Chapter 9: Learning Swordsmanship from the Strongest Butler, Lancelot
[Butler Lancelot’s Perspective]
“Lancelot, I managed to learn the skill. As promised, will you teach me swordsmanship?”
“Is that truly the case? It has only been a single day!”
I could not hide my surprise at Young Master Cain’s request.
I am Lancelot, a butler serving the Schwartz Earldom.
It was some twenty years ago now, but I once belonged to the Royal Guard Knight Order and was even called the kingdom’s strongest knight.
I have since retired and now serve this house to repay the kindness of the great master—the former Earl Schwartz—who took me in when I was an orphan and taught me the sword.
“Of course, it’s true. Lancelot, you possess the Unique Skill: [Discern], which allows you to see an opponent’s possessed skills and halve their effects, don’t you? Could you use it to check my possessed skills?”
“…Yes, sir. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
When I activated my Unique Skill: [Discern], Young Master Cain’s possessed skills were displayed before my eyes as characters of light.
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Cain Schwarz’s Possessed Skills
Unique Skill
[Black Moon Sword]
Grants Dark attribute power to sword techniques.
Skill
[Arrow Deflection]
Increases the success rate of deflecting projectiles by 50%.
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“Skill [Arrow Deflection]!? I-Isn’t this an advanced defensive skill that hardly anyone in the Royal Guard Knight Order could master!?”
I was so shocked I nearly fainted.
The method to learn [Arrow Deflection] was a closely guarded secret within the Royal Guard Knight Order. It’s knowledge on par with a national treasure.
No, even if one knew the acquisition method, deflecting thirty consecutive arrows flying towards oneself is a feat impossible without having mastered the sword.
Just how did Young Master Cain manage to learn [Arrow Deflection]?
C-Could it be that he had soldiers shoot arrows at him while he wore full-body armor…?
If so, that would require an extraordinary amount of resolve.
“Are you truly serious about aiming for excellence in the Martial Arts Tournament to protect Lady Servia?”
To be honest, I used to hold Young Master Cain in contempt.
He had been laughingly proclaiming that he would have everyone in the mansion abuse Lady Servia, all to curry favor with Prince Leon.
Saying things like she was a false saint who tried to bewitch Prince Leon, and that there was no need for restraint…
However, Young Master Cain suddenly had a change of heart and made his father, the Master, acknowledge his decision to welcome Lady Servia as a member of the family.
If he is truly determined to protect Lady Servia, even to the point of defying Prince Leon, then it is indeed admirable, but…
Young Master Cain had changed so drastically that I was finding it difficult to gauge his true intentions.
“Of course, I’m serious.”
As he said that, Young Master Cain’s eyes, looking at me, held a powerful will.
It seemed he wasn’t saying it merely for show or on a whim.
“Then, I shall first teach you the basic forms. Please continue doing 1,000 practice swings a day for one month.”
For a beginner, 100 practice swings a day is the standard. When unaccustomed to it, one’s stamina depletes rapidly, making 1,000 swings quite impossible.
However, if he cannot manage this much, winning the Martial Arts Tournament a year from now will be nothing more than a pipe dream.
“One thousand practice swings a day? I want to confirm something, but at that rate, I won’t be able to learn Swordsmanship Skill Level 5 within a year, right?”
“Swordsmanship Skill Level 5, you say?”
I was dumbfounded.
The [Swordsmanship Skill] is learned and leveled up by continuously using a sword.
It starts at [Swordsmanship Skill Level 1]. This increases the accuracy and attack power of sword techniques by 10%.
Upon reaching the realm of mastery, [Swordsmanship Skill Level 5], one obtains the exceptional effect of a 50% increase in the accuracy and attack power of sword techniques.
This is the pinnacle of swordsmanship, a level that even in the Royal Guard Knight Order, only those of Knight Captain class or higher can reach.
“…Yes, sir. As you say, I believe it would be impossible within a year without exceptional talent.”
“Alright then, I’ll do 3,000 practice swings a day. With that, will I somehow make it?”
“Wh-What…!? Practice swings are merely fundamental. That alone will not allow you to master the sword. In addition to that, you would need to absorb all the techniques I teach and gain considerable combat experience… However, even then, to do it within a year…”
“Understood. Well then, I’ll aim for 3,000 practice swings a day first, so could you teach me the forms?”
Mmmh…
To think he intended to devote himself to swordsmanship with such fervor.
Could it be that his feelings for Lady Servia have truly changed him?
However, it is easy to say such things.
Once he actually starts, he will likely give up almost immediately.
Considering Young Master Cain’s hitherto indulgent and slothful lifestyle, it is clearer than day.
Thinking this, I taught him the most basic of basic forms, the Vertical Slash. It is a technique where one brings the sword down upon the crown of an enemy’s head.
“Thank you, Lancelot. I’ll give it a try, so if there’s anything strange, don’t hesitate to point it out.”
Mmh, “thank you,” he says…?
I never imagined I would hear words of gratitude towards me from Young Master Cain’s lips.
To him, I should have been an insignificant existence.
Young Master Cain immediately imitated my movements and swung the sword.
His motion was… b-beautiful!?
When a form is mastered, its movements embody beauty, but Young Master Cain’s swordsmanship possessed a fluidity unthinkable for a beginner.
Astonishingly, there were no points to correct.
“…Young Master Cain, surely you haven’t learned swordsmanship before?”
“No, I haven’t…?”
Although it should have been obvious, I couldn’t help but ask.
To achieve such perfect movements after seeing my form only once?
No matter how excellent his observational skills might be, it was impossible.
If swordsmen of the world heard that a form, which normally takes at least years of diligent, repetitive practice to acquire, could be performed instantly, they would surely faint.
“…Ah, I gained a lot of proficiency. I’ve learned [Swordsmanship Skill Level 1]!”
Furthermore, Young Master Cain said something astonishing.
To think he learned [Swordsmanship Skill Level 1] with just a single swing?
He could only be called a genius.
…No, on second thought, Young Master Cain’s Unique Skill: [Black Moon Sword] is one that grants Dark attribute power to sword techniques.
A Unique Skill is a special ability inherent to an individual. It is said to be a blessing from the gods, and only a very few are born with one.
In that case, could it be that Young Master Cain was originally one beloved by the god of martial arts…?
Realizing this, I could not stop trembling.
“With every movement, I can feel myself becoming more refined! This is interesting, isn’t swordsmanship fascinating!”
It was clear that Young Master Cain’s movements were improving.
I couldn’t believe it. It was an abnormal growth rate.
Truly a monster… What am I witnessing right now?
And what’s more…
“Hah… hah… huff! H-How was that, Lancelot… I did it…!”
“Splendid, Young Master Cain!”
Amazingly, Young Master Cain completed all 3,000 practice swings. Utterly exhausted, Young Master Cain collapsed, spread-eagled on the ground.
I trembled with emotion.
Someone so blessed with talent for the sword was burning with passion for it.
That night, I prostrated myself before the Master and begged him to allow me to teach Young Master Cain swordsmanship.
It seemed the Master had intended as much, and he told me to prioritize this over my butler duties.
“The Cain of today is clearly different from the Cain of before. Perhaps his innate talent has awakened. If so, then I shall simply support him.”
The Master said so, looking quite satisfied.
Ahh, to think I could nurture such talent with my own hands… I couldn’t contain my excitement.
Young Master Cain, who possesses the Unique Skill: [Black Moon Sword], holds the potential to become a swordsman stronger than anyone else.
And, astonishingly, Young Master Cain continued to do 3,000 practice swings a day, the next day, and the day after that.
Even when drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, even when blisters formed on his hands and burst, Young Master Cain did not stop swinging his sword.
“Young Master Cain, why, why do you push yourself so far…?”
“Hah… hah… That’s, of course, to become happy with my absolute favorite heroine, Servia. That’s my dream.”
The staggering Young Master Cain used an unfamiliar term.
Hmm? What could “absolute favorite heroine” mean?
“Besides, Servia is also working hard on her fire magic training right now. I can’t let her see me looking uncool, can I?”
Young Master Cain replied with a smile.
“And swordsmanship is more interesting than I thought. The sound of my sword tip cutting through the air is getting sharper. It’s the best, being able to physically feel myself getting stronger and stronger!”