Ch.228. I stand in the wilderness.

The notion that narrow-minded people are weak is clearly a prejudice.

There is no guarantee anywhere that cowards are necessarily weak.

The man before me, by society’s standards, is certainly no weakling.

Being able to become a teacher means that, for example, his comprehensive evaluation including skills and connections was deemed suitable.

To become a teacher at the Empire’s prestigious academy based on skill alone would require one to be among the continent’s most talented individuals.

However, such talented people cannot be as common as pebbles and stones along a riverbank.

In the end, assistants and replacements for them are needed.

In that sense, being a teacher is a position that easily earns social prestige.

It’s also conducive to building connections.

“I hope you won’t have any regrets.”

He said, swinging the practice wooden sword a few times.

Though tension swirled in his eyes as he aimed at my midsection while watching for my reaction.

Perhaps it’s because he’s holding and aiming the sword.

My breathing begins to calm steadily.

I,

Even in that state, with my sword laid out, observed him for a while.

His gaze is positioned at least two heads higher than Kariel himself.

His build is such that if we stood side by side, his shadow would fall over my head.

His short brown hair only accentuated his fierce impression.

His reddish-brown eyes looked quite intense, making it easy to become intimidated if you stared at them directly for too long.

That’s why Kariel could hardly meet his eyes.

Come to think of it.

I used to fear looking directly into people’s eyes, without knowing why.

It always seemed to invite trouble, as if by appointment.

And incidents would conspicuously occur.

…Well, of course.

The practice wooden sword in his hand was one that could be used both one-handed and two-handed.

There are swords with single-handed grips, and those with long hilts perfectly designed for two hands.

Since each has clear advantages and disadvantages, it’s up to the individual which to choose.

The Imperial sword style has been divided accordingly.

Then, what about me?

‘It might not matter much.’

The same practice wooden sword.

Looking at the form, there’s not much difference.

Due to our size difference, the wooden sword I chose is structurally shorter?

Though swords are my specialty, honestly, right now I wouldn’t care whether I held a long spear, a barbed spear, or a cavalry lance.

It didn’t particularly matter.

Nevertheless.

Everything remains unverified.

I couldn’t carelessly trust even myself.

Unless proven and demonstrated.

I couldn’t trust anything.

“Hoo—”

I grip the sword hilt with both hands as if wrapping around it.

The straight sword held upright before my chest.

Para.

Literally the starting point.

The fundamental stance.

The ready position.

…Whatever you call it.

Even in the Berk Empire, where knights are called God’s warriors,

Why do those who have taken the oath deliberately commit actions that violate the content of their pledge?

While expecting God’s blessing and mercy.

Why don’t they willingly show such mercy to others?

For their own sake.

Prayer for personal gain is inherently selfish.

Didn’t we all learn that from childhood?

Pray only for others.

Dedicate yourself only to others.

Only.

So that you can sacrifice for others.

Practice that.

“……”

In an empire filled with knights.

In this hall that claims to value chivalry above all, where they supposedly teach the mindset and techniques of knights.

Why have they persecuted and ostracized me when I was weak?

“……”

Perhaps they didn’t consider me weak?

But then it makes even less sense to treat me so carelessly?

No.

That contradiction is, rather, extremely human, and therefore fitting.

I already knew it all intellectually.

Are they so foolish?

Are they so simple?

“Where did you learn that stance?”

Kariel, who had been breathing calmly with eyes closed,

Deliberately placed his left foot half a step back.

His hands facing forward, the arms holding them, and the upright sword,

With that one movement, naturally turned to the left.

Though the stance was limited, ultimately all stances depend on foot placement.

In the end, control of the upper body depends on the lower body.

Therefore, it resembles a tree with roots firmly planted.

Though it may sway in the wind and seem to bend in a storm,

If the roots are intact, the center will never collapse or become disturbed.

Even that swaying, even that disturbance,

Is merely part of the process, a movement.

If I tilt the sword forward from here, it becomes Fortes.

Conversely, if I pull it back and rest it on my shoulder, it becomes Grate.

There’s no need to fixate on the resting position.

Don’t mistake the means.

Don’t get caught up in the process.

Just by turning the tip of the back foot inward,

The upper body naturally leans to the right, transitioning to Fortes as if ready to thrust forward.

Whether lowering the stance or widening the stride,

The same stance can have completely different means and purposes.

Even the same thrusting stance differs when counterattacking versus charging.

It’s different again when extending it as a check while moving sideways.

From that position, instead of thrusting, one could strike downward or slash.

But there’s no need to do so.

Just by transitioning stances,

Attack and defense naturally connect.

The key is the root.

The lower body and center.

Control and utilization of all of that.

With the body, not the head.

With the senses distributed throughout the body, not relying on sight alone.

Reflexively, before consciousness even reaches.

“Are you suggesting I take the first move out of courtesy?”

“O-Of course.”

That’s exactly it.

If it’s obvious, then it’s obvious.

But why?

It’s somewhat deflating.

I narrow my steps just like my opponent.

With the sword tip slightly tilted forward.

At this point, it’s neither Para nor Fortes.

But it can incorporate both at any time.

Step, step.

There is no swinging of the sword.

Even though I’ve entered the opponent’s range.

I hold my sword upright, but don’t swing it first.

This in itself is quite troublesome.

Like,

Just charging with the body while holding a sword.

But I don’t run.

Step, step.

Slowly, slowly walking closer.

His expression suddenly contorts.

“What are you doing—”

If he keeps talking, our bodies will come together, and my wooden sword could thrust at his throat, chest, or face.

Anywhere.

But I neither thrust nor swing.

I just keep walking.

“Tch!”

However, doing so means I’m voluntarily moving my body toward his wooden sword held at middle guard.

Only then,

I naturally changed my movement while walking.

Betita.

The wooden sword that was tilted forward maintains its angle, but the hilt gripped by both hands rises high.

In that state,

The straight sword resembling a cross, with its guard between the hilt and blade, is elongated.

Because it is especially elongated.

The Empire’s sword is indeed a cross sword.

Even such a guard is called by its proper name, Cross Guard.

“?!”

When the opponent swung down hard at the upper level while engaging my sword,

I caught it with the guard.

By then,

The distance between our bodies was close enough to reach with an extended arm.

The centrifugal force of the swing was somewhat diminished due to the narrowed distance.

Thanks to that, the impact received by the guard was relatively less.

“Not yet!”

Since one failure doesn’t mean the end,

He quickly lowered his stance and aimed for the middle level after retrieving his sword that had struck the guard.

There again.

Fortes.

But this time, I didn’t tilt the sword toward the front.

Just by turning my foot outward,

I naturally tilted my sword toward his incoming swing.

Eventually his wooden sword,

Instead of hitting my side, struck the guard directly.

By lowering my lower body,

Adjusting the height wasn’t particularly difficult.

Thwack!

The impact was considerable.

But I received it with a firm stance, deflecting it.

The shock that hit my wrist is absorbed, immediately connecting through the hand, wrist, arm joint, and shoulder to the chest and back.

But that’s as far as it goes.

Without the force necessarily extending to the lower body.

The impact of his sword strike dissipated just about there.

However.

Just deflecting seems insufficient.

To prevent the body from being damaged by the repulsive force, by slightly shaking the upper body while simultaneously continuing the connecting movement,

Like breathing life back into dying embers,

I use it as a driving force to lead my body.

Along with narrowing my stride and raising my sword,

In fact, even the concept of “raising” is inappropriate.

Grate.

I simply,

Took successive stances.

Just connected movements.

“Ugh!”

But the connecting movements were neither clumsy nor slow.

His wooden sword that had struck my guard was still caught precariously between the guard and blade,

Due to my quick transition, his wrist was bent in an unnatural way as if being dragged along with the wooden sword.

“?!”

Though he tried to respond belatedly, by that point my stance transitions and connections had already occurred three times.

Clatter!

As a result, having dropped his sword, he clutched his right wrist and asked with a bewildered look.

“What… where… w-what kind of swordsmanship is that? When and where did you learn such a strange thing…?”

“……”

That dumbfounded reaction.

Does he not even realize he’s admitting defeat?

“How would I know?”

I still hadn’t properly struck down, swung, or even made a slashing motion.

However.

This result is precisely,

…The reason why Rueld in his youth couldn’t help but be defeated even while wielding a holy sword.

Still, once you experience it, after going through it a few more times,

The response would improve from what it is now.

But,

…Even that is not a fundamental solution.

The fundamental reason why even father, said to be a genius of the sword with innate talent,

Could only achieve victory after borrowing the power of holy swords and holy relics even at his prime.

No matter how skillfully the opponent handles the sword,

Even father, who was so naturally gifted with the sword that he could grasp and imitate techniques after seeing them once,

The reason why he couldn’t even break down, let alone imitate, from a technical or artistic perspective,

Surprisingly, after mastering and briefly realizing it,

There wasn’t any special reason or extraordinary secret.

“I just learned it in a dream.”

Because this,

Was neither normal nor an ordinary swordsmanship.

If the guard area hadn’t been as long as this practice wooden sword,

If it had been shorter or more blunt,

I would have sought a different approach without appearing to toy with the opponent like this.

Even so, the stances and movements I would take would have been much the same.

“Let’s get up.”

“What?”

Amidst his bewildered face, a chilling question springs forth.

“Dropping your sword once doesn’t end the match, does it?”

I said, pointing with my eyes to the wooden sword that had fallen from Kariel, who had stepped back a few paces.

“Let me ask for another round.”

“……”

This.

This.

…It was strangely chilling deep in his chest.

Normally, he should have felt heat rising from shame.

For some reason,

It was cold enough to make goosebumps all over his body and make all his hair stand on end.

The spirit is neither felt now nor before.

Yes, that’s exactly the point.

Why did I only notice this now?

“Come on.”

Nothing can be felt.

As if,

Thrown into a vast, empty wilderness.

Only the desolate sandstorm is abundant.

Why.

…Why should one be captivated by such a strange impression just by looking at a human being?

He couldn’t understand.

He was still thrown into an empty wilderness.

The wooden sword in his hand felt unusually light today.

Everything is being swallowed.

The wilderness, silently, with silence and stillness,

Was hollowly pressing down on his world.

Quietly.

Steadily.

…Though he dropped his sword several more times afterward,

Without any sense of shame.

Without even room to feel fear.

He collapsed.

…

……

…