Chapter 142: Talking with Grandfather

Grandfather watched Father leave for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the goblet in his hand. Gathering his courage, Ren called out to him.

“Grandfather.”

Cain quietly set his goblet on the table.

“…Ren.”

The celebration hall was lively, but the people around Grandfather had briefly dispersed, perhaps because he’d just finished speaking with Father.

“Um… I’d like to speak with you…”

“Very well.”

Cain nodded and walked towards the terrace. Ren followed him.

Steps at the terrace’s edge led down to the garden. The noise of the hall still reached them, but it was a little quieter there.

“What did you want to discuss?”

Grandfather looked across the garden, then turned to Ren. Ren began with some nervousness.

“I found your name in the Adventurers’ Guild reference room.”

“Oh?”

Cain’s eyebrow moved slightly.

“It was in a record about the time there was a mass outbreak of Black-Fanged Boars…”

“Ah… that.”

“It said you drove your spear into one, then cut down another with a sword.”

Ren looked up at him.

“You have the Spear Arts skill, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“But… you used a sword?”

One corner of Grandfather’s mouth rose.

“Yes. I believe I did.”

Ren stared at his confirming expression.

“Even though your skill is Spear Arts…?”

“There is no rule saying a person with Spear Arts cannot hold a sword.”

“Huh?”

“The Swordsmanship skill allows someone to handle a sword with greater ability. That much is true.”

Grandfather looked out over the garden.

“But on a battlefield, if you say, ‘My skill is Spear Arts, so I cannot use a sword,’ you die.”

Ren held his breath.

“Sometimes a spear cannot be pulled free. It may break or be knocked from your hands. Then you draw the sword at your waist. If there’s a bow, use it. Throw stones if you must. You use whatever is available. That is all.”

Ren remembered using arrows and improvised spears in the forest. He even used Small Box as a shield.

(I knew it…)

His chest felt a little lighter.

“But…”

Ren tilted his head.

“People tell me there’s no point practising with a sword if I don’t have the Swordsmanship skill…”

Grandfather narrowed his eyes. He glanced around and towards the hall, then returned his gaze to Ren.

“It isn’t pointless. However, in the Royal Capital, there are many who think that way.”

“There are?”

“…This nation has valued swordsmanship since its founding. The First King was a Sword Saint. Do you know that?”

Ren nodded.

“The families who fought beside the king with swords during the founding became the distinguished noble houses at the centre of the realm.”

Ren listened in silence.

“Of course, there were also those who supported the nation with spears, bows, and magic. But the belief that the sword, the same weapon wielded by the king, was most noble spread over many years. Eventually, people began to say that holders of the Swordsmanship skill were superior.”

Grandfather quietly exhaled.

“Combat skills are considered symbols of noble authority, and Swordsmanship is treated as especially important. You must have noticed the same thinking at this celebration. Many consider Swordsmanship special.”

“Yes…”

“…The belief that wielding a sword without the Swordsmanship skill is a waste is not unusual in this country.”

“Then… what am I supposed to do?”

Ren was confused. Even after being told that doing things outside his skill was pointless, he’d slain magical beasts with makeshift arrows and spears. He knew it wasn’t a waste. Reading that Grandfather had used a sword despite possessing Spear Arts had made him think he might find an answer there.

Grandfather said a person could wield a sword without the skill, yet much of the country rejected that belief.

“…There are many magical beasts on this frontier. When one stands before you, saying you lack the skill won’t cause someone else to appear and protect you. If there’s a sword within reach, you use it. That is only natural if you wish to protect yourself.”

“…Yes…”

“Do you want to use a sword?”

Ren’s eyes widened.

“…It’s not that I don’t, but swords are expensive… I use bows and spears. As long as I can defeat magical beasts, I think that’s fine…”

“I see. So you already use a bow and spear. If you obtain a sword, you’ll use that too.”

Ren’s shoulder twitched. Their conversation had convinced him Grandfather wouldn’t reject the use of weapons outside one’s skill, but he still instinctively braced himself.

“Then you already understand that it isn’t entirely pointless.”

“…Yes.”

Ren nodded.

He had known from experience that using something outside his skill wasn’t futile. Grandfather’s words now gave him certainty. For the moment, that was enough.