have that tradition.”

It was common for squad members to test a newly appointed leader who came from outside. Some sword divisions genuinely practiced a tradition called the Acceptance Ceremony.

The squad members intended to use this tradition to crush Allen's confidence.

If they humiliated him in front of the commander and stripped him of his authority as squad leader, he might soon be removed from the position.

Mary instinctively checked Lucas's expression.

At this moment, it wasn't the squad leader she was worried about, but the commander.

Unlike Allen, Lucas was a direct descendant of Vishken whose abilities and standing were firmly established.

“So that's their proposal, new Squad Leader?”

Fortunately, Lucas's reaction wasn't negative.

Instead, looking rather interested, he asked Allen for his agreement.

Bigra had made the proposal, but whether to accept or avoid it was Allen's decision.

Allen grinned and asked,

“Did you say ‘without using mana’?”

“That's correct.”

“Are you sure that's all right? That's my specialty.”

Of course, using mana wouldn't have posed any problem either.

In fact, it would have been even more advantageous for Allen.

The Celestial Star Style that Allen had learned was a supreme swordsmanship technique on an entirely different level from the swordsmanship practiced by the other members.

Whether he knew that or not, Bigra spoke confidently.

“It doesn't matter.”

“No, I'm the one who isn't comfortable with it. Those conditions are far too favorable to me.”

Mary frowned at Allen's words.

His roundabout way of speaking made it seem as though he was trying to avoid the match.

However—

“There are fifteen members in the Second Squad, correct?”

“That's correct.”

“Perfect timing.”

After doing some calculations in his head, Allen grinned and spoke.

“Let's do it this way. First one person, then two, then four, and finally eight.”

He was proposing to face twice as many opponents in each successive round.

Bigra frowned at Allen's words.

He doubted his own ears.

“...Are you serious?”

“The squad members have shown consideration for their leader, so I should show some consideration in return.”

With those playful words, Allen turned his head.

His gaze settled on one side of the training ground, where wooden swords were arranged for practice.

“Are these the ones we're using? Here, everyone, pick up a sword.”

“...”

Bigra's face twisted into an ugly scowl.

And he wasn't the only one.

The other squad members reacted much the same way.

Was this really happening? Was he actually going to do it?

Sensing their hesitation, Allen walked toward the center of the training ground and spoke.

“I've heard that the Flying Sword Division's Second Squad has the worst performance record in the division. But I don't believe performance necessarily reflects ability.”

At the mention of their performance record, the squad members' expressions grew even more menacing.

Their poor performance.

It was the Second Squad's sorest point.

“So why don't you prove it yourselves? Show me that the Second Squad merely has a poor record, not that its members are incompetent.”

Grit.

The sound of grinding teeth could be heard from several directions.

Until moments ago, this was supposed to have been an occasion for judging the squad leader's abilities.

But with a single remark from Allen, it had become an occasion for evaluating the abilities of the squad members whose performance had been lacking.

“I'll go first.”

Bigra, the most hotheaded of them all, stepped forward.

Standing in the center of the training ground, Allen smiled faintly and beckoned with his fingers.

The Second Squad's rather unusual Acceptance Ceremony began.

___________________

Lucas watched Bigra stride forward from a short distance away.

He found the situation interesting.

‘An unexpected opportunity.’

Lucas had already been privately curious about Allen's abilities.

Standing opposite Bigra, Allen looked completely at ease.

Although Allen was concealing his energy, Lucas could faintly sense it.

‘His mastery has definitely advanced even further since last time. Is this some kind of rebound from the Curse of Mana Deprivation? Such extraordinary progress...’

It was then.

Lucas's eyes shifted as he watched the training ground with interest.

He had sensed a faint presence nearby.

“Come out.”

His voice was chilling, as though he might cause trouble if the person didn't appear immediately.

Then—

“I was planning to watch quietly and leave, but it seems that won't be possible.”

Rustle.

Someone emerged from behind the pillar at Lucas's back.

Lucas, who had assumed it was probably the commander of another sword division, was startled.

It was because of the identity of the white-haired man who had appeared from behind the pillar.

“...Supreme Commander?”

Supreme Commander Hiren.

A giant of the continent who commanded every sword division in Vishken.

He had appeared at the Flying Sword Division's Second Training Ground.