Chapter 23 - Night Outing (2)
"Enough. Be quiet. Don't talk. I don't want to know. My head will just hurt more. Having to unlearn something I just learned, what kind of crazy idea… Ah, by the way, I heard there's one student in our class who reached swordsmanship 3-star."
"Really?"
"But why couldn't they go to Class B and came to Class C instead?"
"Maybe because their aura is weak?"
"Like you?"
"Yeah. Like me."
"…Tsk, why that kind of reaction?"
Phil continued to grumble in a low voice.
"This is why high-ranking people aren't fun. Even when I try to tease you, it's not satisfying, you know? At times like this, you should get angry or something… So, what's next?"
"Swordsmanship 4-star is Flowing Current Sword. This is a stage where you grasp the new realm of the sword: flow…"
"No, no explanations needed." Phil waved his hand, continuing to ask.
"Just tell me the name. What's 5-star called?"
"5-star is Pure Flow Sword."
"6-star?"
"6-star is Illusory Sword."
"It just keeps going on and on. 7-star?"
"7-star is Union Sword."
"You're that Union Sword guy, right?"
"That's right. But I skipped 6-star, so I have to learn 6-star again from the beginning."
"Skipped? Is that even possible?"
"No, it's not."
My attainment of 7-star was a miracle that happened under special circumstances.
And one I wished hadn't happened, if possible…
"Normally, it's not. I'm a special case."
"Tsk. Bragging much? I got my hopes up for nothing. Anyway, then is that all you have to learn? Illusory Sword?"
"Above 7-star, there's also 8-star. 8-star is Poison Breaking Sword. They say that once you reach this, you can expel poison with swordsmanship alone."
"With swordsmanship alone?"
"Yes."
"Without aura?"
"That's why hardly anyone has reached it."
Throughout the entire Sword King family, the number of people who have currently reached 8-star can be counted on one hand.
Phil, who had been staring blankly for a moment, looked at me intently and asked, "Is 8-star your goal too?"
"Probably?"
"How do you achieve it?"
"I don't know. I heard that after reaching 7-star, you train for about 40 years using some secret method."
"40 years?"
"Yes. And that's the minimum."
"Crazy, you'd die of old age training. You'd better give up on 8-star. Isn't what you have now enough?"
"I suppose so. Would that be better?"
I smiled and nodded.
Of course, I had no intention of giving up.
At least when it came to swordsmanship, even if it was an endless cliff, it didn't matter.
If I knew the method, I would keep climbing for higher ground.
Why?
Right, why?
I'd never thought deeply about it.
Because swordsmanship is the only thing I'm good at?
Because swordsmanship saved my life?
Or perhaps… for the future?
My future self had become a monster.
It wasn't forced upon me.
Rather, I wanted it, which is why it happened. Because that's how I could gain power and avenge everyone.
But what if I could reach a higher level of swordsmanship before that?
Even if I had to rely on the power of poison for revenge, couldn't I at least avoid the worst-case scenario?
Not losing myself, or at least not having my body and mind completely turn into a monster…
Then my vision began to waver.
"…"
A hazy illusion.
A faint future, not yet even taking shape, appeared.
"Hmm…"
Really? Is such a thing truly possible?
I don't know.
I don't even know what that illusion precisely is.
It just faintly and vaguely tempts me.
So, a bit more. I want to see a little more clearly.
But then.
"Ah, damn it. Speaking of which, there was another body in the back alley yesterday."
A vivid voice pulled me back to reality.
"It's a really big problem, you know? I want to go home at night, but I can't."
"...Why?"
"Why?"
"There's no rule saying you have to live in the dorm, is there? Is the orphanage too far?"
"Because my younger siblings took over the room I used to have."
"Ah."
For a moment, a hollow laugh escaped me.
Right.
His younger siblings took his orphanage room.
That's too bad.
Thanks to that, the vaguely appearing future completely vanished.
But I wasn't too disappointed.
Wanting too much is a luxury.
For now, I just need to do what I can.
Revenge.
To connect with the future leading to that revenge, for example, I need to gradually build up, starting with eliminating the Poison King's spy, as Phil just mentioned.
I'm already going out on night patrols every other day.
Of course, it wasn't easy.
First, the round trip distance was too far.
Just leaving the dorm in the middle of the night, getting through the graveyard mountain, entering the city, and then crossing into the back alleys took ages.
So, today I was thinking of using a different method.
I hope it works out well.
I hope there aren't too many side effects…
"Phew, when I asked why they took my room, those brats actually talked back even more. Telling me not to bother coming back and just work hard at the academy or something? These arrogant punks, their heads are just too big, they say whatever they want. Well, it's true, but… Anyway, I can't sleep because I'm so anxious, you know? If someone at home dies because of this, I think I'll lose it… Hmm? What's wrong with you?"
"Me? Why?"
"You keep looking up. Is there something in the sky?"
In the sky, the red orb floated as always.
I watched the orb ripple like waves and shook my head.
"No. But it feels like someone is coming this way."
"Who would come here? I don't know anyone."
Of course, it was natural for him not to know.
I didn't know either.
But the orb in the sky was sending a signal.
My beloved family and friends.
They can see things I can't from up high.
So I asked them beforehand to let me know if anyone approached the dorm.
That's why the poison energy of the ley line poison was rippling like that now.
By the way, who could be coming?
Had the Academy or the Newt Family finally begun a full-scale investigation into the disappearance of their spy?
Or perhaps the spy's true affiliation, the Poison King Cult, had come looking for their missing member?
"The sun will set soon, who would come to a mountain like this? Ah, maybe it's someone who moved dorms?"
"Moved dorms? Is that possible?"
"They said it is. I've applied, anyway."
"Really?"
"They said you can't switch classes, but you can switch dorms? If there's an empty room, that is. But this place is full of empty rooms, right?"
Phil snapped his neck around, pointing at the dorm building.
Yes, our Highwind Dorm was indeed completely empty.
Right now, I had the entire building to myself.
"Even so, would you really come here? Just commuting takes ages."
"What does it matter? I come here often to learn swordsmanship from you anyway. Might as well just move here."
"Is that so?"
Just then, a never-before-seen visitor appeared around the bend in the path.
He looked about forty years old.
A tall, thin man with blonde hair and black eyes.
He had the sharp features of a bird of prey and wore the uniform indicating a high-ranking official of the Sword King family.
"Ah, a Sword King family uniform."
It was a striking uniform, recognizable even to someone from the back alleys.
A moment later, the man, having arrived in front of the dorm, abruptly opened his mouth, looking at Phil beside me.
"What an stench."
For a moment, I nearly lost my temper.
I imagined stabbing the man in the solar plexus with a wooden sword and held back.
Did he just insult my friend?
Is it okay for a high-ranking Sword King family official to do that on first meeting?
"Hmm?"
Thud!
Suddenly, the man pushed off the ground and retreated backward.
Wow, he's fast.
He didn't seem to have activated his aura, but his movements were incredible.
But what was that?
I didn't do anything, did I?
I just imagined it, so why did he retreat?
"I heard the stories, but… Is it truly Union Sword?"
The man narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing me.
Union Sword?
I didn't use Union Sword, though?
What would Union Sword even mean from this distance anyway?
It's a technique that only matters if the wooden sword or branch makes contact.
"Hmm, I see. If you've reached the stage of Union Sword, Illusory Sword would naturally follow. That was quite sharp just now. A rough greeting for a first meeting."
The man's voice was deep and low.
Did I just unleash an Illusory Sword?
Did something actually manifest just from my imagination?
"…I apologize."
If it was true, I was indeed at fault.
I bowed my head and apologized.
"I inadvertently caused offense. My training is still insufficient. My control falters when my mind is unsettled."
I decided to say that for now.
Although I wasn't entirely sure if it was actually true.
"Is that so? In any case, it seems you made a mistake."
"Excuse me?"
"You are Ray Granvelle, correct? I was merely stating a fact. You, next to him. Are you a new academy student? State your full name first."
"Huh? Yes! Yes!"
Then Phil, belatedly, jumped up. "I-I am Phil Digi of Class C, first year, Northern Academy, no, Phil Lucavre."
"Lucavre. In the future, pay more attention to cleanliness. An academy student must possess the minimum dignity befitting one."
The man narrowed his eyes, cautioning him.
Only then did Phil gasp and begin to sniff his own sleeve.
So… he really did smell.
Indeed, Phil wasn't particularly concerned with hygiene.
And he had been rolling around the front yard, sweating profusely, so it was understandable that he smelled.
"...You know there's a well in the back, right?"
"Huh? Yes! I-I'll just go wash my face quickly!" Phil, startled, dashed towards the back of the dorm.
Only then did the man sigh and walk towards me.
"I seem to have interrupted your training. I am Gric Zerces, of the Sword King Family Succession Management Office." He then took out a badge with four swords engraved on it.
Four swords.
I had never seen such a thing.
Two swords indicated an Inspector-class, and three swords an Executor-class, which was higher.
So what was four swords?
I didn't know.
Anyway, it was certainly a high position.
By the way, the surname Zerces sounded familiar.
It was the family of Dive Zerces, the current Sword King and one of the Eight Great Sword King Families.
"I am Ray Granvelle. It is an honor to meet a member of the Zerces family. But the Succession Management Office, if you don't mind me asking…"
"It is an organization that manages the succession ranks of the Sword King family. As a direct descendant of a main family, you should know this as common knowledge."
"Ah, yes."
"This afternoon, around 2 PM, a succession challenge was submitted and approved at the Bryce Succession Management Office."
"Already?"
"The work of the Succession Management Office must proceed swiftly and clearly. Ray Granvelle. How much do you know about the Sword King Succession Match?"
"I only know that it determines succession rank based on the outcome of a duel."
"Hmm, I see."
Even though his expression barely changed, I could feel his displeasure.
I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do.
I didn't know things would turn out this way either.
"You lack basic knowledge. You are far from being a direct descendant of the Eight Great Sword King Main Families. You are unqualified. However, considering the recent events, I will overlook it this time. I hope you will refer to the relevant materials thoroughly provided in the Academy's library."
"Yes. Thank you."
"It's not just about being strong. Although you seem to be strong enough beyond that…"
The man scrutinized my body from head to toe as if appraising me, then frowned.
"Hmm, indeed, you're still young. Your bones don't seem naturally gifted. As for aura, let alone. But you are very sharp."
"…"
"First, I would like to state that I am personally deeply regrettable about the recent tragedy that befell the Granvelle family. Roa Granvelle was an outstanding individual. My sincere condolences."
Gric bowed his head. I also bowed in return.
"Thank you. Were you perhaps acquainted with my father?"
"We were academy classmates."
"Ah."
"However, we were not close. In any case, this incident has created controversy regarding the succession rights given to the direct lineage of Granvelle."
Gric snorted, as if displeased with this fact.
"Hmph, it's an unfounded worry, if you ask me. Nevertheless, Ray Granvelle. You have been officially assigned the basic succession rank of 96, which is given to direct descendants of the Eight Great Main Families."