The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel

It was the fourth day since Wesley's death.

The count's family, as well as the domain's people, spent each day in mourning for him.

Burning with vengeance, the Knight Order and the trainees accelerated their training.

At the crack of dawn.

Arthur, as always, came up to the castle wall to train.

After finishing his physical training while wearing plate armor, he would stand on the stones of the castle wall and swing his dagger.

Every time a fierce wind blew, beads of sweat would fly and his body would stagger.

Each time, Millerf, who watched from the side, grew tense.

He was fully prepared to cast 'Feather Fall' immediately should Arthur fall, but fortunately, such a mishap did not occur.

Swish- Swish-.

Every time Arthur thrust and swung his dagger, the sound of it cutting through the wind could be heard.

The sweat beaded on his forehead scattered in all directions.

After repeating this endlessly, the sky had brightened before he knew it.

As Arthur sheathed the dagger on his back and landed on the floor, Millerf approached.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Arthur nodded and walked towards the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“A week has passed.”

“I see.”

Millerf followed Arthur with a faint smile.

***

The Sparring Arena.

A mock battle between the knights and trainees was in full swing.

“Hap!”

“Faster, and thrust with all your might!”

“Ugh-hap!”

“Is that all you've got! At this rate, you'll just be taken down by the enemy!”

Skevin parried Jonathan's sword and simultaneously kicked him with all his might.

Thwack!

Jonathan was sent flying backward.

“Ughhh…”

He grimaced, clutching his stomach tightly as he stood up.

Skevin glared fiercely at the fallen trainees around him and shouted.

“Next group!”

Just as the group waiting outside was about to enter the sparring arena.

Arthur and Millerf entering the sparring arena caught Skevin's eye.

He had the trainees wait and approached Arthur, offering a formal sword salute.

“Chung!”

Arthur nodded and looked around.

Since Wesley's death, Skevin had increased the intensity of training for the Knight Order and the trainees.

As a result, a third of the trainees had dropped out.

Although a sense of grim determination could be felt on the faces of the remaining trainees, by his standards, it was far from enough.

They would have to become more relentless to survive.

“Still a long way to go.”

Arthur muttered meaningfully to himself before looking at Skevin.

“Shall we go at it again?”

“Do you think the result will change in just one week? I know your training volume is considerable thanks to Sir Millerf's help, but it would be best not to have high expectations.”

“There you go with the useless talk again.”

“This is advice given for your sake, Young Master.”

Skevin looked at Arthur with sincere eyes.

The day Wesley died. His heart ached as if it were being torn apart for failing to uphold Count Malcolm's last wish to protect the family.

After that day, he resolved. To protect the Lady and the two Young Masters with his life.

Therefore, he had not the slightest intention of hurting the Young Master.

“Can't you just watch from the sidelines?”

Arthur scoffed.

“Prove you have the skill to do so. Then I'll do as you wish.”

“Hmm…”

Skevin's face hardened.

If he wouldn't back down, then he had no choice.

This time, he decided to make him clearly realize what his own level was.

“Understood.”

Skevin sheathed his sword and took a sparring stance.

It seemed he still had no intention of using his sword.

However, seeing him prepare to fight seriously from the start, Arthur's lips curled up.

“I'm looking forward to this.”

“I will make you realize, Young Master, what your level of skill truly is.”

“You'll have to do your best.”

The moment Arthur finished speaking, he kicked off the ground and rushed forward.

“...!”

Skevin's face hardened.

He rushed forward while wearing plate armor, but his speed surpassed expectations.

As he quickly twisted his body to the side to dodge the incoming fist, Arthur contorted his body and threw an elbow strike.

Skevin raised both arms to block the attack.

Thwack!

It was fast and heavy.

He was definitely stronger than a week ago.

Arthur created some distance between them and asked.

“How's that?”

“You seem to have improved a little.”

Skevin rushed at Arthur as he answered.

Unlike his massive frame, he was incredibly fast.

But when it came to speed, Arthur was not to be outdone.

He quickly retreated, dodging Skevin's thrusting fist, and launched a counterattack.

‘He's going to meet my attack with one of his own?’

Skevin's lips curled up slightly.

He decided to take the attack, to check how much Arthur had grown.

When Skevin stopped his attack and coiled his body, Arthur realized he would focus solely on defense.

‘Perfect.’

He launched a bold assault.

He pressed forward, mixing punches and kicks appropriately.

Now, his body moved as he thought.

But compared to his former skills, he was still only at about 80 percent.

Still, the fact that he had come this far in such a short time was encouraging.

Moreover, Skevin, who was blocking all of his attacks with ease, was also amazing.

His attacks weren't perfect, but they weren't something that could be blocked easily either.

“Not bad.”

“I believe that's my line.”

Skevin blocked Arthur's kick and shoved him with all his might.

Arthur flew backward and then landed lightly.

The two stared at each other silently, without a single breath out of place.

Skevin spoke first.

“I take back what I said earlier.”

“You seem quite surprised, don't you?”

“What in the world have you done? Even considering Sir Millerf's help, it's hard to believe.”

“I think it's still too early to be surprised.”

Arthur took off his plate armor.

Thud.

With a heavy sound, the eyes of the Knight Order and trainees in the sparring arena went wide.

‘Ah! The armor…’

‘The Scoundrel was that strong?’

‘Was he hiding his strength all this time?’

Everyone wore a bewildered expression.

In contrast, Skevin wore a broad smile.

His heart pounded with anticipation.

“It's been a long time. Since I've felt this way.”

“Stay on your toes.”

Arthur rushed at Skevin.

His speed was tremendously fast.

But who was Skevin?

The guardian deity of the House of Count Julius, and a knight at the highest level of Sword Expert!

He reacted instantly to Arthur's movements.

He dodged the incoming fist and counterattacked simultaneously.

Arthur likewise dodged Skevin's heavy fist and threw a kick.

Thwack!

It struck his side, but his immense muscles, acting like armor, didn't even budge.

“Then shall we speed things up a bit?”

Arthur increased his speed with all his might.

Facing him with strength, when his physical condition was overwhelmingly superior, was a foolish act.

He intended to overwhelm him with speed.

Arthur's attacks grew faster and sharper.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Hmm.”

Skevin's face gradually hardened.

He could definitely feel the power behind the attacks.

Moreover, every time a punch or kick landed on his body, it felt like a dagger was being driven in.

The damage was slowly accumulating.

‘I can't just let him hit me undefended anymore.’

With the aim of nullifying Arthur's attack, he threw his own fist towards the incoming one.

The instant their fists were about to meet, Arthur disappeared.

“What?”

Just as Skevin's eyes widened.

Arthur had already slipped into his guard.

“Shall I land one?”

His lips curled up as he gathered his mana and extended his fist.

Thwack-!

“...!”

Struck in the stomach, Skevin unknowingly bent his upper body forward.

Arthur kicked off the ground, leaped up, and drove his knee into Skevin's chin.

Crack!

Skevin's upper body snapped back, and he took a step backward.

“Last one!”

Arthur spun like lightning and threw a spinning back kick.

Thwump!

Hit by the instantaneous series of attacks, Skevin was lifted into the air and sent flying backward.

Kwoong-!

“C-Commander…”

“Gasp!”

“The Scoundrel…”

Everyone in the sparring arena's jaw dropped.

Skevin lay spread-eagled on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.

‘…How long has it been?’

It was the first time since his last spar with his master, so it must have been well over 10 years.

Although he hadn't used mana and had only used about half his strength, he hadn't let his guard down.

If they fought with all their might, the result would be different, but what mattered was that he had defeated him.

Staring blankly at the sky, Skevin opened his mouth.

“What is the reason for trying to become strong so suddenly?”

“To protect what's mine. And I don't want to be hindered by anyone as long as I live.”

“...!”

In that moment, the light in Skevin's eyes wavered.

It was incomparably arrogant.

Words that only an 'absolute being' would utter.

He gulped and asked cautiously.

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing like that. If anything, think of it as Wesley's last wish.”

‘Last wish!’

Skevin's eyes flashed, and he gave a meaningful smile.

“...Understood.”

“Are you going to keep lying there?”

Arthur had approached and offered a hand.

Skevin took his hand, stood up, and asked politely.

“Have you been deceiving me all this time?”

“Deceive you about what?”

“That last attack was not something that could be created with short-term training.”

“It's thanks to the Mana Training Method.”

“Just what kind of Mana Training Method did you learn?”

“Teheran Julius.”

“...!”

Skevin's eyes widened.

The hero who led the House of Count Julius during the time he was called the 'Spear of the Empire'!

At Arthur's sudden mention of him, he was filled with doubt, and at the same time, his eyes widened.

“Don't tell me!”

Skevin quickly looked at Millerf.

Millerf met his gaze, smiled, and nodded.

Simultaneously, the light in Skevin's eyes wavered uncontrollably.

“The blood-soaked disposition…”

He recalled his words and actions up until now.

They almost perfectly matched the disposition of the Supreme King.

‘So that's what it was…’

If he had inherited Sir Teheran's Mana Training Method, then all these mysterious events made sense.

At the same time, his expectations for Arthur soared, and his heart swelled with emotion.

As long as he was here!

It was only a matter of time before the count's family rose again.

Just like that time when their flag fluttered high in the sky, and he was called the 'Spear of the Empire'.

As his heart pounded uncontrollably, Arthur asked.

“You were testing me this time, too.”

Skevin quickly calmed his heart and replied.

“My apologies.”

“What would have happened if we fought properly?”

Skevin seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.

“You would find it difficult to last three minutes.”

“So it'd still be a one-strike affair, then.”

“Yes.”

Skevin didn't hesitate in the slightest.

“I see.”

Just as Arthur turned to leave with a bitter smile.

“Young Master.”

“...?”

Arthur looked at Skevin.

Skevin respectfully knelt on one knee. Then, he placed a hand on his right chest and bowed his head.

“...!”

Everyone was astonished.

The action Skevin had just shown was something one would only see when a knight swears an oath of fealty to their lord.

Arthur frowned.

“What are you doing?”

“I, Skevin Maximus, will serve Lord Arthur Julius as my master.”

“Gasp!”

Everyone's jaw dropped.

Something incredible had happened.

Indeed, Arthur's martial prowess was astonishingly great, to the point of defeating Skevin.

For the man who until just a short while ago was the 'Scoundrel of Grada' to defeat not just any knight but the guardian deity of the count's family... for any man who admired strength, this situation was perfectly understandable.

Everyone watched, silent as mice, to see what decision Arthur would make.

Just as a heavy silence was about to fall over the sparring arena.

Arthur firmly refused.

“I don't like weaklings.”

“...!”

At the answer that overturned all expectations, the eyes of Skevin and everyone else went wide.

‘Weak?’

This wasn't just anyone; he was the guardian deity of the House of Count Julius.

No one would think him, a highest-level Sword Expert, to be weak.

Arthur turned without a second thought and approached Millerf.

“Can you use magic to make my body heavier?”

“It is possible.”

“Do it now.”

“Yes.”

Millerf immediately cast the 'Weight' spell.

“Ugh.”

He suddenly felt a heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders.

It was as if he were carrying a 60mm mortar on his shoulders.

He had gotten used to the weight of the plate armor and was looking for another method, so this was perfect.

“Good.”

Just as Arthur's lips curled up.

“I will become stronger.”

“...?”

Arthur looked back.

Skevin continued, his gaze intense.

“Please allow us to join in the training you are doing, Young Master.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am serious.”

As it was, their current training methods weren't enough to get stronger quickly, so a new plan was needed anyway.

Since he made this request at such an opportune time, there was no reason to refuse.

“Fine.”

“Thank you.”

“However.”

Arthur continued with a meaningful smile.

“Starting tomorrow, I control the training ground.”