I Pull Out Excalibur

32 – Mid-level Priest Volkman (3)

Before the proposal Volkmann presented, Najin fell into silence.

The tone may be light, but Najin knew it was not a casually tossed proposal.

A good proposal.

That fact cannot be denied.

Volkmann standing before me may be a special priest, but by sharing blades with him, Najin gained a favorable impression of the clergy. There was a pure desire emanating from the priest before him.

Even when copying techniques before his eyes, even if Volkmann instantly surpassed a lifetime of training, he did not hesitate at all, instead showcasing a variety of skills without reservation.

It was as if he was saying, “Try copying this as well.”

From the perspective of someone who had absorbed all those techniques, Najin couldn’t help but feel gratitude toward Volkmann. There was even a sense of reverence. Volkmann’s immersion in the art of the sword, free from feelings of inferiority, jealousy, or emptiness, was truly admirable.

…Certainly, an enticing proposal.

Of course, not everyone in the clergy is like Volkmann, but at least those who are sincere about the sword gather here. It is a place where, regardless of background, one might receive protection and grow steadily if they choose to enter.

– …

Najin pondered, and Merlin remained silent.

Merlin is a guide, not one to impose a path. Choosing which path to walk is solely the responsibility of the one walking the path.

An enticing proposal.

An easy and stable path.

Looking at the well-packaged road laid out before him, Najin couldn’t help but smile bitterly. He knew why.

“I’m sorry.”

Because he knew that this path would not lead him to where he desired to go, Najin bowed his head to Volkmann.

Being part of the Sword Sect, practicing and raising one’s level by facing the wall, is an easy and simple path. But that’s not what Najin desired.

Najin has just entered the world.

He needed to see and experience many things.

To experience the world and learn from it so that he could aim for broader horizons. He had to walk a rough and dangerous path, not an easy and simple one, to reach higher places.

‘Just like King Arthur did.’

A path like Arthur’s.

Because that was the path Najin had sworn to walk. When Najin lifted his head again, Volkmann was looking at him with a smile.

“If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done. It’s a regrettable thing, but you must have your own way.”

There was no hint of disappointment in Volkmann’s eyes when Najin rejected the proposal. Instead, for some reason, he seemed to expect it. With a short sigh, Volkmann stroked his beard before opening his mouth.

“Ivan, are you planning to stay in this city?”

“Yes, I plan to stay for at least a year.”

“That’s quite a specific timeframe. Do you have any goals in mind?”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Najin replied. He didn’t need to worry about others’ opinions when it came to expressing his aspirations.

“I aim to reach the Baijue (白角) rank.”

The Baijue rank.

The pinnacle of the city of Camberia, the rank that belonged to the elite of the Sword Seeker class. Upon hearing Najin’s aspirations, Bolkmun burst into laughter.

The young man before his eyes was nothing more than a rookie among rookies, just starting his path towards becoming a Blackhorn (흑각) with his freshly acquired blackened medal. To claim that he would reach the pinnacle of this city in just one year was a laughable statement.

It was a delusional fantasy, a statement that would make everyone scoff.

But Bolkmun didn’t mock Najin. Instead, he burst into hearty laughter and patted Najin’s shoulder with his rough hand.

“Well, you have to dream big.”

The youth before his eyes had talent.

Of course, it might be unrealistic for him to reach the Baijue rank within a year. However, it wouldn’t take such a long time for this young man to reach the pinnacle of the city.

‘He seems to be close to being a Sword Expert…’

Without witnessing him draw his sword, it was hard to be certain, but how long would it take for this young man to reach the Sword Seeker rank? Contemplating the timeframe, Bolkmun shook his head.

It was foolish to judge a prodigy by ordinary standards.

And above all else, it seemed like he was hiding a lot. His name, his age, not to mention his realm, nothing could be confirmed.

‘It might be suspicious, but…’

It didn’t matter either way.

Because, he was a youth who was sincere about his sword.

Bolkmun could understand this as he clashed swords with Najin. The attitude of learning the sword was serious, and the determination to push his body to its limit without settling for his talent was evident.

“In that case…”

Bolkmun took a liking to Najin.

That’s why he made a proposition to Najin.

“Let me assist you.”

“Um… yes?”

“I often come to this city to find opportunities to test my sword. It’s not frequent, but I come once a month. Every time, I will evaluate your sword.”

“That’s…”

“I offer to be your swordsmanship mentor. Well, it seems like you have already been stripped of your foundations today.”

Bolkmun chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

“When you draw your sword, the story changes. The martial art using the sword has not been demonstrated yet.”

“Well, if you insist, I’m truly grateful, but…”

Najin hesitated.

“Is there a reason you’re going to such lengths?”

Because it was a story that favored him so much. After all, Balkman had nothing to lose. In Najin’s eyes, Balkman raised the corner of his mouth.

“You, don’t you know all the principles of the sword? Surely, you didn’t just memorize the ones useful for challenging me?”

With a slightly embarrassed gaze from Najin, Balkman let out a laugh. He already knew that Najin, with his witty moves, had pulled him into a duel. Despite knowing, there was no reason to refuse, so they simply exchanged swords.

“There’s a saying in the principles of the sword.”

Balkman tapped the hilt of his sword.

“There is no high or low when seeking instruction.”

Whether the opponent was an unbeatable genius, a back-alley ruffian, or his own disciple… if they held a sword, there was something to learn from them.

“Our duel was helpful to me as well. Thanks to it, my sword feels sharper. So, I find myself in a position where I want to ask a favor of you.”

“If that’s the case.”

Najin smiled.

He shook hands with Balkman.

“I’ll be counting on you in the future.”

“I should be the one saying that. Ivan.”

2.

“Unexpectedly gained a swordsmanship master.”

-The knights of the Round Table really liked those kinds of kids. Especially Bedivere, he went crazy over such kids.

Merlin muttered as if he found it amusing.

-There’s romance or something. When you see kids who immerse themselves in one thing and go crazy, doesn’t it make your heart boil?

That aside.

Merlin took a short breath and spoke.

-It was decent earlier.

“What do you mean?”

-Why. Rejecting the proposal from that priest Balkman. That was quite decent.

In response to Najin’s bewildered expression, Merlin replied with a smirk.

-You had something you said in your mind, right? That difficult and dangerous paths are worth it. That part was quite decent.

“You heard that?”

I can hear almost everything you mutter under your breath. So, don’t even think about spreading rumors about me.

Like a dangerous magician, huh?

“You heard that? Are you really willing to die?”

Najin chuckled at Merlin’s threat.

Having this conversation with Merlin, Najin entered the guild’s counter. He submitted the pouch containing an orc’s neck and received the completion fee.

Click.

As he inserted his nameplate into the magic device on the guild’s counter, the numbers increased, and the information was updated. When he manipulated the magic device, a list of missions Najin had completed so far appeared. It was filled with nothing but mundane errands that weren’t worth much.

“I should start taking proper missions soon.”

He needed to raise his rank little by little.

Raising his rank would allow him to receive higher-level missions and gain more experience in various aspects.

Black, purple, blue, green, red, white.

Six ranks classified.

The method to raise his rank to purple, which was his next goal, wasn’t that difficult. By stacking missions like this, he could quickly achieve it.

But he had no intention of rushing.

He had already acquired basic knowledge of the outside world. He was steadily building up his mana manipulation skills and swordsmanship, and he had a rough idea of how the city operated.

“This should be enough,” Najin thought.

He had no intention of hiding his strength indefinitely.

He had no intention of settling for simple errands either. Ultimately, what mattered to him now was experience. Experience he could gain from real battles.

Even if he concealed Excalibur and the silver sword, he didn’t mind showing the extent of his swordsmanship.

“It would be nice to get high-ranking missions.”

The problem was that Najin hadn’t been validated yet.

Simple missions might be easy to take on, but mercenaries and adventurers were professions that ultimately relied on trust. You needed to accumulate some achievements to be entrusted with important missions.

But Najin currently had no achievements.

Even if he were to suddenly reveal the extent of his swordsmanship, he had no significant achievements to his name, so he wouldn’t be entrusted with important missions.

“Still, if I look around, there might be one…”

As Najin was examining the mission list at the guild’s counter, he felt a presence behind him. Someone approached him and tapped his shoulder.

Najin turned his head.

There stood a familiar girl. Unlike the last time he saw her, her chestnut hair was neatly tied up in a single strand. And her sparkling yellow eyes.

“I see you here again?”

Deita, the owner of the Deita Trading Company.

Dieta Arbenia smiled towards Najin.

“It seems like you’re looking for a good request.”

She pointed to the badge she had attached to her chest.

The top-top rank of the upper echelons, certified by the guild, within the palm of three fingers in this city. Najin now knows this, even though they didn’t realize it during their first encounter. They understand how much power the girl in front of them holds in this city.

“Would you like to make a deal with me?”

She slowly took off her gloves.

Then she reached out her bare hand to Najin.

“You won’t refuse this time, right?”

3.

The headquarters of the Order of the Sword.

Having returned to the headquarters late at night, Vulkanun unpacked his belongings and headed straight to the training room. During the carriage ride, Vulkanun had replayed the battles with Najin multiple times in his mind.

“I want to swing my sword!”

A realization that felt like it would vanish if he didn’t act on it.

Wanting to engrave that realization into his body immediately, Vulkanun rushed to the training room and swung his sword. In the late night, in the empty training room, Vulkanun swung his sword for a while.

The young man he encountered in the city of opportunity, Cambria.

He might have become a connection to the young man, but the young man was also a connection to Vulkanun. Because of the battle he had with the young man, Vulkanun felt that the trajectory his sword drew had become much more refined.

“Huff.”

While wiping away the sweat after swinging his sword satisfactorily, Vulkanun heard a voice from behind.

“To start training as soon as you return. That’s just like you.”

“Did you follow me?”

Vulkanun turned around.

He didn’t feel the presence, but his long-time friend was standing there. Although he was in his forties, he looked like he was in his 20s, a believable Inspector. He tapped his chin and narrowed his eyes.

“Your sword has become sharper, hasn’t it? Have you gained any realizations?”

As he said that, he shook the bottle in his hand.

It meant, “Let’s have a drink.” Vulkanun would surely face criticism from the high-ranking priests if he broke the bottle in the training grounds, but he laughed and accepted the glass handed to him.

He wouldn’t be able to say a word to that man who even the high-ranking priests dare not shake a glass at.

“I’ve seized a good opportunity and gained some realizations.”

“Ohh. A good opportunity?”

“That’s right. I met a certain young man in Cambria…”

Vulkanun said as he tilted his glass.

I had no intention of telling anyone about the young man I met in Cambria. His talent was dangerous, and someone could envy that talent and try to forcibly induct the young man into a sect.

But, he was different from the men in front of me.

Not only did I know that he was not that kind of person, but he was not someone with a small-mindedness to envy someone else’s talent.

“He was an exceptional young man. He seemed to be in his twenties, but he looked like a teenager no matter how you look at it.”

“That’s right.”

“Did I lose all my skills? I was amazed that my swordsmanship, which I had trained for all my life, was copied right in front of me. He will become great. His will to learn is strong.”

At the words of Volkman, the man seemed to listen with interest. He tilted his glass and smiled.

“That’s interesting. If you say so, he must be more than just an ordinary person.”

The man knew. Volkman, who has been my close friend for a long time, rarely speaks to this extent. Volkman was a humble priest who wielded his sword without exaggeration.

“You said you visited him once a month?”

“I plan to do that.”

“Then, next time I go to that city, I’ll go with you. I want to see that young man at least once.”

“…you?”

“The city of opportunity, Cambria. It’s a place I used to pass through. It would be nice to visit after a long time.”

Through the open window of the spacious training room.

Six stars twinkled in the wide night sky. It was the star that the man, who looked up at the sky, held, shining only for him.

The owner of the Sword Sect.

Caron, who erased all records and took the position of the youngest Sword Master, smiled.

“I wonder if that young man will become a bond for me too.”