Chapter 234

Chapter 234

***

In a space as wide as an indoor training hall, people sat in a circle and watched the confrontation between the two. In their eyes, a mix of slight curiosity and disregard crossed.

They wondered what level the Westerner's sword skills would be at, and what kind of swordsmanship he had learned in a way different from their own.

Bori and Roy also watched with curious gazes, but just like the Easterners, they did not think for a moment that Rickart would lose. It was the same thought, but in the completely opposite direction.

Keres spread his legs wide front and back, bent his knees quite a bit, and pointed the tip of his sword at Rickart.

It was a stance seen for the first time. To Bori or Roy, it didn't look particularly practical. Was it a stance for sparring?

Generally, longsword swordsmanship involves holding the sword with both hands next to the face or leaning it on the shoulder and placing the center of gravity in the front to take a stance as if ready to spring out at any time, but Keres was the opposite. His center of gravity was directed slightly toward the back.

Bori calculated the dozens or hundreds of cases that could spring from that stance, and Roy thought about how to crush whatever technique came out.

Rickart was neither. He saw only one thing. That it was a stance intended to secure distance by drawing up mana.

Pressuring the opponent by strictly maintaining the distance, and finishing them off by counterattacking if an unreasonable attack came in. That intention, that essence, was simply visible to his eyes.

It seemed he was seeking a sort of unity of offense and defense, but perhaps it should be said it was closer to being more defensive.

So, Rickart took an attack-oriented stance commonly used in the Empire. A stance where the center of gravity was slightly in the front, looking as if he were ready to spring out at any time.

Since the directions each sought were poles apart, it seemed self-evident that the match would eventually be decided in a single stroke. And by that match, which swordsmanship was more superior would be provisionally decided.

Since everyone present was at a level where they could read that much, they watched with a strange sense of tension.

As Keres glared with both eyes and began to operate his mana in earnest, the floor his back foot stepped on suddenly cracked with a 'creak.' Did his body weight increase? How did this happen?

Bori thought that the Easterners used many truly amazing techniques, and at the moment he was having such thoughts, Rickart rushed forward like the wind.

He stepped forward greatly with his back foot and thrust his sword through the shortest distance; it was a slicing method rather than lifting it over his head and striking down.

Since it was a practice sword and wasn't even sharpened, one might wonder if it was a meaningful attack, but Rickart was capable of cleaving flesh and cutting bone even without a blade.

Everyone watching the duel between the two focused all their nerves in that fleeting moment and put strength into their eyes. It was as if the air momentarily hardened tight, and Keres met Rickart's sword as if smashing that hardened air.

It was a sword as heavy as a solid rock because he had concentrated mana to the utmost, and it was a counterattack that could break Rickart's sword and at least shatter some bone.

However, in an extremely short time, two surprising results occurred. Just as Rickart's sword sliced through Keres's sword like cutting cheese and the blade reached the pit of his shoulder, someone suddenly intervened in the duel between the two.

He pushed Keres away, and at the same time, Bori also drew his sword and intervened.

Clang—!

It was something that happened before the metallic sound could even spread. Rickart's sword passed through the air with a 'whoosh!' sound, and the suddenly pushed Keres flew far away and tumbled in the courtyard of the manor.

Bori's Black Sword, imbued with mana, rushed toward the intruder. But the intruder dodged by twisting his body violently and quickly widened the distance. The intruder was none other than an old man with long, drooping white eyebrows.

Those who were watching stood up in a clatter, moved their hands to their waists, or picked up their swords placed nearby. Just then, the old man shouted.

"Stop! Everyone, sit down!"

His sharp voice was like a leopard's cry. When an exceptionally loud sound momentarily rang through the hall, it felt like his heart was being pierced with a knife.

The onlookers flinched and their bodies hardened as they were, and Bori also quickly widened the distance in surprise and stood by Rickart's side.

Roy also pulled out his axe before he knew it and stood behind Rickart, and Maters hurriedly took the unconscious Keres in the courtyard as a hostage.

Rickart merely looked at the old man calmly while slowly recovering his sword that had sliced the air. The old man adjusted the fit of his wide-sleeved clothes and then spoke to Rickart.

When he spoke, it seemed the hardened space-time finally loosened.

"I have committed a discourtesy, Teacher. I am Czeslav, the head of the Helio family, a transmitter of knowledge, and a swordsmanship instructor. What is the name of the high-level teacher from the West?"

His way of speaking had definitely changed.

"It's Ricky."

"Coincidentally, it is the same as the name of the brightest star. Seeing your high level, it does not feel arrogant to use that name. And for the teacher who has reached the Star stage?"

The old man named Czeslav asked, looking at Bori. He was likely asking after seeing the Light Blade emitted by the Sword Master.

"I am Bori, this is Roy, and this side is Maters."

Since the situation was what it was, Bori spoke without letting down his guard. His sword had not yet returned to its home, and although the light had subsided, the blade was still exposed.

"Intervening during a discussion of the sword is a shameful thing. However, he is a disciple I cherish, so I could not just leave him. To be honest, it is true that I have an unfavorable view of Westerners. However, the sword does not discriminate among people, so you teachers have been recognized as having equal qualifications. From now on, I will treat you as guests from afar, so I hope you will let down your guard."

He was a bit annoying at first, but it was good that he was clear and had no lingering feelings. It seemed that once someone proved their level, he recognized them as having equal qualifications without asking questions or nitpicking.

Subsequently, Czeslav dismissed the gathering.

"Since I must now welcome guests from afar, today's lecture is over. You all must have seen it if you have eyes, so I think there will be no disagreement."

As the family head said so, the people who were in the lecture hall hesitated for a moment before gathering their weapons and heading out.

"Hey, Maters."

Roy called Maters. He was pointing the tip of his hook at the neck of the unconscious Keres. As the matter seemed to be wrapping up, Maters finally left the hostage-that-wasn't-a-hostage and approached the group.

And then he said to Roy in a low voice.

"Honestly, I didn't even see what happened. What on earth went down?"

"Just before that fellow lying over there died, the old man intervened and saved him. He was a bit arrogant at first, but he seems to be a person who at least has a minimum sense of reason."

"I also apologize to you, Malcolm. It's not that I doubted your guarantee, but please understand that there was a need to confirm."

As Roy said, Czeslav, the head of the Helio family, was clear in his reasoning. He immediately admitted what he did wrong, apologized for what he needed to, and asked for understanding where needed.

"No. I think it was a necessary procedure."

"Then I will treat the guests who have come from afar for a moment. If there are any unpleasant feelings, I hope you will let them go."

When an elderly person spoke like this, it was difficult to express anger toward them.

Only then did Bori also recover his sword and look back at Rickart, and Rickart also nodded readily. It was enough that they had cleared the misunderstanding-that-wasn't-a-misunderstanding; there was no need to deliberately scowl and carry it to the end.

Czeslav permitted Malcolm's group to stay in the manor and personally guided Rickart's group to the back garden.

Upon entering the back garden, it was wider than the courtyard. There was a small pond, and in it swam white or golden carp the likes of which they had never seen in their lives.

There was a small resting place that was just a roof with all four sides open, and Czeslav guided Rickart's group there and, strangely, took off his shoes and stepped up.

Rickart had not been flustered at all during the discussion of the sword, but he was a bit flustered by the unfamiliar custom. Should I take off my shoes too?

The other friends were also hesitating, and Bori was the first to take off his shoes and step up. The floor was made of wood, and he sat on a chair placed in front of a round table.

Following Bori, the other friends also took off their shoes and sat on the chairs. Then, Czeslav tilted a ceramic teapot that was originally placed there and poured tea.

It wasn't newly brewed but had cooled down, yet the aroma when he drank it was unexpectedly good. It was the scent of roasted corn.

Bori was out of his mind watching the strange-looking carp with wide eyes. Rickart just drank his tea, and Roy and Maters looked around the surroundings. Their gazes went to wherever each was interested.

Czeslav spoke after drinking half of his tea.

"Once again, please forgive my rudeness. Westerners do not have a very good reputation here."

"How is the reputation?"

Rickart asked.

"They are known to be brave but greedy, bellicose, and ignorant. It seemed so when I saw them directly as well."

"Well, it doesn't seem to be a particularly wrong statement."

"However, just as in any place where people live, there aren't only such people. It seems I also had a prejudice. You teachers are the first Westerners to come here after passing through the forest. It was worth trusting Malcolm's discernment, but since there were watching eyes, I deliberately went through the process of proof."

"Don't worry about it."

"Thank you for thinking so. I will be honest with you. Your sword was not imbued with mana. Conversely, my disciple's sword was packed with mana. But the result was that the disciple's sword broke. Such a level cannot be reached just by being greedy and bellicose. The depth of your cultivation seems almost like mine, but how could you achieve such an accomplishment at such a young age?"

Rickart was lost in thought for a moment. This was because there were no suitable words to express it. Just as it always was.

"Well, what should I say? In fact, a sword is something that can cut anything, but is it not simply because people cannot handle it well that they cannot cut many things? Then you just have to let the sword be able to cut. Should I say I listened to the words the sword whispers? I think that's why."

Bori, Roy, and Maters obviously couldn't understand what he meant. However, Czeslav seemed to deeply savor those words with a serious expression.

"Mmm......"

"What did the sword whisper?"

Bori asked. It was like asking to express the metaphysical as physical.

"Don't try to do anything for no reason and just leave me alone. Then I'll take care of cutting everything myself."

"The sword says that?"

"Have you not heard what the axe whispers?"

Roy asked.

"The context is the same anyway."

"Can you tell us what the axe is whispering right now?"

Rickart scowled deeply. This was because he meant it as an expression, and it wasn't actually whispering in his ear.

Roy read Rickart's expression and turned his gaze elsewhere. This was because he had played a joke knowing Rickart would react this way.

Czeslav seemed to be lost in thought for quite a long time, and as was his habit when thinking deeply, he toyed with the ends of his long eyebrows with his hand.

Then he stopped thinking and said.

"There are few among us who have reached the level of Teacher Ricky. However, since you have arrived at the same place by a different path, it cannot be anything but interesting. If you don't mind, could you stay for a few days and give us some instruction? In return, we will also teach you our ways."

"Can we see the Codex?"

Before Rickart could accept or refuse, Bori asked. His purpose from the beginning was the Codex and various research subjects said to be in the Eastern Frontier.

"Since I have seen that Teacher Bori has also reached the Star stage, I will show you the Codex as much as possible and let you know if there is anything you do not know. For your information, we have a concept of performing with the sword and gradually ascending. The Earth stage, the Mountain stage, the Cloud stage, the Star stage, and the Sun stage. It is the brightest star."

It seemed that a Sword Master was called the Star stage here, and the fact that there was a stage beyond that came across as interesting to Bori.

This was because, like the difference between Rickart and himself, he thought there was merely a skill difference between Sword Masters, and he hadn't thought of separating it as a concept.

"Where is the salvation? Is it in another ruin?"

Maters asked. At that, Czeslav tilted his head and answered.

"Salvation? What salvation are you talking about? The God King said that each should save themselves in their own way. So salvation is not about being in a certain place or not. Drifters talk about salvation whenever they do anything, so why don't you try going there?"

As if he were uninterested in anything other than swordsmanship and mana cultivation, Czeslav answered as if to say why would you ask such a thing.

Maters understood what he meant, but it was still difficult for him to get an answer by himself right away.

"I am interested in that God King. In the footprints he left. What he did here, how he lived, what he left behind, and how he died."

Rickart said. At that, Czeslav thought for a moment and then said as if it were no big deal.

"What he did was to unify the people who were once soldiers of the Westerners and the natives here into one. The basis for that unification was the restoration of ancient knowledge and the creation of doctrines. All those with opposing ideas died. It is said that corpses formed mountains, but is it not because there was such a determination that the present exists? We are the descendants of those soldiers and natives, and the successors of the ancient Empire."

"......"

"And where there is light, there is bound to be darkness, so it is said that when it is darkest, the Steel Reaper will return and light the darkness as the brightest star."

"......It sounds like some prophecy. Do you believe those words?"

"There are those who believe, and those who do not. According to ancient literature, prophecies about the end have existed since very ancient times. Is it not just that people were always tormented by such anxiety? The God King probably tried to soothe that anxiety."

"I saw while coming here that the whole city seemed to be surrounded by light. Is there a dark part as much as that bright light?"

Then Czeslav smiled slightly and said.

"Strictly speaking, blood and death—that is the doctrine and theology we study. We have a task. To reach a higher stage and kill more enemies. Nords, orcs, goblins, and all other enemies that threaten us. Drifters are annoying and loathsome, but they are not our enemies. But depending on the case, they can become enemies."

It wasn't that it was shocking or flustering, but it was true that he was somewhat at a loss for words.

Rickart suddenly thought the taste of the tea was bitter. Although he hadn't looked around everything yet, it was because the Eastern Frontier was both fantastic and realistic.

Was this Caldebert's utopia, or was it a realistic alternative to put an end to that terrible war?

Though mercy and forgiveness were taken as the ultimate orientation, it was not a society achieved purely by those things alone.

Rickart could feel that the thoughts, ideology, agony, and wishes of his old friend Caldebert were melted into every corner.

Even if there were some irrationalities or contradictions there, Rickart decided not to judge hastily.

Because, from the beginning, a sword possesses a contradiction. A tool to protect and guard someone, or a tool for murder. The fact that a sword cannot escape that destiny was ultimately because it had no choice but to be held in human hands.

Rickart felt a similar emotion before to what he felt now. It was a matter related to the Master's Federation. In the end, humans pointing the tips of their blades at each other.

Even so, can one love humans? It was a difficult problem.

Chapter 47 – Encounter with the past, or the future. End.