Chapter 424: Understanding Movements
I descended the stairs and grabbed a guard’s spear. Just borrowing this for a moment.
“Do you stand before me without the Spirit’s aid? Lord, are you a Changeling as well?” The bothersome Sword Master twisted his face into a mocking grin.
If it means that the Spirit was involved in calling me from a different world or creating this body, then I too am a proper Changeling.
Since I introduced myself before the demonstration, everyone in the square, especially the guards, recognized me. I’ve been wandering around the castle and various places, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to greet the guards and have them remember my face.
Since this is the castle’s square, I figured it would be fine to exclude the working stonemasons and common folk, but it seems I miscalculated with this troublesome one.
“I’m sick of battles relying on Spirits…! I’d much rather be defeated by you lot!” The Sword Master laughed heartily.
Is he sulking because he lost his Spirit Sword? He seems to have completely lost his composure in a strange direction.
“Now! Everyone, come at me together…”
I stepped forward, striking with the spear’s tip seven, eight, nine, ten times. Right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, left hip, above the right knee, above the left knee, forehead, navel—finally, the center of the chest. Just barely touching.
The Sword Master flew back.
“Ugh…!” The guards caught him without dodging, working together. Impressive.
“What…?” The Sword Master’s eyes widened in shock.
“I don’t need a swordsmanship instructor weaker than me.” Stop mumbling!
I shot that at the Sword Master, who was leaning at an angle, supported by the guards, and turned on my heel.
“Ah, thank you.” I offered the spear back to the guard at the bottom of the stairs, but he was frozen in place, so I gently placed it in his hands.
“Nii-sama, you were strong, huh?!” As I climbed the stairs, Orlando exclaimed with a voice that cracked.
“Eh, eh? I heard you were acquainted with Gold Rank… Were you an Adventurer yourself?” Soleil blinked rapidly.
“Strength alone doesn’t define everything…” Faramia stood there, stunned. It’s rare to see her show any expression.
“My lord…” “You…!” Auro and Kiel chimed in.
“Eh? Isn’t this bad? Isn’t this bad?” I could hear Marlu’s voice rising in pitch.
“…” Grandpa Haynes silently bowed his head slightly.
“It’s better to have a good teacher than someone stronger than me. Or if you’re going to have a figurehead, please find someone more suited to the island.” Compared to me, who is heavily influenced by the Spirit, there aren’t many with superior physical abilities. However, I believe there are quite a few who are technically and strategically stronger than me.
I asked Soleil to help me return to the tower and went down the stairs again.
“My lord…” Auro had been saying that repeatedly. Stop looking at me with those sparkling eyes.
Without turning back, I waved my hand beside my face and left the bustling scene behind.
I headed to the tower’s storage. The first-floor storage is filled with items I want to sell to Soleil. Spider-type Spirit lace, materials from the Demon Forest where I hunted extensively, unused Magic Stones, and things I bought too much of during my travels. Occasionally, there are things I’ve made myself.
I used to buy firewood with Kanum and store it, but I reconsidered and decided it’s better to secure regular distribution routes for essential items, even if they are a bit more expensive.
By the way, what’s sold around Naruadeid is mostly peat. It’s dried and lightened before being transported by ship.
I used 【転移】 to the storage; the entrance hall is on the second floor, so I was being lazy. The 【転移】 destination was the port town next to Shulm. I hadn’t been paying much attention to rumors about the Hero lately, so I came to gather some.
“I’m likely going to tag along with Shulm for business, but how’s the situation next door?” I asked the tavern owner while paying for my drink plus a little extra.
In the port town, especially since it borders other countries, rumors about Shulm gather here. This isn’t a place for officers or high-ranking sailors, but rather a tavern frequented by regular sailors.
A somewhat rough-looking drunk customer was shouting in a heated conversation. Even though it was midday, it seems many rush straight to the tavern after being freed from their sea voyages. On a ship, drinks and food are often limited.
“Business, huh? What’s trending in Shulm are the bathtubs from Pasture, jewels and cloth transported from Naruadeid, furs, and Kanum’s toilets! The Hero seems to be quite fond of them, and it’s become fashionable among the nobles!”
“Toilets are great! Wahahaha!”
“Be careful, Spirit Sword and 【収納】 holders get snatched up! Well, neither you nor I have any connection to that, right? Hahaha!”
“Don’t forget about the ships that don’t have rats!”
“Is there even such a thing? Bwahahaha!”
I asked the tavern owner, but a drunkard jumped in. I wish there were ships without rats.
“Has someone been snatched?” I handed my drink to the man and ordered a new one.
They say “to lead someone to talk about the other party” is to water the conversation, but here, handing over a drink is quicker.
“Oh! It’s hard to find someone with 【収納】 to snatch! But it seems the Spirit Sword hunting has reached its third victim?”
“I hear the Great Sword is being flaunted around.”
“What happened to the one that was snatched from Bartolone before?”
“I hear the pretty boy Hero has it.”
“Even though they went through the trouble of taking down a castle to get it!”
“The castle didn’t actually fall, but we could see the light from the sea. I wonder if they’ll do it again~”
“I heard they merged the two countries in Nakahara.”
“Even if they say country, it’s more like a village.”
“They’re always sticking together and pulling apart all year round.”
“Ah, I want to get my hands on that blue cloth that’s trending among the rich and give it to Maria-chan.”
“Oh, I’ll be waiting with no expectations.”
“During the day, it’s lively and good for business.”
“But at night, they say bodies roll around?”
“It’s true that many shops close when the sun sets. You can’t drink then.”
Well, it seems like the current situation reflects my sister’s personality well.
My sister’s male friend uses a Great Sword—the one he took from Amedeo in the Fortress City—and it seems my fake self is using the one snatched from the Sword Master.
Moreover, it seems there was a flashy battle using techniques powered by the Spirit, shining from the sea? Did they choose 【全剣術】? It feels like they skipped the basics and are using flashy moves like in a game.
Ah, I should have asked that twisted Sword Master what kind of Spirit Sword he had. I wonder what other Spirit Swords exist and where they were obtained.
Even if it comes to fighting, I want to check the opponent’s equipment to avoid panicking.