Chapter 99

Chapter 98

"I'll show you again slowly what you missed."

With that, I picked up the spare wooden sword without hesitation and swung it forcefully at the ground.

A powerful, heavy strike, perfectly executed without the slightest deviation.

Kuung!!

The overwhelming blow shattered part of the ground and then vanished.

It was the basic slash of the middle sword technique, which she used, pouring all her destructive power into the blade.

Then I raised the sword again and swung it. This time, however, it wasn't as destructive as before; it was a very light and free swing.

The difference in destructive power was clear just by the flow of the air.

Of course, if it were to end here, I wouldn't have bothered to show her an example.

When the sword, which had been falling softly, reached a certain position,

my wrist trembled slightly, and for a moment, an explosive weight was applied to the tip of the sword.

Kuuuung!!!

The same powerful shockwave as before erupted, leaving a massive scar on the ground before disappearing.

The first and second strikes had the same destructive power.

"Did you see the difference between the two slashes?"

Hearing my words, her face showed shock.

Although we had somehow reached a point where we could speak informally, neither of us paid attention to it.

After all, I was giving her serious advice.

"How can the destructive power... be the same?"

The middle sword technique she knew was a heavy, weight-focused style that emphasized destructive power and range.

Light vertical slashes, horizontal slashes, upward slashes, and so on.

"It's impossible! Even if the sword technique of the Sword Body was lost, I know that the middle sword technique is about applying weight to the limit to increase destructive power! A soft sword path like that can't happen!"

As she said, the middle sword technique of the Sword Body, which she knew, was structured in a way that a flowing sword path like the one I just showed her couldn't normally occur.

"Isn't the middle sword technique about discarding techniques and focusing all on destructive power? How can a slow and soft sword technique have the same destructive power?..."

She was right.

The destructive power that comes from discarding techniques is something that can't be achieved normally.

Naturally, the destructive power obtained through such a sacrifice would be too much to expect a technique that also incorporates techniques.

"Hmm, should I call it zero to a hundred, the time it takes to reach maximum speed?"

"Zero... to a hundred?"

"Let's compromise and say it's like the time it takes for a carriage to reach its top speed. Do you understand roughly?"

"..."

Hearing my words, she nodded as if she had realized something.

The time it takes for a car to reach 100 km/h.

That's what the term zero to a hundred means. Although there are no cars here, I used a carriage as an analogy.

"When a human swings a sword, they need distance to use weight to generate impact, right?"

"That's the way the middle sword technique works."

It applies overwhelming weight to a simple slash to unleash explosive power.

"Then, have you ever tried to control the speed at which that weight reaches its maximum?"

"What...?"

"The weight used in the middle sword technique is similar to gravity, but it's not gravity. It's mimicking weight by condensing mana to the extreme."

Thinking of it as gravity is just an image.

Hearing my words, her eyes widened.

The weight that draws out the destructive power in the middle sword technique is an arbitrary force created by mana, not gravity.

The zero to a hundred delay in the middle sword technique has nothing to do with physical laws.

In other words, with sufficient skill, the zero to a hundred speed can be changed at will.

The clever girl understood the meaning of my words.

She threw away the wooden sword she was holding without hesitation.

"The strength of the middle sword technique lies in its destructive and crushing power, but it also has a clear weakness. When the skill level is low, it becomes an extremely unstable sword that focuses only on destructive power. Here's a hint."

Hearing my words, her surprised gaze fell on me.

"Sword Body Hares was an exception, as he was so ruthless that he could change direction even under immense gravity. But why did this sword technique suddenly disappear?"

Of course, by simply imitating the sword techniques shown by the Sword Body, the basic structure was not noticed, and generations passed.

It was still called the best sword technique because it was the most powerful in terms of destructive power, so people followed it.

She sat there with a dazed expression, as if she hadn't fully understood my words.

If she understood and realized even a part of it, she could surpass the Master's wall.

"Basic techniques... I think I can grasp something. Thank you..."

After a while, it seemed her mind had been somewhat organized, and she bowed her head with tears in her eyes, speaking cautiously.

Even though it was just one piece of advice, she instinctively felt how significant it was.

-You're surprisingly meticulous in unexpected areas.

'What... for what?'

Seeing that I was silent and not saying anything, she slowly turned her gaze to me.

Then, she tightened her grip on Kaldiras and smiled faintly.

"By the way, you seem quite urgent."

"Ah..."

"From what I can see, the princess seems to be in a hurry, as if being chased by something."

"That's not true!"

"Well, it's not like it will wear out by listening, and I think it's wise to speak when given the chance."

Hearing my words, her eyes wavered in confusion.

But soon, as if she had made a decision, she cautiously opened her mouth.

"You... are really a warm person..."

"Listening won't wear out my ears, I'm just listening."

"Then... by any chance, can you become my partner?"

Her words, depending on how they were interpreted, could lead to a significant misunderstanding.

* * *

"I need your strength."

She approached me, speaking quietly.

"It doesn't make sense for the princess of the strongest nation to lack strength. Aren't there sword masters who would move at a single word?"

"I can't borrow their strength... the available personnel are under 20 years old, so others don't meet the regulations."

Then, she began to reveal the story she had been hiding.

As the princess of the Palan Empire, she was preparing for an examination of a certain organization.

The examination format involves several teams of two partners competing to achieve a set goal.

The problem was that she needed to take the exam with a partner, but her partner had gone missing for some reason.

"So, you need someone to help because your partner for the exam has gone missing?"

"I searched desperately, but it's as if they vanished... so if I can't get stronger, I at least need someone to help."

"Hmm... helping others taking the exam... no, that's not it. It smells like a plot."

"I don't know the details. But to take the exam, a partner is absolutely necessary."

Hearing her words, I thought deeply.

She was hiding the organization she belonged to.

It was a group with a name that even the royalty of a mid-sized country or even the imperial family might not know, but with the information verification authority, I could analyze what group she was talking about.

Last Wisp (Last Wisp).

The Last Fragment.

There are several names, but the name that appeared on her status screen was familiar to me.

It might be because I heard the story from Apollo, a palace deity who rarely told old tales.

When Apollo came looking for Daphne, who had passed out after claiming to have found good wine and started a grand work, he got lost in unnecessary musings, and I accidentally overheard the story.

'Vigilante? Royal Guard? Or a knight...?'

At first, I thought it was nonsense.

But I quickly understood.

Disasters or threats that could bring chaos just by appearing should be dealt with as secretly as possible.

I listened to his calm story, forgetting my usual discomfort.

'What is it?'

The confusion didn't last long.

As the story's gears began to mesh, the answer became clear.

Powerful individuals with a certain level of influence can't get involved easily. Moreover, the main target is the young generation who will carry the future.

Irina was learning and growing stronger as a member of such a secret knight order.

I don't know why she joined such a dangerous and unrecognized organization, but it was certainly an interesting story.

"Isn't it funny? You can forget this story. Thanks to you, I learned a lot today."

She hesitated, got up, and brushed off her short skirt.

"Let's go in. I won't forget your kindness."

"Wait."

Her request, when thought about deeply, was actually not worth considering.

Even if she wasn't a full knight, the work of a secret knight order is dangerous.

Of course, if she were truly precious, I would naturally help, but we had only spoken for a few days.

She knew this well, so it seemed she had just thrown out the words.

However, beyond this ordinary thinking, I felt a different possibility.

-If it's the organization you mentioned, you'll be facing unknown dangers. The risk will increase dramatically. This is ridiculous...

'Wait... this is good.'

Her eyes widened in surprise at my resolve.

-Da... Dave?

"Let's do it."

"What?"

"Let's do it. I'll help you with the exam."

She was surprised by my immediate and enthusiastic response.

She looked at me with a confused face, as if she couldn't understand.