Chapter 12 (2/2)
“….”
“Even so, you are much stronger than the first time we fought.”
“Really?”
Kurotan seemed to be in a bit of disbelief.
He had trained mechanically under Luke’s guidance without any large expectations, but the results of the training were significant.
Kurotan had abandoned the body of an Orc for a completely different body of a human. He had lost the majority of his battle prowess from his time as an Orc Great Warrior.
By training in the basics of the sword that Luke had taught him, he was slowly regaining his senses from back then. His body and reflexes had yet to completely catch up to his senses, but continued training would close the gaps between them.
Kurotan’s face blushed with excitement.
“I will train even harder starting today. Wouldn’t I become stronger faster then?”
“You moron… Just continue to train at the intensity you have been training at. Your current training regimen is close to your body’s limits anyway. A human’s body will break down if you overdo it.”
“All right, I will listen to your words.”
Kurotan suddenly glared at Luke and smiled.
“After my training and I defeat you, I will be the Great Warrior from then on.”
‘This b.a.s.t.a.r.d?’
Luke glared back at Kurotan in disbelief. Should that happen again, Kurotan would return to being uncooperative and giving Luke headaches.
‘You think I’ll simply let you do that?’
Luke silently tightened his hands into fists.
Luke promised himself then and there that he would put himself through intense training in order to keep Kurotan from surpa.s.sing him.
From that day, Luke began training alongside Kurotan in the training field. It also helped Luke distract himself from counting the days in agony.
“It will take the informants planted in Lea Marquisate at least ten days to return.”
Luke threw himself into his training, pus.h.i.+ng his body to its limits in order to stave off the anxiety. The duels he held with Kurotan whenever he could always exceeded his expectations.
“How in the… How did you dodge that? I thought I had gotten past your defenses.”
Kurotan bared his teeth in a savage smile.
“I have battled countless human Knights. Compared to their techniques, dueling you is like fighting a child.”
Luke’s face scrunched up with humiliation.
“Hey, I did manage to scratch you.”
“That’s only because I can’t move my body freely yet.”
Kurotan also had a hard time getting through Luke’s defenses due to only carrying out his attacks with the basic sword skills he had learned. However, Luke’s attacks were getting through Kurotan’s defenses less and less. Kurotan had an abundance of experience in life and death battles with humans to draw from.
As the training continued, Kurotan gradually familiarized himself with Hal’s body, and recovered his reflexes and power from his time as an Orc Great Warrior.
The training only ended when Kurotan became so exhausted that he fell to the ground and could not move. Because Kurotan was improving so rapidly, Luke could no longer land that many hits on him.
‘s.h.i.+t, if he’s this hard to handle with just the basic sword skills I’ve taught him, how much stronger would he become I pa.s.s on the next level of sword skills to him?’
Kurotan had become fairly skilled with the basic sword skills Luke had given him. It was completely unheard of for a person unfamiliar with the sword to have mastered basic sword skills in two months. Apprentice knights usually took at least one year to master basic sword skills.
It was a feat made possible only by the fact that the soul of a veteran Orc Great Warrior resided in Hal’s untrained body.
Luke had meant to begin training Kurotan in beginner level swordsmans.h.i.+p, a level higher than basic swordsmans.h.i.+p, but he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous at the rapid speed Kurotan’s swordsmans.h.i.+p improved.
‘I don’t know if this is the right choice…’
Luke was resting after the duel with Kurotan, when a maid servant approached him.
“The Lord wishes to see you.”
“All right.”
Reynold greeted him with a bright smile when Luke entered the Lord’s Hall.
“I’ll bet you’ve been dying to hear that our informant has returned.”
“It feels like my blood is drying out.”
“It is good that you have self-control.”
“Yes, Lord. What did you wish to see me for?”
“I have something to give you.”
Reynold took out three books from the drawer of his desk.
“It’s the mid-level sword techniques you asked for.”
Luke swallowed unconsciously. Basic and beginner level sword techniques, he could teach personally to Kurotan. However, mid-level techniques and higher usually requires written text to be mastered. Higher level techniques could not be taught simply by verbal coaching, but required self-study to be learned efficiently.
“Thank you for listening to my request.”
Reynold looked serious as he retorted.
“These mid-level sword techniques were purchased at expensive prices by our House.”
“Yes, I already know.”
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Anything.”
“Do you truly believe that your apprentice knight deserves to learn the mid-level sword techniques?”
Luke paused for a little bit before nodding.
“Yes, I do.”
“Equivalent exchange is a law of the universe. What has the apprentice knight promised to give to you for these mid-level sword techniques?”
Luke answered without hesitation this time.
“He will fight for me for the rest of his life.”
A smile spread over Reynold’s face.
“Not a bad exchange, then. It is good news to hear that you have already taken a va.s.sal.”
“…”
“Pick one book from the three. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, so you will have to choose wisely.”
“Yes, big brother.”
Luke began to pore over the three books containing mid-level sword techniques. Two of them seemed to have come from fallen n.o.ble Houses.
They balanced offense and defense well, while focusing on building a solid foundation of techniques. However, they were slightly lacking compared to the Esteban swordsmans.h.i.+p that Luke was training Kurotan in.
When Luke took a look at the third book, surprise came over his face.
“This is….”
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