Chapter 103. Single Stroke

The battle wasn't one that could raise my understanding of 'Single Stroke'.

Through sparring with Fern, I was building up my concept of 'sword energy', but at some point, even that ceased to be helpful.

It wasn't a life-or-death battlefield, and Fern deliberately either matched or parried the sword energy, making it hard to get a proper feel for things.

Moreover.

'Still weak.'

The 'sword energy' I launched wasn't powerful enough to inflict significant damage.

In fact, whenever my concentration wavered even slightly, the sword energy often crumbled like a cookie in midair.

"Hah... Hah."

I spoke to Fern, who was gasping for breath.

"Thank you, let's end the sparring here."

"Ah, understood... hah, Sir Yulian."

Clatter──!

At my words to stop, Fern dropped his sword and collapsed onto the floor.

Seeing his somewhat dejected eyes, it seemed he was quite exhausted.

Well, despite holding back, it's still a 'sword energy'. It hurts when hit, and if it mistakenly strikes a vital spot, it could be fatal.

It's impressive how long he endured.

"Was I able to help... you?"

Help? Of course, he did.

While it might not have been an advanced lesson, it served as basic training.

However, simply answering 'yes' might have hurt his pride.

After all, knights are a peculiar race who live by their own pride.

They're not exactly normal, living as 'sword fodder,' constantly facing bloodshed and stabbings.

"It's a shame, but it wasn't very helpful."

"Indeed... I'm sorry."

"You should continue to work hard. Going on a mission with your current skills is a sure way to die."

At the harsh critique, Fern lowered his head.

"However, you are competent as a knight."

Surprised by the sudden compliment, Fern raised his head to look at me.

"Yes?"

"Your precise swordsmanship and mana control are exemplary for a knight. However, because of that, it wasn't of much help to me."

The ability to handle 'Single Stroke' is contrary to its name; it's a skill not tied to precision.

It's more suited to an instinctive, unrefined nature.

That's why I kept provoking Fern.

Losing oneself in rage and attacking with a do-or-die spirit can sometimes reveal one's true nature.

That's what I wanted from Fern, raw swordsmanship. However...

Already a knight.

He couldn't easily change his familiar sword path. He was a model of a knight.

Moreover, as the sparring prolonged, Fern painfully realized the gap between us, and his fighting spirit dulled.

Even if one is a prodigy like 'Yulian' with unique sword skills.

What I learned was conventional.

The sword of 'Yulian' was somewhat organized and structured.

Moreover, due to possessing traits of 'mental fortitude' and the character trait of 'poker face,' regular sparring doesn't equate to 'real battle'.

'The situation I desire is an opponent who attacks with the intent to kill.'

Without reaching that level, it's not even 'experience'.

"Sir Yulian, I know it's impudent, but could you teach me?"

Just as I was about to leave, Fern's earnest voice reached my ears.

Teach him? Hmm, I'm not sure.

What should I teach?

What I use and know in swordsmanship are based on my innate physical conditions and gaming knowledge.

It wasn't something I built up from scratch.

Clearly, the swordsmanship 'Fern' uses wasn't included in that knowledge.

'How do I explain that?'

Well, knowing someone's specialty or main sword technique would help with advice.

But as I lacked extensive knowledge in swordsmanship, I couldn't give a detailed explanation.

However, I couldn't directly reveal this, so I decided to use some lip service to smooth things over.

"I'm sorry. I'm not generous enough to teach a 'rival'."

"I'm a rival...."

Knights, who are mostly brawn over brains, enjoy being acknowledged by higher-ranking knights.

Even if it's the notorious recognition of the 'Smiling Executioner'.

It's worth something.

Besides.

'He helped with sparring, so I can tell him as much, right?'

Good luck.

I nodded briefly and prepared to leave the training grounds.

"Sir Yulian!"

Fern called out my name once more.

"If you're considering real battle... there's a place I'd recommend."

***

"Haaa..."

Eleanor let out a sigh.

Thinking, 'If it's an Empire's noble, it can't be helped,' she was used to disputes among bishops.

They were the type to lead when it came to taking from others.

However, managing them was a tiresome task for someone like her, who had risen to the rank of 'Archbishop'.

"As an archbishop, controlling them is such a hassle."

Though there was a slight deviation, she couldn't help but prevent the major dispute if she wanted the survival of the Dawn Society.

Because of that, she cast 'eavesdropping magic' on other bishops to prevent potential situations.

"But I failed on the person I should keep most under watch."

Yulian Cryphart Frason.

He was an extraordinary presence among bishops.

After all, he was responsible for helping her rise to the position of 'Archbishop'.

The veneration sent to him by the Patriarch, tethelon, was immense.

"That's the problem."

A man accumulating resentment from all bishops because of his unyielding attitude, backed by such veneration.

Recently, some in the order seemed to support him.

"His actions are never hesitant."

Trouble regarding Aiden would inevitably lead to a significant uproar within the Dawn Society.

With Aiden as a leading figure, several mages joined the society, and most of them leaned towards 'pureblood supremacy'.

"That's just how mages are."

Eleanor's gaze shifted to the book resting on the desk.

【Compendium of Magic Understanding】

The subtitle beneath the cover read.

【Pure mana accumulates in blood. Lineage is the measure of a supreme mage.】

Though the phrase doesn't hold as much sway now, it still greatly influences mages.

"There's still an atmosphere of demeaning those not of pure lineage as half-bloods."

But Aiden, the one defeated by such a 'half-blood', would seek revenge somehow.

To uphold his beliefs.

― Yes, I knew they'd contact me soon.

A voice was transmitted through a magical device due to an eavesdropping spell set on someone.

A bold yet ambiguous character, bishop Corund.

'But who is he speaking with?'

Eleanor's eavesdropping magic didn't capture every single movement.

It only activated when someone directly communicated via transmission magic.

Basically, bishop Corund was having a conversation with someone over communication.

― The high-nosed Donatien family wouldn't be sufficient to handle Yulian alone.

Corund's voice continued.

Donatien family, Yulian.

By piecing together Corund's words, Eleanor quickly deduced the identity of his conversation partner.

'Aiden.'

A figure who might become a leading player in the storm about to hit the Dawn Society.

― Helping isn't difficult. As a proponent of pureblood supremacy, I find it distasteful for a half-blood like Yulian to strut around.

Aiden seemed to have sought cooperation from Corund.

To expel Yulian from the Dawn Society or even kill him.

'Haaa, what a hassle.'

Even if they could stay low-key, these self-respecting nobles had to cause a commotion.

Eleanor internally sighed once more.

― But, Aiden. I find it all too suspicious.

She turned her attention back to the magical device, intrigued by the sudden shift in conversation.

― How could a mage of your caliber allow Yulian to approach?

A fairly convincing statement.

Being a competent mage, one could classify Aiden as a position 5 'Barco' level metal element mage.

― The fight between a mage and a knight usually ends in two cases.

If Aiden and Yulian had truly clashed, it wouldn't have ended with just an 'eye' injury.

― A victory without so much as a scratch, or a defeat due to loss of limbs, possibly even death.

Corund knew this well, being a mage himself.

― A mage retains combat ability as long as they have a heart, a mouth to chant, and a brain.

'Where is this going?'

Eleanor lifted her head in focus.

― The fight couldn't have ended due to just a scratch on the eye. Why, then, have rumors formed that way?

After brief silence, corund's voice came back.

― Isn't Aiden conspiring with Yulian to clear out rebelling bishops?

A theory that held some water.

It was none other than Aiden who brought Yulian, on the verge of being expelled from the capital by the Elder Council of Nobles's pressure, into the Dawn Society.

'No way that's true.'

Of course, Eleanor didn't believe it.

Yulian was the one who stopped Aiden's experiments, and Aiden sent Alphas to kill Yulian.

Though he might have found Yulian useful upon initial recruitment, that's likely not the case now.

― Laughing it off as merely an ambush isn't sufficient.

A delighted chuckle.

― Anyway, let's discuss it further when we meet at 'that place.' Talking more about Yulian later won't be too late either.

With that, the eavesdropping magic concluded.

"Really, it's such a hassle."

She set aside the magical device and rose from her seat.

With rights come responsibilities.

In hindsight, she figured she should've handed the Archbishop's position to Yulian by any means.

That's what Eleanor thought.

***

- 'If you're looking for something akin to real combat, how about observing the martial arena?'

Fern's suggestion was the martial arena.

A place similar to the coliseums back in the Holy Kingdom, though you wouldn't see battles against demons but rather bouts among martial artists.

'Certainly, the martial arena could provide real combat data.'

Thinking Fern's suggestion was decent, I headed straight to a bistro called Myongwolgwan on the outskirts of the capital.

One of the organizations managing the martial arena is the 'Blood Demon Order' located in the slums.

"What do you want?"

Today, unlike my past visit, the exclusive bodyguard of T'alle and the fake boss of the 'Blood Demon Order', the 'Vampire' Arthur, was guarding the place.

"I'm here to see T'alle."

"Currently, T'alle is unavailable."

I looked to the sky, slightly exasperated at Arthur's words.

'The sun is up.'

Like a typical vampire, she avoids sunlight.

She possesses all the classic vampire weaknesses common in subcultures.

"Sir, Sir Yulian...!"

At that moment, a voice of urgency came between Arthur and me.

It was the boy named Eren who usually guided me.

"Sir, T'alle has allowed you to come up."

Well, of course, she would be here.

Vampires get sunburned or turn to ash if directly hit by sunlight.

It makes no sense for them to wander around in broad daylight unless they're crazy.

"Tch."

With Arthur, visibly displeased, behind me, I headed to the elevator.

Soon, I reached the floor where T'alle was, and seeing her, I went straight to the point.

"I want to observe the martial arena."

The 'martial arena' I mentioned operates on a membership basis.

The main reason is that nobles with refined tastes want to keep the identities of participants hidden.

Of course, since it's lucrative, the Blood Demon Order actively encourages it.

Even if they didn't, no fool would try to stop me if I went there.

Who would dare stop the 'Smiling Executioners'?

Smarter to keep those guts inside than out.

Yet T'alle's expression bore discomfort.

"What?"

She raised her voice slightly, sounding rather annoyed.

"You burst in suddenly when I'm supposed to be resting and have the gall to talk nonsense!"

Her reddish-brown eyes, despite her raised voice, seemed flustered, swaying to and fro.

Simultaneously, her gaze shifted to Eren, the boy who'd accompanied me.

Still the same.

"First, this isn't something to be discussed openly. I wish to speak alone."

Knowing her intent, I initiated the conversation.

"You want to observe the martial arena? I don't know why...."

T'alle gestured to the boy Eren, who gave a bow and left the room via elevator.

"Once there, it's not... a good... place..."

Whirr, the elevator activated.

"No, perhaps it's... not, Sir Yulian."

You're living quite a hard yet entertaining life.

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