Kays Translations

Chapter 16: Classroom Study Is Important Too.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Eventually, the two came to a stop.

They had proceeded deep into a broad corridor lined at regular intervals with thick pillars and now stood before a room sealed by an enormous stone door.

“This is the training hall. There are several others, but for the next few days, the two of us will have this one to ourselves.”

“Understood—wait. The two of us?”

“Yes. You and I, Ren-sama.”

Smiling like a kindly old gentleman, Edgar placed a hand on the stone door.

It was the same jet-black color as the surrounding pillars and paving stones and stood as tall as an ordinary two-story house.

Edgar opened it with no apparent effort.

“Isn’t it heavy?”

“It weighs precisely as much as it appears to.”

“…I thought so.”

The door looked absurdly heavy.

Ren believed he could probably open it himself, but the sight of Edgar’s aged frame moving it so easily was still remarkable.

Ren had never imagined that Edgar was an ordinary butler, yet his physical strength exceeded even Ren’s expectations.

When the door opened completely, Ren saw the space beyond it.

Blue.

That was his first impression.

Azure paving stones covered the floor, while blue arched pillars encircled the walls.

The material itself emitted a pale white light, giving the chamber a faintly magical atmosphere.

(Finally, the Mighty Sword Style!)

Ren’s heart leaped the moment he entered the training hall.

Yet however carefully he looked, he could not find the swordsman who was supposed to teach him.

Instead, several thick books had been placed on a tall round table in one corner.

When Ren noticed them, Edgar nodded.

“It appears that the materials I requested have been prepared.”

“Today will consist of equal parts theory and practical instruction.”

“…Theory?”

“Oh, forgive me. I neglected to explain.”

Edgar removed his jacket.

The white shirt and suspenders beneath suited him well.

Without the jacket, his lean, disciplined musculature was plainly visible.

“I, Edgar, shall be responsible for instructing you in the Mighty Sword Style.”

A closer look revealed several longswords hanging at Edgar’s waist.

(He’s strong.)

Ren could tell from nothing more than Edgar’s stance.

The old butler’s presence changed completely once he removed his jacket.

Ren would not claim that Edgar surpassed Asval, but among the human swordsmen he had met, no one else had possessed such an overwhelming presence.

“It is an honor to receive instruction from a member of House Ignat.”

“You give me too much credit. I fear I may be inadequate to instruct the man who defeated Asval.”

Ren was certain of one thing.

“If Ulysses-sama intended to introduce me to a practitioner of the Mighty Sword Style, he would naturally choose someone powerful. That means you must be extremely strong, Edgar-san. I’m certain of it.”

“My, my… Such praise is far too generous for this old man.”

Ren turned his attention to the books on the table.

(So Ulysses-sama’s strength in Legends of the Seven Heroes wasn’t supported by intelligence and political power alone.)

If a rare practitioner of the Mighty Sword Style had always stood behind him, many things made more sense.

Edgar’s strength had never become known in the games, perhaps because he had died in battle before the story revealed it.

Whatever the truth, he was a man trusted by Ulysses.

His age did nothing to lessen Ren’s respect.

“We will begin with the contents of these books. Have you ever received theoretical instruction in swordsmanship?”

“No. This will be my first time.”

Ren’s father, Roy, favored practical training almost exclusively, so theory had never entered their lessons.

Weiss had also taught Ren through carefully planned practical instruction, passing on the skills of a Leomel knight to Ren and Licia without conducting classroom lessons.

“If anything is difficult to understand, please ask as many questions as necessary.”

“Thank you. Do all students of the Mighty Sword Style begin with theory?”

“That depends upon the instructor, just as it does in other styles. I would never claim that there is only one correct method of teaching. In my own case, however, I believe practical training should be accompanied by theory.”

Ren had no experience with this kind of instruction, but he was eager to begin.

He bowed and asked Edgar to teach him.

The thick books covered the origins and principles of the Mighty Sword Style, and Ren found the material unexpectedly fascinating.

An hour later, Edgar checked his watch.

“From this point onward, I shall explain several matters through demonstration.”

A collection of practice swords stood against one wall.

Edgar instructed Ren to choose whichever weapon suited him.

Ren went to the rack, examined the swords, and returned with one whose length and weight resembled those of the Iron Magic Sword.

“After you have warmed up, strike at me lightly. I would first like to examine your swordsmanship.”

Ren performed several preparatory exercises.

A few minutes later, he faced Edgar and raised the sword in both hands.

“I’m ready.”

“Come whenever you please. You may strike however you like.”

Ren was reluctant to attack at full strength without hesitation when he had barely met Edgar.

Since acquiring Physical Ability Enhancement (Medium), he could not remember swinging a sword seriously against another person.

He did not want to injure Edgar—or himself—through careless use of his strength.

Ren therefore began cautiously and increased the power of his attacks little by little.

He soon recognized Edgar’s skill.

The old butler parried every strike with effortless precision and never yielded beneath Ren’s growing strength.

The sharp clash of practice swords echoed through the training hall.

Each impact was loud enough to sting the ears, proof of Ren’s physical power, yet Edgar received every blow calmly.

“Hmm… I see traces of Imperial Swordsmanship in your technique.”

“Yes. Weiss taught me Imperial Swordsmanship on Lessard-sama’s orders, so that must be the influence you’re seeing.”

“Indeed. Your grip and the path of your swing are both exceptionally refined.”

“Thank you.”

After praising him, Edgar instructed Ren to lower his sword.

“There is no need for me to teach you the fundamentals of handling a blade. You have had an excellent teacher.”

Edgar picked up one of the thick books.

“Now let us discuss the foundations of the Mighty Sword Style.”

He opened it and continued in a calm voice.

“As you know, combat Arts exist in every style of swordsmanship. They allow those who were not born with magical skills to reproduce extraordinary effects.”

An Art was activated by mana and released through the sword.

Ren already understood that much, but the Mighty Sword Style approached the concept somewhat differently.

“For example, the Sacred Sword Style possesses an Art called Lightfall.”

“I know it. I’ve experienced it firsthand.”

“Then I have heard of the same incident. You are referring to the Demon King cultists who appeared in the Baldor Mountains, correct? That will make the explanation easier.”

Lightfall was an Art that used mana wrapped around the sword to weaken an opponent’s magical defenses and inflict damage.

Only Sacred Sword Style practitioners of Swordmaster rank or above could use it.

That was why facing two such opponents in the Baldor Mountains had placed Ren at such a disadvantage.

“Magical defense refers to the protection provided by special metals such as mithril, as well as defensive skills. Mithril and similar metals contain mana, granting them greater hardness than ordinary metal and resistance to magic.”

Edgar paused.

“The Mighty Sword Style does not regard Lightfall as an Art.”

“…It doesn’t?”

“An effect of that degree should be achieved through an ordinary sword strike.”

Ren could only stare.

“A Mighty Sword practitioner must be capable of damaging magical defenses without relying on an Art. With sufficient mastery, the blow must be able to pierce them completely.”

(No wonder Mighty Sword practitioners had such absurd attack power.)

Painful memories from his gaming days flashed through Ren’s mind.

Yet the thought that he might someday command that power filled him with excitement.

Such reliability would be invaluable both for his own survival and for protecting others.

“How do you place that kind of power into the sword?”

“You refine the mana within your body with a delicacy surpassing even the fibers of your muscles. Then you envelop your entire body in that mana.”

Edgar’s voice grew more deliberate.

“This principle, unique to the Mighty Sword Style, is called Mantle. It is the foundation of everything. Without mastering Mantle, one cannot learn the style’s Arts.”

(I don’t understand any of that.)

“Furthermore, Mantle is not solely an offensive principle. Just as metal containing mana becomes exceptionally strong, Mantle forms invisible armor that protects the body.”

Ren struggled to imagine how he was supposed to achieve what Edgar described.

“I have heard that you possess several skills. When you first learned to use one, how did you practice?”

“I think… it began with consciously trying to activate it.”

When Ren first acquired Magic Sword Summoning, he had repeatedly focused on the words in his mind.

He had thought of summoning the bracelet, then of the Wooden Magic Sword, again and again until the process became natural.

“The Mighty Sword Style is no different. Begin by becoming conscious of the power I have described. Do not allow its difficulty to prevent you from taking the first step.”

“I understand that Mantle is the basis of the Mighty Sword Style and that its Arts cannot be used without it. But how can practitioners of other styles use Arts without Mantle?”

“Strictly speaking, swordsmen of other styles also refine their mana before using an Art.”

The difference lay in how they used the refined mana.

Some described other styles as covering the entire body in mana, but that protection was generally confined to equipment such as armor.

A practitioner of the Sacred Sword Style, for example, used the sword and armor as media through which to activate Arts.

The Mighty Sword Style was fundamentally different because the refined mana was applied directly to the practitioner’s entire body.

The most important distinction was the precision required.

Mantling the body itself demanded exact control over muscular movement, breathing, and the flow of mana.

Edgar explained that surrounding the body’s armor and mantling the body itself were not the same thing.

“Other styles rely upon media. We use everything that constitutes our own existence, without depending upon any single part.”

“So in the Mighty Sword Style, your own body becomes both weapon and armor?”

“That is broadly correct. The aptitude to manipulate refined mana in such a fashion is what determines one’s talent for the Mighty Sword Style.”

That was why its practitioners remained powerful even when they did not use Arts.

Ren finally understood the source of their unmatched offense and defense.

Being able to use a sword and truly mastering it were two entirely different things.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter