The battle wasn’t enough to increase my understanding of <One-Stroke Skill>.
Although I was grasping the concept of ‘sword energy’ through the sparring with Fern, at some point, even that stopped being helpful.
Since it wasn’t a life-or-death combat situation and Fern was deliberately getting hit by the sword energy or blocking it with his sword, I couldn’t get a proper feel for it.
Moreover,
‘It’s still weak.’
The ‘sword energy’ I released wasn’t strong enough to cause significant damage.
Even worse, if my concentration wavered even slightly, the energy would disintegrate in midair like a brittle cracker.
“Huff… huff…”
I spoke to Fern, who was panting heavily.
“Thank you, let’s end the sparring here.”
“Ah, understood… huff, Sir Julian.”
Clang!
At my words, Fern dropped his sword and collapsed to the ground. Judging by the dejected look in his eyes, he seemed quite exhausted.
‘Well, even though I held back, it was still ‘sword energy.’
It hurts if you get hit, and if you get hit in a vital spot by mistake, you could die.
Enduring this much was impressive.
“Was it… helpful?”
Helpful? Of course it was.
Even though it wasn’t advanced training, it felt like a good foundational practice.
However, if I simply answered ‘yes,’ it might damage his pride.
Knights are peculiar beings who live by their pride.
After all, would it be normal for people who live covered in blood and constantly get stabbed to live by their ‘swordsmanship’?
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t of much help.”
“Indeed… I’m sorry.”
“Keep training. With your current skills, you’re likely to die on a mission.”
At my harsh critique, Fern hung his head.
“But as a knight, you are competent.”
Fern looked up at me in surprise at the sudden compliment.
“Excuse me?”
“Your precise swordsmanship and mana control are exemplary for a knight. However, because of that, it wasn’t much help to me.”
The ability to handle ‘One-Stroke Skill’ is not about precision; it’s a more instinctive trait.
So, I kept provoking Fern.
When a person loses their temper and fights desperately, they show their true nature.
What I wanted from Fern was raw, instinctive swordsmanship. But…
He, too, was a knight.
He couldn’t easily change the ingrained paths of his sword.
He was the epitome of a ‘knight.’
Moreover, as the sparring dragged on, Fern increasingly realized the gap between us and his fighting spirit dulled.
No matter how talented ‘Julian’ is and how unique his swordsmanship is, the basics remain the same.
The ‘Julian’ sword is somewhat refined and systematized.
Moreover, with traits like ‘Mental Fortitude’ and ‘Poker Face,’ regular sparring couldn’t reach the realm of ‘actual combat.’
“The situation I want is an enemy charging at me with intent to kill.”
If it doesn’t reach that level, it won’t even count as ‘experience.’
“Sir Julian, I know this may be presumptuous, but could you teach me?”
Just as I was about to leave, I heard Fern’s earnest voice.
Teach him? Hmm, I’m not sure.
What should I teach him?
Honestly, the swordsmanship I use is based on my innate physical abilities and game knowledge. It’s not something I built up from scratch.
Fern’s swordsmanship isn’t included in that knowledge.
‘How do I explain this?’
I need to know his specialties and the type of swordsmanship he primarily uses to give any advice.
Since I don’t have a deep understanding of swordsmanship, I can’t explain much.
However, I couldn’t reveal that honestly, so I decided to give a little lip service to get through the situation.
“I’m sorry. I am not generous enough to give teachings to a ‘competitor.'”
“A competitor…? Me…?”
Knights, who are all muscle in the brain, love to be recognized by higher-ranking knights.
Even if it’s from the infamously notorious ‘Smiling Executioner,’ it still holds value.
Besides,
“I helped you with the sparring, so I can at least say this much, right?”
Good luck.
Bowing my head briefly, I prepared to leave the training ground.
“Sir Julian!”
Fern called my name again.
“If you are considering real combat… I have a place I’d like to recommend.”
***
“Sigh…”
Eleanor sighed.
She thought, ‘If it’s about the Empire’s nobility, it can’t be helped.’
She was used to disputes among bishops.
They are the ones who lead in taking things from each other.
But for her, who had risen to the position of ‘Archbishop’ and managed them…
“Controlling them as an Archbishop is such a hassle.”
Although it was misaligned, she, who wanted the Dawn Society to persist, had no choice but to prevent this major conflict.
Thus, she had cast ‘eavesdropping spells’ on the other bishops to prevent any potential situations.
‘But I failed with the one who should be the most closely watched.’
Julian Crypart Frason.
She could say boldly that he was an exceptional presence among the bishops.
After all, he was the one who helped her rise to the position of ‘Archbishop.’
The Grand Archbishop, Tenellon, had immense favor for him.
‘That’s the problem.’
Backed by that favor, he acted arrogantly and earned the resentment of all the bishops.
Recently, it seemed he had even gained some supporters within the order.
‘He never hesitates in his actions.’
The recent incident with Aiden was bound to escalate into a major uproar within the Dawn Society.
Not only were there many wizards who had joined the Dawn Society led by Aiden, but most of those wizards were also close to ‘pureblood supremacy.’
‘A mage is like that.’
Eleanor’s gaze shifted to the book lying on her desk.
[Record of Magical Incantations]
The subtitle written under the cover read:
[Pure mana accumulates in the blood. Bloodline is the measure of the supreme mage.]
Although these words no longer held the same grandeur as they did in the past, they still exerted significant influence among mages.
‘The trend of belittling anyone who isn’t of pure blood as a ‘half-blood’ still prevails.’
However, Aiden, who was defeated by that ‘half-blood,’ would seek revenge to uphold his beliefs.
‘Yes, I knew a message would come soon.’
Just then, through one of the eavesdropping spells she had set up, a voice was transmitted via a magical device. It belonged to Bishop Korund, a person with a bold yet unrefined personality.
‘But who is he talking to?’
Eleanor’s eavesdropping spells didn’t monitor every single action of the target. They activated only when the target used a communication spell to talk directly to someone else.
In other words, Bishop Korund was having a conversation via a communication spell.
“The haughty Donassien family alone wouldn’t be enough to handle Julian.”
Korund’s voice continued.
Donassien family, Julian.
Eleanor quickly realized who Korund’s conversation partner was.
“Aiden.”
He could soon become the key player in the coming storm within the Dawn Society.
“Helping him isn’t difficult. As a proponent of pureblood supremacy, I don’t particularly like seeing a half-blood like Julian thrive either.”
It seemed Aiden was seeking Korund’s cooperation to expel Julian from the Dawn Society or even kill him.
‘Sigh, how bothersome.’
These proud nobles always stir up trouble, even when they could just stay quietly out of sight. Eleanor sighed inwardly again.
“But, Aiden, I find this whole situation highly suspicious.”
She leaned in closer to the magical device, listening intently as the conversation took an unexpected turn.
“It’s hard to believe that a mage of your caliber would allow Julian to get close.”
That made sense.
Aiden, a fifth-ranked ‘Barago’ grade mage of the gold (金) element, was undoubtedly a skilled mage.
“A fight between a mage and a knight usually ends in one of two ways.”
If Aiden and Julian had truly fought, it wouldn’t have ended with just an eye injury.
“A victory without even a scratch, or a loss resulting in severe limb damage or death.”
Being a mage himself, Korund was well aware of these facts.
“A mage retains combat power as long as they have their heart, mouth for incantations, and brain.”
‘What is he getting at?’
Eleanor raised her head, concentrating.
“The fight wouldn’t have ended with just an eye injury. So, why did the rumor spread that way?”
After a brief silence, Korund’s voice was heard again.
“Isn’t he trying to organize the bishops who are colluding with Julian and rebelling?”
It’s a somewhat plausible assumption.
It was Aiden who brought Julian into the ‘Dawn Society’ when Julian was on the brink of being expelled from the capital due to the pressure from the council of elders.
‘No way.’
Of course, Eleanor didn’t believe it.
Julian had stopped Aiden’s experiments, and it was Aiden who sent Alphas to kill Julian.
Even if Aiden saw Julian as useful when he recruited him, that wouldn’t be the case now.
“Haha, it’s not just a story about being ambushed.”
Korund’s laughter, sounding rather pleased, echoed.
“Anyway, let’s meet ‘there’ and discuss it further. It’s not too late to talk about Julian then.”
With that, the eavesdropping spell ended.
“Really, this is so troublesome.”
Setting down the magical device, she stood up.
With rights come responsibilities.
If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have done anything to pass the position of Archbishop to Julian.
That’s what Eleanor thought.
***
“If you’re looking for a combat experience close to the real thing, why not observe the arena?”
After our sparring, Fern suggested none other than the arena.
Similar to the coliseum I saw in the Holy Nation, it’s a place where fighters battle each other, though it doesn’t feature deadly fights with demons.
“Surely, the arena would provide some real combat data.”
Finding Fern’s suggestion agreeable, I headed straight to Myungwolkwan, a tavern on the outskirts of the capital.
One of the groups managing the arena is the ‘Blood Ghost Group’ from the slums.
“What is it?”
Unlike the last time I visited, Arthur, Trale’s personal bodyguard and the ‘fake boss’ of the Blood Ghost Group, was guarding the place.
“I came to see Trale.”
“Lady Trale is not here.”
Finding Arthur’s response unbelievable, I looked up at the sky.
‘The sun is high in the sky.’
Trale, being a vampire, avoids sunlight. She possesses all the weaknesses typically attributed to vampires in subculture.
“Sir Julian!”
At that moment, a boy named Eren, who usually guided me, stepped in between me and Arthur.
“Lady Trale said you may come up.”
Of course, she’s here. Vampires get burnt or turn to ash under direct sunlight. She wouldn’t be outside in broad daylight unless she was crazy.
“Tch.”
Ignoring Arthur’s obvious displeasure, I headed for the elevator.
Shortly after, I reached the floor where Trale was. Upon seeing her, I got straight to the point.
“I want to observe the arena.”
The ‘arena’ I mentioned operates on a membership basis. The main reason is that nobles with refined tastes want to hide their identities.
Of course, since it brings in money, the Blood Ghost Group actively promotes it.
Even if I showed up without warning, no one would be foolish enough to stop me.
Would anyone dare to block the ‘Smiling Executioner’?
It would be a miracle if they weren’t too scared.
However, Trale looked visibly uncomfortable.
“What did you say?!”
She raised her voice, sounding somewhat angry.
“Not only do you show up suddenly when I should be resting, but you also have the audacity to make such a request!”
Her reddish-brown eyes, despite her raised voice, were flickering uncertainly.
At the same time, her eyes reflected the boy named Eren who had come up with me.
As expected.
“For now, this isn’t something for others to hear. I’d like to speak with you alone.”
Knowing her true intent, I made the suggestion.
“You want to observe the arena? I don’t know why but…”
Trale frowned and gestured for Eren to leave. The boy bowed and took the elevator out of the room.
As soon as the elevator started operating with a mechanical noise, Trale’s tone changed.
“No, It’s a bit… Sir Julian.”
You live a difficult yet amusing life.
Cliche Novel 