Chapter 86 – Level 40 (2)

“My level is as you can see now. Honestly, it wasn’t hard to reach 3-star knight. It was the result of the viewers’ help combined with the achievements of the training I’ve completed so far.”

Henry was hosting the stream with a somewhat serious expression.

That attitude was almost like a knight reporting to the lord he served.

Of course, Henry was in the middle of thinking that serving a master and dealing with the mages were not very different.

For originally, a knight did not serve only a single master.

The object to which knights swore loyalty was not a single nobleman, but rather the nobleman’s “name.”

Thus, whenever a major event occurred in the family, without fail, the very first ones to run forth were the knights.

Along with the report, Henry displayed several information windows. He had become quite skilled at dealing with the mages now.

[Swordplay]

* Proficiency: Level 32, 17%

* Upon reaching 100% proficiency, it grows to Level 33.

* An additional reward is given upon reaching Level 40.

“When I reached Level 10 in swordplay, I obtained the trait [Understanding]. The viewers probably know its effect already. It seems something else will be given when I reach 4-star knight.”

Back when it had not been long since he started streaming.

Just before reaching 1-star knight, Henry raised his swordplay proficiency to Level 10 through a duel with Austin.

The trait [Understanding] was given then.

Since then, there was no particular reward when he reached Level 20 or even Level 30.

[What about other weapons? Didn’t you say you can learn the weapons your opponent uses?]

[Right lol, that’s why Austin used all kinds of weapons lol]

[But does this thing called Understanding only apply to swords?]

“The traits obtained through swordplay proficiency apply only to swords. However, as you can see.”

Henry displayed a new information window.

It contained information through which the state of all weapon arts, including swordplay, could be grasped.

“They are not as high as swordplay, but they are all close to Level 30. When facing the weapons present here, I can always utilize the trait.”

[So what do you need to raise to reach 4-star now?]

“Currently,”

Henry said after glancing at the information.

“There are three things: the total amount of mana, mana control techniques, and weapon arts. Among these, techniques can be raised through Talent Orbs, and the total amount of mana can be resolved by using the Sponsor Shop.”

Practically, the only process requiring “training” was weapon arts.

Currently, Henry had about 2,500 subscribers, which meant he had obtained 2,500 sensitivity.

“For now, accumulating mana on my own is close to impossible. I tried doing it by myself, but judging by the speed, it would take a year.”

To be honest, it was not a slow speed.

After all, among the knights who had reached the 3-star rank, there were many who remained stuck, unable to cross the wall for years.

But this was purely a matter of “efficiency.”

Rather than shutting himself away for a year to accumulate mana honestly, it was dozens of times better to fiercely continue streaming and accumulate sponsorships.

“For that reason, the major goal would be 4-star knight, but for now, I am prioritizing swordplay proficiency as my top goal. I am also curious about the trait that is said to be given upon reaching Level 40.”

Actually, “looking forward to it” was a more accurate expression than “curious,” and the viewers felt the same way.

[True, the one you got at Level 10 was so broken too…]

[Isn’t he relying too much on traits? lol]

[Our hyung works so hard!! He’s a hyung who would have eaten well and lived well even without traits!!]

[I’ve never seen someone work this hard while watching a stream lol. I don’t mean just streaming hard, lol.]

[Who in the world would turn on a game and exercise for 10 hours straight? lol]

[Our hyung is not crazy!!!]

“…Thank you. Anyway,”

With this, he conveyed the general situation.

What his current growth state was, what he could do, and which among those he should prioritize.

As well as what parts he could achieve with the help of the viewers.

“I should also meet the Royal Knights, but before that, I need to raise my swordplay proficiency to Level 40. And the best way to raise proficiency is, of course, to clash swords with someone.”

Fortunately,

Henry had an excellent opponent.

***

Henry’s and Austin’s swords clashed.

Since he was facing him as a knight, not an assassin, the sword drew an honest trajectory.

Clang! Cl-clang!

Swords clad in mana did not spark. Instead, fragments of mana simply scattered like blue petals.

Austin was ahead in the amount of mana. Austin was also the one scattering more fragments. Henry’s mana took on a shape that seemed to gnaw away at Austin’s mana.

“No matter how many times I experience it, it’s amazing.”

Swoosh!

Stepping back, Austin tilted his head.

It was a phenomenon that was truly difficult to understand.

When water touched a blazing fire, if the amount of water was sufficient, the fire would be extinguished.

What if it was the opposite?

The fire would rather grow in size.

It was the same for mana.

The absolute total amount of mana was an element that could never be omitted in a duel between knights.

“What’s amazing?”

“Because I don’t know why my side is losing. Swordplay could be like that, and it’s also possible for you to look like two people at times, Henry. Since those are in the realm of technique. But this… is not a technique.”

The greater swallows the lesser.

At least in the realm of mana, that single sentence was no different from truth.

It was the same for mages.

No matter how high-level the magic was, if it was overwhelmingly pushed back in the amount of mana, it would be swallowed even by a fireball.

“Yet, it’s strange. The loss of mana is much larger on my side. I’ve never experienced such a phenomenon before. At first, I thought it was [Concentration]. Thinking you temporarily increased the mana poured into the sword greatly.”

But that thought was wrong.

Henry maintained a consistent amount of mana from the beginning to the end of the duel.

What Austin felt was solely because the mana loaded onto Austin’s own sword was gradually decreasing.

“This is something that could potentially shake up the academy’s curriculum. It could make even the knights who are already established look back at themselves. Because it is a completely different method from the conventional one.”

“I don’t recall learning that we should simply push through with the amount of mana.”

“There’s no reason to learn it. It’s obvious. You don’t teach someone that they must eat when they are hungry, do you? But no curriculum in the academy deals with how to cope when you are pushed back in the amount of mana.”

“Evade, look for openings, and adjust the distance between weapons through [Transformation].”

“Right. That’s how it is. They teach that you have to take a detour. An exchange of direct impact like this is something that must be avoided. Otherwise, you get swallowed up. Yet.”

Austin held up his sword. The bluish film of mana was still there, but it was disordered in places, as if nicked.

“It was my side that got swallowed.”

“That could happen.”

Henry shrugged.

In truth, he knew it was a phenomenon that defied common sense. He also anticipated the cause to some extent.

Eyes that see mana.

Anticipating the opponent’s attack with the trait [Understanding] and reacting a step faster in accordance.

And since it was an ability obtained through Talent Orbs, even near-perfect mana control.

Without even realizing it himself, Henry was moving his mana to produce the optimal efficiency. The result was Austin’s nicked sword just like that now.

[It’s a real cheat key lol]

[Ah, this is what they call talent.]

[I can tell by looking at his reaction lol. It’s seriously so broken lol]

[It’s a reaction like he almost twisted the fundamentals lol]

Austin shrugged his shoulders.

“Could you perhaps explain it? I’m asking purely out of curiosity.”

“I reduced the impact.”

“The impact applied to your sword?”

A nod.

At Henry’s affirmation, Austin could not help but shake his head.

“This is true talent. I really don’t know why our Duke is obsessed with a guy like me. No matter how well you raise someone, they won’t stand a chance against a guy with real talent. Ah, of course.”

“…”

“I’m not trying to disparage the effort you put in, Henry, but you know that feeling?”

“A sense of deprivation?”

“No way!”

Austin laughed out loud.

“A sense of deprivation is a right that only guys who have truly worked hard can harbor. I guarantee you, there is no trainee in this academy who has the right to feel that way. It’s just something like… Wonder? Admiration? A curiosity about what on earth that guy is looking at right now.”

And also,

Austin added.

“Pleasure is one of them too. The pleasure of clashing swords with such a guy and being able to share his vision, even if only faintly. Shall we start again?”

Shring.

Austin pointed his sword at Henry. The disordered mana was tidied up. Toward the sword strike rushing in like that, Henry clashed his sword.

[The opponent’s level is outstanding!]

[Swordplay proficiency increases by a large margin!]

The message rose once again.

Checking the proficiency that had risen considerably before he knew it, Henry pulled up the manager chat.

It was to check Fire Solo’s advice once again.

[Live Streaming: Clearing all the way to Swordplay Level 40! Ending it today no matter what!]

***

‘…Still.’

It was a late hour, so dark that even the stars were visible.

Rousseau looked at his training ground, which still had its lights on.

A place that was clearly a space provided to him, but from some point onward, seemed to have become Henry’s private training ground.

From morning until now,

the lights of the training ground had not gone out even once.

‘They should eat.’

A knight’s body was not so weak. Even if they starved for a day, there was no harm to the body, but Rousseau could not think calmly when it came to Henry’s issues.

It was already the twelfth hour.

Because Henry and Austin were continuing their duel, even skipping meals.

‘How can they treat children like this in such a manner.’

Anger bubbled up anew.

A few hours ago,

Rousseau had been summoned by the headmaster, and they had conversed there with Henry as the topic.

In truth, it was closer to a one-sided interrogation than a conversation.

I know that trainee Henry Camilton is outstanding. As the chief instructor, you are closest to Henry, so you must know even better.

That is correct.

What is the trainee’s achievement level? A short while ago, he said so himself—that he was aiming for 2-star knight. He also said he would be able to cross the wall before long…

I have not heard of it. All I know is that Henry has now reached the level of a 1-star knight.

Henry had definitely said so.

That he only reported to the headmaster that he had now reached 1-star knight.

But the headmaster had probed Rousseau as if he knew everything.

To Rousseau as he turned to leave, the headmaster showed a hint of regret, and it was the face of a merchant worrying about the quality of his merchandise.

‘Money-mad bastard!’

The person who even clapped in excitement at the report that Henry would perform a mission was precisely the headmaster.

Why?

Because it made money.

Instead of throwing a reasonable “evaluation” to the academy’s trainees, the academy could directly pocket gold coins.

Huffing, Rousseau stepped into the training ground.

Just as expected,

he saw the two exchanging sword blows while sweating like rain.

The ground beneath their feet was drenched in sweat as if it had rained.

‘I should wait a moment.’

He had no desire to interrupt his beloved disciples’ training.

Rousseau was a man far from authoritarianism; rather, he was simply glad to watch the duel.

‘Truly astonishing. I realized it early on, but Austin’s skill is also tremendous. What I saw wasn’t everything.’

He guessed that since he was of the Roderick bloodline, he would have some hidden card.

He had also made his own guess about his real skill in the first place.

But the appearance Austin was showing now was more than Rousseau had expected.

‘At least 3-star… Hmm, considering the time they’ve spent dueling, he might even be aiming for 4-star. At this rate, it’s almost laughable to say I’m giving instruction to those kids.’

An even more surprising fact was that Henry held the upper hand against such an Austin.

And an overwhelming one at that.

Anyone who didn’t know might feel it was a fierce clash of offense and defense, but Rousseau could tell.

‘Movements that seem to see through every attack… Wait.’

Rousseau froze. It felt as if he had missed something extremely important.

Rousseau realized the identity of the sense of incongruity.

‘Why are they using real swords!’

Henry and Austin were using real swords with fiercely sharp blades, and they were even clad in extremely sharp mana!

Even though he had requested them absolutely not to do so!

“You two, right now—”

Jumping up!

The moment Rousseau stood up to stop them,

…Huh?

at the scene that followed, he froze right in place.

BJ Swordmaster