episode_0011

The beginning of the day was not different from usual.

I woke up in the early morning, ran with the knights, and had breakfast with my parents when the time came.

After that, training with my father’s sword began immediately.

“Let’s start today with a thousand downward cuts.”

“Yes.”

I held the sword familiarly and took my stance.

My hands were full of wounds from the daily training.

Blood would come out from the unhealed wounds, so I would bandage them.

My father advised that it’s better not to treat them, as calluses need to form properly for a comfortable grip on the sword.

It wasn’t just anyone’s advice; it was the advice of Sword Saint.

Though my hands hurt, I decided to accept it.

Swish!

I raised the sword and swiftly brought it down.

I transferred the power from my legs to my waist, then from my waist to my arms.

It was a downward cut that eliminated unnecessary movements and kept only essential ones.

Once, twice, thrice.

I repeated the same movement.

My father silently watched my actions and then stood next to me, nodding his head.

Then he took the sword in his hand.

Swish!

It was a pure downward cut without any wasted motion, yet it seemed to tear through space with its sharpness.

The realm of Sword Saint was truly lofty.

It was the pinnacle where talent and effort converged, unreachable no matter how hard I tried.

My father must have repeated this thousands, tens of thousands, or perhaps even more times to reach this point.

Thinking that such effort had vanished into a disease called “mana hardening,” I felt a bit despondent.

“Albert, erase those idle thoughts. While holding the sword, you should feel nothing but the sword itself.”

“I’m sorry.”

My father said that the sword holds one’s true intentions.

He said that by looking at the sword, one could read a person’s heart and mind.

Perhaps that’s why he told me what he did.

What intentions would be strongest when imbued in the sword?

Intent to protect? The will to kill someone?

It’s a story far beyond me, who has just started learning the sword, but at least I hope my sword will be one that protects someone.

I swung the sword, thinking so.

Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times.

The bandage wrapped around my hand had become sticky with blood and pus, and my muscles felt sore from being tensed. My sweat-drenched head felt as if it had been hit by rain.

As I tried to regulate my breathing, my father’s voice came through.

“Have you loosened up a bit?”

“Yes, but it feels like I’ve loosened up too much.”

“Stop exaggerating. We’re about to start, so stand ready.”

My father’s training was relentless.

Endless sparring.

I always had to fight with my father until I couldn’t get up anymore.

It seemed ridiculous that we were pointing swords at each other, but there was no room for hesitation.

Even if I put all my effort into it, I could never reach my father.

Clang!

As our swords clashed, a chilling sound reverberated.

My father lightly deflected my sword and narrowed his eyes.

“Are you afraid of getting hit? Your hesitation is evident in your sword.”

From the moment I held the sword, hesitating meant facing death.

The price was inevitably brutal.

Thud!

My father’s kick struck my side, unexpectedly forceful.

For a moment, it felt like my breath stopped, and everything went white.

But I somehow endured the pain and stepped back.

If I stayed still, I would only receive more blows.

Was there any room for sentimentality as a son?

There was no such luxury.

Instead, he taught me even more strictly to make me stronger.

“Are you going to stand there blankly? Then I’ll go harder.”

My father’s foot struck the ground.

His sharp sword swiftly attacked.

A beast.

It felt like a beast tearing me apart.

Death was inevitable, but I couldn’t give up.

I had something to protect.

Clang!

Instinctively, my body moved on its own.

It might have been a reflexive action.

My sword clashed with my father’s.

Even though I almost lost a shoulder due to the force, it was a satisfying result for me.

And it seemed to be the same for my father.

“You can do it. But why are you so afraid?”

“It was a coincidence.”

“Well, for now, yes. But from now on, you have to turn that coincidence into inevitability.”

So, despite receiving swordsmanship training all morning, I only managed to satisfy my father once.

Thinking that I had grown, I was even more enthusiastically beaten by my father, who came out stronger.

Of course, the price was also cruel.

At a family gathering, my mother started nagging.

“Oh, really. How much did you hit the child? I can’t live like this.”

“It’s better than losing your life on the battlefield.”

“So, before going to the battlefield, are you going to kill with your own hands- is that it?”

“Oh, no, it’s not like that….”

At my mother’s words, my father broke into a cold sweat.

Watching him, I suddenly had this thought.

Could I end up like that if I got closer to Luna?

It was something I couldn’t easily imagine.

Luna always greeted me with an expressionless face.

The only change in her expression being stained with sadness felt a little painful.

But if that could happen.

‘It would be rather nice.’

No matter what she did, I would probably find her lovable.

After the noisy lunch ended with my mother’s anger, the time I had been waiting for finally arrived.

Melina straightened my clothes and said,

“You’re going for an inspection, right?”

“Yeah, it’s the first time.”

“You must be looking forward to it.”

“A little, I guess.”

I might have gone when I was young, but it was the first time as an adult.

The reason is simple.

Because I was a wastrel.

Taking such a son along wouldn’t be dignified, so my father always left me behind.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

As with any new experience, I was looking forward to going on the inspection.

Melina knew that, so she must have been paying attention to make sure everything was perfect.

Before long, I was ready.

I didn’t wear anything fancy, just a sword at my waist, but I liked it.

As I stepped outside, my father, already prepared, was waiting for me.

It may have seemed plain for a noble’s son, but it was distinctive in its own way.

My father didn’t like extravagant things.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Father.”

As my father took the first step, the coachman bowed and opened the carriage door.

My father got in, and I followed.

Soon, with a slight jolt, the carriage started moving.

* * * * *

As the carriage left the castle, the landscape of the estate came into view through the window.

Thick mist shrouded the rugged mountains, with a city below.

The sight captivated me, and I gazed blankly.

“These are things you and I must protect. Keep them in your sight.”

“Yes.”

With rights come responsibilities.

Protect the estate, the people, and the family.

It was an unavoidable duty as a noble’s son.

At times like this, I realized how heavy the burdens on your shoulders were.

It must have been tough to care for the estate in my place.

Yet, you never complained.

I was so grateful and sorry for that.

Lost in contemplation, the carriage arrived at its destination.

As the door opened, the scenery I had seen from afar unfolded before my eyes.

Rugged mountains and vast cavities.

It was a mine.

As my father and I got off the carriage, someone hurried over and bowed.

“Count Arus sends his regards to Duke David.”

“Ah, thank you for your hard work. How is the rescue operation progressing?”

“It’s going smoothly. We expect the rescue to be possible soon.”

“Good, please continue to make efforts.”

“Yes, of course.”

Count Arus.

The middle-aged man with striking red hair was one of the attendants serving Duke David.

After finishing his conversation with my father, he suddenly glanced at me, then bowed his head.

“I apologize for the late greeting. I am Count Arus.”

“Yes, you’ve always worked hard for the family.”

“It’s an honor.”

With such a casual greeting, we looked around and walked away.

And before long, we met them.

“Is, is my husband okay?!”

They were the families of the miners trapped in the mine.