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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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Yuma stood next to Bell.
Balmung’s voice echoed in his head:
“Your posture is perfect. There’s not a single flaw. Unlike Master, you have exceptional martial talent.”
This bastard.
He’s stating something I already know very well without needing to say it.
“Are you planning to pass on the sword technique manual we created yesterday? Since Decan’s sword style lacks variability and is straightforward, it was relatively brief.”
What transmission?
I haven’t even learned this sword technique in the first place.
I’m just sharing it.
Balmung, this guy talks too much.
Tap tap
Yuma tapped Balmung’s scabbard at his waist twice with his index and middle fingers.
It was a signal to stay quiet unless he wanted to be stuffed into a spatial pocket.
“Yes, I’ll only say what’s necessary for guiding Bell’s swordsmanship. Master, I’ll obey your orders well. Please… allow me to continue seeing this beautiful outside world.”
As this was a pre-arranged signal with Balmung, he kept his mouth shut after saying that.
Swoosh─
Yuma took out Decan’s sword manual from his spatial pocket and handed it to Bell.
If he suddenly gave this sword manual to someone else, it would take over 4 days just to analyze and understand the text.
But the Bell in front of him was different.
He believed in Bell’s level of talent.
He also believed in the effort Bell had put in.
“Read it.”
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Bell received Decan’s sword manual, which Yuma had handed over, with her right hand.
“…Is this your sword technique, my lord?”
Yuma nodded at Bell’s words.
“It’s one of the sword techniques I know.”
Yuma continued:
“Read it and try to demonstrate it once.”
Yuma’s blue eyes met Bell’s pink eyes.
“You should be able to do it. To grasp the principles of the sword technique in a short time.”
Bell’s eyes shook intensely.
‘How can you be so confident after seeing me for such a short time….’
Bell stared directly into Yuma’s unwavering blue eyes.
Those dim blue eyes, whose depth she couldn’t even dare to guess where they were looking.
‘Even if I have the talent to be written in the Book of Revelation.’
I would only have strength not even comparable to the tip of your toes.
Even if I devoted my whole life to practicing sword techniques, I couldn’t become as strong as you, my lord.
‘Why can you be so confident?’
Bell sat on the tiered seats in the training ground.
Yuma sat down next to her.
Rustle…
Bell slowly turned the pages of the sword manual one by one.
The ink on the paper was completely dry, but the color was extremely vivid.
Unlike the family sword manuals she had seen in White Night Castle.
Bell’s delicate lips slowly parted.
“…When did you write this sword manual? It seems recent.”
“That’s right. It’s recent.”
Bell turned her head to the right at Yuma’s answer.
“Why did you suddenly write it? The sword manual.”
Bell couldn’t speak systematically.
Her word order was all jumbled up.
Because right now, her mind was like a tangled ball of thread.
Yuma answered in a low voice:
“There’s no special reason. I wrote it because it will be helpful to you.”
Bell felt strength involuntarily entering her hands.
But she couldn’t keep applying force.
After all, this sword manual was quite thin now.
It was a precious sword manual written by her lord.
By Yuma.
“Not much left.”
That one phrase.
That one phrase kept floating around in her head.
Probably.
Not knowing when his flame of life would go out, he had been preparing.
After killing Incrinew, his condition worsened, and now he couldn’t postpone it anymore, so he was trying to pass it on quickly.
Bell untangled the jumbled thread in her mind.
She needed to pull herself together.
Right now, Yuma was trying to pass on his swordsmanship to her.
‘I need to listen carefully to Yuma.’
That Yuma was still standing on the battlefield.
On the battlefield of life.
Even while struggling against illness, he was calmly thinking about future generations.
What weak thoughts was Bell having in front of such a person?
Bell decided to be a good child.
Only in front of Yuma.
A very obedient, good child.
Swoosh
Bell began to read the sword manual.
Quickly yet thoroughly.
She finished reading the [Cherten Style], the sword technique of Decan Fel Cherten, the 2nd Sword Lord of Balmung.
The sword technique wasn’t variable, so it was easy to understand.
A heavy, domineering sword.
A killing sword optimized solely for slaying the enemy in one strike.
It was very impressive that it contained detailed studies of sword-breaking techniques that could crush the opponent’s sword energy.
“It’s a sword technique specialized not only for one-on-one but also for one against many. It’s completely different from her usual style, which was built up to slaughter giants… it will definitely be helpful in dealing with the demon army.”
Bell’s eyes shone.
It was the clear advantage of the sword technique that only someone with talent could understand.
Bell stood up from the stairs and grabbed her sword again.
And she began to execute the [Cherten Style] that had just seeped into her mind through text.
First, without raising sword energy.
She moved her body according to the postures described in the Cherten style Yuma had given her.
The movement of the feet, the footwork.
The posture of the arms and legs while holding the sword, the sword stance.
Crack!
Bell’s body moved.
Cherten Style – Iron
The trajectory of the sword falling straight to the ground.
In the 1st form of the Cherten style, Iron, what’s important is the legs and feet rather than the sword path itself.
Step the right foot forward straight.
Pull the left foot back straight.
Right now, since it’s the turn to practice the form of the sword technique, Bell isn’t using qi, but originally, the 1st form of the Cherten style [Iron] was a sword technique used with qi enveloping the whole body.
That’s how it was written in the sword manual.
The reason the Cherten style is straightforward is because it can crush everything with a sword that doesn’t contain any tricks.
Yuma slowly opened his mouth while watching Bell’s movements.
“There was once a man called the War God who used that sword technique.”
War God.
Yuma continued:
“So, you can do it too. No, you’ll probably do even better.”
Yuma approached Bell and slowly grabbed her shoulders.
“When you strike down with the sword, feel like you’re narrowing your shoulders a bit more.”
Bell’s shoulders trembled at Yuma’s touch.
It was because of Yuma’s warmth felt through his fingertips.
Swish!
After having her posture corrected by Yuma, Bell demonstrated the movement of [Iron] once more.
“…Like this?”
Bell turned her head to look at Yuma.
Yuma nodded.
“Yes, well done. Perfect.”
Bell raised the corners of her mouth at Yuma’s praise.
And once again, she executed Iron.
‘Good.’
All of Yuma’s advice was correct.
Without a single error.
3 years ago.
At 17 years old.
After being taught the family’s secret techniques by her father, Luke, the head of the White Night clan, she had never learned anything from anyone.
That was Bell’s first and last sword training.
Because there was no need to learn.
Rather, she would often find flaws in the sword paths of the clan’s senior swordsmen who were teaching.
Bell felt like she finally understood what Haven called the joy of learning.
‘It’s fun, so much.’
Yuma’s hands touch her body.
Warmth takes root at the source of that touch.
And the teachings spread throughout her body.
All those teachings were correct.
“Well done.”
The praise uttered after achieving a perfect sword path was very sweet.
It was a sweetness that rose from the tips of her toes.
Yuma’s right hand covered Bell’s right hand.
Yuma caressed Bell’s right wrist.
“In the 2nd form, Sword Breaking, the movement of the wrist is important.”
“…Yes.”
Is it that she’s only now realizing the joy of learning─
“Because you need to shatter the opponent’s sword energy. And not stop there, but take the opponent’s neck. It leads directly to the 3rd form, Lightning Flash.”
Bell knew that thought was wrong.
She already knew she was happy because the person imparting the learning now was Yuma.
Bell’s whole body was drenched in sweat.
Beads of sweat rolled down her collarbone.
“Ha, how unsightly─.”
Bell said that about her own state and lay down on the floor.
“You worked hard.”
Yuma wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on Bell’s face with a towel.
“I’ll teach you a few more sword techniques in the future.”
Bell slowly opened her mouth.
“A few more…?”
Yuma’s words sounded very sweet.
“Why, is it difficult?”
“No, I like it.”
Bell smiled broadly.
“I really, really like learning.”
Yuma’s words sounded very sweet and at the same time very bitter.
Bell swallowed the sob that was rising behind her smile.
“Now, let’s go, Bell.”
Yuma patted Bell’s shoulder.
“You’ve skipped breakfast and exerted yourself like this, so you must have lunch without fail.”
“Yes…!”
Bell nodded her head vigorously.
“But I’ll stay and review by myself for a bit. I want to organize my mental image calmly alone.”
Yuma respected Bell’s words.
“Alright, come as soon as you can.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Yuma grabbed his coat and headed out of the training ground.
Bell’s pink eyes captured the image of Yuma’s back as he walked away nobly.
“Haah.”
Left alone in the training ground, Bell let out a deep sigh.
And she bit her lip hard.
Tears began to well up in her eyes.
If she hadn’t been left alone, she would have burst into tears next to Yuma.
“Who’s worrying about whose health…?”
Bell wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
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Yuma came up to the 1st Princess Palace.
The central hall on the first floor. He saw Brigitte sitting at the far end seat.
Brigitte raised her right hand when she saw Yuma.
“You’re here, Yuma. I don’t see Bell again. It’s almost time for lunch.”
“She’ll be here shortly.”
“Is that so?”
As he was heading towards the dining room, suddenly the first floor became noisy.
Yuma saw a servant rushing towards the chief attendant Royan and saying something.
And soon after, Royan urgently approached Brigitte.
“Your Highness.”
“What’s the matter?”
Royan caught his breath, then opened his mouth again.
“Just now, His Majesty Emperor Agareth has regained consciousness.”
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