Chapter 87 – Level 40 (3)

[Swordplay proficiency has reached the limit!]

[The reward for reaching Level 40 is given.]

[Trait: Counterattack]

* When you perfectly block an opponent’s attack, you become able to attack immediately.

* Cooldown: 5 minutes

After a full ten hours of dueling,

Henry was finally able to face the message he had been waiting for.

The reward for Level 40 swordplay was a trait as expected, but it was an effect difficult for Henry to understand.

‘This is a trait?’

If one blocked the opponent’s attack—and perfectly at that—wasn’t it only natural to proceed with an attack?

‘Have I just been too lucky until now?’

Henry momentarily ended up having such a thought.

Had he not already received the Great Mage’s gifts to an excessive degree?

What if it had been just pure luck?

‘No. That can’t be.’

Tap!

Henry kicked off the ground and rushed toward Austin.

Although he had achieved his goal, he had not yet checked the effect of the trait.

Austin calmly prepared his attack. He looked for an opening in the approaching Henry. In an ordinary duel, he would have avoided vital spots, but there was no need for that when facing Henry.

A sharp stab. Extending from outside his field of vision, the sword aimed for Henry’s flank. Of course, this time too,

Henry’s sword was already blocking the trajectory Austin had drawn.

The sound of clashing metal.

Austin calmly retrieved his sword. Failing in an attack was something he had long since grown accustomed to.

The next moment.

“…Huh?”

Henry’s sword was touching Austin’s neck.

‘What was that?’

In that instant, Austin did not understand what had happened to him.

Only one thing.

He realized the fact that he had lost the duel, but that was all.

‘How?’

Just a moment ago.

He had certainly clashed swords with Henry, and immediately pulled back.

No, to be exact, he had tried to pull back.

For victory and defeat had already been decided at that very moment.

But what he could not understand was,

‘why did Henry not retrieve his sword?’

From clashing swords to feeling the cool sensation at his neck,

there was not the slightest gap between the two processes.

Even if there was a difference in their skills, shouldn’t there be at least enough time to prepare for the next defense?

‘It didn’t even feel fast. It was as if time had been severed… Could it be that I lost consciousness during that brief moment?’

As he thought, he froze.

Austin looked into Henry’s face.

“…You too, Henry?”

“Yeah, me too.”

“My god. What on earth did you do?”

Austin began to smirk.

Henry had a blank expression, which meant it was something Henry himself did not know.

Indeed, the situation just now was outside the category of common-sense understanding.

And those two were not the only ones thinking the same thing.

“…Henry?”

“Instructor?”

Only then did the two notice the presence of the visitor.

Chief Instructor Rousseau.

He, who had lived twice as long as the two trainees, had a dazed face just the same.

“What on earth did you just do?”

[Why are all three of them surprised lol]

[I think the knight is the most surprised? lol]

[Why would they be surprised lol, this is 100% building up to something again lol]

The chat window fluctuated. Henry blinked blankly, looking back and forth between the two. Strictly speaking, he was checking three places, including the chat window.

“Uh, well.”

In that instant, Rousseau held his breath and listened intently to Henry’s words.

However.

“I don’t know well either.”

At the reply that returned, Rousseau felt completely deflated.

“You don’t know?”

“Yes. I only intended to retrieve my sword. Of course, at that moment, I was picturing the next attack in my head, but my clear objective was to retrieve the sword.”

“…Do you mean your body moved as you thought? No, it wasn’t at that level.”

[Of course not lol]

[Talent “500x” lol]

[No, at this rate, it’s almost pitiful lol]

“…But asking for an answer would be excessive. For talent occasionally achieves something that even goes beyond one’s own senses. Apart from that,”

Amid the viewers’ excitement, Rousseau surprisingly regained his composure.

While it was partly thanks to his experience as chief instructor, it was also because at some point, he had judged that a trainee named Henry Camilton could not be evaluated by his common sense.

“This time was truly dangerous. An ability out of control is bound to cause an unexpected accident someday. Had you been careless, Austin’s life might have been in danger.”

“I am fine—”

“Austin. You can only say you are fine because you survived.”

Rousseau’s voice was firm. Austin closed his mouth awkwardly, and Rousseau spoke again.

“I understand your heart in caring for Henry, but all the more reason why a situation like today’s must not happen. Had you, Austin, died or been injured, Henry would not have avoided responsibility.”

“I am sorry.”

“There is no need to be sorry to me. I am not rebuking you. I would be grateful if you accepted it as advice.”

It was true that it was not a rebuke.

He simply hoped that Henry and Austin would not end up in a difficult situation.

“The skills of you two have already surpassed the trainee level. A clumsy duel would only leave clumsy wounds, but you are different. It wouldn’t be strange even if a mistake led to death. That is why an observer is absolutely necessary for duels between outstanding knights.”

“It was greed. I will be careful.”

“I understand. If there is no such incident in the future, that will be enough. Let’s stop this talk here…”

Rousseau let out a long sigh.

“…Honestly, it is astonishing. Even I would not have been able to block that attack. Although you, Henry, may not have obtained the answer yourself, I wish to ask at least this.”

“Yes.”

“…If I asked you to show it again.”

“I can do it.”

“At will?”

“It will require practice, but I can do it. I am certain. It was a technique I can make mine.”

[What do you mean make it yours lol, when it’s a trait lol]

[I think you need to wet your lips first, hyung!]

[Why has our knight become so shameless lol]

Henry pretended not to see the chat.

Because he was embarrassed?

It was not that.

It was simply because he knew the viewers wanted this reaction.

[Look at him avoiding eye contact, sh*t lol]

[Our hyung wasn’t this kind of person lol]

[He tasted money and got corrupted lol]

“Talent…”

Rousseau muttered. He had a complicated look in his eyes. Of course, there was not the slightest negative emotion; it was merely because the common sense built over his entire lifetime was shaken.

Then Henry broached the subject.

“Instructor, would it be okay if I spoke to you now?”

“About what?”

“I obtained Austin’s permission. The reason we must perform this mission…”

“Ah. Right.”

Startled,

Rousseau snapped out of it.

It was not the time to be lost in sentimentality.

Henry said he would perform another mission, and the reason he wanted to do so was Austin.

He had resigned himself to not hearing it this time either, but this meant Henry would tell him the details now.

“I will listen with open ears. Austin will speak himself, right?”

“Yes, he should. But there is one thing I would like you to know. If you hear this, damage might reach you as well, Instructor. Will you be okay with that?”

“It is something I must endure.”

“It is a matter related to the Roderick family.”

“It does not matter.”

“Yes.”

Only after confirming Rousseau’s resolve did Austin begin to reveal the inside story.

What kind of existence Austin was in the Roderick family, what he was forced to do, and ultimately what kind of situation he was placed in.

[It’s still trash no matter how many times I hear it lol]

[Aren’t they typical villains? lol The type of guys who, when they get beaten up later, say they had their own reasons and whatnot lol]

[It feels like they’ll show up as boss-level later, haha. At least a mid-boss, haha.]

[Just beating them up would easily make for an entire episode.]

The viewers’ evaluations followed. For this part, it was not very different from Henry’s thoughts.

Throughout the story,

the wrinkles on Rousseau’s brow were increasing line by line.

And when the life of Austin Roderick reached the present,

“How dare they do that! How dare they!”

For the first time since entering the academy,

Henry was able to face a truly enraged Rousseau.

[Extreme rage lol]

[Looking at Rousseau-jwa’s reaction, he was a true knight lol]

“I will help you! I will endure any damage! The position of chief instructor at the academy is a position that even Royal Knights must respect! I too can play an excellent role as a witness, and coincidentally, are you not in the position of a trainee, Austin!”

In Vallaran, an academy instructor was such an existence.

Especially when it was the chief instructor.

Furthermore, since Austin held the status of a ‘trainee,’ there was more than enough room for Rousseau to intervene.

Whoosh!

Rousseau’s burning gaze directed toward Henry.

“You said you need to meet the Royal Knights.”

“That is correct.”

“I will arrange the meeting. If it is a request from the chief instructor, it would be possible even tomorrow. But if we visit together, the weight of your words, Henry, will weaken.”

It meant he would arrange the meeting, but Henry should visit alone.

What if they went together?

They might be able to start the conversation a bit more easily, but in the end, Rousseau’s authority would advance before Henry’s justification.

“I believe you can get what you want, Henry. It is possible, right?”

“Of course.”

“I should send a letter to Sir Melissa. Also, I will look for a request with the conditions you mentioned, Henry. Since Heritz is far away, there is no way other guys would choose it, but it is still better to handle it surely.”

“Thank you.”

“And, Austin.”

Rousseau’s gaze shifted to Austin. The eyes that had been sparking fire had become calm before long.

“It is not your fault.”

“…Yes?”

“I apologize if I jumped to conclusions. That was how I felt. Your choice was not wrong. There is no need to regret. Had you obediently followed the will of your family, no one would have been caught up in such a problem, but your life would have belonged to the family.”

“…”

“No one in the world has an obligation to do that. Henry will help, and I will help you too. I will make sure you can leave the academy freely, without fail.”

Austin wore a peculiar expression.

Rousseau did not speak further either.

Because his role was not to soothe Austin’s heart, but to resolve the immediate problem that had been revealed.

“Henry. You said you can take more elixirs, right?”

“I can take them.”

“I will bring the remaining ones. Also, a reply will come from the royal family tomorrow. Prepare so that you can depart at any time.”

“Yes.”

Rousseau left, huffing. It was a truly rare sight to see him, who was always calm, get this angry.

“Perhaps,”

Austin spoke up then. He was not looking at Henry.

“I might have been asking for help.”

“What help?”

“From you, Henry. Even while thinking it wouldn’t work, I think I held… a thought that maybe it would. Hearing the instructor’s words, it seems that way.”

“Maybe. What does it matter? It’s not like someone ordered me to do this.”

Austin seemed to feel gratitude, but Henry sincerely thought that way.

After all, hadn’t he been able to pull out a significant amount of streaming footage thanks to Austin?

Enough to fully endure a certain degree of risk and have room to spare.

‘It is the same now.’

[Kya~~ as expected of our knight lol]

[We are… companions!!! lol]

[Say that you want to live!!!!]

[No, you crazy guys lol]

Chats rising one after another.

For Henry, there were actually many details whose context he could not understand, but in any case, it was clear that the viewers were excited.

“I’m doing it because I have to.”

Henry himself can become stronger, and at the same time help a friend in a difficult situation. Simply by enduring a bit of risk and trouble.

“And I’m also doing it because I can. No need to think complicatedly.”

Austin did not reply, and Henry had no intention of hearing an answer anyway.

What was important now was

[So are you going tomorrow right away???]

the fact that the viewers had begun to look forward to and wait for what would happen tomorrow.

The next day.

Just about when lunchtime had barely passed,

“The reply has arrived, Henry.”

Rousseau came to find Henry and delivered the news.

As much as he had moved busily, the other side also showed courtesy to Rousseau, the chief instructor.

“It is a reply directly from Sir Melissa. She says she will visit in person.”

It was an extraordinary treatment for the Royal Knights to show.

It was the same even considering that the counterpart was Rousseau.

And not long after,

“Have you been well, Henry Camilton?”

Henry was able to face the Royal Knight Melissa.

BJ Swordmaster