EP.18
In the exclusive training ground for Class A, Jin and Altina were swinging their swords at least ten meters apart.
Altina was testing various sword techniques on a scarecrow positioned farthest from Jin, while Jin was practicing his stance by swinging his sword against empty air.
The reason he wasn’t striking the scarecrow was that he simply didn’t have the courage to do so.
This was because Jin’s current physical condition had been reset due to regression.
His hands were as soft as a noblewoman’s, never having known the calluses formed by wielding a sword. If he dared to hit the scarecrow in this state, his hands might burst open.
In that case, by tomorrow morning, he would be reduced to a state where he trembled like a patient suffering from tremors, unable to hold even a spoon properly.
While training in swordsmanship was good, wasn’t it urgent to first train the body to wield that sword?
— But you really have no talent for swordsmanship.
Meanwhile, Erekaya, who had been silently observing Jin as he swung the sword, let out a groan.
— Your grip on the sword is completely wrong. No, fundamentally, swordplay isn’t about wielding it with arm strength. The power starts from the ankles, travels through the waist, and ultimately reaches the wrist. The force generated should be linked together, and the sword should be swung with that recoil. With that foolish dance of yours, you couldn’t even catch a puppy.
‘I told you, I have no talent for swordsmanship.’
Jin too had something to say, so he pouted his lips and muttered.
‘Besides, it’s been too long since I last held a sword. No matter how bad I am, this is the first time in about 50 years that I’ve held one. Wouldn’t it be stranger if I remembered how to swing it?’
— Haah, my calculations were wrong. I thought that since you are a reincarnator, you would have some degree of talent for swordsmanship, but I never imagined you would be this hopeless. Given this, even if I were to help you a hundred times, learning Pendragon’s swordsmanship would be utterly impossible.
‘Come on, why do you have to demoralize someone? I’ve put in my time, you know? How can I not learn proper swordsmanship after all this?’
— No, you will never learn. Because Pendragon’s swordsmanship is for geniuses. In fact, it was a swordsmanship that even geniuses could not learn. It was only after I fundamentally reworked the basics of swordsmanship that I could allow geniuses to learn it.
‘…What?’
As Jin lost his composure for a moment, Erekaya sighed deeply and continued.
— Jin, are you aware that the origin of the Empire’s nobility is the House of Martial Arts, and that they inherited bloodline abilities from their ancestors?
‘Of course I know. The reason nobles receive their status is precisely because the supernatural abilities flow in their blood.’
— However, even supernatural abilities vary greatly in type and degree. For instance, the ignorant woman wielding the sword over there possesses the supernatural ability of “Temporal Interference.” It is, quite literally, a cheat ability that allows her to deal with and interfere with time-related factors to some degree.
Jin was already well aware that Altina had the ability of temporal interference.
— But no matter how powerful an ability one possesses, it is still a human wielding that power. If Altina von Rudel Seryas could fully harness her “Temporal Interference,” she would have ascended to the realm of gods long ago. Yet, she is still human.
— That is why, for hundreds of years, the House of Martial Arts has sought out solutions and came up with strategies. As humans, it is impossible to perfectly control one’s supernatural abilities. So then, how about applying that power and refining it into a manageable form?
– Indeed, there have been countless trials and errors. But at the end of it all, the unique combat techniques representing each family were completed. These techniques embody the concept of controlling one’s supernatural abilities, honed and refined into a martial art based on the abilities they were born with.
‘Is that the swordsmanship that symbolizes the Pendragon family?’
– Correct. As I mentioned before, the bloodline ability passed down in the Pendragon family is synesthesia. It’s a transcendent mark that allows one to perceive and experience connections between different senses, enabling one to feel things that are typically unseen and unfelt.
However, no matter how extraordinary the ability may be, synesthesia is ultimately a flawed ability that has no direct influence on reality.
Thus, they evolved their synesthesia into a martial art.
– That is precisely what symbolizes the Pendragon Duchy’s swordsmanship, “Dance of the Dragon.”
‘…Dance of the Dragon, huh.’
– “Dance of the Dragon” was designed for those possessing Pendragon’s supernatural ability, making it nearly impossible for others to master.
Despite such strong restrictions, the power of “Dance of the Dragon” is absolute.
The heirs of Pendragon can capture not only sight but also other aspects through their synesthesia, allowing for interference with those elements.
Using that, the Dance of the Dragon can perceive the inherent structure of objects, ignoring the target’s defenses and cutting through space itself in a remarkable display.
– While I adjusted it so that someone with innate talent and extraordinary senses could learn after ten years of refining swordsmanship…
No matter how much I try to adapt it, ultimately, the Dance of the Dragon is a martial art meant for geniuses.
It would be virtually impossible for Jin, who lacks any notable talent certified by his master, to learn the Dance of the Dragon.
– However, it’s not entirely impossible. Although it may be a roundabout way, there is a method for you to realize Pendragon’s swordsmanship.
At Erekaya’s words, Jin appeared intrigued.
If there had been such a clever method, why didn’t Erekaya mention it from the start? Why make it cumbersome by going in circles?
‘What is it?’
– Well, that is…
But at that moment.
– Jin! Step back one step! Quickly!
Erekaya suddenly shouted mid-explanation.
Without the chance to think, Jin stepped back.
Swish—
In an instant, the training sword pierced the very spot where Jin’s head had been just a second ago. Had Erekaya not warned him, he might have experienced a nasty bump on his head or worse.
“Oh, sorry about that. My bad.”
Turning his head, he found Altina shrugging her shoulders with an expression that lacked any genuine remorse from a corner of the training ground.
– Regrettably, that was indeed a mistake. It was rather unsettling to see you swing the sword so precariously, and it seems an accident was bound to happen.
Her tone clearly conveyed regret for not being able to find any fault had it not been just a mishap.
“…What in the world would cause a sword to fly at someone’s head?”
“Sorry about that, I didn’t mean for it to happen. It seems my family’s swordsmanship is still quite unfamiliar to me, and I must have inadvertently tightened my grip.”
A hint of embarrassment shone through Altina’s expression as she spoke. It seemed like it wasn’t a deliberate attempt to put a hole in Jin’s head due to any ill will.
Perhaps this time, he would overlook it with a sense of generosity. If it had been that dark-haired guy, he would have thrown a punch without a second thought, regardless of the circumstances.
“Is it really acceptable to practice your family’s swordsmanship in such a public place?”
“Why? Are you hoping to mimic my swordsmanship while watching me? I’m sorry, but that’s out of the question. The swordsmanship I wield can only demonstrate its true power in the hands of someone who has inherited the bloodline of House Seryas.”
Jin was well aware of this fact. In a past iteration when he had been her lover, he had desperately attempted to learn the Seryas family’s swordsmanship from Altina, only to ultimately fail.
“Even if I did teach you swordsmanship, you wouldn’t be able to execute it properly. From the looks of it, you’ve probably never swung a sword in your life. Even if I were to stand beside you and teach you every single step, it’d be a miracle if you managed to grasp even a fraction of it.”
Altina’s gaze was fixated on Jin’s pale and soft hands.
Damn it, if I’d known this would happen, I should have developed calluses on my hands before enrolling at Nineveh.
“Well, it’s true that I don’t have much experience swinging a sword, but I feel like I’d be able to pick up your family’s swordsmanship relatively easily. Honestly, I’ve been watching you practice from the sidelines and I can’t quite understand where you’re getting stuck.”
In a moment of frustration, Jin couldn’t help but show off. There was also a childish desire not to appear weak in front of Altina, of all people.
“Hah, what nonsense are you spouting when you clearly have no idea…”
“You know, you have a habit of leaning your right foot slightly to the left when swinging your sword to maintain your balance, right?”
“…What?”
“The fundamentals of swordsmanship originate from the lower body, and without a solid foundation, all the intricate techniques become nothing but mere flailing. The reason you’re stuck against a wall at the moment is precisely that. A minor discrepancy in your stance may seem trivial at first glance, but it accumulates and transforms into a massive barrier in front of you.”
Truthfully, this insight didn’t stem from some extraordinary perception of swordsmanship on Jin’s part. It was simply one of the things Altina had shared with him during their conversations about their past lives.
In other words, Jin actually didn’t know a thing about swordsmanship himself and was just rambling whatever came to mind.
“Well, fundamentally, I have nothing to lose.”
If Altina dismissed his comments as nonsense and let them go in one ear and out the other, then nothing would happen. And if she accepted his advice and managed to overcome the wall in front of her, that would be good too…
Even if Jin’s remarks were wrong, he wouldn’t suffer any consequences. After all, talking didn’t cost him anything.
“…You idiot.”
However, contrary to Jin’s expectations, Altina was glaring at him like someone who had just discovered chewing gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe.
“Showing off for no reason at all.”
Altina spat out the words, filled with disdain, and turned her back on him. It seemed any faint feelings of affection she had held for him had completely evaporated.
“Ugh.”
…Did I overstep my bounds? If I had known it would turn out this way, I should have just kept my mouth shut; that would have probably been the wiser choice.
– Ugh, this is quite sticky. This is why men who cling to former lovers often come off as pathetic.
“I’d prefer to be called a romantic if you’re going to characterize me like that.”
Men tend to struggle to let go of their ex-girlfriends, after all.
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