"Before we start, let me say one thing."
Casher and Ferda faced each other.
Burke squeezed between them.
He looked only at Casher as he gave his warning.
"This is a friendly spar. You absolutely must not use lethal force."
"I know, Sir Logwood."
Casher scowled like the nagging was annoying.
His face looked eager to swing his sword already. Ferda stared intently at Casher like that.
Sword Expert intermediate level. His stats must be pretty impressive too.
Meanwhile, Ferda was just at the level of someone who'd barely entered Expert rank.
'Looking at stats alone, I don't have much chance of winning, but...'
Fighting isn't just about stats.
More than anything, there was a critical difference between them.
'Real combat experience.'
An SSS-rank Hunter who'd lived on battlefields for over ten years.
An intermediate Expert who'd grown up in a greenhouse.
We'd see whose sword would be sharper.
"...Just take a few hits and roll on the ground. That's the least painful way."
That's when Burke spoke to him.
He patted Ferda's shoulder and continued.
"I trust someone like you would understand."
To say he trusted him when he'd barely seen him at all.
His first impression must have been pretty good.
Burke turned and walked outside the training ground. Then he pulled out a silver coin from his pocket and held it high in the air.
"The coin dropping will be the signal."
As soon as Burke finished speaking.
Casher gripped his sword properly. He grinned wickedly while looking this way.
"Hey, tutor."
Casher suddenly called out.
His eyes curved like crescents.
"Come at me with everything you've got. If you don't want to die."
Killing intent gathered in his brown eyes.
He clearly intended to use lethal force. But that was actually good.
If he hadn't planned to use lethal moves, Ferda would have provoked him into it anyway.
"Then let's begin."
Burke flicked the coin.
The spinning coin. It wobbled unsteadily in the wind, then hit the ground.
Whoosh—
At that moment, Casher kicked off the ground.
The practice wooden sword came flying with terrifying momentum.
Clean, efficient movements. This was worth praising.
Whoosh—
Ferda dodged the sword by simply leaning his upper body back slightly. The wooden sword barely grazed past his nose. Not satisfied with that, Casher twisted his sword path.
A merciless swift strike followed!
Hard to believe this swordsmanship came from a fifteen-year-old.
No wonder he was called a genius.
"Huh! Lucky."
Casher's eyebrows twitched.
Standing still for a moment, he caught his breath in that brief instant.
That wasn't something you could teach.
Seemed like his combat instincts were perfect too.
"The warm-up ends here."
Casher smirked.
Then he gripped his sword more tightly. The sharp sword tip aimed for Ferda's heart.
And round two began.
Thwack thwack thwack—
The first attack was a fierce thrust.
Every single one aimed only at vital spots like the heart and head.
Using lethal force already. Still, it wasn't threatening enough yet. While casually dodging the attacks, he glanced toward where Burke was.
He didn't look like he had any intention of stopping things.
Instead, he was watching the spar with interested eyes.
"How dare you look away when I'm right in front of you?"
Did he feel ignored?
Casher's momentum became more vicious. The wooden sword gained power and the attacks became more blatant. Then dodging also gradually became more difficult.
Thwack—!
For the first time since the spar began, swords clashed.
"Yeah, that's how you should be!"
A smile bloomed on Casher's lips.
This young master was quite the battle maniac too.
Dozens of exchanges continued in a short time. Dust flew and sweat slowly beaded on foreheads, but Casher's attacks didn't dull one bit.
After about ten minutes passed, the wooden sword that couldn't withstand the impact broke with a snap.
"Tsk!"
Casher clicked his tongue low.
He looked displeased about something. After a moment, he sighed and glared at Ferda.
"...Fine. You're better than the other tutors."
"Tutors aren't people who teach swordsmanship though."
When Ferda shot back, Casher furrowed his brow.
His face clearly showed his irritation.
Then he suddenly shouted toward a knight outside the training ground.
"Bring me a steel sword."
"Excuse me?"
"Young master, if you use a steel sword..."
"Can't you hear me? Hurry up and bring it!"
What a temper.
At Casher's words, the knights hesitated but eventually brought steel swords.
They glanced at Burke who was observing, but he said nothing. Soon after, training steel swords were placed in both Casher's and Ferda's hands.
"I'm still not good at controlling my strength. So."
Casher gripped the steel sword properly and tapped his own leg.
Then an arrogant sneer colored his lips.
"If you think you're going to die, grab here and beg. Just like that darkie over there."
"..."
Ferda's eyebrow twitched.
But only for a moment.
"I appreciate the advice, but it won't come to that."
When he answered nonchalantly with a broad smile, Casher's face crumpled.
At that moment, the two men's gazes locked in midair.
This time, no coin was needed.
Clang—!
The sound of steel swords clashing rang out clearly.
Both kicked off the ground simultaneously. Then a chaotic battle continued like before.
"Amazing. I never thought he'd be at that level..."
"You're telling me."
"I thought he'd be a beginner at best."
The knights watching the spar exclaimed in admiration.
Meanwhile, Burke watched the scene without saying anything. Shane frowned, displeased with this situation.
And Silvan watched their spar with a dazed expression.
The words left by the man who had knelt before him before leaving.
'All the humiliation you've suffered. I'll pay it all back for you.'
He'd thought it was a joke.
After all, this was an intermediate Expert. A mere tutor couldn't possibly win.
But right now, the two were engaged in an equal spar.
At least that's how it looked to Silvan.
Clench—
He gripped his small fist tightly. Light gathered in his dazed eyes.
Silvan's eyes were fixed on Ferda's back.
***
The training ground where dusty clouds rose.
The two men who had been fighting for a while created distance between them. Eventually, Casher began to steady his rough breathing.
Even so, his eyes remained fixed on Ferda.
'What the hell?'
Confusion filled his gaze.
And for good reason.
'Why is he still perfectly fine?'
Compared to himself who was covered in sweat, Ferda looked way too perfectly fine. Normally their positions should have been reversed. Everyone who had crossed swords with him until now had been like that.
"How about we call it quits now?"
That's when Ferda spoke.
A relaxed expression. Seeing that smug face made his anger flare even more.
"You look pretty tired."
Right after, Ferda smirked.
Mockery. That bastard was mocking Casher right now.
"Shut up!"
Unable to hold back, he shouted angrily.
"You worthless commoner!"
Grind!
He clenched his teeth. Rage shot to the top of his head.
A bastard who doesn't know his place! I'll make you regret provoking me!
Whooom—
The steel sword glowing bluish.
Mana Sword. Even training armor was useless before that sword.
Ferda slipped his body back slightly.
At the same time, Casher charged forward with his sword leading.
Whoosh! Whoom!
The Mana Sword cut through the air.
At the threatening offensive, Ferda couldn't even think of blocking and stumbled backward.
He looked like he was just desperately trying to dodge.
Like some kind of acrobatic act, in the precarious situation, the knights and Silvan watched with sweaty palms.
That's why they didn't notice.
The fact that the dust in the training ground had become excessively thick.
"Just dodging won't end this!"
If I don't dodge, my life will end though?
Ferda thought that while constantly pulling his feet backward.
That's when it happened.
Thunk—
Did he trip on a rock or something?
"Ah."
Ferda momentarily staggered.
Casher didn't miss that opening.
"Die!"
No, dying would be bad.
Ferda rolled on the ground. The Mana Sword violently struck where he had been.
Crash!
Even more dust rose up with that.
Enough to block the spectators' view.
Now the preparations were complete.
"This bastard with his cheap tricks..."
Was the thick dust bothering him? Casher turned around with a crumpled face.
Then he was about to swing his sword to blow away the dust.
But then, someone grabbed his collar.
Grab—
"Guk!"
Tremendous grip strength. This wouldn't be possible with pure strength alone.
Unless it was enhanced with magic or mana.
And right now in this place, only one person could do that.
"This worthless bastard..."
How dare he grab a noble's collar?
Fine. I'll cut off your wrist right now. Just as he was thinking that.
Whoosh!
Suddenly his body was pulled forward.
What appeared through the thick dust was Ferda's face.
"Young master."
"Wh-what?!"
Casher was flustered by the sudden appearance.
Meanwhile, Ferda was smiling.
But it was a bit strange. That smile wasn't an ordinary laugh or mockery either.
A predator's smile when facing prey.
"I'm the type who always keeps my promises."
What is he talking about?
Just as he was thinking that!
Shiver—
Goosebumps rose all over his body.
The hand holding his sword trembled. His legs wobbled and his complexion turned pale.
"...!"
It was an aura.
The aura of an SSS-rank Hunter who had fought death battles in hell for over ten years.
Though he was an intermediate Expert level fighter, someone who grew up in a greenhouse couldn't handle this level.
"Uh, uuh."
This must be how a frog feels in front of a snake.
Casher trembled all over.
That's when Ferda's fist struck his abdomen. It was a fist filled with plenty of mana.
Thud!
"Gah!"
With a single scream, his waist bent.
Saliva spewed from his wide-open mouth.
"I'm still not good at controlling my strength."
Bowing his head, Ferda brought his lips to his ear.
He pointed to his ankle and returned Casher's exact words.
"If you think you're going to die, grab here and beg."
With that final word.
Merciless violence began.
Thud! Thud thud thud! Thwack!
"Guk! St-stop... Gah!"
Screams burst out one after another.
He deliberately targeted only the abdomen and sides where marks wouldn't show. Then when it seemed like traces might remain on the armor, he changed position and struck his back.
Thwack!
A refreshing impact.
Finally, Casher fell to his knees.
"Ugh! Bleh!"
Yellow vomit soaked the ground.
The sword had long since left his hands. Casher trembled all over while dry heaving.
Only then did Ferda stop his fists.
'If it were up to me...'
Cold light gathered in his eyes.
He wanted to shatter his mana heart so he could never hold a sword again.
Or breaking his wrists would be good too. He wasn't the type to leave future troubles behind.
'...But.'
That wouldn't do.
Not because he feared future troubles.
'I can't steal someone else's experience points.'
Destroying Casher had to be done by none other than Silvan himself.
He had to face his past trauma head-on and destroy it.
Only then could he overcome the wall and become stronger.
So for now, think of your lifeline being extended a bit longer. Ferda smiled coldly and turned around.
By the way, isn't it about time for someone to jump in?
Whoooosh—!
At that moment!
The sound of a sword cutting through wind was heard.
A single slash.
The power was tremendous. The dust that had covered the training ground in a haze was cleared all at once.
"Wh-what is this..."
What appeared next was Burke Logwood.
He stared blankly at Casher.
Of course he'd be dumbfounded. Just moments ago, Ferda had been in that spot.
"Gah! Guh!"
That's when pain-filled groans flowed from Casher's lips.
Burke snapped back to his senses in shock.