Chapter 16
Miller, the guest sword instructor for the Blue Knight Order. He was a man of commoner origin who had rarely mastered the 5-star level.
Even though he was an instructor, he was just an outsider anyway. All he had to do was to get on the Third Young Master's good side, mingle with the knights, and collect his pay.
But now.
A being who was like dust in the family was provoking the knights.
“Sir Miller, would you be the judge?”
And he even singled
out, who had remained neutral throughout the series of events.
As if telling
not to even think about getting out of it alone.
“……”
My heart pounded and my limbs tingled at the unexpected situation.
It was a tension he hadn't felt since he quit his rcenary work and saw the two superhumans of the family from afar.
They say there's a fine line between tension and exhilaration.
Was that why?
“Gladly.”
A faint smile drew on his lips as he walked to the center of the training ground.
And, it was the sa for Killian.
***
“A duel is to determine victory or defeat, not life or death. If I think it's getting overheated, I will intervene myself, so I ask for both sides' understanding.”
As soon as Miller announced the start of the duel, Hector raised his montum.
Twue.
He spat, and a faint Mana enveloped his wooden sword.
“Centurion Hector, your words and actions seem far from that of a knight?”
“Whether a rcenary or a knight, don't we both make a living with the sword?”
“What was your rank during your rcenary days?”
“B-rank. I wasn't a high-ranking rcenary, but don't be too disappointed. The one the young master will be facing is Knight Hector, not rcenary Hector.”
Though it was a provocative remark, Killian didn't mind.
“Co at .”
Hector tilted his head.
The sight of him aiming a single wooden sword at him looked so defenseless.
‘Why isn't he using Mana?’
The vice-commander had been careless and allowed a counterattack, but I am different.
If he took my sword without Mana, it wouldn't just end with a broken bone.
Hector thought so, but Killian easily saw through his thoughts.
“I hope you have the toughness to match your size.”
In a fleeting mont.
Killian enveloped the hand holding the wooden sword and his two feet in Mana.
Taaak.
A sound that was hard to believe ca from wooden swords clashing rang out.
Hector's large body was pushed back by the relentlessly swung wooden sword.
It was around the ti the fifth exchange was repeated.
Crack!
“Keuk……”
Hector, who allowed a blow to his leg, let out a groan.
That was the beginning.
Bang!
“Keub……”
Crunch!
“Heup……”
Bang!!
“Keok……”
Hector's groans deepened each ti the wooden sword struck his muscles.
After twenty such attacks continued.
“Heok…… Heo…… eok……”
Hector gasped for breath, his large body heaving.
Looking down at his trembling hands, he saw that the palm holding the wooden sword was torn.
His already heavy body felt as if he were wearing heavy armor.
‘Damn it…… I can't put strength into my hands and feet.’
It was a ridiculous state for soone who had boldly proposed a duel.
‘I have to attack. If I succeed just once, the Fourth Young Master's body won't be able to withstand it.’
The problem was that the Fourth Young Master's speed was beyond expectation.
Unless he was a fool, there was no reason for him to abandon his advantage and take the sword head-on.
As if to mock such thoughts.
“Your toughness is decent. This ti, co at
directly.”
“……!!”
“You've paid your dues, so I'll take it once without dodging.”
Killian flicked his wooden sword as if dealing with a child.
“You will…… regret those words!”
Grip.
A sword carrying imnse strength was swung, aiming for the shoulder.
‘I'll shatter it, sword and all!!’
It was a force that could dislocate a shoulder from the recoil, no matter how he blocked it.
However.
Taaaaak!!
A sound different from what was expected echoed through the training ground.
‘What is this……’
Hector, with his shaking eyes, belatedly grasped the situation.
The sword he had gripped with both hands and swung…….
‘He blocked it with one hand?!!’
It was a defense that made the difference in muscle strength seem aningless.
‘No, in the first place, is he really weaker than
in terms of strength?’
Hector rotated his body and swung his sword once more.
Whoosh.
A chilling sound of the wind was heard by his ear. It was because the Fourth Young Master had dodged to the side, causing the wooden sword to cut through the air.
It wasn't just that he dodged.
Tuk.
The wooden sword that Killian lightly thrust touched Hector's side.
‘Wh-when……?!’
An astonishing level of evasion and response.
He was definitely watching, but he suddenly accelerated and he lost track of the movent.
“Centurion Hector. Is there anything more to show?”
Killian retrieved his sword and asked casually, as if he would get serious if he wanted to continue.
‘If he wants to continue, I'll have to cause a Mana backlash or break a bone or two.’
He looked into the opponent's wavering eyes.
Fortunately, Hector was not hot-blooded, unlike his appearance.
“I lost……”
“You're more rational than you look.”
“The victory of the Fourth Young Master…… no, Tactician Killian is declared!!”
Simultaneously with Miller's shout, a small gasp erupted.
The massive Centurion, who had put down his sword, looked at Killian.
“Fourth Young Master. I want to ask one thing.”
Gulp.
After swallowing his saliva, he continued.
“That movent just now, did you use Mana? I didn't see you use Mana, but with that body……”
“It's hard to generate that much acceleration. Is that what you want to say?”
“That's right.”
“Hmm……”
Killian stroked his chin at the innocent question.
“Why waste Mana? You don't seem to have a remarkable Mana recovery rate.”
“What……?”
“Even at the sa level, the quality and quantity of Mana that can be drawn from the Mana Heart are different for everyone.”
“……”
“It's hard to maintain for long by strengthening both your body and sword at the sa ti like you do.”
“……!!”
“Isn't that right, ‘Centurion’ Hector?”
“I, I knew…… sir.”
Hector used a respectful term with an awkward expression. It was because Killian had emphasized the chain of command by repeating the title of Centurion.
Of course, it was also because his sense of awe had surpassed his competitive spirit after the recent match, but either way, it was a feeling he could not feel from Julian.
“You knew and still took that approach? Why?”
“Because I am more accustod to Mana control that way.”
Hector replied with an embarrassed face.
At the expected answer, Killian stroked his chin again.
Knights who formally learned swordsmanship in the family have their swordsmanship, body, and Mana Heart all stably trained.
On the other hand, rcenaries without proper masters have varying levels of proficiency in swordsmanship and Mana Heart.
That was why even after achieving the 3-star level, their autonomy in distributing Mana throughout their body was lacking.
“The power of the strike you just showed wasn't bad. In fact, in terms of simple physical strength, you seem superior to Vice-commander Xenon. You haven't neglected your physical training either, have you? Excellent.”
“Uh…… Th-thank you.”
Hector bowed his head at the unexpected complint.
In reality, he had been trying to overco his lack of Mana proficiency with his trained body.
Since a 4-star knight (Hector decided not to doubt Killian's words anymore) himself recognized his efforts, he felt as if all his hard work had been rewarded.
He felt an urge to take off his pants right away and show the extent of his lower body training.
“Stamina is fundantal, but a knight shouldn't neglect the training of their Mana Heart either. With that thod, even if you reach 4-star, you'll only be a half-baked knight.”
“That…… Mana training is easier said than done. My affinity is low, so it's not very effective……”
“If necessary, ask an Apothecary for help. Isn't the Blue Knight Order on good terms with Sephiroth?”
“Are you talking about secret dicines or spiritual dicines?”
Killian shook his head at Hector's sparkling eyes, which didn't suit him.
“It doesn't have to be that grand. It's important to periodically discharge impurities through ditation and consistently take Mana Recovery Potions and Vitality Recovery Potions.”
“Ah……”
“What you need is not a drastic change, but fine-tuning. Keep that in mind.”
They were words anyone could think of, but no one had ever said.
Hector opened his ears and shut his mouth. Each and every word felt as sacred as the proverbs of a great superhuman.
‘Are the guys in the other knight orders also receiving this kind of teaching?’
He thought of the White and Black Knight Orders, the two relatively highly-regarded knight orders.
“Start putting it into action from today. If you have any questions, you can co and ask.”
“Th-thank you.”
“You may go.”
At the indifferent flick of his chin, Hector bowed his head politely and retreated with short, quick steps.
Huan, who was watching from behind, opened his mouth with a dumbfounded face.
“Hey, Hector. Didn't you just say you were going to go kick the Fourth Young Master's ass?”
“Sh-shut up.”
“Hmph. A guy who's all brawn and no brain. I knew it when you looked down on my Mana training. I'll fulfill your wish of kicking the Young Master's ass for you.”
“Keung……”
Sneering at his colleague who had beco a bear that lost its wildness, Huan stepped forward.
“I am Centurion Huan. I won't go down as easily as that Hector fellow.”
As he said that, he enveloped his two feet in Mana.
It was the sa thod Killian had used against Hector a mont ago.
The difference was that unlike Killian, who was so subtle that the opponent couldn't notice, Huan's intention was visible at a glance.
“Centurion Huan. I'll be looking forward to it.”
Killian smiled slightly and raised his wooden sword.
A mont later.
“I will take Tactician Killian's words to heart!!”
“You may go.”
“Yes, sir!!”
Huan returned to his spot with a booming reply.
Hector looked at Huan as if he was dumbfounded.
“Well, well. Weren't you going to kick his ass for ?”
“Shut up. Tactician Killian is our knight order's master.”
“……”
Hector stared with a baffled face, but Huan, having gained enlightennt, simply straightened his back and focused on the duel between Jesse and the new tactician.
***
“That makes five. I'll stop here for today.”
Sighs of disappointnt erupted from the surroundings.
It hadn't even been an hour since Killian had entered the training ground, but the gazes of the knights looking at him were distinctly different from before.
Even those who had doubted the Fourth Young Master were shaken.
It was because they had witnessed with their own two eyes how he completely overpowered three Centurions and two Decurions and gave them teachings.
‘There's nothing more certain than showing them directly.’
With the atmosphere not being bad, I could see hope budding among the knights.
Right now, they were closer to a rcenary group, but soon they would be transford into n worthy of the na of a knight order.
I was reminded of the elites of the Kingdom that Edan had trained in the past.
‘I'll work them so hard that even the dead Edan would be astonished.’
It was when a aningful smile was playing on Killian's lips.
“Your insight is remarkable.”
Miller, who had been judging during the duels with the five knights, approached and offered a sword salute.
A different kind of favor was present in his eyes as well.
“You've worked hard, Sir Miller.”
“It is the Young Master who has worked hard. If you don't mind, could you have a duel with
soti?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you!!”
After rejoicing like a child for a mont, Miller quickly composed his expression.
“Ahem. There are many eyes watching. Then, I shall take my leave first.”
He soon cleared his throat and returned to the knights' side.
‘This is enough for a face-to-face eting with the knights.’
The vice-commander and three centurions, who could be called the core of the knight order, were defeated by Killian in a single day.
Tuk, tuk.
Killian, after tidying his clothes, smiled brightly at Julian, who had a complicated expression, and started walking.
‘The commander shouldn't be an exception.’
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