episode_0090

“Huh…Huh…Huh…“

“Whoa…ha…how…“

“Thank you for your hard work, Lapis.“

“Commander, thank you for your hard work…“

Let’s finally complete all level 4 quests, including the forced march with four parties at the same time.

Lapis and I sat on the bench, breathing heavily.

Level 4, to be exact, one of the grade requirements for [S] class hunters.

The conditions for completing such a huge amount of requests would take others several years, and even Han Ji-ah, who was called a genius, would take two years.

In just one night and two days, I ended up giving up the spirit of destroying everything.

Of course, there were times when I defeated monsters while receiving a special treat called the Emperor Training Course.

After applying a buff to so many people,

Participate in requests from other groups at the same time through the portal opened by Lapis.

That was also the result of an all-night forced march and frantic efforts to cut down the monsters.

“Ha…if you’ve gone through this much trouble, there’s no need for that damn muscle pig to do anything wrong.“

“Hehe…that’s why I did this. If it weren’t for that, I could just use a fake ring…“

“Well, anyway, isn’t it a good thing that you’ve been recognized for having that much skill?“

Lapis sipped cold bottled water and looked at me.

From now on, once you are officially registered with the management office through document processing,

I will debut as a [S] class hero.

It was planned that paperwork would be processed as the top priority with permission from Beatrice, who held the position of Director of the Management Bureau.

Now, all preparations for awakening to level 4 are complete.

Just wait a little while, and everything will be done.

Ji-ing…

“The desire to rest is like a chimney, but…shitcha…!“

I stood up with my tired body,

I sent a reply message to the contact from Alice and the other children.

“There’s not much time left, so we should hurry.“

“Let’s take a break, Commander. Then you will get hurt.“

“No, it’s okay. I’m still fresh.“

“Lie again. Even though you always pretend to be fine, I know that you are having a hard time on the inside.“

Lapis whined and got up from the bench and snuggled next to me.

“There is no need to hide it anymore, so you can honestly say that you are having a hard time. Don’t complain alone.“

“Really? Then should we just throw it all away and go have fun together?“

“…Ugh really…“

So I headed to the next location with Lapis.

Final preparations for the upcoming duel with Xiao.

All that remained was a period of rigorous training.

—-

Shake…!

Let’s open a bright blue iron door,

Beyond that appeared the backyard of the house where I lived.

“Ah, master! Welcome!“

“Master! I was waiting.“

There stood Alice, wandering around holding a wooden sword.

Yuri Lee was seen peeling apples while sitting on a bench.

“Hello everyone~!“

“Hello…!“

Lapis hesitated and told them,

In particular, when he saw Alice, he greeted her in a crawling voice.

“Oh…! Who is the person next to him?“

“This is my first time meeting you… I wonder if there is another woman…“

“Oh, here?“

I spoke quietly enough for Lapis to hear.

“But…how should I explain it? You haven’t entered the academy yet.“

“Just…just like a cousin. But now it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.“

“Okay.“

I walked over casually and introduced Lapis to the two people.

“This is my cousin, Lapis. He said he came to Seoul for a while, so I brought him here when I met him.“

“Um…? You have a cousin that I don’t know…“

“Oh…! Very nice to meet you…! I never thought Doryeong would have such a cute little brother, mmm…”“

“Ah…nice to meet you, Alice.“

Lapis shook hands with her, trying hard to hide her sad expression.

From the day I last saw Alice to the moment I let her go.

That day, thanks to her giving everything in the battle with Xiao, she managed to overpower her.

Is it because it reminds me of the past days when Alice sacrificed herself and swung her sword for us?

Lapis and I were in a situation where we felt like crying,

I barely raised my head and swallowed the tears that were flowing.

“Huh? Why do you both look so sad?“

“Ah…it’s nothing. Now, now, my little brother here is probably tired, so let’s take a break.“

“Kuhhh…yes…“

Lapis sniffled and sat down.

I crunched the apple that Yuri gave me and secretly wiped away my tears.

“Okay, then, as the master requested, we will begin sword fighting from now on!“

“Okay, please take care of me. Mr. Yuri, can you bring me a wooden sword and something useful for training?“

“Yes, I understand, master…!“

I grabbed the wooden sword that Yuri gave me and swung it for a moment.

My current level and stats were enough to overwhelm Alice.

The moment I joined Xiao, I could feel it.

‘I was completely a frog in the well… If things continue like this, I might lose again…’

I could definitely read her movements in my head.

And according to the trajectory where Xiao swung his sword,

I was barely able to block her attack by raising the blade.

But when I actually clashed swords with swords, the feeling was completely different.

Although it was good in theory, it was difficult to apply in practice.

I felt the difference in the wall, like a discussion about majors between an undergraduate student and a professor, something that I knew in my head but my body did not follow.

‘But… what I’m doing now is swinging the sword recklessly, and it can’t be considered real swordsmanship…’

“Well, I’m looking forward to it… I never thought I’d be able to touch swords with the master like this.“

“No, Alice, I will have a lot to learn from you today. So don’t show any mercy and beat me up.“

“Uh…are you serious about that? No matter how wooden the sword is, it is not enough to hit the master harshly…“

Crack—!

Boom—!

A strong sword strike vertically.

Kak—Kagaak—-!

The wind began to pick up, with tree splinters flying around,

The sandstorm in the backyard began to swirl along with the strong wind pressure.

“Kk…! Why is it so… so strong…! Well…if he’s a master, he’s probably not an ordinary man…!“

“I hope you deal with it with all your might. That way, you can learn from me…and at the same time, I can learn from you…!“

“I understand… Then, for you, I will swing my sword with all my might…!“

“Okay then…let’s go!“

Pot—!

I struck her wooden sword upward with force,

Next, he swung the sword strongly horizontally towards Alice’s abdomen.

Boom—!

Kak—!

She simply twisted her wrist and let the sword body go,

Then, he strongly raised his sword and dug into my gap.

Just—!

“Augh…!“

“Trigram…are you okay…?“

With Alice’s quick movements, she struck me precisely on the forehead with the wooden sword,

For a moment, my vision became blurred with a flash of light.

“Did you see it? As you can see, my swordsmanship skills are terrible. I hope you can teach me a lot in the future.“

“Huh…? Then, the one thing you showed me last time…how on earth…“

“Hmm… I guess the only thing I learned was one slash and two slashes.“

“That…is a pain in the ass…but…I feel like I’m getting a sense of something…!“

Crash…!

I immediately swung my sword down at her.

Alice was clearly of a lower level than me,

Her eyes and actions change whenever she holds a sword.

Boom—!

Kak—!

It is not an equal contest of strength and power.

A complex yet highly skilled swordsmanship movement.

Hiss—!

widely—!

The clear and cheerful sound of a wooden sword clashing with a wooden sword.

As she freely bent her wrist and released the power contained in my sword body,

Soon I lost my balance and my steps started to twist.

“Gap found!“

Boom—!

Percussion—!

“Hoo…it’s pretty…!“

“Still…I do have some talents…!“

Without missing the loophole, Alice struck the sword at my head,

Even as I fell, I raised my wooden sword and blocked her attack.

Cradangtang…!

After rolling over on the sand, I took a stance.

“Oh…I finally learned that skill…”

“Phew…then let’s go…!“

“Okay…show me one more time…!“

Although it was a wooden sword, there was no sheath to lead it.

But when he brought the sword to his waist, magical power flowed from his mouth,

I tensed up every nerve in my body and sent all my strength through my fingertips.

Pot—!

He kicked the sand hard and leaped towards Alice.

As if time was passing slowly, an afterimage remained of Alice’s movements.

I raised my wooden sword and swung it at her from various angles.

Abdomen, forehead, wrists, and thighs.

Adjust the force so that it’s gentle enough that she doesn’t get hurt.

But at the same time just enough to definitely overpower her.

Ride, ride—!

“Kkkk…!“

“Huu…hu…“

I turned my head and looked at her.

Alice crouched for a moment, holding the sword,

I took a step forward, worried that she might get hurt.

“Alice…! It’s okay…”

“Fall down.”

Ta—evil—-!

“Kwaaak….!“

“Hehe…I let my guard down.“

With an intense light like a flash of light.

A powerful punch flew towards my abdomen.

As if I had already been cut by a sword,

And the pain appeared only too late, as if I hadn’t noticed.

Cradangtang…!

I fell to the floor, clutching my stomach.

“Did you see it? This is the true technique of Ilseom.“

“Haa…ha…Alice…she fights really well.“

“Hehe…I’m embarrassed. It’s nice to be praised by the master, but…“

She came towards me, jumping up and down excitedly.

As if she had blocked all the previous single attacks, fragments of the wooden sword were scattered near her.

There wasn’t even a trace of an effective hit left on the uniform she was wearing.

Alice squatted in front of me, who was kneeling on the floor.

Then he looked at me with curious eyes.

“The master’s movement is clearly a single movement. Why are you cutting it so many times?“

“Uh…?“

“Literally, one sum is one sum. It cuts down the enemy with just one flash of light.“

“The master’s skills are certainly excellent. If you cut off several parts of the monster, it will definitely be easier to subdue it. For example, the monster’s tendons, eyes, arteries, or even areas where the sword cannot penetrate. In that respect, I think Doryeong’s swordsmanship may have changed.“

“Ilsum…wasn’t it like this…?“

“Pii… When I see such a thin face, my heart doesn’t weaken…”

Alice smiled brightly and stroked my head.

The next day, I stood him up and immediately got into position.

“Today, I will teach you my own sword techniques. Depending on what state the other person is in and what the situation is. Wouldn’t it be okay to choose the method you want?“

“Alice…!“

For a moment, it seemed as if a past relationship was passing over her face.

Even in those days when religious denominations ruled the world and were filled with gloom.

She never lost her smile and laughter, and wielded her sword to carry out her beliefs.

And the last time she swung her sword for us after being defeated by Xiao.

“Now, hold your sword. Today I will tell you everything from one to ten.“

“No…there is no need for that.“

Boom—!

I took my stance again.

Raising the sword, the position of Alice’s arms and legs.

And he began to follow her movements exactly, right down to the center of gravity and the angle of the wrist.

“Master…! Do you really think that you can imitate the posture of a small person just by seeing it once…?“

I smiled brightly and tapped my head with the wooden sword.

“After all this time, I am confident in one thing: my memory.“

“Hehe, that’s a nice posture to look at. Well…then, let’s start again…!“

“Here we go…!“

Boom—

Kagak—-!

The wooden sword and the wooden sword clashed again and formed a union,

He swung his sword with faster movement than before.

The posture and order of Alice’s swordsmanship, and even the moment of applying force.

I remembered all the images she showed me in my head and pictured them again with my body.

Kagagak—Kagagak—!

“It’s much better than before. Indeed, even if you teach one thing, you know ten…!“

“It’s already too early to be surprised. There’s still a lot left to learn…!“

Percussion—-!

Two blades clash violently,

With the sight of a man and a woman competing with each other while smiling.

Around the time when all the wooden swords brought by Lee Yu-ri were broken.

At the same time, the sun sets and the bright full moon rises beautifully.

I was able to complete my training with Alice’s approval.

‘Now there’s only one thing left…’

“Okay, then let’s begin. This time it’s magic training. Or…do you want to take a break and do it again?“

“…No, I’m ready.“

“Good. That’s the exact posture.”

I’m under such a beautiful moonlit night.

Afterwards, I listened to Lapis’ lecture on magic.