Overpowered Sword Chapter 55

Level up with swords (55)

The journey after that was indeed smooth.

Leon had been out all day due to a hangover, but the atmosphere inside the top had improved a lot. Thanks to the banquet that day, the people who had been in close contact with each other became quite close, and the adventurers and mercenaries who used to treat each other harshly did the same.

The guard troops hired by the Storm Merchant Marine Corps are not just Leon and the “Steel Claws” mercenaries. Even though the ranks were a bit low, there were members who each had their own roles.

It was like uniting them all in one day, which was a happy miscalculation in many ways even from the owner of the company, Arnold.

Of course, Leon also had his own income.

“You’re from the Northern Army?”

“Yes, I enlisted as a child soldier and served for about 10 years.”

Han Sen, sitting next to me, told me his story.

“The people the Northern Army mainly deals with are mountain orcs. “They have skin as hard as a rock, and they know how to use weapons.”

Leon listened to his story with a piece of bread in his mouth. It was rare to have the opportunity to hear such a realistic story. She was both entertaining and informative.

To him who still lacked worldly experience, the mercenaries’ rich experiences were like rain falling on dry land.

My ears perked up, trying not to miss a single word.

“Maybe it’s because I climbed the steep rock wall with my bare hands, but my grip strength is amazing. It bends not only wood but also iron. And the two palms are harder than the rest, so the blade won’t get stuck in them.”

“Then how did you deal with it?”

“My way.”

Han Sen said, pointing to the spear hanging on his back.

“Their strength is great, but their weapon skills are nothing special. It just swings violently, so just block and stab it. Fortunately, the leather around the abdomen is thin and soft.”

“He’s an orc, but his stomach is his weak point… .”

“It’s a characteristic of mountain oaks.”

In general, monsters classified as ‘orcs’ had enormous muscle mass, so it was common sense to target the joints and head.

The defensive power of the abdomen, which is several times thicker than that of a human and surrounded by hard muscles, is at the level of armor. So, for Orcs, clothes were often decorations that revealed their authority, not armor.

Han Sen laughed after reading Leon’s question.

“Mountain oaks cling to rock walls with their arms and legs. Perhaps because of this ecology, the torso is thin compared to the limbs, and the abdominal muscles have degenerated because the front of the body is not exposed… “That was the scholar’s ​​analysis.”

“okay.”

It was an understandable explanation.

Monsters adapt very quickly to their environment, so it was common for them to mutate into a suitable form. Just as the orcs living in mountainous areas have changed so much, those living along the coast or in desert areas will have different characteristics.

They have gills so they can breathe underwater, and they have a protective coloring that is indistinguishable from sand.

Either way, it was a story you wouldn’t know unless you experienced it.

‘If it weren’t for Han Sen, I wouldn’t have known about the weaknesses of mountain orcs.’

Leon repeated the information in his head. If I ever have to fight against mountain orcs someday, I might be able to apply it.

Even an indirect experience was a hundred times better than no experience at all.

So he listened to the story, even including the unsuitable chuimsa. Besides Hansen, there were dozens of other people who could share their experiences. There was no one who coldly pushed Leon away, even though he was a B-rank and even shy at a young age.

‘Well, besides, there’s nothing to do on the way up.’

If you think about it, it was natural.

Most of the time spent on the ascent is spent traveling long distances by carriage. The tedious travel time is much longer than the time spent eating, camping, etc. combined.

Since there wasn’t much entertainment to enjoy on the carriage, I had no choice but to spend more time talking to someone.

In the meantime, there was something I became aware of.

“Hey, master. “What is your relationship with your sister?”

“hmm? “What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Hamel, a mercenary belonging to <Steel Claws>, quietly whispered.

“Hey, why are you hiding it like that? “If a grown-up man and woman can ride in the same carriage, then all is said and done.”

“It’s not like that.”

“No. Oh, is this a priestly relationship? The movements seem to be somewhat similar. However, for a teacher and a student, they have no pretense. “There doesn’t seem to be anything up or down.”

Leon was surprised by those words, but did not show it.

I couldn’t believe that he was able to find something in common between the two people’s movements. He was a former ranger, but his observation skills were truly unusual.

Still, I couldn’t tell the whole truth.

“We became close friends while working on a mission together. “It’s not the relationship between men and women that people talk about.”

“Ho-oh, is it still there?”

“Not yet and everything!”

When Leon got annoyed by the obvious teasing tone, Hamel giggled darkly and ran away.

There was no other sly man.

After sighing for a moment at that playful attitude, Leon realized that what he said made sense. It was true that the two people had a slightly unnatural relationship in the eyes of others.

‘It’s not enough to be accompanied by an A-rank, a B-rank kid riding in the same carriage. To anyone’s eyes, he looks like a pillar of the West.’

It’s probably the same reason why Han Sen and other mercenaries started arguing. He was a brat who hid behind a woman and accepted her request for nothing. How repulsive he must have been to the mercenaries who had lived a rough life.

They say they broke the misunderstanding with one match, but it would not be possible to resolve it like this every time.

“… “I have no choice but to become more plausible.”

Leon looked down at his palm.

Calluses that have been torn and crushed countless times and stuck to the point where the palm lines cannot be seen. It was proof that I could do better than anyone else if I just worked hard.

If it is insufficient, just supplement.

If you are inexperienced, just train yourself.

Just as there is no one who is perfect from the beginning.

‘No, there was at least one person.’

Leon smiled without realizing it. I missed El Cid’s braggadocio, which wasn’t braggadocio. This was because listening to his confident tone made me feel like any adversity was no big deal.

But we shouldn’t just rely on El Cid.

I stayed silent for a month in return for swinging my sword three times, so I don’t know what price I will have to pay next.

“I need to become stronger.”

In order not to rely on El Cid’s power, you must become stronger and more determined than you are now.

Leon immediately placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

The time you can get off the carriage is limited. When to eat and when to camp. Since you can’t swing a sword in a narrow carriage, you have to use this short time efficiently.

It’s good to listen to someone’s story, but to use the experience, you need corresponding strength.

Hung!

Leon’s sword slashes sharply through the air.

The routine began as usual.

* * *

Whoops!

The two swords collide, scattering sparks.

Longsword and Zweihander.

The shock wave that erupted from the point of impact of the blade covered the area, raising dust from the dry ground. A battle of strength and power. Blood spurted out from Leon’s lip, which was pushed there.

This is the reward for hitting the <Auror Weapon> with all your might. I don’t know if I won, but the repulsion made me feel sick to my stomach.

“Tsk… !”

Gustav spoke in front of Leon, who was bending over.

“You’re strong. “You took my sword from the front.”

Although it sounded like self-aggrandizement, he was truly praising Leon.

Gustav’s nickname is ‘Smasher’.

He was born with great strength, and could swing the 2.3-meter Zweihander like a wooden sword. He’s that much without using his Auras, so what about after activating them?

It could tear down most castle gates with one blow.

“I didn’t take it… “No, I spilled it.”

Leon shook his head at those words, but Gustav grinned and patted his shoulder.

“How many bastards do you think can do that in front of me? “Even if it wasn’t technique, I did my best, but I didn’t know that I would be able to dodge and fight back.”

“… “I also have some regrets.”

“what? Hahaha!”

It was a stupid thing to do because it was a sparring match.

Responding to force with force, speed to speed.

Leon thought as he looked at his slightly twitching hand.

‘If it had been a real fight, my defense would have been delayed at the next moment, and my head would have been blown off. This is a losing battle.’

This is an opponent that is difficult to defeat even once in ten fights.

B rank, which is very close to A rank.

Leon calmly weighed his strength and lowered his sword. It wasn’t serious, but I must have suffered internal injuries, and there was nothing to gain if I continued any longer.

“I’ll leave it here. “Thank you for listening to my request.”

“Well, just take the time. “Having a fight with a talented person like you is quite helpful to me.”

Gustav chuckled and took Zweihander.

The sight of a large sword over 2m long moving smoothly did not feel realistic at all. According to Hansen’s story, he won an arm wrestling match against an orc, and it seemed possible with that level of strength.

As Leon was about to return to the carriage with him, Gustav suddenly spoke as if he had thought of something.

“Gosh, that won’t work for a while.”

Gustav scratched the back of his head with a regretful expression.

“I’m going into the forest starting this afternoon. “If you make the same noise in the forest as before, monsters will come.”

“How many days will it take to get through the forest?”

“Well, that’s fine. If everything goes well, three days? “Maybe five days at the latest.”

Leon agreed and asked a question.

“We might have to fight monsters, right?”

“of course. You might not touch it at this level, but the danger level of that forest is medium. “If there is a medium-sized monster, it will definitely attack.”

“If it’s a medium-sized monster… .”

“Most people around here are Trolls.”

Leon’s eyes widened at Gustav’s words.

troll.

How many people don’t know that name? He was such a well-known guy that even people who didn’t fight monsters knew about him.

A giant with an ugly appearance.

“Adult forest trolls are about 4m to 5m tall and are quite agile compared to other species. It’s a bit different from the swamp trolls with their fat bellies. “There are even people who climb trees.”

“No, trolls climb trees?”

“People who haven’t seen it don’t believe it. “Forest trolls are almost like apes.”

Leon became interested in the story, so he went over to the carriage of “Claws of Steel” and continued listening to the story.

There was no way Gustav was talking nonsense, so it was probably true that forest trolls were fast enough to climb trees. If I had dealt with him without knowing that, I could have been in big trouble.

The mercenaries must have been satisfied with his attitude and willingly taught him.

“And forest trolls don’t act alone. If swamp trolls take control of a territory and do not leave the area, they band together and take over the territory of other monsters. “There are times when I use goblins or orcs as subordinates.”

“Cunning guys like goblins attack without even looking back, right? Then it is highly likely that it was bait sent by a forest troll. “While you are paying attention to the goblins, they will attack you from the side or from behind.”

Knowledge that was not taught or could not be learned at the academy is generously revealed.

Leon didn’t miss a single word and engraved it in his mind.

It was natural to return words of gratitude to the mercenaries.

It was right then.

“―We are now entering the forest. “Everyone in charge of escorting, please concentrate on your role.”

Merchant Arnold’s voice echoed throughout the carriage.

After passing through the plain and boring plain, I finally entered the forest where monsters live.

Leon greeted the mercenaries and returned to his carriage.

Then Karen, who was lying down, got up and gave a long yawn.

“What is it, warrior? Is it time to work?”

“They say we’re entering the forest now?”

“If it’s the beginning, nothing much will happen. “I wonder if tonight or tomorrow afternoon will be a problem.”

In contrast, Karen, a veteran, remained calm.

She didn’t just do one big project like Leon, but she successfully carried out over a hundred requests. Not only was she a top escort, but she also had plenty of experience fighting in the woods.

The ecology of monsters is very complex yet simple.

Karen, who knew the truth, lay down on the hammock again, and Leon followed her and leaned against the backrest.

‘Tonight or tomorrow morning.’

Are those words true?

Leon felt the vibrations of the carriage gradually slowing down, and gathered himself from the internal injuries he suffered from his sparring with Gustav.

At this level, it will completely heal in 2 to 3 hours.

I had to get my body back in perfect condition before fighting the monsters.

Inside the carriage, only the sound of the two people breathing was heard, and the sound soon died down. This is because the noise coming from the wheels becomes louder due to the uneven ground compared to the plain.

From then on, time passed and the sun set.

“It’s an attack!”

Just as Karen said, the attack by monsters has begun.