Chapter 9: First Step Toward a Dream (2)
JXdoLThe Great Training Grounds.dMf7
fQZ8Ah7Arriving on time, Shirone saw Rian waiting for him.ywcaji
PIdqThe two stared at each others swords without moving from their spots, as if the battle had already begun.3kH
Dgl7tTLets get started.9lskkb
JVSNlYRians weapon was also a longsword.ErwJt
nxhhThe subversive and vigorous swordsmanship of the Ogent family was originally more suitable for greatswords rather than longswords Until Schema came about..tm1
DrKpyddTherefore, the reason why they chose the longsword was because it was more suitable with Schema, not for consideration towards the opponent.HbF
BbLJKRian carefully observed the Stillness Encompassing Movement learned by Shirone in the beginner level of swordsmanship.vmbv
I9WD1Y6His center of gravity was better than before.RKdMir
H29Is that really possible?9E6G1nS
kO0bRian, who discovered Rais genius traits in Shirone, suddenly had a thought.29uHZZE
Fhl1That guy might really not have learned swordsmanship.M4UH8t
vSwYL55But How can you be so calm when youre holding a real sword for the first time? Arent you afraid of death?7hbCA
WsQXUHRian also feared death. Therefore, he trained endlessly in order to gain the courage to face it.UQr
y72OSlNo matter how talented you are, catching up to me this quickly is impossible So how?NmHEgr
gtaZXEvOf course, Shirone knew.DmNV2
XqLAs a beginner, he couldnt flexibly control this life-and-death duel as well as Rian could.OW5l3
CL8aotdTherefore, he developed a special training.S5EqfVv
DmIDzIf you cant beat fear, then simply understand it.9y5eLrD
UqqsBIts called jumping off the cliff.OtdIIoe
WNgHuman beings were capable of jumping off cliffs if they didn’t imagine what would happen after.jbI0t
DscFear exists in the future, and the future is just an illusion that doesnt exist yet.4kO
x3pLike a dictator of absolute power enjoying a dinner calmly before a rebellion, Shirone imagined himself standing on a cliff.zdimpb
2jLx5lHis body remained in the air when his right foot stuck out in front of the cliff as his left foot followed.dpWPteH
PoKxFYoure not falling until you fall. Youre not dead until you die.VHni99b
Rz5tsfaUnderstanding the essence of danger, Shrione knew that that cold intelligence was sometimes scarier than a warriors bravery.8acFuB
8gSquAnd the cool-headed consciousness of Shirone boosted the Spirit Zones sense of stability drastically.fwVrk
uA3qHere I come!!7FB
2l6zuRian was approaching before Shirone knew it.V94
ia1gThere seemed to be a flash of light in front of Shirone, and it was definitely a whole different level of swordsmanship compared to his meager level.wBq
7pbBut I can feel it.FXompn
1UjVUkRecognizing the trajectory of the sword through synesthesia, Shirone calmly titled his upper body.O04U
6sJs0EwRian stared in shock as his sword was dodged, both of his eyes opening wide.EgIP
GikGdHes looking at the sword?juOQ888
wNtNqTo dodge a real sword required one to stare at it, which was something most trainees couldnt do.pYWd
m5WA1However, swords were also infinite.cMB
MQgZbAs the number of attacks gradually increased, Shirones synesthesia began to develop blind spots.1yYVeD9
suutlThe moment the blade cut his chest, the Spirit Zone suddenly wavered.QSZQ
bIMnC2Shirones heart sank.E9Uh
WX3wuDang it!hA4pRn
rX5At this rate, he would be beaten.x7K
HKjQContrary to expectations, however, Rian still continued with his big attacks.nfUdoGh
OkzTeFThanks to this, Shirone, who predicted the next trajectory, jumped away to avoid the danger of death.sz88Sm
kBGHow comeQeR
bFEIf Rian had slashed at his side, the duel would have ended then and there.pkNoLUU
XFFdcoGHowever, Rian continued to make big moves as if he didnt realize Shirone was taken aback.WRQ
yc6Only then did Shirone realize.z1pDQxv
QNrMy understanding of swordsmanship is quite lower than I expected.cvIZ6
3P41Although Rian was skilled at using techniques, he didnt seem to be putting much thought into his attacks.CaVw8
OPkJThen9yr
j6MShirone realized he had overestimated Rians skills.ojpixq
Ur9LyGPIt was dangerous to let your guard down, but to label the enemy as too strong was also a mistake as one would become too defensive.Q1ZBAL3
zQhEIll attack.yUxy
ASwgWhen Shirone suddenly changed his strategy and launched an offensive, Rian got staggered.hIOckD
9OmKeuk!i3C
TCjAs such, dozens of combinations rained down on Rian, and due to the tension, his defense started to drop.7sPfJy
ix0zDamn it! This is not happening! This cant be happening!by1uWLo
S2AxSaThose are definitely basic swings But why are they so hard to block?! I cant even clearly see the attacks!W9n9
ScKrERai suddenly came to his mind.9R6IqHL
tRUHGThe detestable face that overpowered him with one hand and sneered at him in a match two years ago.irLNzO
LwxDont make me laugh!uDhJFM
NHnZRian shouted.UFRW
T9kIm gonna become the best swordsman in the world!uwM9V
QeiQBpShirone thought it was strange.0Sp6Ur
73n3MtBHe acknowledged the spirit of Rian, who continued to fight back despite fighting a losing battle, but in this way, his only ending would be death.GgK
jPFGyDoes he not want to live? Why are you being so stubborn? Does he even think?oe7XJYi
1z2Huh?dB0y
5ZJ13AAt one point, Shirone realized that he could no longer read Rians movements.xiGvGM
A33a3XtPredicting a swordsman who emptied their mind and swung blindly was quite difficult.G7yic1
hxzQLXI wont lose! Ill definitely surpass you!5wREFS
6BjAs Shirones stamina bottomed out, Rian realized he had a chance at victory.WvytI
nfSCXShirone had saved his stamina as efficiently as possible, but there was still a huge difference between the two. Shirones sword began to feel heavy.LwsQRra
2nbIZZhThis is it!Fnk
yZ7NwwRian, who came running with his longsword hanging down, swung it up towards Shirones chin.iM4
INnKEUK!TbHO
mnF1KaShirone responded by swinging his sword down with all his might.hveNRU
ufRp2With the sound of the clashing blades, a sword soared into the sky and embedded itself far away from the training ground.ZBHoZRV
Rs9sMSilence.YTmWe
uh8Zcg5The two who breathed in harsh, rugged breaths stared at each other.l9srhc
I5cXS* * *ygW1OC
iRlTUdv* * *qWxZ
Wx43XRian lowered his gaze first.GrPeBoM
xRzgHe saw Shirones sword pointing at his stomach.2WyYf
eY1zNQjJust before our swords clashed7WDn3
SlKQbAiShirone swung his wrist and struck Rians sword from the bottom.pR4C
OryYIn addition to the force brought about by Shirones swing, Rian, who was also low on stamina from having to block the continuous strikes from Shirone, eventually lost his grip on the sword.27F9Xo
MryDIs that even possible?zdvLDU
1EBeIt was not a technique Rian could attempt with confidence.11C
we2zPXAHis sole purpose was to win, and due to his cool-headedness, Shirone won the duel. However, he did not relax.OXPFlN
3sGZmYHaah Haah.up7C4L
oRBKqKHe wanted to immediately lay on the ground, but he couldnt let Rian nullify his hard-earned victory.gWS
BDLZAnd in the next moment.kcnc16
il3Dang it. I lostU09D
TQuRian passively admitted his defeat.mFmMn1
1nNkuAh, I lost. I lost again.jAtOHEw
cR4l9His malice disappeared, and instead, Rian just scratched his head roughly.xvx8U
3x3ZhgHHe trained past his limits and fought as best as he could, so he didnt have any regrets.83GcQu
VUy5U5You won. I have nothing else to say, so you may now kill me.6Wj91
HRYHow could someone be so immature?pIPC2
UJ3MbcAre you kidding me?qxTOF2a
CUYQ179What?eGqpg
uTXokF1You think Ill survive if I kill you? What a ridiculous thing to say.ytTwU
41FS7XWhat do you mean? We fought with our lives on the line, and there was a clear winner.Ex6jyXV
VQOgKYoung master, youre the only one who laid your life on the line! I just fought FOR my life! What makes this ridiculous duel more absurd is that this only started because you hid from training, and then blamed me for snitching on you.FN0mn0
CzlrxFoRian was taken aback.3PPHZlX
EKe5After a fierce battle, even if there wasnt a heartwarming atmosphere, shouldnt there be at least some passionate emotions left?f8y
IQCHey, you jerk! Who put the blame on you? It was because of that petty, mannerless attitude of yours! Despite the fact we had met for the first time that day, you should have had at least a small pinch of loyalty!MEvsLha
3t0HAH?! Loyalty?!dGOM
JZNz7MWhat did you just say, you punk?2Zryi5
q4GShirone could not put up with it anymore.jRozcF
tRoobHe turned a blind eye to it considering his life was on the line, but since the problem was now solved, he couldnt keep his temper in check.ccvaRc
lU104tYou call that loyalty? Did you ever consider the position I was in? I had to choose between the Lords son and a teacher assigned by the Lord! Yet you asked me for such a favor despite knowing that?!R1g8
wedHuYKHuh? Of c4ndXmq
zJCX3uIf you want loyalty from me, then you should show you’re worth it! You should be ashamed of yourself for putting that much pressure on a servant! You should have stepped in front of your swordsman instructor! Isnt that a true act of loyalty?BnsjAv2
GCSDcRian pursed his lips in embarrassment.B2F
OXZKbmShirone figured Rian out as he did not argue or make excuses.hUa
nlOlWHe was not someone to make up stuff. He just didnt speak because he had nothing to say.ilFR5YZ
CENHowever, hating that attitude more, Shirone stopped nagging and sat down.5j8k90
Yk7Sigh! I almost died!h68P
0fjRian stared at Shirone carefully.c0y2F
uJtqpVThe boy who overcame the fear of death and pushed him back was long gone.qJCwDf
1ATWho was he? It was obvious that he was a genius, but he wasnt Rai.pa5Y
ZEAjUnlike his brother, who wielded a sword with one hand accompanied by a smile, this boy gave his all against him.SieE3oG
YZOJvHey, whats your name?5De
RJ1Shirone raised his head. From his sitting position, Rian looked bigger.OMSx
PvYol3oMy names Shirone Arian.ybeI3
0p7EIm Rian Ogent.MVz
jXrKdIt was funny how two people from different social stratas introduced themselves, but that wasnt what shocked Shirone.FhQKQ
6ZvYPdDoes he think I wouldnt know the name of the familys youngest son?Shwod
fTK9BVNIrrespective of that look on his face, Shirones head raised higher as Rian approached.y9Xa
Voi4wA hand the size of a cauldron lid was shoved into his face.XFZk
PPb2Lets be friends. What do you think?k9yI2
je2l* * *djfEhy
cvmbcyIt has been a year since Shirone first started working under the Ogent family.eXtmaFs
4JNBy the time Shirone turned 16, more than 7,000 books from the Great Library were taken out.1Sq2S1
Z3gzbChTemuran was blown away by Shirones amazing speed, but Shirone already predicted that much.G18Ld
ULsdwYUThis was because it was natural that as the number of books to classify decreased, efficiency accelerated.igvhtr
INpConstant velocity was only a theoretical concept, yet every event in this world was influenced by acceleration.5y9
PnX26MTherefore, even if the start was slow, as long as one didnt give up and continued to work hard, one could achieve their goal much quicker than expected.E16zwrL
EfiRkNLOf the 850 historical books that he targeted, only about 200 remained.OH2wyOc
g2dvThe average number of books he read per day was over three, and in a few months, the Core of Knowledge that Shirone dreamed of would be completed.zn1rG
l2qUVneIn addition, he experienced swordsmanship and understood the essence of fear.cjxU6DM
YKVThanks to this, the durability of the Spirit Zone had also increased dramatically.KjN
zTCHYTherefore, the one year he spent here was fruitful and valuable However, none of the benefits could compare to making a good friend.dXnH
WtpThere are an extreme amount of books. Do you think my family has read all this?PlO
pwHcyiRian, who became Shirones friend after the match, spent the freetime he had in the library.3zPt
UXZQ0Infact, unlike his size, he was affectionate and winsome.bNKmxq
kDVHe fit the role of youngest son of a noble family.aVBKFL
8gdLOf course. The family leader and the young master often stop by the library.qof
EQ3a4Tsk, smart people are lucky since they have so much to read.0vVkMBb
l98tuqyRian, who was sitting on the floor, started rummaging through books.H0Km4KS
z9EHZgShirone came down from the ladder and picked up the books. After doing so, he began to nag.eRs
RAIDont throw them around so carelessly. If you damage anything, Im the one whos going to have to pay for it. Probably with my life.rCFe8
YosqGoI dont like that either. Does it make sense that books are more important than human lives? Even if you burn the library to the ground, Ill protect you, so dont worry.CCWJk
61VoJust stop doing what youre doing, then nothing bad will happen, so the solution is just to be careful.52H6k
bWEpPlayful words never came out of Shirones mouth.MHlWMQ
oqsteBut that was who Shirone was.B4zpN
YoQfYWsHe was firm and strict, but he wasnt cold.tSgD
xanh6Rian liked that about Shirone.2vgHO
kkKVTIts fun to be with you, but its stifling to be stuck in the library.nwO
RtvWhy are you even here? What about your training?khZrML
32hcXBasic training only. I told him I wanted to study in the library.FswSs0k
uWTbaCShirones body shook.3IA6
h1dLThen you should hurry up and study! What are you doing?!v19p
wJVDb0Im bored! Im bored! Im bored!Ug98
1I7Rian was lying on his back, flailing his limbs about as he acted like a baby.HOYR6ux
qXcRegardless, Shirone turned away and went to his desk.4ldQK
VDZOHe wasnt particularly worried about Rians laziness.hrFB7K
4ToOf0If Shirones tendency was water, Rians was fire. A fire that grows out of control once it burns.aXB41
lesXHe just needs a trigger!mqeytZS
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