I’m the Main Villain but the Heroines Are Obsessed With Me chapter 93

93 – 40. New Swordsmanship (2)

Eleks Volkanoth.

Ancestor of the Volkanoth Viscount. The first sword of the imperial family that marked the beginning of the Kallos Empire.

In the world, he was called a god and praised as such.

Born as the son of a blacksmith in a harsh northern village, he had an unparalleled talent despite being a humble commoner.

In the end, he reached the point of beheading the fearsome celestial emperor Neltalion, who made the empire tremble in fear.

Those who heard of his achievement praised Eleks not just as a swordsman but as a god, and some even considered Volkanoth, Eleks’ hometown, as the holy land of swords.

Even though Volkanoth was nothing but cold and had nothing to see, the income from tourism thanks to him was considerable.

Anyway, people created fairy tales and paintings to honor Eleks’ achievement and exhibited them.

Thanks to this, in the world, Eleks was depicted as a stern and merciless swordsman in front of enemies.

However… his real appearance was completely different from the rumors.

“Eleks. Mom said… somewhere on the continent, there’s a sea where you don’t have to bundle up like this!”

“Someday I’ll take you there.”

“How… what are you going to do? Adults said. There are scary monsters roaming around the mountains surrounding our village. We might become monster food before crossing the mountains!”

“Then we just have to kill them all and it’ll be pork.”

“Huh?”

“Just wait a moment. I’ll take care of the monsters blocking our path. In return, I’ll show you the sea. Midren, you’ll be my girlfriend instead.”

“…Alex? What are you talking about?”

The childhood friend Midren, whose story was once a joke, became Alex’s goal.

Even at a young age, to fulfill her wish, Alex secretly stole a sword from his father’s blacksmith shop, sneaked into the forest that night, and swept away the monsters in the area as his first achievement.

“You look tired. Where are you going?”

“Well… you know, our mom has severe insomnia. I overheard her at night… seems bothered by the Devil Crows howling all night.”

“Sharp ears you got there.”

“Yes. Because of that, I went to the guild to request a mission. They said the Devil Crows became more active due to nearby mines inhabited by hidden sprites. So, I’m planning to train. That’s why I’m on my way to find someone in the guild who can teach me swordsmanship!”

“Don’t. I can’t bear to see calluses on your hands…. I’ll handle it for you. If you go and come back, will you marry me?”

“Huh? Uh, where are you going?”

Alex’s accomplishment of sweeping away monsters in his childhood didn’t end there.

Acknowledged for his efforts at that time and now a squire, Alex took up the sword again to fulfill the wish of his girlfriend Midren.

While she was asleep, he infiltrated the hideout of the sprites near the village and beheaded their leader, leaving it as another achievement.

“Sigh… what should I do about this?”

“What’s going on?”

“Well… I’m building a house for our newlywed life…. They found hot springs underground. They say there’s a risk of soil collapse, and it seems we can’t build the house. But we’ve already bought all the construction materials. Now, we don’t have the money to buy new land….”

“Don’t worry. Just find a new piece of land, and in return, will you give birth to my child when you come back?”

“Huh? Where are you going again, dear….”

Alex’s brilliant journey didn’t end there.

He gained recognition by sweeping away the mines with a single stroke of his sword, and joined the Royal Knights. However, he was not satisfied with his position and relentlessly piled up achievements.

In the empire, or rather, in the entire continent, he was appointed as a viscount from a commoner in the shortest time in history, and was also granted a fief.

“The wind is chilly. How are you feeling, having just given birth?”

“Oh… Honey. I just wanted to get some fresh air…”

“What’s the matter?”

“I had a dream. It was a dream where our son was born.”

“What kind of dream?”

“Even though he hasn’t been born yet, he was talking to me. He said he’s happy to be the child of a proud father and mother.”

“…”

“The child said… that you’re the strongest knight in the empire? That you’re a man who has slit the throat of a god… Ha, what a boastful child.”

“I should become a proud father for him.”

“Huh? Honey! You just came in and now you’re going somewhere?”

In China, they even granted the wishes of unborn children.

Of course, it was a difficult task to be recognized as the best in the empire in such a short time. However, Eleks always found his own answers.

He headed towards the place where the ancient god who made the imperial citizens tremble in fear lived.

Eleks fought the monster Neltalion, who had a hundred hands, and took his life, fulfilling his wish to bring back his head.

At that moment, Eleks became the strongest knight in the empire, just as his son had seen in a dream, and after becoming a viscount, it was said that he lived a happy life with his wife Midren in their hometown, Volkanov.

That was Eleks.

“A man who wielded a sword for the wish of the woman he loved, and in the end, cut off the head of a god.”

His actual personality wasn’t cold-hearted or ruthless, at least not entirely.

He might have been a bit eccentric, but at least in his mind, there were only thoughts of his wife, Mideuren, and their child.

“Yeah. Unlike others who prioritize wealth and fame, he’s a romantic swordsman who wields his blade for the happiness of his family. That’s Alex.”

Living in a small village among commoners, he had no master to teach him the ways of the sword.

Instead, he possessed a talent bestowed by the heavens and a determination to fulfill the dreams of his precious ones.

That was enough.

The sword he first wielded in his lifetime was heavy, and after a few swings, it took his breath away. Yet, he swung the sword with all his might, risking life and death for the sake of his loved ones.

The culmination of those years was Alex’s Volkanov-style swordsmanship.

“All my years are infused into this swordsmanship… Receive it with a reverent heart.”

Kwaaang!

“Ugh!”

Ian, who defended against those attacks, furrowed his brow in arrogance.

“Is, is this Alex’s swordsmanship? No… Is this really the legendary Volkanov-style swordsmanship?”

Typically, a person’s personality is revealed through their swordsmanship.

When talking about color, it refers to the preferences or characteristics of the person who created the swordsmanship.

To give a simple example, in Haley’s case, her strong personality of insisting on flashy and powerful attacks to dispel the perception of being a cursed sorceress.

Her emotions were deeply embedded in her swordsmanship.

“So Haley’s swordsmanship is grand and flamboyant, with each basic movement being significant.”

Swordsmanship was just that.

Among the Imperial Knights, the swordsmanship learned by the Imperial Defense Guards had a defensive color, bearing the belief of protecting the emperor.

For the reasons it was created, the creator’s touch was heavily infused.

That was the reason.

‘I thought Alex’s swordsmanship would be biased towards one side, like other swordsmanships… For example, it could be aggressive and overwhelming, as if it had an imposing momentum. But it wasn’t at all.’

The reason for Alex’s confusion after clashing swords.

His swordsmanship, unlike others, was not biased towards attack or defense. It wasn’t leaning towards either side.

‘Attack and defense are not separated and are integrated into one swordsmanship… Is it really right to use only one swordsmanship now?’

At times, it exhibited an extreme aggressiveness as if assuming a unilateral attack, and then, suddenly, it revealed an impregnable defense like a solid fortress that could never be penetrated.

Is this truly possible? Capturing two seemingly impossible rabbits of attack and defense, not only that but perfectly harmonizing them?

‘Does such a thing exist?’

It was incomprehensible. To the extent that one might wonder if Alex is really using just one swordsmanship…

Countless times, I pondered and tried to analyze.

Was it thanks to that? I could grasp it to some extent.

‘I still don’t fully understand… How can such a swordsmanship exist? And how did Alex perfectively harmonize it?’

Understanding the swordsmanship created by a genius who had worked all his life to create it is inherently an impossible task just by witnessing it once.

“Instead… he clearly said this. Everything of himself is in this swordsmanship.”

Perhaps this is the color Alex possesses.

The determination to protect his beloved wife and children, and the intention to tear apart those who seek to shatter the peace…

Living with only these emotions in his mind. Perhaps that’s how this swordsmanship was created.

‘Normally, doing this would result in neither capturing both attack and defense nor becoming mediocre…’

Isn’t it Alex Volkanov, known as the genius of the god-bestowed sword, who captured the genius of the divine sword, not the rabbits of both attack and defense?

Without a proper mentor, creating a skill equivalent to ringing the neck of an ancient god would be impossible. It might even be possible to develop a swordsmanship with more than two colors, something considered unimaginable.

“As I think about it… I understand why Alex’s swordsmanship is different from the current Volkanof’s swordsmanship.”

In the latter part of Heroic Academy, there is a scene where Ariel, who earned recognition by overcoming the disease and awakening, receives instruction in Volkanof-style swordsmanship.

From that point on, Ariel began to use Volkanof-style swordsmanship instead of the original technique she had been using.

However, what Alex demonstrates now with his sword is completely different from what was seen back then. Looking at the original… it was as if what was seen while playing the game was garbage.

“The cause was his talent… leaving swordsmanship for future generations… If there is no talent comparable to Alex’s, it’s not something that can be learned no matter how many centuries pass.”

The color of Alex, which had blended into swordsmanship during the process of his descendants improving to their level, gradually began to blur.

“And by now… it would have become an entirely different swordsmanship.”

Thinking about this, a sigh of relief naturally escaped.

If he didn’t know this fact, he would have searched the family records in preparation for the fight against the demons, devoting himself to learning the Volkanof-style swordsmanship.

Thanks to special simulated sparring, he was now in a situation where he could learn the forgotten original of the Volkanof-style swordsmanship.

Of course, it couldn’t be unconditionally considered a good thing.

After all, it wasn’t a swordsmanship that realized the wall of talent and was improved.

In other words, unless it was a talent on par with the old Alex, learning it would be in vain. It would become neither this nor that.

However, Ian was confident.

“At least I haven’t heard anyone say that I’m lacking in talent anywhere.”

That too, is it not a talent beyond the thousands in the empire? Some even said that Ian’s talent was higher than Ariel, chosen by the gods….

That was the reason.

“Are you standing up again? I like it. Truly worthy of my descendant.”

Despite being in a state of emptiness, the reason for rising again was clear.

Watching Alex, who smirked as if amazed, Ian couldn’t help but think that this was what a god of swords looked like….

Ian decided not to be bothered by it.

‘If the opponent is a god….’

He just had to play his move accordingly.

With a wry smile, Ian brought out all the moves he had.

“Neltalion. Let’s use Divine Grace.”

– Okay! Got it!

The Divine Grace received from Neltalion began to envelop Ian’s entire body.

However, the moves Ian had prepared were not the end of it.

From Noble mtl dot com

[Faced a formidable enemy! There is a significant gap in stats! Substantial adjustments applied to abilities!]

As if the Demon Lord of Jealousy, Rebrion, created by the demon king, was also going to contribute power, it emitted an imposing aura.

“The momentum has built up. Come! Strive for victory with honor! Oh, descendants!”

Smiling at Alex, who raised his voice as if thoroughly satisfied, Ian also smiled.

“Let’s give it a try.”

***

“Ha. Did I wake up…?”

Ian cautiously opened his eyes to the faint light coming in from outside the window.

The sky was still dark. But judging by the gradually rising sun, it seemed to be dawn.

Although it felt like quite a while had passed subjectively, it was still less than six hours.

During the simulated combat, time seemed to flow uniformly. Could it be a result of the transition to special simulated combat?

The fatigue induced by the intense battle persisted, of course, but still.

“Nevertheless… the results were good.”

Ian’s mouth curled up slightly as he recalled his confrontation with Alex.

The victor of the match between them was none other than himself.

It might have been a result foreseen from the beginning.

“As the simulated combat strengthened, I did become stronger… but I wasn’t just idling either.”

Even in a situation where he couldn’t use swordsmanship, and Natalion’s growth was slower than now, Ian had managed to gain the upper hand against Alex.

With a step up from back then, and considering Natalion’s divine power and Levrian’s characteristics shining brighter than before, Ian cautiously anticipated victory.

“Sure, if I had been completely defeated after setting it up like that, it would have been quite humiliating… but still, I won.”

That alone is enough. There’s no need to worry about a bad future for no reason.

Having obtained a valuable victory, it was time to enjoy the rewards.

“It was different from the expectation that I could immediately replicate his swordsmanship just by winning.”

Even if he won, duplicating Alex’s swordsmanship was impossible.

Instead, from the moment of his defeat, Alex began training for Ian, and within the slow-flowing simulated combat, Ian learned a new swordsmanship.

“According to him, I’ve learned almost everything… so I’ll just activate the simulated combat occasionally and learn in the meantime.”

Thinking like that, Ian chuckled and gently laid Natalion, who was sleeping peacefully, on the bed before getting up from his seat.

Since he woke up early, it was a good opportunity to tidy up the food from yesterday… that was the moment he thought about it.

Beep!

“Huh? Why a message at this hour…”

The moment the screen of the device, charging on the bedside table, lit up.

Who could be sending a message at this ungodly hour?

Could it be Igor, who was on the run, caught by his family, sending a request for help?

Thinking that, I checked the message and could see it.

[Arc 1, 2nd-year students, this message is being delivered to all squad leaders.

The officers of each squad that were dispatched for pre-training area reconnaissance over the weekend are missing. In accordance with regulations, assembly orders for squad leaders have been issued, so please check the message and return to Arc promptly.]

“Squad leaders missing? What is this.”

It was a moment when a new threat emerged.