Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The Swordsmanship Genius Who Transcends Through a Pact Chapter 10

The news had come out of nowhere.

An invitation from the grand ducal family.

“The Grand Duchy of Vahen...”

“For now, go rest first. You look rather exhausted.”

I slowly nodded at my brother's concerned words.

It wasn't only me either. The soldiers also looked thoroughly worn out.

They'd expended quite a bit of energy hauling the spoils, and they'd probably been exposed to the debuff continuously as well.

‘An invitation that would arrive around this time.’

I recalled the events that took place in the North.

After the massive invasion, countless families were destroyed, leaving the North effectively within the sphere of influence of demons and monsters.

The only house that survived and continued acting as a shield was the Grand Duchy of Vahen.

‘The final bulwark protecting the North, and one of the foremost families in the Empire.’

That was why they continued holding various events in the North even after the massive invasion.

The largest of those was probably the Subjugation Festival.

An event where participants hunted monsters and competed through the results.

‘Practically the only regularly occurring event in the North.’

At least, that was true from the point when the game began.

It wasn't an especially massive event, but the grand ducal family offered rewards of their own.

And since the North was in far better condition now than it would be then, I could probably expect even better rewards.

‘It's basically a festival, too.’

When I rested and examined the letter, that was exactly what it said.

The main Subjugation Festival was a competition among famous figures who had already undergone their coming-of-age ceremonies.

But the invitation I'd received was for something different, a gathering of promising youths who hadn't yet reached adulthood.

“So, do you intend to participate?”

“I think that would probably be best.”

It would help the family, and I could receive rewards personally offered by the Grand Duke.

Two birds with one stone.

There was no reason to refuse.

“I agree. There should be much for you to learn there as well.”

“Probably.”

“I hear you're preparing to begin properly controlling mana. Do you need an elixir?”

“An elixir? Absolutely not.”

Knowing House Rashid's finances perfectly well, I shook my head.

Given enough time, obtaining something like an elixir wouldn't be too difficult anyway.

“Don't worry about the family. Do you think we're so poor that we can't provide even that much for you?”

“Brother...”

“More importantly, I'd like you to find a good marriage prospect while you're there.”

He grinned as he said it, and I sighed.

Hadn't he already said the same thing before?

“Shouldn't you marry first?”

“Ahem. Didn't I tell you last time? It isn't time for me yet.”

“Same for me. I haven't even had my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Considering that the coming-of-age ceremony itself required traveling all the way to the imperial capital, there was still time.

In any case, before that ceremony took place, I wanted at least enough combat power to stand on equal footing with a knight.

‘Still a long way to go.’

My current skill set had established the general direction of my growth.

Which meant what I needed now was to push this concept even further.

My growth might be fast, but I still wasn't even qualified to compare myself to a proper knight.

‘It's only a matter of time.’

I would make sure of that.

With renewed determination, I glanced at my brother.

“Then I'll take it that you're participating.”

“By the way, how exactly is this year's Subjugation Festival being held?”

“They say it'll be unusually large in scale. The Grand Duke's eldest daughter will be entering the main festival for the first time.”

So this was that point in time.

I immediately remembered who the Grand Duke's eldest daughter was.

‘Larissa Vahen.’

By the time the game began, she'd already left the North.

And she was an exceptionally powerful character who became the second Sword Master in the grand ducal family after the Grand Duke himself.

A beautiful appearance popular with male players, along with outstanding performance.

She was popular enough to rank highly among the game's characters.

“So it's already that time.”

“Hmm? Interested in her?”

“No. I've only heard rumors that she's skilled with the sword...”

“Well, they say she's already defeated knights at her age.”

Most knights were at the Expert level, meaning she was at least that strong.

Considering I had less than a year before my own coming-of-age ceremony, it gave me a clear sense of just how much of a genius she was.

“What, are you interested after all?”

“Stop trying to steer the conversation that way and explain the rest.”

“Hahaha, don't be embarrassed. Another difference is that the Grand Duke's third son will be participating as well.”

“So he'll be competition.”

“Indeed.”

There was a small amount of concern in my brother's calm gaze.

“You won't cause unnecessary trouble, will you?”

“Brother, do I look like that kind of person?”

“You didn't before. Recently, though, you've developed a tendency not to look back once you start something.”

I chuckled at that.

“It's fine. There probably won't be any problems.”

“Probably?”

“I can't promise.”

“You little troublemaker.”

I burst out laughing at my brother's slightly troubled expression.

No matter what he said, I knew the concern underneath it was genuine.

“I'll go train now.”

“Don't overdo it. No, just please don't get hurt.”

Leaving my brother's voice behind, I stepped out of the room.

I exchanged brief greetings with the soldiers and organized the items we'd obtained.

‘This sword should be good.’

Just thinking about forming Pacts with the new swords made the corners of my mouth rise.

After that came the familiar routine of training.

“You're here. Shall we begin immediately?”

“Sounds good.”

My training with Tarian had changed from before.

For one thing, Tarian no longer restricted his movement or used only his left hand.

Instead, he seemed intent on crushing me with his full strength.

Tak-!

With a sharp sound, I barely blocked Tarian's sword.

It was only possible because he'd deliberately wrapped his mana around his body in a visible manner, allowing me to see his movements.

We hadn't been training for long, yet my entire body was already battered.

“Huff, huff.”

My whole body burned.

It felt as though touching my skin would result in a burn.

I glanced down and saw red marks everywhere the wooden sword had struck me.

“Young Master, are you sure you can continue?”

“Yeah. Keep going.”

“But...”

“I think, I'm getting it.”

I was actually glad Tarian had become more aggressive.

It made things much harder, but it also gave me the opportunity to internalize the skills I'd newly acquired.

“Then I'll come again.”

Cold Heart was difficult to improve unless I was exposed to debuffs for long periods or engaged in real combat.

So naturally, I'd focused more on Hide of Bitter Cold and Frost's Blessing.

“Ghk!”

Just when I thought I'd blocked his sword completely, his next unpredictable swing slammed into my waist.

I'd noticed it before, but damn, it hurt.

-A little more! This isn't enough!

-Warriors these days have no grit! No grit at all! You grow by getting hit!

-Tsk, tsk!

Those were the voices I heard while training with one of the swords we'd brought back from the dungeon.

‘Shut up.’

Ignoring the voices echoing in my head, I tightened my grip on the sword.

Watching Tarian's movements, I examined the flow of mana even more precisely.

‘Move.’

I constantly tried to move the mana within my body.

It would've been effectively impossible if I hadn't already awakened to magical power.

But after obtaining Frost's Blessing, the sensation was clearly different.

Just a little.

It felt as though if I could push only a tiny bit further, I'd be able to move it.

Thud-

While I focused, Tarian's sword continued striking various parts of my body.

“Gh...”

“Young Master, you're really all right, aren't you?”

“I said keep going.”

In the past, the pain would've been enough to make me drop my sword.

Now it was different.

I could clearly feel the effects of the skills I'd obtained.

“I suppose I was worrying unnecessarily. Then I'll get more serious.”

Mana rippled around Tarian's body.

‘Watch and feel.’

I'd already done this countless times in the last dungeon.

Tak-!

The impact was unbelievable for a wooden sword, and the skin of my palm split open.

It was a sensation I had barely experienced since acquiring my new skills, but a knight really was different.

“Not enough.”

“Would you like to continue?”

“More.”

And so one day passed.

Then two.

Then three.

The days flew by as the Subjugation Festival approached.

-You're insane.

-Such determination...

-I acknowledge you.

[You have successfully completed your Pact with the Resolute Ancient Northern Iron Sword (Normal)!]

[The proficiency of ‘Hide of Bitter Cold (C)’ has increased.]

[‘Hide of Bitter Cold (C)’▶‘Hide of Bitter Cold (B)’]

As the Pact was completed, the proficiency of several skills rose again.

But that wasn't what mattered to me.

‘More. More!’

I kept sensing the mana.

As the experience accumulated and repeated, the amount of mana I could perceive steadily increased.

At the same time, I studied how Tarian moved and how he used his mana.

Thoom!

I bit my lip as the sword thrust toward my shoulder.

Blood seeped from between my bitten lips, but I ignored it.

‘Just a little. A little more.’

I saw the sword coming down as though to split my skull and blocked it.

I probably could've dodged once or twice using Frost Step, but there was no need for that right now.

“Sss, haa...”

I regulated my breathing and focused on controlling the mana inside my body.

The harder I concentrated, the more strongly I began to feel something within me.

‘Cold.’

The first thing I felt was chill.

As I sensed the cold flowing through my pathways, reason returned to my overheated mind.

‘It keeps circulating.’

The place where mana constantly flowed.

My heart.

The mana began there, spread throughout my entire body, and returned to the heart.

“Ah.”

Enlightenment.

When I first saw the mana spreading from a skeleton's core.

When I fought the Draugr.

And now, while sparring with Tarian.

The mana I'd seen and sensed all that time was now flowing properly within my own body.

And I could move it.

“Hup!”

As Tarian's sword approached again, I immediately concentrated all the mana in my body into a single point.

My hand.

And then the sword.

Slash-!

At the same time, Tarian's wooden sword, which had collided with mine countless times before, was cut through.

“I never thought you'd actually succeed.”

“Haa, hoo...”

My ragged breathing sounded unusually loud.

“I did it.”

I succeeded.

That single fact only drove my heartbeat faster.

“I fucking did it!”

It was the moment the results of being beaten for days finally bloomed in full.

-You're seriously insane.