Episode 12 Auditore di Sicilia (1)
When I arrived at the training ground, Chloe was already sitting on the podium, just stomping her feet.
What was so exciting about it? She even hummed a tune happily. As I approached her, she turned her head towards me and waved happily.
“Hey! Mr. Geumma, you’re here?”
“What, you’re here already? It’s not even seven thirty yet.”
“Oh, I just got here!”
“Just now… What time?”
“It’s half past six… … .”
“Isn’t there an appointment at eight o’clock?”
Instead of answering, Chloe scratched her head and smiled awkwardly. I looked at her, sighing softly.
A somewhat more formal outfit than usual. Similar to Abel a few days ago, he was wearing tights and a crop top, and a loose-sleeved sweatshirt as an outerwear.
I didn’t notice it because she always wore a big school uniform skirt, but looking at it like this, Chloe’s body curves stand out, which doesn’t suit her small frame.
‘This is yours.’
The firm abs clearly defined on her stomach and the slender muscles visible through the tight tights made Chloe nod her head as to why she was so strong.
After staring at me for a while, Chloe glanced at me while covering her mouth with the sleeve of her dress that had fallen down to her palm. Her round eyes formed strange crescent moons.
‘It’s cute.’
I calmly handed her one of the wooden swords hanging from my waist. I bought them at a discounted price of 30,000 won each at the school mart, so they felt light, but I had no other choice. Chloe accepted the wooden sword, looked down at it for a moment, and then cautiously opened her mouth.
“Wasn’t it done with a real sword?”
“huh?”
Did I hear wrong? It’s not a life-or-death decision, and what kind of crazy people train with real swords? Somehow, Chloe’s waist was hanging with that chilling Japanese sword I saw before. She’s a cute girl who has the talent to make goosebumps come out of nowhere.
“It’s training. If we fight with real swords, there’s a chance that both of us will get seriously injured. For now, let’s just use wooden swords.”
“…so kind.”
Chloe muttered in a voice that was crawling to herself, then she held the wooden sword in one hand and swung it in the air. Boom- Boom- There was a bloody sound of air being cut. How strong must a demon have to be to make such a sound with a wooden sword?
I unconsciously stuck out my tongue as I quietly watched the scene. If Chloe really hit me, anyone’s head would split like a watermelon.
I rolled the sword with both hands. I always held it with only one hand when holding a sword, so holding a long sword, even a wooden one, felt new. Fortunately, the protection did not manifest because it was out of standard.
‘Not bad.’
Before the duel, I opened the ‘Status Window’ for a final check.
Paat-
== ==
[Protection of the Sword God]
If you cut it, it will be cut.
◎ Flesh level: (2▶5) ▷ The sword standard is relaxed.
◎Spiritual level: 3 ▷ There is a sense of oppression in words and actions.
◎Armament level: 1 ▷ Unlocking conditions have not been met.
☆Education rate: 2%
★【？？？】
[※ The protection is activated only when the sword is less than 32+(3) centimeters in length and less than 6+(2) centimeters in width.]
== ==
As a result of constant physical training, the level of the flesh had risen to 5. Contrary to expectations, the relaxation of the sword’s standards was not proportional to the level value, and it felt somewhat slow.
However, more important than the sword’s specifications was the verification of my stats, so I am satisfied with the growth to this extent.
But come to think of it, did the guardian originally have this element? Normally, the guardian itself would be upgraded based on proficiency, but as far as I know, there has never been a case where these additional elements were added.
Moreover, the text was filled only with question marks at the bottom. Even though my body had grown to some extent, I couldn’t even grasp the thread.
‘I guess I need to find out more.’
As I was stroking my chin and watching the status window, Chloe approached me timidly.
“… Hey, Geomma-kun? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, sorry. Just a moment.”
It seemed that Chloe couldn’t see the status window. From her perspective, I must have been staring blankly into space. Feeling sorry for calling her and making her wait, I quickly closed the status window.
“Then shall we begin?”
“i look forward to!”
“Me too. Today is my first time, so I’ll be gentle.”
“Oh, yes!”
“I really need you to be gentle.”
We walked briskly, standing about 20 meters apart. We planned to learn everything from jumping to blocking sword strikes with our bodies.
Since my previous life, I’ve always focused on practicality. Just like how watching a video of someone cutting open a fish’s belly a hundred or a thousand times is no better than cutting it once.
It’s been a long time since I realized that the most important thing in learning a skill is the taste rather than the theory. The fact that I was able to adapt to this academy quickly is probably a product of the learning method of sparring that I’ve been doing since I was young.
Of course, the risk is overwhelmingly greater on this side. However, if you don’t even try to embrace that when you want to learn something, you will be eliminated.
If you stop at the stage of giving your all to become the best in a field, that’s it. Only when you are prepared to sacrifice your entire body can you truly be called the pinnacle.
I waved my wooden sword to signal that I was ready, and Chloe responded with the same gesture. I held the wooden sword in my hand and squinted my eyes. Even though it was a mock battle, it was my first battle without the help of a guardian, so I felt nervous.
My hands are sweaty.
The posture is also awkward.
But the tip of the sword was aimed straight at the opponent.
Her sad smile disappeared in the serious atmosphere. What was different from before was that she was not a person who had lost her sense of reason, but had the face of a proper warrior.
A moment of silence falls as they gauge each other.
As soon as I closed my eyes tightly and opened them, Chloe kicked the ground and ran towards me. The red hair chased after her.
wickedness-
Chloe closed the gap in two steps. Whether it was the protection or her natural strength, her speed was amazing.
In the blink of an eye, the wooden sword dug into my carotid artery.
‘Fuck, you said you were going to take it easy!’
I just snapped my neck and let the tip of my sword slip away. A piercing sound of air pierced my ears. Chloe then quickly tossed the sword to her other hand and swung it diagonally from bottom to top.
Crack!
Chloe was able to receive the angle she intended. To be exact, she was able to receive it. However, she was only able to receive one, but her hands were numb and cold sweat ran down her forehead.
It’s spine-chilling. I can’t relax for even a moment.
Chloe spun her body like a top, using her right foot as the axis, and struck in all directions. A shower of sharp swords struck only the vital points.
Fast and spicy.
It’s incredibly fast, but there’s no frills. The targeting is also relentless, targeting only one spot on the wooden sword.
Woojijik―
My sword cracked as I took the hit, along with the sound of wood splitting. However, Chloe’s emotionless chain of attacks did not stop. Even in the midst of all this, I managed to narrowly avoid a series of strikes. If I allowed myself to be struck even once, my back would break.
I can’t breathe.
I clenched my teeth and caught my ragged breath.
Snap!
Eventually, my wooden sword couldn’t hold up and broke into two pieces.
“Ah, ah! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have been so gentle… …!”
[The conditions for armament have been met.]
Chloe, who had just come to her senses, hurriedly distanced herself.
[An error occurred because the weapon was damaged.]
Little by little, her appearance becomes pale.
[Using the suppression power, the user’s personality is adjusted.]
Support-
[The status of a person is lowered.]
[The Sword God’s protection ‘劣’ is manifested.]
* * *
Chloe called out the name of the swordsman. However, for some reason, it didn’t seem to reach his ears. However, the murderous intent that was blooming from his pitch-black pupils engraved in her mind that something was wrong. Soon, the night wind stirred up dust ominously.
Pot!
The swordsman charged towards Chloe, his eyes widening and drawing multiple thermal images.
A blunt wooden sword, split in half, struck the one she was holding.
Snap!
Chloe reflexively braced her sword against her body and blocked it with her weight, but the impact lifted her feet off the ground and sent her flying to the side.
“Ugh… … !”
A groan of pain escaped her lips.
Even though I contracted my arm muscles, the shock was transmitted to my bones. A sharp pain spread through my entire shoulder.
The sudden blow threw my center of gravity and my body, out of balance, tilted to the side.
Chloe used the wooden sword as a crutch to support herself. A convulsive trembling quickly ran through her body.
Chloe only then came to her senses. She had to force her eyes open and secure her vision.
However, she couldn’t completely stop her trembling hands. Chloe felt fear at the sudden change in the momentum of the strong swordsman, who had gone beyond seriousness to the point of even wielding a wooden sword. There was no room for other emotions to creep in.
At that moment, Kanggeomma stretched out her arm and shot the broken wooden sword like a shotgun. She bent her waist to the right and deflected the shot wooden sword.
A fleeting moment when the fluttering reddish-brown hair obscures the vision.
The swordsman’s nose touched her forehead at a speed that made it impossible for her to even react.
Just before Chloe closed her eyes tightly, a blurry shoulder appeared on her retina.
Knock!
“…uh?”
“Let’s stop here for today.”
His forehead was slightly cold. Kang Geum-ma smiled faintly and showed his lightly clenched fist.
‘Honey chestnut?’
“Thanks for helping me practice. I’ll go in first.”
Kang Geum-ma stroked Chloe’s head once, then turned around and waved goodbye before heading towards the training ground door.
“… … .”
Chloe just stared blankly at the back of Kang Geum-ma as he walked away.
* * *
I’ve felt this since the class placement test, but the Sword Demon Army’s incompetence goes beyond strength and contains a strangeness. It’s not a technique, but a raw feeling.
Even though he unconsciously manifested all his blessings, he was no match for it. And it was only a half-baked wooden sword.
Chloe was in a brief moment of agony. Then she pressed her temples and sighed.
‘I knew you were strong, but… … .’
I walked with difficulty, my body stiff with tension. The goosebumps running down my spine did not subside easily.
As Chloe neared the threshold of the dormitory, the red-haired man was waiting for her, leaning against the wall of the building.
“You look happy, Chloe.”
“Brother?”
A faint dryness seeped into Chloe’s eyes. The man frowned and continued speaking coldly.
“Is the best you can do by entering the academy hanging out with lowly people?”
“… Don’t call me that, Sword Demon.”
Chloe’s eyes narrowed. Blood flowed from her chewed lips.
“Is your name Geomma?”
“… … .”
“If you continue to hang out with that guy, Auditore will try to get rid of you.”
There was a brief silence between them. Then, Chloe shook off her trembling body and then hardened her expression and spoke.
“Even if the entire Auditore comes, it won’t be enough to defeat the Black Horse Army.”
With those words, Chloe entered the dormitory building, blowing a cold wind.
“Sword sword.”
