Ch.3434. Training (2)

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Elnore and Elia have both reached an elegant level in the realm of swordsmanship.

One is a human who could destroy the world, and one is a human who could save it—naturally they’d be exceptional in their main discipline.

So the lesson I’m painfully reflecting on stems from that fact.

That one’s own talent and the talent for teaching others are completely different things.

“Why are you doing a backstep there?! Use that brain that’s stuffed inside your head!”

“You dare call this swordsmanship? This looks more like flirtation than fighting. Are you trying to seduce your enemy?”

“…”

Watching the two of them go at each other with such murderous intent makes my head throb.

To be precise, they’re both having a heated debate about my “curriculum.”

They’re so passionate that everyone in the training hall has turned to look at us, wondering what on earth is happening.

‘…At least they started off somewhat amicably.’

What began as a discussion with mutual respect and courtesy has now descended into personal attacks against each other.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t it always like this in the scenario?’

These two, I mean.

They’re fundamentally incompatible.

Recently, I thought they might become somewhat friendly with me as a mediator. But that seems completely impossible.

The Tristan Dukedom and the Hero.

These two are destined to remain in opposition until the end of the scenario. That’s how it’s set in the lore.

“…”

So.

If I can’t somehow intervene between them, that’s how it will continue.

‘I’ll need both of them more and more as we progress.’

Just looking at the Purifier boss fight, something that absolutely shouldn’t have appeared yet has already shown up.

The further we go, the more unpredictable things will become.

And the only one who can definitively deal with demons is the Hero, who has received the blessings of both demons and angels.

These two are my most reliable allies. Their help is essential for progressing through the scenario.

‘…There was something like this in the game too, wasn’t there?’

Depending on the route, there were cases where their relationship improved to a fairly decent level.

However, if I try to directly exploit that “situation”…

I’ll inevitably put myself in danger.

Mainly, that is…

In the sense that a playboy might get murdered by a woman.

And when the ones involved are the final boss and the protagonist?

If I’m caught, I die. For real.

“…”

No matter how much I need to build a harem to prevent humanity’s extinction, I don’t particularly want to do that.

There will probably be a choice leading to that branch during the upcoming “observation class” event.

‘I absolutely won’t do it.’

Yes. I won’t do it even if it kills me.

“…”

I’ve had these thoughts before and ended up going down strange paths, but this time I absolutely won’t do it.

As I was thinking this, a voice came from beside me.

“Ah, seriously! Instead of this, let’s just each try it! Teacher!”

“…Huh?”

Elia, speaking in an angry voice, suddenly placed a back-edged sword in my hand.

An iron sword with its edge completely reversed.

As I blinked at it, she stepped back a bit and proudly puffed out her chest.

“Try to follow along!”

Then she drew her sword and stomped the ground.

A sword form. Probably something she developed independently.

Free-spirited, practical, light, and nimble. But her attacks are fierce and heavy.

At a glance, it looks like a haphazard collection of movements, but the knights training nearby are watching with wide eyes, as her dazzling reflexes tie those movements together into a cohesive whole.

“There! Did you see?”

Elia wiped away her sweat and grinned at me after finishing her demonstration.

“Now you try!”

“…”

Are you kidding me?

“…I thought you were going to teach me.”

“…This is how I learned though?”

“…”

“Can’t… anyone… do this…?”

Her voice gradually faded.

Probably because she detected the dumbfounded looks from the knight students watching us.

My head is throbbing.

Are you bragging about being a genius? And you claim to have experience as a sword instructor?

“…Are you joking? You don’t even understand the basics of education.”

Elnore, who had been watching, gave that rebuke with a sigh.

Then she drew her sword in front of me and took a stance.

“I’ll teach you starting from the most important basic stance. First, the downward strike.”

Saying that, Elnore demonstrated a few simple movements in front of me.

‘Oh, ohh…’

The foot placement, weight shifting, detailed eye movement, and upper body positioning. She teaches with detailed explanations.

I thought she might be similar to Elia’s department, but her teaching is surprisingly orthodox.

“Try it once.”

“Yes, I can do this much.”

Saying that, I grip the sword and attempt a downward strike.

But.

“…”

“…Hmm.”

“…Uh…”

I failed miserably.

No, this is harder than I thought.

I thought it was a simple downward strike, but in reality, I’m just struggling not to fall over while trying to steady my wobbling body.

Especially for someone like me with no training, just holding an iron sword continuously is a challenge without the Desperate Skill. Swinging it repeatedly is out of the question.

The expressions of those watching from around us are ambiguous. If I clearly looked like a beginner, they might find it cute, but failing this artistically makes them wonder, “What is this?”

“…Um, at this rate, shouldn’t we train basic physical strength before swordsmanship? Is there any point in teaching? I mean, how did someone who defeated magical beasts so well…”

Even Elia spoke with a troubled expression.

But.

“No, that was good.”

When Elnore said that with an expressionless face, everyone around us had bizarre expressions.

“…What? That was good?”

“Yes. I could use it in actual combat.”

“…”

Facing Elia, whose expression clearly said “what nonsense is this,” Elnore sighed and drew her sword.

“Watch carefully.”

Standing in front of a training dummy, Elnore raised her sword.

“Hup!”

With a light shout, she attempted a downward strike.

However, instead of the proper stance she had shown, she used the same completely messy movement I had just done.

Honestly, it’s embarrassing to even call it a movement. It looks like someone trying not to fall over.

Normally, a sword that barely reaches the dummy would bounce off without causing any damage, but.

-!

-!!!

-!!!!!!!

A sound like a bomb exploding.

The dummy shattered almost to dust, a crater formed in the floor as if a meteorite had struck, and cracks spread across the wall from the impact.

“…”

“…”

Everyone in the training hall stared with their mouths wide open.

“Did you see?”

Elnore said in a flat voice as she retrieved her sword.

“There’s nothing wrong with the stance.”

“…”

Elnore continued without blinking.

“So from today, this man will receive regular training from me. Understood?”

“…”

“Darwood Campbell did excellently. There’s nothing wrong with either the teaching method or the student’s aptitude.”

“…Excuse me, Student Council President.”

Elia sighed and said.

“What?”

“You’re just making excuses to see the teacher every day, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“…I think you are. What’s the point of teaching someone at this level—”

“I said no. I only accept objections through duels.”

“…”

While Elia narrowed her eyes and closed her mouth, my gaze remained fixed on the debris Elnore had created.

‘…She seems stronger than before?’

Her physical abilities were already at an incredible level, but she shouldn’t be displaying this kind of power at this point in the timeline.

There’s only one hypothesis I can make.

‘Has she already partially merged with the fragment?’

If the Demonic Vessel’s specs are increasing this rapidly, that must be it.

Complete fusion with the fragment, leading to enhanced physical specs and special abilities.

It’s good news that someone who can help me greatly in the scenario is getting stronger, but I can’t be entirely happy about it.

Especially considering how events typically unfold in the game.

‘Demonic Vessels are greatly influenced by each other’s presence.’

If Elnore has fused with her fragment like this, other vessels containing demon fragments are likely to be affected, increasing the possibility of their demons manifesting.

In other words, this is a warning signal that another “vessel” will soon appear.

Furthermore, it’s a catalyst that will accelerate the entire main scenario.

‘…No time to be complacent.’

Demonic Vessels typically appear according to the scenario’s progression.

That means the appearance of another vessel besides Elnore during Chapter 2 is almost inevitable.

In short.

I’ll soon meet a powerful and dangerous woman who will become obsessed with me.

And I’ll get caught up in several life-threatening events.

Getting stronger faster is essentially mandatory for survival.

‘I need to work on other things besides swordsmanship.’

The most urgent matter is abilities related to holy power.

The growth of the amulet and my overall survival and coping abilities depend on it.

And one more thing.

“No, stand your ground!”

“Hmm. I clearly said I only accept objections through duels.”

“…Both of you can’t teach, so please be quiet.”

I break up the two who have started arguing again with a sigh.

Most reliable allies or whatever.

At least now I know I can’t learn swordsmanship from these two.

●

Well, that leaves only one option.

Someone who can train me in both swordsmanship and holy power simultaneously.

“…You want an access pass to the ‘storage room’?”

“Yes.”

When I boldly made that request, Atalante’s expression became subtle.

“Do you know what’s in there?”

“I’ve already met her once.”

When I went to get Ultima.

A sword-obsessed lunatic who cuts down anything that comes within three steps of her.

Yuria Greyhaunter. The final boss of Chapter 2.

And, along with the Holy Maiden, a strong candidate for being a “vessel.”

“…”

Yes. The final boss of Chapter 2 isn’t the Boy King but her.

In many ways, the Boy King isn’t someone a player character can handle, so the actual final battle is with her.

“To be honest, she’s not someone you should be messing with right now.”

Atalante sighed and took out a key.

True to her character of granting whatever I ask, she seems to be accepting my request, but she can’t help but give a warning.

“Her very existence could trigger a war between the Empire and the Holy Empire. There’s a reason Elphante keeps her hidden away.”

With a serious face, Atalante continued.

“And you know about the upcoming observation class, right?”

“Yes.”

“During that period, personnel from the Holy Empire, including the Holy Maiden, will be staying at Elphante. Yuria Greyhaunter needs to keep a low profile during that time.”

I nod with a bitter smile at Atalante’s words.

Indeed, if Yuria’s existence were to surface, it would be a disaster in itself.

‘More precisely, the problem is the sword she’s carrying…’

The Holy Empire’s national treasure that creates a “curse of separation,” preventing others from entering her space while also preventing her from getting close to others. It’s an item she stole and ran away with long ago.

As I mentioned before, it’s also the reason she does the crazy thing of cutting down anything that comes within three steps of her.

If Yuria were to be spotted by the Pope with that item, there really could be a disaster between the two countries.

That’s how important this item is to the Holy Empire.

‘…And because of that.’

Given the item’s power, Yuria’s combat ability increases insanely as the distance between her and her opponent decreases.

Especially if the distance is within two steps, even if Elnore and Elia attacked simultaneously, they would likely lose.

The very reason Elnore and Elia’s close combat capabilities are only “top-tier” and not “the strongest” is because of Yuria’s existence.

‘…’

The problem is that the Holy Empire’s national treasure, in conjunction with the Boy King, will inevitably bring a major incident to the academy.

It’s also a key item for Chapter 2.

“So, I need to hear what business you have with her. If it’s dangerous, I’ll have to reject this request.”

Atalante said with a serious expression.

“Not only is the curse on her personally quite threatening, but her very existence is a political time bomb. There are countless reasons why an important figure like you shouldn’t make casual contact with her. It must be an action with absolutely no risk factors.”

“Ah, if that’s the case, then you can relax.”

No matter how dangerous Yuria is, what I’m going there to do isn’t particularly risky.

It’s just a way to rapidly develop both my holy power and swordsmanship.

I smile as I give my answer.

“Nothing major, I just want to cross swords with her.”

“…”

“I’m planning to do it every day for about a week.”

Atalante’s expression rapidly soured.

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