Chapter 90

"Alright, let's begin. Both sides, get ready."

As Hikaru said, Claude and Ivan stood about five meters apart.

Ivan wielded a greatsword, while Claude held a one-meter-long single-handed sword. Both were practice weapons, but they would still hurt a lot even if they hit through clothing.

"Begin!"

With the command, Claude closed the distance in an instant.

Ivan, who had been holding the tip of his sword to the ground, probably judged that Claude was being careless.

"—Too easy, Claude!"

Ivan dug the tip of his sword into the ground, sending sand and dust into Claude's face.

Caught off guard, Claude closed his eyes.

"Ooohh!"

Stepping forward, Ivan swung his sword—more like a full swing.

"Defend yourself, Claude! You'll die!"

"!!"

Holding the sword with both hands, Claude barely managed to block the greatsword—

"Ughh!?"

But he was pushed back, and the greatsword sent Claude flying sideways.

He tumbled a few meters.

"Claude!!"

Ryuka ran over, her voice almost a scream.

"That's enough. Ivan, lower your sword."

"O-Okay."

Perhaps because he had won with a single strike, Ivan was stunned.

"I couldn't even touch Hikaru before..."

"Maybe your sword skills have gotten faster because you were dodging him so much?"

"True. You didn't seem like the usual Ivan."

Ivan and the Jalarazak students were saying such things.

"Claude, Claude!"

"I-I'm fine..."

Claude pushed himself up from the ground, but he staggered and was supported by Ryuka.

"Claude, are you hurt?"

"I have some bruises... but I don't think anything is broken."

Claude rubbed his arm as he spoke.

The practice sword hadn't broken either. It seemed he had been blown away purely by force.

"You're amazing, Ivan. I didn't think you were this strong..."

Claude said regretfully, and Ivan scratched his head.

"No, Mikhail-sensei is way more dangerous. Hikaru has to beat him."

"..."

Claude looked at Hikaru with a despondent face.

"You knew from the start that you'd lose if you fought head-on. Yet you still went straight at him. That's just poor strategy."

"That's—true, but I thought I could attack first at that speed... I didn't expect to be blinded like that."

"That's because Hikaru did that to us. It's scary when it happens suddenly."

When Ivan said this, the Jalarazak students chimed in, "Yeah, yeah," and "It's a really nasty attack."

"In other words, Claude should have exploited the opponent's weakness, but instead, he was the one who created the opening."

"Damn..."

Hikaru continued, "Over the next 40 days, I'll teach you how to create such openings. You can't win with a straightforward approach. We'll have you do a mock battle with Mikhail-sensei on the 30th, and then at least once a day after that."

"Really... can I win like that?"

"Of course not, if you keep this up. First, we need to increase your weapon options."

" Weapons...?"

"Yes."

Hikaru said, "Use a shield."

Claude turned out to be a surprisingly obedient student.

Equipped with a round, one-handed shield, he repeatedly engaged in mock battles with Ivan and the Jalarazak students.

Ryuka, who had initially watched with anxiety, gradually became more relaxed or perhaps resigned, and started suggesting ideas like, "Try jumping to the side," or "Keep a few pebbles in your hand from the start."

By not giving Claude any openings, the battles between Claude and Ivan became quite intense.

"Things are going smoothly, aren't they?"

Sylvester spoke up.

"Where? The chances of beating Mikhail-sensei like this are only about 10%."

"Is the gap that large?"

"Even when exploiting weaknesses, that instructor will instinctively counter them."

"Then this training is meaningless, isn't it?"

"The real goal is elsewhere."

"Hmm... I see. You won't tell me, will you?"

"Right."

Hikaru's goal was to make Claude forget his "old form."

There are many ways to fight.

Claude's swordsmanship, as he himself admitted, was "ceremonial."

This knowledge and experience were hindering his growth—using the Soul Board.

When Claude was asked, his "occupation" was "Common One-Handed Sword Ritual God: Swordman of Honor." It was the only "occupation" related to swords that he had.

A six-character god, and even "ritual" was included. This couldn't be considered combat-focused.

Ivan's "occupation" was "Greatsword Madness God: Blade Barbarian," a six-character god. He was a greatsword user who excelled in power plays but was weak in fine sword techniques.

The king of Jalarazak, on the other hand, had the "occupation" "True Greatsword Seeker God: Blade Seeker," a five-character god that often appeared in those who had seriously studied greatsword techniques.

Clearly, the compatibility was poor.

(First, I need to make a proper "occupation" appear. That's the starting point.)

This strategy was the shortest path to success, possible only because of the Soul Board. However, Hikaru couldn't reveal this to Sylvester.

Initially, he had Claude engage in mock battles with Ivan, giving Hikaru some free time.

During this time, Hikaru planned to do what he needed to do—persuade the queen.

When Hikaru said he would be away from home for a few days, Ravia looked sad, but it couldn't be helped. It was more convenient for a single man to travel between the capital, Forestsard, and Scalazard.

The sun god mask he had overused was starting to fall apart, so he bought a new one from a market in Forestsard.

It covered from the forehead to the right cheek, with a simple silver design and light engravings around the edges.

The mask was sold by a metalworker who said it was commissioned by a wealthy merchant for a daughter who had burns on her forehead and right cheek. The merchant wanted it to be light and to stick to the face with a small amount of magic. However, the merchant went bankrupt, and the mask was never sold.

"500 gilans. I'll give you a discount, young master—"

It felt like it was sticking to his face, thanks to the small amount of magic. Even without spirit magic, humans have a small amount of innate magic.

Hikaru liked the simple design. When polished, the tarnished layer fell off, revealing a beautiful silver sheen.

"...You changed your mask?"

When Hikaru visited the queen's office, Marduk said with a displeased look.

As usual, the chief minister, Sophira von Hortensia, was also present.

"Your Majesty, it's time to give up on this man. For now, we can only see him as an unusual collaborator who helps with pest control."

"You make me sound like a bug enthusiast."

"Did you discover any spies today?"

"No, there weren't any. It's good to know they're patrolling properly."

"Thanks to you, the air is clearer. Although the appearance has worsened."

Sophira glanced at a pillar supporting the building. The stone pillar had been replaced with wood in one section, likely enchanted due to a magical reaction.

This was where a spy had previously entered by hollowing out the pillar.

"I received a letter from Claude Zhard Kirihar. He seemed very pleased with the introduction I made."

Marduk said with a displeased look.

"Really? That's good."

"What trick did you use? It's inconceivable that the Zhard family would be grateful to me."

"Well, you were trying to use me too, right? Claude was becoming an outcast in the Zhard family. I was trying to help him."

"Hmm, you saw through that much?"

"Of course. I'm not stupid."

Hikaru had figured it out after talking to Claude.

In any case, Hikaru understood that Marduk wasn't just being used.

"So, what's your business today?"

Marduk asked with a wary tone.

Hikaru had thought about how to approach this.

"On the final day of the Founding Anniversary Ceremony, a proposal will be put to the meeting. The proposing country is Tsubra, and the proposer is Sylvester Gi Tsubra. I want you to vote in favor of this proposal."

I took a two-day break, but I'm doing well (on the brink of death).

Next time: "Persuasion Game: Her Majesty the Queen."