Chapter 58

What the hell was he even talking about all of a sudden?

The way he threatened to kill me if I didn’t do exactly as he said made me seriously question his mental state.

I already knew that the Winterbell family wasn’t exactly known for being sane, but...

The old man in front of me seemed to be in an even worse state than the rest.

Just look at him.

That stiff face, overflowing with murderous intent.

"I can see everything you're thinking. If you don’t answer in ten seconds, I’ll separate your head from your body. Don’t worry—you won’t even feel the pain. Hehehe."

"……."

"Do you think I’m joking? You’re relying on Arkan just because he’s your son, is that it? You think I’m scared of Arkan? Sure, I won’t deny that I lost to that bastard and ended up a washed-up old man. But that doesn’t mean I’ve surrendered my mind."

"Please, calm down and let’s at least talk—"

"Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five."

Crazy old man.

Completely deranged.

Just looking into those icy eyes made my whole body start to tremble. Even if I used Makina, there was no guarantee I’d be able to beat him.

Not that I had any reason to gamble like that in the first place.

If that monstrous old man got serious, whether I had Makina or not, wouldn’t I be hacked into thirty pieces before I could even react?

"Four. Three. Two—"

"I-I’ll do it! I’ll do it, so please stop counting those terrifying numbers!"

"……."

"But may I ask just one question?"

"Speak."

"Why are you assigning me this task?"

"Because I feel like it."

"…Excuse me?"

"I said, just because I feel like it. There’s no real reason. I just want to. So shut up and do it if I tell you to. If you don’t like it, say so any time."

Was it just my imagination that his left hand seemed to shift slightly toward the sword at his waist?

No. It wasn’t my imagination.

Just look at those eyes.

They practically screamed that if I made one wrong move, he’d draw that sword and slice me to pieces on the spot.

"Understood."

"Start now."

Resigned after a quick glance at the situation, I grabbed a nearby sword and drew it. Then, I began swinging it through the air. Since I’d decided to do it, I figured I might as well make it as efficient a training session as possible, so as not to waste time.

If it was something I had to do anyway, even if I couldn’t enjoy it, I could at least avoid losing out.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

I swung the sword vertically, focusing my intent into each strike.

How long had it been since I repeated the same motion like this?

Probably not since the very beginning, when I first picked up a sword.

‘Actually… no. Even back then, I don’t think I ever did something like swing it ten thousand times…’

Come to think of it, I’d never actually learned basic swordsmanship. I’d mostly swung a sword however I wanted, gradually refining it into the most efficient form I could through actual combat, adapting it in my own way through life-or-death fights with others.

Aside from the Winterbell swordsmanship.

I’d never learned proper swordsmanship through the standard method.

Most of the time I just observed by eye, or got a few casual tips. That was it.

‘In a way, maybe this isn’t so bad?’

I decided to think of it positively.

It wasn’t like I was forcing myself to think that way.

Definitely not.

“Straighten your back more.”

Thwack!

The wooden sword in his hand struck me square in the back. It looked like he’d swung it lightly, but the pain that shot up from my waist spread through my entire body.

It felt like I’d been electrocuted.

“Tsk. And you’re making a fuss over that?”

“……”

I wanted to curse out loud, but I was painfully aware of the gap between us.

I couldn’t overpower him with strength.

Nor could I overcome him with authority.

All I had to my name was the crumbling annex, while he was undeniably the second most powerful man in the Winterbell family. How could I possibly defy him?

This was what true helplessness felt like.

‘Ah… weakness really is a sin in this world.’

[Quit the insane whining and just swing the sword. Don’t you want to gather souls quickly by getting stronger, you fool?]

‘You’ve got the nerve to order me around when you’re just leeching off me? I’m already in a foul mood—should I just snap you in half?’

[…I was only trying to encourage you.]

‘Let’s do better, alright? Yeah?’

[…Fine.]

The white whale floated in the air, staring down at me. Since it only existed in my mind, I ignored it and focused again on swinging my sword.

Once I’d swung it a thousand times, my speed started to pick up.

The posture remained the same, but the swings became faster. It seemed I had naturally figured out a more efficient way to move.

‘This is surprisingly effective.’

Motivated by the joy of making progress, I swung my sword even harder. At some point, sweat had begun to bead on my forehead.

“Huff. Huff.”

I focused solely on swinging the sword.

I didn’t use any mana at all.

All I did was concentrate on the act of swinging.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The old man beside me, swinging his sword with that stiff expression of his, muttered under his breath.

“Your focus, at least, is usable.”

Whether he said that or not, I just kept swinging.

I finished ten thousand swings.

I stuck the sword I’d been using back into the ground and picked up a new one.

I started swinging again.

This time, not vertically—but horizontally.

I swung even slower than I had before.

After a thousand swings, I changed the way I applied strength.

It was to find a more efficient method of movement.

‘Too much unnecessary force. I need to relax and only use the strength I need.’

My physical strength had improved drastically, but from now on, I’d be fighting people far stronger than myself in life-or-death battles. In that case, stamina management wouldn’t be optional—it would be essential.

I had to minimize every bit of wasted energy. Only then could I keep swinging my sword longer. Only then could I keep my footing for longer.

This small difference, I believed, would ultimately become the deciding factor between life and death.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

By the five-thousandth swing, my sword moved like flowing water. I’d learned, through my body, how to swing efficiently without overexerting myself.

“It’s done.”

At some point, the ten thousand swings were complete.

If I hadn’t been counting, I might have kept going all day, that’s how immersed I was.

‘What is this feeling… this euphoria?’

The sun had dipped low in the sky.

Darkness had already enveloped the surroundings, but I didn’t stop swinging my sword. I may have started this out of sheer obligation, but now—I wanted to continue.

Enjoyment.

Yes, I was enjoying this.

The feeling of growth. The sense of achievement.

It thrilled me.

Training that wasn't a life-or-death battle but a path of self-discovery began to fascinate me.

While I swung my sword, that ill-tempered old man kept swinging his as well. He never once left my side, constantly nagging and smacking me with his wooden sword whenever my form faltered.

“Oh? You dodged? Then try dodging this too!”

He’d been hitting me so relentlessly that I ended up dodging without even thinking. The old man looked like he’d just found a fun new toy and started swinging the wooden sword with even more glee.

“Stop! Stop! Please, just stop! At this rate, I’ll be dead from your beatings before I even get to swing a real sword!”

“Don’t worry. If something like this is enough to kill you, it just means you were useless to begin with. And the Winterbell family doesn’t need useless people, right?”

“What kind of logic is that?!”

“What kind? It’s right here in front of you!”

---

By the third day.

I was taking short naps in between and kept swinging my sword.

I had already used about sixty percent of the swords stored here.

Greatswords, shortswords, longswords, rapiers, sabers, daggers—each had a different shape and feel, and with each swing, I gained new insights and experiences.

‘Did my arm muscles grow again in just a few days?’

Well, it made sense. I had been swinging swords like a man possessed. Besides, my current body had essentially been reborn, allowing muscle growth at a speed normal people couldn’t even dream of.

‘Wow… this one’s even bigger than the one Lin Winterbell uses.’

The next sword I came across was a massive greatsword—taller than me. Just looking at it, radiating such overwhelming pressure, made me gulp.

I was eager to swing it as soon as possible. Somewhere over the past few days, my mindset had changed in strange ways—but I hadn’t really noticed that change myself.

‘Let’s try lifting it first.’

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the hilt.

It was so heavy that the veins on my forehead and the backs of my hands bulged instantly.

Whoosh!

Due to the sheer weight of the blade, it had sunk deep into the ground, and I had a hard time just pulling it out. After finally standing it upright, pitch-black and ominous, I slowly swung it.

‘One.’

Swinging it wasn’t the problem. But it was so heavy that keeping my balance was difficult. In this state, there was no way I could draw out the sword’s full potential.

In other words, I wasn’t capable of wielding this sword properly—at least not yet.

It hurt my pride.

To think I’d gained a body like this, only to fail to swing a single sword properly.

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

At this level, how could I ever become Patriarch? How could I ever get my revenge?

‘Focus. Get your mind straight. Don’t waste your strength. Focus it all on one precise point.’

No mana.

That was the first and last rule I’d made for myself in this sword training. Mastering mana was important, sure—but what I wanted right now was something more fundamental. Swordsmanship in its purest form.

‘I’ll swing again.’

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Each time I swung, the sword ripped through the air with a loud whoosh in my ears. At first, it was hard to maintain balance, and my sword path was all over the place. But the more time passed, the more centered I became.

By the five-thousandth swing—

Strength began to surge through my entire body.

And yet, I hadn’t even used mana. What was going on?

I wondered for a moment, but chose to ignore it and kept swinging the sword.

Six thousand.

Seven thousand.

Eight thousand.

Nine thousand.

It happened precisely at the nine-thousand-nine-hundredth swing.

My vision cleared, and my mind felt sharp.

It was as if my eyes had opened anew.

I moved my feet.

‘Huh?’

It felt strange. My feet moved on their own. My hands, too, moved by themselves. I could see where to go, how to move, and where I should swing.

I could see the possibilities of the sword with my own eyes.

The greatsword that had felt so unbearably heavy at first no longer felt heavy at all.

In this state, I felt like I could wield a greatsword of the same size with both hands with ease. A rush of exhilaration filled me.

‘Don’t tell me… is this what they call enlightenment?’

Thanks to all the experiences and the repetitive training up to now, it seemed I had achieved something.

Then, the grumpy old man watching me from the side muttered to himself.

“You swung it like a brute and already gained enlightenment? Damn brat. I can’t tell if you were born for this or if you’re just stupidly lucky. Enough. Stop swinging the sword.”

“Huh? But I haven’t used the other swords yet…”

“They’re not needed anymore. Follow me.”

“W-where are we going?”

“The warm-up’s over. Time to get serious.”

When I saw the old man’s smile, I suddenly grew afraid of what was coming next.