Chapter 58

Standing there with a flustered face, Regina walked away, letting go of my hand and trudging towards the center of the training ground.

“Your swordsmanship was certainly terrible.”

“Wow, why are you poking at a sore spot all of a sudden?”

“Prove it.”

“Huh?”

“If you want to convince me, prove it with your sword. How strong your will is. How much you have changed.”

That’s when I realized it.

She had intended this from the moment she called me to the training ground.

Regina is a warrior to the bone.

This temperament of hers shows in such ways.

What she wants is not a conversation with words, but with swords.

She wants to feel my sincerity through the sword.

In fact, this alone is a huge progress.

Because the old me would have been considered a worthless being, not even worth having a conversation with a sword.

But at least now she recognized me.

As someone worthy of having a conversation with a sword.

I had to prove it to her here.

Only then could I make more progress in our relationship than I had thought.

“So, I see. I understand what you want. But I did not bring my sword?”

“This will do.”

Whoosh.

Regina threw her sword she was carrying at me.

Thud.

I reflexively caught the sword.

Just looking at the intricately crafted sheath, I could tell it was no ordinary sword.

Hanseom Sword.

The renowned sword that has been passed down through generations to the best swordsman of the Erenbert family.

After Regina’s grandfather, who was called the seeker of the sword, passed away, the famous sword was passed on to her.

That meant Regina was the current best swordsman of the Erenbert family.

It was an undeniable fact.

“Are you telling me to use this?”

“Yes, by all means.”

Swoosh.

I drew the Hanseom Sword.

A cold chill could be felt emanating from the pure white blade.

It felt so cold that it seemed like my body would shrivel up.

A sword that seemed to contain the harsh winter of the northern lands.

Without even having to use it, I could tell.

It was an incredible sword.

‘It feels strange to be holding this sword.’

There are two types of famous swords in this world of the game.

Swords with owners and swords without owners.

The Hanseom Sword was a typical sword with an owner.

And a very strong owner at that.

Thus, no matter how you play, you wouldn’t normally get to own this sword.

But somehow, I ended up holding it for the first time.

“A very fine sword indeed.”

“Then try to strike me with that very fine sword.”

“Isn’t that an absurd request?”

I let out a disbelieving chuckle.

By appearances alone, I held a real sword while my opponent was unarmed, which seemed to give me an overwhelming advantage.

But if that opponent is Regina, the situation is completely reversed.

No matter what I do, this is a contest that simply cannot be won.

“Two steps.”

“Huh?”

“If I take more than two steps, consider it my loss.”

Regina said with an unfazed expression.

Meaning she would dodge without taking more than two steps.

In other words, she planned to evade everything with just a single step.

A handicap that would feel humiliating to the opponent.

But of course, I had no such feelings.

I was just relieved.

Because I knew the overwhelming difference in our skills.

“Alright, let’s give it a go.”

Even if my skills were nothing special, I could still try under these conditions, right?

I pumped myself up with confidence.

At that moment.

[Achievement Quest]

– You are facing your first duel with a true strong opponent. Regardless of the outcome, this duel will surely provide you with a wealth of experience.

– As a first duel bonus, proficiency experience points will double.

“Oh, what’s this?”

My eyes widened a bit as I saw the pop-up window.

Achievement Quest.

A quest that occurs when you achieve a special condition worthy of an achievement.

The quest that appeared was one I already knew.

But it had never popped up so early, at only about two chapters in.

Because a duel with a true strong opponent doesn’t come by easily.

And now it had happened unexpectedly.

‘An opportunity.’

A chance to skip steps.

An opportunity to earn a level of proficiency experience that I couldn’t get from normal training or battles with monsters.

Because the more significant the gap with the opponent, the greater the experience points gained.

And with the first duel bonus doubling it, it was a perfect opportunity to break through the stagnant swordsmanship grade.

“Why? Are you just going to stand there?”

Regina spoke as I didn’t move.

“No way.”

I got into position.

The sword technique I would use was, of course, one.

The Imperial Eighth Form.

Grapple techniques wouldn’t work on her.

Only a properly learned technique with blood and sweat would have a chance.

I wouldn’t play any tricks.

It wouldn’t work on her anyway.

I was going to push through with the single earnest sword technique I had mastered.

“The Imperial Eighth Form?”

Regina seemed to have guessed the sword technique I was about to use just from my stance.

It wasn’t some secret technique, and it was well-known enough that someone like her could easily recognize it.

“Right. Others might think it’s laughable, but it’s very precious to me.”

“It’s not a laughable technique. It’s a technique faithful to the basics.”

True to the title of sword master, she saw things differently from ordinary people.

I would have preferred her to be off-guard, but of course, that was too much to hope for.

I let out a bitter smile and slowly approached her.

The completion of the Imperial Eighth Form was about 90%.

I could perform up to the seventh form perfectly, except for the last eighth form.

‘It’s a pity it’s not completed, but it wouldn’t be possible not to touch an opponent who can’t even take two steps, right?’

Yet, I felt a little anxious.

Because the opponent was Regina Erenbert.

‘Anyway.’

There was no need for unnecessary thoughts.

There’s only one path to choose.

To try with all my might.

That’s all there is to it.

Thud!

I pushed off the ground and rushed at Regina.

First form.

Downward slash.

It lacked any flair but was a very solid downward slash.

Swish!

The frost-like sharpness of the blade cut through the air.

Indeed, a famous sword.

The power was enhanced compared to when using an ordinary weapon.

However.

The Hanseom Sword touched nothing.

Regina had evaded it by slightly moving her body back.

Just a paper-thin gap.

But I knew that was not a gap of regret.

It was the distance she intended.

“Haah!”

“Technique No. 2.

Lifting the sword.

With that, I took one more step and naturally transitioned into a sword technique that lifted upwards.

I closed the gap, but she managed to avoid it again by no more than the thickness of a sheet of paper.

I checked my footing just in case, but she had moved only half a step, not even two steps.

To avoid two attacks with just a half-step.

‘Now we begin.’

I muttered as I continuously executed the eight techniques of the empire.

Diagonal slash, horizontal slash, thrust, double slash, and up to a triple slash.

I wielded my sword in such a way that it was difficult to evade, mixing directions left and right.

A storm-like barrage of attacks, as much as I could muster.

But.

Shick! Shick! Sheeick!

My sword only sliced through empty air time after time.

I couldn’t touch her slightly trembling form at all.

‘Aren’t you taking this a bit too seriously?’

I joked as I now reversed the empire’s eight techniques.

From technique No. 7 to No. 1.

Whoom! Whoom! Whoom!

Yet, my attacks still missed, hopelessly.

‘Okay, how about this?’

Now it’s random.

I emptied my mind and unfolded the sword techniques in any which way.

Sometimes these unconscious combinations can be more tricky than the attacks I think through.

Because they’re less predictable.

Technique No.1, No. 7

No. 2, 4, 6.

Booom! Paah! Sssak!

A barrage like a tempest.

It had sufficient irregularity.

But Regina was like an illusion that could never be caught.

No matter the direction or attack, I couldn’t touch her smoothly moving form.

Not even a graze.

The problem was that she wasn’t even using proper footwork.

With just movement and body control within a single step, she evaded all of my attacks.

‘Ah, darn it.’

Even knowing the level difference, I could feel my temper rising.

I am a competitive human being.

I couldn’t end it with being unilaterally toyed with.

‘We’re far from done!’

I purposely let out a loud kiai to draw more strength.

I unfolded the eight techniques of the empire without resting, mixing in sword techniques continuously.

The pure white blade’s light flashed incessantly.

The cold of the ice sword seemed to freeze the air around it.

I couldn’t give her a chance.

If I attacked without giving her time to breathe, I might have a chance to land at least one hit.

Thinking this, I poured out as much power as I could from my body.

But.

‘Pant, pant’

The first to tire was me.

Non-stop attacking is an act that consumes tremendous stamina.

It’s only because I trained every day since my possession, otherwise I might have already collapsed on the ground.

“Is that all?”

Regina casually remarked.

It didn’t seem to be out of disappointment.

It sounded more like ‘That’s as far as you go.’

But it felt no less unpleasant to hear.

It was as if my limits had been defined, even though it wasn’t over.

‘Pant, pant… Could it really be?’

I bit my lip hard and forced myself to muster more strength.

I hadn’t hit rock bottom yet.

I had enough stamina left to hold on a bit longer.

Then, I would pour everything out until I hit my limit.

That way, I could accept the outcome without any regrets.

‘I’ll use technique No. 8.’

A sword technique I had sealed away on purpose because it was not yet perfected.

The triple slash from the empire’s eight techniques was said to be the most powerful.

It was still incomplete, but that didn’t matter anymore.

Because it felt like using it would allow me to pour out all my strength.

‘Haah!’

I yelled out a kiai as if I was screaming.

I was about to run out of breath, and my limbs were shaking, but somehow I performed technique No. 8.

Not yet.

It was still not yet.

I hadn’t reached my limit yet.

I decided not to stop until I collapsed, continuing my attack.

At that moment.

[Your basic swordsmanship proficiency has reached its maximum value.]

[You have perfectly mastered the empire’s eight techniques.]

[You have acquired the Master of Swordsmanship Basics.]

[The limit of your swordsmanship growth has greatly increased.]

[Your swordsmanship growth speed has noticeably accelerated.]

[The power of all your swordsmanship skills has slightly increased.]

[Your swordsmanship grade has risen to C-.]

‘Wow!’

An odd cheer burst out from me.

It was the very moment I had been waiting and longing for.

The second mastery of basics.

Along with the perfect completion of the empire’s eight techniques.

This was it.

Now, I was no longer just a commoner.

I was the master of the basics of the two techniques I was in charge of.

“Maybe it’s better to give up, considering you seem out of your mind?”

Regina looked at me with an incredulous expression, likely surprised by the strange cheer I had let out.

“Haha.”

I laughed.

“Not at all. I’m perfectly sane right now.”

‘It’s about to get really interesting. I’ll make sure of it.’

It wasn’t just bravado.

I felt like something was about to happen.

Enough to overcome the deficiencies I had just a moment ago.

Crack!

I stomped on the ground and unfolded technique No. 8 again.

Shick, shick, shick, shick, shick!

I could tell the difference from the very first movement.

It was faster, more powerful, and more crisply executed without any superfluous movements.

“-!”

Regina’s pupils wavered.

If I had been at this level from the beginning, she probably wouldn’t have been flustered like this.

But the sight of an opponent who had been exhausted and about to collapse suddenly displaying a much improved level of swordsmanship was understandably disconcerting.

It’s not something that’s possible by common sense.

And that unexpected turnaround brought results.

Flick!

I definitely felt the sensation of the blade touching.

It seemed that avoiding with two steps was something her pride wouldn’t allow.

Seeing the cut hem of her clothes fluttering down to the ground caught my eye.

“How about that? It definitely hit, didn’t it?”

I let out a pleased laugh.

Regardless, this duel was my victory.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

Regina made a strange face, but she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

There was a hint of a smile on her lips.

“Yeah, you won.”

Hearing a concession of defeat from the great Regina was something unexpected in life.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

The answer I had wanted.

A smile naturally appeared on my face.