episode_0005

“…Did you really say that you held a sword for the first time earlier?”

“Yes? I did.”

Iris was thrown into confusion.

Then, doesn’t that mean he just cast a vertical cut for the first time as well… It was unbelievable.

Certainly, his movements were those that wouldn’t have come out if he hadn’t studied the sword for a long time.

But if, what he said about holding the sword for the first time is true….

…Iris needed proof of her doubts.

“Um… Do ordinary people grasp it immediately after seeing a move once?”

“That’s not it. Rather, could you show me the vertical cut again that you just did earlier?”

“Yes? Oh, that’s not difficult.”

With a puzzled expression, Gongja handed Iris the wooden sword.

Then Gongja’s gaze changed.

Looking at the sword, he adjusted his posture as if becoming one with the sword.

A stance akin to the unity of body and sword. He wasn’t at that level yet, but his posture was strikingly similar.

‘Oh….’

Iris, who recognized such Gongja, marveled.

‘You can feel the determination from his eyes.’

Just like that, as if on cue, he pulled both arms above his head and fiercely brought down the sword.

“Haap-!”

-Crack!

A vertical cut.

It was an unmistakable vertical cut. Moreover, it was much better than what Iris had secretly observed earlier.

In that short time, he identified the issues and grew on his own.

Indeed, Iris thought that her eyes did not deceive her.

She might not know if he’s a genius, but he is certainly someone who shows talent in swordsmanship.

‘But… something feels off.’

Iris harbored doubts.

Gongja’s gaze. After casting the vertical cut, there was something strange about Gongja’s gaze.

Despite executing a splendid vertical cut, instead of feeling proud, there was a look of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

It was as if he couldn’t be satisfied despite being able to perform an even more perfect vertical cut, almost as if his body didn’t follow through.

‘How does he recognize that himself?’

Iris felt a small spark of interest.

And she asked Gongja.

“Would you… be interested in learning the sword from me?”

“Huh?”

Gongja was taken aback by Iris’s sudden proposal.

“…Is that really possible?”

“Yes. If needed, I can teach you not only swordsmanship but anything related to swords.”

Iris nodded curtly.

Gongja fell into thought.

Even if he was the top expert Choe Ji-an who possessed Gongja’s body, actually holding and handling a sword was a different matter.

He knew ways to get stronger quickly, but experiencing and acquiring swordsmanship firsthand was indeed a tricky issue.

Whatever Gongja saw that prompted this offer, as Gongja, it was an unparalleled stroke of luck.

“…Alright! But I only have a month until the academy starts… I may only be able to learn until then.”

“That’s enough. If you keep coming to learn from me during breaks like now, it’s not a problem.”

***

Afterward, Iris’s swordsmanship lessons were added to my daily routine.

Morning empty stomach cardio exercises.

Strength training before lunch.

Finishing Sara’s swordsmanship class, and even separately meeting Iris at night for sword training.

It took about three weeks for this routine to become so familiar that it felt natural.

So, tonight, as Iris’s swordsmanship lesson at the training ground was ending…

“Thank you for today.”

“…You’ve become proficient up to the 2nd form of Thunder Sword Technique within 3 seconds. This is remarkable progress within three weeks.”

“You flatter me. It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching, Iris.”

“That may be so, but Gongja, you have talent. If your foundation were solid, how much faster would your progress have been…”

Wiping sweat with a towel, Iris said to me.

Is that so? Do I have talent?

I don’t particularly feel it strongly. I am aware that I have a skilled body in swordsmanship, but…

The Thunder Sword Technique (雷劍法) was a swordsmanship skill that the protagonist mastered in just one week during their newbie days.

Even though I’m not sure how remarkable my talent is in this world, if you look for talents greater than mine, you’d find them by the truckload.

One must strive diligently without becoming arrogant.

“By the way, isn’t school starting in a week?”

That’s right. It’s already that time.

It might be time to seriously fix my sword skills.

I’ve lost a lot of weight. I can now display basic sword techniques.

At this level, I should be able to easily handle something like a Great Eagle…

“Yes. I won’t be able to see you for a while.”

“If you cry and say you miss me, Master, that won’t do.”

Have we become quite close in these three weeks?

In response to Iris’s casual joke, a sense of closeness was felt.

Turning away from Iris, I replied, “…That won’t happen.”

“You’re so mean.”

Brushing off the dirt from touching the ground, I turned away from the training ground.

Observing me, Iris asked straightforwardly, “Are you going to bed now?”

“No. I thought I’d take a short walk in the night.”

Tomorrow, I’ll go catch the Great Eagle.

So, I need to prepare. I should go to the back mountain for a while to gather the necessary herbs.

There are abundant medicinal resources in the back mountain of Brace Manor.

If I ask the maids to collect them, rumors might spread in the house about some foolish act, so I have to go alone.

As I pondered this, walking alongside Iris, she asked, “Can I come along too?”

“Yes?”

I was taken aback.

Why is she suddenly asking to come along?

Iris, who has been distant until now, has never done this before.

…Is it because we’ll part ways soon?

With the Academy’s opening approaching, Iris won’t have much time to educate me intensively.

If that’s the reason… it should be fine.

If it gets out that I secretly went to the back mountain, it could be troublesome, but Iris, who has been observing me for two weeks, doesn’t seem like someone who talks lightly.

“Alright. Just keep it a secret from the people at the manor that I went for a walk somewhere.”

“Are you going outside?”

“Yes. I’m going to the back mountain for a bit.”

“Understood. I’ll keep the secret even if it leads to the grave of an inspector.”

“…Not all the way to the grave.”

To mention a grave… Iris has a strange sense of humor.

Leaving the training ground with Iris, we headed towards the exit of the manor.

Since we aren’t very talkative, there was no conversation until we reached the elegant iron gate leading out of the manor.

After opening the gate and stepping outside, Iris spoke to me.

“By the way, Master, it seems like you’ve lost a lot of weight in the past three weeks. Do you have a secret?”

“Eat less and exercise more.”

“That’s a well-known answer, isn’t it? I really want to know the real secret.”

“…You’re already quite beautiful, Iris, so you don’t need to lose weight.”

“Are you avoiding the question?”

“If you’re going to say strange things, I’ll go alone.”

“It’s just a joke.”

Seeing my serious expression, Iris smiled mischievously.

…She’s like a cat. No wonder the men in the story are drawn to her.

Well, I know Iris’s personality, so it’s okay.

“Why are you going to the back mountain?”

“I’m going to gather herbs. I need them.”

“Herbs…? Master, you’re quite peculiar. You usually repeat the same diligent tasks, but this time, you’re suddenly going to gather herbs in the middle of the night…”

“Is that so? I consider myself rather ordinary.”

“Being ordinary is subtly difficult. People as diligent as you are rare.”

“…Thank you for the compliment.”

As we chatted, we had unknowingly arrived near the back mountain.

We climbed the hill together.

Since we weren’t planning to venture deep into rugged terrain, we hadn’t brought any hiking gear.

About 20 minutes into our walk, it happened.

‘Found it.’

Next to the tree with roots, I found a herb growing.

At first glance, it looked like a weed, but I know the usefulness of this herb.

“It has the effect of temporarily enhancing physical abilities. It’s tough after the effects wear off.”

Commonly known as Strongvine Grass.

While most people are unaware, seasoned individuals favor this herb.

I bent down and plucked a few Strongvine Grass plants.

Eris asked with a puzzled expression, “Isn’t that just a weed?”

“No, it may look like a weed, but it’s an herb that momentarily strengthens the body.”

“How intriguing… How do you know about such things, Master?”

“I suppose I’ve learned from living.”

“Indeed, Master, you seem quite unique.”

…

With the herbs collected, only the return journey remained.

The stroll concludes here.

I retraced my steps down the mountain with Eris by my side.

Little did I know then.

That we would soon reach the iron gate guarding the entrance to Gongjaryeong.

And upon opening the gate, we would encounter a maid heading for the restroom.

I should have been more cautious and observant of our surroundings… I let my guard down.

The maid, upon opening the door and seeing us enter together, stared at us intently, one after the other.