NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42 - I'am A Swordsman
Chapter 42
“Gwah…”
I’m blown away by Balkan’s sword pressure, rolling on the ground multiple times. Does this guy not know what holding back means?
It’s the 19th day since my reincarnation, in the afternoon. In the morning, I had interviews with Gandaruban and others, and got measurements taken by the tailor. After that, this guy Balkan came to the mansion, and I was dragged into training.
Just as I was getting used to the muscle pain, here I am getting muscle pain again. And today, there’s even a bruise.
“Hurry up and get up.”
“Could you go a bit easier, please?”
“I am going easy.”
And I was sent flying 10 meters. Am I the only one who thinks this guy’s version of going easy is way too much?
When I glance at the other soldiers, they avert their eyes. These guys pushed Balkan onto me!
As soon as I get up, Balkan comes at me again. If I take his attack head-on, I’ll be blown away again, so I move to deflect it…
“Uwa!”
My deflection was weak, and I got blown away again.
This day also continued without a break until evening. This Balkan guy is truly a brute; I thought I was going to die several times.
Days like these continued, and without being able to enter the dungeon, a month passed, and it was the 49th day of reincarnation.
Every day, Gandaruban and his subordinates joined in on Balkan’s training. Even Rosalina participated.
“Yaa!”
“Nanno!”
“Touttsu!”
“Mada mada!”
Rosalina and Balkan’s training is truly something.
Thanks to Rosalina joining, my training became less intense. Not completely, unfortunately.
Having been trained by Balkan every day, I was able to change jobs to a swordsman.
So, I skipped swordsman and directly changed to a swordmaster. I changed jobs properly at the temple.
I ended up being called by the Duke when changing jobs to a swordmaster, but I decided to stick with it.
I don’t know the conditions for acquiring the job of Swordmaster, but I don’t care.
Thanks to this, I can now openly act as a swordmaster. Balkan’s training occasionally comes in handy (laughs).
Temples are found in any big town, and it cost me 20,000 platinum coins (200,000 yen) to change jobs. I thought it was a rip-off, but I have memories of changing jobs to a swordmaster.
By the way, the priest can apparently see the jobs that can be changed, but I hid my available jobs in the status screen. It’s a convenient feature.
Now, I’m a level 5 swordmaster, but I can hardly see the movements of Rosalina and Balkan.
Not just swordmaster, but jobs like swordsman, spearman, knight, and others level up just by training.
However, as the level goes up, it becomes harder to level up with just training. Thanks to that, I haven’t been able to level up much since level 5. It’s inevitable for combat jobs.
Soldiers rush into the training ground, and Balkan interrupts the training to receive a report.
“Something seems to have happened.”
Gandaruban, who was training with me, approaches while exchanging sword clashes. If I let my guard down here, I’ll be pushed in all at once, so I remain alert.
I take a step back from Gandaruban’s sword.
“If it’s something related to us, we’ll be called.”
“Understood.”
Bang! We resume our exchange without stopping. Due to my low level as a swordmaster, I’m overwhelmed by Gandaruban’s swordsmanship, even though I’ve trained.
“Assembly!”
Balkan’s roar-like voice echoes in the training ground.
Soldiers move briskly and gather in front of Balkan. We also join them.
“From now on, the knight order will conduct strict patrols. Day and night!”
In addition to the knight order, there is a security force that guards the public safety in the town.
Normally, the security force patrols the town, but if the knight order is also patrolling, something must have happened without a doubt.
“Captain. May I ask a question?”
“I don’t mind.”
“I presume that the fact our knight order is conducting patrols means we received a request for support from the security force due to that incident. Is that correct?”
The one who asked Balkan is a mid-ranking knight. I have grasped the faces, names, and positions of knights and soldiers to some extent in the past month.
“Last night, the beheader nest appeared again. This makes the victims reach 10. The security force is also patrolling day and night, but we haven’t captured the beheader nest yet.”
Around the time we entered the 11th month, a murderer named the “Beheader” started appearing. I don’t know the pace of the murderer, but considering the victims reached 10 in about a month, it’s quite a high-paced crime.
“The main targets are mainly prostitutes. We’ve warned them not to go out on the streets at night, but the prostitutes can’t make a living without going out at night. It’s regrettable, but we can’t stop the prostitutes.”
They earn their living by selling their bodies. Even if they are warned not to go out at night, it’s a business they can’t afford to stop. I think I could order them not to, but they’ll starve if they can’t eat. It would be good if the Beheader is caught before that, but unfortunately, no one can guarantee that.
With Balkan’s instructions, the members of the knight order run out of the training ground.
“Footsickle-dono. Today is the end of training. Once the Beheader matter is settled, I’ll spar with you again.”
What’s with the condescending tone!? Did I ever ask for a sparring session!? I want to shout, but it’s frustrating that I can’t.
By the way, “Footsickle” is my family name in this world. If you trace my ancestors, you’ll find a famous person in history. I named myself after that famous person.
Well, there’s no need to go into detail about the family name, so let’s end the family name talk here. I’m free now, so maybe I’ll go to the dungeon for the first time in a while.
I don’t need to crack down on criminals. The knight order is also moving, so it would be a hindrance for someone like me, who knows nothing about investigations, to meddle. Moreover, since the knight order has been mobilized, it should be resolved somehow in due course… I hope.
“After having lunch at the mansion, we headed towards the dungeon. What about Gandaruban and the others?”
“Our duty is to protect the master. We’ll accompany you.”
“Alright then, let’s grab a meal first. Let’s go.”
On the way back to the mansion, I saw knights several times. I don’t know everyone’s face, but I greeted those I recognized.
We had an early lunch at the mansion, and on the 50th day of reincarnation, we headed to the dungeon.
“It’s been a while since I entered the dungeon.”
“Because the master got on Balkan’s good side, it was all about training.”
“If getting on his good side involves feeling a constant threat to my life, then the world is messed up. Anneliese.”
“Hehehe, is that so?”
Being liked by that Balkan guy inevitably makes me feel a threat to my life.
Now, I brought Anneliese, Rosalina, Gandaruban, and four other soldiers to the dungeon this time.
I need five soldiers, but the last one is still being recruited. Leaving that aside, Gandaruban and the others are with me this time.
They don’t know that I can change jobs and skills by myself. But it’s not a problem because we have a confidentiality agreement through a magical contract.
“I forbid you from disclosing information about my job and skills. Got it?”
I had to say this to make the confidentiality agreement effective.
“Many already know about the swordmaster, right?”
Gandaruban tilted his head in confusion. That gesture is fine when cute girls like Anneliese and Rosalina do it. It’s not cute coming from an old guy like him.
“Yeah, my job is a swordmaster. Got it? Answer like that if someone asks.”
“Understood…?”
The five are making faces wondering why.
“Alright, let’s go.”
-Dungeon Move.
“Eh!?”
Seeing a door appear on the wall, the five were surprised.
“Come on, move forward.”
I opened the door and pushed the five inside. We entered too, confirmed that everyone had moved, and released it. The door disappeared, surprising the five.
“Don’t say things like that. That’s how it is.”
“I-is that so… Understood. You guys, don’t talk about it to anyone either.”
“Yes!”
Because we have a magical contract, it’s safe, but Gandaruban is emphasizing it to the soldiers.
“Was that Dungeon Move just now?”
“That’s right. Gandaruban, do you know about Dungeon Move?”
“I do. I entered the dungeon once with an explorer before.”
I used Dungeon Move to move that time.
“It’s convenient, isn’t it?”
“Yes, very convenient. By the way, where is this place?”
“We’re near the boss room on the 6th floor.”
Certainly, Dungeon Move is supposed to be able to move only to places you’ve been to, but that means the master has been here before, right?”
You know it well. I affirmed that.
“Well, leaving that aside, these four are a little over level 10. It’s reckless to face the level 24 boss on the 6th floor.”
The Sword Gargoyle is level 24. Even I know that it’s reckless to fight a boss with more than double the level.
“Therefore, I’ll explain the strategy now. We’ll hunt the boss multiple times today, so make sure to understand the strategy well.”
While Gandaruban and the others were looking disgusted, I explained the strategy. It’s not a significant strategy. It’s simple, so they should be able to remember it quickly.
“I understand the strategy, but I didn’t expect the boss to be a Sword Gargoyle…”
Seems like he thinks Gargoyles are troublesome because physical attacks are less effective.
But we have the strength.
The powerful Armored Knight at level 22, Gandaruban. The magician at level 21, Anneliese. The Battle Master at level 20, Rosalina. And me, the Enchanter at level 18.
The four soldiers just need to poke from the side. I don’t expect much damage from the low-level four, so it should be fine.