WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Ryuu

Editor: Ilafy

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Pulled Out Excalibur

Chapter 151

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The Essence of 300 Years (1)

Najin sat before the campfire, inspecting his injuries. He had apparently suffered severe wounds during the battle against Crunbelle. Back then, his head had been burning with adrenaline, so he had hastily performed emergency treatment.

It had been a crude and absurdly reckless treatment, where he forcibly realigned broken bones with his hands. It was so extreme that it barely qualified as first aid. 

Surprisingly, it had been somewhat effective.

Najin clenched and unclenched his hands several times. His fingers moved without issue. The fingers, once misshapen from being forcibly set, were smooth. 

It was the same with the rest of his injuries. Only his completely shattered right arm hung limp, but even that was rapidly recovering.

Najin tilted his head. He had always known he had excellent regenerative abilities, but this was on another level.

‘Have I unknowingly turned into some kind of zombie instead of a human? Or maybe… a homunculus with super-regeneration?’

- The Outland is a place where starlight grows stronger.

It was neither of those. Merlin had explained that, in the Outland, concepts related to stars were heightened. Thus, the functions of Excalibur, the Sword of Stars, were similarly enhanced.

“Impressive. At this rate, I might actually be able to fight without worrying about losing an arm…”

- If you’re dying to see me go crazy, then go ahead and try.

"Just kidding."

While Merlin glared at him, Najin thought. Even at his current level, it didn’t seem likely his body could regenerate a completely severed limb. Broken bones and severed parts healed quickly, but fully regrowing lost flesh took much longer.

- Well, that aside, congratulations.

"Pardon? On what? Beating the Silent Knight?"

- That, and acquiring a new star.

Najin blinked. ‘A new star?’

- What? You didn’t notice?

Concentrating on the starlight, Najin spread his hand. One, two, three… Three stars shimmered above his palm. His eyes widened.

"Wait, that counts as a feat?"

- Of course, it does. The Silent Knight you fought was a constellation who had six stars. Even though he had fallen, he wielded power close to that of a Transcendent. For you, still just a Sword Seeker, to defeat such an opponent… if that’s not a feat, then what is?

"But I had Helmet Knight’s help."

Merlin looked at Najin incredulously.

- Even considering that, you played a major role in the battle. In the end, you charged head-on and even broke his technique.

Defeating a higher-ranked entity in direct combat was enough to be considered a feat. Furthermore, Najin had destroyed the Transcendent’s technique. Evidently, the heavens recognized that as an achievement.

“…” Najin silently stared at his third star. He instinctively understood what it symbolized: breakthrough. It meant overcoming a crisis or surpassing a previous record.

The concept wasn’t tied solely to breaking through Crunbelle’s technique. A star didn’t embody a single accomplishment—it encapsulated the bearer’s entire life journey.

He had always faced his enemies head-on, overcoming trials without retreating. He had even shattered previously established records. Both meanings of the word breakthrough were fitting for his life.

Challenge, Dragon-slaying, Breakthrough…

Gazing at his three stars, Najin smirked. "It seems I’ve earned myself another star."

As he stood there, Helmet Knight exhaled a long breath and pointed at the stars shimmering on Najin’s palm. "You’re eighteen, right?"

"I think I’m about nineteen now."

"Nineteen, with three stars, and already at the Sprouting stage?"

"Huh?" Najin blinked again. ‘Sprouting stage?’ Oh, now that it was mentioned, he noticed his Sword Aura had shifted during the battle. Raising his sword, he drew upon the aura—it had indeed become denser.

"Be honest with me. You’re not nineteen. You’re twenty-nine, right? Even then, this still doesn’t make sense… This is ridiculous."

"I am pretty ridiculous."

"You admitting it just makes me angrier."

While Helmet Knight rubbed the back of his neck, Najin asked, "How old are you, anyway?"

"You don’t ask old men their age."

"You don’t even age, so why does it matter? By that logic, I know someone who’s…" Najin glanced slyly at Merlin.

Merlin blinked, tilting her head in confusion, but she soon realized the meaning behind his gaze and was outraged.

She strongly claimed that she was young, beautiful, and had ascended at nineteen, locking her physical age there. Therefore, she insisted she was effectively still nineteen.

- So, in a way, we’re the same age!"

Najin let her shameless claims go in one ear and out the other.

"Well, in any case, it’s only fair if you tell me your age."

"Hmm. I stopped keeping track after I passed 150. When did the Dawn War happen again?"

"Around 150 years ago, I think."

"Then I must be somewhere between 300 and 330 years old."

‘Three centuries.’ Najin nodded. "Then I’ll be learning from the essence of 300 years."

Helmet Knight’s expression went grim. He seemed reluctant to pass on his swordsmanship. "I’m not sure if someone like me, who can no longer wield the sword, has the right to teach it."

"Why can’t you use it?"

"The sword I wielded was a symbol. Now that it’s lost its symbolism, I’m not sure it holds any value. Without conviction, wielding it is meaningless."

Even so, Helmet Knight rose to his feet. "A promise is a promise."

He set aside the sword bound to his waist and retrieved a different one—it was a plain, worn blade. Taking a stance, he prepared to teach.

"I can’t remember how long it’s been since I last taught someone the sword. When was the last time? Over 170 years ago, perhaps…"

"Did you have a disciple?"

"I wouldn’t call them a disciple, but there was someone I helped train a little. Imperial knights would occasionally come, asking me to evaluate their swordsmanship. Each time, I turned them away, claiming I wasn’t gifted at teaching. Still, a few of them managed to pick up a thing or two by watching me."

Helmet Knight raised his sword. The moment the blade was lifted, Najin felt his senses heighten. The very act of holding the sword had changed Helmet Knight’s presence entirely.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve held a sword."

The tip of the blade moved lightly. The sword in his hand was a weathered, rusty weapon, long abandoned and seemingly incapable of cutting anything.

Shing…

Yet even a dull blade became an unparalleled weapon in the hands of a Sword Master. The sound of cutting filled the air, even though the blade moved through empty space.

Helmet Knight adjusted his stance and swung the sword downward. It was a simple motion, an overhead slash—the basic move of Imperial Swordsmanship—but of course, a Sword Master’s basics were always extraordinary.

Crunch.

The earth split in a straight line; rocks along its path silently cracked in two. Najin’s eyes widened. 

‘What did I just witness?’ Sure, splitting the ground and slicing through rocks was within Najin’s ability as well, but that was only possible when using Sword Aura.

What Helmet Knight had just demonstrated had been done without any aura at all. 

Najin stared at him with wide eyes.

Helmet Knight clicked his tongue and muttered, "That’s not quite right. Ah, this is how it feels." He raised the sword above his head once more. That time, a faint, ash-gray aura began to flow along the blade. The aura wasn’t flamboyant and clung thinly to the worn blade, almost as if it were merely coating the dulled edges.

A sword tinged in ash-gray… As Helmet Knight brought the sword down again, Najin strained to follow his movements, trying to understand. He couldn’t. Not because the actions were fast or intricate, but because they were too simple.

Since it was a mere overhead slash, raising the sword up and bringing it down, it was something anyone could mimic. The results were beyond comprehension: the moment the blade moved, a louder crack echoed, and the earth split again—farther and more intensely.

Najin closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his temple. ‘What was that?’ The sensation was entirely new. He had seen Sword Masters in action before. 

When witnessing the techniques of Karan or Yuel Razian, he had thought their movements were too fast and complex to replicate.

Helmet Knight was different—it was the complete opposite and neither fast nor complex. Any swordsman could mimic the stance and motion if instructed. How was it possible?

"You’re wondering how I did it, aren’t you?"

"That’s exactly right."

"My swordsmanship is a bit unique."

Unique? It wasn’t unique. It was… basic. It felt oddly familiar. Where had Najin seen it before? After a moment of contemplation, he sighed softly. "This feels a lot like Imperial Swordsmanship."

"Imperial Swordsmanship?"

Najin stood and began demonstrating the techniques of Imperial Swordsmanship one by one. It was the most fundamental style taught to knights in the Empire, and naturally, he had learned it from facing numerous Imperial knights.

"Doesn’t it feel similar?"

"…" Helmet Knight remained silent. His face was hidden beneath his helmet, but Najin thought he detected a hint of surprise in his demeanor. "You’re telling me… this is Imperial Swordsmanship? That’s not the Imperial Swordsmanship I remember."

"Haven’t you been in the Outland for over 150 years? That’s long enough for things to change."

"The Imperial Swordsmanship I knew had gone unchanged for nearly 800 years. It wouldn’t transform so easily. This is strange. Are you sure that’s what it is?"

Najin nodded firmly. Helmet Knight fell silent for a while before letting out a laugh, a mix of disbelief and realization. "So that’s how it turned out, huh…?"

His hand moved to the sword bound to his waist. The scabbard, chained to him, bore the emblem of the Empire. Though old and tarnished, the Imperial insignia was unmistakable.

"Not everything has been forgotten, it seems," he muttered quietly, a hint of joy in his voice.

"What do you think is the most important thing when learning the sword?"

"The correct stances?"

"Wrong. Stances can be corrected later. The most important thing is practical experience. As much experience as possible. By facing various situations and striving to make the best choices, you’ll naturally learn how to wield your sword effectively."

Helmet Knight continued, "My swordsmanship is no different. After rolling through countless battlefields, hunting demons, and dealing with bastards trying to sell out the nation, I gradually pieced together my technique through experience."

He gestured towards the edge of the cliff, pointing to the creatures below. "Start with experience."

Below them, a group of golems roamed. These weren’t ordinary golems powered by mana; they were constructs formed from fragments of fallen stars, animated by starlight itself.

"Go down there and cut them down."

"That’s simple enough."

"Without using Sword Aura."

Najin blinked. "Wait, how am I supposed to—?"

Before he could finish, Helmet Knight kicked him off the cliff.

"Ah!"

"Good luck."

As Najin fell, he glimpsed Helmet Knight waving casually from above.

“WUAAAAAAAAAA!” A roar interrupted his thoughts. 

A starlight-powered golem below bellowed, rushing toward him as he fell.