Sword Whisperer: Chapter 6
Chapter 6. Career Options (1)
[You are holding the small sword of a ‘talented swordsman.’]
Material: Iron
Quality: Regular
Master: Lucas (2 Stars)
Memory Retention Rate: Low
Note: Being well balanced, this small sword is easy to wield in any position. It is possible to inherit the previous master’s talents should you hold it all the time.
[Your current swordsmanship is at level 1 star. Memory synchronization rate will be calibrated as regular.]
[Training is needed!]
He had reached 1 star level already when he had learned about one half of Jansen’s sword skill. As a result, the memory synchronization rate was much better than he had expected.
If he was to grab an equivalent 1 star level sword, he could increase the memory synchronization rate, but Van did not want to do that.
‘Certainly, the sword used by Lucas was still available!’
He was one of the few ‘knights’ which this guard unit had produced. Fortunately, his expectation came true as he has been wondering whether there would still remain at least one sword which was used by Lucas.
Dolby looked to be unable to understand the selection that Van has made.
“…..Small sword? You had used a long sword last time. If you suddenly switch swords, wouldn’t it be too difficult to adapt?”
“This elder brother has a plan already.”
“Elder? You will be ripe for a good beating.”
“Get beat up? Me? By you?”
“….Just wait and see. I will flip it around on you.”
Van smiled with a smirk. Dolby’s such resolve wasn’t being downplayed, at all. However, he was sure that there was no chance that he would lose to Dolby in the future.
Within just a few months, he has absorbed Jansen’s swordsmanship, and reached the current level.
Would it be any different for another swordsman’s sword?
‘That probably won’t be.’
Van gripped Lucas’ small sword. He felt the gradual absorption of Lucas’ memory through the palm of his hand. In this world, there would be many more swordsmen who had more talent than him. There would certainly be many who had great achievements as well.
However, there was no need to be anxious. Just by training with their swords in his hands, everything that they had achieved will become his own.
His dream was coming to a realization.
§
A half a year has passed.
The New Year’s Day was near, and it also implied that Van would soon turn sixteen.
Spending each and every day at the guard unit wasn’t as glamorous as he thought. Those who were looking to cause trouble at the gate were mostly nothing more than small time thieves who were beaten up and chased away, after attempting to enter the village in secret. And as usual, invasion by a band of thieves weren’t common occurrences.
It has been uneventful days. If he was to look for changes in his life, it would be that he no longer lived with Jansen, and that Jansen has suddenly left on a trip.
In conclusion, the times that Van felt alive was when he was at the training center. Whenever he swung Lucas’ small sword, his life was not boring, at least during that time.
‘….What a guy.’
Van was not very close to Lucas. When he was with the guard unit, Van was too young and Lucas was not an easy person to approach. Even when he was an ordinary guard, something was still different about him.
And only after he held Lucas’ sword, Van realized why he had that impression from him.
Talent.
Lucas’ swordsmanship was filled with talents that couldn’t be hidden. There was something very special in Lucas’ swordsmanship, even at the moments of his failures.
‘Still, as far as the down-swing goes.’
As far as the down-swing went, Jansen did not fall behind Lucas. In fact, he had a strong feeling that his was better. However, in other areas, Lucas’ skill was more apparent in every aspect. To begin with, as far as the information that was told by the ‘voice of the sword’, Lucas was a 2 star swordsman while Jansen was only 1 star. There definitely had to be differences.
“You are so stubborn. Don’t you get tired?”
Dolby, who was next to Van, shook his head as he watched. Since the day he had lost to Van, he has never been lazy with his training….however, with the passing of time, the gap between him and Van grew bigger.
Van smiled mischievously as he stole a look at Dolby.
“Why. Do you want to spar?”
“….Again with a real sword?”
“Wooden sword is not fun.”
Dolby gripped on the sword instead of replying. Van chuckled and held his small sword. Sparring with real swords was obviously more dangerous than sparring with wooden swords, but there was a reason for preferring it. First of all, it felt more like a real battle, and…..
[You are contesting with someone whose skill lacks behind you!]
[Analyzing the opponent’s sword!]
[Much of the path of the sword has already been analyzed.]
‘OK.’
Van raised the ends of his lips as he smiled in euphoria. This was why sparring with real swords was preferred. During the time the swords made contact, he was able to absorb the path of the opponent’s sword, not just his own.
It was because of that. Even before Dolby was able to wield the sword as he wanted, Van was able to position his sword to the predetermined direction and block Dolby’s sword. And at the same time, he was able to get to Dolby’s back.
The sparring came to an abrupt end. That was expected. Since he knew the path of his opponent’s sword in advance, only a fool would lose the fight.
Van’s small sword touched Dolby’s neck area. He put on a big smile and asked.
“What is the win-loss record with this?”
“…..Don’t keep such scores. It’s frustrating.”
Sighing loudly, Dolby dropped his sword helplessly. Recently, there has not been any fight that he was able to defeat Van, even by luck. It wasn’t just Dolby’s story. Among those, in the guard unit, those who were able to defeat Van were only the lieutenants.
As defeat was already been anticipated even before the sparring occurred, there was no way that they could win. Dolby spoke as he sighed.
“Even the Kendrick bastards are treading the water lightly around you. Since they got beaten up pretty bad last time.”
“Ah….Those guys?”
“Feeling good about it?”
“Well, nothing to feel bad about it, right?”
Van shrugged his shoulders. There were some bastards who would often cause trouble at the only bar in the village. There was an incidence in which they even dared to cause trouble with the guards, but the result was that they ended up taking a lesson from Van.
‘Those bastards don’t even know how to move about.’
As long as he had Jansen’s down-swing and Lucas’ animalistic instincts, there was no way that Van would lose to those undisciplined bunch. Van sighed as he stroked the blade of his small sword.
“By the way, is there anything that we can do something heroic. Not the idiot bunch like them, but some organized bad bunch. Like thieves or something.”
“…..Do you really want to be a knight, or something?”
“No, the world’s best swordsman.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Dolby broke out into laughter. If it was like the old days, he would mock him referring to Van’s dreams about being a sword god, but the situation was different, now. Perhaps, this delusional friend might actually make his delusion a reality. For some time now, Dolby was having such thoughts.
It wasn’t just Dolby. Van’s improvement speed was a particularly popular topic of conversations over drinks. How could it not be since an ordinary apprentice of a pharmacist has instantly become the best ace swordsman within the guard unit.
-The lad will even become a knight.
-Knight shouldn’t be an issue? He may even become a member of the royal knight.
-Huh-huh…. Is he the best candidate since Lucas? Looking at this, our village is very blessed with talented people.
They were the words of other elder members. Everyone talked about it as if Van would certainly be a knight. Dolby thought as he made fists. Right. It was a good thing.
If he wasn’t envious of it, he would be lying, yet if this insufficient lad could be a knight then…..
“Hey, how are things with Yuri?”
“….Why ask all of a sudden?”
“Well, just wondering if you’re doing OK even without my secret medicine. You are such a weakling. And for other reasons.”
Van giggled as he said. Dolby ground his teeth and thought.
As expected, he couldn’t cheer for him.
§
‘Ah, I wish something interesting will happen.’
A princess who was being chased by an evil gang. A wise man that has gone mad after learning the secrets of the world. The people like that. Like laying out the basic circumstances before the story teller would introduce the heroes.
However, this village was just too overly peaceful. If there was ever an eventful thing then it would just be limited to the scuffle with the Kendrick’s bunch, last time.
“Ah, I want to be successful.”
Hearing Van’s murmur, one of the guards, who was next to him, giggled as he looked at Van.
“Hey. If you want to be successful, you should have just gone to the capitol.”
“Well, you know very well that I have never even been to the adjacent village. I would just die, losing my direction, from going there?”
“….That would be a possibility. At any rate, don’t be too timid. There will be a chance as long as you have the skill. Who knows? An injured prince may just appear and ask for help.”
“I’d prefer a princess over a prince.”
“Kk, I do too.”
It was a meaningless small talk as usual. And as usual, the day was going to pass meaninglessly.
Right, that was what was expected.
“Move aside! A son of Cho family is here!”
A splendid carriage, being pulled by four horses, that was, it had possibly been a splendid carriage. A horse carriage that had cracks, and had blood stains everywhere. Listening to the voice of the tired and anxious horseman, Van unconsciously gripped Lucas’ small sword.
His instinct was telling him. Although it wasn’t a princess, no a prince…..
That an opportunity was knocking.