Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Turning point (1) The largest barracks erected in the transport battalion's camp. There, Adriel was receiving Havier's report. “……That's what happened.” As soon as Havier finished speaking, Adriel let out the admiration he had been holding back. “Ha. Amazing. To think that military strategy would actually work.” He had guessed that the strategy had worked. If it hadn't, there would have been no way for Havier's unit to survive. It wasn't for nothing that everyone in the 3rd Corps had been certain of Havier's unit's annihilation. But to hear the detailed story that it was indeed true, Adriel couldn't help but be amazed. He saw Roden, who had devised this strategy, in a new light once again. “Then, following the last mission, the person who contributed the most to this mission is also you and the 3rd Infantry Platoon Leader.” “…….” “Thinking about it again, it's unbelievable. I knew from the start that you were an excellent knight, soldier, and commander, but to think the 3rd Infantry Platoon Leader was to that extent. What do you think?” “The 3rd Infantry Platoon Leader, you mean?” “Yes. Have we been ignoring him too much all this time? Or is he just strong in a crisis?” Upon receiving Adriel's question, Havier stroked the tip of his chin and thought for a moment. In fact, he was the same. He had been surprised by Roden several times while carrying out this mission. Not only had he devised a flawless and genius military strategy, but he had also shown a flawless performance as a platoon leader of a unit. Above all, Havier, who had commanded this mission, had witnessed it. Roden had beheaded a 2-star knight. And it wasn't like he had won the fight by ambushing Slovan like himself. He had won by fighting a one-on-one duel in the middle of the battlefield. Which meant that Roden's aura stage, which had been known to be 1-star, had reached 2-star. And to a considerable level at that. Having organized his thoughts, Havier opened his mouth. “It seems it's true that we ignored him, and it's also true that he is strong in a crisis. But what's more important is the fact that a re-evaluation of him is urgently needed.” “A re-evaluation?” “Yes. He is no longer the person he used to be. Not only is he no longer drowning in alcohol, but he is also fulfilling his role as a platoon leader. Above all, his aura stage is now also identified as 2-star.” As Havier said this, he told the story of how Roden had beheaded Dikwan. Upon hearing the entire story, another exclamation of admiration flowed from Adriel's mouth. “Heh.” It was as Havier had said. If his aura was also 2-star, they could no longer treat Roden as they had before. Because he was now a platoon leader who could pull his own weight. Moreover, to be able to devise such a tremendous military strategy without any shortcomings as a platoon leader. Roden seemed even more amazing. Because it was only a short while ago that the transport battalion had repeatedly lost supplies to the Imperial cavalry because they couldn't come up with a good military strategy. Having organized his thoughts, Adriel spoke to Havier. “Continue to keep an eye on the 3rd Infantry Platoon Leader. I will also erase my prejudice against him now.” Adriel's declaration. What effect this declaration would have on Roden was something to be seen in the future. *** The hidden clearing he had sought out every week during personal maintenance time before the mission. Roden came out there after a long time and wiped the sweat flowing down his neck as he thought. ‘Hoo. It's tough to do personal training after such a long time.’ Roden, who had gone to bed as soon as he returned to the unit and took a shower, woke up early in the morning and began his personal training. Although Adriel had ordered a full five days of rest for all the personnel who had participated in this mission, Roden had no intention of resting at all. Because the aura absorption rate he had missed out on during that time was too precious. ‘If I had rested for just a few more days, I would have had aura loss.’ 'Aura loss' was a term created by Roden, meaning the loss of aura. It was a term that meant the phenomenon of aura decreasing if one didn't train for a long time, but in fact, unlike Roden's fuss, it was not a common phenomenon. Because aura loss would barely occur even if one put down the sword for several months. Nevertheless, Roden, who was deeply immersed in aura absorption, was sensitive about this part. This tendency became more prominent especially as his aura reached the 2-star stage. And this was the reason why Roden had come out for personal training today, even though he felt tired. Moreover, it wasn't just Roden who had come out like this today. “It's been so long since I've swung a sword……. It feels somehow unfamiliar and not easy.” Chevalier was also wiping his sweat and catching his breath next to Roden, saying these words. Roden took his words. “Then you should rest a bit. Why did you come out.” “How could I do that? I must also train hard and step onto the 2-star stage like the Platoon Leader.” Certainly, Chevalier felt greatly stimulated by the fact that Roden, who had been of similar skill to him, had reached the 2-star stage. Of course, Chevalier also knew that Roden's talent was superior to his own. Because he had clearly witnessed him mastering the entire Ingens Empire Swordsmanship in just one day with his own two eyes. But he couldn't help but be stimulated nonetheless. This was even more so because he had already experienced falling behind his classmates at the Mediale Knight Academy once before. However, Roden was worried that Chevalier was overdoing it. “Don't overdo it, though. If you force yourself to train, your aura absorption rate will only drop further.” Roden was truly saying this because he felt it was a waste for the aura absorption rate to drop. It was the same principle as when an athlete sees someone exercising with the wrong form and can't help but say, ‘Hey, that's not how you do it.’ and give unsolicited advice. But it seemed his words had sounded different to Chevalier. “……Don't worry. I won't overdo it.” The fact that he had answered this with a somehow damp voice was proof of that. At this, Roden drove the point home. “How can I not worry. Absolutely don't overdo it, absolutely.” “…….” “Anyway, if you've rested enough, let's start again.” And so, Roden began training again, and Chevalier looked at Roden with moved eyes before picking up his sword a step later. Roden glanced at him and tilted his head. ‘What’s with him?’ But Roden didn't mind and focused on swinging his sword. At the same time, another thought came to Roden's mind. It was about Havier and Adriel, who were having a conversation in the barracks at the same time. ‘By now, those two must have realized that I'm no longer the moron I used to be, right?’ In fact, it was a result he had anticipated from the moment he proposed the military strategy for this mission. Because if the mission succeeded according to the strategy this time as well, people other than the 3rd Infantry Platoon would have no choice but to suspect that Roden hadn't just coincidentally come up with a good idea. Roden did not think that others were so stupid that they couldn't even make such a judgment. And for Roden, whose goal was survival, this was not a very good situation. ‘Because this will increase the possibility that the story about me will reach the Glockner family and my brothers.’ However, it was a situation where Roden couldn't not propose the military strategy. At that time, proposing the military strategy was the way to increase the probability of survival. ‘What's past is past. So it's right to do what I can do now.’ First, Roden considered pretending to be a moron again, just as he had done after the last supply mission. But he soon shook his head. Because he didn't feel confident at all that this method would work. ‘Who would believe it.’ It was only natural, as the strategy had already succeeded twice. To reiterate, Roden did not easily look down on others. Rather, Roden had a tendency to think that others were as smart as he was. The reason he had read in a single day while imitating Ernst was also because of this. ‘It's not like I have to pretend to be a moron. In the end, the key is to prevent my story from flowing to other units.’ Roden quickly racked his brains and looked for a possible case. Should it be called a relief? A pretty good idea soon came to Roden's mind. *** And so, after finishing all his personal training, Roden, after finishing his cold water compress, returned straight to his barracks. Because he had something to do. It was to read the that he had acquired during this mission and had not yet read. ‘Now I can read the swordsmanship manual. It won't be strange if some light emanates from inside the barracks.’ Originally, he had intended to wake up early in the morning and read the swordsmanship manual. But he couldn't. Because it wasn't easy to get up as soon as he opened his eyes and go out for personal training. It was unavoidable, as the fatigue from the past days had accumulated. ‘It will take about 30 minutes to read the book, at a generous estimate.’ Although he hadn't opened the book yet and didn't know the exact number of pages, the seemed to be about 800 pages long. Even for Roden, a phenomenal speed-reader, it was a volume that would inevitably result in some wasted time. So he had no choice but to postpone reading, and now he was about to read the . ‘I hope it's a superior swordsmanship manual.’ It was certain that the was not a mass-produced swordsmanship manual. But he couldn't be sure yet that it was a superior swordsmanship manual. Because a swordsmanship style passed down in a family for generations was not necessarily a superior swordsmanship manual. Sometimes, such a swordsmanship style was worse than a third-rate swordsmanship style. For that reason, it was right not to have high expectations to avoid great disappointment. But honestly, he couldn't help but be a little expectant. Because the swordsmanship of Dikwan, whom Roden had faced directly, was extraordinary. ‘There were often times when it felt like his arm was coiling around me like a venomous snake.’ The reason he was convinced that he would have been defeated if Dikwan had not been careless was because he had felt this. ‘Well, I'll know once I read it.’ And so, Roden took out the that he had hidden well in a corner of the barracks. Normally, he would have kept it well in his bosom as he had done so far, but for Roden, who had to do a cold water compress after personal training, that was not possible. He had to prevent the unfortunate incident of the getting wet. And so, Roden finally opened the and began to read. At the same time, Pyu-yu-yu-yu-woong! Just like when he had read the and the , an intense light burst out from the book. This served as proof once again. That the strange phenomenon occurred only with swordsmanship manuals. ‘Now, let's read the book.’ Roden began to read the book in the midst of the intense light. Exactly 30 minutes later. A bright smile appeared on Roden's lips. The Broom Swordsmanship was definitely a superior swordsmanship. *** Meanwhile. At Rodones Castle, Michael received a letter and scanned its contents. Michael's expression hardened as he read down the letter. Finally, after reading the entire letter, Michael muttered. “It doesn't die as easily as I thought. I thought it was just a bug, but was it a cockroach?” But it didn't matter. If so, he just had to use a stronger insecticide. Michael's gaze turned to the window. It was the south, where the transport battalion was located.