Chapter 130: Patchwork (10)

"I wasn’t trying to..."

Chandler and Christina stared blankly at the cleanly pierced metal plate, blinking in disbelief. Piercing through metal with a staff was simple—I could even do it with a practice sword.

I didn't even use Sword Energy.

The heavy silence that followed felt strangely off. They all wore expressions of excitement.

"Let's begin the training. Aim for the openings."

"Yes!"

I started instructing them from the side. I had never imagined myself in a position to teach anyone. It felt awkward. But at the same time, I had an odd feeling of satisfaction.

Ding!

[Skill: Swordsman Instruction Lv. 2 activated.]

It was one of the skills I’d absorbed from the imperial guards killed by Gith-Za-Rai. Some of them were probably instructors. Thinking about it, it made sense. When I encountered the imperial guards for the second time, only those of at least instructor rank had emitted the green light.

[For the trainees:

— Their weak points are now visible to you

— Your focus temporarily increases

— Your comprehension temporarily increases

— Their skill acquisition speed increases

— If the training is successful, their Affection toward you randomly increases.]

The effects of the skill were impressive. Instead of boosting me, it accelerated the growth of those I was teaching. Overall, it was an exceptionally effective skill.

"Your wrist. Don't rotate it like that. The other way. Swing with your entire body."

Their flaws didn’t appear just as flaws anymore. Now, I knew precisely how to correct them. I fixed the weaknesses in Christina's and Chandler's stances. Next, I turned to Rena, watching as she attacked the golem.

Thud!

Her practice sword pierced precisely into the target.

"You're fine. Just keep doing what you're doing."

"

Hmph

..." She pouted slightly.

Clang.

I tapped her sword lightly with my practice blade and said, "You're doing well."

She watched from the corner of her eye as I corrected the others’ forms, and had already eliminated her initial mistakes.

Was she always this good?

As expected, with each regression, Rena’s talent and Affection growth was significantly accelerating.

Clatter.

I shook my head. It was an odd phenomenon, but there was no way to figure it out now. For the time being, I chose to focus on completing the mission in front of me.

***

Three days had passed. Through training, the three had improved significantly.

"

Hiyah!

"

Letting out a fierce battle cry, Chandler stepped forward with his left foot and brought down his sword with both hands. The already weakened golem's arm finally shattered under the force.

CRASH!

As the golem collapsed, Chandler's sword sliced cleanly through its neck. After thousands of strikes, the battered weak spot was about to break. The severed golem's head rolled noisily across the ground.

"

Chaah!

"

His movements were almost identical to the ones I had first demonstrated. Rena and Christina had also fully memorized the golem's weak points. There was no point in continuing the same training.

I slowly walked to the fallen golem. Chandler, still catching his breath, gave me a curious look.

"Now, attack me. Golems won't just stand still and let you hit them."

Rena had a knowing expression as if she'd been expecting this. Chandler took a deep breath, steadying himself.

Tap.

I pointed at several spots on myself with my practice sword. It was the same weak points they had been targeting on the golems.

"Training begins now. If you land even one hit here, today's session ends."

***

One week had passed.

"

Uuurgh...!

"

As usual, Chandler lay half-conscious on the ground, gasping for breath. I had ensured they wouldn't suffer serious injuries, but since he was the most aggressive, his accumulated fatigue was also the greatest.

"You've all improved a lot."

"But we never landed a hit on you..."

"Even when we attacked together, we failed."

"

Ugh... uurgh...

"

Chandler groaned, clutching his swollen cheek, unable to even speak properly.

"Well... this should be enough."

At least, they had understood how to strike the weak points. None of them were lacking in talent.

[Swordsmanship Instruction proficiency has increased slightly!]

[Training is proceeding successfully!]

[Great Success!]

[Rena's swordsmanship proficiency has increased!

Swordsmanship Rank Up!

Lv.4 → Lv.5]

[Rena's Affection increased by 9!

Affection Cap: 60

Current Affection: 43]

[As a rank-up bonus, your own swordsmanship proficiency has significantly increased.]

I'm benefiting from this too?

Chandler and Christina’s swordsmanship proficiency and affection had also risen sharply.

[Chandler’s swordsmanship proficiency has greatly increased!]

[Christina’s swordsmanship proficiency has greatly increased!]

[Chandler is fully aware that he learned swordsmanship from you. He will proudly tell others about it. Your reputation will steadily rise if Chandler gains fame as a swordsman.]

He has no idea who I really am, yet he's already bragging?

"The lord wishes to see you."

Just then, the butler arrived. The lord, who looked thirty years older than his actual age, now seemed even more haggard.

"Father..."

Chandler wasn't surprised. He had probably checked his father’s condition nightly.

His body is deteriorating.

I asked the lord directly, "If the sorcerer dies, won't you die as well?"

"There may be some consequences, but this body wouldn't last much longer, anyway. I wish to at least try."

"

Hmm

..."

This man wanted success more desperately than anyone. Even though regardless of the outcome, he didn’t have long to live. Chandler’s eyes reddened. We were too late from the beginning.

"Would you have survived if I had come earlier?"

"

Haha

. No one can turn back time. In the end, even if I went back, nothing would’ve changed." The lord said slowly, "I waited for a while so as not to interfere with your training, but I can feel that my time is running out."

The reason he had called for me was simple. The lord began explaining the structure of the tomb in detail.

"My son will guide you to the dungeon entrance. He knows the way up to that point. The problem starts from inside..."

He took a deep breath. I waited patiently.

"There is only one path. Follow it down, and it’ll spiral until you reach a large hall. You’ll need to open a separate door to enter. Inside, the sorcerer slumbers, with six steel golems guarding the surrounding chamber.”

"Is that all?"

"That's all. However, this is the first time anyone has attempted to challenge the sorcerer. We do not know what variables may arise."

"The first attempt?"

"Yes. This is the first effort to break the chains."

"Why now?"

"For generations, the city prospered. We truly believed that being connected to the sorcerer was a blessing. We thought the city thrived because of the life force of our ruling lords."

Grassmere was a city ruled by lords who were aware of their enslavement and believed in a false blessing.

The true blessings lay elsewhere: the children kindled the forge with their tiny hands, the blacksmiths who experimented tirelessly to refine better metals, and the lords of Grassmere who devoted themselves to the city's growth rather than indulging in greed. They were the

true

blessing.

A curse was just a curse. If the sorcerer were slain and Hyungbin Chandler became the lord, free from the awareness of slavery, would this city truly change?

Clatter.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. It was meaningless. Whether benevolent rule or tyranny, everything would be wiped away in ten years anyway.

"When will you enter the tomb?"

"I can go now."

The basic training was complete. There was no point in delaying, as I didn’t expect my strength to increase significantly with more time.

"Then, as promised, I will first open the Hall of Ancestors for you."

The lord handed his son a key. Hyungbin Chandler received it respectfully.

"Do you remember how to open it?"

"Yes. I do."

With a nod, Chandler led the way. We followed him into the castle’s underground chambers.

Clack! Clack!

[Acorn is seeking attention!

If ignored, the creature may feel neglected by its master.

There is a high probability of its self-esteem dropping.

There is a very low probability of its autonomy rank increasing.]

The little creature circled around me restlessly, demanding attention. Since there were no guards or maids in the passageway, it didn’t matter much. I picked it up and gently petted it.

[Acorn recognizes you as its master.

More than anyone, your attention has the greatest impact on the creature’s happiness.]

Hmm...

Honestly, it had no real use. But since I had brought it into existence, I felt responsible for it.

***

Before long, we reached the end of the underground corridor, where a massive black door loomed.

Black iron?

The enormous door had two keyholes.

Click.

Chandler slowly inserted two uniquely shaped keys.

Creak. Creak. Clack!

A series of metallic clunks echoed as the keys activated the complex inner mechanisms.

"I will open it now."

"Go ahead."

After the training period, Chandler had tried to bow nine times to formally accept me as his master.

I cannot simply accept such teachings lightly! I must offer the Nine Bows of Respect and officially become your disciple!

Of course, I had refused. I didn’t particularly care, but I had sensed the cold, murderous glare in Rena’s eyes as she stared at Chandler. Regardless, since that day, Chandler’s demeanor had changed slightly.

Creak...!

Chandler turned the keys simultaneously. The huge door groaned as it slowly swung open.

"This is the Hall of Ancestors."

I set foot inside.

"...It's spacious."

"It looks like a temple..."

The Hall of Ancestors was massive. The entire interior could not be fully seen from the entrance. It was many times larger than the training grounds where we had been practicing.

"Originally, it was a natural cave. Later, they expanded it into a storage facility."

As we stepped inside, I glanced around. Rena’s eyes sparkled.

"So this is... the Hall of Ancestors?" she muttered in awe.

"Yes. In truth, many of the items here are experimental creations. Neither my father nor I know exactly what’s inside."

"This place is different from what I heard."

"What did you hear?"

"That it was filled with artifacts. I guess rumors aren't always reliable."

"

Haha

. The items are valuable, but most are too impractical for mass production or regular use. Take your time. You may take whatever you wish."

"I’ll gladly do that."

I continued forward as Rena and Chandler spoke, paying little attention to their conversation.

Grassmere's underground, The Hall of Ancestors. There were no glass display cases, no glittering jewels, no ornate decorations. It wasn't even well-organized. Weapons and strange, unidentified devices were scattered everywhere.

"Where are the swords?"

From behind, I heard Christina’s voice.

"Ah, over here. There are many greatswords further inside."

Chandler guided her. I glanced in their direction. I saw Christina picking up a broad, two-handed sword with a satisfied expression.

A greatsword is all about raw power.

It suited her well. I wandered further inside, scanning the various objects. Many items were stored in large crates, most of them without lids, perhaps to keep them accessible.

"It doesn't seem like they planned to give these to anyone."

"Most of them are experimental weapons crafted by our best artisans. It would be too dangerous to let them fall into the wrong hands."

"To prevent technology leaks, then."

"Exactly."

I browsed the hall for a while, then picked up a large cylindrical object from one of the crates.

"What is this?"

"That...

uh

..."

Chandler scratched his head, looking uncertain. It made sense, this place wasn't regularly maintained. They simply stored odd and powerful items here whenever something was too unpredictable to control.

I waved off his awkward expression. My Engineering skill alone wasn't enough to fully analyze it, so it seemed I needed a different skill.

It looks like a portable cannon...

It was about a hundred sixty centimeters long. I lifted it. It was made of a special metal, weighing as much as a full-grown person. I found a manual at the bottom of the crate and began reading it carefully.

[Skill: Engineering Lv. 3 activated.]

Hmm...

It didn’t use gunpowder or explosives.

It runs on mana fluid?