Since the day I collapsed after swinging a sword, I’ve been dedicating myself to training every single day. Knight Leon watched me with an intense gaze that was more than just admiration.
‘Hmm… Is this kid gay?’
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Leon called me over, saying he had something interesting to show me.
Before suspicions could turn into certainty – what he revealed wasn’t the hidden dragon in his pants but something else entirely.
“There are four kinds of power in this world. Are you aware of them?”
“Like, gravity and stuff?”
“Gravity…? No, there’s Aura, Force, Magic Power, and Divine Power.”
From Leon’s mouth flowed surprisingly familiar terms: Aura, Force, Magic Power, and Divine Power – the four abilities players could choose from in the game.
The force that lets you cut through rocks with a sword swing and fly through the air.
“Master Kail, as the eldest son of a knight family, you’ll be learning Aura.”
“Can’t I learn something else?”
“Well, you could theoretically learn magic… But it’d be tough. Unlike Aura, it requires many talents.”
They say to become a sorcerer, one needs not only talent for magic power but also the intelligence to understand incantations and the perseverance to sit and research for 10 or even 20 hours at a stretch.
So unless I was a mutant genius, magic was off the table.
“What about the others? Like Force or Divine Power?”
“Force is a superpower one is born with. It can’t be taught or learned from anyone. As for Divine Power… Do you wish to become a priest, Master?”
“No, not really.”
“In that case, Aura is all that’s left for you.”
As Leon spoke, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. In movies and comics, protagonists always have some hidden lineage allowing them to wield all powers…
Reading my expression, Leon chuckled.
“Being able to learn Aura is already quite remarkable. It’s no less impressive than Magic Power, Force, or Divine Power.”
“It’s not that I dislike it…”
“You’ll change your mind once you see it. Let me show you.”
Saying that, Leon drew his wooden sword. Holding the sword, he closed his eyes briefly to take a deep breath before releasing something swirling around him.
“Knights who wield Aura are divided into three stages.”
That swirling presence around his body was absorbed with his breath. Then Leon swung his wooden sword.
A speed nearly invisible to the naked eye. A swing so fast it seemed physically impossible.
“First, there’s the stage where one can strengthen their body through Aura.”
“Oh, so the next is Expert and the final one is Master?”
“…Who told you that?”
“No one, it’s just too obvious.”
I recalled the game’s system. Even here in reality, the same old setup from some shop-bought game persisted.
‘Even so, these names are embarrassingly lazy.’
The beginner-expert-master naming felt like a direct English translation, making me snicker. Trying hard not to let out a nasal laugh, I looked back at Leon.
Realizing I knew about Aura, Leon didn’t stop his lesson.
“As you know, when one can imbue Aura into objects other than their own body, they reach the Expert stage.”
With a powerful swing, Leon shattered a log with his wooden sword then sheathed it.
“And when one can project Aura outside their body, they reach Master level.”
“Won’t you show me that last part?”
“Haha, very funny, Master.”
Leon scratched his cheek awkwardly and looked away.
“To be honest, I haven’t reached Master level yet. It’s not an easy feat.”
“Are Masters that rare?”
“Among knights, yes. Even Viscount hasn’t reached Master level.”
“Eh? Not even Dad?”
“Yes. Reaching Master level isn’t something anyone can easily accomplish. Should you reach that level, you’ll earn the title of Sword Saint and…”
Simultaneously – looking up at the sky as if imagining his ideal being – Leon continued:
“You’ll be able to achieve whatever you desire.”
“Even become king or emperor?”
“Hmm… Emperor might be a stretch… But perhaps king of a small country.”
“So it’s not ‘anything’ after all.”
Hearing my muttering, Leon just laughed and looked at me. Jumping off the log I was sitting on, I said:
“Still… Seems like I need to work really hard for that, huh?”
“Yes, you do.”
“Then let’s go – to training.”
Leaving Leon behind, I started running ahead. Training was nothing new, after all.
Effort is such a thing. A continuous process of painful tasks.
Even without guaranteed success at the end – pushing oneself into pain.
* * *
It’s been three months since I nagged Leon into teaching me. During this time, the territory has strangely become busier.
When I asked my tutor in curiosity, he looked surprised and answered:
“Isn’t it obvious? The head of the house will soon return from the expedition. Surely you didn’t know?”
“Uh… I’m hearing it for the first time.”
“–I told you a month ago before starting the lessons. Guess you weren’t paying attention during class?”
“Ahh…”
Thus exposed for spacing out back then, I ended up taking a pop quiz reviewing past lessons.
Realizing how little I remembered from the quiz, my tutor erupted in anger, determined to make me study again.
I skillfully dodged his wrath and headed to the training ground.
“Knight Leon?”
Unfortunately, the training ground was empty. Of course, with the viscount returning soon, it would be strange for his knights not to go welcome him.
Quietly observing the silent training ground, I started running with the wooden sword Leon made for me.
Alone or not, what difference does it make? Life is lived alone anyway.
“Gozaa!”
After finishing my lonely run and sword swings, I returned to the mansion.
The viscount was already back to greet me.
* * *
“Welcome back, Viscount.”
“Hmm.”
The head of the Meyer household, Karl Meyer, received a report from his vassal and knight Leon about what happened in the territory while he was away.
The territory was peaceful, with no damage from monsters or bandits.
In hindsight, it was natural. He had set up a system to ensure the territory would function smoothly even in his absence.
“Anything unusual?”
“Master Kail has started learning swordsmanship.”
“Kail?”
But things never go exactly as planned. Hearing that his son had started learning the sword, the viscount began chuckling.
Blood runs true, it seems. He thought Kail would want to play for a few more years.
“Does he have the aptitude?”
“Surprisingly so.”
“Ho? For you to say that…”
Karl looked at Leon as he nodded sincerely. Leon was the viscount’s most trusted and skilled knight. He hadn’t entrusted the territory to him lightly.
If even such a knight found someone surprising…
“What have you taught him?”
“Just basic slashing, swinging, and thrusting.”
“Didn’t he complain?”
“I told him you’d teach him eventually.”
“He should still have whined for more techniques by now.”
Deciding to see for himself, the viscount headed to the training ground with Leon. More specifically, to the corridor overlooking it.
Due to the welcoming ceremony for his return from the expedition, the training ground was empty except for one person – Kail practicing his sword swings.
While some might be upset that his son preferred practicing over welcoming his father’s return, the viscount found it pleasing instead.
“…Knight Leon. How long have you been teaching him?”
“Three months now.”
Recalling his own sword training days, the viscount observed Kail’s form and hummed thoughtfully.
To reach this level in just three months? Even three years would be unbelievable.
As he marveled internally, Leon delivered an even more shocking revelation.
“He was like this from the very first lesson.”
“…What?”
Looking at Leon in disbelief, the viscount received a casual nod in return.
Realizing his son’s potential, the viscount abandoned his plan to teach him personally in a few years.
With this much talent, the second Great Master since the founding ancestor might appear. A Sword Saint who would bring glory to the family…
“I need to see his face.”
“I’ll fetch him.”
“–Don’t interrupt his training. Bring him after he’s done.”
Leaving those words, the viscount headed to the dining hall. Despite the mountain of work awaiting him… How could he pass up a celebration today?
* * *
While practicing at the training ground, I felt someone watching me. It was Knight Leon, who immediately took me to the master’s office after my training ended.
Still sweaty and unwashed, I was brought before the viscount waiting there. Realizing I hadn’t greeted him upon his return from the expedition, I hurriedly paid my respects.
“Kail, did you do well?”
“Yes, Father.”
Though visibly tired from the expedition, the viscount’s face remained cheerful.
Ruffling my hair in a rather common way for a noble, he mentioned tomorrow’s training as if he’d seen me practicing earlier.
“From now on, you’ll learn the sword from me.”
“Uh… Yes, understood.”
“Good. Any injuries?”
“No.”
The father-son conversation between the viscount and me was rather ordinary for nobles. Mid-conversation, the viscount suddenly exclaimed and dropped a bombshell.
“By the way, your fiancee will visit tomorrow.”
“…”
Thinking I must have misheard, I tilted my head in confusion. However, the viscount just smirked without correcting himself.
Staring blankly at him, I let out a bitter laugh.
Viscount… Father. A betrothal at this age… really?
