"Let's go and ask grandpa to teach us some sword"
"Huh?"
Kim Jaesuk looked at me like I'm crazy.
"What's with that look? I'm being serious alright?"
After saying that, he become convinced that I've gone crazy.
"What are you saying now? Have you finally lost it?"
"I want to at least try. There's no way I'm staying here in this village forever"
Kim Jaesuk looked surprised before asking,
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to leave this village someday!"
"Huh?"
"It's another world man! There are a lot of never before seen things out there. There are elves, dwarves, and the races as well. I'm gonna explore the other continent as well to see more of those! Don't you read the book? The title's history of Paradia, but it mostly contain information about the Eastern Continent only, not the other continent. Rather, other informations are almost non-existent"
I said with a cheerful expression.
"So? What do you think?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're going with me obviously"
"Huh? wait I haven't agreed yet"
I then got up and started pulling on Kim Jaesuk. It should be impossible for me to pull him like that, but he probably let himself got pulled.
---
Arriving on the house, I see the old couple are discussing something on the couch sitting next to each other. Noticing us, grandpa asked
"Did you finish your task properly?"
"Yeah we did!"
I answered before asking
"Um is it possible to learn sword here?"
Grandpa looked surprised before asking me back
"You want to hold the sword?"
"Yes. I gave it a lot of thought and decided that it would be best for me to become a swordsman"
I said with determination.
The grandpa then looked at Kim Jaesuk and asked
"How about you?"
"Umm, I'm still not sure"
"Okay then, keep doing your task for a week then come ask me again. I will ask someone to teach you then. Let's see, since today is Monday, come back next Monday"
The grandpa smiles slightly before giving me a chance.
"Thank you grandpa!"
"What about Adrian?"
Kim Jaesuk asked.
"Ah, that guy is currently studying alchemy"
"Eh?"
"He said he's interested in alchemy so I brought him to the potion shop. He won't be coming back until dinner time. You guys can get ready to have lunch soon"
After grandpa said that, grandma then stood up to prepare lunch.
"I'll get it ready in a moment"
She said.
After lunch, I walked around the village together with Kim Jaesuk and find out that the village is actually bigger than I thought.
Next to the village's fence, there's a farm with bunch of crops growing. And on the opposite side of the fence, there's a field with bunch of people swinging their swords one way from top to bottom.
I observe them for a bit before going back to read more book, while Kim Jaesuk went somewhere to do other things.
The book I'm reading right now tells the story of a hero in the past.
Apparently, there only used to be two continents on Paradia, which is Human Continent and Demon Continent, with the Human Continent being on the larger side. The reason for that is only because other races lives on the Human Continent because the Demon Continent has miasma over the continent which is dangerous for living being being exposed for too long.
One day, Arthur, a hero chosen by the holy sword, Durandal was born. And with the help of the first ever archwizard Elena, the saint Sola, and the paladin Pollack, they were able to finally slay the demon king and ended the long war between human and demon.
After the war was over, the hero Arthur got married to the saint Sola, which at that time is the most beautiful girl on the world. Whereas arch wizard Elena continued her research on magic and the paladin Pollack started a volunteering activities under the church.
It might sounds childish at my age, but when I place myself in Arthur's place, I can't help but get excited.
The feeling of being revered.
The feeling of being the strongest.
The feeling of marrying the prettiest woman in the world.
I feel like I can't wait anymore for that day to come.
After reading the book, I keep repeating the same routine for a week before the time has come for me to start learning the sword.
---
"Grandpa, it's been a week"
It's now Monday morning and we just finished breakfast when I reminded Grandpa about the promise.
I just started naturally called the old man grandpa since a week ago. It seems like we got closer quickly because I asked him a lot of question and we had talked a lot.
Grandpa then looked at me and said
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes"
I answered.
Noticing the solemn atmosphere, Adrian asked
"What are you talking about?"
"Alex wants to be a swordsman"
Kim Jaesuk answered.
"What?!"
Adrian then exclaimed.
"What about you Jaesuk?"
"I'll become one as well, a swordsman"
Adrian has the exact same reaction that Kim Jaesuk gave me a week ago.
"You guys finally lost it huh..."
"Now now... don't be like that. It's good to learn to defend yourself"
Grandma said while cleaning up the table.
"Well, I'm off to the pharmacy. You guys have a great time"
"Okay, we'll go to the field now. Follow me"
Grandpa said as he started walking outside. Me and Kim Jaesuk then followed him.
Arriving at the field, Grandpa then threw a wooden sword at me and Kim Jaesuk.
"First, do a regular swing, from top to bottom"
Grandpa then started showing a swinging motion, asking us to follow his body posture.
"Li-like this?"
"Yep, do this until you're not able to hold the wooden sword anymore"
"What? Just this?"
I asked in surprise.
"You have to learn from the basic, Alex. Just follow what grandpa said"
Kim Jaesuk said.
"Ugh fine. I can do this all day long..."
"Well I'll be back in an hour to check on you guys"
Grandpa said before walking away.
Me and Kim Jaesuk then started doing the swinging motion for countless times before someone came to the barrack.
It's the village's guard captain, Morris.
"Hey, chief told me to look after you guys but it seems like you guys are holding it pretty well"
He said with a bright expression.
"Of course, this is a piece of cake!"
"You were complaining about how your arm hurt for a while now though..."
"Oh shut up, you"
We joked around before Morris asked us.
"Started hurting already?"
"??"
"Your arms I mean..."
"Ah yes, it does hurts quite a bit"
"Okay perfect. Now hold your wooden sword straight in front of you and point it 90 degrees towards the sky"
While saying that, he went and picked up a wooden sword as well.
After doing as he said and staying still in that position, he suddenly swung his wooden sword hard at mine, which causes it to broke free of my grip and flew away.
"Ackk!?"
I screamed.
"What the f- that hurts!"
"Don't let go of your sword"
"Huh?"
"This is the basic of holding a sword. Holding literally means gripping it as strong as you can. When holding a sword, it's basically an extension of your life. In battle, the moment you let go of the sword, your life becomes incomplete, which basically means you die"
"I- I see..."
After saying that, he did the same thing to Kim Jaesuk and just like me, his sword flew away.
"..."
---
After spending basically the whole day swinging the sword with hurting arms, we can feel the pain more clearly now that we're not really holding anything.
Washing up and having dinner, I then walked to my room before going to sleep.
As I fell asleep, I had a strange dream.
Waking up in my bed because of my alarm.
Walking to a cafe to look at girls.
Doing my usual dance routine together with Kim Jaesuk and my other friends.
I was enjoying my day just as usual before I suddenly woke up sweating.
I looked outside and looks like it's morning already, so I went down wash my face before going to do the morning task which is to move the water together with Kim Jaesuk.
"Urghh..."
Just as I'm picking up the wooden stick, I suddenly feel my hand going numb.
"Shit it hurts so much after yesterday"
"Yeah mine hurts too"
"Shut up, your expression says otherwise..."
I feel like I'm gonna die while I was doing my morning task.