Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The Swordsmanship Genius Who Transcends Through a Pact Chapter 22

For several more days on the road back to the territory, I repeatedly sparred with Tarian.

Calling them spars was generous. They were practically real battles.

“You've improved a lot.”

“Probably because he pushes me until I'm almost dead every time.”

“Yeah. It looks that way.”

So it really did look that bad.

I let out a small laugh at Larissa, who had been watching our spar before approaching to speak.

Still, the efficiency was high.

‘I've definitely improved compared to before.’

I'd at least reached the point where I could somehow control killing intent.

Giving it tangible form was still a long way off, but I'd taken the first step.

Without Pact, I probably would've had to learn even Northern Swordsmanship this way.

“You need to focus more on what's inside than what you can see.”

“Hoo... Understood.”

“Was it like this?”

Larissa demonstrated it herself as she spoke.

As a swordswoman who had already established her own domain, she clearly understood how the body needed to move.

Bringing her along had definitely been helpful.

“Thank you.”

“Mm. This much is nothing.”

“You also keep things from getting too excessive every time.”

“Better than getting hurt, isn't it?”

I nodded at how naturally she said it.

Sometimes she seemed absentminded, yet at moments like this, she seemed unexpectedly thoughtful.

“Guhk!”

“You still haven't corrected that habit. When you're forced onto the defensive, your left foot slows down.”

“Kgh!”

“If you're going to block, block properly. Simply holding up a sword doesn't mean you've defended.”

I sighed quietly at the strange cries coming from beside us.

Tarian wasn't only teaching me anymore.

He was directly instructing Johannes as well.

“This is the only way I feel like I'm retaining some semblance of humanity.”

Or so he said.

In any case, my rapid progress over the past few days had given me a rough feel for it.

The territory was already close.

“Damn...”

It felt like I was almost touching something, yet not quite.

Like I was caught on some vague threshold.

‘I can control it, but giving it form is difficult.’

It felt slightly different from the tangible manifestation of energy described by Extreme Cold Art.

The fortunate part was that I wasn't being swallowed by the killing intent.

‘My prediction was right.’

The mana control I'd gained through Blessing of Frost and Extreme Cold Art, combined with Cold Heart, was enough to keep it from consuming me.

While I was checking the wounds Tarian had left all over me.

“Here.”

Larissa had already approached and held out some ointment.

“...Thank you.”

“Ian, you look like Johan.”

“That's a little harsh.”

“I told you not to get hurt.”

Judging by the way she spoke, that definitely hadn't been praise.

The slight furrow in her brow made it even clearer.

I awkwardly looked away and happened to see Johannes.

“...Sister, do I really look like Ian?”

“No. Ian looks like Johan. Johan still has a long way to go.”

“Ah...”

What answer had that idiot been expecting?

While I was thinking that.

“Ian, grow faster.”

“Pardon?”

“You can, can't you?”

The look in her eyes as she said it was unmistakably that of a knight.

No.

More accurately, a warrior.

One eyeing its prey.

‘This...’

At some point Larissa had gone off by herself to polish her sword.

Johannes watched her for a while, then whispered.

“Sister really is looking for a true rival. That's why she's saying things like that.”

“A rival?”

“Yes. There isn't a swordsman around her age with comparable skill.”

It was something I already knew.

That was why she'd eventually left the North and headed to the central regions.

‘So she sees me as a future rival.’

It didn't feel bad.

I had no intention of losing to anyone either.

“Fine. Then I'll work you harder first. Look forward to it.”

“Hm? Good!”

I snorted at the sight of him smiling despite the bruises all over his body.

‘He has been trying hard lately.’

That was a good thing.

Tarian, Johannes, and Larissa.

People might have called me a headbutting dinosaur, but I had no intention of throwing away a winning lottery ticket that had already fallen into my hands.

Especially when that ticket was guaranteed to pay out.

“Grow nice and strong, you too.”

“Understood!”

After that brief rest, the carriage began moving again.

We were less than a day away, so reaching the territory didn't take long.

The problem was...

“Young Master Ian!”

“We knew you could do it, Young Master!”

“This has been a tremendous help to the territory...”

The crowd waiting for us the moment we arrived.

Not only the residents, but the family's soldiers, knights, and retainers too.

Everyone had gathered to welcome me.

“A hero's triumphant return.”

“Please shut up...”

Not knowing whether Johannes was mocking me or being sincere, I jabbed him in the side and accepted the welcome with a smile I carefully kept from looking too pained.

After enduring it for a while, I quickly fled toward the family head's office.

“Brother, what exactly is all that outside...”

“They volunteered to welcome you.”

I fell silent and sighed.

“I, uh, plan to leave again immediately.”

“Leave?”

“Yes. Something came up.”

“Huh. I even prepared a banquet. How can you leave immediately?”

“We can hold one big banquet after I finish this next job.”

I smiled as I answered, and my brother pressed a hand to his forehead with a sigh.

“And you don't intend to tell me what this is about?”

“Hmm...”

I seriously considered it.

He was already drowning in work.

Did I really want to involve him in something this major too?

Wouldn't I just be increasing his burden?

“Actually, His Grace the Grand Duke asked me for a favor.”

“His Grace?”

“Yes. Apparently something has happened in Brücke, one of his territories...”

Still, he was my brother and the head of the family.

I couldn't simply hide it from him.

Now that I'd accepted Cain Rashid as my brother, keeping it from him would've been meaningless anyway.

‘Besides.’

Remembering how he died while defending the territory alone in the game, I needed to warn him in advance so he could prepare.

“There have indeed been unsettling signs coming from Brücke...”

“Unsettling signs?”

“Yes. Several merchants traveling to and from that region have apparently disappeared.”

“I heard the people sent by His Grace have also stopped reporting back. That's why he asked me to investigate.”

My brother's expression grew serious as he listened.

“This isn't something you should handle alone. It would be better to take knights and soldiers with you...”

“That would consume a considerable amount of the territory's budget. Aren't we already practically running military farms?”

Winters in the North were brutal.

Food shortages happened every year, and naturally, the economy suffered as well.

Rashid territory was at least small, and Brother had established a system capable of basic self-sufficiency.

But even that wasn't enough to free us from the burden of northern monsters.

“So have the knights train the soldiers and focus your efforts on governing the territory.”

“Haa. The territory's circumstances matter, of course, but not more than you.”

“I'm only saying this because I'm capable of protecting my own life.”

Besides, Larissa and Johannes were coming with me.

Seeing that Brother still hadn't relaxed, I calmly explained my plan.

“I intend to unite the North.”

“Unite the North?”

“Yes. Right now, the North is in an extremely precarious position in several ways.”

Terrain heavily affected by the weather, along with the possibility of surviving barbarians attacking at any time.

And recently, monsters had grown increasingly active as well.

“On top of that, there's someone in the center who's completely drunk on power.”

“Ian, mind your words.”

“I'm only saying it because it's you, Brother.”

I smiled, and my brother shook his head helplessly.

“I know there are structural problems. But what do you intend to do about them?”

“We need a common enemy.”

It didn't necessarily have to be the central government.

It could be demons who might appear at any time, or the barbarians who still remained.

Failing that, the increasingly aggressive monsters would work just as well.

“To do that, I intend to gain the influence I'll need.”

“...You've thought this through deeply. Enough that I'd almost believe you spent that entire year considering it. I assume that's also why you're heading straight to Brücke?”

As expected of someone as capable as my brother, he'd immediately understood the meaning behind my visit to Brücke.

Benefits for the family.

And personal fame.

I was aiming for both.

“I'll make preparations concerning Brücke in advance. It would be troublesome if administrative issues ended up holding you back.”

“I'll take that as permission.”

“You've laid out your ambitions. How could I oppose you? But always remember that your safety comes first.”

“Of course. And Brother, don't spend every day buried in paperwork. You should keep training too.”

“Ha. Are you worrying about me now?”

I chuckled at Cain's words.

After all, Cain himself was already an Expert.

He was only at the lower end compared to Larissa or Tarian, but even that made him far stronger than me.

“Look forward to your return. I'll prepare a special reward for you.”

“...”

A reward.

I nodded and slowly headed outside.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“Yeah. Let's leave immediately.”

There wasn't much need to think about it.

After packing only basic supplies, we climbed straight into the carriage.

Clatter-!

The carriage sped forward.

There were only four of us.

More than enough strength.

Unlike the journey here, traveling with all four of us in one carriage made us relatively faster as well.

“We should stop here and rest for a while.”

“Mm. All right.”

“Ugh, my entire body is stiff.”

It had been a fast march, but Brücke was still a full day's journey away, so we had to stop briefly along the way.

After finishing dinner that evening, just before going to sleep.

“One last time. Could I ask you?”

“Yes. Anytime.”

With those words, another spar began.

Just like before, Tarian's killing intent was so intense that it pierced straight through Cold Heart.

But this time I didn't retreat.

‘Keep watching.’

Tarian's movements.

The path of his blade.

Even the mindset behind the way he gripped his sword.

I had to analyze and dismantle every single detail.

Only then could I completely make his swordsmanship my own.

Sfft—

Even as the blade grazed my cheek, I didn't hesitate and continued searching for an opening.

The next strike came. Red killing intent stretched toward me from every direction. As I rolled and deflected it, one razor-thin strand barely scraped my cheek.

‘I can't just keep taking this.’

Giving killing intent tangible form was difficult, but I could already control it, so I layered several feints into a single strike.

Being able to control killing intent meant being able to create openings in the opponent.

“Huh.”

Clang, with a sharp sound, my thrust was blocked by Sakwol.

And then.

-...You've already adapted?

Sakwol's flustered voice rang out.