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The appointed time had arrived.

I had prepared in advance and waited, so the Guardian arrived right on time.

It was his usual teleportation.

No matter how many times I saw it, I couldn’t get used to that power.

If such power could be used outside, the empire’s political landscape would have been reorganized around the Hibras Church.

If a Swordmaster went around slicing enemy commanders with that power, there’d be no countermeasures.

That man looked at me with a peculiar expression.

“Did something happen between you and the Saintess yesterday?”

“Excuse me? Isn’t that too abrupt?”

“She seemed a bit off. Like she couldn’t sleep.”

“Ah... well, it’s nothing significant.”

The Guardian’s eyes twitched.

He seemed suspicious, but it was hard to explain in detail.

After being questioned by that kid, Luan, yesterday, Sirien had been out of sorts all day.

She looked a bit angry, so I couldn’t approach her easily.

But would she really get mad over something like that? Understanding the mind of a girl that age was impossible.

It slightly reminded me of bad memories from the modern era.

Don’t make your friend’s boyfriend your own.

Both of you will get hurt, you inconsiderate brats...

“Really, it’s nothing significant. We didn’t even fight.”

“Alright. As long as it doesn’t affect the ritual, it’s fine.”

“Is the ritual that difficult?”

“It’s not difficult, but it can be painful. I can’t tell you the details.”

Seeing him like that, I figured no amount of prying would get me an answer.

He hates tiresome arguments. It might be better to change my approach altogether.

“So, what would be the best thing to say?”

“There’s nothing you can do. Just stay with her until the ritual. Cheer her on.”

“Yes, well, let’s do that.”

“Pick a sword. Let’s check your skills first.”

On the appointed day, the Guardian brought several swords.

None of them had sharp edges, fitting for training, but all were made of steel.

“Can’t I just use my own sword? I brought it with me.”

“No. You’re too used to that one.”

“It’s not like I’ve used it for that long.”

“Just pick one.”

“Alright.”

My primary weapon was a sword just under 1 meter in length.

It was comfortable to hold with one hand. So far, it had often been advantageous to keep one hand free.

Depending on the situation, I’d hold a shield, draw a dagger, or use it to grab an opponent.

I handled each one, choosing the one whose length and balance felt most familiar.

The sword I lightly gripped fit perfectly in my hand.

“But I’ve been wondering, what should I call you? I can’t keep saying ‘you’ or ’that guy.’”

“Call me whatever you like.”

“It’s uncomfortable for me.”

“Just call me whatever comes to mind.”

“Really? Anything?”

“Yes.”

He could’ve just told me his name.

What an unnecessarily exhausting person.

But he messed with the wrong guy.

I knew exactly how to deal with people like him.

Daring to put on airs in front of me, a member of the humorous race? It would only take three words to get his name.

“Hey.”

“Hey?”

“You jerk.”

-Whack.

A strong impact struck my head immediately.

He used the sheath as a club to hit my crown.

It was ridiculously fast. I even braced myself for retaliation, but couldn’t react in time.

“What? You said to call you whatever I want.”

“I said call me whatever you want, not to be disrespectful.”

“Then just tell me your name. What’s so expensive about it?”

“Tch. Call me Edwin. You don’t have to be formal, but show at least a minimal amount of respect.”

“Yes, understood.”

At least I got his name.

Satisfied with that, I distanced myself appropriately from Edwin.

I began to slowly analyze my surroundings.

First, this clearing was quite spacious.

There wasn’t any sand like a training ground, but there was enough room to swing a sword freely.

Of course, there weren’t any particular objects to use or avoid. The only things worth noting were Edwin’s collar or hair?

In a real fight, he’d be wearing armor or a helmet, so those weren’t useful targets in a sparring match.

I used to employ such tactics with Terion occasionally. This time, it would be challenging.

Edwin’s sword was similar in size to mine.

From his stance, he seemed to favor an out-fighting style. Given his height advantage, I was at a slight disadvantage in terms of reach.

He didn’t seem like the type to rely on brute strength, but I’d find out soon enough.

I didn’t think optimistically about it.

“Do you use Sword aura?”

“Use it to your heart’s content. I’ll only use as much as I need.”

“You sound confident.”

“Well, you won’t even touch my collar at your level.”

I’d heard this kind of confidence before.

I felt an urge to scratch that arrogance.

“Really? How about a bet?”

“No.”

“If you’re not confident, just be honest. Come on, it’s not like I’d tease you for it.”

“If I accept, you’ll gamble everything just to tear my collar, right? There’s no reason to damage my intact clothes. I want to see your skill, not how crazy you are.”

I was at a loss for words.

“If you’re done with idle talk, let’s begin.”

* * *

My opponent was a Swordmaster, clearly stronger than me.

No need to test the waters. I lunged with Sword aura from the start.

Crackle.

Red sparks flew before my eyes.

Thanks to my improved condition, the light was much stronger than last time.

Black Sword aura sliced through the air multiple times. Edwin didn’t use his usual teleportation, but his movements were still fast.

Slowly, I pressured the space, making it impossible for him to only dodge.

Eventually, he had to move his sword.

When our blades met, a powerful shock made us both step back.

For the first time, Edwin’s lips curved into a smile.

“Good. You’ve got talent for an outsider.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Halfway. It would’ve been much better to become a normal Swordmaster.”

“It’s not like I had a choice.”

Edwin’s Sword aura was a gloomy gray.

The gray energy thickly enveloped his blade.

It seemed he found it burdensome to use thin Sword aura.

It was a good sign.

Every clash of our energies created a strong shock.

At first, my arms felt numb, but soon my body adapted.

The overload from my own Sword aura was more painful than these shocks.

“Fundamentally, when Swordmasters fight, it’s hard to clash blades directly. Their energies repel each other.”

Though his teachings were helpful, I didn’t feel the need to respond.

Edwin didn’t seem to expect an answer either.

Instead, I decided to show him through my actions.

I decided to take a more aggressive stance. Using my back foot for propulsion, I delivered a powerful blow with my entire body weight.

It was a mid-cut that was difficult to avoid with mere body movement.

The moment my sword rebounded from the repulsive force between our auras, I reentered using the momentum.

Five times in total. I attacked as if a battering ram were pounding on a castle gate.

“I have an extra dagger. Can I use it?”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s sharp.”

“You worry too much.”

Black energy enveloped the dagger in my hand.

It was like a black mist, or ink staining the air.

I slipped the dagger in a fraction of a second before our swords clashed.

If our energies repelled each other, I’d use that repulsive force to my advantage.

I pushed Edwin’s sword away with the dagger. The forced movement rendered his blade meaningless as a barrier.

It seemed like I could seize the momentum with this attack.

But my sword lost its strength.

“Principles are just that, principles. Just because energies repel doesn’t mean the fight becomes purely about skill. It actually gets more complex.”

His gray energy began to engulf my blade.

The electricity that seemed capable of tearing everything lost its power, and the black mist dissipated.

I had to retreat quickly before my sword was completely overtaken.

“Novice swordsmen often think that wielding Sword aura means they can cut through anything. They focus solely on the aura of a Swordmaster.”

It’s true that the allure of Sword aura is undeniable.

It can cut through magic or even the divine if the levels aren’t equal. How could a swordsman not desire it?

But Sword aura isn’t the entirety of a Swordmaster.

“That perspective is fundamentally flawed. A Swordmaster reaches a domain only by seeing the extremes of the sword. To think they become mere machines wielding Sword aura is absurd.”

You don’t need to be a Swordmaster to slice through the weak.

A sword enchanted with powerful magic can allow even an ordinary swordsman to perform similarly.

There’s no need for complex techniques just to wield a sharp blade.

Thus, the significance of a Swordmaster lies in their use of Sword aura. The aura itself.

In a duel between Swordmasters, one must use all the skills they’ve learned along with their aura in various ways.

“Sword aura is merely a tool. Just as you’ve paid attention to every move and breath of your opponent until now, you must now pay attention to Sword aura. A Swordmaster isn’t the end of the path. It’s a new beginning.”

Sword auras fundamentally repel each other. But depending on their use, they can also consume each other.

When Sword aura is consumed, you lose control. It became difficult to handle my own sword. It felt as if Edwin’s movements controlled both my sword and body.

As my blade was forced outward, my defense opened wide.

Edwin’s sword reached my throat.

It was a complete and utter defeat.

“I’ll overhaul your basics from scratch. Any objections?”

“...None.”

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