Chapter 28: With the Dark Knights [Before]

Edgar immediately noticed Ren and rushed toward him. Ren, on the other hand, was also accompanied by the knight who was guiding him, and they proceeded down the stairs leading to the lower level.

After meeting on the landing, they exchanged words as they headed down.

“If you had asked for me, I would have come to get you right away.”

“I’m sorry. I went to Verlich-san’s place and thought I would come afterwards.”

In addition, when I call Edgar, I can contact him at the designated place.

When he’s staying in the imperial capital, he’s basically staying at the same inn, so he can be contacted there.

“I came here today to observe the training or to see if I could spar with someone.”’

“That is what I told you before, isn’t it? If you come to the innermost part of the compound, you will be able to cross swords with someone, which will definitely be beneficial for you Ren-dono. But since I’m here today, I will spar with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. The main reason for this is that the Lord is having a lot of parties this time of year and I’m in the capital with him. I will be here for about a week after the new year, so if it’s okay with you, Ren-deono, I would be happy to cross swords with you.”

For Ren, this is a word he would never have wished for.

After a low “please,” Ren finally steps down into the large training ground that stretches out beneath the atrium.

This is where he would be receiving instruction today, and Ren was about to get ready for it.

“Ren, is it?”

A large man came and called out to him.

The man had a muscular physique to match his huge sword, and when he stood beside Ren, who was still a boy, the difference in physique was more than that of an adult and a child. In other words, the man was quite large.

He was probably in his late thirties.

“My name is Ren Ashton.”

Ren answered without hesitation.

Then the large man that came up to him said.

“I can see that you certainly have a promising future—- but I’m a little worried about you.”

“Worried?”

“The truth is, Edgar-sama asked me to be your partner when you came.”

“Edgar-san said that?”

“That’s right. He said these words because he was convinced that we would help you to hone your sword skills and that you would be of benefit to all of us here.”

The man who came to me did not seem to have any complaints about this in itself.

The man had no problem with Ren coming here in the first place, not that he has any negative feelings towards him.

He just has one thing on his mind. The man folded his arms in confusion.

“If it’s a request from none other than Edgar-sama, I have no hesitation in doing so…but”

“We are a little concerned about something.”

The knight who led Ren here opened his mouth.

“Edgar-sama has told us that when you come, he wants us to cross swords with you using that hard sword technique. However, we are worried that you might get hurt.”

“I would not hesitate to do so if you were a knight here, but if we use the hard sword technique, you’ll be worn out.”

“However, I heard that you were able to block the sword of Edgar-sama……”

The knights who use the hard sword were driven by such hesitation.

The knights who gathered one after another also agreed and looked somewhat hesitant.

But one of the knights said, “I think we need to see if he has what it takes,” and suggested that he show them the progress on the vial.

“I will answer their questions. Ren-dono, prepare yourself. I have a selection of swords for training lined up against the wall, so choose the one you like best.”

“I understand. Here you go.”

Ren, who was not intimidated, fished into his pocket and pulled out a vial, which he handed to Edgar.

There’s a reason he was carrying around the vial that he no longer had any use for. He kept it in his jacket pocket as a memento, because this was one accomplishment Ren could say he had achieved. Because it is not large and therefore does not get in the way.

“Well”.

Edgar turned his body toward the knights.

Ren is already getting ready.

“I said earlier that it would have a positive effect on all of you. Let me show you why.”

Edgar presented the vial that Ren had just given him, and the knights were absolutely stunned to see it.

The crystal ball that was supposed to be inside the vial was immediately recognizable as having a talent for hard swordsmanship, even with a small scratch. They were all wide-eyed to see that the crystal ball had been shattered.

“Does anyone still have any concerns after seeing this?”

No one opened their mouths, just stunned.

Not one person foolishly thought that he must have opened the lid and shattered it…… and they all shared the amazement they felt.

They came to an understanding.

Why Edgar had mentioned that it would be good for them.

Eventually, the hulking man laughs.

“It won’t be long before he masters the cloaking technique,”

Then another knight said.

“I wonder if he will learn it in the near future. I’ve never seen such a talent.”

The knights also heard about Licia’s talent and were still amazed.

Ren returned to the place where everyone had exchanged a few words, sword in hand for training.

Then the big man stepped forward and said, “By all means.”

“If you would allow me to be your partner.”

The light in his eyes was a sign of an uplifted heart and interest in Ren.

Invited to join him, Ren looked at Edgar’s face and left the decision up to him. The Edgar mouthed the words, “Not bad”.

“Let’s watch how Ren-dono fights, and I will give you technical advice each time. One by one, follow the order.”

“I understand.”

Ren responded and began his preparatory exercises.

A few minutes later, Ren was excited to get into the fight.

He wasn’t at all intimidated by the sight of a swordsman with a huge sword in his hand, but he too prepared his own sword.

With that, everything changed.

The presence similar to a high energy that Ren radiated, and the appearance of the knights who sensed it.

“Show me your full power with the sword.”

The man said, and Ren finally stepped in.

It was sharper and faster than the man had imagined. The man, whose eyes were wide open, held the huge sword right next to him with a body agile enough to match it’s size, and blocked Ren’s sword as it attacked him head-on.

“This is ……!”

There is no shock that strikes the core of the body.

After all, it seems that he has not yet mastered cloaking.

But it is conversely terrifying. Even though he has not mastered the cloak, the shock is like when he receives the sword of a hard sword user…….

Sweat broke out on his cheeks as he wondered how strong this boy would be if he mastered the cloak.

“I don’t need to worry about you getting hurt! If so, you will receive my sword as well!”

The man who instantly realized Ren’s strength swung his huge sword in return.

Even with the difference in size, Ren’s core strength was unexpectedly strong enough to keep his body from being bounced around. The man swung a huge sword right at Ren’s side, and it ran sharply to his side.

Ren also held his sword ready to catch the swing, which left a sound like thunder.

Ren’s cheeks contorted for a moment as the shock shook him to the core.

His body was further blown forward by the man’s physical strength, and he rolled several times on the ground to get into position. No pain. But his hand was terribly numb.

Nevertheless, Ren quickly got up and held his sword again.

He smiles wryly and wipes the sweat from his forehead at the numbness and weariness he feels in his core as he laughs fearlessly.

“Tsu.. even though you are adjusting, you got up  soon after receiving the huge sword of the swordsman class!”

The man muttered, a bead of sweat trickling down his cheek.

The knights who were watching the two duel together, some praised and some relaxed their cheeks at the sight of Ren, who was not even old enough to enter the academy yet.

They were passionate about what they were seeing.

The same was true for Edgar, who was instructing Ren in the art of swordsmanship.

“It hasn’t been that long since that day, but you’ve honed your skills again.”

He shuddered to think that Ren had already grown so much after the summer instruction.

The power released by the huge sword used by the swordsman class is the fruit of intense physical strength that literally shakes the body from the core. If it had been Ren in the summer, he wouldn’t have been able to respond as well as he did to the giant sword of the man he was facing. He might have been blown away easily and could not stand up.

Anyway.

“You are at the very beginning of becoming a hard sword user.”

He never forgot and continued to work hard every day, struggling with how to develop and use his magical powers.

The tips that he gained from the fruits of his recent efforts are pushing him toward the blossoming of his talent.

(—- something, I think I’m getting it.)

Ren felt a palpable sense of relief, even though he had just accepted the challenge.

Thinking back, it was the same when he crossed swords with Edgar. When he received the hard sword technique, he didn’t just feel the impact without thinking about it, as he had never experienced such an impact before.

Whenever I experienced these shocks with my body, my body somehow learned from them.

(I will learn the power of this to the fullest!)

The shock of receiving the hard sword technique caused several beads of sweat to form on his forehead.

Ren wiped off the sweat and smiled wryly.

“Could you do it again, please?”

“Ah… it doesn’t matter how many times.”

The first time he had taken a swing of the giant sword in a single scuffle, Ren had felt the weariness in every muscle in his body.

Still, he swung the sword again in the same manner, watched over by numerous knights.

Two times, and then three times, until he ran out of strength.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

After returning to Elendil, Ren almost fell asleep in the bath of his room.

After the bath, he prepared himself for dinner with Licia and Lesasrd, who had returned for the night.

At that time, Licia said in a worried voice.

“Re-Ren…? You look so tired, is something wrong?”

“Actually, I went to the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary —-.’

I tell them about my day.

It wasn’t on his schedule, but he went to the Lion’s Sanctuary because he had to. He said he was able to meet Edgar there by chance, so he went to get some pointers, including how to stand with the knights.

“Compared to the summer, I was able to move my body, so I just worked too hard. I’m going to work hard again tomorrow.”

When he told them this, Licia and Lessard laughed, saying, “That’s just like Ren”.

“Father! I can’t wait to train with Ren too!”

“I know, but you’ll have to be patient during this time. I want to explore accompanying the nobles as much as possible, coupled with the recent faction uproar. We need to attend parties as well.”

Edgar said something similar.

His master, Ulysses, is also in the capital for the party.

The time is definitely important for Licia and her family as well.

(In return, I also need to improve my sword skills.)

To be strong is to be able to protect.

Ren, who had planned to continue going to the Holy Lion’s Sanctuary for a while tomorrow, was once again bracing himself.

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