[Tutorial Que■■ #8
Rid yourself of the title of 'Motherfucking Waste of Ragnar Blood'.
· Difficulty: E
· Reward: ■■■'s Ank■
· Penalty: ■■]
[Player's authority has increased. Re-displaying information.]
[Tutorial Quest #8
Rid yourself of the title of 'Motherfucking Waste of Ragnar Blood'.
· Difficulty: E
· Reward: Beginner's Anklet
· Penalty: ■■]
'Player… quest… beginner…'
Despite this being the first time he was seeing most of this information without static, these terms were not unfamiliar. The system's function resembled a game.
The penalty still remained obscured, but suddenly, things clicked in my mind.
"Now that I think about it…" Theo murmured.
He glanced between the Status Window and the message window, a spark in his eyes.
"Didn't my Luck increase when I earned Julius and Evelyn's approval?"
He had a good idea.
Well, it was debatable whether or not it was a good one.
'If I can pull this off, the impact will be huge. I might be able to kill three birds with one stone. Maybe even four.'
Ding-a-ling
Theo lightly rang the bell on his desk, and a butler on standby entered.
"Assemble all of the available servants in the Rose Palace."
***
The following day, 6:00 AM sharp.
Theo headed to Training Ground #4 like always. The only difference as to the usual was that there was a massive Zweihander strapped to his back.
The massive blade, taller than Theo, dragged along the ground with each step, carving a deep furrow. The sight was comical, yet strangely unnerving.
"Hey, look."
"Is that him…?"
"Yeah, he's the 'it' of the Rose Palace."
"He's quite small."
"I heard he still hasn't even mastered the «Azure Sky Sword» yet. How did he beat a 2-Star swordsman?"
"Isn't that what we're here to find out?"
Training Ground #4 was unusually crowded. Many onlookers feigned warm-ups while watching Theo's every move.
They had come to verify the new rumors that had exploded overnight.
"They say the Imbecile of the Rose Palace not only defeated a 2-Star swordsman but also received a recruitment offer from the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry Commander."
"He must not know his place, because apparently he refused! "
Most scoffed and dismissed the rumors as preposterous.
But… What if they were indeed true?
"How dare he? We will not stand for that!"
This was the collective sentiment among the swordsmen.
Julius was revered by all within the Ragnar Clan. Refusing his offer was an unforgivable insult.
They had planned to watch Theo's training and judge the validity of the rumor themselves when…
Clatter—
Scraaape!
Theo abruptly drew the Zweihander and dragged it across the ground, drawing a line between him and the crowd.
"...?"
"...?"
"...?"
Confused, the onlookers tilted their heads.
Theo gestured them forward.
"You're all here for me, aren't you? I'm too lazy to face all of you one by one. Just come at me together," he taunted the onlookers.
"...!"
"...!"
"...!"
"Well? Are you coming?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Theo sneered as he watched the onlookers hesitate. 'The rumors worked perfectly.'
Theo had started the rumors, instructing the servants to spread the news of the incident at Training Ground #4.
Unlike the other swordsmen, who treated the servants with disdain, Theo maintained a good rapport with them. By offering the servants small compensation, they enthusiastically cooperated.
'I can gain four things from this.'
First, possibly increasing [Luck] by gaining attention and notoriety.
Second, leveling up through experience points gained from sparring.
Third, refining his newly acquired swords styles.
Fourth and finally…
'Momentum.'
Theo refused to be mediocre like in his past lives. He wanted fame and recognition. He wanted to seize the throne of the clan.
To achieve that, the name "Theo" needed to be burned into everyone's minds.
And these people would make good kindling.
Insulted by Theo's challenge, the onlookers flushed. They saw it as a blatant affront to them, unacceptable even for a member of the direct line of Ragnar.
Despite their anger, they hesitated, exchanging glances.
"If we all attack together…"
"The rumors will be disastrous."
"Damn it. But we can't ignore this insult."
Imagine adults swarming a child barely capable of holding a sword just because of a little provocation.
It would be social suicide.
But ignoring the provocation was equally unacceptable as swordsmen of Ragnar.
Finally, one bit the bullet and stepped forward.
"I am Sybil Drea, an inspector swordsman of the Southern Inspection Post."
Inspector swordsman was a position that required one to be at least 2 Stars.
"Young Master, I have a question. Should I interpret your behavior as confirmation of the rumors?" Sybil asked.
"What transpired between myself and the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry Commander is our business. I'm not obligated to answer you."
"Then why this provocation…?"
"I'm busy training for the Awakening Ceremony. I'd rather get rid of any distractions right away."
"..." Sybil flushed crimson.
However, it wasn't anger but humiliation.
Theo was implying, 'You guys won't listen no matter what I say. You'll just stay and cause a scene. But I dislike interruptions, so I'm forcefully removing you. What's the problem?'
Sybil was speechless. He had indeed intended to stay until the truth was uncovered.
"So, are you coming or not?" Theo repeated himself.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The onlookers were in a pickle. Attacking now would only demonstrate how petty they were on top of being bullies.
'Did he deliberately set this up to control the narrative…?' Sybil wondered.
He was struck by how different Theo was from the rumors.
"If you won't come…" Theo said, raising the Zweihander into a stance, "I will."
Shiver.
A sudden chill ran down Sybil's spine.
Fwoosh!
Theo crossed the line and charged forward.
Sybil had no choice but to frantically draw his sword.
Clang!
* * *
As Evelyn retrieved the chest hidden beneath her bed, dusted it, and opened the lid, doubts plagued her.
'Is this really for the best?'
'Have I fallen for the commander's schemes again?'
'What if the trauma resurfaces?'
'What if I can't perform as I used to?'
'Even if it's my non-dominant arm that's missing, my balance is now different. Have I truly not forgotten swordsmanship?'
'Is this truly right?'
'I…'
'I…!'
Her inner demons whispered. Doubt, worry, anxiety, anger, and sadness echoed loudly in her mind.
However…
Click.
As the lid opened, the emotions whispered by her inner demons cleared away.
'Beautiful…'
The rapier within was exquisite. The simple, unadorned blade captivated her.
'I can't believe I used to fight so fiercely with this.'
'I treated it so carelessly.'
Evelyn slowly reached out and grasped the rapier's hilt.
Her hand trembled.
The sword trembled.
Her heart trembled.
"I accepted your retirement because you couldn't hold the reins anymore, not because you couldn't wield a sword. So think about wielding a sword again. Isn't it time you got back on your feet?"
The commander's words echoed in her ears.
"Perhaps that child's fighting spirit can rekindle the fire within you."
Evelyn gripped the rapier and stood.
'He should be at the training grounds by now.'
She wanted to see if Theo could truly rekindle her extinguished passion.
If he could make her heart race again.
***
A searing pain in his wrist snapped Sybil back to reality.
'It's real! He's finally resolved himself!' he thought.
They say that skilled swordsmen can read their opponent's thoughts by exchanging blades.
Sybil was experiencing that at this very moment. He could feel Theo's fighting spirit intensely.
It was as if they were facing each other on a battlefield.
'How is this possible when he's never even stepped foot outside of Wintera…?' he wondered.
Kling! Klang! Klang!
After a rapid exchange, Sybil stepped back to create a large gap between him and Theo.
His sword cried out, nicked and scratched.
This was impossible without skill, regardless of the Zweihander's weight.
It was enough to call him a 'proper swordsman'.
'…This must be the reason why Sir Julius tried to scout him.'
Shame washed over Sybil.
Ten years as an inspector, yet still stuck at 2 Stars. This fact had been slowly gnawing away at his heart.
'I, too, once dreamed of wearing white armor, leading the charge, showcasing Ragnar's might…'
The painful chasm between dreams and reality was a feeling only those who experienced it could understand.
His peers, once his equals, had been promoted to higher positions, shining brightly… while he remained behind, shrouded in shadow.
The despair of realizing his limitations was paralyzing.
That was when it began. Belittling those weaker than himself.
Theo had been one of them.
"Theo Ragnar? That pale young master at the Rose Palace? How can you compare him to me? Unlike him, someone with no ambition or talent, I…" he used to rant about Theo.
A spoiled brat lucky enough to be born a Ragnar.
That was what he had thought, until last night's rumors.
"What? He caught Sir Julius's attention…? Impossible! Why would he be interested in someone like him? There must be a mistake!" he had reacted.
He couldn't accept that someone he dismissed had been acknowledged by someone he admired.
Or perhaps he hated the feeling of being the only one falling behind.
Sybil had come with his close friends. In fact, most of the onlookers were people in similar predicaments—once full of dreams, now resigned to the reality of their limitations.
They wanted confirmation that Julius had made a 'mistake'.
After all, even the most perfect people sometimes made errors.
And they wanted to punish him.
To show the arrogant child who dared refuse Sir Julius his place.
However…
'That wasn't it,' Sybil realized.
Just look at Theo's fighting spirit. It wasn't an attitude demonstrable by someone who simply got lucky and was born as a Ragnar.
It was the will of someone who'd clawed and fought, who'd gritted their teeth and persevered, who'd swung their sword countless times unseen, who'd clung on with relentless tenacity.
A will Sybil himself lacked.
"..."
Sybil wanted to disappear. Burrow into a hole and never show his face again.
But he could not atone for his insolence by running away.
As Theo stepped forward, Sybil lowered his sword, covered his right hand with his left, and bowed deeply.
A sword salute. A custom among swordsmen.
"What are you doing?" Theo asked.
"I apologize for my mistake and disrespect, Young Master."
Theo stopped in his tracks, narrowing his eyes.
He continued, "I underestimated your skill and dared to interrupt your training. I know my actions are difficult to forgive. Even if it's too late, I want to show you proper respect. I apologize again for my rudeness."