Chapter 78

Dark Shadow Freon (1)

After the situation was resolved, Aesel explained to me what had happened.

"While teaching Rigon swordsmanship, I suddenly had an epiphany."

An epiphany during swordsmanship training?

When I heard the detailed circumstances, I was even more astonished.

While freely sparring and receiving Rigon’s sword, Aesel suddenly had an epiphany as Rigon instantly adapted and applied the magical training and sword techniques taught just a moment ago in his own unique way.

While teaching can lead to learning, I never thought that teaching Rigon would result in Aesel leveling up.

'...No.'

It wasn’t just Aesel who had grown.

Only now did I check Rigon’s level, and I couldn’t believe my eyes.

【Lv. 21】

Level 21.

Not level 11, but level 21.

He was definitely... just level 3 before we left, right?

He said he had barely recovered from his damaged mana pathways and was in a blank state with nothing accumulated.

Yet, in less than half a month, he had grown to nearly level 20.

The abnormal growth rate, beyond imagination, made me gasp in shock a beat later.

'This is really... something.'

Isn’t this a completely insane talent?

Is this level of genius why Aesel also had an epiphany while teaching?

"Th... That’s quite an achievement, Sir Aesel."

Rif stammered awkwardly.

He seemed to have struggled to find something to say, but finally managed to speak.

"Thank you."

Aesel smiled faintly and turned his gaze to Rigon.

"I’m really grateful to you too. Thanks to you, I feel like a long-standing barrier has been somewhat broken."

"Ah, yes. I’m really glad I could help you, Sir."

Rigon said with a bright smile.

"Um, if it’s okay, can we continue the sparring?"

"Huh? Ah... Sure."

Aesel nodded and raised his sword again.

Rigon’s expression instantly turned serious as he took his stance.

I watched the scene with a slightly interested eye.

Although the sparring was for teaching rather than a real match, I was curious about Rigon’s swordsmanship that had brought Aesel to an epiphany.

Swish!

Rigon rolled his feet, and his sword blade quickly aimed for Aesel’s neck.

Despite the vast level difference, there was no real danger, but it was a real sword match, and he aimed for vital points without any hesitation.

'Did Aesel tell him to do that?'

Aesel calmly deflected the sword strike with ease.

He also blocked the following attacks by swinging his sword from side to side, all while standing in place. The rapid exchange of attacks and defenses continued.

From top to bottom, Rigon aimed at all parts, swinging his sword in various ways. Sometimes he held the hilt in reverse, and other times he bent his body to attack from strange angles.

"..."

What should I call this?

I don’t know much about swords, but as I kept watching, I could clearly feel something about Rigon’s swordsmanship.

'Incredibly free.'

There’s a big framework, but it feels like there’s no system within it.

However, it felt much closer to a freedom that isn’t bound by anything, rather than being crude.

And this feeling wasn’t just about the visible sword.

The flow of mana from Rigon’s body also moved very freely within him, following his movements.

Aesel didn’t use mana in this way when he fought.

'...Hmm.'

【Lv. 22】

During the battle, he leveled up again. He’s getting stronger while fighting.

Rigon, with a highly excited expression, swung his sword even faster.

Clang!

Aesel, who had been receiving attacks and occasionally launching appropriate counterattacks, suddenly deflected Rigon’s sword downward and pinned it to the ground.

"Ah... "

Rigon smiled awkwardly, looking defeated.

Aesel also looked a bit annoyed and said,

"The more intense the exchange, the more you swing your sword instinctively."

"Ah, I’m sorry. When I get excited, I can’t control myself..."

"I don’t mean it’s bad. I’m saying you should refine and control that instinct more. So, Rigon, you are... "

Aesel pointed out various aspects of the recent sparring and gave Rigon advice. Rigon nodded and listened attentively.

"Let’s call it a day for today."

"Yes, thank you for the session!"

"Thank you, Sir."

Rigon answered loudly, and Rif bowed politely.

The two siblings left first, and Aesel and I were left alone in the training ground for a moment.

I watched them leave and then asked,

"You seem to be teaching them well."

"Ah, yes... It’s not that I’m teaching well, but both of them are very talented."

"Especially Rigon."

Aesel nodded in complete agreement with my words.

"He’s a truly gifted martial artist. I’m not exaggerating, but if there’s such a thing as a once-in-a-lifetime genius, it might be him."

Is he really that highly rated?

I felt a bit playful and asked,

"Aesel, how does he compare to you?"

"Excuse me? Of course, he’s far more talented than me."

Aesel said without any hesitation.

Hmm, he’s not the type to be sensitive about such things.

The conversation paused, and after a moment of silence, Aesel suddenly remembered something and exclaimed,

"I’m sorry. I didn’t go to greet you when you returned..."

"It’s fine."

"Did you get the wyvern?"

I nodded.

"Want to see it?"

I briefly showed the wyvern to Aesel as well.

***

About a week had passed since returning to the lord’s castle.

During this time, I watched Aesel’s swordsmanship lessons, played with the wyvern, and kept an eye on the neutral country’s political situation while waiting for the meeting date.

"Knight examination?"

I turned my gaze from the book I was reading to look at the butler.

"Yes. It’s an examination to select new apprentice knights and to promote existing apprentice knights to full knights."

"I see. But why?"

"Well, I wanted to ask if you have any intention of having the Rif siblings participate in the examination..."

Ah, that’s what it’s about.

The butler, of course, knew that I had been paying attention to the Rif siblings in various ways.

I closed the book and thought for a moment.

'Examination.'

I could grant the title of knight to them whenever I wanted.

But if there’s a formal ceremony like an examination, it might not be bad to have them go through it.

Rif is already at a level where he could become a full knight right away.

'And I’m a bit curious.'

Although they had been living in the castle, I had never paid attention to the knights.

I decided to have Rif participate in the examination, partly to see what it was like.

"I’ll participate!"

When I called her and asked for her opinion, she answered immediately, as expected, without any hesitation.

Rigon, standing beside her, looked a bit disappointed.

With Rigon’s level, he could become an apprentice knight, but he was still a bit short of becoming a full knight.

Of course, with his current growth rate, he would reach that level in no time.

A few days passed, and the day of the knight examination approached.

"It’s an honor to have you watch the examination!"

The captain of the Ironblood Knights saluted with a truly grateful expression. His name was Akin, right?

A vast outdoor training ground filled with a large number of knights in perfect order.

Currently, Aesel and I were sitting on a platform on one side, watching the scene.

Rif, also armed, was visible among the knights.

"The lord has come to watch your duels! Therefore, give your best... "

The captain’s short speech ended, and the examination began without delay.

First, the examination for apprentice knights to become full knights. Most of the knights were in the 30s level range.

The format of the examination was to duel with a member of the Ironblood Knights, the elite of the lord’s castle, and hold out for a certain amount of time to pass.

The time was only 3 minutes, yet more than half of the knights couldn’t hold out and were quickly eliminated.

'Hmm...'

I watched the scene with a slightly bored expression.

It looks intense... but that’s about it.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I came to watch the examination, but it wasn’t as interesting as I thought.

Before long, it was Rif’s turn.

His opponent was a mid-50s level elf knight who wielded a spear instead of a sword.

Swish!

As soon as the duel began, Rif dodged the spear aimed at his face by turning his head.

He used the difference in reach to narrowly avoid and block the overwhelming attacks and tried to close the distance.

The bold movements, as if he didn’t care about his life, were similar to what I saw during the Actifol tournament. The knight, who was attacking, also seemed a bit surprised.

Clang! Clang!

Of course, the skill gap was significant, so he never managed to close the distance.

Aesel, who was increasingly overwhelmed by the fierce attacks, only managed to defend until the 3 minutes were up.

Despite a much more intense exchange than the other knights, Rif’s face showed a hint of regret when he sheathed his sword.

"Do you have ten lives?"

After the duel, the knight he faced burst into laughter.

"I almost got caught off guard and had to step up my game. It’s a remarkable achievement for someone your age. You can be proud of it."

Cheers erupted from the knights standing around, who had never seen such praise.

I smiled slightly and watched her, who was at a loss with the praise.

At that moment,

"..."

I suddenly turned my gaze.

On one side of the training ground, away from the knights, stood administrative officers recording the results of the examination.

【Lv. 67】

One of them had an extremely abnormal level.

I narrowed my eyes and fixed my gaze on the brown-haired woman.

'...What is that?'

It was a clearly out-of-place scene.

After all, a mere administrative officer had a level close to 70.

"Butler."

"Yes, my lord."

"Who is that woman?"

The butler, standing beside me, looked at where my gaze was fixed and answered.

"She’s a new administrative officer named Kate, appointed a few months ago."

...A few months ago?

The thought naturally flowed. Spy.

If someone with that level of skill was hiding, it could only be a spy.

But if it’s a spy with a level of 67, which faction could it be from...?

"..."

I suddenly opened my eyes wide.

A 67-level brown-haired woman, a spy.

A character that perfectly matched these keywords immediately came to mind.

'Crazy, could it be...?'

Even as I felt shock and disbelief, my mind was racing.

How do I confirm? Should I call her aside quietly?

But if she really is her, trying to call her aside might make her quickly escape.

Wait a moment, let me think...

'Ah.'

I must have been staring too intently, as the woman, who was writing on a piece of paper, felt my gaze and turned to look at me.

She quickly bowed her head.

I continued to stare at her.

Soon, the tense atmosphere dissipated, and the knights around me began to turn their heads in the direction of my gaze.

Naturally, everyone’s attention focused on the woman.

Aesel and the captain, standing beside me, also looked at her with puzzled expressions.

Finally, the woman, who had been bowing her head, slowly raised it.

Our gazes met for a few seconds. Her expression stiffened slightly.

"..."

In the silence that fell over the training ground, I made my decision and pointed at her.

"She’s a spy. Arrest her."