Reset Life – Chapter 4

KR Translators:

・StarrySkySailor
・KawaiiKage
・ImmortalInk
・KingPotato
・SugoiSenpai

Chapter 4: You’re Wrong. Study. (3)

“Ah, Father is……”

My brother, startled despite the incoming sword, followed Levidian’s gaze and found the sword embedded at my feet. A cry of astonishment escaped his lips once more.

“This can’t be……”

I naturally bent down and picked up the sword. The leather-wrapped section, meant to prevent slippage, was damp with sweat. Indeed, the Sword King is an absolute powerhouse, enough to make even Father nervous.

Seeing me pick up the sword, Father took a step back and bowed his head respectfully. Even if I dislike his opinion of me, that aspect is certainly worth emulating.

“Huu, I lost.”

“It was a good spar.”

She sheathed her sword and offered a handshake with a clean posture. Father gladly accepted it.

Well, while she called it a good spar, it wouldn’t have been very helpful for the Sword King. Even though she revealed her habits four times, Father didn’t notice.

Neither did the Sword King, though.

Still expressionless, she looked at my brother and said,

“Donthernon-gun, it’s your turn.”

“Yes!”

My brother is as stiff as a new recruit who just got assigned to his unit after rolling around in boot camp for 30 days. Even in my memory, that aspect of him hasn’t changed.

In the past, I used to watch my brother and Levidian’s spar with bated breath and anticipation. Since Father fought so splendidly, I wondered if my brother would be the same.

Of course, there’s no reason to expect that now.

As soon as my brother stood in front of the Sword King, he bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“Please take care of me!”

“Likewise.”

After exchanging greetings, they immediately began their confrontation. My brother held his sword and slowly sidestepped, entering a cautious stance, while Levidian stood still, following his movements only with her eyes.

After a while, with a shout, my brother charged.

“Chaaaat!”

And I looked up at the sky.

Looking at the clear blue sky with peacefully flowing clouds, if I lightly count……

One, two, three.

“Kuhuk!”

Thud!

I hear the sound of my brother tumbling.

I know exactly what happened without even looking. She dodged my brother’s charge aimed at her flank by a hair’s breadth, tripped him, and then pressed his head down with her elbow.

I lowered my gaze again.

My brother is sprawled on the ground like a frog that’s been tossed aside. It’s a stark contrast to the aristocratic dignity he always maintained, a difference as vast as the distance between the sun and the earth.

He fainted after just two hits, that guy.

“Without even using a sword……”

Father let out a soft groan. Even so, my brother’s current skill level is such that the person called the Sword King doesn’t feel the need to draw her sword. Besides, it’s his fault for falling for such a simple technique.

Levidian swung her sword twice and sheathed it, saying,

“He seems nervous. I’ll expect a better performance tomorrow.”

Um, talking to someone who’s unconscious……

She turned her attention away from my brother and towards me, saying,

“Now, it’s your turn. Arisein-gun, step forward.”

It’s my turn now.

I nodded and slowly stepped forward.

Alright, shall we give it a try?

Normally, I would have slung my brother over my shoulder and laid him to the side while Father and she conversed.

That’s definitely how it was in my memory.

However, she deliberately pointed me out and left my brother’s care to Father.

That means she’s interested in me.

Ugh, suddenly I feel a burden in my stomach.

As proof of that, she initiated the conversation.

“Shall we talk for a moment before the Duke arrives?”

“It seems like you have something to ask me rather than just talk.”

Kids my age in this body would be dying to ask the Sword King even a single question, but I have nothing to ask her. Because I already know everything. So, she’s the one who needs to ask me.

She cast a slight shadow over her expressionless face and asked in a low voice,

“Does it seem that way? Do you want to get scolded again?”

“Not really.”

Hmm. Even I can see how shamelessly bold that answer is. I thought she might release her killing intent, but I’ve been caught once, why would I get caught twice?

She chuckled at my answer and said,

“You said you’re sixteen this year, right? But you seem like you’ve aged another 10 years. I hope your sword skills are as mature. Something to ask……Yes. I do have something to ask. Not just to Arisein-gun, but to the ‘sword’ of the Duke’s family.”

Sharpness appeared in her eyes.

I didn’t know her well even before I died, but I feel like those eyes are the eyes she uses when she faces someone as a swordsman. Those were the same eyes she used when facing Father.

As the swordsman Levidian, she said,

“There’s a problem with my sword. But I can’t figure it out. I’ve been focusing on solo training for about half a year, but there’s this anxiety in my chest……It just won’t go away. So I thought, if there’s a problem with me, someone else should be able to see it. If it’s a problem stemming from swordsmanship……”

“You should show it to someone who understands swords.”

“Correct. However, both His Grace and your brother, needless to say, were no help. They probably wouldn’t know. And the only one left is you, Arisein-gun. I came all the way to the renowned swordsmanship family, and it would be quite disappointing if I couldn’t get an answer.”

“Couldn’t you find out at the Hall of Martial Arts?”

It took her three years to discover and overcome her habit. During that time, she visited renowned swordsmanship families and powerful martial arts groups.

The Hall of Martial Arts she belongs to is one of the top two organizations in the same field on the continent, yet I’ve never heard of her going there during those three years.

I’ve always been curious about that.

Levidian shrugged lightly and replied,

“I wouldn’t be able to. There’s no one there who can defeat me. I think anyone who can defeat me might be able to tell.”

“The skill to defeat someone called the Sword King……Neither my father nor my brother possesses that.”

“No, you heard me wrong.”

Her eyes sharpened even further, and I tilted my head. What did I hear wrong? She corrected my understanding.

“I said someone who ‘can’ defeat me. I never said someone who ‘is defeating’ me or someone who ‘has defeated’ me. In the latter case……well. There hasn’t been anyone for eight years.”

Someone who can defeat……Is she referring to the future, including the present? Anyway, it’s a statement filled with confidence, befitting someone who made a name for herself as a continental swordsman at the age of 18 and earned the title of Sword King by building an undefeated legend. No one else could sound so confident, except for her.

“Does that mean……you’re looking for someone who can defeat you?”

“That’s right. I’m looking for the potential to defeat me. Such a person might be able to teach me something I lack. If they’ve taught me something, I might be able to teach them something in return.”

And she gave a subtle, meaningful smile. It was then that I remembered.

Three years after she left our family, she overcame her habit and took on a disciple to continue her progress. By the time I died, that person had become one of the eight strongest individuals on the continent, inheriting the title of Sword King.

Right. That’s right. The rumor that she had taken on a disciple caused a great stir throughout the continent. Moreover, that disciple wasn’t the child of a renowned family or a member of a martial arts organization, but an ordinary fisherman’s son.

I scratched my head and spoke as if I hadn’t noticed anything.

“I can’t believe there’s someone who can teach Levidian-nim. Hahaha.”

“Huu. I suppose so.”

She smiled slightly as if it were nothing.

With this, I can roughly predict how I appear to her. Perhaps someone who knows everything but pretends not to, or someone with a personality that sharpens from time to time.

Normally, people would think it’s the latter. I currently have the appearance of a sixteen-year-old, and no one knows that I know the future.

Speaking of which, my sixteen-year-old body is just slightly past being frail. It’s not inherently weak, just a bit thin. But if you ask if this body is suitable for a swordsman, the answer is also no.

Because when I was sixteen in my previous life, I focused more on academics than swordsmanship. I’m still in the middle of that, so I’m quite unrefined. I don’t know how this appearance of mine looks to Levidian.

When the conversation stopped, Father returned.

“I apologize for the wait.”

“No problem. Shall we begin then, Arisein-gun?”

“Yes, Levidian-nim.”

I bowed slightly to her first and then stepped back. Then, I gripped my sword and assumed the basic stance of the Dance of Nine Swords. Although it’s called a basic stance, it’s no different from the middle guard stance of ordinary swordsmanship.

“Calmly, slowly, sharply. Don’t forget.”

“Yes, Father.”

Father passed by me and offered advice. For a moment, I considered pretending to just nod, but it seems like I should change my attitude gradually. For now, I need to act like I don’t know anything.

To those who knew me.

Clang……

The sound of the sword being drawn from its scabbard feels like it’s slicing my heart in half. Even if it’s a practice sword, it feels even more so when it’s pointed at me.

“Huu……”

Calm down. Even if she’s the Sword King, she won’t kill me. I’ve already experienced death once. That’s why I was able to endure her releasing her killing intent towards me.

In a situation like this, where there’s no risk of death……There’s no need to panic!

“Here I come.”

“Come.”

Thud!

I kicked off the ground and calmly charged. I decided to use the most basic move first.

A downward strike from above.

Swish!

Even though it’s a practice sword, the sound of it cutting through the air is sharp. She dodged the sword aimed directly at the top of her head by moving her body sideways. And just like she did to my brother, she tries to trip me.

An ordinary swordsman would dodge this……

Clack!

I blocked it by meeting her foot with mine. Both she and I are wearing shin guards. There’s a difference in strength, but I’m not being pushed back.

Next, here I go!

Whoosh!

Using the leg that bounced back from the collision, I planted it on the ground and swung my sword horizontally towards her, aiming for a side slash. Again, it draws a straight line.

Clang……!

She dodged it while lowering her body and pulling her leg back, then threw a left fist towards my solar plexus. I lifted my left leg and thrust my knee guard in front of it.

Clang!

Her gauntlet and my knee guard collided. I almost lost my balance for a moment, but I quickly regained my posture by hopping.

A distance of about three steps opened up, and she and I locked eyes again, entering a standoff.

Up to this point, it’s the same pattern as when I was sixteen and got completely overwhelmed by her.

At that time, I tripped and fell at first, and when I got up and charged again, I got hit in the solar plexus and collapsed. But I didn’t faint like my brother. I just vomited profusely, embarrassingly enough.

Anyway! With this, I’ve avenged my past mistakes!

“Huu.”

Moreover, I’ve tested her in my own way. The fist she threw in my memory was much stronger than the one I just blocked. In the end, she’s waiting to see my skills.

I met her gaze and then shifted my attention to the sword she was holding. She only faces those she deems capable of fighting her with a sword.

I heard before I died that if you’ve crossed swords with her even once, you can be confident in your skills. It means she also chooses her opponents carefully.

I gripped my sword with both hands and heightened my tension. The appropriate level of tension seemed to awaken the senses in my body. Up until now, it was a practice game for me as well.

Now, I need to make her use her sword.

To draw out her habits, I need to clash swords directly.

Slowly……slowly……I shake the tip of my sword.

I control the strength in my wrist and apply appropriate force to my arm muscles, moving the sword as if it’s gliding. It’s a technique to distract the opponent’s eyes, but if done wrong, it can easily become a novice’s clumsy technique.

Shake……shake……the sword moves.

My body is sixteen, but my skills are those of a twenty-six-year-old. Naturally, my body can’t keep up with my skills, so it takes considerable effort to perform even this simple technique. My wrist is sore.

“Haat!”

I shout first. And then, a beat later, I charge.

She reacted to my shout, but when I moved a beat later, she flinched slightly and then responded smoothly.

I must look like a kid mimicking advanced techniques, right?

But, it’s not mimicry!

This time it’s real!

First strike. From above to below.

Simultaneously with the downward strike, I tilt my body to the left and twist my waist forcefully. This transitions seamlessly into a horizontal slash. Levidian dodged sideways and then twisted her body again in response to the sword that immediately followed.

Second strike. From front to front.

I move my legs to position her flank in front of me, plant my feet, and thrust forward. Then, switching my footing, I thrust once more. She dodged by taking two steps back. Her sword remains in her hand, unmoved.

Third strike. From side to above.

I move my legs to follow her movements, and with the sword I thrust forward, I aim for her chin. However, the sword cuts through the air uselessly as she simply tilts her head back, leaving me with a large opening.

“Haap!”

This time, simultaneously with the shout, I use the momentum of the upward swing and deliver a front kick with my supporting leg.

Still not going to draw your sword?!

Bang!

The sole of my sturdy boot and the side of her sword connect, creating a dull thud. She drew her sword and blocked my kick by placing it in front of my foot with both hands.

“Huu……!”

I lower my sword and return to my ready stance.

Looking forward, Levidian is holding her sword out in front of her with one hand, her gaze fixed on me. Her eyes are now filled with fighting spirit and a glint of interest.

Good! I made her draw her sword!

I couldn’t hide my joy and smiled, revealing my teeth. Although the muscles in my body are aching and I’m starting to feel breathless due to the strenuous movements, I’ve succeeded in surprising her.

She slowly lowered her sword and aimed it properly at me.

“You’re using techniques that are too demanding for your body. It’s as if your body can’t keep up with the techniques. That usually doesn’t happen……It’s quite fascinating. And surprising.”

She said surprising, but that’s actually my line. To figure that out after just a few attacks, the title of Sword King isn’t just for show, is it? Her observation skills are terrifying.

I spoke in a suitably nervous tone.

“It’s just imitation.”

“Even when your body catches up……I wonder if it can still be called imitation. The series of movements just now drew beautifully complete lines. Although it wasn’t perfect because your body couldn’t keep up.”

“As I said, I was just pushing myself too hard.”

“Is that so? Let’s see a bit more. This time, I’ll go first.”

Levidian closed her mouth tightly and calmly swung her sword at me. It was the first time she had swung her sword at me.