Chapter 34 – 1-Star Knight (1)

[New information has been opened.]

[Henry Camilton: Knight Trainee]

* Level 8

* Alignment: Good

* Main Weapon: Sword

* Prefers direct and destructive combat.

* Promoted to ‘1-Star Knight’ upon reaching Level 10.

Henry’s ‘Information’ was now far more specific than when it first came out.

The money spent up to this point alone was 300,000 won.

Naturally, Oop Oop had supported him, and thanks to that, Henry could realize his own level accurately.

‘To think only twenty percent was left until 1-Star Knight.’

What kind of existence was a 1-Star Knight?

As far as Henry knew, the upper tier of Class B had reached that level, and most of Class A were at the level of a 1-Star Knight.

One had to be at least at that level to receive offers from various families to join them.

Also, the top tier of Class A was likewise a 1-Star Knight.

However, the difference lay in the fact that they had crossed a few more walls, and could become a 2-Star Knight at any time if they put in steady effort.

What if someone achieved 2-Star while still a trainee?

Without exaggeration, it was a level where love calls from the Royal Knight Order would surely flood in.

‘Moreover, this.’

Henry touched the part where ‘Level 8’ was written.

‘It even shows concretely what I must do to raise my level.’

[The criteria for level calculation are complex. The total amount of mana possessed by the user, technology of handling mana, weapons technique, the number of weapons that can be handled, experience, physical capability, and…]

The criteria were diverse.

Since, in fact, only fundamental things were written.

However, fortunately, the priorities were written here.

[Comparison Standard: 1-Star Knight]

* Total Amount of Mana: 30%

* Technology of Handling Mana: 80%

* Weapons Technique: 95%

* Number of Weapons that can be Handled: 100%

* Physical Capability: 100%

…

What was lacking for Henry right now, and what was sufficient.

‘I was almost there.’

It was a strange feeling.

The goal he had thought was far away was right in front of Henry’s nose.

If he just raised his swordsmanship slightly, accumulated the lacking mana, and purchased all the Tier 2 talent beads.

‘Then I would become a 1-Star Knight.’

A skill where moving up to Class B was not even a chore, but rather allowed him to look toward the next stage.

Of course, experience had to back it up, but for Henry, that didn’t even count as effort.

“I will end the broadcast here. Thank you once again. I was able to reach this moment because you, the mages, were here.”

[You’re ending the broadcast?]

[No, ending the broadcast right now is a bit too much lolol]

[Without even doing a single spar? This? Here?]

“No. It is… the issue of the microphone’s duration. I will keep the broadcast on, but when I’m with someone, it seems it will be difficult for me to say this and that to you, the mages.”

[Ah, that’s understandable lol]

[Ignore us and proceed, let’s go]

[Finally sparring lol. Waited a long time]

The broadcasting microphone.

The two-hour duration was coming to an end.

No matter how much of an Austin he was, if he saw him conversing with the viewers, he couldn’t help but find it strange.

With the screen floated beside him, Henry looked at Austin.

“Shall we do it now?”

“Oh, life has finally returned to your eyes. Did you feel like taking it seriously?”

“I’m thinking of accepting your sword, not your chatter.”

“That’s good! What sword should I use…”

“Use anything. Since they are all training swords. I’ve already obtained permission from the instructor.”

“If that’s the case.”

Austin carefully examined the propped-up swords.

Glancing at Henry’s sword a few times, he soon picked up one.

“With this, I could probably hold my own somehow. Though it falls far short.”

“Acting weak even before starting?”

“That was what I was contemplating just now. How far should I go? Sir Sanson last time, right? You know, the knight of the Timothy family?”

“Yes.”

“Would it be enough if it is as much as that person did?”

This was unexpected again.

Henry looked at Austin with amusement.

“How much did you hide?”

“Quite a lot. Enough that if I set my mind to it, I could climb not just to Class B, but way above it. After all, they say blood doesn’t lie, right?”

Austin was still smiling broadly and puffing himself up.

If it were anyone else, they would have thought it was bluffing.

But since it was Austin, that was undoubtedly sincere.

‘So he is of Ducal House bloodline in his own way.’

Duke Roderick was one of the swordsmen counted on one’s fingers in the Vallaran Kingdom, and that talent was clearly passed down to Austin as is.

‘It would be nice if I could check this too.’

If he had the 880,000 won, he could check the opponent’s information; that was Henry’s current situation.

Currently, his money was slightly tight.

‘It can’t be helped.’

“Do your best. I will do my best as well.”

“Will you be okay? It is… I’m not that outstanding either. I can’t control it well. I suppose I should say it is unrefined?”

“As long as you don’t die.”

“Injuries?”

“I don’t care.”

The academy’s medical staff is highly outstanding.

Even if not, a significant number of high-performance remedies were positioned in the ‘sponsorship shop’ as well.

Shring.

Henry raised his silver-white sword.

“Let’s do this.”

***

Chief Instructor Rousseau was in a hurry.

Why on earth did work pile up on a day like today?

It was extremely regrettable, but he was not of the personality to cast aside his role and storm out.

“Is there anything else to inspect?”

“No. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes, then.”

The work, spanning nearly five hours, ended.

Handing over the final data to the professor in charge, Rousseau hurriedly stood up.

An air of wonder at his unusual attitude.

But such things were no longer parts for Rousseau to care about.

‘I must hurry…’

Rousseau heavily kicked off the ground.

A solidly trained body.

On top of that, he circulated mana to raise his physical capabilities to the maximum.

Though it was a luxurious ability for the mere purpose of moving inside the academy, the moment he would soon face was more important than anything to Rousseau.

‘It didn’t end before then, right?’

Moving to the training ground took only an instant.

It was the result of running while giving up even on greeting the people he encountered along the way.

Cautiously, Rousseau stepped inside, trying his best not to make a sound.

Of course,

“…”

he couldn’t help the sound announcing a visitor.

The moment the door opened,

in the room where he thought only an awkward silence would linger, the sound of metal clashing was fierce.

A fierceness as if they did not care in the slightest about a visitor.

The sight that soon appeared was Henry and Austin exchanging fierce offense and defense.

‘…Thank goodness.’

The focus of the two was not something that would waver because of a single person like him.

Rousseau quietly headed to the corner.

Pulling up a chair and sitting down, he began to focus on the spar in earnest.

‘I am disqualified as an instructor. To think even Austin was like this. I should take off the label of chief.’

He could tell at a single glance.

The skills of the two were not at a level to remain in Class C.

Mana that did not waver even at the moment swords clashed. The sword changing shape several times in an instant, and the technique of stubbornly concentrating mana around the hit point.

This was not a spar among mere trainees.

Rather, the two were maintaining an attitude close to actual combat.

To the extent that a slight slip-up could easily lead to a fatal injury.

‘Should I stop them?’

Only then did Rousseau end up having such a thought.

A thought he hadn’t come up with because he was watching as if possessed from the beginning.

However, the conclusion was as good as decided.

‘I can’t do that. When the kids are growing even in the meantime…’

If a problem occurred, he could resolve it himself.

Since if it was the request of the chief instructor, the medical staff would run like an arrow even at dawn.

Rousseau occupied the position of a spectator in earnest.

‘Austin is still in the lead. As expected of a Roderick. However… the gap is gradually narrowing. Every time they exchange swords.’

He wondered what kind of reaction Alex would show if he saw this sight.

Since he was a friend who, without fail, mentioned Lauren every time they conversed, and rattled on about how much of a genius Lauren was.

When he saw Henry taking the exam not long ago, he had even looked slightly shocked.

‘This time, it likely won’t end with just shock.’

It cannot be denied that Lauren is a genius.

But geniuses differ.

The two trainees currently in front of Rousseau had already long departed far from that category.

‘It was not groundless confidence. If it is Henry right now, he is more than enough to enter Class B. Though the small amount of mana is a flaw if there is one, that kind of thing is a part that can be filled by simply investing time.’

Rousseau watched the spar as if possessed.

Already in his head, he had pulled out a list of what he could do for Henry.

Elixirs stocked up in the warehouse.

Precious minerals.

Also, improvement of the training ground facilities for Henry.

Even up to what kind of effect could be obtained if he were to do that sparring himself.

While Rousseau was burning with anticipation, the spar finally entered a lull.

It was also then that Henry noticed Rousseau’s presence.

“Instructor?”

“Huh? When did you arrive? Wow, as expected, instructors control their presence at will too! I am impressed!”

Austin also lowered his sword and looked at Rousseau.

As he had heard, he talks a lot indeed.

Thinking so, Rousseau hurriedly waved his hand.

“Do not mind me and continue what you were doing. It was a very good sight. Both of you are excellent.”

“My goodness! I never imagined the day would come when I’d receive such praise from Chief Instructor Rousseau… Whoops!”

Austin backed away greatly.

It was because Henry’s sword flew in.

Though not very threatening, it was a momentum sufficient to call forth tension again.

“I will continue, Instructor.”

Henry spoke quietly.

It was a word let out because he knew Rousseau’s sincerity, and because his own mind was extremely urgent right now.

[Swordsmanship]

* Current Proficiency: Level 9, 55%

The remaining proficiency was a mere 5 percent.

If he continued a bit further, he could cross the ‘wall’ and fulfill the conditions of a 1-Star Knight.

Austin’s eyes also grew serious.

An appearance as if he had become a completely different person when holding a sword.

As if proving he had received the blood of Roderick, Austin also launched a counterattack with a fierce smile.

[Insane, for real…]

[The atmosphere is completely different from when he said he was just training alone]

[What a feast for the eyes lolol]

[At a glance, it looks like they are fighting with lightsabers lol]

A fierce exchange of clashes ensued once again.

A clear defensive posture on Henry’s part.

However, just as Rousseau felt, the viewers were also feeling the same way.

[He is gradually catching up, right?]

[I see it that way too lol. Earlier, he had to block three times just to attack once]

[If he hits swordsmanship Level 10, he’ll catch up completely?? Didn’t they say he’d get some bonus again?]

The atmosphere was one of looking forward to the gap between Henry and Austin gradually narrowing, and also expecting what would be given when reaching Level 10.

The same went for Austin who dealt with such a Henry, and Rousseau was also accepting it as ‘a layer of wall.’

[The quality of the sword is extremely high! Additional proficiency is granted!]

[The environment is suitable for training! Additional proficiency is granted!]

[The gap with the opponent…]

…

With every exchange of clashes, Henry was facing such messages.

All conditions were perfect.

The optimal conditions for raising swordsmanship proficiency.

He could see the proficiency rising at a rapid speed, and soon the moment it passed from 99 percent to the next.

[Swordsmanship proficiency has reached Level 10!]

[Condition achieved!]

[As an additional reward, ‘Trait: Understanding’ is granted.]

Not only the message, but a dramatic change occurred even to what Henry himself felt.

‘…?’

An unfamiliar feeling.

Because of that, Henry’s sword slowed down by a beat.

But that was only temporary.

‘I think I know somehow? Is this the reward?’

Soon Henry’s sword became sharper than before.

It did not mean it became aggressive.

Because he was ‘responding’ slightly faster and slightly more accurately to Austin’s strikes.

Knowing somehow meant he felt like he knew how Austin would swing his sword.

An extremely simple phenomenon.

It meant that even if he stretched similarly to the left, the feeling was transmitted whether it was a feint or a sincere attack.

To Austin, who tilted his head, Henry spoke with sparkling eyes.

“…I think I get it. Let’s do it again. Continuing as is.”

BJ Swordmaster