Chapter 42

◈ Chapter 42. It's been a while, hasn't it? (2)

I was shocked.

[Knight Ryan Heart Training Longsword]

[Grade: Rare]

[Limit: Lv.200]

[Effect: When attacking, there is a very low probability of inflicting the status effect 'Stun' on the opponent.]

[Description: A training longsword. Although the blade is blunt and has reduced lethality, its performance is better than most blunt weapons due to its excellent craftsmanship.]

Indeed, the Knight Ryan Heart, known as the strongest in the empire.

'This training sword is a rare grade.'

The level restriction is also a whopping 200 levels.

If I hadn't defeated the evil, I wouldn't have been able to equip it, right?

That alone was shocking.

But that wasn't why I was shocked.

"Words are less effective than actions. Take it, Sir Ho-ryeol."

The training longsword Harcon handed me.

The moment I held it in my hand.

Suddenly, memories from last night came to mind.

Push-ups.

Burpee test.

Running.

Pull-ups...

It was more like torture than training.

The aftereffects of that torture.

Became intensely felt the moment I gripped the heavy longsword.

...I really can't help but be shocked.

'Really, I'm just asking for trouble. And it's not even a good kind of trouble!!'

It's not just pride; it's sheer foolishness, isn't it?!

But if I had known that fact.

'...I wouldn't have been a second-year middle school student, would I?'

So, I have no choice but to overcome it.

'Ugh, really!'

I overcame the muscle pain and raised the sword.

Of course, I didn't show it.

I tried to maintain a composed posture with a blank face.

I've swung short swords many times.

But this is the first time I've held a proper sword since becoming a player.

It's natural not to know how to hold a longsword.

So, I recalled.

'...How did Harcon hold the sword?'

Once again, it was Granfel's talent that shone.

It was as if my body remembered.

I held the sword and lowered my stance, just like Harcon did in my memory.

Since I'm almost a complete novice when it comes to swords, it's hard to give an accurate evaluation... but at least it's not a completely awkward stance, right?

Maybe it's because I perfectly mimicked it.

Why, I can't even feel any openings.

'Especially.'

Judging from their reactions.

"…How is this possible?"

"…!!!"

It wasn't just Harcon.

The knights who were resting were looking at me as if they were spellbound.

Instead of feeling intimidated by their attention, I was actually enjoying it.

'Really, if it weren't for this muscle pain...!'

Enduring the pain.

I smoothly moved to the next action.

Swish─

A diagonal slash.

This, too, was a mimicry of Harcon's strike.

I wonder how it looks to others.

After all, it's just mimicry.

'It's the same as magic.'

In other words, this is also a bottomless pot.

How can there be so many bottomless pots?

I had such thoughts, but it's an inevitable situation.

Still, having a bottomless pot is better than having nothing.

After all, you can fill it, right?

"…Oh, I got lost in thought for a moment."

Suddenly, Harcon shook his head.

Then he said to the knights who were watching.

"Let's end the regular training here. Everyone, proceed with your duties."

The knights dispersed instantly.

Only Harcon and I were left.

'…Whatever it is, it's an opportunity.'

A chance to rest my body, which is screaming in pain from the muscle soreness.

Anyway, now I understand why it's called a training sword.

Because it's so heavy.

Swinging it alone is a strength training exercise.

Just as I was about to put down the sword.

"Sir Ho-ryeol, you never cease to amaze me!"

"What do you mean?"

"No, nothing. Can you show me that sword strike again?"

…Hey, Mr. Harcon.

Really, you too?

I feel like my shoulders are going to drop off…!

But to complain to the noble Granfel?

That's a word that doesn't exist in the dictionary.

I held the sword again with the pride that transcends the physical and swung it.

"Indeed, my eyes were not wrong."

Do you find it funny?

I wanted to ask, but I couldn't, and Harcon didn't even give me a chance to speak.

"Sir Ho-ryeol, that sword strike was surely a mimicry of my own, right?"

"Indeed, you recognized it. Sir Harcon."

Indeed, the Captain of the Knight Ryan Heart.

A 600-level value is not unwarranted.

'To recognize it as mere mimicry at a glance.'

However, I continued boldly.

"If you want to learn, you must first master the basics. But the only foundation I have is Harcon, your swordsmanship."

In short, it's simple.

It means that your swordsmanship is worth learning. This.

If I had even one sword-related skill, I would have tried to explain it as pride. But I have nothing, not even a shred…!

'What a pretense.'

But it's not just a day or two.

I put away the sword without changing my expression.

Click─

I can't show it again even if you ask.

My fingers are still tingling.

Fortunately, there was no encore request.

Soon, Harcon said with a serious face.

"If that's the reason, I can't help but be tense. The fact that you want to learn swordsmanship from me is quite a burden…."

His eyes seemed to burn with enthusiasm.

"Since I now know that you have a natural talent. This is no longer something to be taken lightly. My peaceful days are over!"

My peaceful days are over.

'Somehow, it sounds ominous, doesn't it?'

No, more importantly, natural talent?

All I showed was a mimicry of Harcon's ready stance and strike.

Is there something in that to recognize talent?

"Even if you try to mimic, it's not something you can mimic."

Harcon said this while holding the sword.

He took the same ready stance I had just taken.

Indeed, seeing is better than hearing a hundred times.

I understood the meaning as soon as I saw it.

'…It wasn't an illusion.'

It was a stance with no openings.

No openings, so you can neither approach nor retreat.

Yes, a sense of intimidation as if facing a lion.

Harcon laughed heartily.

"Hahaha. Now, Sir Ho-ryeol, do you understand why the knights were so shocked? This basic stance is the ultimate goal of the Lion-Hearted Knights."

He continued.

"You mimicked such a stance just by watching!"

Now I understand why he called me talented.

But it's a clear misunderstanding.

"Indeed, your potential is beyond measure, Sir Ho-ryeol."

It's not potential, but a bottomless pot…!

But such a truth,

I couldn't say out loud.

"If that's what you think, then that's what it is."

It was a simple answer.

But I understand the meaning behind it.

Why, it's the same with magic.

'I thought I was finally getting out of the beginner stage.'

Talent and effort are separate things.

I was the one who stayed up every night.

Swordsmanship wouldn't be much different.

That's why I couldn't be happy at all.

My arms and legs, trembling from muscle pain.

I was certain this pain was just a taste of what's to come.

'…How lonely.'

That no one understands my struggle.

While I was thinking this.

"…?"

Suddenly, a message appeared.

[You have completed a training that surpasses your limits.]

[You have met the conditions.]

[You will receive a reward.]

If it's a reward for training…

'…It's a stat increase!'

I immediately checked my status window.

[Strength] and [Agility] each increased by 2 points.

Let me correct that.

You're the only one who understands my frustration.

Class quest!

*

Sir Ho-ryeol left,

But Harcon couldn't calm down easily.

"…Haha."

It was pure joy.

Not the joy of being the captain of the Knight Ryan Heart or the emperor's sword and shield, but the joy of a martial artist.

Yes, if a comparison must be made, this is similar to the joy of a miner discovering a gemstone.

"Who would have thought?"

A mage.

Not just any mage, but Sir Ho-ryeol, who frequents the magic tower, had the martial talent to shock the world!

Harcon was certain.

"…You were meant to hold a sword, not a staff!"

Of course, Harcon didn't know about magic.

But even if Sir Ho-ryeol's magical talent was outstanding,

It couldn't match this martial talent.

It was a talent that could be counted on one hand across the entire continent.

So, if he had to choose between the two,

Sir Ho-ryeol must choose martial arts.

That was Harcon's conclusion.

"Unintentionally, I've taken on a heavy responsibility."

He must not let Sir Ho-ryeol lose interest in martial arts due to disappointment in his teaching.

That's why Harcon said his peaceful days were over.

"I can't just sit idly; I must start training myself."

The positive aspect was that Sir Ho-ryeol seemed interested.

'Especially in swordsmanship.'

Thinking this, a thought occurred to him.

"…Could he be emitting sword qi right away?"

Doodle-doodle─

Harcon shook his head.

Yes, even if it were possible, it would be too much.

If it were possible, he would have to stop it.

To handle sword qi, one must have absolute physical strength.

'Otherwise, you'll be controlled by the sword qi.'

Harcon's keen eye saw through it.

'Of course, Sir Ho-ryeol didn't show it.'

His arms were definitely trembling slightly.

It was natural.

Talent and physical strength are separate things.

After all, Sir Ho-ryeol had lived as a mage until now. It's not surprising that his physical strength would be drained just by taking a stance and swinging a sword.

Harcon sighed.

"I apologize in advance, Sir Ho-ryeol."

Still, he must build up his basic physical strength, right?

Thinking about making Sir Ho-ryeol train his physical strength,

He already felt uneasy.

So, it was unimaginable for Harcon.

The reason Sir Ho-ryeol's arms were trembling?

It was because he had digested the training that even the Knight Ryan Heart couldn't endure,

In just the early morning.

So, it was a groundless worry.

"I guess I'll have to run with him. That way, I'll feel better."

Of course, that unnecessary worry didn't last long.

.

.

.

Sir Ho-ryeol, who didn't fall behind at all.

His breathing was incredibly calm.

There was no sign of fatigue.

Harcon couldn't believe it.

Finally, he shouted.

"Sir Ho-ryeol, this is completely different from yesterday, isn't it?!"

Is this really the same Sir Ho-ryeol who struggled with a single longsword?

*

Physical training was something I welcomed with open arms.

─Strengthen your weakened body. (Repeat) ▲

●20KM run (Success)

●1,000 push-ups (In progress)

●500 pull-ups (In progress)

●300 burpees (In progress)

I could perform the repeat quest without setting aside time.

Still, it was worth sweating every day.

Even if I lacked power, my physical strength was on par with the Knight Ryan Heart.

Maybe because of that.

-…Sir Ho-ryeol. It seems I had a major misunderstanding about you.

Harcon must have thought further physical training was meaningless.

I was secretly disappointed, but it couldn't be helped.

For now, I could only sweat in the early morning.

In the magic tower's laboratory.

Before sitting at the work desk,

I headed for the teacup on the guest table.

Next to it was a magical tool, [Portable Lamp].

Boil-boil─

As soon as I infused mana into the circuit, boiling water was generated.

As expected of a magic tower's magical tool, it was of high quality.

"Amazing."

It didn't just boil water; it created boiling water. Inefficient but high-level, fitting for the magic tower.

"Such trivial things should come after rocket delivery."

I clicked my tongue in regret.

I steeped the green tea bag I brought from home.

One sip.

Enjoying a leisurely tea time for a moment,

I sat at the desk and checked the parchment.

Indeed, there was a message.

Still, whoever it is, they have quite a temper.

The sender's name being at the front is something I've never seen before.

-Head Mage of Black Magic, Mathis Dean Carl.

Head Mage.

So, the matter is obvious even without looking.

─Prove your ability. (In progress)

●Convince the majority of the Head Mages. (8/20)

It means to prove my ability.

I get the gist of it.

I'll check the rest later.

'But.'

The news I was waiting for appeared on the next line.

-Appraisal results for the magical tools you requested: [Vampire Count's Orb], [Pure Emerald Crystal], [Island Treasure, Silk from the Silkfish].

I immediately checked the content.