For those who wield swords, there exists a legendary ultimate technique from the Strange family.
'Aura Blade.'
The day had finally arrived when I could make Siegfried's secret technique, which I couldn't learn in my past life, my own.
"I'll show you just once, so watch carefully."
"Yes, Master."
Siegfried stood up and gathered red aura in his hands, which began to transform into the shape of a sword, emitting a brilliant light.
Ssssss-
The process of creating something from nothing.
Without any materials, using only my power to create a weapon.
How incredible is that?
'It's amazing no matter how many times I see it.'
The aura, which had been flickering like burning flames, soon solidified like a piece of iron that had been forged.
How did he even think of creating such a technique? It's something unimaginable unless one loses their weapon on the battlefield.
Siegfried swung the completed Aura Blade through the air.
Swiish-
"How is it? Easy, right? This is how you do it."
"I see."
"Now, it's your turn to try."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"You want me to do that now?"
"Yep."
I couldn't help but sigh in disbelief.
This insane guy really hasn't changed at all.
Shouldn't he explain the method and then let me try? How am I supposed to imitate a technique I've never seen before just by watching once?
If learning by just watching was possible, who would even bother putting in effort!
"How did you even make that?"
"What? What have you been watching until now? I showed you right in front of your eyes."
"Master."
"Speak."
"How can someone learn such a technique just by watching?"
"...."
"If it were something that others could easily imitate, it wouldn't be a secret technique, would it?"
'You crazy fool.'
If that were possible, I would have used it in my past life too.
There would have been no need to ask Siegfried back then to teach me the technique.
"Now that you mention it, that's true. I thought you could do it."
"Why?"
"Because you're a genius."
"...."
"You've imitated most of the sword techniques I didn't even teach you?"
That was possible because I had learned them before.
"Aren't there areas that are possible and areas that are impossible?"
"Didn't you see? I gathered aura and made it into a sword."
"I'm asking how you made the sword with aura."
"You still don't get it after watching?!"
"No."
"Ha! Seriously! I specially showed you because I thought you could figure it out. How annoying."
Annoying? Is that the reason you didn't teach it in my past life?
"But, you see. I usually don't show the same technique twice-"
"Master."
"Yeah?"
"You promised to pass down the Aura Blade today."
"Well, I did."
"Then, please properly teach me. You're not someone who breaks promises just because it's annoying, right?"
"...."
"You're someone noble enough to be bestowed the title of Sword God by the Emperor."
"…Yeah, you're right. I'm not that kind of scum."
Siegfried scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression. His face clearly showed that he didn't want to teach it, but a promise is a promise.
"Huuu…. Then I'll explain it briefly, so listen and watch carefully."
"Understood."
"First, focus your aura into your hands. Then, imagine the shape of the sword you want to use in your mind. Ah! The key point is to not just vaguely imagine it. You have to draw it slowly and meticulously, like a potter shaping clay or a painter drawing a picture."
"You mean, don't be sloppy and be detailed?"
"Yeah, whether it's a longsword or a shortsword, imagine whatever you want and try it."
I followed his instructions, focusing aura into my hands and closing my eyes to picture the shape of the sword I wanted.
The optimal weapon for my current body is the shortsword favored by many adventurers.
Short ones are cumbersome to wield and angle, so I should choose the appropriate length.
Ssssss.
A few seconds later, I opened my eyes slightly and saw that the aura had formed into the shape of a sword.
Although it wasn't as dark as the Aura Blade that Siegfried created, the aura had condensed enough to feel a solid grip.
"Is this correct?"
Siegfried clapped his hands.
Clap!
"Ohohoho- Look at this! Didn't I tell you?! You're doing well once I teach you!"
"So, this is correct?"
"Yeah, you idiot! You really are a genius. Actually, I thought you wouldn't be able to do it, so I just taught you roughly, but you succeeded right away?"
'What?'
I looked at him with disdain. Siegfried glanced at my eyes and then turned his head away, continuing to speak.
"Ahem, so. This is the first stage of the Aura Blade. The process of forming the shape of the sword is called 'Manifestation'."
"First stage?"
"Yes, the first stage."
"How many stages are there in total?"
"Four stages. No, maybe three stages? No, it could be done in two stages."
A haphazard and impromptu teaching method.
This is why I was so angry in my past life. For someone like me who prefers precision in everything, this teaching didn't suit me at all. A stark contrast between his impeccable swordsmanship and his messy education.
'Well….'
Still, in this life, I should be grateful that he's teaching me the secret technique.
"Then, please teach me step by step in two stages."
"Ah, sure. That's less annoying for me too. You understand even when I teach roughly anyway, right?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Yes, please teach me properly."
"Are you ordering me around?"
I shook my head firmly with a serious expression.
"Of course not, it's a request."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. By the way, it's quite simple to shape the aura? I didn't know it was just a matter of imagining."
"Of course. You didn't know that? Aura can naturally take the shape that its master desires."
Excuse me, no one in my generation knew that fact.
Even in my past life, you never taught it over ten years.
Not only did I, the pinnacle of this era, not know, but my father, Royce, from the previous generation, also didn't know this fact.
There's no record of the technique of shaping aura.
"So, what do I do now?"
"What do you mean? Ah, the second stage. The second stage is to gather the scattered Aura again."
"Gather it again?"
"Yes, this time, erase the image of the sword in your mind completely. Just focus all the Aura into your palms."
"Wouldn't that ruin the sword I've already made?"
"...Hey."
"Yes?"
"Why do you talk so much? Just do it without questioning. Do you think I would tell you to do something that's impossible?"
Damn old man. No matter how hard I try to think positively, he always manages to stir up my latent anger.
'So kind, it could bring tears to my eyes.'
Viiiiing.
When I focused the Aura into my palms, the scattered Aura started gathering as if it was being absorbed.
Contrary to my expectations, the shape of the sword didn't break, and the concentration of the Aura became denser.
I don't know what principle is behind this, but as Siegfried said, the Aura Blade was created.
"...How did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"That, the Aura Blade."
"I just did as you told me to."
"…You really are my descendant, but your talent is insane."
"Suddenly?"
"Yes! This requires an extremely high level of concentration, you know? Usually, it takes at least a year of training to get it right. How did you do it?"
How did I do it? I just followed your instructions. I nodded slightly while looking at the Aura Blade I had created.
"Anyway, this is it, right?"
"Ah, yes, that's it. Oh, and you shouldn't use that sword for too long."
"Why not?"
"It's dangerous. Maintaining it consumes too much Aura. If you're not careful, you could lose consciousness before you even get to swing the sword. You know what would happen in a battle if that occurs, right?"
I'd be killed by the enemy as soon as I show a gap.
Indeed, just holding the Aura Blade makes sweat drip down my forehead.
Moreover, while the Aura Blade felt light like a feather, my trembling fingers felt as if I had been holding a heavy sword for a long time.
"I also failed to control it several times and passed out. It's really dangerous, so I recommend not using it unless absolutely necessary."
"I understand."
"Then today's lesson is over. Any questions?"
"No."
"Having a smart student makes the lesson end quickly. That guy couldn't understand even after a whole day."
"That guy? Did you teach someone else the Aura Blade besides me?"
Siegfried started to say something, then hesitated and shook his head with a regretful expression.
"…Didn't I tell you? There was a guy who was called the Sword King."
* * *
In the middle layers of the tower, filled with massive monsters, a company of knights from the Strange family arrived.
Clad in black armor with helmets that barely revealed their eyes.
They were a special unit performing secret missions within the Strange family.
'Vendetta.'
Their leader removed his helmet, revealing his face.
"Lord Hysteria has headed east."
Lois, the head of the Strange family, showed a worried expression.
"Hysteria?"
"Yes, we checked to see if there was any conflict with Lord Gunter, but he wasn't heading towards Lord Gunter's castle."
"Then what business does he have in the east?"
"…We will investigate."
"When will he arrive?"
"At the earliest, tonight. At the latest, by tomorrow morning, he should arrive in the territory of the Glazer family, 'Abitra'."
"Isn't Abitra the city by the coast?"
"Yes."
"Hmm…."
Lois couldn't predict Hysteria's movements. His actions were always unpredictable.
However, Hysteria always operated within what he could handle.
In the past, he would say 'just for fun' when causing trouble, but over time, there was always a clear reason and justification.
"Where is Gunter?"
"I heard he went to attack a group of assassins called Redworm who recently attacked young master Verdin."
"Where is this Redworm group based?"
"The Redworm group is at the end of the eastern coast…."
The knight hesitated for a moment, then continued.
"Ah, in Abitra."
"Go to the west immediately and find Valentine."
"Yes!"
"And report on this matter. We need to act quickly."
"Understood!"
* * *
It was early in the morning, before breakfast had started, and there was a commotion outside the castle.
"Bring back my mother!"
A child's desperate cry echoed.
"If you don't leave immediately, I'll cut your head off!"
The shouts of the guards threatening him.
'What's going on?'
If they judged him to be an enemy, they would have killed him immediately. Who could be causing such a commotion?
I carefully checked outside the window. I saw a familiar face.
"Rox?"
It was the child with emerald eyes, descended from Brunhilde, whom I met at the Ogre Fortress.
"Bring back my mother!!!"
'Why is he here?'
I jumped out the window.
Thud.
I ran towards where Rox and the guards were facing each other.
Da-da-da-da!
"Move aside."
I swung my fist at Rox's jaw as I arrived at the gate.
Thud!
Rox, caught off guard, turned his head.
"Ugh!"
I then rushed in, kicking his solar plexus with an Aura-infused kick.
Thud!
I grabbed his neck from behind, cutting off his air supply.
"Urgh."
"Why are you here?"
"Give… give back my mother…."
He tried to resist by grabbing me with both arms, but soon his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness.
Thud.
'Give back his mother?'
I looked Rox up and down and ordered one of the guards.
"Take this child inside the castle. I will interrogate him personally."