Chapter 8: First Step Toward a Dream (1)
j7pDThe following day.2ZmO8Du
teseSShirone, with a tired face, went to work in the library. He couldnt sleep a wink due to what happened yesterday.1IxNDdh
XXEDue to having a lot on his mind, he couldnt speed up his work.Oimdi
6Z1KT34Lets calm down.wgrk
k9xAfter struggling to calm himself down, Shirone was eventually able to regain his composure.JDgiBCr
M9lZIm not dying now. I still have a month. Ill be able to figure something out.ej9
5v6tn4First of all, background check.0abo
V1QVgKAccording to the information he gathered, Lord Bischoff had three sons and one daughter.BDEjIV
tBQiThe eldest son was a certified Grade 6 swordsman. The second son was also a genius swordsman who followed in his brothers footsteps.iqZ
jUwAThe eldest daughter was also talented, but she chose music over swords and was working as a royal pianist.H7Ah
n3ysAnd after figuring out all that, he noticed Rian was the only one who failed to stand out in the end.ZAzmdP
A43YThe Lord even provided him an exclusive teacher, but the reports claimed he was not talented.Ldh4E
hQYVHaah, I shouldnt have done that. I should have just accepted the hits when he was adamant on beating me.AEMlWc
dqgfZuCIt was natural that Rian, who had been compared to his brother all his life, was angry at the Thunder Strike.Vl1
iPn0gYaIt seemed that not all nobles were born to excel.9mIsHl
2V5HCsNow what? Im in big trouble.42x
VrrTIAgitated again, Shirone stared blankly at the real sword, which had been left unattended under the desk.2UzYHj
ySRHYI dont have time for this.D8g
OSyegOxShirone jumped up and headed for the study.A1wiY7
YsIDWhether I fight or not, its always better to be prepared!V3EUopC
vaUXOxSince he lived in the mountains, Shirone was confident in his stamina and level of fitness, so if he were to learn self-defense, he would be able to at least save his life.nVtt
Z5xkPCAfter putting aside the history books for the time being, he collected all the books related to swordsmanship.eg9Y
4smB7While there were technical books like the Sword Textbook, there were philosophical books such as What is Sword? and Only Humans Are Afraid of the Sword.r8cd6i
qVQ6FPractical books such as Lets Win With Bluff and The Stronger Individual Is the Survivor were also seen.1Yw4Js
TTGfOrwShirone opened a book with the simple and clear title of Swordsmanship.rcJ9On
C7gnqeyIt was a book that contained the history of swordsmanship as well as overall knowledge about it.Oa7ag
qIsWIt was also an interesting book in the eyes of the aspiring mage, Shirone.mkXy
qDyygkIf mages had the Spirit Zone, swordsmen had something called the Schema.GkK
zPZgSchema was both an imaginary body and a schematic of the human body.i4CU
sfgEvery human had their own body image, and the Schema was an extreme embodiment of it.rR1
7cdFNFTMasters of Schema would say that they could fully understand their body and be involved in how their cells moved as well as how their nerves sent signals.gaTN0x
eoYRJUeShirone put down the book and slapped his knee.ewSNJ5
xVL9WdOIts nearly identical to Spirit Zone.hbPKhzk
GHRA mage would erase their existence and assimilate with the world, but a swordsman did the opposite and further dug into themselves.qvf
DlaFtoEShirone attempted Schema.l53Mtsi
asTdjFeeling an imaginary self while maintaining the senses just before entering the Spirit Zone.d2ahNJ
cGixujAs expected, its not too difficult yet.96kJAi
lEPHHowever, the imaginary body was dark as a shadow and could not be felt.d0Qned
0wif8If I were to remove this dark curtain, it would become Schema. It’s truly incredible.KvInBMo
851JShirone picked up the book again.R79
7yvIt was written that the method of mastering Schema varied widely from family to family and that prioritizing specific parts to strengthen it depended on the method.ibL
JNKWhile there were families that unlocked Schema to simply develop the mind, there were also families that drove the body to the limit.wrNnG
ZWXjSome families focused on muscle strength, some speed, and some used Schema to strengthen nerves.IcikrJn
QOm5Come to think of itx0V7Sc
rux6LoShirone recalled the red-haired girl from the alley three years ago.ksPu
kBMEAt that time, the situation was hectic, but when he thought about it back at home, her movements were not something a normal human could do.nxfWEy
oRWz71She unlocked Schema. She was about the same age as me What great talent.8eEuEO
Cp8owShirone closed the book and ruminated.k8v
9XotRRian couldnt have mastered Schema anyways, but Shirone wanted to try doing so, even if there was a barrier.yeh60W
x1nu2Schema is not exactly swordsmanship. Just like how Spirit Zone is not exactly magic.3VJ
jXFJust like how knowledge was significant to a mage, a strong body was essential for a swordsman.ii2
dEifDIf ones body is not supported, the width of reinforcement is extremely narrow. I already have the Spirit Zone, so it would be faster to find a solution to swordsmanship rather than trying to accommodate two completely different concepts!2YY7l
DKi5t9It was a strategy to learn some useful swordsmanship with the Spirit Zone as the base.PnK
8LhhXeGood.ItZJXw3
gaK7nXShirone opened a beginners textbook in swordsmanship.smUod
3DoKKnowing that his life was on the line, Shirones concentration was at its highest ever despite having to suddenly study swordsmanship, a subject he previously did not have much interest in.v49Z
6LWpjq* * *0Ns
bLHARGH! ARGH!oes6d
j3uADust rose in the Great Training Grounds. Rians legs were the culprit.qZG
ORLNeJ1His heart was about to burst. No oxygen was being inhaled, so the chyme in his stomach flowed back up.ARV
FXaQBlaaargh! Blaaargh!673Hf0w
P6kHis lunch came out, but Rian did not falter and continued to run.dcYno
mXv100 laps! Pass!O8xIAc
i4BThe swordsman, Kite, shouted. Rian looked different today, and as his instructor, he couldnt have been any more proud.uRyPJ0
UvsNew record! But what happened to you? Why just start to flow with the training now?tEv9
oH0Damn it! You call this training?zPY
usAl8kWhat did you say, you punk?4Tcs
ThsKite looked at him with slit-eyes.Re2I2Jx
6EXKStHe complimented him for the first time in a while, but old habits die hard. All Rian did was complain and grumble.cfo9aMk
InPTOxBut todays whining was different.5cz
jXosW9oIm still standing on my two legs! Master, is there anything harder?v1J7j7
8Ssk2pOho?XgmSh
Gz4pPKite was quite surprised.cLp6n
n30ywqIts been a while since hes shown such zeal.gHm
IlRUnKIt was the first time in two years since he knelt before the genius of Rai Ogent.x59e0gW
FNSYou. Something happened, right?tXj
N7rWith his hands on his knees, Rian raised his sweating head.zpcb
JLMkv3…Theres nothing like that.jMINIkJ
s8USKite did not believe him.kHIiHE
MDoWith the eyes of his disciple staring ahead in such a frightening way, Kite knew something was definitely bothering him.o3yuyL3
kOnIs it Rai again?QLXm
hEyNo matter how much he thought about it, the only person who could make Rian this way was the second son of the family.CF9L6
bGFsFBDid Rai accomplish something again? But what? Didnt Rai already unlock his Schema?Vuhaj
RysIt didnt matter. His disciple was Rian, not Rai. And currently, he was bearing his neck, allowing him to push Rian to his hearts content.uprASum
oZrPGood! Lets go hard today! Even if you were to die, I want you to know that I wont be responsible for it!yJlT
hGkarBring it on!XrtHVC
1JTm5H2* * *v9dC
P40* * *p80apZS
seIvRian swung an iron bar twice as heavy as a longsword.hSG
87n8There was no limit on the number of times he had to swing, for if you couldnt realize Schema with your insight, then the only way was to push your body to its limits.vKPN8S
RnRHa! Ha! Ha!zkgk
lb78Kite watched his student repeatedly cut vertically with satisfaction.Ll1B9AC
9o9But not long afterwards, his expression hardened.uofgG
s9B1BAt last he realized and ran towards Rian with his eyes wide.E1UjQi
v0LYou crazy! Stop it! Youll burst your muscles!inqM2
SJH2They havent burst yet!xzsyg
OtEMLD9Kite stopped himself.oAT0
qVHTears were flowing down from Rian’s eyes as he clenched his teeth and continued to swing the iron bar.IPsD
KdbfFCNDamn it! Why arent my muscles exploding! Why cant I break my arm? I can do more! This isnt the end! Im not done yet!F1sV
fQ7dTears welled up in Kites eyes.GyGCJ
z5KIdHe was a teacher who was as upset as his student.qWaYbZ
uT7How come its not working? Hes pushed his body to the limits So why cant he open Schema?n8g18Tf
kk9IKite wiped away the tears with his thick arms.PAHNr
TDHThis shouldnt be the case. What would become of Rian if even his own teacher were to doubt him?Nnd
CgQ8IKite intercepted Rians iron bar.IeU3DLb
nTSKThis time, Rian did not protest and stopped moving because his teacher had stopped him with his own hand.mTs9e
iP7I5sRian, thats enough. Lets call it a day.SxR
bNDyRians madness disappeared with that warm voice, and with that, his arms gave out, and without even knowing that the bar had fallen to the ground, Rian replied with his head down.zJcMp9
9dFOkay. Thank you.z537C
a85F2fKite wrapped an ice towel around Rians shoulders. Seeing that the bones were not damaged, he was surprised at the sturdiness of Rians bones.Df2TsHf
AaCUL6Sitting on the hill of the training grounds, Rian was staring at the distant mountain with a fierce expression.nLgW
kOD4What are you thinking about?XRSaq
ONxBKFThat my arms are killing me.s9NB8
pHDThere was a small smile on Kites face.9tcxn
m7nRian, Ive never written about your talent in a report.8edR
Wmf7pTsk, did I ask?W5fRns
6iCBut I think youre talented. Achieving something quickly is not the only indicator of talent. Reaching for the unachievable is a talent as well.sCn4tZL
9CWqYou dont have to comfort me. Its only those words that are sweet. Frankly speaking, Im only working this hard because Im not talented.KfsR
M3RoEgQIs it really though? A genius knows that theyre a genius, so they are clearly aware of what they can do. Have you ever thought of that?swmxuh
ixdYjA3Well, I do know what I cant do.UaCCZrG
SJSsYes. Thats why youre not a genius.kUaFz
0DgDHpqRian looked back at Kite with a ridiculous look.TXtmL
YGm0kiNHe was adding fuel to the fire. He was a teacher who made both his arms and heart hurt.rKPIQF
gI1fStop it. I already know that.K4lidq
bsYizaLooking at his pouting student, Kite smiled.kYp35
6ebmvJBut Rian, do you know what a genius is afraid of? Theyre afraid of effort. Geniuses work hard, but their level of effort is different from normal people. They may experience setbacks and pain, but there exists no doubt as they only do what they can. So effort is a powerful weapon for those who arent geniuses. Youre trying because youre not talented? Dont even start with that. While talent guarantees you something, effort can grant you something talent cant. And that thing is will.U4O3fa
xzMdOzFKite grabbed Rian by the shoulder and squeezed.Lqb
OzkLbYou have the will to challenge the nigh-insurmountable. That will is something not everyone has. Simply put, will power is the natural enemy of a genius.SnI
8U7Rian liked that. It didnt matter to him if they were just words of comfort.O9gAp
i7OJYeah, he didnt have talent, but he knew that despite the fact he wasnt born with a road to success, he could pave it himself.5mn
SWqIll definitely win.YgiBVu
B3ypHe was determined to put everything he had into training.YC3Ma
RV1nK* * *I5O
UmKShirone knew clearly what he could and couldnt do.VYDmguG
OwR1C5And due to that, he began to study swordsmanship without hesitation when he realized the concept of Schema.vjc
bu4gSelection and concentration.51S
ZTLCTalent efficiently designs the shortest distance to a destination through these two.AQaA
W1ktWTShirone set aside all the miscellaneous techniques and dug into the basics of swordsmanship.zTqiR
s2KtPGy* * *hhVbj
WOcNA month passed.bEZjnS
TzrhD4GDuring that time, Shirone trained in only two things: the eight ways of cutting and the eight ways of blocking.qQymCIt
IvBU6RqThis is my best!R3JLcF
dWWHSatisfied with his performance, Shirone finished his training.cjCN3F
vaJAnd finally, he asked a question that would show what he had learned over the past month.7blb
qLzaWhat is swordsmanship?gS6qC
rirGiWhile It was a sport that was made with the purpose of taking lives, it was also a sport that required high-levels of wits and intelligence in order to come out alive.MxYKg
ikJwBTShirone aimed the sword forward.KXUtn
5SKZMNHe learned from the books that the enemy could move in every way imaginable, but he knew that was not the truth.ma2
bdJThe sword that comes in to cut me is real. So there are eight places I need to block!pXpiWz
IM0iRHe responded with his imagination.Xcpiq
351Z2Eight blades that overpowered eight defenses turned to hundreds as one addition was made.DIY0sl
elRyUrk!4xO1
nxNhKIt wasnt possible to calculate all the ways a sword could move.6Dm5nA
d3zID8Im not counting numbers. Im feeling as a whole.4INuVTI
CefcpJust like how you couldnt see the whole forest when staring at a single tree, Shirone needed to focus not only on the individual aspects of what he learned, but to look at them as a whole.pOJO
SifBJThat was insight.GxP55Xu
sPiBut it was easier said than done.dKlj
sTZvAs various patterns spread out like fractals, he kept focusing on a specific spot.IAm
2cCksamIts okay if I dont make it. Lets observe for now. Im just fixing errors right now!o7cl
PnBbydFree from tension, Shirone completely let go of his thoughts at some point as he delved into his mind.DKhVzL
RuSvThen the whole thing was visible and all kinds of possibilities began to appear at once.ykiQ8
ceph97nWhat?P3W
5asPlShirones eyes were filled with astonishment.VVcdsn
MAOTheres no end to it.koUqv
BHHRHis sword and Rians were filling up the scenery around him.LgaDyT
PskfsShirone, who dropped the sword, stumbled backward.e8W9a5
jXlnlHaa.UiFD
ibVqb0Swords, too, were infinite. Shirone saw the infinity of their swords.8NU
HiZAtq5I see the swordsmen chose this kind path!X95
AQF96IShirone chose the infinite path of magic, so being able to relate swordsmanship to that made him feel good.rCaQ
uX5Mom, Dad, Im sorry. I might not be able to go back!HWQRH
51OOvuHe had no regrets.JVgUxIH
i0SAnd the same was true for Rian.dGx
2KJAMDespite his life being on the line, Shirone was happy that he was able to see such a wonderful side of the world.u2B
ZbktG8Ding Ding DingLU0
8qQntE3The bell rang signaling eleven oclock.okRs
1gwvTwWRian, who wanted to have what he couldnt have, did what he could.hwsj2Vd
TkcO8YAThe clash between the two boys in stark contrast to each other was now just an hour away.4kxtv
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