Chapter 52

The Marquess Family's Magic Genius - Chapter 52 (52/324)

52

Thus, Leonhardt began to continuously demonstrate the first form of the Storm Sword.

Five sword paths.

The moment those paths ended.

"Can I try it once?"

Seron said.

"Hmm?"

He wants to try it after just seeing it once.

It might be possible in his current state.

"Go ahead."

At my words, Seron started to move slowly, holding his sword.

Thrusting.

Swinging.

And the natural steps that followed the sword paths.

The form he was showing now was no different from what my bodyguard knight had demonstrated earlier.

With a serious look, the boy who had just performed the Storm Sword quietly looked at Leonhardt.

At that moment,

He nodded quietly.

"Well done."

"Thank you."

These ice blocks.

A normal sword instructor would have gaped in astonishment at the scene just now. After all, he had perfectly replicated the sword paths he had seen just once.

Seron.

He was a genius who might appear only once in several decades. Even I, who knew about his talent, was a bit surprised by his performance.

But Leonhardt was different.

What is this?

Looking at his expressionless, unemotional face, I wondered if he might be a cyborg.

'It’s the same whether in the game or here.'

One fortunate thing was that Seron also had the same expression.

"Thank you."

He answered very calmly to Leonhardt's words. They were truly like two fish cakes.

"From now on, practice this sword technique for one hour every day. I'll tell you about the corresponding mental techniques soon."

"Yes."

Just as the conversation was about to end,

I interjected into their conversation.

"About that Storm Sword."

"Yes."

"Looking at it, I think there might be a better sword path. Can you try moving as I say?"

The bodyguard knight's expression turned to one of confusion.

"…A better sword path?"

"Yeah."

The reason I was asking Leonhardt was simple.

As a high-level knight, if there was any difference when he performed the sword path I told him, he would instantly notice it.

Moreover, if there was something wrong with this sword path, he would know how to handle it on his own.

He was the perfect subject for the experiment.

"…Understood."

His puzzled expression was brief.

He nodded.

"Seron."

"Yes, young master."

"Give me that sword."

"Yes."

After taking the sword from him,

"About the first sword path of the first form. Can you take the stance once?"

At my words, Leonhardt demonstrated the thrusting stance.

If someone unfamiliar with it saw it, they would have marveled at how textbook-perfect it was.

But I was different.

"Stay like that for a moment."

Instead, I frowned slightly and began to observe his stance closely.

After a while,

"When you extended your foot, you moved your right foot and thrust at the neck, right?"

"Yes, you observed it accurately."

"Instead of that, try thrusting while slightly lowering the sword from the upper to the middle section. Roughly like this. Move three steps instead of two."

Showing the stance, the bodyguard knight followed it perfectly.

The stances were much easier than the original. The user's method was that much more convenient.

"Like this?"

"Yeah. The next second sword path is…"

The first form of the Storm Sword.

This was a sword technique where the first five sword paths were linked, gradually increasing in power.

The second and third forms had a similar structure.

The stances became much more intricate, and the movement of the aura was clearly different.

But ultimately, the principle of continuously linking the sword paths to amplify power was the same.

After correcting the stances of the five sword paths of the first form of the Storm Sword,

"Without using aura, try performing the sword technique by linking the stances I just told you."

"Understood."

Thus, Leonhardt began to link the slightly altered sword paths.

Next,

"…"

He tilted his head as if sensing something.

"How is it?"

"Much smoother. However…"

"Yeah, go on."

"If the stance is changed like this, there might be a problem when linking it with the mental techniques. The way the aura moved when using the original first form cannot be applied to this method."

"That makes sense. Since the movements are different, the way the aura moves should naturally be different too."

"Still… it’s definitely an amazing method. After linking the five sword paths, I can clearly see it."

"Really?"

"Yes. But."

Leonhardt then looked at me with a serious voice.

"…How did you figure out such a sword path?"

His question was filled with curiosity.

Indeed.

His question was understandable. The Storm Sword is a sword technique that has been steadily refined over several hundred years, becoming more and more efficient.

Many knights have spent time and effort trying to create better stances. As a representative sword technique of the Marquess family, it was only natural.

To correct it into a better method after just one look, it’s no wonder he had such doubts.

If I were a knight, it might be different, but I was a magician.

Still, it didn’t matter.

"I just figured it out by looking."

I decided to play the role of a once-in-a-lifetime genius.

What could I do if he said he figured it out by looking?

He had to accept it.

In fact, I was at a loss for what else to say.

"…"

"Really. When I saw the sword being swung slowly, I got a feeling."

Leonhardt sighed, a rare expression change for him.

"…Do I have to believe it?"

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but the result is good, right? You said it’s definitely smoother?"

"…That’s true."

"Then, can you get me a book about the first form of the Storm Sword? Something like a sword manual."

"A sword manual?"

"Yeah. Isn’t the method of circulating aura for the sword paths written in it? Like how the method of moving mana is written in a magic book when casting a spell."

"Yes."

"I’ll try to modify it. To make it fit the new sword paths perfectly."

I wanted to tell him about the aura circulation method I knew, but it felt a bit too early.

The sword paths could be altered since I had seen them once, but the aura circulation was different.

Kail Seltarion.

This guy had never learned the Storm Sword.

Naturally, he didn’t know how to move the aura when using the Storm Sword.

He lacked the talent.

So, revealing the aura circulation method for the altered sword paths right away would be difficult.

At the very least, he needed to pretend to have studied from a sword manual to make it believable.

A once-in-a-lifetime genius!

Something like that.

"Getting it won’t be difficult, but… shouldn’t you be practicing magic, young master? I don’t want you to waste your time…"

"Both aura and mana are powers that strengthen humans. They are interconnected at higher levels. Studying this won’t hinder my progress."

Of course, I could say this with confidence because I had no intention of spending a long time on research.

I just needed to apply what I knew.

After creating the sword technique and aura circulation method in the game, I would teach it to Seron and Leonhardt.

'If my idea is correct.'

Their power would be much stronger than before.

If I applied it to them first and kept it secret until a crucial moment,

'It would be a great help.'

Even if it only showed half the power of magic, it would be a blessing.

Since I didn’t have aura in my body, I couldn’t demonstrate it, so I couldn’t create a hybrid system.

But it didn’t matter.

Seron and Leonhardt didn’t need such a system.

Both had amazing talents, so using the regular Storm Sword would be enough for them in normal times.

When a dangerous moment came,

'They could use the method I taught them.'

Of course, I would have to see if it really increased their power when used in the way I knew.

'It should work.'

Maybe because I had already applied it to magic once, it felt good.

It felt like it would work.

* * * * *

A few hours after making the request, Leonhardt brought me a sword manual.

It was a book with a simple title.

"You know, it can’t be leaked."

"I know."

If I weren’t who I am, I wouldn’t have been able to get a sword manual so easily.

After my bodyguard knight left,

I opened the book and started examining the aura circulation paths.

The content of the book was simple.

It had well-illustrated diagrams showing how to move the body to use the Storm Sword.

It also detailed how to circulate the aura according to those movements.

'Something like this.'

I then took out paper and a pen and started writing down the Storm Sword method I remembered.

Starting with how to move the aura in the altered stance, I wrote down everything I knew about the five stances.

Although I couldn’t write it in great detail, I explained the general direction.

Leonhardt would surely be able to apply the method I wrote.

Moreover, since the first form of the Storm Sword was a basic technique, even if there were problems,

'He could handle it skillfully.'

At the very least, there was no risk of him dying.

The test subject was an expert-level knight. If this knowledge was successfully applied, the next step would be to

'Teach it to Seron.'

This altered sword technique would be very useful for Seron.

My bodyguard knight was already at a certain level, so even if the basic technique improved, he wouldn’t show a significant increase in power.

But for Seron, who was just starting to learn sword techniques, it would be different.

For now, I would keep it secret and only teach it to the two of them. If I dealt with the Adolph guy,

'I would sell it to the Marquess family.'

The true method of using the Storm Sword.

I planned to hand it over to my main family.

They would be a solid ally in the future, helping me deal with villains.

Therefore, strengthening their power was essential.

Of course, it wouldn’t be free.

I would ask for a very high price.

But,

No matter the cost, the Marquess and Abel would definitely buy this Storm Sword.

If this method showed the power I expected,

Selling it would be beneficial for me.

Leonhardt was a skilled knight, but from the third form onwards, it might be dangerous for him to perform it.

But for the Marquess, a Sword Master?

He could apply it up to the fourth form according to my instructions.

He was one of only three Sword Masters in the empire.

Even if something went wrong,

'A Sword Master would overcome it.'

With his vast experience, he could overcome the crisis through his expertise.

After applying my knowledge to the third and fourth forms,

I would ask the Marquess.

To teach the method to Leonhardt and Seron.

In exchange for the modified Storm Sword, he wouldn’t refuse to teach the fourth form.

Then, the two could safely extract the essence.

They would receive compensation, and my party’s power would increase, as well as the power of the allied forces fighting the villains.

It would be a win-win situation.

Of course, to attempt this transaction, I needed to test my results.

Two days after receiving the sword manual,

I approached Leonhardt with the new manual.

"Can you try it according to what’s written in this book?"

I opened the book and, after examining it for a while, he nodded.

"Yes, it seems possible. Shall I try it now?"

"Yeah. But since I just created it, it might be incomplete. You need to be very careful when using the aura. Is that okay?"

"Yes. Since it’s a basic technique, it shouldn’t be that dangerous."

That’s a relief.

Thus, I, Leonhardt, and Seron started moving towards the training ground.

The Storm Sword with the game’s activation method.

It was time to see if it could show the proper power like magic.