Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 59

The next day.

The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon had gathered at the training ground since early in the morning.

What the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon were gathered and looking at was none other than a shield.

"It's amazing no matter how many times I see it. To think this ordinary-looking shield can block aura."

The last operation was a shock to the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon as well.

They never thought that an ordinary-looking shield could block an enemy's magical spear imbued with aura.

Certainly, when Roden handed out the 14 shields before the start of the operation, everyone was half in doubt.

How could they believe the unbelievable story that just by shouting an activation word, it could block any enemy attack, just once?

It was only because the person saying it was Roden that they believed even half of it.

If it had been someone else, they wouldn't have even believed half, and would have treated him like a swindler selling a panacea at the market.

But in conclusion, one of the 14 shields Roden had handed out succeeded in blocking the enemy's aura.

So the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon couldn't help but be surprised.

"Our platoon leader is really amazing. He must have known we were half in doubt, but he didn't even demonstrate the shield's performance once."

"That's probably because once you use the shield, you have to charge it. The platoon leader said so. That it takes over an hour to charge. When we have to go into battle right away, when would we have time to demonstrate and charge it?"

"That's true. By the way, then... wouldn't it be better to stop this too?"

"...Just once should be fine. Isn't that right, Nedhab?"

One of the soldiers asked Nedhab, and after a moment's thought, Nedhab nodded.

"I think it's fine since we still have some time until the next operation. More than anything, I'm curious too. If the shield really did block the aura that day."

It was common sense that an ordinary shield could not block aura.

No matter how sturdy the shield was, it was only made of oiled wood.

Of course, the shields used by the Allied Forces did have a thin iron plate on top of the wood, but aura could cut through even that like paper.

The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon, who confirmed their skills by cutting down various types of posts after training every day, were more aware of the power of aura than anyone.

They had seen Nedhab cut down a steel post several times since he became a 1-star knight.

"Alright. Let's test it out this time. Whether it was a coincidence that it blocked the aura that day, or if it was really our platoon leader's work."

And so, one soldier bravely stepped forward with a shield.

And Nedhab stood facing him.

The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon watched this scene with bated breath.

"Here I come."

"Come on."

"Hiyahp!"

And so, Nedhab swung his sword with his aura gathered.

Swoosh!

And the soldier who was watching this shouted the activation word.

"Defend!"

Even though he shouted the activation word, he didn't feel anything different about the shield.

It might have been different for someone who could see the flow of mana.

But for regular soldiers or knights below 5-star, it was impossible to feel the casting of magic.

And so, the shield, which seemed to have no changes.

But,

Thud!

Surprisingly, the shield easily blocked Nedhab's sword, which was imbued with aura.

Nedhab and the soldier holding the shield, as well as everyone else present, were in awe.

"As expected!"

"It wasn't a coincidence!"

"Our platoon leader has made something amazing again!"

"He's an amazing person anyway.... I really respect him so much......"

Something hot boiled up once again in the hearts of the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon who had confirmed the shield's performance.

Its identity was none other than respect.

Nedhab, who was looking down at his sword with a dazed expression, drove the final nail in the coffin.

"...A shield that blocks aura. It's an invention that shows his consideration for the soldiers who haven't yet reached the 1-star level."

At the same time as Nedhab finished speaking, the chests of the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon throbbed.

But the emotion didn't last long.

"What is everyone doing?"

Because Chevalier appeared, saying these words.

And so, the word "charge" simultaneously came to the minds of the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon.

In the meantime, Chevalier had finished grasping the situation after discovering Nedhab holding a sword and a soldier holding a shield.

Will we be scolded?

While everyone was thinking this, Chevalier slowly opened his mouth.

"...So? Was the shield really effective?"

At the same time as Chevalier's question fell, the expressions of the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon brightened.

One of the soldiers answered.

"Yes! It was effective!"

Chevalier cleared his throat with a hem, hem and brought the situation under control.

"Everyone knows that once you use a shield, you need to charge it, right? So don't doubt its performance any longer."

That was right.

In fact, Chevalier had been curious too.

Whether the shield blocking the aura was really not a coincidence.

***

Roden, who had come out to the training ground for personal training, tilted his head.

The atmosphere of the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon was strange.

An expression that seemed to be looking at him hotly, yet also as if they had something to hide.

As he tilted his head at that expression, Chevalier approached Roden and explained the situation.

Roden nodded after hearing the whole story.

"Ah. Come to think of it, I didn't do a demonstration because I was worried about the charging time. So it's only natural for the soldiers to be curious. Whether the shield really performs as it should."

"I should have nipped the suspicion in the bud and given them a warning beforehand. I apologize."

"For someone who says that, you have an expression that says you're relieved that your curiosity has been satisfied, Deputy Platoon Leader?"

"...No, sir."

"Alright. Let's say you're not. More importantly, Deputy Platoon Leader."

"Yes."

"Is a one-on-one duel possible for a moment?"

At Roden's question, Chevalier's eyes lit up.

He had instantly realized that he was proposing a one-on-one duel to check his proficiency with the Superior Swordsmanship he had received as a reward from Adriel yesterday.

"It's possible."

"Alright. Then let's warm up a bit."

And so, Roden and Chevalier faced each other.

And the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon watched them.

They had all come out to the training ground so early in the morning to test the shield's performance that there was plenty of time left until the start of training.

More than anything, how many people could ignore a one-on-one duel between the platoon leader and the deputy platoon leader and focus on their training?

"Then I'll go first!"

While everyone's attention was on the one-on-one duel between the two.

Chevalier, who had already experienced defeat at Roden's hands several times, naturally took the first move.

"Haahp!"

It was a pretty sharp attack, imbued with aura, but Roden calmly blocked it one by one, displaying the basics of the Variola Swordsmanship.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Chevalier, watching this, inwardly nodded his head.

‘As expected, he's mastered a new Superior Swordsmanship in just one day again.’

He had already experienced it several times, so it wasn't surprising.

‘Alright. In that case….’

There was no reason to drag it out.

Chevalier, thinking of going all out, unleashed the secret technique of the Broom Swordsmanship in time with Roden's attack timing.

Swish!

Chevalier's sword, which bent at a bizarre angle as if it were a snake, threatened Roden.

The soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Platoon who were watching this scene were in awe.

It was such an amazing attack method that they couldn't understand what they had seen even after seeing it with their own eyes.

What's more, Chevalier didn't just use the secret technique of the Broom Swordsmanship once.

He continuously used the secret technique to push Roden back.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

And so, Roden was gradually pushed back by Chevalier's offensive.

He was barely managing to block the attacks, but it felt like he would soon be defeated if this continued.

It was then.

Whoosh!

Roden, who had been constantly pushed back, swung his sword horizontally with great force.

Then, the afterimage of the aura following the sword's path threatened Chevalier like a wave.

"Hup!"

Chevalier hastily pulled his body back and blocked Roden's attack.

Then he asked.

"Is that it?"

"Yes. This is the secret technique of the Variola Swordsmanship I just obtained."

The secret technique of the Variola Swordsmanship was to create an afterimage of aura.

The reason Chevalier had just retreated was because the size of this afterimage was so large that the level of the attack felt extremely threatening.

However, according to what Chevalier had experienced firsthand, the power of the sword itself was the same as usual.

In other words, it meant that the afterimage did not actually increase the power of the sword.

That was why Chevalier said.

"It doesn't seem to be as impressive a secret technique as I thought."

"Really? Then try taking this as well."

And so, this time, Roden took the offensive.

A seemingly ordinary vertical cut.

But perhaps because it was accompanied by the afterimage of aura, its power seemed much greater.

However, Chevalier, who knew that it only looked that way, did not retreat and easily blocked the vertical cut.

Clang!

That was why Chevalier was convinced of the following.

‘As expected, it's not a very good secret technique.’

But,

"!"

As Roden's attacks continued, Chevalier was forced to change his mind.

And for good reason,

‘It increased?’

Because the afterimage of aura, which had been only one, had increased to two.

What's more, these afterimages rushed at Chevalier from different directions as if they were real swords.

A choice between two.

That was why Chevalier had no choice but to choose one of them and respond.

He blocked the sword coming from the left, but it was the wrong answer.

At the same time as the sword touched, the afterimage disappeared like a mirage.

"Keuk."

In the end, the unblocked sword from the right stopped right in front of Chevalier's Adam's apple.

Roden opened his mouth to the crestfallen Chevalier.

"How about it? Do you still think this secret technique isn't very good?"

Roden, who had confirmed that he had mastered not only the basics of the Variola Swordsmanship but also the secret technique.

All that remained was to confirm the effects of the elixir.