I’m a Wizard, but I Swordsman a Little
Chapter – 19…
In his meeting with Eastern Marquis, Pirancheva demanded 100 kilograms of mana stones in exchange for handing over the magic circle that would complete his mana theory.
Considering the value of the magic circle, 100 kilograms of mana stones was practically nothing, but he still felt he deserved a reward for his efforts, so he decided to ask for things he needed for his training.
The Eastern Marquis, seemingly impressed by Pirancheva’s audacity in asking for mana stones, smiled and handed over the 100 kilograms.
“Does gathering mana with the magic circle help?”
“Yes. It’s a great help.”
“I see Elina is using the same method. You two aren’t in contact, are you?”
For a moment, Pirancheva made a flustered expression at the Marquis’s words and waved his hands in denial.
“I only saw her face once when I first came to the Marquis’s residence.”
“I thought since your training methods were similar, you might be training together and exchanging ideas.”
“It must be a coincidence.”
Hearing the Eastern Marquis’s words, Pirancheva became certain that Elina, like himself, had been playing Freedom and then possessed Elina’s body.
‘Then it must be Rozé for sure. Wait, does that mean the number one rank in the martial rankings, Bodyshield Cannon, also crossed over to this side?’
“They say great minds think alike. I guess it’s the same for geniuses like you.”
Listening to the Marquis, Pirancheva gave an awkward smile.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Yes. I will.”
“Well then, I have work to attend to.”
Pirancheva left the Eastern Marquis’s office.
“If Bodyshield Cannon also lost to the Ancient Dragon Artirance or the Tuma clan’s Irga and crossed over here, then that means everyone who lost to those bastards after that could have come here as well.”
The Frances Continent was vast. Not only that, many humans lived there; it was said that two empires, six kingdoms, and four duchies existed on the continent, and while the exact population wasn’t known, roughly 250 million people lived there.
Adding the non-human races like elves and dwarfs, it amounted to about 260 million people living with a certain level of civilization on the continent.
“I hope those who held a grudge against me in Freedom don’t cross over and try to kill me.”
Then he chuckled.
“Well, they know who I am… No, wait. These bastards could enter public dungeons first and get the items.”
Pirancheva’s worries deepened. After pondering for a long time, he looked at his status window, and his eyes sparkled.
“It’s just sealed for now, but I can use magic as my circle rank increases, so I probably don’t need the spellbooks from the dungeons.”
It was already like that. After creating three mana rings, he was able to use 3rd-circle magic without separately learning it.
So, as his mana circle stage increased, he could use magic.
“And I’d have to search for them one by one… They might not find them, or even if they do, the items might not be there… So, there’s no need for me to go around looking for dungeons to get items, right?”
Pirancheva thought about this problem and what course of action would be most beneficial for him.
“It’s a situation similar to the game, but it’s clearly a different reality. And I’m a noble, so I have to consider this too…”
After thinking for a while, Pirancheva was able to reach a conclusion.
“If the situation allows, I can go look for dungeons, but I don’t need to strive hard to get the items inside. If I’m going to do that, it would be more helpful for me to build connections by meeting the children of the empire’s nobles at the academy.”
That was the conclusion Pirancheva reached.
“The most important thing is that Artirance isn’t someone you can finish off with items…. Of course, items would help, but the assistance of powerful individuals like Rozé and Bodyshield Cannon is more important.”
He concluded that broadening his connections and forming a party offered a higher possibility of returning to Earth.
“If they think the same way I do, they will approach me.”
Thinking this, what he needed to do in the future became somewhat organized.
“If I’m not alone, we join forces and take them down. In the world of Freedom, there are seven main bosses. If they failed trying to capture those bastards and crossed over to this continent, they would surely think the same as me.”
He didn’t know who the others were, but he thought he should meet Elina and talk to her when he reached the age to enter the academy.
“I will reach the 4th Circle and the level of Mana Expert within two years.”
He was now 10 years old, so he set a goal to achieve by the time he turns 12 and enters the academy.
If others heard Pirancheva’s plan, they might call him crazy, but Pirancheva was confident.
“Thinking about it, I kind of want to get the Heavenly Demon Bow again.”
Since he couldn’t go to the demon world, he thought he’d never get it again, which made him feel a bit regretful.
“For now, let’s do our best in what we can do.”
***
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***
As time passed, Pirancheva clearly demonstrated skills different from the other trainees.
It was partly because Pirancheva was serious about training, but the sparring sessions with the knights during his personal training were a great help.
Pirancheva had sparred with all of the Eastern Marquis’s knights at least three times each.
Through this, he could grasp the knights’ habits and became somewhat familiar with their patterns.
Pirancheva, alone in the training grounds, would review his sparring sessions with the knights, identifying his mistakes or moments of impatience and striving to reduce them.
Thus, it was only natural that Pirancheva’s skills improved by leaps and bounds, noticeably surpassing the other trainees.
Nevertheless, Midorant, Chedrin, Simid, and their gang picked fights with Pirancheva, and each time, they ended up humiliated.
“Should we consider promoting Pirancheva early?”
“Pirancheva?”
Knight Rodman, who was in charge of guiding the trainees, made the suggestion to Captain Foren.
“The skill gap with the other trainees is too significant.”
“Is that so?”
“The other trainees work hard too, but they can’t keep up with Pirancheva. I think they are feeling a sense of relative deprivation.”
“Hmm…….”
“In Pirancheva’s case, it doesn’t matter much since he spars with knights during personal training, but for the morale of the other trainees, I think it would be better to promote him early.”
“You mean to select and train a 10-year-old kid as a formal knight trainee?”
“There might be backlash from the knight trainees, and he might get into fights with them. But since that’s what Pirancheva has been doing all along, it probably won’t be a particular difficulty.”
“Just a change in difficulty level, nothing else? If you think so, then proceed.”
“Understood.”
“Is there anything else I should know?”
“Recently, nobles have been visiting and meeting with the knights.”
“It must be related to the trainees.”
“Yes. I think they are worried about what will happen if their children don’t advance to become knight trainees.”
Foren thought for a moment and then nodded.
“For now, tell the knights to accept what the nobles give them and use it as pocket money. And tell them they can give slight preferential treatment to the trainee in question, but they will not tolerate any actions that disadvantage other trainees because of it. Especially towards Pirancheva!”
When Foren mentioned Pirancheva’s name, Rodman looked at him with a puzzled gaze.
“His Lordship seems to consider him Elina’s other half. I heard he’s going to the Illya Count’s family soon to discuss the relationship between the two, so you should know that.”
“Ah, understood. I will clearly convey it to the knights and ensure Pirancheva does not suffer any disadvantage because of them.”
“Do that. And even if Pirancheva clashes with the knight trainees after his promotion, don’t intervene, just watch.”
“Understood.”
“Then I will report the decided matters to His Lordship now.”
***
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***
When Pirancheva was rapidly promoted ahead of the other trainees, he was met with gazes full of envy and jealousy.
This was true even for Anthony, Scully, and Pavel, who didn’t belong to the gang.
But none of the children protested the knights’ decision.
Because even they thought Pirancheva was superior to them.
“So, is it our turn now?”
With Pirancheva’s promotion to knight trainee, Anthony, Scully, and Pavel expected they would become the gang’s new targets.
“Let’s not do that. How about we join the gang and cooperate with them? And if the three of us share information, wouldn’t we get promoted to the knight trainee class faster than those idiots?”
“Sounds good. What do you think, Pavel?”
“Let’s do it. Now that we know early promotion is possible, avoiding interference with our training is also important.”
The three who didn’t belong to the gang decided thus and split up to join the gang one by one.
Meanwhile, Pirancheva, now promoted from trainee to knight trainee, could learn one of the many swordsmanship styles of the Lawrence Marquisate, unlike the apprentice trainees who focused on physical strength and basic swordsmanship.
“Excuse me, is this swordsmanship something all knights must learn?”
Pirancheva asked Knight Rodman.
“That’s correct. After learning this swordsmanship, you will learn a style that suits your physique and habits. You will learn several styles like that, and once you find one that fits you, you will focus intensely on that style in the advanced class, the squire stage.”
Hearing the knight’s answer, Pirancheva nodded.
“So that’s why your swordsmanship styles were all different when I fought the knights.”
“That’s one aspect, but some knights learned modified versions of styles, so you might have felt that way.”
Hearing the answer, Pirancheva smiled brightly.
“Then, can I learn as many swordsmanship styles as possible?”
“That depends on your effort, but learning many styles isn’t necessarily good. If I were you, I would focus on one style rather than learning various ones.”
“Why is that?”
“There’s a saying among knights: a Mana Expert knight who has trained in only one style is more fearsome than a Sword Master who has learned various styles.”
Pirancheva thought about Rodman’s words and tilted his head.
“Isn’t a Sword Master more impressive and scary?”
“No. But do you think someone who learns various styles can become a Sword Master?”
“Well, wouldn’t that be why they are called Sword Masters?”
“The word ‘Master’ literally means one who has mastered the sword. Nowadays, a Sword Master is recognized if they can use an Aura Blade, but at the very least, being called a Master means one must have a perfect understanding of the swordsmanship they have learned and be able to use it freely, don’t you think?”
“Ah, so that’s why they say a person who has mastered only one style is scarier.”
“If you perfectly understand and master the swordsmanship we are teaching you now, you alone could be called a Sword Master.”
Pirancheva’s face brightened.
“That is what we knights consider a true Sword Master.”
It was a statement filled with pride in being a knight, but unlike his outward appearance, Pirancheva was indifferent on the inside, as if he already knew this.
‘So, that’s why they say a person who has deeply mastered one move is more fearsome than one who has learned ten thousand moves.’
