Overpowered Sword Chapter 2

Level up with swords (2)

What I saw that night was a dream from my childhood.

It was a story I heard while I was in my mother’s arms in front of the stove, so long ago that I can’t quite remember when.

Clearly, the content was nothing short of ordinary.

An adventure story in which the main character, who grew up without knowing his origins, is chosen by a prophecy and defeats evil with the sword given by the goddess. During the journey, the protagonist rescues a kidnapped princess and breaks through an ancient dungeon with his trusty companion.

After accumulating countless trivial achievements, he eventually regains his identity and defeats the evil king.

It is the happy ending that everyone expects and hopes for.

―Mom, I have a question.

Why?

Even at that young age, Leon couldn’t understand it.

Why was only the protagonist able to defeat the evil king?

Were there any righteous knights or wizards other than the main character?

Why did the goddess only hand the sword to the protagonist?

Could it be because the main character was a royal rather than a commoner?

My mother was taken aback by the unusual question. She then wondered for a moment why she was like that, and then she smiled bitterly and answered.

“It’s just that it was decided from the beginning.”

Leon wasn’t convinced by the answer, but he nodded without asking any more questions. Because his mother seemed troubled by his question.

With that question buried in my mind, I fell asleep for now.

I didn’t even know that I would think of it again after more than 10 years.

* * *

“… “When was it ever?”

In a dream from his childhood that he couldn’t remember, Leon became embarrassed and held his face. How many children would have asked such a question after hearing an old story?

Even in his own opinion, he was a really picky kid.

After a moment of groaning at the dark history of his childhood, Leon immediately got up and looked out the window.

‘It’s been a while since I overslept.’

Judging by the fact that the sun rose in the sky, it was already past noon. I don’t know how long it’s been since I woke up this late.

In Leon’s daily routine, waking up time was always before sunrise.

I ran through the dark training ground, warmed up my body, swung my wooden sword, and watched the rising sun covered in sweat. I even felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, perhaps because I had been lazy for the first time in years.

‘Oh, now that I think about it, was today a holiday?’

Leon, who was looking out the window, finally remembered that fact.

It was a rare day at an academy where diligence was the rule, but for him, it was no different from usual. Except for the day I ran out of medicine and went to buy it, I never went out to the city.

However, other students seemed excited about the rare holiday.

It’s a lot more busy than usual, to the point where it seems like there’s no place to focus or do anything.

‘I have to go out.’

Leon quickly came to a conclusion and packed his bags.

It wasn’t much of a burden to say the least. All that was left was a change of clothes, a towel, two wooden swords, and a water bottle.

Leon left the dormitory carrying a small bag.

Most of the students seemed to be moving in the direction of the school gate, so no one encountered him climbing the mountain behind him. Because of the rough road, it was not often used as a walking trail. The only people who visit the mountains behind them during their long-awaited holiday are probably the only ones like that.

After some time, Leon arrived at the mountainside and was out of breath.

“Ha, is today the last time I come here?”

There was a fairly large vacant lot there.

It was a place I discovered by chance in the past when I was hiking up and down the mountain as part of my physical training. From then on, he came here to train whenever he found it difficult to concentrate.

The evidence was the land that had become swollen with Leon’s traces.

How many times have I run, vomited, and swung a wooden sword here? Traces remaining throughout the vacant lot tried to bring back old memories.

“… No, not until today.”

But he muttered that as if he was scolding himself.

He expressed his feelings that there was no point in clinging to impossible goals any longer, and that he felt as if he would be broken by the bleak reality.

Still, I keep my promise to work hard until today.

Holding a wooden sword, Leon stood in the middle of the clearing. The palm of his left hand, which had not fully healed yet, was sore, but it was just the right pain to shake off his regrets.

Huh!

The wooden sword tore through the empty space with the sound of a fierce wind.

A perfect downward slash.

The academy’s swordsmanship was ultimately nothing more than the application of basic techniques, and there was no opportunity to even learn advanced swordsmanship. So Leon thoroughly refined only the basics.

A thousand times to come.

Cut until the remaining regrets in your heart fall away.

Huh!

* * *

That night.

A small party was in full swing in the dormitory hall of the Royal Academy. The main character, of course, was Rihanna, who was celebrating her 17th birthday, and on any other day, students who would have fallen asleep long ago were also busy eating and chatting.

Even though he was in the commoner class, his status was unclear, and because he had both power and dignity, a considerable number of students from the noble class also gathered around him.

If he is of high status, his intention may be to look good.

“Happy birthday, Rihanna! We ask well!”

“You are the pride of this academy!”

“It’s not that big of a deal, but I hope you’ll accept it without any hesitation.”

The human population was very diverse.

A person who pretends to be friendly and clings to you, a person who openly flatters you, and a person who tries to oblige you by showing favor.

Lian dealt with them all with a smile as always.

How many times have we repeated this worthless conversation?

Only as the night got deeper did Rian, who had been biting people, find a corner. There, Gilbert, the attendant who had accompanied him before entering the Academy, was drinking alone.

Perfect!

As Lian sat down next to him, Gilbert immediately snapped his fingers and created a transparent soundproof barrier around them.

It may seem like magic, but it is one of the applied techniques of Auror.

An Aura skill that allows you to control internal and external sounds at will.

It was a technique that could only be used by warriors who had reached a considerable level, but Rian, who knew his true nature well, was not surprised.

Gilbert looked at that calm face and spoke politely.

“Congratulations on your 17th birthday, Your Majesty.”

It was truly a shocking statement.

Your Majesty, what kind of title is that?

It was a name that other people would have doubted if they heard it, but in reality, Rian let out a long sigh and gave a small sigh.

“Stop it, Sir Gilbert. “It’s a title I don’t deserve to hear right now.”

“Your Majesty, noble blood shines brighter through trials.”

Gilbert answered those words with a happy expression.

“Only one year until the day of the prophecy passed down to the imperial family. “On the day your Majesty comes of age, our empire will witness the second coming of the old Holy King Roderick.”

“It’s Saint King Roderick, so your expectations are very heavy.”

Lian’s voice suddenly subsided.

Holy King Rodrik.

He is a great hero from 300 years ago. Even in the long history of mankind, he left behind many achievements that can be counted on one finger, and cutting off the head of the Demon King with a holy sword bestowed by the Goddess is just one of them.

But Gilbert’s eyes did not waver one bit.

“Hehe, this old man has no doubt about your potential. Didn’t even that ruthless usurper fear that Your Majesty would fulfill the prophecy? May he be confident.”

“… “We’ll find out next year.”

Lian closed his eyes for a moment.

The reason why he, a member of the royal family of the great empire of Clyde, had to flee here and hide his identity with several layers of packaging.

The reason why the current emperor, who took the throne from a collateral lineage, tried to kill him was because of that prophecy.

[The day a person with the name of a lion comes of age, the sword that destroys evil will come down from the sky.]

Coincidentally, Lian was the only member of the royal family with a name meaning ‘lion’ when he was underage, and as soon as he ascended the throne, the emperor saw the prophecy and immediately tried to kill Lian.

How many things did I have to lose before crossing the border and hiding in this academy?

Even for that sacrifice, he had to become a hero.

“Lian!”

It was then.

Lian opened his eyes to a voice calling him.

The anger that had been brought back by bad memories subsided, and he looked back with a refreshing smile as always.

“Chloe? Is something wrong?”

“No, there’s no problem… .”

Chloe continued to look around and opened her mouth.

“You haven’t seen Leon either, right?”

“huh.”

“I heard no one saw me in the dormitory… . I was wondering if you were at a party. “Then where on earth did it go?”

She sighed as if she had no choice, and then turned around to look for it again.

Gilbert, who was watching the scene, spoke mischievously.

“Oh my, Your Highness got kicked.”

“Even a joke.”

Lian chuckled and picked up the glass on the table.

“Lord Gilbert, what do you think of them?”

“You mean Chloe and Leon.”

Gilbert understood the meaning even though the words were rambling.

“Chloe’s talent is extraordinary. “I am already learning the magic of the 4th level, so I will be able to handle it as one person by next year.”

“What about Leon?”

“It’s ambiguous.”

The old knight spoke in a voice filled with regret, whether he knew it or not.

“The muscles are decent enough, and the sword skills are average. However, his mental strength is extraordinary. “If you provide proper swordsmanship, training techniques, and elixirs, you will be able to break through the shell.”

“Can we accommodate you?”

“It is difficult.”

Gilbert coolly denied that statement and explained the reason.

“He does not see you as someone who should serve you. There seemed to be no malicious intent, but even after your Majesty regains his status, he will not be able to maintain the same relationship as he did now.”

“That’s why you didn’t teach me how to use a sword.”

“yes.”

Lian looked out the window with a slightly regretful expression.

After clashing swords for three years, he saw Leon’s potential. Although he is not a person who will stand out in a short period of time, he was a talented person who could be of great use if he was raised over a long period of time.

But because I knew the reason, it was difficult to force it.

“That’s too bad. “I don’t know if Chloe was an ordinary child, but it would be too much of a waste to give her up just to get Leon.”

“I think so too.”

The king smiled bitterly, regardless of who was first.

Although they pretended not to know, they weren’t fools either.

There was no way he didn’t know why Leon had stayed away from him or tried to win. If it is a matter of gain and loss, negotiation is enough, but if politics gets involved, any calculation becomes useless.

Nevertheless, Lian tried to embrace both people.

‘… Leon has a strong sense of pride. He will definitely take responsibility for his words and actions. If so, wouldn’t he be able to use that part to get him to make a promise?’

Have you developed any affection over the past three years?

Lian wanted to take both of them if possible. He liked Leon in a different way than Chloe. For Rian, he was the first person she had bumped into without any pretense.

I didn’t even know they considered me a ‘friend’, something I didn’t have when I was a member of the royal family.

“hmm?”

At that time, Lian, who was looking out the window, rubbed her eyes.

Gilbert, who saw this, asked curiously.

“Why are you doing this, Your Majesty?”

“no… , I guess I saw something in vain.”

Lian couldn’t explain what he had just seen, so he glossed over it. Because it was clear that Gilbert would make a big fuss if he told the truth.

It literally happened in the blink of an eye.

For an instant, the night sky turned golden, and when I closed my eyes and opened them, they were back to normal. Like his excuse, I almost thought it was an optical illusion.

So Lian forgot about it without thinking any more.

From that very moment, unaware that his fate had changed.