The third day since Luke started learning the sword. Werner visited the count’s office.
“I have to teach Master Luke the Flame Dragon Sword.”
“…!?”
The count’s pen dropped at the bottomless words. Suddenly, a flame dragon sword?
“What do you mean? To a child who has not yet mastered the Fire Dragon Sword.”
The Bernstein family’s swordsmanship is divided into two. One is the Fire Dragon Sword, which is a basic swordsmanship and is allowed to be taught only to knights who have contracted for life.
And it is a flame dragon sword that can only be mastered by a few knights in the direct line of the family or who are allowed by the family head.
“I put that child on the family tree myself, so there’s nothing I can’t teach you. But shouldn’t we learn the Fire Dragon Sword first?”
Although the names of the swordsmanship are different, there is a connection between the two swordsmanship. If the fire dragon sword is a swordsmanship that is faithful to the basic skills, the flame dragon sword is its application.
In other words, it is said that you can learn the flame dragon sword only if you first solidify the basics with the fire dragon sword.
“And isn’t the fire dragon sword also a simple swordsmanship? It will take quite a while to get used to.”
Although it is a basic swordsmanship, it is a swordsmanship founded by the first founder, who was called the dragon slayer. It takes at least three years to learn the essence of it all.
“I don’t know what kind of talent you saw in that kid, but at least teach and talk about the Fire Dragon Sword.”
“It won’t take a month.”
“What did you say?”
“It takes enough time for you to learn all of the Fire Dragon Sword within a month.”
“…!”
Unbeknownst to himself, the Count jumped to his feet. The words were so shocking that I couldn’t even hear the sound of the chair rolling over.
“Are you serious?”
“To be honest, this is also a long one.”
Luke perfectly imitates the movement of the sword as soon as he sees it. It wouldn’t take more than a week if you purely learned swordsmanship.
However, swordsmanship is a skill to be used in actual combat. If you just learn the form, it’s meaningless.
That’s why I added 3 weeks later. The application of swordsmanship is more difficult than learning purely swordsmanship.
“In a month, His Excellency will be able to see it for himself. The image of him using the Fire Dragon Sword in real combat.”
“Huh.”
The resolute reply did not bring the Count to his senses. Within a month, learn enough swordsmanship to use it in real combat? That’s not the swordsman’s swordsmanship, but the fire dragon sword?
If another knight, other than Sir Werner, had said the same thing, he would have doubted whether he was sane.
“How far do you see the child’s talent?”
“To put it in my narrow perspective…”
After a moment’s pause, Werner spoke with a serious face.
“I believe we will be able to see the return of His Excellency Leonic, the founder of the Bernstein family.”
Leonic Bernstein. A great knight said to have the bloodline of a dragon and the heart of a lion. And a dragon slayer who is said to have slaughtered a black dragon with a single sword.
The people of the Empire call him the last remnant of the Age of Myth. He was the last person to be able to accomplish a feat with his bare hands.
‘But to think that Luke could become the second coming of the founder.’
The count felt his heart pounding. He is a child who was considered unusual from the beginning.
I was happy to have that outstanding talent, and I tried to do everything because I felt sorry and a sense of responsibility.
But now, a completely different feeling surged through me.
‘I want to see how far that child goes.’
It’s not because he’s the father. As a knight who longs for epic poetry, I was curious.
If you unreservedly display your talent, what kind of existence will you become when you become an adult?
The Count, who had closed his eyes and was lost in thought, nodded.
“Good. Do as you please.”
“What do you mean?”
“The word dragon sword. Teach me whatever you want.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency!”
“It’s teaching my children, so what is gratitude?”
If he had even the slightest talent for swordsmanship, he would have taught him anyway. Werner’s request only accelerated the timing.
Still, I didn’t know that it would be so excessively fast.
It was when Werner was about to leave the office after the conversation. Gordon, the butler, said as he entered the office.
“Your Excellency, they say Master Michael has returned.”
“what? Michael?”
The Count put on a dazed expression at the sudden news. Michael Bernstein. The second son born to Helena.
It was half a year ago that I followed my older brother to the capital to see him off when he was entering the academy, but ended up sitting there.
The guy who had been without any news from the capital until now has returned.
“Where is he now?”
“that is···.”
“father!”
Before Gordon could answer, the door burst open and someone rushed in. A boy of the same age as Luke, with purple eyes resembling the count’s and blonde hair like Helena’s.
It was the face of the second son he had seen in half a year. The count swallowed a sigh as he tried to come out and forced a smile.
“Welcome, Michael. Did you have a good tour of the capital?”
“Isn’t that important right now!”
Michael strode over and banged the desk. Not only the Earl, but also Werner and Gordon frowned at that rude behavior.
But Michael, not realizing the reaction around him, said with a huff.
“I heard that a man of low blood has entered this great Bernstein family. Is that true?”
“Your brother is just new.”
“A brother? How can you call a cloth that is not enough to be used as a mat for my feet as a brother!”
“Can’t you be careful with your words!”
Quaang
The count couldn’t stand the excessive verbal abuse and hit the desk. One leg of the desk broke with a crackling sound from the force exerted so much.
Only then did Michael take a step back in surprise. The Count suppressed his anger and glared at Michael.
“Even if you don’t like it, that child is also a child of my blood. I won’t ask you to be friendly, but keep the minimum line.”
“…”
At the Count’s scolding, Michael kept his mouth shut. But his face was full of dissatisfaction.
Seeing that, Count Leonard sighed deeply.
Michael’s heart is also understandable. In fact, it was as if he found out that his father had cheated on him.
But anyway, isn’t that too harsh? Even Helena didn’t say anything like that.
“You will be tired from returning from the capital, so take a good rest today. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
“···yes.”
From noble mtl dot com
Michael answered in an inaudible voice and left the office. The Count sighed and turned to Werner and said.
“Sir Werner.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Stay by Luke’s side today. If possible, I’m thinking of meeting each other tomorrow, but I don’t think he’s going to wait patiently with his personality. It might come to Luke, so you should stop it.”
“All right. Do not worry.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
Lord Werner bowed deeply and left the office. Left alone, the count looked around the office.
I sighed again when I saw the desk and the chair that had been tilted due to the broken leg.
****
Luke was swinging his sword in the middle of the gym. It was a self-study while Sir Werner was away with the Count.
Next to him, Bruno, now Luke’s knight, yawned with his mouth wide open.
“It’s my first time escorting, but it’s more boring than I imagined. I fall asleep quickly.”
“Take care of your face. Do other people see it?”
“Ah, if someone sees it, they know it right away. Not now.”
Bruno shook his hand as if not to worry and looked at Luke’s swordsmanship again with a bored expression.
After watching him wield his sword for a while, Bruno opened his mouth.
“Master, where did you learn the fire dragon sword?”
“Why are you asking that again?”
“Because the movement is completely adept. I don’t think I’ve swung it once or twice.”
“I just learned it at once with my genius.”
“I think it’s a little different from that…”
Bruno scratched his cheek with a curious expression. Luke, who was swinging his sword as much as he could, laughed inwardly.
‘This bastard, could it be that he noticed it just by looking at it?’
Just now, Bruno said, ‘It’s a little different from that’ when he heard that he was talented. It is said that the swordsmanship cultivated through effort and the swordsmanship acquired through talent are immediately distinguished.
It’s probably because the physical ability from the lineage of the giants also affected his eyesight.
‘Anyway, the personality is absurd, but the substance is terrifying.’
Even when the curse was on it, it was a skill that played with a promising knight. It was hard to imagine how strong it would be now that the curse had been lifted.
Then, suddenly, Bruno stood up stiffly and put on a serious expression.
“My lord, I am coming.”
“what?”
“Sir Werner. It looks like your business is over.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a shadow approaching from far away. As he approached, he saw Werner’s face.
Even though people’s faces are not visible, they are immediately identified. Luke stuck his tongue out and greeted Werner.
“Are you here, Sir Werner?”
“yes. Is it worth practicing swordsmanship?”
“I am not used to it. With no teacher to guide you, it seems like you are just swinging a stick.”
“It can’t be. It was a great swordsmanship even from a distance.”
After the greeting mixed with good words, Werner said with slightly sunken eyes.
“Boss, today we are going to make the training a bit longer.”
“All right.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why?”
“I believe in Sir Werner. You’re probably asking me to help you.”
Werner laughed bitterly at Luke’s words. It’s not wrong, but it was because of circumstances that had nothing to do with swordsmanship.
If you finish at the same time as usual, Michael will most likely interfere.
If possible, the idea was to finish the swordsmanship class late enough to not cause a problem.
“Thank you for saying that. Then today…”
“I came to the gymnasium filled with memories, and the dirty smell of a lowly man wafted up!”
Werner’s face hardened at the voice from behind. When I turned my head, Michael, who was smiling fiercely, was staring at the three of them.