The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel

“Hah, hah, hah.”

Arthur poured all his time, except for eating and sleeping, into training.

A week after obtaining the Mana Training Method, he achieved the 2nd Star.

Using Mana drastically improved his physical abilities.

However, he could barely maintain that power for a minute, and had to wait several hours to use it again.

Millerf, who stuck by his side like a shadow and watched, couldn't hide his astonishment at the incredible growth rate.

Arthur, paying no mind to his reaction, tempered himself harshly.

Another week passed like that.

Finally, the inevitable arrived.

An envoy from Count Yarve came and delivered the Count's outrageous remark: 'The House of Count Julius will soon disappear from the world.'

From then on, he immersed himself solely in training, even minimizing his time for eating and sleeping with Millerf's magic.

Millerf was left speechless by Arthur's relentlessness.

“Heal.”

At Arthur's word, Millerf cast his magic.

Something like golden dust enveloped Arthur's body and then vanished.

The exhausted Arthur's breathing calmed as if he had never been tired, and he shot back to his feet.

He looked out beyond the castle, taking a brief rest.

The sight of children laughing brightly and playing excitedly caught his eye.

Millerf stood beside him, smiling as he looked at the same scene.

“You seem to truly envy them.”

“Yeah.”

“I also find it quite pleasant.”

“I have to protect it, no matter what.”

Even though he hadn't rested for even a full minute, Arthur turned and went down.

“You could rest a little more.”

Millerf followed, feeling both worried and proud.

Coming down from the castle wall, Arthur headed for the Knight Training Ground.

As a result of dedicating himself to physical training for a month, he could feel that he had gained some strength.

On top of that, if he used Mana, he felt he wouldn't be pushed back easily.

So today, he decided to check how skilled he had become.

As he entered the training ground, the sight of trainees dripping with sweat caught his eye.

“When you extend your sword, be decisive, without hesitation!”

At the knight's shout, the men gritted their teeth and swung their swords.

Arthur passed them and moved to the Sparring Arena.

In the Sparring Arena, Skevin himself was sparring with the candidates.

“Too slow! You think you can take down an enemy like that?”

Thwack!

A man who took a body slam from Skevin was thrown and landed at Arthur's feet.

Spotting Arthur and Millerf, Skevin quickly corrected his posture and bowed respectfully.

At that, the trainees in the Sparring Arena also bowed in unison toward the two, showing their respects.

However, no loyalty towards Arthur could be felt.

It must have all been for Millerf.

Because no one would pledge loyalty to a scoundrel.

Arthur, also unconcerned by their reaction, said a word to Skevin.

“From now on, perform the Sword Salutation in the training ground.”

“...?”

“It means don't let your guard down.”

“Understood.”

It wasn't wrong, so he accepted without another word.

Arthur stood where the weapons were arranged.

It was filled mostly with spears, swords, shields, and medieval weapons you'd only see in movies.

They were all large and heavy, so no particular weapon caught his eye.

“Nothing here I like.”

Just as he was about to turn away, a single dagger lying on the floor caught his eye.

He picked it up and swung it around.

“Hmm.”

Although it was quite different from the 'Kukri' he always used, it seemed to be the best option available.

To test the extent of his skills, he approached Skevin.

“Shall we have a go?”

“With me, you mean?”

Skevin wore an incredulous expression.

He had heard that Arthur was training his body relentlessly.

He could see that Arthur's body had gained muscle and a sturdiness that was clearly different from before.

But he was still far too weak to be his opponent.

Even without using Mana, the difference in their physiques was so great they looked like an adult and a child.

A spar would be pointless.

“I'll get you another opponent. Jonathan.”

Skevin called the man who had just been knocked down by him.

“Sir!”

The man quickly approached.

“Try sparring with this one.”

“Well, I suppose he's suitable for a warm-up.”

Arthur smirked and beckoned to Jonathan with his finger.

At that, Jonathan watched him with cold eyes and asked Skevin.

“Am I allowed to do my best?”

Skevin hesitated for a moment.

He knew that Arthur had been rampaging around the domain, causing trouble.

Because of that, most of the trainees despised and hated him.

Although he had trained alone, he wouldn't be able to handle those who had undergone formal knight training for a month.

It seemed he could get seriously hurt if things went wrong.

“Hmm…”

As Skevin was lost in thought, Arthur's voice was heard.

“You have no eye for people. At this rate, when will you ever find talented individuals?”

Arthur switched to a reverse grip on the dagger.

At his provocation, Skevin's face hardened slightly as he shifted his gaze to Jonathan.

“Go ahead. But no attacks to vital spots.”

“Understood.”

Jonathan aimed his sword at Arthur and slowly closed the distance.

The gazes of everyone in the Sparring Arena were fixed on them.

Seeing the anger simmering in Jonathan's tense eyes, Arthur asked.

“Do you happen to have a grudge against me?”

Jonathan scowled.

“My younger brother was beaten by you, Young Master, for no reason and was bedridden for a month. Even now, that kid has fits in his sleep just thinking about you.”

“So that happened.”

“Just thinking about my brother…”

A killing intent could be felt from Jonathan.

“I apologize for what happened to your brother.”

“...!”

Jonathan's eyes went wide.

“I won't hold you responsible. Think of this as a chance for revenge and give it your all.”

At Arthur's words, the look in Jonathan's eyes changed.

Simultaneously, Skevin's face twisted as he sensed the killing intent.

“This bastard!”

Just as he was about to approach Jonathan, Millerf blocked his path.

“Sir Millerf…”

“Leave him be.”

“The Young Master is in danger.”

“The Young Master is not as weak as you think.”

“What?”

Skevin looked puzzled and scanned Arthur again.

No matter how he looked, he couldn't sense any strength.

“What makes you say that?”

“Just watch.”

Millerf watched Arthur with a meaningful smile.

***

Arthur looked at Jonathan and grinned.

‘He's loosened up a bit.’

He could feel the killing intent.

But far from feeling tense, he was actually worried, seeing how full of openings Jonathan was.

It seemed Jonathan was one of the more decent trainees, but a sense of disappointment washed over him at this performance that was below expectations.

‘At this rate, they're nothing but a disorderly mob.’

Just as he was about to get lost in thought, Jonathan rushed in and thrust his sword.

“Die!”

Arthur lightly turned his body to the side and dodged.

Jonathan quickly swung his sword sideways.

This time, too, the sword only cut through the air, not even grazing the hem of Arthur's clothes.

Faced with nimbler movements than he expected, Jonathan increased his speed even more.

Far from dodging, Arthur stood his ground, parrying a few attacks with his dagger before darting into his opponent's range like lightning.

“With that level of skill, you don't stand a chance.”

He lightly tapped his opponent's chin with his fist.

Thud.

Jonathan flopped to the ground on the spot and passed out.

Skevin, who was watching the scene, was dumbfounded, his jaw agape.

He hadn't even swung his fist hard, just gave a light tap, but the man had collapsed in a heap.

“H-how…”

“He doesn't disappoint expectations.”

A faint smile spread across Millerf's face.

“With this much, isn't it worth a match?”

Skevin scoffed at Arthur's question.

“I'll be your opponent.”

He plunged his sword into the ground and approached him.

“You're going to face me bare-handed?”

“It's more than enough.”

“Interesting.”

Arthur watched Skevin and threw his dagger to the side.

Thunk!

The dagger embedded itself in the wood.

“Heh heh…”

Skevin let out a dry laugh.

“Don't disappoint me.”

Arthur approached Skevin slowly with a meaningful smile.

The moment they entered each other's attack range.

“Try and block this.”

Skevin threw a punch as a test.

Arthur twisted his body to dodge and threw a punch.

Thwack!

It landed squarely on his side.

But Skevin curled his lips into a smile and swung his arm.

Whoosh-.

With a sound of cutting through the wind, an elbow strike flew at him.

Arthur quickly raised both arms.

Thud!

A heavy impact sent his body sliding backward.

‘What kind of power…?’

Skevin rushed in like lightning and rammed him with his shoulder.

BAM!

Taking a huge impact, he was thrown backward.

It was the moment it seemed the match had ended in an instant.

Arthur shot back to his feet and rushed at Skevin like an arrow.

‘He should have been stunned, though?’

As Skevin tilted his head in confusion, Arthur's fist flew toward his face.

But he casually parried it with his hand.

A kick followed.

This time, he decided to take it head-on, and tensed the muscles where the impact was expected.

Smack!

The kick landed on his thigh.

There was almost no impact.

But Skevin wore a satisfied expression.

“You've gotten noticeably stronger.”

“Too much talk.”

Arthur threw another kick.

Thwack!

This time, too, Skevin took it directly, as if to prove his own strength.

Arthur relentlessly rained down an alternating barrage of punches and kicks.

Skevin focused solely on defense with ease.

As time went on, the speed of Arthur's attacks gradually increased. Simultaneously, the smile that had been on Skevin's face slowly faded.

‘What is this?’

He could feel the attacks getting stronger.

It was when he thought it would be best to retreat and tried to move his legs.

“Ugh!”

He felt a sharp, tingling pain in his leg.

Seeing Skevin's face contort, Arthur said a word.

“Looks like you're finally feeling it.”

“I seem to have underestimated you, Young Master.”

Skevin took a defensive stance.

He clenched both fists and glared chillingly, like a beast eyeing its prey.

But Arthur wasn't intimidated at all.

He could only see Skevin's numerous openings.

“Shall we end this now?”

“You should be careful.”

Skevin drew out up to half his strength.

Sensing this, Millerf gripped his staff tightly, fully prepared to cast magic at any moment.

Arthur also felt that Skevin's aura had changed.

At the same time, alarm bells instinctively rang in his head.

‘In that case, me too.’

Arthur kicked off the ground and rushed at Skevin.

The moment he entered attack range, Skevin's eyes flashed as he threw a punch.

CRACK!

The fist flew forward with a sound like the air itself was tearing.

At the same time, Arthur also drew up his Mana.

He met Skevin's incoming fist with his own. Then, he ducked inside his guard and struck his abdomen.

BANG!

A tremendous sound of impact was heard.

But far from collapsing, Skevin glared at Arthur with chilling eyes.

‘Damn it!’

Just as Arthur tried to quickly retreat, Skevin brought his fist crashing down.

Arthur quickly raised both arms above his head to block.

BOOM!

A massive shock was transmitted through his entire body.

If he hadn't used Mana, he would have been smashed into the ground.

‘Incredible.’

Before his knees could buckle, Arthur kicked Skevin's abdomen with all his might and escaped.

Then he quickly took a fighting stance.

“Ugh…”

Skevin took a step back.

“Th-the Captain…”

“H-how could he, to the Scoundrel…”

“Am I supposed to believe this?”

Everyone was aghast, denying the scene before their eyes.

Skevin also wore a slightly surprised expression.

“Did you just use Mana?”

Arthur nodded and asked.

“What if you had fought seriously from the beginning?”

“None of your attacks would have worked. Even using Mana like you just did.”

“What if I had a sword?”

“...One strike.”

“I see. I'll be back in a week.”

Arthur walked over to the tree where the dagger was embedded, pulled it out, and leisurely left the Sparring Arena.