How to Live as a Swordmaster of the Enemy Nation

The Approaching War (1)

Before Gregory and his companions could savor their victory, they calmly began taking care of the remaining monsters alongside the knights of Dawn Order.

During the process, everyone stared with wide eyes in wonder, saying they had never seen red mana before.

In contrast, Gregory remained tense throughout. It was difficult to keep using mana in a situation where he couldn't predict what kind of backlash might come.

By his estimation, this striking red mana was likely due to the Forbidden Grimoire.

He guessed that drawing mana from the atmosphere and using it was causing a reaction with the mana that came from his heart.

'Is it because of the Grimoire? I can't predict what will happen.'

With the cause behind the destruction of the monument still a mystery, it was no longer safe to use this mana. Yet, those around him kept trying to test their limits, and at the brink of life and death, drawing power from the atmosphere was inevitable.

He was stuck in a situation where he couldn't do anything about it. He had to recover his strength quickly. Only then could he avoid relying on the atmospheric mana.

And soon, a war would break out. To fend off the soldiers of the Blandi Kingdom, who could invade at any moment, he needed to command his power more stably and precisely.

After completing their task, Gregory and the cadets headed to the Dawn Knight Order's base along with the senior knight members.

Having just finished exterminating monsters, Walter gave the order that personal training should proceed autonomously.

Gregory did not want to rest in preparation for the impending war.

"Commander, may I go off to train separately?"

"Hm, indeed."

Having accumulated a great deal of proficiency in his body, he now sought to elevate his mana's grade.

Gregory entered the forest where no one could find him. If he practiced the Forbidden Grimoire's techniques in the base, his companions might sense something odd.

***

"With this, I've reached three stars."

A few hours later, three rings revolved inside Gregory's body. At two stars, there had been one ring horizontally and one vertically, but now, differently from before, there was one that crossed diagonally above his heart.

"But even putting aside technique, I could not be compared to knights of my grade."

Was it proof that it truly was a forbidden technique?
Though the process itself was extremely dangerous, the effects were certain.
Even if there was loss of aura due to backlash, its power would definitely shine on the battlefield.

When Gregory, drained in body and spirit from managing his mana, returned to the base, he felt somewhat proud to see that his comrades were already out, training hard.

In turn, Gregory joined their training. Now emitting a far more powerful presence than a few hours earlier.

Despite his denser aura, the other knights remained unfazed. The might and influence he had shown during the monster subjugation and the knight trials far surpassed what was expected of a 3-star knight.

As Gregory was destined to grow even stronger and more perfect, such changes did not seem surprising.

Now that they were comrades who would stand side by side in war, such mutual understanding was only natural.

Walter cleared his throat and delivered the news about the coming war to the knights who had just gathered at the training grounds.

"A war with the Blandi Kingdom will break out soon. We must store our strength."

Gregory's companions descended into confusion. Some thought it might be a joke, having just grown close, but Walter's expression was so grim that, but for his seriousness, he looked practically dead.

Now was the time to devote themselves entirely to victory. Only then did the shock hit, and some started to regret not joining another order. Conversely, there were those who accepted the situation and clenched their swords tighter.

Adrian and Brea fell into the former group; the rest, the latter.
Adrian worried that he would be of no help, and Brea, who only wanted to grow stronger, was alarmed by the thought of war approaching. Gregory's companions now understood the true meaning of being unable to switch orders once chosen.

In the midst of this, Gregory approached Walter and asked,

"May I spar with Ernest?"

"Why not, go ahead. What problem could there be?"

"I intend to spar using aura."

Walter was taken aback.

"Using aura for the match?"

Sparring with aura was usually forbidden.

Gregory watched Walter's reaction carefully, then declared,

"In return."

Gregory added a condition: he would protect the Dawn Knight Order that could collapse in the coming war.
It was the resolve of a small, young boy, vowing to achieve victory in war.

Soon after, Gregory nominated Ernest as his sparring partner.

Sparring was the best way to gain a sense of real combat. Everyone wanted a match with him, as he was exemplary among his peers, but soon realized they could not aid his training.

Ernest stood before Gregory. A brief greeting. It was the same as before. With war imminent, this match might be their last before battle.

To develop a true sense of battle, they would use real swords, but they must not inflict physical harm on each other. They needed their bodies whole for the real fight; even a light wound was unacceptable.

Ernest wore a pensive expression for a moment, then raised his head.

"Gregory, perhaps now you might surpass and defeat me."

"Of course I would."

Ernest drew his sword, his manner quite solemn. Unlike their previous sparring, tension now filled the air.
Now, each strike could put the other in danger, so they had no choice but to be cautious.

The knights began to observe the match closely. There was surely much to learn from their fight.

Ernest flared up.

"'Of course'? This time, I won't go easy on you. Not as brothers, but as swordsmen."

He scoffed at that. No wonder—during their last sparring, Gregory had even tried to instruct him. Now, having reached the 3-star, he was already stronger than most of his peers, and even many of the 4-star knights.

"Hah, is that so? Fine. I'll give it my all this time too."

To Gregory's companions, the result was impossible to predict. They quietly thought Gregory might win, but Ernest was formidable.

Whoever won, they would be essential to their combat strength, so the others decided to focus on spectating.

From the very start, the two unleashed powerful auras at each other.

Gregory, though he'd resolved not to use aura, now cared more about this match than any damned side effects that might show up.

He had used this much, and since there were no side effects, Gregory began to nurture a vain hope that maybe there were none at all.

At last, he too drew his sword. Channeling aura through the blade, he faced off with Ernest in a battle of nerves.

With both radiating formidable spirit, the atmosphere froze over like an ice sheet. Gregory and Ernest took up perfectly guarded stances without a single opening.

Just as everyone wondered when the match would end, Ernest launched the first attack. He displayed overwhelming skill, lunging with full force.

He stabbed deeply with his sword, but Gregory stepped back swiftly, dodged the blade, and struck Ernest's grip ever so lightly with the hilt to disrupt his stance.

Tak—

Ernest was caught off guard, while Gregory seemed used to this situation.

This time, Gregory swung his sword down hard.

Hiap—!

Ernest braced with both hands on his weapon, then deflected it to the upper left.

Cheng—!

Gregory's arms raised high, and Ernest thought now was his chance. He thrust his sword at Gregory's abdomen, aura infused in every inch.

A clear, bluish aura spiraled around the blade as it rushed towards Gregory.

In that fleeting instant, Gregory's calm, sly laugh echoed out. Along with his laugh, Gregory instantly knocked up the lower part of the incoming blade with the back of his own sword, sending Ernest's weapon flying away.

Kuk—!

As Ernest's blue mana and Gregory's red mana collided, the air around rippled and a deafening roar rang out.

"Puahaha, what's this? Your skill's no better than last time!"

The smoke was thick and the force intense.
At their current level, Gregory's companions could not even approach, their jaws dropped wide open.

Ernest scowled at Gregory's words, eyes furrowed in rage. Soon, his eyebrows shot up and an even stronger aura surged from his body.

Gregory realized that taunting Ernest would make him go berserk right away. He too was clearly someone who hated losing.

"It's just a spar now, but will you do that in war as well?"

So Gregory tried to awaken Ernest through sincere advice and skill.

Even with Ernest's sword gone, it was clear Gregory had won, but he intended to press his advantage overwhelmingly.

Otherwise, he feared Ernest might lose control in war and end up dead.

"Pick it up."

Gregory gestured to Ernest's fallen sword, goading him further. Come at me with everything you've got. Did he really think that would make a difference?

Ernest's eyes went wild at those words, regardless of whether his opponent was his own brother.

'I knew it, there's definitely something going on here.'

Gregory concluded that Ernest's anger stemmed from his relationship with Walter. There was no other reason he would react so sensitively.

Ernest's eyes blazed red as he glared. He seemed like a different person. His sword clashed with Gregory's, and the shock wave spread through the surroundings again.

This time it became a contest of strength. In terms of sheer power, they were evenly matched, yet Ernest was being gradually pushed back.

All the while, Gregory sensed something abnormal about his own mana.

It felt as if his red mana was devouring Ernest's blue mana. Gregory only became certain of this when their swords collided.

Unable to keep up, Ernest soon found Gregory's sword near his chest, pushing his center of gravity backward.

Ernest tried to regain his stance by stamping his foot on the ground, but the situation persisted, eventually forcing him down onto one knee.

"Kneel."

Overwhelmed by Gregory's persistent strength, Ernest finally dropped to both knees.
Then, coming to his senses, Ernest regained his composure. He rammed his sword into the ground while kneeling.

He stared absentmindedly at his own reflection in the burning blade.

The glacial atmosphere only dissipated after the smoke cleared. Then, the astonished companions rushed over to Gregory and Ernest.

"Gregory, Ernest, are you okay?"

***

Kylas approached, worried, and asked,

"Shouldn't we stop them?"

If it had been said by just any passing kid, they would have ignored the wild claim, but somehow Gregory's plea inspired trust.

"Stop who? Look at that, they're just playing."

Kylas let out a sheepish, awkward laugh.

"Not Ernest, Gregory. You know full well what can happen if Ernest's temper is provoked."

"Don't worry. If it's him, his skill is plenty good enough."

Walter spoke without taking his eyes off the front.

True enough, the fight began to heat up even more.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】