novelraw Chapter 101 : Chapter 101
Chapter 101 : Chapter 101
Chapter 101
When I opened my eyes, I gripped the sword.
And I struck down until I lost consciousness.
‘It’s better than yesterday.’
It was still a downward strike that was closer to a diagonal slash, but I just believed.
If a hundred swings don't work, then a thousand, and then ten thousand swings will do.
When I was hungry, I stopped and chewed on the jerky Reina had prepared, and drank stimpacks like water.
And I swung the sword again.
A hundred times.
A thousand times.
Ten thousand times.
The sword tip still wavered mercilessly.
‘Again.’
After visualizing Hlyundeyrr as a target, I struck down with the sword gripped towards his head.
* * *
Around the time the concept of time became ambiguous, the Count handed me two books.
After swinging ten thousand times again, I scanned the book on top; it was a strategy book for dealing with demonic beasts.
‘Is he telling me to give up the sword and focus on command?’
I know it’s not with bad intentions.
Even before giving this book, the Count had visited several times to watch my training.
‘Did he say he sent two knights last time? Then just until those two return, let’s try just until then.’
Before other doubts could cloud my mind, I put the book away and struck down with the firmly gripped sword.
Ten thousand times.
Ten thousand times again.
I struck down without resting.
Until the hand gripping the sword was covered in pus and blood, and the hand stuck to the sword.
I gripped the sword, and struck down.
- No matter how I look at it, it seems better to practice the dagger in the time you swing the sword.
Ignoring Hlyundeyrr sneering while looking at my shoulder, I struck down the sword towards his head.
- Your greed is excessive, too excessive. You should know how to cultivate the abilities you have, not try to obtain what you don't possess.
It’s an accurate expression.
Because I have a lot of greed.
I will obtain even Lower-grade Swordsmanship and master the knight order’s swordsmanship no matter what.
- Why? Why do you want to stand in front so much? What is so scary?
The sword struck down towards the head cut his shoulder.
I’ve gotten closer by a hair's breadth already.
- Think about it, there are over a hundred knights in this fortress, what can you change by holding a sword? It would be better to learn archery, spearmanship, or magic instead.
Stupid guy.
This body is an incompetent person acknowledged by the world.
Whatever I learn, not just the sword, I would have to go through a similar process.
I wouldn't even be able to touch magic, which has no possibility of learning without talent.
- Even on the battlefield, an assassin can play an active role as much as they want.
The more I struck down the sword, the stronger Hlyundeyrr’s temptation became.
- Even if you don't stand on the battlefield, there are plenty of people to replace you.
The hand gripping the sword trembled.
My unconsciousness, borrowing Hlyundeyrr’s mouth, screamed to put down the sword immediately and rest.
‘If I give up now, there is no tomorrow.’
So I can't give up.
To see the true ending, I absolutely cannot remain just an average hero.
- How long do you intend to deceive yourself! You, who wander through death's door just to avoid seeing others die!
No matter what he blabbered, I silently took my stance.
With a step forward, I twist my waist to transfer the power.
Pushing the handle with my right hand and pulling with my left, I strike down with the firmly gripped sword as is.
Hu-ung!
The struck sword cut Hlyundeyrr’s ear.
‘Now one span.’
Ian, smiling satisfactorily, lost consciousness and collapsed just like that.
* * *
[You have acquired a Unique Trait. 『Obsession 』]
[You have acquired a Trait. 『Lowest-grade Sword Talent 』]
[System patching…… 43%]
[You have acquired the secret art of House Count Sven, Slaughter .]
* * *
On the first day, the Count greatly regretted teaching the House’s secret art to Ian.
‘To think he would be this untalented.’
Ian’s talent was so insignificant that he seriously thought it was a joke. No, it was completely non-existent .
Just as an Orc cannot use divine power, just as a human cannot breathe underwater, the sword was not permitted to him.
In such a situation, setting the goal as the Count House's secret art, which even the fortress knights found hard to follow, it was natural that the process would be several times more painful.
‘It’s rather for the best. If it were the knight order’s swordsmanship, maybe, but he won't see any possibility with the Count House's secret art.’
He will give up in a day.
So he thought.
* * *
The next day, he swung the sword again in the same posture.
Excluding the time helping others with training in between, he swung the sword like a madman without taking a rest.
“The soldiers were calling the Special Mission Unit Captain a Sword Master behind his back.”
At the secretary-general’s words, my face crumpled naturally.
Usually, I didn't care what rumors circulated, but anyone blabbering even after seeing that appearance is a moron and an idiot.
Because even the Count, who knew that guy’s effort was nothing but a waste of time, couldn't laugh at that effort.
“It seems they have it easy. Find the guys blabbering useless words and…….”
“Ah, it is not like that. It seems they genuinely think he is a Sword Master, saying the Young Lord is unfolding the Thousand Swords of infinite sword paths.”
The Count, nodding quietly, held back his laughter with all his might.
* * *
The third day.
Seeing Ian’s eyes as he woke up in the morning and gripped the sword, the Count had to admit.
‘Tenacious guy.’
That guy has no intention of giving up.
He will swing the sword without rest.
Until he unfolds the secret art not permitted to him.
“What a foolish, stupid, and tenacious guy.”
The Count returned to his office and picked up a pen.
The first sword doesn't need to be the Count House's secret art.
Since his thrust is quite plausible, I intended to recommend swordsmanship focused on thrusting.
‘…Looking only at this, he might think it’s an insult.’
Even after adding the knight order’s swordsmanship behind it, feeling uneasy, he took out another book to give to a commander.
‘This should be enough.’
If he looks at the strategy book and then the swordsmanship behind it, I can convey the meaning not to give up the sword.
Since I added the knight order’s swordsmanship behind that too, he will know he can train the sword anytime.
“But, what is that guy doing now without reading the book I gave him?”
“…He is swinging the sword.”
The guy, having scanned the strategy book with his eyes, swung the sword again without even glancing at the book behind it.
Rather, the Special Mission Unit nearby looked alternately at the strategy book’s title and the Count with surprised eyes.
‘No, the swordsmanship is right behind that…….’
But stepping up to explain personally was ridiculous, so he tried hard to ignore the gazes demanding an explanation and headed to the office bitterly.
* * *
It has already been a week since the Young Lord gripped the sword.
As the Count, who was wrestling with a mountain of documents sitting in the office, raised his head, the secretary-general opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“The Special Mission Unit Captain is still training.”
“Who said they were curious?”
“You asked seven times already just today.”
The Count, looking at the secretary-general with a sullen expression, bowed his head and said.
“It seemed Lord Garius needed some rest. Since he is a gentleman who would refuse even if told to rest, you take him for a walk or something.”
“…Didn't Lord Garius say the day before yesterday that he would absolutely not leave it be if treated like a walking healing potion.”
“That’s why you should say it’s a walk. While resting, tell him to meet that skinny disciple too.”
“Wouldn't it be better to go yourself…….”
Knock, knock.
At the knocking sound heard just in time, the Count wore a tired smile.
“As you see, I’m too busy so I can't.”
As the frowning secretary-general opened the door instead of refuting, Vergil, who was waiting, entered and said.
“Could you come to the training ground for a moment?”
The Count silently glared at the secretary-general, who was smiling broadly behind his son, then raised his body.
‘I hoped it wasn't, but did he eventually fall into Qi Deviation ?’
Desire is the driving force that moves people, but unfulfilled desire is bound to become a primal poison that dries people to death someday.
If it’s Ian who wanted the sword so much, he wouldn't have been able to give up the sword until the end.
“Let’s go quickly.”
The Count’s hasty steps headed to the training ground.
* * *
Entering the training ground, the Count looked at Ian with a hardened face.
The power of the feet, waist, and wrist moving silently was fully contained in the sword, striking the space.
It was crude, hasty, and clumsy, but it was clearly the form of the Count House's secret art, Slaughter .
Kung!
“Young Master!”
- Human!
Sven, watching Reina running towards the collapsed Ian, smiled slightly.
“Even seeing it with my eyes, I cannot believe it.”
“He is my Lord.”
The Count looked at his son with narrowed eyes.
“Did you want to boast that much.”
“I wanted to show you my Lord surpassing his limits.”
“Ha. That isn't surpassing limits. He shattered the limits.”
He turned his head again to look at Ian.
“The Young Lord’s talent was not just insignificant, it was non-existent. For him to unfold the family’s sword is as difficult as an Orc realizing divine power and becoming a cleric.”
“…….”
“That is how amazing it is, what your master has accomplished.”
He acknowledged the Young Lord’s persistence.
For the past week, his obsession with the sword was not just persistent, but desperate.
“That guy, really, tenacious, tenacious.”
While saying that, laughter came out naturally.
To think that ignoramus mastered the Count House's sword.
“Isn't it all thanks to an excellent teacher?”
At those words, Vergil tilted his head.
“…Didn't you teach him for just one day?”
“No need to flatter me so. It is natural that I, a Master, am an excellent teacher.”
Vergil wanted to say that the 1st Knight Commander’s training was more popular than the Master Count’s, but kept silent for his father’s pride.
“Right, it is something no one but I could do. Even if that guy Mogul taught for a hundred days, it wouldn't have worked.”
That was obvious.
Because Count Mogul’s weapon is an axe, and he doesn't even know the Count House's secret art.
Instead of arguing like that, Vergil quietly shook his head.
* * *
That night. Two knights who returned to the fortress visited the Count’s office.
“It seems you confirmed it.”
“…….”
Checking the two people’s complexions, the Count groaned.
“The odds of victory?”
“…….”
A large army where odds of victory cannot be seen.
Suddenly, the Special Mission Unit devoting themselves to training as if their lives depended on it crossed his mind.
“The Special Mission Unit Captain said the enemies flocking to the fortress are about 100,000 Orcs and a small number of Trolls.”
“…The guide also said so.”
100,000.
Right now, the population of this castle is not even over 10,000.
Even if you combine the entire population of the Reime Kingdom, it wouldn't exceed 100,000.
“It is literally a war of a nation , no, a race .”
At the scale of the enemy making the preparations so far feel shabby, the Count’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Both of you really worked hard. If you have nothing else to say, go back and get some rest.”
“Lastly, the guide said the Ogre wants revenge.”
“Ah, the Special Mission Unit Captain also said that. That the Ogre the Orcs were using would run wild.”
Wanting revenge means it hasn't taken revenge yet.
Unless it intended to die, it couldn't have rushed towards a legion of 100,000.
‘Wanting revenge even with 100,000 enemies…….’
“Did it say what it wants from us?”
“…The guide requested the Special Mission Unit Captain.”
The Count couldn't say anything.
Because this current situation was hard to understand even for him, who had reached the level of a Master.
“I will speak to the Special Mission Unit Captain about that matter. You two should rest now.”
“Yes!”
After the two knights left the office, the Count sat on the edge of the chair, loosened the cravat choking his neck, and buried his body in the chair.
A monster wants to meet the Young Lord?
…Why?
More than that, wasn't the ‘guide’ Ian mentioned a ‘demonic beast squirrel’?
A demonic beast squirrel can talk too?
Why are those two guys so natural about it?
The Count’s worries were resolved only after the secretary-general quietly called Thomas.