Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The Swordsmanship Genius Who Transcends Through a Pact Chapter 11

Smack-!

“Agh! Brother, easy!”

“Enough, you foolish brat. How much longer must you keep this up before you come to your senses?”

“Ugh, but I did awaken my magical power.”

“Haa, perhaps it's my own failing that I can't even scold you properly when you've produced results. You only just returned from the expedition, and I even prepared a banquet.”

“A banquet?”

“...You were the one who asked me to prepare one.”

Smack, my brother said as he personally applied medicinal herbs to me.

“So, are you working this hard because you're preparing for the upcoming Subjugation Festival?”

“It's an opportunity to make our family known.”

“Honestly, when you put it like that, I can't even argue.”

I smiled at my brother as he spoke with a bitter smile.

“Anyway, that isn't what's important right now. The banquet is.”

“Is that really more important?”

“Of course.”

Awakening mana wasn't the end of it.

In any case, I was now able to use a power I'd never possessed in the past.

Which also meant my body needed more fuel.

And with the way I was putting my body through brutal training, recovering, and growing stronger, I needed even more nutrition than before.

‘The banquet is nice, but...’

That was also one of the reasons I was looking forward to the Subjugation Festival, which was practically a festival in every sense.

There would be even more food there.

“All right. I'll have everything prepared, so clean yourself up and come out.”

“Yes, sir.”

I even saluted before beginning to tidy myself up.

My skin was already regenerating quickly, and my body had become much tougher than before.

‘Definitely.’

Not bad at all.

After finishing up with the servants' help.

I headed to the banquet.

My brother was the kind of lord who gave generously not only to the residents of the territory, but even to the soldiers.

“Quite a crowd.”

“Ah, Young Master Ian!”

The soldiers looked startled when our eyes met.

In particular, I noticed the men who had sparred with me and accompanied me into the dungeon.

“Training going well?”

“Yes! We're doing everything we can to prepare ourselves so we can earn new weapons.”

“Good. Don't slack off. Lead the others and keep at it.”

It wasn't only the massive northern invasion.

To stop the apocalypses that were coming, every bit of strength like this had to be gathered together.

No, beyond even that.

‘I don't really want to watch them die if I can help it.’

I'd grown fairly attached to them.

If they died, I'd be sad too.

“You work this hard yourself, Young Master Ian. We have to try even harder.”

“We heard you'll be participating in the Subjugation Festival soon. You'll be shocked by how much stronger we've gotten by the time you return.”

Hearing them speak so confidently made an involuntary laugh escape me.

“Then maybe I should check right now?”

“Pardon? That's a bit...”

“Hmm. You've gotten awfully mouthy lately. Maybe I should tell them to raise the intensity.”

“Anything but that...”

After enjoying their reactions for a while, I settled in and enjoyed the banquet.

My brother rarely asserted his authority, so the atmosphere felt more like a casual company dinner than a formal feast.

“Young Master, I believe you're exceptionally well prepared now. When I first met you, I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

“A lot of it was thanks to you.”

“I'd like to remain beside you and watch you continue growing, but I'm not sure how things will turn out.”

“Why? There's still some time left on your contract, isn't there?”

“It isn't a long-term contract. More importantly, there's someone at the festival whom I'd rather not run into.”

I glanced at Tarian's expression.

Given how he brought it up, that person was clearly going to be at the Subjugation Festival.

“Would it really be a problem? They probably won't bother you much. Better yet, why don't you use this opportunity to sign a long-term contract with us?”

“...Are you asking me to become your retainer?”

“Obviously.”

Tarian was more than capable as a fighter, and he was also a very competent teacher.

‘Except for the first day.’

I definitely didn't hold a grudge.

Still, it was an unforgettable memory...

‘Was that really teaching?’

Either way, he'd taught me properly ever since.

“...”

I patted Tarian on the shoulder as he fell into serious thought.

There was still a lot I hadn't learned from him.

Especially his swordsmanship.

“Take your time thinking about it.”

The day of the Subjugation Festival was approaching.

* * *

“You've definitely grown far stronger than before.”

After yet another sparring session that had become part of our daily lives, Tarian looked at me and spoke.

I shrugged.

“What do you think? Enough to perform well at the Subjugation Festival?”

“Of course. If anything, I'm worried.”

“Worried?”

“That you might break everyone else's swords.”

I snorted with laughter.

As time went on, Tarian was getting surprisingly good at flattery.

“There really isn't much time left now.”

Over the past few days, I'd kept training so I wouldn't lose my grasp on magical power.

And now I'd even begun trying out the weapons stored in the family armory.

“I wanted to reach Expert before leaving.”

“What kind of nonsense is that...”

“Wouldn't it look incredible if I showed off sword aura there?”

“That isn't exactly a normal standard.”

Tarian rubbed his forehead like merely thinking about how to explain it was giving him a headache.

“At your current level, it's already difficult to believe you've only been holding a sword for a few months.”

“Really?”

“Your sword technique alone is already comparable to that of an experienced Sword User. If you could only break through the wall, there'd be no problem considering you an Expert.”

I shrugged at Tarian's words.

But as long as I couldn't manifest sword aura, Expert still felt far away.

“More importantly, have you still not decided?”

“Isn't it far too soon?”

“I want to learn your swordsmanship now.”

At that, Tarian looked at me calmly.

“My swordsmanship is difficult for you to learn at your current level.”

“Don't we have to try before we know?”

“...”

Tarian began thinking seriously.

I waited calmly for a moment.

“In that case, would you like to hold my sword first?”

“Can I?”

“Lending you my sword for a moment is hardly a problem.”

I carefully accepted the sword he offered.

-Ugh, what?

-He's still just a brat.

-I don't want anyone except Tarian.

The voice coming from Tarian's sword sounded clear and elegant, yet thoroughly annoyed.

“Hmm.”

-He isn't even at knight level yet.

-He seems fairly talented, but he's still far from good enough.

The sword kept evaluating me aloud, then its blade shuddered.

‘Well, compared to Tarian, I've definitely got a long way to go. Tarian is exceptionally talented.’

-...!

-You're a little more reasonable than I thought. There really isn't a swordsman like Tarian! Especially when he grips me with that calm look before cutting down an enemy... Ahh.

Apparently Tarian carried around a stalker-level fan.

And a slightly strange one at that.

-Still no.

‘No?’

-You're not ready yet.

-At least learn to produce sword aura. Then maybe I'll become interested?

With those final words, the sword fell silent.

It felt like the kind of sword that might say, ‘Only Tarian.’

Still, if I wanted to understand Tarian's swordsmanship, holding it was probably my best option.

“Sometimes you can learn something simply by holding a sword. Do you feel anything?”

I closed my eyes and slowly ran my hand along the hilt.

Where he tended to apply strength.

How he'd swung the sword.

“I do. I can't tell everything exactly, but I can feel how you've been gripping it.”

“Your eye has improved.”

Whenever Tarian swung his sword in sparring, it always looked light.

But the marks worn into the hilt told a different story.

Naturally, the areas where he'd applied strength most often were the first to wear down.

Tarian's unique sword art, ‘Wandering Sword.’

Even in Last Savior, it was known as one of the better offensive swordsmanship styles.

‘A sword meant solely to kill the opponent.’

Well, considering the problem inherent in this skill.

It really was too difficult for me to learn right now.

“Deliberately controlling killing intent and shaping it into a tangible form is the minimum requirement for learning my swordsmanship.”

-Hmph!

-I do like you a tiny bit, but...

-If you want anything from me, learn Tarian's swordsmanship first!

“Looks like I need to grow more.”

My goal was knight level and beyond from the beginning.

If I wanted to stop that damned massive invasion and the other shitty apocalypses, I had no choice but to keep pushing myself.

“One more?”

“Understood.”

So just wait a little longer.

* * *

Time flew by, and the day finally came for us to depart for the Subjugation Festival.

“Ian.”

“Ah, Brother.”

“Are you fully prepared?”

“Yes. Let's get going.”

“Hoo. A Subjugation Festival at a time like this. There's still so much work left to finish here.”

I chuckled at my brother's regretful tone.

“Well, it's a good thing. And you still have your retainers, don't you?”

“That is true.”

“Besides, you should take this opportunity to rest a little too. You look absolutely...”

“What? You little brat.”

I'd meant it as a joke, but I genuinely wondered when he ever slept.

Every day, he worried about the territory and about me.

He truly was a good person.

‘And capable too.’

Someone like him should be left in charge of the North for a long, long time.

I felt a little guilty that I was probably increasing his workload.

“Wouldn't it be good if we raised the family's reputation while we're at it?”

“Hah. If you manage that, I couldn't ask for more.”

“Then let's go. Get some sleep on the way.”

“You're the one who shouldn't overdo things.”

After a brief farewell, I climbed into the carriage.

I'd deliberately chosen a different carriage from my brother.

‘I'll need to train on the way anyway.’

Training in front of my brother was slightly embarrassing.

No, the real problem was that he kept smiling proudly beside me, which somehow made it harder to train intensely.

“You two brothers are quite close.”

“Isn't that normal?”

I'd never actually had family before, so I didn't really know.

I'd grown up effectively alone in the world, only to suddenly end up inside a game.

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“Obviously.”

I was practically going insane from anticipation over what rewards I might obtain.

Hopefully I could at least acquire an Epic-grade skill.

“It'll exceed even your expectations.”

With Tarian's words, the carriage finally departed.

Along the way, I briefly reviewed my plans.

‘The Subjugation Festival. My biggest goal is becoming stronger.’

I didn't know what rewards would be available, but at minimum I needed enough ability that even the Grand Duke would have to listen when I spoke.

And to do that, winning would help.

In the North, only the strong had a voice.

‘I also need to watch the events.’

At least until I stopped the massive invasion, it looked like I was destined to keep working nonstop.

And while I was at it, it would be nice to nip the signs of the other apocalypses in the bud.

After finishing organizing my thoughts.

“Yaaawn.”

My anticipation quickly turned into boredom.

‘This is damn slow.’

The game had already been frustrating because it lacked fast transportation.

Actually experiencing the ride quality of a carriage made it feel like hell.

‘At least I'm not cold.’

Maybe I'd adapted to the North by now, because the cold wind felt almost like a spring breeze.

With Frost's Blessing and Hide of Bitter Cold, perhaps that was only natural.

“You're already itching to move again, aren't you?”

“Hoo. Maybe we should stop somewhere along the way and have a spar.”

“Haha, what a joke.”

“...?”

“You are joking, right?”