Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 49

Everyone was astonished.

It couldn't be helped.

Because no one had thought that Nedhab would defeat Bohunek so easily.

But Nedhab subdued Bohunek as if it were a matter of course.

He even looked calm after hearing the victory declaration.

It was only after Nedhab had retreated to one side of the training ground that the soldiers who had been watching belatedly came to their senses and spoke up.

“Did the representative of the 1st Infantry Platoon really fall?”

“Isn't Bohunek famous for being quite strong even in the battalion?”

“I have someone I know in the 1st Infantry Platoon, and he said he’s incredibly strong.”

“He’s the 2nd Squad Leader of the 1st Infantry Platoon, so he must be strong.”

“But who is that guy? Nedhab? Is he a squad leader?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

“He’s not even a squad leader and he’s that strong? What is going on?”

Above all, the ones who were most shocked by this fact were the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Platoon.

“Hahaha……. Was he careless?”

“Y-yes. He must have been careless. For Bohunek to be defeated like this. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Do you think he used some dirty trick? His opponent was a common soldier.”

“Maybe. Let’s talk to the Platoon Leader and formally protest this.”

But Diego remained silent even at the suggestion of the 1st Infantry Platoon soldiers that it would be better to protest.

“……”

Because in the eyes of Diego, a 2-star knight, it was visible.

The fact that Nedhab had won by fighting a fair duel without using any tricks.

For that reason, such a thought briefly flashed through Diego's mind.

‘Could it be… this is the effect of the new training method?’

But Diego immediately shook his head.

‘No, there's no need to be surprised by a single coincidence. Above all, we still have Taher.’

It was when Diego was organizing his thoughts like this.

“Khaha. Serves you right. After acting so high and mighty, you get eliminated in the first round.”

This time too, David suddenly appeared and got on Diego's nerves.

Diego was momentarily enraged but kept his mouth firmly shut.

Because if he retorted to David's words here, he would be the one at a loss.

‘Just you wait. We’ll see which side ends up winning.’

David, perhaps losing interest in Diego's lack of response, left the spot.

“It seems he doesn't even have the energy to answer, perhaps because he's in too much shock. Well then, good luck. I don’t know if we’ll be able to meet in the finals as you planned.”

Leaving behind these words.

***

Similar to the round of 16, which had been fought in two sets of four groups, the quarterfinals were also fought in two sets of two groups.

And in the 3rd Infantry Platoon, both of their players survived all the way to the quarterfinals.

The two surviving players were, of course, Nedhab and Federico.

The 3rd Infantry Platoon did not hold a separate internal competition like the 2nd Light Cavalry Platoon.

It was only natural, as a competition had already been held before, and it had been determined that Nedhab and Federico were the two strongest soldiers.

For that reason, when the other units were making a fuss about picking two representatives.

The 3rd Infantry Platoon was able to spend their time in a relatively quiet manner.

But that's not to say that the 3rd Infantry Platoon was not motivated for the battalion competition.

The only unit where the cheering voice and the skill of the two representatives were equally great was the 3rd Infantry Platoon.

It couldn't be helped.

Because for the 3rd Infantry Platoon, this competition was a good opportunity to prove their skills, which had been constantly ignored.

Also, the 3rd Infantry Platoon had grasped another meaning of this competition.

The new training method that everyone hated to receive.

They knew that this competition was held to prove the effectiveness of this training method.

So, for the 3rd Infantry Platoon, they couldn't help but be motivated for this competition.

And as much as they were motivated, they received the regular training even more diligently.

Because they knew better than anyone that receiving the regular training diligently was the best way to prepare for the battalion competition.

And finally, today.

The 3rd Infantry Platoon was raising their voices in cheer more passionately than any other unit right now.

It was a part that showed anew just how serious the 3rd Infantry Platoon was about this competition, and how much their unity had grown.

“Show them, Nedhab! You must not lose!”

“Old man! You'll be resting for the rest of your life when you die soon anyway, so fight until the end! Defeat is unacceptable!”

As befitting the 3rd Infantry Platoon, a gathering of troublemakers, the content of their cheering was quite rough.

But Nedhab and Federico paid no mind to this.

Rather, as if they had gained strength, they fought even harder.

Because they knew better than anyone that there was affection in the rough words.

This was the bond of people who had crossed the line between life and death together.

Anyway, currently, the following people had made it to the quarterfinals.

Nedhab, Federico (3rd Infantry Platoon), Colin, Jason (2nd Light Cavalry Platoon), Taher (1st Infantry Platoon), Kimilan (2nd Archery Platoon), Luke (3rd Archery Platoon), Facundo (1st Light Cavalry Platoon).

And in the quarterfinals, Nedhab met Kimilan, who could be called a relatively easy opponent, and confirmed his advancement to the semifinals early on.

But for Federico, the situation was not so easy.

“Alright, the next match is between Federico of the 3rd Infantry Platoon and Colin of the 2nd Light Cavalry Platoon!”

Because he had met a soldier from the 2nd Light Cavalry Platoon, a strong candidate for victory.

“Hmm……. You, isn't it heavy to wear that?”

Federico asked Colin, who was standing like a fortress in his plate armor.

But Colin did not respond to this and provoked Federico by beating his chest.

“Come at me! Though your sword will never be able to pierce this plate armor!”

Certainly, plate armor made of steel was almost impossible to pierce without being able to use aura.

But Federico, a seasoned warrior, paid no mind to this.

Because it wasn't as if plate armor had no weaknesses at all.

“Alright. Since you told me to come at you, I guess I'll have to go first.”

Just like that, Federico, despite being a soldier who had formally learned the defense-oriented Mediale Kingdom Swordsmanship, launched a preemptive attack.

Furthermore, it wasn't just at the level of randomly swinging his sword.

As if to prove the time he had spent roaming the battlefields as a mercenary, his connecting movements were extremely natural and smooth.

For that reason, Colin couldn't help but be momentarily flustered.

‘What? Is this old man’s attack this fierce?’

Such a thought came to him.

But he couldn't keep being pushed back like this.

Colin, trusting in the defensive power of his plate armor, began to launch an attack.

In other words, it meant that even if he allowed a few attacks, he would be defended by his plate armor, so he would regain the initiative.

‘You take a hit too! Old man!’

Just like that, Colin deliberately left his side open and charged towards Federico.

But,

Kwaang!

“Keoook!”

Colin, who had allowed an attack to his side, screamed and retreated to one side.

And for good reason, as Federico's attack was much heavier than he had thought.

It felt as if he had been hit not by a sword, but by a giant blunt weapon like a mace or a warhammer.

“Tsk tsk. To think you don’t know that you’ll only get beaten if you ignore your opponent’s strength and get impatient.”

Federico clicked his tongue and rushed towards Colin.

His movements were so nimble that they made one forget Federico's age.

He was so nimble that it felt as if he were moving without wearing armor.

But Federico was also in a state of full heavy armor, even if it wasn't plate armor.

And yet, he was able to produce this kind of speed, and based on this, he poured attacks on Colin.

Colin, who was clutching his side with one hand, barely reacted and blocked one or two attacks, but that was all.

He swayed without being able to fully absorb the impact to his side, and in the end, after allowing a series of attacks, he declared his surrender.

“Surrender! I surrender!”

It was the moment when the second upset unfolded.

***

In the end, four soldiers made it to the semifinals.

Nedhab, Federico (of the 3rd Infantry Platoon), Taher (of the 1st Infantry Platoon), Jason (of the 2nd Light Cavalry Platoon).

And at this result, everyone who was watching the competition couldn't help but be surprised.

Because no one had imagined that two representatives from the 3rd Infantry Platoon, of all platoons, would advance to the semifinals.

Furthermore, Nedhab and Federico had each overwhelmed strong candidates for victory with their skills and had advanced to the semifinals.

So now, not only in Diego's mind, but in everyone's mind, the following thought arose.

‘Is… the new training method really effective?’

In fact, from the outside, the 3rd Infantry Platoon did not at all look like a platoon that could send two names to the semifinals.

One was a skilled person of the squad leader level, but he was a veteran soldier who looked to be of no young age, and the other was not even a squad leader, but just a common soldier.

In particular, in the case of Nedhab, he had a simple impression that made it easy to tell he was from a minority group, so he looked even more like a pushover.

But when the lid was opened, the results were different.

Nedhab and Federico were strong enough to be called strong candidates for victory.

Perhaps, even if just one of Nedhab or Federico went to the finals, the 3rd Infantry Platoon's training method would be worthy of recognition.

However, the upsets did not end here.

Nedhab, who was to face Jason of the 2nd Light Cavalry Platoon in the semifinals.

Nedhab faced Jason, who, like Colin, was wearing plate armor, in a completely different way than Federico.

“Wh-what is that?”

“Could it be, aura?”

“Really?”

It was by concentrating aura at the tip of his sword and piercing through the plate armor.

“I surrender! Please!”

As soon as his plate armor was pierced, Jason was terrified and declared his surrender.

His reaction speed was so fast that it was more agile than any of the swift swords he had seen in the competition today.

However, no one was interested in Jason's actions.

They focused only on the fact that Nedhab, who they thought was a common soldier, not a squad leader or anything else.

Nedhab was a 1-star knight.