Chapter 34

What am I even doing right now? Every few minutes, that thought crossed my mind. Following someone secretly.

I know all too well that it’s not the right thing to do. An instinctive aversion made my heart uneasy. Yet, I couldn’t stop myself.

Because I was curious. Curious about the answer to the unbelievable event that happened today. To find that answer, I naturally had to observe a man named Max.

Regardless of my dislike, there was a lack of judgment about him. The aspects he had been hiding until now. There was a need to verify them.

“Let’s go.”

Max, who had been walking, climbed onto the carriage that was waiting. Elaine’s eyes widened. If I delay any longer, I’ll lose him.

But there was no time to catch the carriage. So what then? ‘Run.’ Elaine ran.

“Huff, huff…”

Sweat poured down like rain. My chest rose to my throat. But somehow, I managed to follow.

Although I walk the path of magic, I haven’t neglected physical training. But anyway. ’71…’

It’s the entrance. Specifically, the entrance to the lower district. A place where nobles like Max would never have to approach in their lifetime.

A world of the miserable and impoverished lower class. But. Elaine remembered. That she had encountered Max in an alley of the lower district.

It was incomprehensible, but she didn’t bother to find out why. She didn’t even want to care. But now it’s different.

‘There’s something, for sure.’ I had a feeling. A feeling that something related to Max’s secret was here.

“Hoo.”

Elaine took a breath and stealthily followed behind Max. Max was moving forward without hesitation, His familiar movements indicated that this wasn’t his first time here.

It meant he had been here periodically. Where could he be going? As I pondered, I felt something catch my eye.

I soon realized why. ‘This road is…’ The lower district wasn’t designed with meticulous urban planning.

Therefore, the arrangement of buildings was haphazard, and the roads were like spider webs, disorderly everywhere. Mostly narrow alleys, so those unfamiliar with the geography would easily get lost.

Anyway, among all those numerous paths. Only the one familiar to her came into view. This couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.

‘Stalking?’ Maybe it’s the alcohol making me think all sorts of things. But surely that can’t be.

Elaine shook her head, dismissing such thoughts. But a moment later… The place where Max stopped was precisely her family home.

Her eyes widened. ‘Really?’ I couldn’t just stand by. I had to take action.

Just as Elaine was calming herself to move forward.

“Ha ha, you’ve come early.”

Turk, who greeted him first with a smile. Thud. Caught off guard by the unexpected sight, her movements came to an unnatural stop.

What’s this…?

“There’s still some time left. It’s best to sweat it out in advance.”

Max replied comfortably. The scene revealed that their relationship wasn’t just a day or two old.

“Good posture. To survive the day, that’s indeed necessary.”

Her father joked with a pleased smile. Elaine’s pupils shook in real time.

“I’ll take note.”

But Max took it seriously. Hmm…? Wasn’t it a joke? Then what does it mean?

“Ha ha, very well. Please come in.”

Soon they entered the fencing hall. All that was left was a confused Elaine. And her choice was…

Ssshh

To crawl secretly and stick to the window.

“Alright, then.”

Turk picked up a real sword hanging on the wall and threw it to Max. He also picked up a real sword for himself.

‘A real sword?’ Elaine looked incredulous. I had heard of real sword training. But I had never actually seen it.

Why? Because my father would never give a real sword to a student who wasn’t qualified. That meant Max had earned that qualification.

That Max. It was astonishing and surprising that he was a student of my father, and now he had even gained such a qualification…?

It was a series of unbelievable events, and I no longer had the strength to be surprised.

“It seems you’re ready. Then…”

Turk took a deep breath solemnly.

“Here I come.”

He charged. A heavy and powerful movement. Just watching it, I could feel its strength.

Whoosh!

The real sword cut through the air and fell sharply. Seeing this, Elaine’s eyes opened wide in shock.

Is this training…? No. This is real combat. The very intent to take an enemy’s life. And the person doing it was my father, which sent shivers all around her.

‘I have to stop this.’ Even Elaine, who trusted her father more than anyone, thought so. Because she was engulfed by the feeling that an accident might happen.

But. Max was calm. So calm that it almost seemed like he was holding a book instead of a sword. However, his eyes burned with a cold and stern light.

Shick!

Finally, his sword moved. That movement was… Precise and clear. No superfluous actions.

It was as if he had transferred the characteristics of the Imperial Style 8, which my father had mastered all his life, into his movements.

Ah…

Elaine was mesmerized by the movement of the sword. It was the first time she had felt her father’s presence in someone else’s swordsmanship since she was born.

She had never even imagined it.

Clang!

The first collision. That alone showed who had the upper hand. The one who was pushed back and the one who pushed. It wasn’t just a matter of offense and defense.

It was the difference in power and experience accumulated over time. Max readily admitted his deficiency. But he didn’t give in.

“You’re lacking.”

There was no sense of defeat or irritation. Instead, he took a step forward. The will to try until the end.

“And he wasn’t overly excited or tense. His hand holding the sword remained cool and composed.”

“…Who are you?”

Elaine muttered to herself, frozen. The him she knew. Lazy, negligent, and not knowing how to give his best.

“He who detested the very act of making an effort. That him did not exist now. She was confused.”

A complex mix of emotions filled her head.

“The momentum is good.”

“Thanks to a good teacher.”

After a brief exchange, they collided violently again. The fierce battle continued. Max, still unable to gain any advantage, kept being pushed back.

Wounds increased, and blood flowed. His breathing became rough. But his eyes were still alive.

“And then, eventually.”

Keeng!

“The sword flew out of Max’s hand.”

He had dropped his sword due to her father’s attack.

“Is this as far as it goes?”

Max relaxed his strength.

“Your movement was good. Now, there’s nothing to criticize about the form itself. But form is just the surface. It’s not enough. If you learn how to properly load the thread, then it can be considered complete.”

Turk said.

“Is it far off?”

At Max’s question, Turk shook his head with a faint smile.

“It’s not far off. I can say that for sure.”

The completion of Imperial Style 8. To others, it might seem like just mastering a basic sword technique, but its significance was special to both Turk and Max.

Especially Turk. His feelings were indescribable.But then… Suddenly, Turk’s expression hardened.

“There seems to be a rat. I guess I’ll have to catch it.”

Whoosh!

He swiftly moved towards the window.

Thud!

He violently opened the window. And his gaze moved to check for the rat underneath.

“Uh, what…?!”

The father was surprised. The daughter bowed her head deeply.

“Ha ha, no, were you and my student from the same academy? And in the same grade? Well, this is something.”

Although it was okay to speak informally to a fellow student, Turk remained polite. Having lived a life of deference to nobility, it would be awkward to suddenly speak down.

“I was surprised too, to think that the teacher’s daughter was that Elaine.”

I pretended not to know. Only her close friends knew about Elaine’s father. It wasn’t information that a guy like Max would know. So I had to pretend.

“That Elaine? What do you mean?”

Turk’s voice rose. As expected, he was a doting father when it came to his daughter.

“Well, she’s quite a famous friend. That’s what I mean.”

“Oh, is my daughter that famous?”

Stop it, man. Of course, I understand. With such a wonderful daughter, it’s natural to want to brag about her dozens of times a day. I chuckled inwardly and told him what he wanted to hear.

“Of course. She’s never missed being the top of the class. Everyone acknowledges her as the most outstanding talent in our grade. Of course, me too.”

“Ha ha ha, is that so.”

Turk was pleased, even though he already knew. That’s a father’s heart. On the other hand, Elaine looked embarrassed to death. A different kind of redness appeared on her cheeks than from the alcohol. Probably because it was in front of me. I kindly decided to rescue her from the awkward situation.

“I have something to do, so I should leave first.”

“Oh, that’s a pity.”

Turk looked genuinely disappointed. It wasn’t just because he couldn’t hear more praise for his daughter. he probably hoped that his daughter and I, who he considered the de facto successor to Imperial Style 8, would become closer friends. But man, that’s not it.

… What does your daughter think of me?

Elaine was still awkwardly avoiding my gaze. Just because she dislikes me? That’s not it. If it were just that, such an awkward reaction wouldn’t have occurred. Probably because she was mortified to have been caught secretly watching the duel. And maybe…an interruption.

I pretended to straighten my disheveled clothes, and with my fingers, I dabbed some blood from a wound onto my palm and wrote something. Then I approached Elaine.

“See you next time.”

And with that, I briefly opened and closed my palm. It was a brief moment, but she surely saw the words written on it. Her slight flinch confirmed it.

…Alright.”

But outwardly, she didn’t show any signs of being flustered. Probably because of her father.

“Then next time, I’ll come back stronger.”

After leaving those final words with Turk, I left the place.

“Well, really, what a surprise. Who would have thought you two were classmates. I have so many questions…”

“Father.”

“Hm?”

“I have dinner plans with a friend, so I’m short on time. Sorry, but I have to go now.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, I’ll visit again next time.”

“Ah, okay. Enjoy your dinner.”

Elaine hurried off without really listening to the farewell.

I treated my wounds with a potion in the carriage, waiting leisurely. Because I knew Elaine had to come. After a while. I saw her approaching with a complicated expression. I smirked.

The words written on my palm.

“You followed me, didn’t you? If you want me to keep quiet, come out.”

She had no choice but to come out. I hadn’t noticed the tailing from the beginning. It was in the lower district that I became certain. I felt the presence of someone following me. Uncharacteristically clumsy for her. Probably because of the alcohol. Anyway, it worked out well. Thanks to that, I could also erase a mark from her.

“Welcome, top student.”

I greeted her with a smile.