Chapter 7 : Chapter 7

Chapter 7. Sword Beginner (2)

The Verdí region, located in the south of the 「Iron Kingdom of Cherville」. Rather than its proper name, it was usually called a “backwater village” or “outskirts province.” For its wide land, it had low population density, most of its youths had gone to the capital, its average age was high, its education poor, and its infrastructure undeveloped. It was the very picture of a rural backwater.

The old and uneducated residents of Verdí all lived similar lives. They farmed, raised livestock, made milk and cheese, or some produced wine worth calling a specialty to spread the region’s name…

A place nobody cared about, visited only occasionally as a retreat. And on the very edge of that backwater, with no sights or specialties, was the Karavan estate where Arhan lived. To call it an estate was almost laughable.

It was only a nameless, tiny village. When Arhan’s parents had still lived, the villagers had never treated them as lords but more like village chiefs.

They worked together with everyone. Of course, no taxes were collected, and hardships were always overcome by joining hands. The villagers thought of Arhan’s father—who had the speech and manners of a noble—as little more than a fallen noble. They knew he had neither the right nor the power to collect taxes or act as a lord.

Otherwise, knights would have guarded the mansion, or other nobles would have occasionally visited the estate.

To the villagers, the Karavan family was just another nameless fallen noble line. They had an incongruously fine mansion for the village, and they had quietly amassed wealth enough to live comfortably. They were nothing unusual among the many fallen nobles seen in the Iron Kingdom’s frontier.

What set the Karavan family apart was that they did not flaunt noble pride. Instead, they lived alongside the villagers, warmly and cheerfully. With affection.

But such a story was hardly known. After all, most people didn’t even know the village existed.

A common countryside village. Its presence only began to grow recently.

“Have you heard the rumor? The people of the western village vanished. Like smoke.”

Strange rumors spread. That a wicked black magician had wiped them out.

That remnants of a Monster Wave missed by the northern watchers had swept through.

That some unknown plague had killed them all…

All the rumors said the same thing: Do not go into the western village.

Yet some heard the rumors differently.

Barbarians seeking a new lair, reckless slum youths unafraid of plague or sorcery.

They went in groups. None ever returned.

Of course, it was because they had all been killed by Arhan’s Needle.

But people thought otherwise.

“There’s something there. Never go in.”

The rumor swelled larger. And rumors, once swelled, spread far.

So it reached one particular man’s ear.

“…A village where you die if you enter.”

Not a man suited to the southern Verdí region.

“Then it must be empty. That’s where I’ll go.”

***

Repeating the training of clinging to cliffs brought changes.

First, my senses grew sharper.

They had already been keener than most, but now everything was heightened.

Sight, hearing, smell, touch—everything felt different.

「Seems you’re beginning to sense mana.」

Liam summed up my change simply.

It wasn’t just my senses.

My concentration had risen to a different level.

When I gripped the Needle and stared at something, time seemed to slow for the briefest moment.

These changes would be invaluable in combat.

And I thought: ‘Just nearing Sword Beginner brings this much.’

Even brushing against the realm of superhumans created a gulf from before. And I had not even fully reached Sword Beginner yet.

It made me realize how distant Swordmaster truly was.

Those called godlike beings—what world did they live in? How high was the peak I had to climb…

It was daunting, but not discouraging.

This was something I had to do.

I would not give up. Instead, I would keep clinging to the cliff.

Then, I felt a strange sensation. As I breathed in, it felt as though something “else” entered my nose along with the air.

It reminded me of when I had played with Father in the valley as a child. When water had rushed into my nose, it felt similarly strange and unpleasant.

But this time, though strange, it wasn’t unpleasant. For an instant, my insides felt filled.

At once I looked at Liam.

“Master, just now I…”

「Yes. You inhaled mana.」

I had inhaled mana.

At his words, I broke into a bright smile.

But Liam shook his head.

「But only inhaled. It doesn’t mean you’ve stored even a handful.」

“Ah…”

「You have not formed a Mana Heart.」

Meaning I had not yet reached Sword Beginner.

I frowned with disappointment, but Liam said:

「Still, you are close. To sense mana means you’re nearly there.」

At that, I smiled again.

As I had said before—when it came to the sword, he never lied.

That had not been empty encouragement. It was the truth. My heart pounded.

It was three hours later, after I had climbed back up the cliff, that it happened.

“…Hm?”

From afar, I saw a stranger walking into the village.

Perhaps a neighbor. Perhaps an intruder.

This time, I hoped he was not an intruder. Because—「At least a Sword Walker, that one.」

The guest today was no pest I could drive out.

I stayed silent for a moment before asking, curiosity rising as always.

“Can I fight him?”

Liam’s answer was merciless.

「You would die in 1.2 seconds.」

As always, the Master never lied about the sword.

***

「What will you do?」

Liam never gave a clear answer. Instead, he asked questions.

And I always answered with my thoughts.

“I’ll just watch for now.”

Liam had said the man was at least a Sword Walker.

That meant no chance of victory.

As someone who had not even become a Sword Beginner, I had no odds against a Sword Walker who had reached superhumanity. To stand before him and give a warning? Impossible.

Even if I had built stamina patrolling the estate daily, I could never win a race against one who had laid the Road. Never.

「A wise decision.」

Liam nodded.

I answered bitterly.

“Not so wise as simply the only option.”

「Why? You could have fled the moment you saw him.」

“…That was never a choice for me.”

After dealing with so many intruders, I had realized something.

I could not abandon this land.

The village is filled with memories, the bleak streets, the quiet mansion.

The loved ones were gone, but the place remained precious. Too precious.

「I see.」

Liam said simply. After a moment’s silence, he added:

「You know it is greedy, at your current level.」

“I know.”

「On this continent, strength is law. The strong can do anything. The weak must always flee or submit. And right now, you are the lowest of the weak.」

Lowest. The perfect word.

Though I had luckily dispatched weak intruders, on the scale of the continent, I was dust. I felt it keenly.

「If you want to protect what is precious, grow stronger.」

He was right.

Had I been a Swordmaster, my parents would not have died.

Had I been a Swordmaster, the village would not have fallen.

「So cling to the cliff, young descendant.」

I would lose nothing more. And for that, I had to grow stronger.

Stronger than anyone.

“Understood.”

A guest had come, but nothing had changed.

The path remained the same.

Climb higher. Always.

“Huff—”

Now, my grip strength has grown astonishing. Not only with one hand but even with two fingers, I could support my weight.

My growth was too fast.

Not even orcs, born for battle, grew this quickly.

No doubt it was the effect of devouring the swordswoman Mary’s sword.

Her sword digested in my belly, her memories and experiences seeping into my frail body, slowly hardening it, sharpening it.

As Master said, Like steel.

“Huff.”

Even after the guest appeared unannounced, my routine did not change.

The incident happened a week later.

***

Alongside training to become a Sword Beginner, I had another task.

Observing the mysterious guest—at least a Sword Walker. To judge whether he might become a neighbor, or whether I should classify him as a dangerous intruder.

And after days of tedious observation, I reached a conclusion.

“He doesn’t seem dangerous.”

「I agree. He doesn’t look the sort to draw his sword without cause.」

From morning until sunset, the guest wandered the village like a stroll. Then, at dusk, he sat on a hill to watch the scarlet sky. His eyes, gazing at the sunset, glistened—as though recalling a distant memory.

「Seen like this, he seems more a sentimental bard than a swordsman.」

After sunset, he unpacked his large bundle and prepared food. His cooking smelled good enough to make me salivate even from afar.

Curiously, he never entered the village’s empty homes. He never opened creaking doors, never touched the abandoned crops or vegetables.

As if he considered them still owned, he lived only off what he had brought. His manner exuded dignity.

「Rigid fellow. Even unseen, he strictly follows rules and manners.」

“…That makes me suspect his identity.”

「Oh? Care to share your guess?」

As always, Liam asked.

And as always, I answered.

“If discipline and manners are ingrained in his body… then he can only be one thing.”

「Indeed.」

Liam agreed.

He must have thought the same.

「That man is a knight.」

The stranger’s identity had become clearer.

A knight. One who valued honor, who obeyed the rules of his order.

“A knight could make a good neighbor, couldn’t he?”

「And why do you think that?」

“Well, knights are supposed to be noble and protect the weak…”

「Ha! Child, you’ve read too many chivalric tales.」

Liam laughed at me.

「Knights value honor, true. But whether they are righteous—that, I doubt. Their honor is highly subjective. The ones they protect are always the highborn who can offer them renown and wealth.」

“…”

「Honor and justice are fickle things. So let me tell you what knights truly are.」

His eyes gleamed cold.

「They are mobs wielding swords under the banner of honor. Executioners who break human bodies efficiently, using sword techniques passed down for generations.」

“…”

「And worst of all, fattened by noble coins, they wield high-quality arms and armor. That makes them disgustingly hard to kill. That is what knights are.」

He looked me straight in the eye.

「Do not be blinded by the name. Don’t focus on the word ‘knight.’ See the human. Do what you do best. Never be certain. Always doubt.」

Doubt. The word etched into my mind.

“…Understood.”

And so I continued watching the guest.

I found other peculiarities. Every night, at the same hour, he raised his head to the moon and bowed. He clasped his hands and murmured something. Before eating, he drew invisible symbols in the air with his forefinger, like a ritual.

What convinced me most of his goodness was his way with living things. He never picked a single flower, never crushed a weed, and if a rabbit or deer leapt out, he paused until they calmed before moving on.

Like a priest of a pacifist order.

A week into observation, I decided I would approach him, asking if he meant to be a neighbor.

After all, though this estate was empty, I had no right to drive him out. If he wished to settle, I would gladly help.

Well.

“…I knew you were watching me all along.”

I had never imagined he would draw his sword the moment I approached.

“Don’t even think of turning your back to run.”

I had spoken from a fair distance, wary that he might suddenly turn into a killer. But what I had thought was safe—was not safe at all.

I could tell.

If he wished, my head would already be severed.

“You’re already within my Road.”

That was my first taste of a superhuman’s realm.

The sword of a 「Sword Walker」.

And then—‘My heart’s pounding like crazy.’

Facing a superhuman’s sword for the first time, I felt a new kind of danger.

A fear beyond clinging to cliffs.

A real and immediate death.

As if—‘As if a second heart had sprouted inside my chest…’

Enough to make my body cry out that it needed a Mana Heart.