Chapter 25

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 25

Standing over 190 centimeters tall, with a full head of white hair that showed his age.

Hiren was a swordsman whose appearance was the very image of a white-clad swordsman.

Before Lucas could say anything in surprise at the unexpected visitor, Hiren brought a finger to his lips.

“Shh.”

“...”

“I only came to watch for a little while, so don't make a fuss.”

Lucas hesitated briefly at his playful response, then nodded.

He would obey the supreme commander's words for now, but his mind was still in turmoil.

‘Why is the supreme commander here?’

Supreme Commander Hiren.

He was one of the few monsters Lucas knew.

The swordsmen belonging to the main castle were broadly divided into two groups.

The corps, which carried out important duties within the family, and the divisions, which served the family and undertook its missions.

Each corps had a specific role.

The Azure Dragon Corps, which protected the family.

The Execution Sword Corps, which upheld the family's laws.

The Golden Stream Corps, which managed its finances, and others.

These corps possessed greater numbers and power than ordinary sword divisions.

But the Supreme Sword Division was different.

It was an organization with the authority to unite all the sword divisions under one command. Every sword division, including the Flying Sword Division, the White Tiger Division, and the Blazing Sword Division, followed the Supreme Sword Division's orders.

If they were considered a single force, the Supreme Sword Division could be said to possess the greatest power in Vishken after the Family Head's Hall.

In other words, Hiren was practically the second most powerful person in the main castle.

So why had someone like him come here?

Taking Hiren's instruction not to make a fuss into account, Lucas erected a barrier of mana to prevent their voices from carrying and asked,

“Have you come to see the leader of the Second Squad?”

Lucas referred to Allen as the Second Squad Leader rather than by name.

It meant that here, he intended to speak of and treat Allen as his subordinate rather than his younger brother.

Hiren grinned and replied,

“I was curious. I wanted to see what kind of fellow the family head had appointed as squad leader.”

“It's certainly unusual, but I don't think it's significant enough to warrant the supreme commander's personal interest.”

“Aren't you interested in him yourself?”

Lucas said nothing in response to Hiren's words.

Sensing the affirmation in his silence, Hiren grinned and asked,

“Does it make you uneasy that I'm taking an interest in that boy?”

“After all, he's now a squad leader under my command.”

“Why? Are you worried your younger brother might get hurt by becoming involved with me?”

“People inevitably die in the paths of giants. And the giants themselves don't even know who they've crushed beneath their feet.”

His answer was filled with concern.

Hiren burst into laughter and replied,

“Isn't that true of you as well?”

“What do you mean?”

“I still don't understand why you're in the Flying Sword Division. You're a fellow who could easily become a corps commander, and in a little more time, you could even be entrusted with a castle.”

“You're giving me far too much credit.”

“Hehehe. Though it certainly makes things easier for me.”

Hiren abruptly stopped laughing.

In an instant, he ceased being a spectator and spoke as the supreme commander.

“A mission involving the Demon Sword will be assigned soon.”

The Demon Sword.

Lucas turned his head at those words.

The whereabouts of the Demon Sword had long been one of Vishken's major concerns.

“When the time comes, I'm considering the Flying Sword Division for the assignment.”

“The entire Flying Sword Division?”

A mission that required mobilizing an entire sword division?

Missions of this scale were rare. It was comparable to a conflict with the Empire, the Quin family, or Dark Castle.

Furthermore, the Flying Sword Division ranked among the three most powerful sword divisions that operated outside the main castle.

“Securing the Demon Sword is that important. So, for the time being, missions that would normally be assigned to the Flying Sword Division will be given elsewhere.”

“Wouldn't it be better to send the White Tiger Division?”

The White Tiger Division was unquestionably Vishken's strongest sword division in terms of combat power. If securing the Demon Sword was so important, the White Tiger Division would be the obvious choice.

“Those fellows have their hands full dealing with the bastards from Dark Castle lately. Besides, the White Tiger Division's commander is a little below your level.”

It was a statement acknowledging Lucas's abilities.

But Lucas himself was not particularly pleased to hear it.

A mission involving the Demon Sword.

He could already feel a headache coming on.

“Does the Demon Sword even exist?”

“Apparently, the intelligence department estimates the probability at around ten percent.”

“You're mobilizing the entire Flying Sword Division for a mere ten percent chance?”

Hiren nodded.

Given how firmly he was speaking, it seemed the Flying Sword Division's deployment had already been decided.

If so, one of the family's major sword divisions really was going to be mobilized in its entirety for a ten percent possibility.

‘That shows just how important they consider the Demon Sword.’

Several decades had already passed since Vishken began tracking the Demon Sword.

Securing it had been a long-cherished goal since the previous family head's time.

In terms of importance, it was a first-class mission.

And that mission was being entrusted to the Flying Sword Division.

Just as Lucas was becoming absorbed in thoughts about the Demon Sword—

Crack!

A sharp impact sounded from the center of the training ground.

As though they had agreed beforehand, Lucas and Hiren immediately focused their attention on the sparring match.

_______________

Bigra was brimming with confidence.

Facing Allen with his wooden sword pointed forward, he burned with fighting spirit.

‘How dare he insult our squad.’

The reason he was so furious was Allen's final remark.

The challenge to prove that their poor performance record did not mean their abilities were lacking.

That was exactly what Bigra had wanted.

“I'll prove it to you.”

His grip tightened around the wooden sword.

Although they had agreed not to use mana, he intended to fight with everything he had apart from that.

He was confident.

No matter how poor the Second Squad's record might be, simply belonging to the Flying Sword Division meant that he was a swordsman whose abilities were fully recognized within Vishken.

‘I can't lose to some brat who's only just become an adult.’

He had no intention of following the conditions Allen had proposed.

Since he intended to humiliate Allen openly, Bigra planned to defeat him in the very first round.

Watching Bigra burn with fighting spirit, Allen smiled faintly.

“I'm counting on you. I don't want to see the men under my command looking incompetent either.”

“Those words of yours—”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Bigra lunged forward.

“You'll regret them!”

Crack!

Allen's and Bigra's wooden swords collided.

Apparently, Bigra hadn't expected the match to end with the first exchange, and he immediately followed up with another attack.

Whoosh.

Clack, clack-clack-clack!

These were pure attacks, without even the reinforcement of the body through mana, much less sword energy.

Even so, Bigra's wooden sword was undeniably fast and fierce.

‘So this is what it means to belong to the Flying Sword Division.’

His fundamentals were certainly solid.

He used his lower body correctly when swinging his sword, and even while attacking, he left himself room to defend.

Moreover, feints intended to deceive his opponent's eyes were naturally woven into his swordsmanship between attacks.

Judging by swordsmanship alone, he was even better than the fake demonic human Allen had encountered before.

They might be looked down upon within the Flying Sword Division, but each of these men was a skilled swordsman who would be recognized anywhere else.

Smack!

Deflecting the sword thrust toward his throat, Allen smiled with satisfaction.

“Not bad.”

“You're quite skilled yourself, Second Young Master.”

Bigra addressed Allen as the Second Young Master rather than Squad Leader.

It meant he still did not acknowledge Allen as their squad leader.

Nevertheless, Bigra was inwardly astonished.

‘Why is he so good at blocking?’

Allen had been doing nothing but defending.

At first, Bigra thought it was because Allen was too occupied with blocking his sword to do anything else.

But after ten exchanges, then twenty, he had no choice but to realize the truth.

Allen's swordsmanship was excellent.

Bigra had mixed in feints several times, but Allen had not fallen for them, and he defended himself with ease.

‘But how long is he going to keep doing nothing but blocking...?’

It was then.

Whoosh.

Thump!

“...!”

A wooden sword suddenly thrust forward and struck Bigra in the chest.

Precisely where his heart was located.

Feeling pain in his chest from the blow, Bigra staggered backward.

“Urgh...”

“A stab through the heart. That would be instant death.”

Allen nodded slightly and looked around at the others.

But Bigra refused to withdraw and stepped forward again.

“The Acceptance Ceremony's matches continue until one side loses consciousness.”

“Consciousness?”

“Yes. I'm still perfectly fine.”

Although his chest ached where he had been struck, Bigra was still fully capable of moving.

He could not yet accept what had happened.

‘I didn't see it properly. I let my guard down.’

It was true that he had been careless.

After all, seeing Allen concentrate entirely on defense had made him certain of victory.

‘If I concentrate a little more...’

At that moment—

Whoosh.

“Gasp!”

Bigra hurriedly assumed a defensive stance against the incoming wooden sword.

Clang, clack!

The wooden sword came at him repeatedly from different directions.

The next thing Bigra saw was Allen's face, still smiling.

“You've left your front open.”

Crack!

The sound of a blow to his head was the last thing Bigra heard before his eyes rolled back.

Allen's wooden sword had struck Bigra squarely on the head.

It was a blow intended to knock him unconscious without injuring him.

The squad members watching began murmuring at the match's sudden conclusion.

One of them rushed forward and dragged Bigra away.

Mary was impressed by Allen's swordsmanship.

‘The attacks from the left and right were feints meant to break his guard. He was swinging his sword while thinking not about the immediate exchange, but two moves ahead.’

Regardless of the Curse of Mana Deprivation, his abilities as a swordsman were excellent.

Allen beckoned with his fingers.

With one opponent defeated, it was now time for two to step forward.

Two of the squad members who had been watching one another cautiously came forward.

They were the two youngest members of the Second Squad.

“My name is Blanc.”

“I'm Flandre.”

The two bowed their heads to Allen and raised their wooden swords.

Having witnessed Bigra's fight with Allen, neither of them allowed himself to become careless.

‘We'll circle to either side and attack together.’

‘If even we get beaten, it'll be a complete disgrace.’

The commander was watching.

If they lost after joining forces against the Second Young Master they had looked down on so much, they would truly become the laughingstock of the other squads.

Blanc and Flandre spread out to the left and right.

They intended to attack Allen simultaneously from opposite sides, beyond his field of vision.

At that moment—

Flash.

Unlike before, Allen was the first to kick off the ground and charge.

“...!”

As Allen closed the distance in the blink of an eye, Blanc hurriedly swung his wooden sword.

Although he was treated as one of the youngest in the division, his sword was fierce. He aimed for Allen's waist to prevent him from closing the distance any further, attacking and defending at the same time.

However—

Swish.

‘He disappeared?’

Allen vanished as though he had sunk into the ground.

“Below!”

Only after hearing Flandre's shout did Blanc realize where Allen had gone.

As he charged, Allen had lowered his body deeply to evade the sword.

His stance was so low that he seemed to disappear from sight for an instant.

And in that brief moment when Blanc lost track of Allen's movements—

Crack!

A wooden sword came flying up from below and struck Blanc's chin.

Blanc's eyes rolled back, and he toppled backward.

Seeing Blanc subdued in an instant, Flandre shouted in surprise.

“Blanc!”

“If you're going to attack together, you should have maintained an appropriate distance.”

Despite his leisurely tone, Allen's movements were swift.

“At this rate, it's no different from fighting individually, is it?”

“...!”

Clack-clack-clack!

Crack!

Allen's wooden sword struck Flandre's arm.

Flandre had raised his left arm to block an attack aimed at his head.

“Urgh...”

Since it was a wooden sword, his arm wasn't severed, but Flandre felt pain so intense that it seemed his arm might break.

“Good reflexes.”

The voice sounded as though someone were speaking right beside him.

Before Flandre knew how it had happened, Allen had closed in directly beneath his chin.

Crack!

Swoooosh.

Flandre's chin snapped to the side, and his body fell forward.

Thud—

Silence descended upon the training ground.

Without even disturbing his breathing, Allen looked at the remaining squad members and spoke.

“Next, four.”