Chapter 82
Episode 82
Make your footsteps lighter. Its enough if your heel touches the ground only for a mont when you leap.
Its still unnatural. Pay more attention to the organic movent of your ankles and toes. Right there
The criticisms that continued for hours gradually decreased as ti passed.
Watching Logans movents swiftly change with each piece of advice, the Sword Master couldnt help but smile slightly.
He really has an incredible talent.
In just a few hours, he had moved beyond re imitation and seed to have completely internalized the techniques.
It felt as if not finding a talent worthy of passing on his legacy for decades was all for the purpose of eting this young man.
If soone else had told , I wouldnt have believed it.
Endless admiration flowed within him, but the voice that ca out was strictly different.
Youre still sluggish. Your moves must be light, but the flow of your force must be heavy! Push your whole body off the tips of your toes. And then
Too much praise for a genius could be poison.
Thats why he had been pointing out flaws for the past month.
Not only to teach swordsmanship, but also humility.
Of course.
It seems he modestly thinks himself insufficient.
There was nothing wrong with being humble.
The Sword Master urged Logan on, hiding a proud smile.
Another few hours passed, and eventually, the Sword Master couldnt find any more faults in Logans movents.
Swoosh.
His body slid dozens of ters without making a sound, leaving an afterimage.
It was not as instantaneous as the Sword Masters teleport-like movent, but to anyone nearby, it would have felt like a ghost, soundlessly rushing forward.
Good. Just refine and embody it further. Well done!
The lifeti secret technique had been completely dissected in less than five hours, yet the Sword Masters face showed nothing but ease.
He tried not to praise, but this ti, he had no other words.
Logan, however, stood puzzled, deep in thought after halting his movent.
Hmm? Is there a problem? Youre not injured, are you?
No, Master.
Then why that expression?
Its indeed an amazing technique. I can feel myself moving twice as fast as before. But it doesnt seem like a technique made by a knight. Its like
Like an assassin?
The Sword Master laughed as if he knew what Logan was thinking.
After so hesitation, Logan nodded.
Then the Sword Master said.
Youre not entirely wrong.
He was taken aback by the unexpected response.
When His Highness was still the Crown Prince and had just beco a knight, he made
his personal guard. You know that, right?
Yes.
Not many people know, but even before his ascension, the prince had many adversaries. He went through so unspeakable experiences.
Silence.
Nurous assassins ca after him. And during that ti, the young man, thrilled by his appointnt as a Royal Knight, ended up spilling more blood than at the frontlines.
Logan imagined a scene from decades ago, a young blond-haired youth before his current maturity, defending the throne and shedding blood.
To protect soone all alone and to cut through the swarming enemies, that young man kept imagining. He imagined moving more swiftly and covertly than any assassin, mastering martial skills that could dominate space with a single stroke.
Ah
At first, the goal seed unreachable, but before long, he mastered creating a pressure wave and learned to split the sound barrier. Only after achieving the Ghost Shadow did he feel sowhat close to his goal. And it was then that he could awaken his aura.
The Sword Masters words implied that the Ghost Shadow martial art was what triggered his awakening as an aura user, a remarkable technique that even its creator considered a miracle.
Dont be complacent just because youve learned the theory and mastered it. Train it with your swordsmanship for the rest of your life. I myself have yet to see the end of it.
Understood.
The path to superhumanity.
What swordsman wouldnt be thrilled by those words?
Logan tried to calm his throbbing heart and bowed respectfully.
And one more thing
His master hesitated, speaking in a tone different from before.
Theres another reason why I stopped you from leaving.
Yes?
Have you ever heard of the Third Prince?
Logan almost exclaid in shock.
The possibility of minting a face suddenly seed close at hand.
The Third Prince?
He replied as calmly as possible, barely managing to control his facial expression.
His master, perhaps sensing his thoughts, continued a bit remorsefully.
Yes. Of course, I know youve been turning down all factional invitations. It might seem odd for , soone who claims neutrality, to be making such a suggestion but
No, I know it already.
Listening carefully to the Sword Masters carefully spoken words, Logan smiled subtly.
The leader of the neutral forces, Felix Esperanza, who had pledged loyalty to the future king to save the Third Princes life, was already well-known to him.
Neutral in na, perhaps in his heart too
Maybe hes hoping for the Third Prince, the true heir to the throne, and not the rotten First and Second Princes, to beco king.
Logan speculated.
Thats why he wanted to et the Third Prince even more.
Disguising his true intentions, Logan answered his masters question.
Ive heard rumors that hes the sole heir apparent of this country.
Haha. Dont talk like that openly elsewhere; it could cause trouble.
Pride slipped through the Sword Masters words.
Logan was certain he had hit the mark.
Do the Third Prince wish to see ?
Yes. His Highness is curious about my disciple. But theres no compulsion. If you dont want to, you dont have to et him. I should
I will et him.
Uh?
The quick response caught the Sword Master off guard.
How can I disregard my masters advice as his disciple? It wont matter if I delay my return journey a little.
Do you think before you speak? It might entangle you and your family in a difficult path.
Its just a eting. Ive heard hes not involved with any factions.
Well, indeed
Logan chuckled inwardly at his masters subtly changing deanor.
There must be sothing.
His certainty, coupled with gratitude toward his master, grew. The Sword Master, Felix Esperanza, wasnt one to easily show his emotions.
Yet, he often revealed his human side to Logan, an indication of their close bond. It emboldened Logan, who smiled and spoke freely.
Maybe you have sothing else in mind for ?
Hmm. You sly young man, do you have so ulterior motive?
Logan inwardly flinched but kept a straight face.
An ulterior motive? You were the one who brought it up first, Master.
Ha. Yes, thats right. Anyway, when you et the prince, be careful with your tongue.
With a warning clearly based on concern rather than a threat, Logan smiled and nodded in understanding.
But the pace of events was much quicker than anticipated.
Well, since weve confird your intent, theres no need to delay. Lets go.
Excuse ?
Wasnt eting a prince of the country supposed to be a big deal?
Even if it was a prince without real power?
Logan was full of questions, but the Sword Master didnt reply.
And shortly after,
Under the darkening sky, the Duke and his disciple slipped on masks and raced across the rooftops of the capitals night.
Tap.
Swish.
Barely touching the roofs edge, one masked figure leaped, crossing a 20-ter gap to appear on the opposite side.
The other figure, pursuing, moved eerily likewise.
Anyone who might have spotted them would doubt their own eyes, so chillingly subtle were their movents.
Then, voiced quietly, a hint of displeasure ca from the latter figure.
Is this why you taught
Ghost Shadow?
Well, two birds with one stone.
Ignoring his disciples incredulous look, the Sword Master sped through the night once more.
Logan had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow, not yet able to match that ghostly speed.
In the moonless night,
Across the roofs of mansions in Grans inner sanctum,
Their shadowy figures were both discreet and swift.
The two shadows raced from the center of the inner sanctum to a secluded corner of the citys outskirts, to a house that barely qualified as a mansion.
An embarrassing ruin.
The shadows entered silently, one pressing sothing hidden on one side of the ruin.
Smoothly,
A staircase leading down into a concealed basent revealed itself.
Why must you go to such lengths?
There are many eyes on him.
So much effort just to et re ?
Yes. Because its especially for eting the Sword Masters disciple.
The master and disciple exchanged a wry smile.
Any more questions?
If youve gone to such lengths, does it an you support the Third Prince?
The Sword Masters eccentric actions made little sense, unless it was to keep a eting with the Third Prince secret.
That ant he cared for the prince.
Yet, the masters reply was contrary to Logans guess.
No. I do not involve myself in the succession.
Really?
Baffled by the unexpected answer, Logan hesitated.
Then why all this?
If youre openly seen eting the Third Prince, misunderstandings will arise. I am but a guardian to the young prince, not a political supporter. The only request from His Majesty was to ensure his sons safety until he cos of age.
Logans preconceptions about the Third Prince faction were shattered.
When you spoke proudly of the Third Prince
Of course, our prince is quite intelligent.
The pleased smile definitely carried affection, though their master was clear about boundaries. If he said no, it must be no.
I was mistaken?
His expectations dashed, the plan seed harder.
He had to persuade his indifferent master to intervene in the civil war, in the struggle for the throne.
For a mont, Logan felt overwheld.
But theres no other way.
He couldnt allow the tyrant who had wrecked the country in his past life to beco king, nor anyone worse.
The only hope was the Third Prince, still young.
I will make it happen. I must!
As Logans resolve ignited, the Sword Master looked at him curiously.
Now, Logans eting with the Third Prince felt even more urgent.
He advanced down the dark corridor with slightly more determination.
Before long, Logan caught sight of bright light at the end of the tunnel.
A spacious stone chamber.
Dim lantern light faintly illuminated the darkness, and a refreshing scent dispelled the dampness underground, centered around a single figure.
A youth who looked too young to be a man but too old to be a boy.
With shining platinum hair and erald eyesa visage unmistakable even without the royal crest of platinum hair.
There could only be one person in this place.
The Kingdoms Third Prince, Rogers von Grandia.
Its been a while, Your Highness.
Its been a long ti, Duke. Ah, and that behind you is
The curious look from the prince prompted Logan to step forward and kneel respectfully.
Thump.
Logan Maclaine paying respects to the Third Prince.
Is it really you, the Sword Masters disciple?
His title as the Sword Masters disciple was apparently more famous than his own na.
Not that it was unwelco for Logan, who simply nodded calmly in response.
Yes.
Well, to have reached the rank of high knight at such a young age? Remarkable indeed. It is a pleasure to et you.
Your praise is too kind. I am honored to et you.
Honored? I feel ashad to call you to such a place in the dead of night. Haha.
He seed quite down-to-earth for a prince.
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