Level up with swords (79)
“Oh oh… !”
Leon let out an exclamation as if he was captivated by that bright light. Unlike <Aura Sword>, where a halo of light stayed around the blade, <Aura Fire> flickered like an actual flame.
It is a beautiful shape, but the power that trembles within it is absurd. The greatest destructive power that can be unleashed at a level below Master.
It would be possible to tear apart a huge rock with one swing.
[Oh oh… f*ck you! I am already obsessed with the remaining talents.]
However, El Cid thoughtlessly put a candle to that feeling.
[<Auror Fire> was not able to compress everything like <Auror Blade>, so the overflowing auror came out like a flame. This means that it is a technology that is not perfect from the beginning. You might not know it when you’re trying to win with just one shot, but it’s not a skill that can be used sustainably.]
“Well, I guess it’s not a skill that can be used for a long time.”
After being excited about the success of <Auror Fire> for a moment, Leon nodded as if he agreed with that statement.
The golden flames swirling around the holy sword fade away.
It only lasted about 10 seconds, but 20% of the aurors were consumed. That’s it, even though it was on standby rather than in the middle of a battle. If you were to use <Auror Fire> in actual combat right now, you would be exhausted in about 30 seconds.
As Leon thought about that, a memory from a few months ago came to mind.
‘Bishop Cesare also used <Auror Fire> briefly only when it was needed. If I could maintain it all the time, there wouldn’t be a need for it, but does that mean it consumes so much power?’
[It’s exactly as you said.]
El Cid read his thoughts and agreed.
[It is different from <Auror Weapon>, which securely holds the auror around the weapon, or <Auror Blade>, which fixes the auror in a materialized state. As I forcefully apply my strength, all the auras that escape my control scatter into the air. It can be said to be the height of inefficiency.]
Nevertheless, there was only one reason to write <Auror Fire>.
[When you need to demonstrate power beyond your limits, <Auror Fire> is a shortcut created just for that moment.]
To sum it up in one word, it is a ‘decisive battle’.
Isn’t there an old saying?
Is there a need to use a cow knife to kill a chicken? To use the old saying, <Aurorfire> is a knife for killing cows. If you are an opponent who can win without using it, there is no need to use it.
This is an enemy that is likely to lose if you don’t raise the odds. It was a technique that could only be used against a rival or a stronger enemy than oneself.
“… No, according to what you said, isn’t it very important?”
Leon reflexively asked those words back.
Although he is still an inexperienced warrior, he has overcome life and death many times. The importance of the decisive battle could not be ignored.
The same goes for <Merak>.
If I hadn’t been able to cut Andrei down at that distance, I might have been caught in a suicide bombing and suffered serious injuries or even died. However, El Cid disparaged one of those decisive battles as a ‘residual talent.’
[Are you stupid?]
El Cid snorted at that question.
[<Auror Fire> is ultimately only used by those below Master level. I need to think about breaking the master’s wall as soon as possible. Even if I delve into imperfect techniques, I’ll just stop in place. That was the case with that gangster I saw in Blaine.]
“Oh, indeed.”
Leon understood what he meant and agreed deeply.
<Auror Fire> is certainly flashy, but it is a technology with no future. Just as your skills will not improve once you get used to using a trick, if you continue to rely on something to be useful, you will be bound by its limitations.
If it hadn’t been for El Cid’s advice, Leon might have also fallen into that error and wasted several years.
[Hmm, I’m glad I understood it well.]
El Cid said, reading a hint of approval in his attitude. How many idiots are there who cover their ears and insist on the wrong path?
Fortunately, Leon was not included in that group.
[It’s been a while since I thought I’d check my skills.]
As El Cid spoke, a translucent screen appeared.
Name: Leon
Title & Occupation: “Banpuni” warrior
Level: 43
Strength B / Stamina B / Dexterity C / Aura B
<Sword Mastery (Advanced) Lv.1>
<Rodrick’s Martial Arts Lv.6>
<Acquired bone loss (stage 3)>
<Auror User (Advanced) Lv.5>
<Secret Swordsmanship (Seven Star Sword) Lv.3>
His abilities had changed significantly since the last time I saw him.
Her abilities, which had been hovering around D rank, rose by almost two levels, reaching a level similar to Karen’s.
The skill level was also the same.
Both <Sword Mastery> and <Auror User> had reached advanced level, and <Seven Star Sword> was also at level 3.
[Hehehe, it has increased quite a bit.]
El Cid smiled darkly, as if satisfied with the change.
Leon didn’t know much, but his achievements were so great that it was hard to believe that he had achieved them in just four months.
After parting ways with the Storm Sangdan and beginning to stay on the outskirts of the Titan Mountains, Leon’s skills improved day by day.
If you think about it, it was only natural.
While riding the carriage, I had no time to properly practice, and just experienced the transition between life and death over and over again. Given his extensive combat experience and the power he absorbed from cutting down Lord-class vampires, it was even more surprising that his skills did not improve rapidly.
“Well, I learned a lot in the Titan Mountains.”
Leon shrugged his shoulders and added.
It’s not that it wasn’t, it was just as he said.
The monsters in the Titan Mountains, even those driven out to the outskirts, were stronger and more dangerous than those in other regions. Since I was fighting in a forest where I couldn’t even see an inch in front of people who would struggle even in a well-lit place, I had no choice but to die soon if I didn’t improve my skills.
In fact, I almost died once.
If it weren’t for the hi-potion prepared in advance, it would not have been possible to reattach the half-cut off left arm.
[A crisis is an opportunity, and a trial is training.]
Leon sighed and muttered at those shameless words.
‘I now know why Roderick had no students when he was alive.’
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[Because there is no one who can match the greatness of this body!]
‘… ‘Didn’t everyone who followed die?’
No answer came back.
Leon, who was creeped out for no reason, changed the topic while adjusting his sword.
I had a feeling that if I talked more about this topic, the training would only become harsher.
“I think it’s time for Karen to return.”
Perhaps because they had knocked down a few trees while fighting monsters, the sunlight shining overhead was quite bright.
This was proof that it was still midday.
It is dark both day and night due to the lush forest, but the monsters prefer the night due to their nature. Combat power also tended to be stronger at night, so neither Leon nor Karen walked around in the middle of the night.
[That guy is surprisingly sincere. Since he was a former assassin, I thought he would be good at using tricks.]
“I thought so too at first, but… .”
Karen was more enthusiastic than he and El Cid imagined.
Her role in these mountains was not large.
The monsters of the Titan Mountains are basically large and hard, and are not easily affected by poison. The overwhelming killing power it has against humans is not even half effective against the monsters here.
Nevertheless, she stayed here with him, occasionally going outside the mountains to bring him daily necessities.
This allowed Leon to focus entirely on training.
“An indispensable companion, now.”
[Yes, I brought you well.]
El Cid also did not deny that statement.
Even to him, who had a better eye for people than anyone else, Karen’s dedication was quite touching.
A ‘companion’ that Roderick did not need.
Maybe it was because I felt that void again.
[Leon.]
As if ignoring the bitter sentiment, El Cid changed his words.
[I think it’s time to go deeper.]
“… is it.”
Leon looked inside the mountain range with a calm expression after hearing those words.
There was a rare hint of tension in his gaze, but that was inevitable when living here.
The roar and force that comes from inside the mountain range every few days.
That terrifying presence was so great that even a light brush made the hairs on my entire body stand on end. He was more than Andrei, the troglodyte he faced in Blaine in the past who had become a Lord-class vampire.
‘It’s probably the energy of the Titans.’
Titan.
It is the name of this mountain range and also refers to its owner.
When Leon stayed at the Royal Academy, he learned about the history of that race.
An ogre, a dangerous A+ rank monster.
A monster that overwhelms A-rank mercenaries and adventurers with its innate physical ability, and even possesses enough intelligence to use crudely made tools and speak poorly.
Hundreds of years ago, among those ogres, an individual appeared who gave up his life as a monster and sought the mercy of the goddess.
It is the Giant King.
―If you accept us as residents of this land, we will dedicate our lives to subjugating monsters.
The goddess accepted the request.
And he bestowed the blessing of wisdom on the group under the Giant King, allowing them to speak and think like humans.
This was the moment when the Titans, a race with overwhelming physical ability and human-level intelligence, appeared.
[With your current skills, you will be good enough to not die.]
After hearing El Cid’s evaluation, Leon smiled bitterly.
“With two A-ranks accompanying me, is it ‘impervious to death’?” . “It’s an incredible place, really.”
The Titans are not particularly hostile to humans, but are merciless to those who rudely invade their territory.
Moreover, the monsters in the depths of the mountain range alone were sufficiently threatening.
The Titan Mountains were a place where A-rank dangerous monsters roamed around in groups, and monsters known to have already disappeared occasionally showed themselves.
At that time, the shadow stretched from Leon’s feet.
“I’m back!”
And Karen suddenly popped out and shouted brightly.
The bag on my back was so full that it felt like it was going to burst, as if I had been hoarding daily necessities in the village below the mountain range.
Even after filling up the subspace ring, that’s as much as I have left.
Leon conveyed his thoughts to her as they packed up their belongings together.
“Are you finally going to enter the interior of the mountain range?”
“huh.”
Karen looked uncharacteristically nervous at those words.
The master assassin’s senses were warning him.
This place is at a disadvantage.
This place is dangerous.
Never fight here.
Run away. You must not go inside.
The moment an assassin forgets his or her limitations, he or she dies.
Decades of experience froze the flowing blood.
“Karen.”
Leon was also reading that hesitation. Next, he held out his hand and held Karen’s hand, which was shaking without realizing it.
As his body temperature is transmitted, the frozen blood melts.
Karen was shocked when she finally realized that her hand was being held, but she did not try to pull her hand away.
Leon said seriously while looking into her eyes.
“thank you. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”
Don’t ask me to follow you.
It doesn’t even tell you not to follow.
Because that choice was Karen’s own, not Leon’s. So, without digging further, he revealed his true feelings.
Thank you for being with me so far.
From now on, I will leave it to your choice.
“… What is it, warrior? “Once again.”
Karen responded as if nothing had happened.
Suddenly, my hands stopped shaking.
With a cheerful smile as always, she waved her clasped hands up and down.
“You’re not planning on leaving me here, are you? “I’m going to meet a great person like the King of Giants, and wouldn’t it be a shame if my name was left out of this part?”
“Karen.”
“No way! I’ll follow you even if I have to secretly follow you, so don’t tell me you’re going alone. “That’s what being a colleague is, right?”
Leon grinned instead of answering that question.
Saying more here will only ruin the good mood.
Karen chose.
He just has to accept that choice.
“let’s go.”
Letting go of their grasping hands, Leon turned his back, putting all of his belongings inside the subspace bracelet.
A land where the darkness is wide open and you cannot see an inch in front of you.
Even the sunlight pouring in from the hole above the head does not travel 10 meters and is swallowed up by the darkness. It’s obvious that if you turn on the light because it’s dark, you’ll become a target for monsters, so you have to rely on your aura sense and intuition to navigate the path.
A magic that would make even veteran rangers run away barefoot.
Two adventurers set foot in the depths of the Titan Mountains, where there was no map.
