Ch.5252. Even Sword Dance Is a Dance

The more I thought about it, the more incomprehensible it seemed.

Dodging, parrying… it was all rather strange, wasn’t it?

If someone said I shouldn’t complain when I was barely hanging on with those techniques, I’d have no comeback. Still, I couldn’t help but question it.

Of course, that feeling didn’t last long. It was a problem I couldn’t solve anyway, and my position was simply that good things were good—I just needed to make use of what worked.

So I never really analyzed it deeply.

“While deflecting attacks is classified as a basic defensive technique in combat, creating enough impact to send an opponent flying when you deflect them can only be described as mastery of a certain level. In my analysis, that technique…”

Maybe that’s why. The crown prince was rambling on about something, but I couldn’t really understand what he was saying.

All I could do was nod along with the five acknowledgments of “mm-hmm” and “I see.”

After going on about his thoughts for quite some time, the crown prince finally reached a conclusion.

“Therefore, while perfectly replicating it may be impossible, if I can just grasp the basics… no, even merely imitating it would significantly improve my combat skills.”

He already seemed to view my technique as something that had reached a state of mastery.

It was just a cheat ability I could use after being possessed, but seeing him so passionate about learning it made me feel guilty.

Feeling awkward, I decided to ask a question first.

“Is there a reason you’re training so diligently?”

In truth, the crown prince wasn’t a major character.

The routes where the Emperor dies could be counted on one hand, and even if he did die, the game would end before the crown prince properly took power.

I know most things about the story, but… not knowing the details makes me feel cautious, like meeting an awkward friend.

What I did know for certain was that he wasn’t someone with a strong drive for combat improvement.

I might not know much about him, but I knew Celia’s family history inside and out, and by the final chapter, the crown prince was the weakest member of Celia’s entire family.

It wasn’t due to a difference in talent, but because he focused more on his studies as the future emperor.

So why was he so insistent on learning techniques from me? I couldn’t help but wonder.

“The reason for my training…”

The crown prince let his words trail off at my question, but he didn’t seem particularly troubled. He appeared to have a definite reason, so I waited patiently and soon got my answer.

“Yesterday, Celia told me that if I wanted to share meat with her, I should at least be on par with Lord Bellorix.”

I had to suppress a laugh at those words.

Bellorix. That was the name of the Knight Commander.

He frequently appeared as a powerful figure in the world setting, but was he an important character? Not really—he occupied an ambiguous position. In fact, in the game, he was often called by his title “Knight Commander” rather than his name.

But his strength was real.

When he swung his sword with full force, rocks would split, and even the mountain behind them would cleave in two.

This isn’t an exaggeration—it actually appears as a cutscene in the game.

Though it’s said he was channeling power… normal humans can’t split mountains even when channeling power.

And he wants me to be on par with someone like that?

Celia was clearly just giving him a roundabout rejection.

But this guy took it seriously.

“Celia seemed to think you were on the same level as Lord Bellorix… no, even beyond him.”

Either he didn’t realize it, or he was just saying such nonsense.

No way, that can’t be right. I can’t even scratch a rock, let alone split a mountain.

I decided to talk about how unreasonable Celia’s suggested goal was.

“You do realize that’s impossible, right?”

“I know. Although I currently don’t even reach Lord Lux’s ankles… I have to try as much as I can.”

That’s why he went to such lengths to arrange this meeting.

The crown prince’s expression was nothing short of serious as he said this.

…This is truly absurd.

Does he really go this far just to get some meat from his little sister?

I had a lot I wanted to say, but suddenly felt extremely tired, so I decided not to say anything.

“Well then, I’ll be in your care.”

The crown prince drew his sword.

I should have mentioned this earlier, but the place the crown prince had brought me to was the imperial palace’s grand banquet hall.

It was spacious, and when not in use, there were no people around. A very suitable location for the current situation.

“It’s been months since I was last here. The last banquet was to celebrate Celia’s enrollment.”

That was the first thing the crown prince said when we entered.

So even their banquets revolve around Celia. How truly imperial.

Of course, I doubt they expected to be doing something like this in the banquet hall.

There was something I needed to take care of here too… but I’ll skip over that for now.

The crown prince and I stood facing each other in the area where people would dance during banquets.

Sword dancing is also a form of dance, so I suppose it was an appropriate positioning.

With such foolish thoughts, I drew the sword from my waist.

“I don’t seriously intend to teach you anything. I don’t have that ability… I’d just like you to figure it out and learn on your own.”

I added a bit of insurance as I said this.

It couldn’t be helped. Teaching a power that defied the laws of the game itself was impossible from the start.

Explaining it to someone else was even more so.

Although I told him to figure it out and learn on his own, honestly, I didn’t think it would be possible.

“When I’m following my own stubbornness, what complaints could I possibly have?”

But the crown prince’s response was more compliant than I expected.

Did he really think so highly of my abilities? I’m not sure whether to take that as a good thing.

“Very well. Then let’s begin… ah, right.”

Thinking about it, I realized we shouldn’t just spar randomly, so I specified a few attack stances for him.

Since what he wanted now was my parrying, I showed him motions that could be parried.

“You said you didn’t intend to teach seriously, yet you’re giving quite detailed instructions.”

Even that was interpreted as part of my teaching… this is quite a burden.

Anyway, the crown prince followed my instructions and made straightforward, honest attacks, while I, for almost the first time, held my short sword with both hands.

This was for blade parrying, which is possible with all types of swords.

Until now, I’d only parried with the hilt of my short sword… but doing a hilt parry here might seem too showy.

I decided I should at least make a show of countering his attacks.

Clang!

The sound that erupted was sharper and more stimulating than a hilt parry.

At the same time, the crown prince was pushed back several steps.

“…Truly marvelous…”

He retreated quite a distance, checked the condition of his sword and body, then muttered quietly.

Then he asked.

“How long can you continue?”

“All day if needed.”

“Of course. Even Lord Lux showed no signs of fatigue when sparring with me. It was a pointless question given my level.”

No, that’s not what I meant—I don’t get tired because I have infinite stamina.

Anyway, after that, we repeated the same action for quite some time.

The crown prince would swing his sword, and I would parry, parry, and parry again.

After repeating this dozens of times… just before reaching triple digits, the crown prince finally stopped.

“Huff… I truly don’t understand. It’s not swinging to deflect, nor using mana effects… what principle creates enough recoil to send a person flying?”

It’s a game mechanic. Please don’t try to understand it with common sense.

But despite his words, it wasn’t as if there was no progress at all.

From the middle of our session, he started responding to being deflected by parrying, so while he might not have learned the deflection technique, he seemed to have quickly mastered a counter technique.

“Still, I should try. Would you swing your sword at me?”

Of course, he didn’t seem satisfied since that wasn’t what he had gone to all this trouble to learn.

Having no reason to refuse, I swung my sword as he asked.

He placed his sword against mine as it swung… and simply blocked it.

Clang!

Naturally, nothing went flying. He just blocked a sword with a sword.

“So all I can do is stop a lightly swung sword…”

He seemed somewhat dejected by his lack of progress despite his careful analysis.

Come on, don’t be so disheartened. It’s normal not to be able to do it.

Just as I was thinking I should offer some consolation, the doors to the banquet hall burst open.

Bang!

Both the crown prince and I turned our heads toward the opened door in surprise, and there stood Celia, looking composed.

“What are you doing here?”

At that question, the crown prince hastily withdrew the sword he had been holding against mine and sheathed it.

I followed his lead and put my sword back at my waist, though it was a pointless action since she had clearly seen everything.

In the awkward situation, Celia slowly approached us… and suddenly lifted the crown prince into the air with magic.

“Ce-Celia?!”

The startled crown prince urgently called her name, but Celia calmly muttered as if she hadn’t heard him.

“Really. Why is everyone so desperate to bother Ludion?”

And then she threw the crown prince out the window.

“If you come back in, you’ll be eating dinner alone tonight.”

With such a threat accompanying his expulsion, he probably wouldn’t return here.

…Now that we were alone, Celia sighed and glanced at my arm.

I was covering it with long sleeves, but she seemed concerned, knowing about the wound.

“Is your arm okay?”

“It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it’s not a problem.”

It was bearable since there wasn’t much pain unless I pressed on it directly.

But it wasn’t a shallow wound that would heal quickly either.

When I return to the academy, I’ll have to ask Professor Reina Trier to treat it.

As I was thinking about that, I suddenly remembered the “thing I needed to take care of” that I had skipped over earlier.

I called out to Celia, who was still looking at my arm with a worried expression.

“Celia.”

“What?”

“Can I break that floating magic stone over there?”

“…Why?”

Well, because if we leave it there, a disaster will occur during the upcoming victory party.

It’s not something that needs to be dealt with urgently right now, but now that I’ve noticed it, I wanted to get rid of it quickly.

But Celia, not knowing this fact, wouldn’t give me permission.

Regrettably, I’ll have to take care of that another time…

“Well, do as you please.”

“…You’re saying I can?”

“I know you’re not the type to break things without reason. Or should I break it instead? That might make the cleanup easier.”

She said this and then cast a spell without hesitation.

I’m always grateful that she trusts me, but it’s starting to get a bit scary.

I decided I should never lie to her in the future.