Novel Lived
Chapter 79
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Chapter 79: I’ll Show You Overwhelming Skill
“What you want to learn most is probably swordsmanship, right?”
“Of course.”
Venion took a practice sword and drew something on the dirt floor. The sword was a black pen, and the ground was paper.
“There are various martial arts needed for a martial artist, but broadly speaking, they are divided into three categories.”
Venion explained.
“If inner cultivation fills you with mana, which is like fuel, and body techniques specialize in footwork, body control, dodging attacks, and using the body—”
I had already mastered those two Clan martial arts. Eternal Ocean Chain Technique and Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path. They were basic martial arts that Grunewald boasted of, and also profound techniques that a man wandering the underworld couldn't obtain even with a fortune.
“Swordsmanship, fist techniques, palm techniques, spear techniques, axe techniques… all kinds of martial arts are the foundation for engaging in offense and defense with opponents.”
“Of course, I know that.”
“Among them, swordsmanship can be said to be the root of all martial arts. Do you know why?”
Many answers were possible, but my honest intention was this.
“Because it’s cool. Damn cool.”
“Hehe, I think so too. Though it’s a somewhat frivolous word to hear from your lips, young master.”
We were probing each other, mixing in subtle provocations.
In terms of swordsmanship, it was like a kind of reconnaissance to understand each other.
“But what I heard is that as soon as you woke up, you had a… sparring? Duel? I don’t know what would be the best word to call it… with the fifth young master Barclava.”
As Venion seemed to be contemplating the appropriate expression, I summarized it for him.
“It was just a minor squabble between brothers.”
“Very well. Anyway, I heard that during that minor squabble, you, with a body that hadn't learned any martial arts, easily dodged and tripped young master Barclava, who had reached the 3rd-tier. Is that correct?”
“One thing is wrong. At that time, I had already mastered Eternal Ocean Chain Technique and entered the realm of mana.”
“Is that so? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“How else would I have been able to defeat an opponent at the 3rd-tier with physical abilities that weren’t even at the 1st-tier?”
“Hehe, even if you were at the 1st-tier, it would be just as unbelievable.”
It seemed that the anecdote sounded quite incomprehensible to Venion. Of course, it’s not a strange thing.
“After that, when you sparred with the Royal Guard Keseg, you perfectly replicated his martial arts.”
“At best, it was just basic swordsmanship displayed by a mere Royal Guard. The martial arts of stronger individuals like the squad leader, battalion commander, or the captain would be much more profound.”
“You’re quite humble.”
Venion asked.
“Did you perhaps feel anything while facing the Royal Guard’s sword?”
“From what I felt, they seemed to emphasize the harmony of speed, solidity, and constant offense and defense.”
“Oh… Indeed.”
Venion clapped his hands.
“You have a good eye. That’s a characteristic of those who achieve things quickly.”
“I think so too.”
“As you might have guessed, the Royal Guards’ martial arts have a somewhat similar nature to the Grunewald Clan’s martial arts.”
“Of course, there would be differences as well.”
“In short, the profundity is different.”
Venion took his sword and pointed beyond the training ground’s wall. Although it was hidden by the wall, I already knew that a vast sea lay beyond it.
“The port of Grunewald is a natural trading port and the center of the continent. Merchants, knights, underworld swordsmen, mercenaries, and mages from all countries come and go and also hide there. Do you know what this means?”
I replied.
“It means that in order for our ancestors to protect the name of Grunewald, they had to face and overcome all forms of martial arts.”
“That’s the correct answer. In the process, your ancestors did not neglect to accept and apply good techniques.”
“Even the martial arts of the underworld?”
“Of course. Of course, their martial arts are basically more about the practicality honed while desperately surviving, so it’s difficult to fully categorize them within a framework of martial arts principles.”
I agreed with that point.
Then, how much practical experience had this man Venion accumulated to have such insight?
“In the process, Grunewald’s martial arts have been contemplating what counter-measures would be ‘capable of dealing with any technique of the enemy.’”
“But is such a thing truly possible?”
Then Venion retorted.
“Why do you think it’s impossible?”
“Developing and mastering counter-measures for everything is an endless task.”
It’s impossible even if you create thousands or tens of thousands of stances. Could such a thing even be called martial arts in the first place?
“Moreover, even if you learn that way, it’s difficult to actually use it in real combat.”
“This is surprising. That you, young master, with limited real combat experience, have such keen insight.”
Of course, it was thanks to breaking countless swords of these warriors while living as Karzan.
“You’re right, young master. Therefore, exploring the ‘fundamentals of defense’ so that one can control the distance and deflect, parry, or cut off any attack became the answer that Grunewald found.”
Therefore— Venion added.
“The swordsmanship that the current Grunewald has refined can be said to be the ‘most up-to-date martial art’ to which techniques honed over that long time have been applied. As far as I know, I heard that even the current head of the Clan has added some revisions to the formulas and movements.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Do you understand now? It is difficult to say that one has fully mastered Grunewald’s martial arts simply by looking at the swordsmanship manuals left in the archives and mastering their inner meanings.”
I nodded.
“So, that’s why my father prevented me from viewing the swordsmanship manuals, unlike the mana cultivation techniques.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
Venion said.
“The name of the swordsmanship you will learn from now on is ‘Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship’.”
That’s quite consistent naming. The mana cultivation technique isEternal Ocean Chain Technique, and the swordsmanship is Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship?
“The moon’s reflection on the blue sea. That’s quite a serene name.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn
“It’s a martial art as wonderful as its name.”
“They all evoke images of sailors or sea men who live by looking at the sea from the port.”
“That’s right. You could say it’s a name that embodies the essence of Grunewald.”
“Not only that, but there’s also a point where the sea, which embraces everything, and the philosophy of the swordsmanship, which accepts and incorporates all techniques, are in line.”
“You’re right. I can communicate well with you, young master.”
Venion coated his sword with a somewhat dull-colored aura.
‘It’s not Eternal Ocean Chain Technique.’
If it were, it would have a blue aura.
“I am neither a direct descendant nor a distant relative of this Clan, but for some reason, I came to learn some of the Clan’s martial arts.”
I asked.
“Have you perhaps mastered many other martial arts?”
“I’ve learned quite a variety. I can use all kinds of martial arts, all kinds of mind cultivation techniques, and all kinds of body techniques.”
“That’s absurd. For what purpose?”
That’s no different from spies who ‘infiltrate somewhere,’ isn’t it?
“Well.”
Venion smiled with a rather sly face.
“You will come to know that gradually.”
Venion threw a practice sword at me.
I wasn’t exactly an authoritarian person myself to ask ‘How can you, as a supposed instructor to a duke’s son, act in such a manner that goes against etiquette?’
Moreover, I had a feeling that if I reacted to everything, I would be playing into Venion’s intentions.
“Now, from here on, it would be better to listen while holding a sword.”
Venion swung his sword so slowly that it made me want to yawn. It was a sudden development, but I didn’t panic and slowly blocked the sword path.
Only after a few more exchanges did Venion smirk.
“You don’t startle easily, so it’s less fun to teach you.”
“You’re like a nasty old grandfather tormenting his grandson. You’d better stop it.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
Venion said with a face that wasn’t sorry at all.
“Young Master. The phrase ‘balance of offense and defense’ often means nothing more than emphasizing the strategy of first defending, deflecting, and then counterattacking.”
“I agree.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than Venion’s sword increased in speed and stabbed towards my forehead. I stepped back and deflected the sword.
“However, sometimes a quick preemptive strike that doesn’t give the enemy an opening to attack and seizes the initiative can be the best defense.”
“Hmm. I also agree with that.”
“In short, no matter how exquisite the techniques one masters, in actual combat, it is much more important to use the appropriate technique at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. Therefore, Grunewald’s martial arts can be seen as the most ‘comprehensive and versatile’ martial art that deals with the harmony of body and mana, the harmony of strength and technique, and the harmony of speed and weight.”
The word ‘versatile’ doesn't sound like a very good compliment at first glance.
However…
“If someone can deeply understand and handle all that harmony, the story changes.”
“Haha!”
Venion sheathed his sword and laughed.
“That’s right. In that sense, this is not the kind of divine art that just anyone can become strong with if they achieve great mastery.”
“But if someone with outstanding comprehension and senses learns it, it has the potential to become a martial art more powerful than any other divine art or profound technique. Is it okay to understand it this way?”
Venion, as if pleased with a student who understands ten things from one lesson, asked back like this.
“Young Master. Do you understand what this means?”
“The more I hear, the more it seems like a martial art for me.”
Coincidentally, I have yet to meet anyone more outstanding than me in the areas of improvisation and outstanding comprehension.
“Oh dear, my.”
But Venion seemed to have a different idea.
“I was going to say the opposite. I wonder if you really have that much talent…?”
Venion asked slyly.
“Is that so?”
I chuckled and asked back.
“I heard you’ve been asking around about me. It seems that with just the known exploits, it’s still difficult to acknowledge my genius.”
At my somewhat aggressive tone, Venion’s face became like that of a fisherman who had caught a big fish.
“Ah, of course. There are many who call themselves geniuses. But the world is wide. It’s not so surprising or tragic for a swordsman who was called a prodigy in a small rural territory to come out into the bigger world and realize he is an ordinary person. It’s a very common everyday occurrence.”
“For something like that, even my older sister, who has already experienced the world as the Commander of the Special Operations Division, praised me as a genius.”
“Haha. The arm tends to bend inward, after all.”
“Are you going to dismiss the admiring reactions that theRoyal Guards and Special Operations Division members showed to my sword as well? If so, I have nothing more to say.”
Then Venion laughed as if he couldn't win.
“Ah, I’ve been hit hard there. I almost became an impious person by trying to argue.”
“You’re already impious enough, so there’s no need to worry about it.”
“Haha! Now that I see it, you have quite a fiery personality. I apologize.”
Venion bowed his head.
“Actually, I was just curious to see how long you would endure it, so I was a bit mischievous.”
“It’s alright. I also thought you had some intention.”
Venion laughed.
“You have a deep mind for your age. There was a reason why the head of the Clan has high expectations for you.”
“There’s no need to suddenly act so warm. That’s even more unsettling.”
“Hehehe. It seems I’ve made a bad first impression on my disciple from our very first meeting. I think it’s good in its own way for there to be such an informal relationship between master and disciple.”
Look at how smoothly he accepts whatever I say. I felt that he would be difficult to deal with using ordinary rhetoric.
“I’ll take this opportunity to explain the stages of training that the direct line of Grunewald goes through.”
“I’ve already heard about it from my sister.”
“Please consider it a supplementary explanation.”
“You don’t listen to what others say at all.”
Venion, pretending not to hear me, held up four fingers.
“There are a total of four stages. The first stage is to build a foundation through basic martial arts with high versatility.”
“That’s the process I’m going through now.”
“After that, in the second stage, you must go through numerous real combat situations under the supervision of a proper master.”
“Real combat?”
“That’s right. The second stage is about ‘applying martial arts’ according to one’s own disposition, environment, and talent through real combat that borders on life and death.”
Coincidentally, that was an area I was more confident in than anyone else.
“The next is the third stage, where you can learn ‘superior martial arts’…”
“Like the Snow Blossom Sword Technique that my sister mastered?”
Venion laughed.
“There are a few more martial arts besides that. The head of the Clan, Young Master Karl, Young Master Verdzig, and Young Lady Ulbhild have all mastered different martial arts.”
“That’s something to look forward to.”
“I’m also looking forward to it.”
Venion looked at me.
“Before learning the martial arts of ascension, it depends on whether you truly have the talent to master the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship.”
“We’ll find out by checking it.”
“We will. Today, I will first teach you the stances and formulas of the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship. You must perfectly master them.”
“And then?”
He took out parchment from his pocket.
“This is a magic scroll. If you tear it, a barrier will be created.”
“Is the test conducted within it?”
“Yes. There, you will experience real combat situations with countless enemies.”
‘There was such a scroll?’
Just from the explanation, it sounded ridiculously expensive.
To use such a magic scroll just to train me? As expected, Grunewald’s wealth is immense.
“Hearing that, it seems a huge cost is going into educating just me.”
“Of course. So, to be worth it, both you and I must do our best.”
“I will.”
“It won’t be easy. You will have to defeat all the enemies inside the magic circle ‘using only the stances of the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship.’”
“That’s an interesting task.”
If so, I intend to be a diligent student.
“For reference, your other siblings also took this same test. Young Master Verdzig is in first place.”
Verdzig. Grunewald’s prodigy that even Ulbhild cannot oppose. With that man’s name mentioned, this was not a hurdle to be taken lightly.
“I’ll be looking forward to it. I wonder if you can surpass your siblings?”
Venion asked and answered himself.
“If you surpass them, you will get the spirit medicine, and if you don’t, you will learn humility.”
I pointed at Venion.
“You know how to motivate a student well.”
“It’s a virtue that a good teacher should have.”
“Good. I’m motivated.”
Then what I had to do was clear.
‘I’ll show you overwhelming skill.’
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]