Chapter 42 – It’s Been a While Since You Used a Sword (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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I was astonished.

[Lionheart Knights – Training Longsword]

[Grade: Rare]

[Requirement: Lv.200]

[Effect: When attacking, there is a very low chance of inflicting the abnormal status ‘Stun’ on the opponent.]

[Description: A longsword for training. Its lethality is low as the blade is blunt, but because its craftsmanship is exceptionally outstanding, its performance is better than most blunt weapons.]

Indeed, it is the Lionheart Knights, who were called the Empire’s strongest.

‘The training sword is rare grade.’

Its level requirement is a whopping level 200.

Doesn’t this mean I wouldn’t have even been able to equip it if I hadn’t defeated the Great Evil?

That alone was a surprising matter but.

That wasn’t the reason I was astonished.

“Actions speak louder than words. For now, receive it. Sir Ho-yeol.”

The training longsword Harkon handed over.

The moment I grasped it in my hand.

The memories of last night suddenly came to mind.

Push-ups.

Burpees.

Running.

Pull-ups…….

That was close to overwork rather than training.

The aftermath of that overwork.

Started to be felt intensely the moment I grasped the heavy longsword.

……I really can’t contain my astonishment.

‘I’m really buying my own suffering. And hardcore suffering at that!!’

Leaving aside pride, this is just foolish, isn’t it?!

But if I had known that fact.

‘……I wouldn’t have been an eighth grader.’

So it means I have no choice but to overcome it.

‘Uugh, really!’

I overcame the muscle pain and raised the sword.

Of course, there is no outward sign.

I force myself to take a stance with an expressionless face.

Although I’ve swung daggers a lot.

This is my first time holding a proper sword since becoming a Player.

It’s natural that I don’t even know the posture for holding a longsword.

So I revived my memories.

‘……How did Harkon hold the sword again?’

The one that shines this time too is naturally Granfel’s talent.

To the extent that the phrase ‘the body remembers’ hit home.

Just like Harkon in my memory did.

I held the sword and lowered my posture.

Since I am basically a layman when it comes to swords, an accurate evaluation would be difficult but……. Still, roughly it shouldn’t be a clunky posture.

Is it thanks to having replicated it perfectly.

Why, I don’t even feel any openings or anything.

‘More than anything.’

Looking at those reactions, I mean.

“……This can’t be.”

“……!!!”

It wasn’t just Harkon.

The knights who were resting individually were looking at me as if they were possessed.

Far from shrinking away from such attention, am I not someone who rather enjoys it?

‘If only this damn muscle pain hadn’t existed……!’

Enduring the pain.

I moved on to the next motion like flowing water.

Swoosh

Diagonal slash.

This too was replicating Harkon’s strike.

Well, I don’t know how it looks in others’ eyes.

In the end, this was replication.

‘It means it’s the exact same as magic.’

In a word, this too is a bottomless pot.

Why are there so many bottomless pots in my life?

Although such a thought occurred to me inwardly, it can’t be helped, right.

Still, even having a bottomless pot is better than nothing.

Either way, I just have to fill it up, right?

“……Goodness, it seems I fell into thought for a moment.”

Suddenly, Harkon shook his head.

Then he said to the knights who had been watching.

“Regular training will end here. Everyone, set out on your tasks.”

The knights dispersing in an instant.

Only Harkon and I remained in this place.

‘……Whatever it is, it’s an opportunity.’

An opportunity to rest this body crying out from muscle pain, even a little.

By the way, I know why the training longsword is for training.

Because it’s this heavy.

Just swinging it would be strength exercise.

Anyway, it was the moment I was about to put down the sword.

“Sir Ho-yeol, you constantly surprise me!”

“What do you mean?”

“It is nothing. Could you show me that sword strike once again?”

……Look here, Mr. Harkon.

Are you really going to be like this too?

I mean, my shoulder really feels like it’s going to fall off……!

However, complaints to the noble Lord Granfel?

Such a word did not even exist in his dictionary.

With pride that had transcended even my physical body, I gripped the sword properly once again and swung it.

“Indeed, my eyes were not wrong.”

Is laughter coming out?

I wanted to ask and argue like that but.

Not only couldn’t I do that, but Harkon didn’t even give me a chance to speak.

“Sir Ho-yeol, that sword strike must surely be a replication of my posture, correct?”

“Indeed, you recognize it. Sir Harkon.”

Indeed, the Knights Commander of the Lionheart Knights.

The figure of level 600 does not pale.

‘To instantly realize that it’s nothing but a replication.’

However, I continued my words shamelessly.

“Because as long as one desires learning, they must familiarize themselves with basic knowledge. However, for me, the only thing that could serve as a foundation was your swordsmanship, Harkon.”

To summarize it in one sentence, it’s simple.

It meant that it takes about Harkon’s swordsmanship to be worth learning. This.

If I had even a single sword-related skill at least, I’d make up an excuse saying it’s because of pride.

But I have absolutely nothing, zip, zilch……!

‘This bluff is off the charts.’

However, since this isn’t a day or two’s occurrence.

Without changing my expression once, I put away the sword.

Clang

Now I can’t show him even if he asks to be shown one more time.

Because my finger joints are still numb.

Fortunately, there were no encore requests.

Soon, Harkon said with a serious face.

“If it is for that reason, I too cannot help but be nervous. To think that Sir desires to be initiated into swordsmanship through me. Just that fact alone is quite a burdensome matter…….”

His eyes seemed to burn with motivation.

“Now that I know Sir possesses heaven-sent talent. This has become a matter that can no longer be passed over lightly. Well then, peaceful days are now over!”

Peaceful days are over.

‘For some reason, that sounds ominous?’

No, rather than that, heaven-sent talent?

What I showed was merely a ready stance and sword strike that copied Harkon.

Was there anything there from which to notice talent?

“Because even if one tries to copy it, it is not something that can be copied.”

Saying so, Harkon grasped his sword.

He entered the ready stance I took a little while ago.

Indeed, does it mean seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

I was able to understand that meaning as soon as I saw it.

‘……It wasn’t a misunderstanding.’

It really was a stance where no openings could be seen.

Because no openings could be seen.

A stance where one cannot rashly approach or retreat.

Yes, an intimidating feeling exactly like having a lion in front of you.

Harkon let out a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha. Do you now understand the reason why the knights were so astonished, Sir Ho-yeol? Because this basic stance itself is the ultimate stage aimed for by the Knights of the Lion’s Heart.”

He continued his words.

“Sir simply looked at such a stance and copied it!”

I finally know the reason he called me a heaven-sent talent.

But that is a stark misunderstanding.

“As expected, your vessel cannot dare be fathomed. Sir Ho-yeol.”

I’m saying it’s not a vessel but a bottomless pot……!

However, for such a truth,

There is no way it could come out of my mouth.

“If that is what you think, then it must be so.”

Although it was a plain answer.

I know the meaning contained within it.

Since magic alone was like that, right.

‘Just when I thought I was getting away from writing repetitive drills.’

As if talent and effort were separate things.

Because I was the one who had stayed up all night every single day.

Swordsmanship wouldn’t be much different.

That’s why I couldn’t be glad in the slightest.

Arms and legs flinching from muscle pain.

Because I had a certainty that this pain would be nothing more than a small taste.

‘……It is lonely.’

The fact that there is no one who recognizes my struggles.

It was while I was thinking like that.

“……?”

Suddenly, a message popped up.

[You have accomplished training that surpasses limits.]

[The conditions have been met.]

[Rewards will be given.]

If it’s a reward for training…….

‘……It’s a stat increase!’

I immediately checked the status window.

[Strength] and [Agility] each increased by 2 points.

I will correct myself.

As expected, you’re the only one who recognizes my unfairness.

Class Quest!

*

Ho-yeol had left his seat but.

Harkon could not easily calm his excitement.

“……Haha.”

It was pure joy.

Not a joy felt as the Commander of the Lionheart Knights, nor as the sword and shield of the Emperor, but as a single martial artist.

Yes, if one must compare, this would be similar to the ecstasy of a miner who discovered a gemstone.

“Who would have ever imagined?”

A Mage.

To think that Sir Ho-yeol, whose skills were at the level of entering the Mage Tower, was a martial talent that would surprise the world!

Harkon was absolutely certain.

“……What Sir should have grasped was not a staff but a sword!”

Of course, Harkon did not know about magic.

However, no matter how outstanding Ho-yeol’s magical talent may be.

It surely couldn’t match such martial talent.

Because that was definitely a talent that would be counted on one hand even across the entire continent.

So if he had to choose one of those two.

Sir Ho-yeol must definitely choose the path of martial arts.

That was the conclusion Harkon arrived at.

“I have unintentionally come to bear a heavy responsibility.”

There must absolutely never be an occurrence where he gets disappointed with his teachings and his interest in martial arts is cut off as well.

That was the reason Harkon said peaceful days were over.

“Instead of staying still, I too must begin training.”

Still, what was positive was that Sir Ho-yeol seemed interested.

‘Especially regarding sword force.’

Thinking like that, a ‘by any chance’ thought occurred to him.

“……Could it be, he would manifest sword force right away by copying as well?”

Shake, shake

Harkon shook his head.

Right, no matter how much that was, it was impossible.

And even if it were possible, he had to stop him.

Because in order to handle sword force, absolute physical stamina had to be backed up without fail.

‘Otherwise, one will end up being swung around by the sword force.’

Harkon’s eyes were sharp.

‘Of course, Sir didn’t show it but.’

Ho-yeol’s arms were definitely trembling minutely.

It is a matter of course.

Because talent and physical stamina were separate things.

Regardless of that talent, wasn’t Sir Ho-yeol someone who had lived the life of a Mage until now?

It wouldn’t be unreasonable for his physical stamina to hit rock bottom just from taking a stance and swinging a sword.

Harkon swallowed a groan.

“I will apologize in advance, Sir Ho-yeol.”

Still, shouldn’t he build up his basic physical stamina?

Thinking of making Sir Ho-yeol do physical training.

His mind was already uneasy.

Therefore, it was something unimaginable for Harkon.

The reason Ho-yeol’s arms trembled?

Because that was the result of digesting an amount of training that even the Empire’s Lionheart Knights couldn’t endure,

During just the early morning hours.

So it meant his worries were unfounded.

“It seems I will have to run alongside him. That way my mind will be at ease.”

Of course, those useless worries didn’t last long.

.

.

.

Ho-yeol who doesn’t fall behind at all.

His sound of breathing is incredibly calm.

You can’t even feel any signs of exhaustion from him.

Harkon could hardly believe it.

In the end, he shouted.

“Sir Ho-yeol, isn’t this appearance too different from yesterday?!”

Is this really Sir Ho-yeol who struggled with a single longsword yesterday?

*

Physical training was something I’d welcome with open arms.

─Train your weakened physical body. (Repeat) ▲

●Run 20km (Success)

●1,000 Push-ups (In Progress)

●500 Pull-ups (In Progress)

●300 Burpees (In Progress)

Because I was able to complete the repeat quest without necessarily having to make time for it.

Still, there was worth in shedding sweat every single day.

Even if I didn’t know about martial prowess, my stamina alone didn’t fall behind even compared to the Lionheart Knights.

Perhaps thanks to that.

-……Sir Ho-yeol. It seems I made a huge misunderstanding about you.

Harkon seemingly thought further physical training was meaningless as well.

I was inwardly disappointed, but it couldn’t be helped, right.

I have no choice but to pour sweat at dawn like now.

The laboratory of the Mage Tower.

Before sitting at the business desk.

I headed towards the teacup on the reception table.

Placed beside it was the magic tool, [Portable Lamp].

Bubble, bubble

Scalding water is generated as soon as magic power is blown into the circuit.

As a magic tool of the Mage Tower, its level is quite considerable.

“Fascinating.”

Because it didn’t boil water, but created boiling water right away.

Inefficient, but high in level, it was a magic tool perfectly fitting for the Mage Tower.

“Even more prior than such trivial things is rocket delivery.”

I click my tongue in regret.

I brewed the green tea bag I had brought from home.

A sip.

I briefly enjoyed a leisurely tea time.

I sat at the desk and checked the parchment.

Indeed, there was news delivered.

By the way, whoever it is, they sure are impatient.

This is my first time seeing the sender’s name at the very front too. I mean.

-Senior Mage of the Black Magic School, Matis Dean Carl.

Senior Mage, huh.

If so, the business is obvious without even having to look.

─Prove your abilities. (In Progress)

●Persuade a majority of the Chief Mages. (8/20)

It must mean to prove my abilities.

Since I roughly know what it means.

I’ll check the rest a slightly later.

‘More importantly.’

Because the news I had been waiting for had popped up on the bottom line.

-This is the appraisal result for the magic tools you requested appraisal for: [Vampire Count’s Orb], [Pure Emerald Crystal], and [Island’s Treasure, Koi Scale Silk].

I checked its contents immediately.