Ch 145
Really?
That’s our Master?
That Master, who was so incredibly strict?
Dwen’s gaze, infinitely warm towards Lisir, caused her two disciples anguish.
Even so, Dwen and Lisir’s conversation continued.
“May I ask a question?”
“Please do.”
“You said you learned swordsmanship through self-teaching. I’m curious about the process.”
“As you might expect, it wasn’t an efficient or professional method. I obtained and read easily accessible swordsmanship textbooks. I compared my posture in a mirror, and I swung my sword aimlessly without any direction or standard. In fact, looking back, it might be more accurate to call it stubbornness than self-teaching.”
“Stubbornness…”
“Or perhaps, spoiling. At first, I had what I could call ambition. To become a great swordsman, to surprise everyone, to make them look at me. Such childish greed. However, it didn’t take long to realize the reality.”
“There aren’t many fields where self-teaching is as inefficient as swordsmanship.”
“That’s right. It was like floundering in water. While everyone moved forward, I just stayed in place. When I realized that, everything started to go wrong. Swordsmanship training became a performance to attract attention, and physical training became self-abuse.”
“…”
Dwen was completely engrossed in Lisir’s story.
As is the case with most who have reached Dwen’s refined realm, she was a genius who showed promise from the moment she first picked up a sword.
This was true for Jane and Felix, as well as most swordsmen Dwen encountered.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.
In that respect, Lisir’s story was quite refreshing to Dwen.
The story of an ordinary person who was not born with either the environment or the talent.
-He’s an amazing guy. Even Master would be surprised.
That an ordinary person, now, would elicit such an evaluation from a hero who possesses both environment and talent beyond the ideal.
Dwen looked at him, pondering Lisir’s story.
“I never imagined. That’s because I didn’t see any shadows in you.”
A moment of contemplation.
Lisir replied with a bright smile.
“It seems people don’t die. At a certain point, good fortune came one after another. Good people. Good opportunities. I was lucky. It was a talent I realized late. If I had hoped to be a gambler instead of a swordsman from the beginning, I might have lived a much smoother life.”
“Opportunities come to everyone, but only the prepared seize them.”
“…Ah, I think so too. If I hadn’t gone to the library that day as usual, I wouldn’t have met that person.”
“That person… Seeing you say that, they must be a remarkable individual.”
“Ah, that’s not true.”
Lisir’s expression turned serious.
“?”
“They’re a good person, but whether they’re remarkable…”
Lisir trailed off with a complicated expression.
“Anyway, they are an invaluable benefactor to me. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
“…I see.”
Dwen still had her characteristically stern expression, but the atmosphere was noticeably softer.
It was a rare sight, even for her two disciples.
Creak.
That sound echoed again within Dwen.
Scoring results.
Dwen’s evaluation of Lisir was close to the highest.
Handsome appearance and unassuming impression.
The help he gave his disciples.
And, the character that could be felt even in a short conversation.
It was the result of all these things coming together.
Right now, comparable to her two cherished disciples.
That’s why.
“It was an enlightening conversation.”
Dwen’s atmosphere changed abruptly.
It felt like the iron gate of a fortress, briefly opened, had closed again.
“Shall we begin?”
Until now, Dwen had treated Lisir as the benefactor of Jane and Felix, her disciples;
now, she intended to treat him as a fellow swordsman.
Former Sword Master, Iron Sword Dwen.
As a sign of her utmost respect for Lisir, she resolved to give her all to his request.
“You requested my knowledge of the sword.”
“…That’s right.”
In that serious atmosphere, Lisir also composed himself.
“What kind of knowledge do you desire?”
“You just said that there aren’t many fields where self-teaching is as inefficient as swordsmanship. Therefore, I request a sparring match.”
“That wasn’t the meaning behind my words, but it’s not entirely wrong. Some gain nothing from sparring, while others gain everything.”
At Dwen’s gesture, Lisir drew his Blue Lotus.
Following that, Dwen drew her sword.
“Hmm?”
The two disciples, relieved that Dwen had returned to her usual self, suddenly felt a sense of unease.
Dwen’s sword-drawing posture was strangely awkward.
“Ah.”
Soon, they realized the cause of that unease.
Dwen.
She was originally left-handed.
But she was now holding her sword in her right hand.
Not only that, she was completely excluding her left hand in forming her posture.
As if preparing for the imminent future.
The two disciples’ expressions contorted as they recalled their Master’s worsening hand condition.
Feeling the gaze of her two disciples, Dwen said to Lisir.
“Let me preface this, but I am actually left-handed. Using only my right hand will be inconvenient.”
Lisir nodded.
He too felt a strange unease in Dwen’s posture.
“However, due to personal circumstances, I am currently using only my right hand. I ask for your understanding.”
“…”
Lisir observed Dwen.
Then, a chuckle involuntarily escaped him.
Considering that she was asking for understanding for not being at her best, Dwen’s posture seemed too perfect.
‘Don’t use weak words. You look strong.’
The difference in skill was clearly felt, even before their swords clashed.
Lisir asked another superior.
‘Klana.’
-I’m listening.
‘Do you see any openings in that person right now?’
-As she herself said, the absence of her left hand is significant. If she had appeared before me like that, I would have disarmed her right hand and strangled her immediately.
Lisir was quite shocked by Klana’s answer.
From his perspective, there were no openings whatsoever using Klana Style’s unique footwork.
So he had subtly expected an answer like, ‘The matchup isn’t good,’ or something similar –
‘Then, how does it look from your perspective?’
-I’m asking you the same question, how does it look to you?
‘Honestly, I don’t see any openings.’
-Look again.
‘Yes?’
-What’s in your hand?
‘…A sword?’
-And.
‘And…’
A gleam appeared in Lisir’s eyes as he pondered Klana’s words.
-Fundamentals. Orthodox methods. Don’t get bogged down in such things. It’s like confining yourself within a framework. It’s a method you, especially, should avoid.
“…How did Klana usually put that into practice?”
-I preferred dual wielding. A hidden dagger was always right.
Lisir chuckled as he took in Klana’s teaching.
A murderer who would use any means necessary to exploit an opponent’s weakness.
A hero’s master who tries to create an ideal posture even with one hand lost.
Her teachings formed a fantastic contrast with Dwen, who was taking her stance.
‘You’re teaching me something really good.’
…
Klana smiled her characteristic wry smile.
That tone.
Lisir realized that it wasn’t simply sarcasm.
As she said, Lisir had learned something truly good from Klana’s teachings.
Lisir felt a sudden wave of self-loathing.
‘Assassin’s Swordsmanship. Why does it suit me so well?’
Lisir’s posture began to change.
It was due to the change in the image he was creating in his mind.
He no longer envisioned himself breaking through Dwen with the Klana Style from the front.
“…”
Lisir’s pupils, fixed on Dwen, seemed to dilate.
“…”
Dwen, observing Lisir with the same sternness as a fortress.
A small crack appeared in her expression.
Curiosity.
A clear change had occurred in Lisir in that short time.
“Come.”
Dwen urged Lisir, wanting to satisfy her curiosity.
“I’m coming.”
He took a step forward.
✦✦✦
Lisir and Dwen.
How long had the two been exchanging blows?
Someone appeared in the backyard of Goose Manor, where they were currently located, with their arms crossed behind their back.
It was Pallag, the former Blue Tower Master, who sensed the flow of magical power generated by the sparring match.
“As expected, it was Lisir again.”
Upon arriving at the scene, Pallag first looked around for a certain face, and upon finding his target, nodded in satisfaction.
Only then did he turn his attention to the others.
“Hmm? Jane and Felix. What brings you here-… Wait. Who is that?”
Pallag’s thick eyebrows twitched as he belatedly identified Lisir’s sparring partner.
“Iron Sword. I see. So that’s why you’re all gathered here.”
“Duke Pallag. How are you?”
“No, I’m not well.”
“Yes?”
It was an unhappy response to Jane’s polite greeting.
“You’re conducting a sparring match between Lisir and Iron Sword without telling me.”
Jane and Felix hastily added in confusion.
“P-Please calm down, Duke Pallag━”
“We know you care for Lisir, Duke Pallag. This isn’t a serious sparring match, it’s━”
“Were you two secretly watching this interesting spectacle?”
“…”
“…”
“Explain. What happened? Why is Lisir sparring with the former Sword Master?”
The eccentric Archmage urged for an explanation, his eyes shining.
And so, an explanation followed –
“I see. So Lisir and Iron Sword…”
Pallag’s curiosity was completely satisfied.
But why?
His expression was darker than before he heard the explanation.
It was because of the content of the sparring match between Lisir and Iron Sword that took place during the explanation.
“Hmm…”
Pallag watched the ongoing sparring match and spoke.
“Lisir… is doing quite well, considering his opponent is Iron Sword.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Considering he’s facing our Master━”
Unlike the content of their words, their voices and eyes were wavering.
The content of the sparring match fell far short of their expectations of Lisir.
Lisir’s sword never once reached Dwen.
That in itself wasn’t particularly unusual.
Even considering Lisir’s unique circumstances and Dwen’s current problem, the Sword Master’s reputation remains untarnished.
From the beginning, their expectation of Lisir was a ‘well-fought defeat’.
They expected a special defeat, even in a clear disadvantage, that would show why Lisir was Lisir.
Even if Lisir ended up covered in dust and fell, and Dwen stood without a drop of sweat, they expected a situation where Dwen would be so surprised that she couldn’t even touch Lisir.
However.
After watching the sparring match for a while, they realized that it was unlikely.
Lisir was not improving, but rather regressing.
His attacks.
His sword.
His movements.
The flaws in all of these were not being corrected over time, but rather becoming clearer.
It was clearly a flaw.
Ahem.
Pallag awkwardly cleared his throat.
“You mustn’t forget that he is originally a wizard from the Grey Tower.”
“Yes? Oh, ah! That’s right!”
“That’s right! Lisir is a wizard, yes.”
Jane and Felix hastily responded to Pallag’s words.
“The sword is merely a secondary skill for him.”
You should have seen what I saw.
Pallag muttered repeatedly in a trembling voice.
As the observation continued in that awkward atmosphere.
“Oh dear.”
Jane squeezed her eyes shut.
Lisir, who had pressed in on Dwen, was pushed back with his most clumsy posture yet and thrown to the ground.
It was the result of the ‘flaws’ he had repeatedly shown.
“…”
Disappointment clearly appeared in Dwen’s eyes, which had been gleaming before the sparring match.
Lisir’s subsequent action further fueled her reaction.
“Alright! Let’s stop here!”
He declared his surrender in his usual positive and energetic tone.
“…”
Just as Pallag was trying to put on a calm face and applaud.
“That’s a satisfied expression.”
Dwen said to Lisir with a clearly disappointed expression.
-Are you giving meaning to the mere fact that he made an effort?
Dwen swallowed the words.
It was a somewhat sharp tone to direct at her disciple’s benefactor.
Whether or not he knew Dwen’s feelings.
Lisir nodded with a cheerful expression.
“Yes. As Ms. Dwen said, sparring is the best way to learn swordsmanship. Especially sparring with a strong opponent. I have a method in mind. Thanks to Ms. Dwen, I think I’ve gotten a feel for how to use it in actual combat.”
“Actual combat…”
Dwen trailed off.
Lisir showing the shortcomings he displayed in the sparring match in a life-or-death battle?
It was tantamount to courting death.
For his sake, the sparring match couldn’t end like this.
Dwen composed herself.
“This is actual combat now.”
“Yes?”
“Consider this actual combat, and show me your all.”
It would be a somewhat cruel act, but it was for his sake.
Dwen intended to make Lisir face reality through the ensuing exchange of blows.
“It won’t be ordinary swordsmanship, will it be alright?”
Dwen nodded sharply at Lisir’s cautious question.
“Understood.”
The resumed standoff.
Lisir composed himself, and Dwen inwardly sighed.
Breath Step.
The usual surprise attack posture with his body crouched.
Lisir’s movements were exactly the same as before.
Thwack!
Even the following movements were the same.
The trajectory.
The speed.
It was too straightforward to be a surprise attack, reaching Dwen’s awareness.
As if he had ulterior motives.
As if he absolutely must have ulterior motives.
‘Were my expectations too high?’
Just as Dwen was about to parry Lisir’s sword.
“…”!
-Whoosh!
A sudden sandstorm interfered with Dwen’s movements.
-Whoosh
Then, grayish-white flames obscured her vision.
Creating an opening in the opponent, then exploiting it.
It’s an extremely simple strategy.
However, if that something is magic.
And if that opening is pierced by a sword.
Dwen certainly didn’t let her guard down.
She had considered all the means Lisir could use.
However, she hadn’t anticipated this.
The flaws Lisir hadn’t been able to correct.
She didn’t realize what those flaws were for.
Through that preparation, sword and magic were unleashed simultaneously.
The magic swordsman’s sword was pointed at the Sword Master’s neck.
✦✦✦
Translator’s Blog
Blog
- Trucks, Isekai, and the Struggle for a Good Image: When Anime Hurts the Real World
- Is Ramen Overrated Because of Naruto? A Ramen-Loving Anime Fan’s Take
- Lost in Translation: When Your Brain Goes on a Tangent While Reading Light Novels
- Loid Forger: The Ultimate Husbando?
- Should You Return To That Dropped Novel? The Light Novel Comeback Arc
Leave a Reply