"Augh, that wretched bastard!"
Carson imdiately sprinkled salt.
Despite being rich among the rich, he tried to haggle down to the silver. It was my first ti dealing with such a miserly person in my rchant life.
"Alas, but I can't just cut him off."
Carson shook his head in disbelief and clicked his tongue. It wasn't simply because the man was wealthy. Carson trusted his own judgnt.
The guy could beco sothing big.
He had beco quite the talk of the academy in just a few months since their first eting. He might hit the jackpot later on. Even if not, he would beco one of the reliable connections.
So, he couldn't cut him off.
"Darn it. That's that, and being unlucky is another matter."
Carson sprinkled more salt outside the door. .
***
Exactly one day had passed
I visited Godwin's house once again.
Thump thump!
I knocked on the door forcefully. This ti, the door opened imdiately.
Godwin looked at , not spewing harsh words like yesterday.
"Co in."
I followed Godwin inside. The house was less ssy than yesterday. It seed he did so cleaning. I sat down.
"How is it? Was there any effect?"
"Yes."
Godwin readily admitted.
Perhaps the nightmares were less frequent than usual. So, the quality of his sleep must have improved to a tolerable extent. He looked better today, purely thanks to that.
"I apologize for my suspicions yesterday. But I was in a situation where I had no other choice."
"Ah, of course, I understand. I would have done the sa. Don't worry about it."
I spoke as if it didn't bother at all.
Godwin opened his mouth to speak, looking at .
"It goes without saying, but I need that dicine. I will pay whatever it takes, so please continue to provide it."
"Money? I don't need money."
"What?"
"I would, however, like to propose a different condition. Is that okay?"
"Let's hear it. I can only decide after hearing it out."
"It's nothing grand... Your swordsmanship."
"Swordsmanship?"
"Yes, your swordsmanship. I want to learn it. That's my condition for supplying the dicine."
Hearing my condition, Godwin looked perplexed.
"I don't know where you heard such nonsense, but I don't have any special swordsmanship to teach."
"No, you must have."
"Are you saying I'm lying?"
Godwin frowned.
"No, that's not it. Maybe you just don't consider it swordsmanship."
"What are you talking about..."
"You're an executioner."
"So what?"
Godwin's face showed no change, perhaps thinking I already knew about his past.
"So, you know how to kill a person. That's what I want to learn."
"You think that's swordsmanship?"
My words seed to strike a chord, and a threatening aura emanated from Godwin.
Despite his deanor, I calmly continued.
"What's not allowed about it? Swordsmanship itself is a technique for killing."
"That's not swordsmanship or anything. It's the bare minimum respect for those about to die."
"I get it, I know. To send them off with one clean strike, minimizing their pain. That's precisely what I want to learn."
It's difficult to sever a person's neck with one strike using only brute strength. That's why executioners use large, heavy swords. Still, it often takes more than one strike.
But this man was different. Godwin, the kingdom's infamous executioner, was known for severing convicts' heads with a single strike, like a machine.
That's why he was nicknad 'Head Cutter' Godwin. What I needed was his skill in beheading. 'The Executioner's Strike' skill. The technique itself is a simple slash, but it's trendously powerful. There was no other swordsmanship skill available at that ti with such power.
For , who only had basic skills and no powerful ones, it was the perfect skill. There was so stamina consumption and delay, but it was a skill that would definitely co in handy. Especially against strong opponents.
"That's not a skill to teach or talk about. Propose another condition."
"Is that so? Then it can't be helped. We'll have to call it off."
I stood up without any regrets. If I had proposed this condition yesterday, he wouldn't have cared at all.
But he had tasted it for just one day. A taste so sweet and comforting, it was akin to the taste of forbidden fruit. It was an emotion not conquerable by human will. Knowing this, I was able to stand up without hesitation.
Just as my hand was about to touch the doorknob.
"Ugh, wait a mont."
Godwin called out to with a voice filled with agony.
He appeared to be in serious conflict.
"Hm? What? If you call soone, you should speak to them."
"Damn it—"
"Damn it?"
"I've changed my mind."
"What have you decided?"
"I'll accept your condition. Damn it, I'll teach you."
Then I finally smiled.
"You've made a wise choice. It's better for both of us. A very good deal indeed."
Godwin stared at for a long mont, his expression twisted in conflict, but the decision had already been made.
"Follow ."
He stood up and motioned for to follow him deeper into the house. We walked past the living room, the modestly cleaned areas, until we arrived at a backdoor that led out to a small training ground. It was clearly worn, the dirt uneven and pockmarked from countless sessions of training or battles that had taken place here.
"Before we start, let make sothing clear." Godwin turned to , his voice cold. "This isn't so noble art. It's brutal, it's ugly, and it's nothing worth admiring. If you're expecting so sort of elegance or refinent, you're in the wrong place."
I shook my head.
"That's not what I want, Godwin. I want effectiveness, not elegance. I need to know how to end a fight quickly and without hesitation."
Godwin studied my face for a mont longer, perhaps searching for doubt or hesitation.
"Tsk!"
Clicking his Tung in annoyence, Godwin turned around and walked towards the storege room.
It's seems that my wish is going to co true now.
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