I Became the Hero Who Banished the Protagonist chapter 28

28. Evernode (2)

“Were you training?”

Marianne asked as she walked toward me. I nodded and started swinging my sword again. I tried to reduce the subordination (終速), and I tried to take the swing movement itself more dull. I even tried replaying all the movements very slowly, but I still can’t get a feel for it. I shook my head and dropped the blade again. The sweat shed while moving quickly cooled in the cold night air.

Marianne was staring at me swinging the sword. I turned to her again and wiped my forehead with the hem of my dress.

“… Are you also late today?”

Marianne nodded. The spear she held in one hand made a clanking sound. I glanced at Marianne’s window. The spears from the spear to the spear were all made of metal, but the faded head of the spear looked especially old. It’s probably a fairly strong relic.

“[The Holy Spear seems to be right. You look pretty strong.]”

It seemed that the Puritan Church was really determined to help me. The holy spear is a holy relic that Arjen used until he obtained the holy sword in the original work. I remember showing off a pretty powerful majesty. In terms of value, I think it’s probably similar to the crown I’ve received. Then, does this mean that Marianne also passed some kind of ordeal sent down by the Holy Spear?

Marianne turned her head towards the holy sword. To be precise, that gaze was directed at my right arm holding the hilt of the holy sword. And, the whole thing seemed to be following the traces of the sword I was spreading.

“May I ask what kind of training you have been doing?”

It was unexpected. Marianne asking a question. It seemed like this was the first time he had come up to me and talked to me and asked me questions. But would it be okay if I answered honestly?

“[There is no shame in seeking answers, Illroy. I can’t tell you everything, so ask others and find your own answers.]”

At the Holy Sword’s words, I nodded slightly and opened my mouth.

“… Well. It’s a bit complicated to explain.”

“Looks like you’ve been looking for something.”

It was a sharp question. Or maybe my gestures were obvious and simple. I shook my head and inserted the holy sword into the scabbard. I think I should spend today’s nighttime talking with Marianne. I gestured and called Marianne to the campfire.

“What is softness in martial arts?”

Marianne listened to my question and tilted her head.

“So that’s why you kept doing that.”

“Was it a meaningless action?”

Marianne didn’t answer my question right away and took the holy spear. Then he threw his spear at a leaf blown away by the wind. The flying spear head was fast, but it also seemed very slow. A thin leaf was placed on the tip of the holy spear that Marianne had retrieved. He pinpointed the leaf vein in the center of the leaf and pierced only that point with the tip of a spear. Surprised by her skill, I opened my eyes wide and looked at the tip of Marianne’s spear.

“Awesome. How did you do it?”

“… It is difficult to describe this process in words.”

Marianne reached out and tore off the leaves from the tip of her spear. The wind blew the leaves away again. If I told you to put that on the tip of my sword right now, would you do it? no. It will be completely cut down or even brushed away, and blown away by the wind.

“Still, I can show you as many times as you like during the vigil if you want.”

Saying that, Marianne swung the spear again softly and concisely. It was the same movement as before, but the second time it looked, the movement looked a little different.

“… Can I show you one more time?”

Marianne didn’t hesitate and swung the spear again. It didn’t look that different from the second viewing. The same goes for the third look. It was a move that seemed like it could be followed, but I couldn’t imagine myself moving the sword that way.

“[It’s not the word ‘simdeuk’ for nothing, Illroy.]”

The Holy Sword spoke.

“[Very minor differences in movement. Interval with breathing. Even the mana circulating at that moment and the beating heart rate. To make all of those conditions happen naturally without you having to think about it. That’s what you realize.]”

swish

Marianne’s spear passed in front of my eyes again. The tip of the holy spear pierced the veins of the leaves without an inch of error this time as well. I watched Marianne’s movements with concentration, and Marianne continued to repeat them without complaining.

“yes. Thanks for showing me.”

I held Marianne’s hand gently and stopped her. If left as it is, it seemed like it would keep swinging the spear until the sun came up. I sighed and looked up at the sky. In the midst of the trees soaring jagged toward the night sky, it seemed that the stars densely embedded in the sky were about to pour down.

“Would you like to swing your sword?”

Marianne, who kept looking at me, asked. I blinked and stood up with my sword. Compared to what Marianne showed me, it might be just a floundering, but the important thing right now is to learn at least one more thing.

“… How can I wield it?”

“As I do.”

Are you looking through the leaves? I grabbed my sword and took a horse-bearing ceremony. No, I let go of my left hand and relaxed my body. It seemed that if he wielded it with both hands, he would not be able to pierce the leaves. I waited for the leaves to blow in the wind.

flutter -.

Then, a broad leaf fluttered and soared into the sky. I pushed up the holy sword as if sweeping it up, trying to pierce the leaves. but… .

pick.

The tip of the holy sword could not pierce the leaves, and only cut a little. I licked my lips as I watched the leaves drifting in the wind. again. I don’t think Marianne would have made me move just to see. I swung my sword at the flying leaves several times, recalling the movements Marianne had shown me.

“… It’s a lot harder than you think.”

I looked down at the leaf I had accidentally completely cut in half.

“[That’s a good training method. Since you have perseverance, I don’t know if something like this would be good.]”

Something like that makes me feel like everything I’ve done so far is pointless.

“[It’s not meaningless. After all, the realization of martial arts comes from experience. The act of seeking answers in any form will have meaning.]”

The Holy Sword said as if to comfort me. The leaves fly again. This time, he didn’t swing his sword, just watched the leaves fly away.

“for a moment.”

“[I, I… !]”

When did I enter the gap, before I knew it, Marianne was right in front of me. I stood stiff and watched Marianne caressing my wrists and the edges of my side. Marianne touched me for a while at a distance that was less than half a step away, then raised her head. Emotionless golden eyes mixed with lemon that shone softly in the light of the campfire looked at me.

“You can relax a little bit.”

As Marianne said, she supported my elbow and raised her arm slightly. I stiffly changed my gestures following Marianne’s touch, then slowly relaxed. Marianne then turned around behind me and began coordinating her feet and hands on my back.

“I was swinging the spear with this feeling.”

A leaf flew by. Marianne very lightly pushed my arms and legs and guided the tip of the holy sword toward the leaves.

Took.

Marianne’s hand left my elbow, and I tried to stretch my arm without resisting the force.

Tick.

Of course, there was no such thing as a miraculous success. The leaves fluttered, fell to the ground, and were blown away by the wind that blew again. Marianne withdrew from me and stared at me. It seemed like he was asking if he knew what it felt like.

“It is difficult. I know that not all problems can be solved just because the body knows.”

If it wasn’t for the sharpness of the holy sword, I wouldn’t have been able to tear off the leaves. Scratching my confused head, I replied to Marianne. Certainly, it seemed that thoughts did not intervene at all in Marianne’s movements. What kind of realization should I get to create such a flowing movement?

“Let me know if you need any help.”

“… yes.”

I swept the holy sword down and nodded. A star was twinkling at the tip of Marianne’s spear. Amidst the chirping of the owl, I cradled the holy sword and stared at the bonfire, lost in thought.

—

After getting out of the long forest, an absurdly wide plain spread out. Amid rocks and wildflowers, a narrow stream forked into several branches and trickled into the woods. According to the soldiers, if you walk along this stream and meet the main stream of the river, you will see the Evernode.

The party paused to water the horses. The sun shining down on the stream was beautiful. It would have been nice except that it was shining beautifully for about twelve hours.

“What time is it now?”

The days are getting longer than usual. I looked at the position of the sun, where it was still around early afternoon, and let out a blank laugh. Brilliant sunlight fell on the field, but it was already evening in my body. I couldn’t overcome the gap and frowned.

“It is seven o’clock. If you go a little further, the Evernode will appear, so it would be better to keep going without taking a long break.”

Georg said, stepping back onto his horse.

“Isn’t it 7 in the morning?”

“Have you been sleeping on a horse yet?”

Georg said that, but he too narrowed his brows while looking at the sun. I thought it would be nice if it didn’t snow, but there is such a problem.

“The sun is almost non-existent in the north in winter.”

“I see.”

Georg said so. This guy, I feel like he’s getting more and more of an old-fashioned way of speaking after coming here. The fact that that honest knight habitually recounts such experiences must mean that he suffered as much here. I got on the horse, leaving behind Georg, who started talking about the time I was dispatched to the north.

“If you go a little further, you will arrive at the castle of Evernode. If you go, you will be able to meet Archduke Strop and hear about the situation.”

There was also a hint of excitement in Georg’s voice. He looked like a man meeting a friend after a long time, no, an army mate. I accepted Georg’s words with a big smile and rode my horse up the creek.

The stream flowed down the gentle hill. As the sun turned from early afternoon to late, lazy gold, a knight rode behind me and extended a finger forward.

“There, I see Evernode.”

I stopped my horse and looked at the two flags planted on top of the towering castle tower. The two flags stood side by side. One, of course, was the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Cairos, and the flag with an even arrogant spirit standing side by side with the coat of arms of the kingdom was the pattern of the ruler of Evernode, the Strop family.

“… Are you there to meet me?”

The gates of Evernode were wide open. Beside them, dozens of soldiers lined up with their visors pressed down. All of those who appeared to be knights drew their swords and held them in front of their chests with solemn expressions. And, at the end of it, a man was slowly walking out. It felt like a cold north wind was blowing at each step.

The man stood proudly at the end of the line. An all-black outfit. A large cloak of gray fur fluttered in the wind. that’s all it looks like Everything else was the momentum that man was exuding. A presence as if a huge mountain was weighing down on it. The feeling of intimidation was terribly natural.

The man’s gaze came down and met my eyes. A gaze frozen as blue as ice. The man opened his mouth in a stern voice without taking his eyes off me. I remember that in the original work, it was quite popular with that upright appearance.

“Welcome to Evernode.”

It was the Grand Duke of the North, Quenore Strop.