Chapter 101

Murmurs rippled through House Balan's training grounds. An unexpected commotion had broken out.

"How long has it been since we last saw the Captain use his sword...?"

"About a year, hasn't it? He used to give Lady Liliana the occasional lesson, but he stopped even that once she learned Aura Blade."

"We can't miss an opportunity like this."

"Who's he fighting, though?"

Waiting at one side of the training grounds with eager eyes, the knights looked at Woojin in puzzlement.

"I hear he's an Outlander who came with the young master..."

"Young Master Karlan?"

"Yes. Apparently, he's the young master's swordsmanship teacher."

"Pfft!"

Startled by his own involuntary burst of laughter, the knight covered his mouth.

"His swordsmanship teacher...? When he couldn't improve even under the Captain...?"

"That's why I think the Captain wants to see whether he's a fraud."

"Aha."

The knights stared intently at him.

'They must be dying to know whether I'm a fraud.'

Woojin smiled wryly under their scrutiny.

"Will you use a practice sword?"

"No, I'll use this one. I'm used to its feel."

Woojin showed him his sword. Even to the Sword Emperor, [Raoul’s Dragon-Slaying Sword] looked like nothing more than a crude, unremarkable iron sword.

"Very well."

This wasn't an opponent he could accidentally hurt just because he used a real blade. Woojin felt a little excited at the prospect of swinging his sword without restraint.

"Then I'll use this."

The Sword Emperor picked out a wooden sword from the training grounds.

FWOOSH!

A fierce aura enveloped the blade.

'It's different from Raoul's.'

The Sword Emperor's aura resembled a flickering flame ready to explode at any moment.

"I'll give you three chances. If your skill satisfies me, I'll grant you whatever you want."

He raised his sword decisively.

"Even my swordsmanship, if that is what you need."

A stir ran through the onlookers. He was offering not merely instruction, but his own sword art.

"O steel..."

Aswell recited an incantation. That didn't mean he was a magic swordsman. It was a form of autosuggestion. According to the official website, it heightened his concentration and dramatically increased his precision.

'If he's even chanting for a sparring match... '蕴

BOOOOM!

He was serious.

"...!!"

The distance closed in an instant.

[Using Acceleration.]

[Using Sprint.]

It was too late to dodge. Instead, Woojin darted inside the Sword Emperor's reach.

A flicker crossed the Sword Emperor's eyes.

'Bold.'

WHOOOSH!

It was only a swing of a wooden sword, yet it made a monstrous sound, as though he were swinging an enormous uprooted tree.

[Using Barrier.]

BANG!

The wind pressure alone shattered Woojin's barrier.

"Urgh?!"

Unable to withstand the force, his body lifted off the ground and flew backward.

"...!!"

At that instant, Aswell's body bent like a bow as he accelerated forward once more, faster than Woojin was flying. Before Woojin knew it, Aswell stood behind him, wooden sword raised to his throat.

"One."

The match had ended in an instant.

"Twenty seconds."

"..."

Woojin's clothes were damp with sweat. He had concentrated so intensely that those twenty seconds had felt like twenty minutes.

"You use some interesting arts. A magic swordsman, are you? They might be useful in real combat... but I don't think you're skilled enough to lecture anyone on fundamentals."

Woojin chuckled at that. Clearly, the man had taken his words to heart.

"I'll try harder."

Woojin rose to his feet.

"Hooo..."

He drew a deep breath.

Bolton Secret Art, First Form — Wind and Waves

He thrust his sword at Aswell.

CRASH-CRASH-CRASH!

Wave-like sword strikes surrounded Aswell. His gaze changed at once.

WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!

Amazingly, he knocked aside every single blade raining down on him. His body blurred as though leaving afterimages.

"...!!!"

Before Woojin could even bring his sword to bear, pain battered his entire body, forcing a gasp from his lungs.

"Ten seconds."

His whole body throbbed so badly he couldn't hear Aswell's words. The pain nearly robbed him of his senses.

"... Damn it."

He didn't think he'd taken a beating this harsh since Raoul's lessons. Woojin staggered upright and adjusted his grip on his sword.

"Nothing special, is he?"

"Just a worthless adventurer, after all..."

The knights snickered at Woojin, who had been sprawled flat on the ground.

"That sword art... Are you a descendant of the Bolton family?"

Unlike them, however, Aswell asked with a grave expression after seeing Woojin's swordsmanship.

He truly was the Sword Emperor. He had recognized Woojin's sword art immediately.

"No. I received it after helping the Bolton family with a problem."

"A problem for the Bolton family...? Don't tell me..."

Surprise filled Aswell's face.

"You're the one who conquered the black fog?"

"Yes."

Murmurs rose again. The spectators who had been mocking Woojin grew noisy once more.

"An adventurer who unveiled unexplored territory... Remarkable. To think I'd see the lost Sea King's family's swordsmanship again."

Curiosity had replaced the look in his eyes.

"How far have you progressed in that art?"

"My talents are meager, so I've only managed the first form."

"That can't be."

Aswell looked baffled.

"I would have thought you could have gained further insight...?"

Woojin shook his head. As Aswell suggested, his Dexterity was indeed high enough to learn the next stage. But that didn't mean swordsmanship would learn itself.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Hmm..."

As though something had occurred to him, Aswell nodded and raised his sword again.

The final chance.

"Stay calm."

At Aswell's unexpectedly encouraging words, Woojin assumed his stance once more.

CLANG! CLANG!

Although it was a wooden sword clashing with a real blade, sharp metallic sounds rang out.

"Your left side is open."

Aswell's sword targeted Woojin's flank.

"Urgh!"

Unlike the first time, Woojin twisted his body and blocked it.

But at the same time, a strike swept upward from below. The impact flung Woojin's arms overhead, as though in a cheer.

"Haaah!"

Bringing his splayed arms together to grip his sword, Woojin slashed downward.

WHOOOOSH!

This time, the blade cut the air with a weightier sound. The Sword Emperor easily evaded the sword descending straight toward his forehead.

"Your sword is far too straightforward. Didn't you say you were an adventurer?"

Having sidestepped the blade, Aswell swept Woojin's legs out from under him.

THUD!

Woojin landed flat on his back, the breath knocked out of him.

SWISH!

Even as he fell, however, Woojin slashed at Aswell's thigh.

CRUNCH!

Aswell avoided the attack by stamping on the sword, then drove his own sword down at Woojin. At that moment, flames engulfed Aswell's entire body.

It was [Blazing Flames].

"...!!"

The watching knights' faces filled with surprise. When the flames forced Aswell to retreat, Woojin lifted his freed sword and hurled himself at him.

"Haaaaah!"

CLANG! CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

A barrage of sword strikes followed. As Woojin slashed downward, he ducked low and targeted Aswell's thigh.

SCREEECH!

As his blade scraped Aswell's armor, Woojin spun and brought his sword down a second time. Moving from Aswell's flank to his rear, he tightened his grip.

"Still too slow."

Shaking off the flames enveloping him, Aswell was already watching Woojin's descending sword.

"...?!"

Then it happened. Aswell's wooden sword slowed ever so slightly as he moved to deflect the attack. A thin layer of ice spread from the blade and covered his upper body in an instant.

An almost imperceptible disruption.

CRACK!

Aswell forcibly freed his body from [Cold Wave]'s grip. Ice powder cascaded down like white smoke, revealing his delighted smile.

"An interesting idea... but in the end, these are merely tricks."

SWISH!

Fast.

Even though Woojin had attacked first, Aswell's sword was already curving toward his throat.

What should he do?

Thoughts crowded his mind.

"Train until your body moves before you think."

As though sensing even that, Aswell exploited Woojin's opening.

SWISH! CLANG!

Woojin struck aside the sword flying toward his throat and retreated.

'Damn it! My wrists feel like they're about to snap!'

Calling it a successful block hardly seemed right. Woojin grimaced at his arms, which trembled so violently he could barely hold his sword.

Even striking a dragon's scales hadn't felt this bad...

The strength was truly tremendous.

He gritted his teeth.

Just once.

He only needed to succeed once.

"Haaaaah!"

Woojin charged at Aswell again.

"Isn't this... a little strange?"

While Woojin was suffering miserably against the Sword Emperor, the knights watching them were having a peculiar reaction. At first, they had thought the match had been arranged to teach a fraud a lesson. Yet they could see Aswell's expression subtly changing as he crossed swords with the Outlander.

'He looks like he's enjoying himself.'

They could tell because they had served him for so long.

'That look... 'ـ

'It's like he's training a disciple.'

'What's going on here?'

They were bewildered.

"Is that the only sword art you can use?"

Instead of answering Aswell, Woojin thrust his sword.

CLANG-CLANG!

Sparks flew between their blades. He felt as though he would be driven backward, but forced himself farther forward instead.

The moment he retreated, it would be over.

"Haaaaah!"

Woojin thrust his sword with all his strength.

Dragon Heaven, First Gate — Severance

"...!!"

Aswell's expression changed.

'Two... sword arts?'

CRASH-CRASH-CRASH!

Lightning erupted from the blade and engulfed him. A chill ran through Aswell, and his face hardened.

"Hup...!"

Unlike before, the sword now seemed alive as it sought his vital points. Aswell hurriedly turned his blade.

THWACK!

His sword struck Woojin squarely in the middle of his collarbone.

"... Gah!"

His final blow had been stopped as well. The impact sent Woojin crashing to the ground.

"...!!!"

The knights' eyes widened at the sight.

"Did you see that?"

"Master used a sword art?"

"Incredible. He only uses fundamentals even when sparring with the vice-captains..."

"Why...?"

"That technique just now... Whose sword art is it?"

Leaving the confused knights behind him, Aswell looked down at the sprawled Woojin.

"Hah, hah... hah... My master... It belongs to my master."

Still lying on the ground and catching his breath, Woojin struggled to answer.

"How strange. You... haven't come from the future, have you?"

It was an unexpected question.

"... What?"

Aswell stared gravely at the bewildered Woojin.