Chapter 7

Meanwhile, there was also something to learn from Winter and Autumn, other than Dodun.

It was swordsmanship and horseback riding.

In fact, this was a class I had high hopes for.

Because if I worked hard, my physical stats would increase.

There was no way the indifferent Bandaike would have given me such lessons, and it was only because Dodun had misinterpreted the instruction to teach noble etiquette to include swordsmanship and horseback riding, and then asked Winter and Autumn to do it.

Swordsmanship was not just for combat but also for duels of honor among nobles, and I had to start with the basics.

Thrusting and slashing.

I was the only one taking this class.

I wanted to call Anais, who needed to boost her physical stats quickly, to join, but I had no say in the matter.

"Hem, young master."

Winter, who seemed quite uncomfortable using the term "young master," said.

"Cough, cough. Yes."

"You can speak more casually to me."

"Okay."

I spoke more casually because of what Dodun had told me.

"First, I'll show you how to hold the sword."

Winter brought a wooden sword, had me hold it, and then corrected my posture with his rough hands.

I held it as he instructed, without using much force.

In the game, there was no such detailed guidance.

It was just a few slashes from top to bottom, a few diagonal slashes, and a few thrusts.

That was the end of the quest.

'Now that I think about it, there's no quest notification. So, there's no reward?'

Regardless, I intended to learn swordsmanship.

In this world, which had become reality rather than a game, swordsmanship was its own reward, and there were Easter eggs to be found even without quests.

I tried to work hard as Winter instructed...

But I couldn't. I lacked the strength.

I wanted to train hard, but my body wouldn't cooperate.

Winter, unable to bear it, told me to stop.

But I didn't give up, repeating the cycle of training for a minute and resting for ten.

Even on cold nights when I couldn't sleep, I would swing the sword vigorously between the narrow stone walls to warm myself, recalling the posture Winter had shown me during the day.

After ten days of this, I saw some results.

The Growth Spell increased abilities.

Physical stats, mental strength, and such.

The Lower Growth Spell could raise an F to an E.

To raise an E to a D, you needed three Lower Growth Spells.

From D to C, you needed three times as many, nine.

The number tripled each time, and even with the Growth Spell, there was a chance of failure.

It wasn't 100% successful; there was a probability.

However, even if there was no visible growth, internal growth still occurred.

Like how the experience bar would fill up even if your level didn't increase.

If you used more Growth Spells later, the bar would fill up, and the system would reassess your growth.

There was also a Commander Growth Spell, but that was for commanders.

'I need to use it on my sensitivity.'

It was the only stat that was still FF.

I used it, but... it failed.

'Ugh, what a waste.'

I had trained hard for ten days to get it.

I had to console myself, thinking it would work next time.

Horseback riding started with the gentlest horse, but even the gentlest was a warhorse, making it difficult to handle.

Sitting on top, I was terrified of falling off as the horse swayed from side to side.

The ground wasn't smooth asphalt but a bumpy dirt path.

If it were just soft soil, it might be okay, but there were so many rocks...

A fall would result in at least a serious injury?

Sometimes, I had to pass through mud, and the horse would stagger, making it even more challenging for me!

Seeing my pale face, Autumn sighed deeply.

She must have felt the same way when she first rode a horse.

Especially since she wasn't born into a nomadic family.

Honestly, just enduring the multiple status conditions was a remarkable feat!

If my physical stats hadn't increased from the incident in the library, I would have fallen off in the first second.

Learning was quite difficult, but I worked hard, just like with swordsmanship.

Was it because of the hidden Easter eggs?

No.

There were none this time.

I worked hard because, in this world, horseback riding was several times more important than getting a driver's license.

Horses were not just a means of transportation but also weapons.

So, horseback riding wasn't just about riding.

If I had to make a comparison, it was like shooting a gun.

Sitting on top and not falling off was like shouldering a rifle, holding the reins and steering was like aiming, and swinging a sword with one arm while squeezing your thighs was like firing a bullet.

If I became more proficient and could swing a sword as easily on horseback as on the ground, changing postures, it would be like firing in rapid succession.

Diving into a crowd of hundreds of enemies would be like a cannonball falling.

I would become a lord, and I had no intention of giving up that position.

So, I wouldn't put myself in a position where I had to fight on the front lines.

Foolhardy bravery inevitably led to death.

But I would work hard to master swordsmanship and horseback riding, becoming an excellent warrior and a seasoned knight.

For the ending...

I became more serious, but even without specific reasons, I didn't mind spending my time this way.

It was good to have something to focus on, and it helped with my chronic headaches.

***

Under the bright full moon.

I slowly ate the food I had gathered during the day, feeling the cold walls with my icy fingers to find something.

'About here...'

After a long time of feeling around, I found a slightly loose brick.

'Here it is!'

I quickly used the hilt of the wooden sword I had brought for training to tap the brick.

After dozens of taps and some shaking...

Thud!

The brick came loose, revealing a hole.

In the darkness, I couldn't see anything, but when I put my hand in, it went past my wrist, elbow, and even my entire hand, and the hole seemed to go on forever.

'I found it.'

I pulled my hand out, laid several layers of leaves I had gathered during the day in the hole, and placed a few slices of apple on top.

Then, I practiced swinging the wooden sword nearby.

How much time had passed?

When I checked the hole, a few slices of apple were gone.

I chuckled and placed a few more slices.

I repeated this several times until morning.

Whenever I woke up, I would check the hole first.

I did this for about three days.

Squeak, squeak.

A tiny creature was making sounds on the leaves in the hole.

A newborn fruit bat.

Where was the mother?

I didn't know.

She had left the baby and never returned, so there was no need to look for her.

I learned this method of obtaining a fruit bat from the internet.

Proof that there are many people in the world who surpass me.

Anyway, I had the baby, and now I had to raise it.

I carefully placed the baby on my palm and crushed a slice of apple with my other hand to extract the juice, which I dripped into the bat's mouth.

Slurp, slurp.

The tiny tongue moved around, eagerly drinking the few drops of juice.

"Cough, cough. I'll feed you more in the morning, Minggu."

Minggu was the name of a puppy I had raised when I was young.

As soon as I named the baby, a reaction appeared.

Not from Minggu, but from the system.

Class: None

Physical: FF (E)

Mental: FF (A)

Sensitivity: D (S)

Trait: Ultrasonic]

Ultrasonic was a common ability among bats, allowing them to navigate in the dark.

In the future, Minggu would be my loyal pet and a valuable presence to help with my low sensitivity.

Interacting with Minggu would give me new traits!

I took care of Minggu until morning, and when I got a new apple at mealtime, I quickly sliced it, extracted the juice, and fed it to Minggu.

"Mr., Mr. Dodun, this is..."

Dodun's eyes nearly popped out in surprise.

"Cough, cough. I found it after the mother abandoned it."

"It's a bat?"

"Yes. I'm going to raise it."

"But, if the lord sees it..."

He would probably tell me to get rid of it.

But my father wasn't coming back, so there was no one to stop me from raising Minggu.

"Cough, cough. Don't worry, Dodun. If the lord tells me to get rid of it, I will. For now, can you get me an apple for Minggu? Oh! It would be better if you could bring the juice."

A short while later, Dodun, with a frowning face, brought the apple juice.

"Cough, cough. Dodun, can you also get me a small pouch? It should have a string to attach it to my belt."

"What for?"

"For Minggu."

"Ugh, I understand."

Dodun brought a small leather pouch.

I put Minggu in it and attached it to my belt.

This pouch would be Minggu's home.

Reah, Anais, and Isabelle, who were in the same class, also learned about Minggu, and their reactions were very different.

"Ugh, a rat! It's, it's disgusting..."

"Hem, you're raising it?"

"Oh! It's so cute!"

Reah was terrified, Anais was indifferent, and Isabelle had the look of someone who had found a precious treasure.

Isabelle's cold assassin demeanor was surprising, but I already knew about it.

'Very cold and distant to people, but completely defenseless around animals and clear underdogs.'

Isabelle fed Minggu with a spoon, showing great interest.

She even said,

"Can I raise it?"

"Cough, cough. No way!"

I wanted to get closer to Isabelle, but Minggu was a non-negotiable presence.

Would giving Minggu to Isabelle make her break her oath and not kill me?

No!

It was better not to have such expectations.

"...You're so cold."

"Yes."

I answered as firmly as possible.

Isabelle didn't ask again.

I could guess what she was thinking.

'She probably thinks that Minggu will be hers once I die.'

This added a very small reason for her to want to kill me.

After a week of taking care of Minggu, the long-awaited event finally happened.

Non-verbal communication is a way to communicate with a living being through eye contact, gestures, and other non-verbal means.

During this communication, cells that respond to mana awaken, and affinity with the creature increases.

This raises sensitivity and partially heals the numbness.

***

Early in the morning, a messenger rushed into the castle on horseback.

The messenger came to me, panting heavily.

"Huff, huff, huff."

I waited for him to catch his breath, and then he reported.

"The lord and the three young masters..."

They were dead.

What was bound to happen, finally did.

Additionally, the monster extermination mission had failed, and many soldiers had died or been injured.

Unlike previous years, it wasn't just the giants but their boss, the Big Giant, who had appeared, causing them to be overwhelmed without a proper fight.