“Come in.”
The spiritual guardian Siegfried entered Verdin’s body as if being absorbed.
A technique in which the contractor opens the door of their heart to become one with the spiritual guardian.
Descent—all adventurers on the continent referred to this moment as a divine blessing.
After all, a spiritual guardian with astonishing power had descended to aid a human.
As expected.
I looked at the mirror placed in one corner of the training ground, satisfied with my reflection.
My eyes and hair had turned golden, and crimson flame-like patterns stretched up to my elbows.
These were changes only a select few could undergo.
God’s Knight.
It referred to those chosen by the gods.
Whoosh—
As Siegfried entered Verdin’s body, an indescribably radiant energy enveloped him.
Is this “Burn”?
The first words he muttered after experiencing “Burn” for the first time were filled with deep admiration.
“Unbelievable!”
It was only a faint trace of “Burn”—enough to merely sense the flow of energy—but even so, it was sufficient to deeply move someone like Siegfried, who had walked the path of a Sword Saint for countless years.
“Burn” didn’t provoke the impulsive rage, the fatal flaw of aura, nor did it trigger the alien sensory states brought on by mana.
It simply provided explosive power akin to a volcano and a serene mind like a still lake.
“Kid, this is truly incredible!”
Siegfried’s voice echoed in Verdin’s mind.
“Is that so?”
“Yes! If I could have learned this ‘Burn’ in the past, I would’ve conquered the tower ages ago!”
Verdin wanted to reply, No, you wouldn’t. Swordsmanship alone can’t conquer the tower. But he bit his tongue and nodded in agreement instead.
“I see.”
It was a wise response.
Siegfried would grumble all day if even a slightly negative comment was made about him.
“Hey, are you planning to go to the tower?”
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“I’m five years old.”
A short answer sufficed without further explanation.
Children of the Strange family weren’t allowed outside the castle before the age of seven. Even if he wanted to go to the tower, he couldn’t.
Siegfried knew this too. He’d already asked to go outside the castle a hundred times since becoming Verdin’s spiritual guardian.
“I didn’t mean now! I meant later. You can go when you’re older!”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Cheeky brat! If your master tells you to go, you go!”
“All right, Master. Now, show me some swordsmanship, please.”
It was almost time for Beth to arrive at the training ground.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door of the training ground. Even without them entering, Verdin knew who it was.
There was only one person in the castle with this level of presence.
“This is Beth, Captain of the Guards.”
“Come in.”
At Verdin’s nod, two guards opened the door.
Beth entered, wearing formal training attire. The crest of the Strange family—a crossed sword—was prominently displayed on his chest.
“Are you ready, Young Master Verdin?”
Beth slowly looked Verdin over from head to toe. His appearance made it clear that he had used a spiritual guardian.
Beth clenched his fists before walking toward the center of the training ground.
“I heard you used a spiritual guardian?”
“Yes, and that’s why I asked for you.”
Verdin responded with a cheerful smile.
“Correct. The other knights wouldn’t be able to handle the Sword Saint’s techniques.”
“That may be true, but even I may not be able to withstand them.”
“You’ll do fine, Beth. And I’ll be using a real sword instead of a wooden one.”
Beth replied firmly, his voice dropping low.
“That’s unacceptable. Unlike a wooden sword, a real sword can be lethal. If I make a mistake and injure you—”
Verdin scratched his head, exasperated.
A seven-star knight making a mistake during a duel? Impossible.
If Verdin were truly injured, it could only mean deliberate intent.
Beth’s swordsmanship was so exceptional that even the head of the family, Lois, acknowledged it, granting him the position of Captain of the Guards.
In short, Beth was being overly cautious to an unreasonable degree.
“What are you saying, Beth? Your sword won’t harm me.”
“But if an accident were to occur…”
“I am also a member of the Strange family. Excessive protection isn’t necessary, Beth. Draw your sword.”
Beth hesitated.
Though unlikely, what if the young master got hurt?
He knew Verdin was extraordinary. But training with a real, sharpened sword was different.
It was reckless to engage in such training with someone who hadn’t even formally learned swordsmanship.
Even with a spiritual guardian, it felt too dangerous.
If this attitude stemmed from overconfidence, it was Beth’s duty to correct it.
“…Young Master, then promise me one thing.”
“A promise?”
“If you sustain even a scratch during this duel, you’ll train with wooden swords from now on.”
Beth seemed resolved to see this through.
Verdin smiled brightly and drew the dagger he’d received from Valentine.
“Deal.”
Beth couldn’t believe it.
Even with the blood of the Strange family, Verdin was still only five years old.
This is absurd.
Even with the aid of a spiritual guardian, such an overwhelming disparity in skill was unthinkable.
Not once could Beth fully extend his sword. No matter his stance, Verdin’s blade reached a vital spot before Beth could complete his form.
Beth felt as if he were standing at the edge of a cliff. The gap between their abilities was so vast it was incomprehensible.
…Amazing.
He hadn’t let his guard down.
He’d gripped his sword with complete sincerity, yet he couldn’t fend off Verdin’s attacks.
Though his eyes could follow Verdin’s movements, his body couldn’t keep up.
The faint tremor in his fingertips betrayed his emotions.
Is it simply speed? No, this is different.
It was as if Verdin could predict his every move.
He’s different.
Beth had trained every child born to Lois, the head of the family. None had shown such talent.
Even with the aid of a spiritual guardian, this level of mastery was unparalleled.
Today, Beth, a seven-star knight, keenly realized just how extraordinary the Strange family’s bloodline was—through a single five-year-old child, Verdin.
“Young Master, have you ever learned swordsmanship?”
Beth was stunned further by Verdin’s answer, spoken with a carefree smile.
“No, I haven’t.”
“And yet, even without your spiritual guardian… Your swordsmanship is outstanding.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, it’s hard to believe.”
“Oh, come on.”
“It’s true.”
“Thank you. But all I did was follow the Sword God’s instructions.”
It wasn’t a lie.
After all, in this life, Verdin hadn’t formally trained in swordsmanship.
“…I’m not sure what to say. Even with the Sword God assisting you from behind, it’s remarkable that you, who just started wielding a sword, could spar with me at all.”
“Was I lacking in any way?”
“Not at all! Now I understand why Young Master Tony calls Young Master Verdin a monster.”
“….”
“This was the most outstanding first training session of anyone I’ve ever taught. The head of the house will be thrilled to hear about today’s session.”
“That’s a relief. If time permits, could I trouble you for another session later? I’ll make sure to learn more from the Sword God before then.”
Beth forced a smile as he replied, “Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
It might have sounded like a casual remark to Verdin, but for Beth, it was a solemn vow. He was curious about how far Verdin could grow.
At this rate, not only would he have a shot at becoming the next head of the house, but becoming the continent’s greatest swordmaster would only be a matter of time.
That day, Beth carved a firm resolution into his heart.
…I must protect the Young Master.
If word about today’s sparring session spread, the other siblings would ramp up their efforts to keep Verdin in check.
Beth scanned the guards in the training grounds. Undoubtedly, some among them were connected to those who might threaten Verdin.
I need to tighten the castle’s defenses.
To ensure the future of the Strange family, Verdin had to grow safely.
Verdin, drenched in sweat, slung his practice uniform over his shoulder and said, “Well, that’s it for today. I’ll be off to rest now.”
“Please rest well, Young Master.”
“See you later.”
As Beth watched Verdin walk away, he turned to the two guards nearest to him and issued an order.
“You two, starting today, stay by Verdin’s side. Do not let him stray more than a hundred steps away from you. Stop any threats, and if necessary, you have permission to kill.”
The training session with Beth was a success.
Once again, I successfully summoned Siegfried, the spiritual guardian, for the first time in this life. I also confirmed that my swordsmanship could hold its own against a seven-star knight.
Now, I just have to wait for my body to grow stronger before hunting a dragon. In the meantime, I’ll plan with Siegfried on what to prepare.
From now on, no one will be able to stop me.
That is, unless the magical powerhouse Glazer family decides to intervene.
“You did pretty well. You managed to disarm that knight’s sword without my help, and you didn’t even use aura,” Siegfried remarked, eyeing me suspiciously as if I were hiding something.
I casually picked up a chocolate cookie from the table and replied, crunch “I just remembered the movements you demonstrated and copied them.”
“You bastard! You copied my swordsmanship just by watching it once?”
“No? I copied it after watching three times.”
“Once, three times—what’s the difference!”
“Calm down and think about it. How exactly did I block that knight’s attack earlier?”
There was no need to think. I had definitely blocked the attack using sword techniques Siegfried had taught me—all the moves he demonstrated today. Of course, I didn’t pick them up on the spot; they were skills I mastered in my previous life.
Siegfried rolled his eyes and then let out a long sigh.
“Ugh—damn it! They’re all techniques I used, aren’t they?”
“Exactly. I told you I was just copying what you showed me.”
“That’s impossible! These techniques aren’t something you can just copy by watching… Ah, wait. Maybe for you, it’s different. Right, you’re not ordinary. After all, the guy who invented Burn can probably do anything!”
Siegfried really was straightforward. He didn’t even question how a five-year-old could mimic his techniques so quickly.
How did someone with that kind of brain reach the realm of the Sword God?
“Starting tomorrow, let’s extend the summoning duration little by little.”
“Are you sure about that? You overdid it today. You shared my body for ten minutes. Anyone else would’ve passed out.”
That was true. Even in my past life, maintaining the summoning for five minutes would leave me dizzy.
“I have to adapt. I need to get stronger.”
“Oooh! I like that determination. Makes it worth teaching you!”
“But, Sword God… how did… uh… w-what is… this?”
Suddenly, my vision blurred, and my body staggered. A wave of dizziness swept over me.
Don’t tell me…
Was the cookie poisoned?
As I grabbed the table to steady myself and blinked my eyes, something dull struck the back of my head.
Whoosh—
Thud!
It hurt—a lot.
What the hell hit me?
Though the pain snapped me back to my senses, I had no idea what had struck me.
When I turned around slowly, I saw a figure in a black mask.
The masked individual flinched, took three steps back while waving their hands nervously, and then…
Shing—
They suddenly drew a sword.
“Why… why aren’t you dead, you little brat?”