Chapter 72: Izel Ryurik (1)

"Huff…."

The harsh breaths I exhaled were clear in my ears. My lungs heaved and fell with effort.

My muscles were overloaded, making my limbs tremble.

This was the complete opposite of when I was being taught by the princess. Back then, I was the one seeking knowledge.

Ryudern stood calmly with his sword hanging down, yet he was overwhelming. There was no opening to exploit.

Meeting one of the roughly ten Swordmasters on the continent in person, I understood why they were called Swordmasters.

Even on my best day, I wouldn’t be able to defeat him.

I even doubted whether I could ever reach that level.

The method to become a Swordmaster is well-known. It’s not something you can achieve with a single moment of enlightenment.

-When a swordsman completes something perfect, he transcends the wall and becomes a Swordmaster.

Whether in the game or now, this one sentence was all there was to becoming a Swordmaster.

It was a common saying among all Swordmasters.

That "something" is different for everyone. It could be a single technique or a unique style of swordsmanship.

Some even reached this level while refining their swords.

When you become a Swordmaster, you can manifest sword qi, and you can see the optimal move in any exchange.

I didn’t know what that felt like.

'Damn.'

Nonetheless, I was giving it my all. I used all my mana except for the wind.

Although my duty to guard the princess was imminent, I couldn’t miss this opportunity. Yet, Ryudern handled me with ease.

It was frustrating. But at the same time, I was learning a lot. Every moment was a revelation.

The angle at which the sword was swung, the movement of the wrist when setting a stance, the position of the feet, the range of the waist’s rotation.

These were the movements of a Swordmaster. I tried my best to remember all of them.

'Today, I should be in top condition.'

Except for the days I trained at the duke’s mansion, the situation rarely went well.

It was a funny thing that such opportunities came once or twice a year, but it was deeply disappointing.

Suddenly, Ryudern’s aura changed. He must have noticed that I was tired. It was a signal that he was about to end it.

A simple thrust. Qinghai approached as a single point, but to me, it felt like a rough wave.

I barely deflected it with my sword. If my sword wasn’t a fine blade, it would have broken long ago.

Ryudern’s sword, which I deflected, moved strangely. A moon appeared above the waves. He had seen through my swordsmanship.

In an instant, the sword was in front of my throat. The sword moved away. The sparring was over. I etched the sword path in my mind.

Ryudern gave me enough time before speaking.

"Good swordsmanship. I’m not boasting, but just being able to do that in front of me is quite an achievement."

"Thank you."

"It seemed like a style you created yourself, yet it was incredibly stable. Do you have a teacher?"

"In my youth, I learned the basics from a mercenary group, and later, I learned by myself."

It’s true that I learned the basics from Marhan, but after mastering the Moonlight Style, I developed my swordsmanship on my own.

Of course, I received a lot of help. The swordsmanship of Baut, the duke, and Marhan inspired me.

"You’re lucky. It’s not easy to join a mercenary group that good."

"I had a good person."

Speaking wistfully, Ryudern patted my shoulder and changed the topic.

"Your swordsmanship suits you well. That’s not easy to achieve. It also fits well with the sword I chose for you."

"I was surprised too."

Since I use the Moonlight Style, a sword with the name of the moon was a thoughtful gift from Ryudern.

"I wanted to give you some advice, but since you’re doing well on your own, I don’t have much to say."

"Seeing what you’ve shown is enough."

The sword path that moved like a wave drawing the moon at the end. That was Ryudern’s teaching after seeing my swordsmanship.

I was truly grateful for that.

"If you keep this up, in ten years? Hmm, maybe it’s too soon. In twenty years, you could become a Swordmaster. Still, you’ll be younger than I am now."

Ryudern gave an uncomfortable cough. It was a light joke. But it didn’t feel entirely comfortable.

In twenty years, the continent would likely be destroyed. But with my best condition, maybe I could push it a bit further.

"Thank you."

"Keep improving. Huh…."

After saying that, Ryudern sighed as if it was a bother and turned his head. What’s going on?

Following his gaze, I saw Lady Ryurik standing there.

…When did she come?

I didn’t use the wind in front of a Swordmaster and was focused entirely on the sparring, so I didn’t notice her.

* * *

"Lady Ryurik."

"Sir Ryudern, it’s been a while."

"About a year, right?"

"Yes, it must have been around that time."

Despite the difference in rank, the duchess showed respect. He is called Sir, but it’s not just because of his nominal status as a baron.

It’s the respect for a Swordmaster. Only the emperor treated Ryudern casually.

"Your sparring was truly impressive. Please forgive my rudeness. I came looking for you and couldn’t help but be captivated by the sight, even though I knew it was wrong."

"I’m fine with it…."

Ryudern glanced at Kalin. Normally, one shouldn’t watch someone else’s swordsmanship.

Whether a mercenary, knight, or noble.

The duchess looked at Kalin. She had been observing him. Her first impression was surprise.

His excellent appearance aside, he looked quite young but showed incredible skill.

Even in a short time, his swordsmanship showed a depth that was unbelievable for his age.

The duchess wondered if he was a disciple Ryudern had taken in separately.

"I’m fine too. I greet you belatedly. Knight, Kal Schurtaffen."

"…Kal Schurtaffen?"

The name sounded familiar.

"Guard of Her Highness the Princess."

"Ah, I saw it in the news. You charged alone against the monsters to protect the unit. It was a great act of courage."

So, it was him. The duchess looked at him with renewed surprise. She didn’t know he was this skilled.

The empress brought him, and the princess had indeed gained a good person. The duchess gave a positive evaluation.

"As a knight, it was my duty."

"Not really. There’s nothing that’s a given in this world. That’s why there’s such a thing as nobility. You deserve respect."

The duchess chuckled lightly.

"To be honest, I thought it might be exaggerated, but seeing you today, I feel ashamed of my narrow-mindedness. It was a great sword."

"Thank you."

Kalin felt a bit dazed. He had been wondering how to approach, but it seemed the other side took the initiative.

And it happened faster and in a more ideal way than he expected.

'Should I call it unexpected luck?'

When the knight appeared, he didn’t expect things to unfold this way.

The sparring with Ryudern and meeting Lady Ryurik there were things he hadn’t even imagined.

"Sir, if you don’t mind, could you spare me some time?"

"…Today is my day off, but I welcome you, Lady."

Ryudern smiled, but Kalin could tell he was bothered by the sigh earlier.

It had been quite a while since he asked to meet.

'Wait a moment.'

Suddenly, it felt coincidental.

On the day Lady Ryurik came, Ryudern called him, and Lady Ryurik arrived.

When coincidences keep happening, you have to be suspicious.

Ryudern might have been acting annoyed, but it could also be a performance.

'Did the emperor intend this? Or Ryudern alone?'

It wasn’t a highly probable guess, but it was worth considering.

If it were true, it could mean that the emperor or Ryudern showed some consideration for the princess.

Perhaps, due to the success of the extermination campaign, they decided to give her a small chance.

Currently, the princess’s situation, even viewed optimistically, was hopeless. Of course, it could all be a delusion.

"However, you will soon meet His Majesty the Emperor. Wouldn’t it be better after that?"

"Ah, yes. I can’t meet His Majesty covered in sweat. I was too hasty."

Lady Ryurik, who had her hand on the scabbard, nodded in agreement.

"Then, I’ll take my leave."

Ryudern bowed and left. Coincidentally, Kalin was left alone with Lady Ryurik.

Whether his guess was true or not, he couldn’t miss this opportunity.

"Lady Ryurik, I have something to say."

The duchess looked at Kalin with a completely different atmosphere from when she was with Ryudern.

Her slightly furrowed brows suggested she expected it to be bothersome.

"Are you going to ask me to support Her Highness the Princess?"

"The intention is similar, but a bit different."

"A bit different?"

"I heard that your younger sibling is ill."

Suddenly, Lady Ryurik’s eyes seemed to ignite. The veins in her sword-holding hand stood out.

"…Do you want to die? The title of the Princess’s guard means nothing to me."

Her slightly trembling voice was cold, but Kalin sensed the suppressed anger.

"There is a way to treat it."

"You really want to die, don’t you?"

"I’m speaking seriously."

"I’ve heard many quacks say the same thing. They all ended up with their heads cut off."

The duchess gritted her teeth.

"Even the doctor sent by His Majesty said it couldn’t be treated unless it was divine. Or do you know the whereabouts of a divine being?"

"I don’t know the whereabouts of a divine being."

Kalin saw the duchess push the crossguard with her thumb, ready to draw her sword at any moment.

"However, I know someone who possesses the mystic of healing."

"What?"

"I had a connection with them during my mercenary days."

Her mouth opened wide as if she had been hit on the back of the head. The duchess’s shocked gaze wavered as it fell on Kalin.

Kalin was confident for one reason.

In the game, the mad saint Sedric had treated the duchess’s younger sibling several times.

The mystic was something that had to be used. The Haisen intelligence agency had already identified and recruited Sedric.

Of course, the situation was explained with a well-crafted script that differed from the truth.

For Sedric and the archaeologist, it was a place that saved their lives, so recruitment was not difficult.

As a side note, Sedric couldn’t treat Kalin. His worst condition was not a disease.

"What I’m saying is the truth. If it’s a lie, you can cut off my head."

The duchess, who had regained her composure, snorted.

"Even if your words are true, what you want in return is obvious. You want me to support the princess, right? I won’t."

"It’s not support."

The reason Haisen didn’t approach despite knowing the treatment was due to the duchess’s character.

She was a person who would die for her loyalty to the empire and her sense of honor.

In the game, when demon worshippers approached to offer to treat her illness, she beheaded them without hesitation.

"I’m asking you to see it with your own eyes and make a judgment."

Kalin spoke without pause.

"You are known to be a person who only cares for the empire. If I may say so, the reason you haven’t taken sides with the princes is probably because they don’t meet your standards."

"Huh, you don’t lack for words."

Lady Ryurik looked at Kalin with a cold eye.

Depending on her response, if Kalin spread this around, it could become a weakness for her.

"Her Highness the Princess has only now revealed her intentions. In fact, it’s a path she doesn’t want to take. She is taking risks solely for the empire."

Kalin continued, gauging the duchess’s reaction.

"I’m not asking for support because I’m confident that you will change your mind when you see it for yourself."

Silence stretched on. Kalin used the wind to check his surroundings. There was no major concern.

It was a space only the emperor and a Swordmaster could use.

"…Huh, at least you’re better than those who promise land, treasure, and the empress’s seat. They’re just after their own gain."

The duchess sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful day.

"I accept your offer. But don’t get your hopes up. There’s no guarantee it will go as you wish."

"Of course."

"Is that all you hope for?"

"I ask you not to tell anyone about the person I will introduce to you. Not even His Majesty the Emperor…."

The duchess nodded.

"Like a divine being. He doesn’t like being bothered and says he will treat people as he pleases and then say such things."

"It’s a similar reason. Moreover, he has a humble background and has had many tough experiences. I ask you to summon him secretly through a trusted person."

Introducing Sedric and keeping it confidential were different matters. He needed to be clear about it.

"Understood. You don’t need to worry about that."

"Yes."

Kalin was genuinely not worried. She was a person who would die for her honor.

She wouldn’t break her promise.