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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Theo Ragnar (5)
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'Ah...!'
Theo let out a sigh without realizing it.
He knew full well how crucial that 'trance state' he'd been immersed in moments ago was for a swordsman.
Depending on the moment, it could propel one through several realms of enlightenment.
In fact, Theo had succeeded in grasping the clue to the secret swordsmanship he'd only vaguely sensed until now.
And just as he was about to delve deeper, he'd been interrupted.
Naturally, irritation was etched deeply across Theo's face.
But Renden's face was flushed just as red.
'Looks like Mother gave him an earful.'
Had he come to complain?
For a split second, tussling with the guy felt utterly pointless.
This dimwit hadn't even noticed Theo lost in his trance.
Exchanging words with him was a waste of time.
Better to spend it refocusing on the secret swordsmanship—a hundred times better.
Theo didn't spare Renden a glance as he resumed his stance.
"You're still here?"
"What...!"
"Didn't Mother tell you? I specifically asked for the room cleared until this morning."
"That's!"
"As you can see, I'm a bit busy. If there's nothing else, please leave."
Renden's face turned an even deeper shade of red with rage.
How could he not boil over when this half-cripple he'd dismissed inwardly was ignoring him?
But Theo didn't care.
He slowly stepped forward again, swinging his zweihander.
[Dragon's Three Claws].
He was challenging the sword technique that had failed before.
* * *
Theo's demeanor only fanned Renden's fury.
'This cripple bastard dares to... in front of me!'
The title of mentor to the Ragnar direct lineage was one that opened doors everywhere.
Renden had no intention of giving it up.
He'd even planned to resort to threats if needed, and here was Theo inexplicably practicing swordsmanship.
So why not make him feel the gap between them firsthand?
Paht!
Renden swiftly drew the sword at his waist and swung.
His target: Theo's neck.
'Just a little nick on the skin, and he'll cower in terror...!'
But Renden's thoughts didn't last.
Theo's zweihander suddenly sliced across the ground, thrusting forward to deflect the attack.
Chaaaang!
"...!"
It was monstrous power.
Renden recoiled in shock from the pain that felt like his arm might rip off, stumbling back.
In that instant, Theo's sharp gaze fixed on him.
Flinch!
For a brief moment, Renden's heart sank under Theo's presence.
"More."
"What...?"
"Come at me harder."
Theo's eyes burned with unprecedented intensity.
[You have successfully mastered your first sword technique. (1/10)]
[Strength has increased by 2.]
[Stamina has increased by 1.]
Messages floating in the center of his vision.
It counted as mastering a sword technique just from blocking an attack?
And even boosting his physical stats?
He could feel power surging through his body.
Theo was already utterly captivated by the mysterious power of these messages.
How could he just stand there?
Time to squeeze every drop out of this.
Sizzle.
For the first time, Renden looked like a golden goblin in Theo's eyes.
'He blocked one attack and thinks he can look down on me? This cripple bastard is begging to die!'
Paht—
Renden gritted his teeth and lunged. He took it as Theo mocking him.
Theo, meanwhile, stayed calm.
He focused all his senses on Renden.
His breathing. Pupil movements. Contracting muscles. Footwork direction. Sword angle....
The flood of information registered swiftly in Theo's eyes.
'The mana in my Aura Heart has increased dramatically. My dynamic vision's sharpened too.'
All his physical functions had elevated.
He could judge easily now.
How to respond.
'Counter the third form of [Jester's Frolic] with a reversal.'
The zweihander traced a soft curve.
A sword technique utterly unlike the ferocious previous one.
Chaaaang—
Renden's attack was blocked once more.
'It's definite. The power in my sword has grown stronger. My breathing's steadier too.'
No illusion.
Proof was Renden staggering back greatly.
This confirmed it.
The more he fought.
The more sword techniques he mastered.
The faster he grew stronger.
And.
Ding!
[You have successfully mastered your second sword technique. (2/10)]
[Agility has increased by 1.]
[Intelligence has increased by 1.]
Again, changes rippled through his body alongside the message window.
Muscles tightening firmly, body feeling lighter.
'Speed's up too, then?'
Theo shifted from pure defense to launching his own attack.
Thud!
The power in his leg as he kicked off the ground surprised even him.
Naturally, he closed the distance to Renden far quicker than expected.
"...Hup!"
Renden's eyes widened in surprise as he hastily pulled his sword inward.
But Theo, regaining composure first, slipped inside his guard.
The zweihander smashed into Renden's chest.
[Reverse Eruption Gale Force].
A secret technique devoted purely to raw power.
Kwaaaang!
"Aaaack!"
Renden barely blocked it and was pushed back four or five steps.
Then he tripped on something and sprawled backward.
[You have successfully mastered your third sword technique. (3/10)]
[Strength has increased by 1.]
[Agility has increased by 1.]
[Luck has increased by 2.]
'Luck too?'
Pfft.
Theo let out a light chuckle.
He could feel himself growing stronger by the second.
'This is... the power of the messages. And the Ragnar talent.'
It wasn't just the messages altering his stats.
The Ragnar body's talent enhanced his judgment, reactions, and reflexes, synergizing with the messages for amplified growth.
'Plus the power from the Aura Heart.'
Messages.
Ragnar talent.
Dragon's Heart.
With these three.
Theo could grow infinitely.
'I might... actually win.'
Theo's ambitions shifted from mere sparring with Renden to outright victory.
"I'll kill you, kill you, kill youuuu!"
Meanwhile, Renden—who'd looked ridiculous—now had his eyes rolled back in frenzy.
Shweeeeek!
His gaze burned with clear murderous intent.
But.
Theo moved his body with the zweihander steady, unshaken.
Shwaaaak!
* * *
'He's gotten faster again.'
Julius Ragnar watched the not-quite-spar between Theo and Renden, eyes gleaming.
When Renden first interrupted Theo's enlightenment and picked a fight, he'd meant to step in.
Scammer or not, Renden was a low 2-star swordsman. No beginner fresh to the blade could handle that.
But Julius quickly shelved the thought.
'The longer the fight drags, the sharper his senses get. His stance is stabilizing.'
Visually, Renden held the edge.
He pressed Theo relentlessly, while Theo could only defend.
But their eyes differed.
Renden swung wildly, unable to calm his excitement, while Theo responded coolly.
And each occasional counter made Renden flinch and retreat visibly.
'He grasped a clue to advanced swordsmanship in that trance! At that young age, already...!'
Julius realized it then.
Theo wasn't sparring with Renden.
He saw him as a training dummy. A stepping stone for growth.
"You dog bastard!"
Renden seemed to catch on, his face twisted in fury.
'How is this possible?'
A beginner using a 2-star swordsman for 'sword practice'.
Even with Ragnar talent, this defied common sense.
'Genius. A genius.'
Unaware of the messages, Julius's misunderstanding ballooned into burning desire for Theo.
He had to acquire this boy somehow.
Slurp.
Julius swallowed unconsciously.
"...."
Evelyn Nereville, watching from the side, shook her head.
This guy's illness was flaring up again.
She recalled his old nickname.
-Talent Lust... no, Collector.
He never held back when he spotted talent.
* * *
"N-No way...!"
Even as Renden collapsed in exhaustion, his disheveled state and tone screamed disbelief.
[You have successfully mastered your tenth sword technique. (10/10)]
[Strength has increased by 2.]
[Luck has increased by 1.]
Theo basked in the afterglow of victory.
Every fingertip, every toe tingled with overflowing adrenaline.
Did Ragnar swordsmen live perpetually drunk on this feeling? If so, their battle-madness made sense.
And this was his first taste—how must veterans feel?
But the deepest afterglow for Theo was something else.
Triumph.
Pride.
Achievement.
From his first life through reincarnation to now. For the first time, he'd accomplished something with these hands. It spurred him on.
His skill, inferior when facing Renden initially, now overwhelmed him.
Absurdly steep growth.
'I finally did it myself. I... can do this.'
This was perhaps the greatest fruit of his second life.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Quest #7.]
[Rating: A+]
[Reward: Arm of ■■■ obtained.]
[Additional reward based on rating: Acquired
Observation?
Theo's eyes widened at the new message.
'No more mana rewards? Shame.'
But he strongly sensed this additional reward was no less potent.
'How do I use this? Ob... servation?'
As Theo muttered softly, gazing at the fallen Renden.
[Observing 'Renden Harvey'.]
+
Renden Harvey (32/Male)
· Title: Con Artist Mercenary
· Talent: Dirty Tricks
· Status: Despair or rage from an unexpected defeat
+
'...This is personal info on people?'
It seemed
Their talents, current status—everything.
Depending on use, it could be a massive weapon.
'Can I check mine too?'
But Theo couldn't access his own info.
'No garbled text this time. What changed?'
Theo suppressed the question, narrowing his eyes.
Renden's 'status' was ridiculous.
-Despair or rage from an unexpected defeat.
'Same as ever. Never satisfied.'
"This should suffice, so clear out by today. If you cling longer, I'll call the Law Swordsmen."
Law Swordsmen handled family discipline and security.
Second only to the Family Head, they held punitive authority even over elders—reapers to the household.
Renden, knowing their infamy, dropped his head.
Flick—
Theo turned away, interest gone.
Normally, he'd continue sword training, but reviewing mastered techniques felt more pressing now.
But then.
"You dog bastard! Die!"
Renden's head snapped up, hurling something at Theo's back.
An utterly unforeseen ambush.
'...!'
Feigning despair to draw a hidden weapon?
Theo spun hastily, but the dagger was already flying at his face.
Thump thump thump thump!
His Dragon's Heart raced, vision slowing dramatically—right then.
Flash—
A bolt from the sky casually deflected it.
Chaaaang!
The figure revealed.
A middle-aged man with tiger-like fierce eyes stood before Theo.
"White Drag... Knight Captain?"
Julius Ragnar.
One of the family's top figures—why here?
Before Theo could voice the question.
"A fight's not over till the end. Stay vigilant to the last. A swordsman's most dangerous moment isn't mid-battle, but when victory breeds complacency. And—."
Julius lectured Theo in a flat tone, yet swung with feral ferocity unfit to his words.
"Once you resolve to strike viciously, stay vicious to the end."
A flash from Julius's sword, his aura blade severing Renden's neck in one stroke.
Slice—
Spurt!
Crimson blood sprayed, staining the training ground.
Renden's venom-filled face seemed oblivious to his death.
"Aaaah! The training ground's filthy! Captain! How could you strike like that out of nowhere! I have to clean that up!"
Ignoring Evelyn Nereville's scream—the Fourth Training Ground manager—from behind.
Julius turned to Theo.
"No injuries, I hope?"