'Ah…!'
Theo sighed with disappointment.
He knew the importance of the trance he had just lost. Such moments held the potential to catapult a swordsman's skill.
He had finally gotten a proper glimpse of the secret sword style he could only vaguely sense before. But on the verge of a breakthrough, he'd been interrupted.
Annoyance hardened Theo's expression.
Rendon, however, was also flushed with rage.
'He must have been chewed out by Mother.'
Had he come to complain?
Theo knew any confrontation with this man would be pointless. The idiot hadn't even noticed Theo was in a sword trance.
Talking to him was a waste of precious time—time better spent focusing on the secret sword style.
He resumed his stance without even looking over at Rendon.
"You're still here?" Theo asked.
"What…!"
"Didn't Mother already speak to you? She should have told you to pack your bags and leave by this morning."
"That's—!"
"As you can see, I'm busy. Please leave if you have no other business."
Rendon's face flushed an even darker shade of red. Being dismissed by Theo, whom he had always considered a stupid little weakling, fueled his fury.
But Theo remained indifferent.
He slowly moved again, swinging his Zweihander.
He was reattempting the «Three Fangs of the Dragon», the sword style he had just failed.
***
Theo's indifference only further enraged Rendon.
'This pathetic worm dares to treat me like this…?!'
His position as instructor to a direct descendant of the Ragnar clan carried significant weight no matter where he went. There was no way Rendon was giving this up.
If reason failed, he was not above making threats. And right now, Theo was conveniently practicing his laughable swordsmanship.
It was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the gulf between their abilities.
Swish!
Rendon quickly drew his sword and swung. His target? Theo's neck.
'A nick to the skin, and he'll scream out in fear—!'
But Rendon's thoughts were cut short.
Theo's Zweihander swept across the ground, then snapped upward, deflecting the attack.
Clang!
"...!"
The force was shocking. Pain, akin to a limb tearing, shot up Rendon's arm, forcing him to stumble back.
Theo's sharp gaze pierced him.
Rendon flinched. For an instant, Theo's intensity sent a shiver down his spine.
"Again," Theo stated.
"What…?"
"Come at me again."
Theo's eyes blazed with unfamiliar fire.
[You have successfully learned your first sword style. (1/10)]
[Strength increased by 2.]
[Stamina increased by 1.]
Messages appeared before his eyes.
He had learned a sword style simply by blocking an attack? And his physical attributes increased on top of that?
Theo could, in fact, feel his strength burgeoning.
He was already captivated by the strange power of the messages.
He couldn't waste this opportunity. He would exploit it fully.
Rendon looked like a golden goblin in Theo's eyes.
'Looking down on me simply because you blocked one attack? You're asking for it, you motherfucker!' Rendon thought in anger.
Dash!
Rendon grit his teeth and lunged forward. He was convinced Theo was mocking him.
Meanwhile, Theo remained composed. He focused all his senses on Rendon; his breathing, the flicker of his pupils, the tensing of his muscles, the placement of his feet, the angle of his sword…
All that vast amount of information was visible to Theo's eyes.
He noted, 'The magic power within my Aura Heart has grown even more. Thanks to that, my dynamic vision is better.'
Every function of his body was augmented, allowing him to effortlessly assess his response.
'I'll block with a reversed third form of «Young Jester's Prank».'
The Zweihander carved a graceful arc, a stark contrast to the fierce technique he had used earlier.
Cling!
Rendon's attack was deflected once again.
'There's no doubt. I'm able to swing my sword even stronger, and my breathing is more controlled,' Theo confirmed.
He definitely wasn't imagining it. Rendon staggering backwards was undeniable proof.
The more Theo fought, the more sword styles he learned, the stronger he became.
Ding!
[You have successfully learned your second sword style. (2/10)]
[Dexterity increased by 1.]
[Intelligence increased by 1.]
More messages appeared, accompanied by another change in his body.
His muscles tightened. His body felt lighter.
'I wonder if my speed increased,' he wondered.
Theo, who had been purely defensive, decided to switch to the offensive.
Whoosh!
The explosive power in his legs surprised him. He closed the distance to Rendon faster than he anticipated.
"…Kgh!" Rendon reacted in shock.
With widened eyes, Rendon desperately tried to pull his sword inward, but Theo, calm and collected, slipped inside his guard.
The Zweihander swung full force into Rendon's chest.
«Mighty Strength & Indomitable Spirit»
A secret sword style focused on raw power.
Crash!
"Aaargh!" Rendon screamed, just barely blocking the blow.
He staggered a few steps backward before tripping and falling.
[You have successfully learned your third sword style. (3/10)]
[Strength increased by 1.]
[Dexterity increased by 1.]
[Luck increased by 2.]
'Even Luck?' Theo chuckled.
He could feel himself growing stronger with each passing moment.
'So this is the power of the messages… and the talent of Ragnar.'
There was more to what was going on than the increase in stats from the messages.
His inherent physical talent as a Ragnar, combined with his heightened reflexes, adaptability, and sharp judgment, synergized with the messages.
'Not to mention the power from the Aura Heart.'
The messages. His talent as a Ragnar. The Dragon Heart. As long as he had those three, Theo's potential was limitless.
'I might be able to win…'
He had started this solely with the intent to spar, but now, he was aiming for victory.
"I'll kill you!" Rendon shrieked, his face contorted. "I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!"
Murderous intent radiated from him.
However, Theo remained impassive, calmly moving with the Zweihander.
Slash!
* * *
'He became faster again.'
Julius watched the uneven duel, his eyes gleaming.
When Rendon had interrupted Theo's trance and started the fight, he almost stepped in.
Even though Rendon was a fraud, he was still a 2-Star swordsman. A novice like Theo, who had just begun wielding a sword, stood no chance.
But Julius quickly rescinded his assessment.
'As the fight draws on, his senses are sharpening, and his stance is stabilizing.'
On the surface, Rendon appeared to have the advantage. He was relentlessly pressing Theo, who seemed barely able to defend himself.
But their eyes told a different story.
Rendon was losing control, his attacks growing frantic, while Theo's responses remained measured and precise.
Whenever Theo launched a rare counterattack, Rendon flinched and stumbled.
'He must have gained insights into advanced swordsmanship during his trance! To already do so at his age…!'
That was when Julius understood. Theo wasn't sparring with Rendon. He was using him as a training tool, a stepstool for growth.
"You little bastaaaaard!" Rendon, finally realizing this, roared in frustration.
'How is this possible?' Julius wondered.
A novice using a 2-Star swordsman for practice? Even for a Ragnar, this defied all logic.
'He's a genius. A true genius,' he mused.
Unaware of the existence of the messages, Julius's fascination intensified out of proportion. He had to have this boy.
Julius unconsciously licked his lips.
"..."
Evelyn, watching from the side, shook her head.
The old man's obsession had returned.
She recalled Julius's nickname—the Prodigy Glutton… no, the Prodigy Collector.
He simply couldn't resist a prodigy.
***
"I-impossible…!" Rendon, disheveled and exhausted, collapsed, still in disbelief.
[You have successfully learned your tenth sword style. (10/10)]
[Strength increased by 2.]
[Luck increased by 1.]
Theo reveled in the thrill of victory. Every fiber of his being tingled with adrenaline.
Did Ragnar swordsmen get to constantly indulge in such sensations? If so, he finally understood their obsession with combat.
Even he, experiencing this for the first time, was intoxicated. He couldn't blame others for also thirsting after this feeling.
But the most profound sensations resonated deeper.
Victory. Exhilaration. Accomplishment.
For the first time in all his lives, he had achieved something tangible.
He had started this fight at a disadvantage, and now, he had surpassed Rendon. His growth was astonishing.
'I finally did it. I… I can do this.'
In a way, this was the biggest fruit of his labor in this life.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Que■■ #7]
Evaluation: A+
You have obtained '■■■'s Brace■■' as a reward.]
[As an additional reward based on your evaluation, you have obtained the authority for «Observation».]
Observation?
Theo's eyes widened at the new message.
'Are the magic power rewards finished? That's a shame.'
But he had a strong feeling this bonus reward would be just as valuable.
"How do I use this? Obser…vation…?" as Theo murmured, glancing at the defeated Rendon…
[Observing 'Rendon Harvey'.]
[Rendon Harvey (32/Male)
· Title: Mercenary Conman
· Talent: Swindling
· Status: Dejected and enraged by the unexpected defeat]
'…Isn't this Rendon's personal information?'
«Observation» seemed to be an ability that revealed information about a target. It displayed not only their talent, but even their current state.
Used correctly, this could be a powerful tool.
'Can I perhaps see my own as well?'
However, Theo couldn't access his own data. Maybe it required a third person perspective, meaning you couldn't observe yourself.
'There are no garbled characters with this one. What's the difference?'
Theo suppressed his curiosity and narrowed his eyes. Rendon's 'status' was almost comical.
Dejected and enraged by the unexpected defeat.
'This is why I never liked him. Never will.'
"I think that's enough. Pack up and leave by tonight. If you continue to be persistent, I'll summon the Swords of Law."
The Swords of Law were responsible for upholding the clan's internal laws and maintaining order. With the exception of the clan head, their authority extended even to the elders.
And so, to mere staff, they might as well be synonymous with the Grim Reaper.
Rendon, familiar with their reputation, hung his head.
Theo turned away, dismissing him.
After such an event, it would be normal to conclude training for the day. However, reviewing the sword techniques he just learned seemed more prudent.
But then…
"Die, you son of a bitch!" Rendon abruptly looked up and threw something at Theo's back.
It was a surprise attack.
'...!'
Had he feigned defeat to retrieve a hidden weapon?
Theo quickly tried to turn, but the dagger was already flying close to his face.
Thump-thump-thump!
His Dragon Heart hammered in his chest, making it appear as if time had slowed down.
Flash!
A streak of light descended from the skies, effortlessly deflecting the dagger.
Clang!
The figure materialized. A middle-aged man with a hawk-like gaze stood before Theo.
"The… White-Armored Dragon Cavalry Commander?" Theo questioned who he was seeing.
It was Julius Ragnar, one of the highest-ranking individuals in the clan.
What was he doing here?
Before Theo could speak…
"Victory demands vigilance until the very end. The greatest danger for a swordsman isn't during the fight, but when victory seems assured and you drop your guard. Also—"
Julius's voice was calm as he imparted his wisdom, but his next action was brutally swift.
With a savage motion, he swung his sword.
"—once you choose ruthlessness, commit to it fully."
A flash of light erupted from Julius's sword, and a wave of aura cleaved Rendon's neck.
Slice—
Spurt!
Blood splattered across the training ground floor.
Rendon's enraged face remained frozen in disbelief, unaware that he was dead.
"Aaah! The training ground is a mess! Commander! You can't just do that! I have to clean this, you know!"
Ignoring Evelyn's shriek, Julius turned to Theo.
"Are you injured?" the commander asked.