Chapter 216 – Preparation for war (5)
Brendel gave up raising the Nine Luminaries Sword Arte after it reached level 7 for the ti being. The skill needed more than 250000 TP at that level, and the XP gained from the grimoire’s fragnts could hardly keep up with the requirent.
The Nine Luminaries Sword Arte at level 7 could produce eight illusions and deal 50% damage of the base body. It was just a step away from producing the maximum number of illusions, which was nine.
The youth also realized that the illusion’s duration was affected by the level. The initial duration only lasted a little longer than a second in the beginning, but each level increased the duration by approximately 0.1 seconds.
[Hmm. Typically my physical abilities use my stamina points, but my illusions use MP instead. Charge uses 6 MP, Piercing Strikes uses 20 MP. Since I’m a warrior, my MP is significantly lower than my stamina. I only have 250 MP in total, and casting eight illusions along with a Charge and Piercing Strike will use up almost everything.]
Brendel experinted with one of the illusions casting a magic spell.
[There isn’t really much ti for the illusions to do any real casting, but let try using the illusion as a defensive tool. Barkskin— Hmm. It adds 1 to armor. Barkskin requires 50 MP, but if an illusion does it, the ability requires 100 MP instead. That’s double the MP usage.]
He continued to experint with the ability and called out Kodan to test out the Sword Arte. The illusion could not cast another illusion on its own, and it did not seek to actively swap places with him even if the main body was in danger.
But after Kodan fought the youth for a day, he complained in frustration and refused to do so any longer.
Brendel had beco even stronger than before, and the Nine Luminarinaries Sword Arte was too bizarre. The old man was literally a punching bag for the youth; a normal person would refuse to beco one and it was even more so for a Gold-ranked Swordsman.
Kodan did not show up on the second day.
But phisto ca to look for Brendel. The youth did not know where the Sword Saint of Ashes heard that he was looking for soone to train with, but the latter did not beat around the bush and bluntly asked for a duel imdiately.
[This is a little puzzling. There’s really nothing to learn from at your skill level. Your stats or swordsmanships are vastly superior to mine. It’s more appropriate to say you are guiding or sothing.]
Brendel obviously did not refuse soone who was willing to aid him. What was unexpected was how phisto limited himself with a handicap and fought the youth patiently.
phisto had more insight than Kodan and his eyes narrowed in recognition of the ancient technique.
“This technique is beyond my understanding, but your clones are using the sa standard of your military swordsmanship. There are so minor things you can do to improve it.” phisto said.
[As expected of a Sword Saint. His command of the Empire’s Military Swordsmanship is really sothing. Even though there are so differences with Aouine’s Military Swordsmanship, they are sowhat related to each other. I feel like I’m moving closer to level 17 Military Swordsmanship, though it’s a pity I can’t get a 1 on my Military Swordsmanship like how I got it from Kodan and my grandfather.]
Brendel’s mind was itching. The effect for a Swordsmanship above level 15 was trendous. The higher the level of the Military Swordsmanship was, the more bonuses associated with it.
[If I seek out all the Sword Saints in the continent and get to learn from them, maybe I can reach the Divine Realm? Or maybe not. There are more than ten Sword Saints, but these people have really peculiar personalities. So of them are even evil. phisto is really considered to be a normal person when I compare them. A really normal person amongst normal people.]
It was an impossible task to raise friendship points for all of them, though Veronica jokingly said she could teach him her swordsmanship if he defected to beco a citizen of the Kirrlutz Empire. It was naturally impossible for him to accept.
That was a loud clang which jolted Brendel from his nonsensical thoughts, and the trendous feedback that transmitted to his hand nearly tore his sword away. He hurriedly retreated and three illusionary clones behind him rushed forward to stop phisto from continuing his attack, allowing him to escape.
phisto watched the illusions disappear in front of him, but he did not continue his attack and instead put away his sword while he looked at the panting youth.
“You lost your concentration?” He asked.
Brendel nodded and took in a deep breath: “Yeah.”
“Then let’s call it a day.” Ca the short reply.
Brendel nodded again, but he suddenly blurted out with curiosity: “Count Sutherland, we haven’t got to know each other for very long, but it has been fifteen days. I think I’m quite certain of your personality, and you would never take the initiative to lower your head or express goodwill, right?”
phisto did not reply. Brendel’s words were acknowledged.
“I think you have an insight into my character as well. I don’t mind joking about the minor things, but I am definitely not regretting or delaying the promise I made to Lady Veronica to restore your kingdom.”
Brendel paused for a mont.
“But I think your intention today is to teach swordsmanship.....?”
“When do you plan to leave the forest?” phisto did not answer his question.
“The Druids have prepared all the necessary war equipnt. The Elves and human rcenaries are geared up and ready to move out, but it’s a problem to transport the food supplies over to Firburh on such a large scale. Even with the natives’ aid, there are not enough horses to travel quickly.”
Brendel frowned as phisto threw out the most problematic issue he had. If the army was to travel on foot, then it would take at least a month’s journey.
“But back to the question you asked, I’ll be leaving in a week by the latest. A portion of the army will follow separately to travel light and return to Firburh quickly.”
phisto nodded: “I’ve heard that your territory is under attack. How confident are you in winning this battle?”
[So you’re afraid that I will lose?]
Brendel finally understood why phisto was teaching him. He took a long look at him and replied:
“Count Sutherland, I always wanted to ask you a question. Even though I’m not sure what kind of agreent you ca to with Lady Veronica, do you know that I have enemies all over Aouine? Choosing to get on my ship is perhaps a bad choice.”
phisto peered back. The youth’s wits reminded him of Veronica when she was young. It was no wonder why that woman admired his brilliance.
“Captain Brendel, your enemies are indeed nurous while I only have one enemy. What do you think of this?”
Brendel blinked a few tis before he laughed.
Indeed, the aloof Sword Saint of Ashes only had one enemy from the start. The Kirrlutz Empire. If he was not afraid of that enormous monster, why would he be afraid of the tiny creatures from Aouine?
“What exactly do you want from , Ser phisto?” He asked.
phisto straightened up and asked in an earnest tone: “I wanted to ask if you’re willing to be my successor and learn my swordsmanship.”
“Hah?”
Brendel was instantly stupefied. He resisted the urge to find a mirror and check his appearance to see if there was any change. Why did it seem like everyone was treating him so nicely? But since he was already being taught by a Heroic Spirit, he was not too stunned by the fact that a Sword Saint wanted him as a student.
[No, calm down. phisto might want as a student because there’s another attachnt for to help restore his dukedom, and he wants to restore it because it’s his duty. He’s soone rare in this era because of his purity, but this doesn’t an that he’s a fool. I’m sure that he will protect his territory when he’s around, but he will never put all his energy into leading this country, and his ultimate lifelong pursuit is swordsmanship.]
Brendel’s mouth jerked once.
[But other people probably perceive like a lord rather than a swordsman. For so reason, I get the feeling that my flashy spell cards are what people rember for instead of my swordsmanship. Then again, I probably can’t match even Kodan’s passion for the sword. If I had the experience of becoming a wizard, then I won’t choose swordsmanship, and instead choose a power that can help Aouine, not technique.]
This was indeed phisto’s reason for feeling that Brendel resembled Veronica. She was a Duchess and general of the Kirrlutz Empire before a Sword Saint. The na ‘Goddess of Combat’ was far more famous than the Azure Sword Saint. It was why the gap between phisto and Veronica’s swordsmanships was large, and why the forr was known as a Sword Saint longer than she did.
Brendel’s head cooled down fully once he understood this point.
phisto’s swordsmanship was likely to be a skill tree of its own, and the quality was at least close to an interdiate rank or above it. Having soone as skilled as him to back him was good, let alone learning his skills.
However, he was already being taught by Orthlyss. She might ignore the Dragon of Darkness’s Legacy because he was soone from her era, and it was understandable that both of them had respect for each other, but what about phisto? No matter how skilled he was in this era, he could not be on an equal footing with her.
It was difficult to know what her opinion was, until she stated she did not object to it.
“I suggest you accept it.” Orthlyss felt a little satisfaction in her heart when Brendel asked for her opinion.
He did not regard her simply as a Heroic Spirit who was trapped in a ring, but a real teacher. Even though she did not really think that it was an issue, she was still pleased to find an impossibly talented youth as a successor.
“phisto’s swordsmanship is very unique and it is its own style. My view is limited to things that are a thousand years ago, and what that bastard Ooinn gave you was a Bloodline Legacy. In comparison, what he gave you might help you even more than what I can give you. There’s no need to pay attention to what I think. Your older sister is willing to see you beco stronger.”
“Thanks.” Brendel felt a little stir of emotion in his heart. The care from Orthlyss truly resembled an older sister’s protection for a younger brother.
But he did not imdiately agree to phisto’s request:
“I thank you for your kind intentions, Ser phisto, but please allow to think about it for a day.”
phisto’s eyes showed admiration. He was very confident in his swordsmanship, and people would probably faint from glee if they heard he wanted a successor, but Brendel retained his composure. Be it a swordsman or a lord, it was necessary to remain calm at all tis.
“It’s fine for you to choose, but you should know that I’m teaching you my swordsmanship not because you’re a future lord, or that I want your aid in restoring my land, but the fact that I indeed believe that you’re brilliant enough to inherit my swordsmanship. Even though I haven’t been with you for long...... I believe in Veronica’s judgnt.” He paused for a mont and added in another line.
“You knew Veronica from long ago?” Brendel could not help but blurt out his curiosity, though he regretted it a little upon finishing his words. It was a little too gossipy. His habits as a gar were hard to change despite coming to this world for quite so ti.
But he did not expect phisto to nod without minding the question: “My dukedom was always a part of the Kirrlutz Empire. When I studied in the Empire’s academy, Veronica was living next to my room.”
“Damn! Really?” Brendel yelled, and his gossip soul imdiately blazed. He only knew that phisto was the Empire’s mortal foe and had fought with Veronica many tis, but to think that they were childhood friends to a certain extent.
But phisto cut off Brendel’s question despite the latter’s growing questions: “Rember that I asked about when your army is leaving?”
“Yes?” Brendel looked at the stoic Sword Saint in confusion. phisto had an expression like it was carved out of wood.
“This isn’t actually a problem. The two Archmagi from the Silver Alliance. I have a little past with Grandmaster Tulman, or perhaps I could say he owes one, and I can get the two wizards to help out.” phisto said.
“Mass Teleportation magic!” Brendel’s body jolted. It might sound a little crazy to teleport thousands of people, but it was definitely not a problem to send out several hundred. If the rest of the army took swift steeds from the Green City, then everything would be solved!
The youth delayed his trip in order to solve this problem properly. Even though the Druids were trying to gather various mounts to transport supplies, how was it possible to do so when the Calamity of Wolves just happened?
But Brendel inquired with a little hesitation and expectation after he recovered from his surprise:
“But Tulman belongs to the Silver Alliance, and they made an oath not to interfere with us mortals.”
phisto rely put his finger to his lips, signaling an “If you don’t speak of it, and I don’t, then who would know?”
Brendel’s jaws dropped.
[Cheating!? This is absolutely cheating...... What the fuck.....]
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