Chapter 19

Chapter 19

The Swordsmanship Genius Who Transcends Through a Pact Chapter 19

They were only a few simple words, but their meaning was easy enough to understand.

“He took what I said more seriously than I expected.”

“Yeah. You said you'd unite the North, right?”

“As I said, I'm aiming for more than that, but first things first.”

The title of baron and a small barony simply didn't carry enough weight to unite the North.

That was even more true for Ian, who wasn't even the lord himself.

‘So I need to grow the family first.’

Until people could no longer ignore it.

That was why Ian had wanted to earn House Vahen's favor.

Of course, Vahen couldn't step forward directly.

He remembered how, during his conversation with Luke Vahen, the subject had come up of needing to watch the center—in other words, the Emperor.

‘If they did, it could genuinely start a civil war.’

The current Emperor had plenty of problems.

He had sat on the throne for far too long, lost the wisdom of his younger years, and turned into a ravenous beast obsessed with power.

‘That's where one of the damn apocalypse scenarios comes from.’

A madman who launched reckless wars of conquest despite being ravaged by illness.

There was a reason players ranked him among the most hated characters in the game.

“I understand.”

‘If anything, this works out.’

Build influence and expand the territory.

That was something Ian already intended to do.

“Ian, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Ah, Brother.”

During the Subjugation Festival, there had been four official banquets in total.

Practically one every day.

Given that it was the largest celebration in the North, perhaps that was only natural.

The dark circles beneath my brother's eyes had grown noticeably deeper because of it.

“Are you all right?”

“No. Honestly, I'm tired.”

“I figured you'd say that.”

“You brat...”

He said it like that, but there was an unmistakable smile on his lips.

“If you're tired, why not rest? Why are you working so hard to attend every single one?”

“That's how noble society works. They put on stupid faces and refuse to open their hearts unless you approach them first.”

“I see.”

There wasn't much I could say to that.

Aside from a few exceptions, I honestly hadn't been paying much attention to the northern nobles.

“House Rashid is small. But you're trying to step onto a much larger stage.”

“...”

“I don't know what you discussed with His Grace the Grand Duke. But I can't allow our family to hold you back.”

My brother spoke with a smile that seemed to have chased away some of his exhaustion.

“Besides, I gained quite a few practical benefits myself.”

“As expected of you, Brother.”

He really was much better at this sort of thing.

Putting on a mask and chatting people up for profit simply didn't suit my personality.

“In any case, the official banquets are over, so I'm thinking of returning to the territory and resting soon. What about you?”

“I plan to stay a few more days.”

“I see. You seem to have formed a rather good connection here, so I won't interfere.”

“...Brother.”

“I'm joking, you brat.”

With that, my brother left first.

The official banquets had ended today, but the excitement hadn't died down at all.

This was one of the biggest events in the North, so everyone was still busy socializing.

‘Just showing my face there drained me...’

How the hell did Brother endure all of that?

Even after every banquet ended, I remained in Belburg for several more days.

There was only one reason.

“Hoo...”

Pacts.

There was no way I'd pass up the chance to use House Vahen's weapons.

‘I need to scrape every last bit of value out of this.’

My entire body was already drenched in sweat.

But instead of feeling exhausted, I felt far more satisfied.

-Yes, that's it! Youngsters these days don't know the basics!

-Damn, look at that arm when he swings.

-Extreme Cold Art... Ugh, I could die happy now...

Countless voices from weapons brushed past my ears.

Even House Vahen's training weapons were of exceptional quality.

‘Good thing I got permission to use them.’

I'd been making excellent use of the privilege I'd received in exchange for returning Winterbane.

As expected of a famous family of the North, they possessed an absurd number of swords.

Thanks to that, I steadily increased the proficiency of several skills.

‘Northern Swordsmanship might reach S-rank soon.’

A+ corresponded to the Master level.

One step further would bring it to completion.

Perfecting multiple sword arts was essentially the path toward Sword Master and beyond.

[You have successfully completed your Pact with the Vahen-Style Steel Sword (Normal).]

[You have successfully completed your Pact with the Vahen-Style Training Black Sword (Normal).]

[The proficiency of ‘Northern Swordsmanship (A+)’ has increased.]

[The proficiency of ‘Frost Step (A)’ has increased.]

Frost Step's proficiency was continuing to rise as well.

Perhaps because these swords were so much better, the amount of proficiency they granted was on an entirely different level from my family's weapons.

‘Still no new skills, though.’

That was a little disappointing.

I remembered there being quite a few skills left that would suit the northern warrior build.

Well, there was no need to be disappointed.

Using the weapons wasn't the only benefit of remaining here.

“Baron Rashid, might I request a spar?”

“If anything, I should be the one asking for the honor of crossing swords with a knight of Vahen.”

I'd also gained the chance to exchange blows with numerous knights of House Vahen.

They were definitely skilled.

It felt like only yesterday I'd been sparring with the soldiers back home, yet somehow I'd already come this far.

‘The difference isn't overwhelming.’

I still had areas where I fell short, but the gap was closing rapidly.

Of course, the difference between Sword User and Expert couldn't simply be ignored...

‘Still, they're easier than Tarian or Larissa...’

Well, considering how strong those two were.

It was only natural that ordinary knights would start feeling easier by comparison.

“Baron Rashid, could I trouble you for a match?”

“Of course.”

And it wasn't only House Vahen's knights.

Promising young nobles from the North also challenged me.

Young talents who, as fellow martial artists, genuinely wanted to measure my ability.

‘I'd like to have some of them.’

That was why I pressed them even harder.

So they could clearly understand what I was capable of.

“Now I understand why you shone so brightly in the Subjugation Festival. I concede.”

“It was a good match.”

This too was something I could only experience because I'd come to Belburg.

Knights.

Northern nobles.

And beyond them, Tarian and Larissa.

‘What I'm lacking now are passive-type skills.’

I had Cold Heart and Hide of Bitter Cold, but I needed something beyond those.

Especially something I could obtain here in the North.

A calm mind and a sturdy body.

Swordsmanship and footwork.

A cultivation art and buffs.

“Hmm...”

As I considered what should come next, I heard footsteps.

I turned my head slightly and saw Larissa Vahen.

“You've improved again.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn't praise.”

...Then what was it?

“I was only stating a fact.”

Larissa answered my confused expression in her languid voice.

My skill combinations had definitely become smoother, but beyond that, it felt like my entire mindset and posture in combat had changed.

‘Still, something feels off.’

That was what I'd been thinking about.

Which direction I needed to develop in next.

“Something uncomfortable?”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yeah. It does.”

Larissa had been watching me cross swords with others continuously.

Hearing her say it made me realize that the dissatisfaction I'd been feeling came from discomfort.

‘Then why?’

Why did it feel uncomfortable?

It wasn't a matter of mindset.

There was no way Larissa looked perceptive enough to notice something like that.

Then it had to be my movements.

‘I only started feeling it recently.’

I began fitting the pieces together one by one.

As a test, I swung my sword without using Extreme Cold Art or Blessing of Frost.

Whoosh-

The swordsmanship flowed naturally.

Of course there was no discomfort.

I'd repeated these movements countless times.

‘It was the output!’

Only then did I understand.

The synergy between Extreme Cold Art and Blessing of Frost was nearly perfect.

Efficiency, affinity, maximum output.

They covered everything.

‘But the swordsmanship is different.’

Northern Swordsmanship was unquestionably good, but in the end it was still foundational swordsmanship.

Its heavily defensive nature couldn't help but feel mismatched.

In other words, I needed a new sword art capable of handling this level of output.

And I happened to have an extremely capable swordsmanship instructor.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I figured out what the problem was.”

“...Still better than Johan.”

Johannes was grinning stupidly while receiving what could only generously be called instruction from Tarian.

At least it was nice to hear that I ranked above him.

“It's all because you've helped me, Lady Larissa.”

“Older sister.”

“...?”

“Call me Older Sister Larissa.”

Larissa said it expressionlessly with her arms crossed.

I awkwardly looked away.

‘Older sister?’

Come on, that's a bit much...

Come to think of it, Larissa hadn't undergone her coming-of-age ceremony all that long ago.

‘People become adults at twenty in this world too...’

This little kid.

Though technically, this body of mine hadn't even undergone its coming-of-age ceremony yet.

Still, there was such a thing as a difference in mental age.

“More importantly, I'd like to speak with His Grace the Grand Duke...”

“...”

“Lady Larissa?”

“Hmph.”

She still wore the same expressionless face, but turned her head away with that response.

I immediately realized what she wanted.

“Larissa... Older Sis—Lady.”

“Father is probably waiting for you too.”

She'd looked faintly displeased, yet responded instantly to my words, making me sigh quietly.

When we'd first met, I'd imagined her as the embodiment of a cold, expressionless northern knight.

The reality was completely different.

“When you say he's waiting...”

“Literally.”

So she meant exactly what she said.

I nodded silently.

This summons was probably about what I'd said last time, and Winterbane.

‘There's no way to create a northern alliance like this.’

I'd need suitable conditions.

I had to hear what they were.

Directly from the Grand Duke himself.

‘It's practically impossible to move in the North without Vahen's approval.’

“What Ian needs to do right now is get stronger.”

“I know.”

“Just knowing isn't enough.”

She slowly readjusted her grip on the training sword and looked at me.

“You need to become so strong that no one can object to you.”

“...”

Emotion appeared in Larissa's normally expressionless eyes.

Heat.

The heat of a beast that had long hidden within the North.

The heart of a swordswoman eager to swing her blade at any moment.

“Then perhaps one more spar—”

“Ian!”

Just as I was about to raise my sword, someone came running over and shattered the atmosphere.

“Johannes?”

“Hah, huff, wait.”

“Johan, did you come to interrupt us?”

“S-Sister, that's not it! Ian, F-Father is calling for you!”

I smiled faintly at Johannes's words between ragged breaths.

It seemed the time had finally come.

Time to speak directly with the Grand Duke.