Chapter 123: Chapter 123

Chapter 123 - How to Climb a Cliff

"Since you've come this far, I'll give you a lesson."

That was the story from when I received my last lesson from Acaite, before arriving at the Railroad Mysterium.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't the last in the true sense, but for convenience, let's keep it that way for now.

"Remember this. Don't be bound by common sense from now on."

Saying that, Acaite, holding a weapon, began to rush towards me.

I, too, had fully prepared to counterattack while listening to his words.

With those words, close to a small murmur, Acaite lunged at me…

The sound of a weapon flying through the air echoed.

Yes, my weapon failed to properly parry Acaite's attack and elegantly ascended into the air.

The weapon that had flown through the sky soon rolled on the ground, and I thought.

Only that thought filled my mind.

I couldn't react. It wasn't a matter of how much of my skill I exerted, or what mistakes I made.

I could confidently say that in that single strike, Acaite showed 100% of his skill.

I could tell from the moment Acaite leaped, from when he took a preparatory stance to extend his sword.

It couldn't be blocked. Absolutely not.

A full-power strike from a top-tier Master Knight, at the apex of the pyramid of renowned strong individuals in the world of .

There was no way I could parry it at my current level.

So, all I could do was react in a way that minimized the impact on me.

Still, my hand was throbbing.

I paused in silence, glancing at the training sword rolling on the ground, when Acaite spoke.

"How was it? What did you feel?"

"I didn't feel anything but a wall."

A blow containing the skill of a Master Knight. I definitely felt that it had been struck.

And after answering, I continued.

"...You said you'd help me transcend my limits, didn't you?"

With a "What the hell is this, you bastard?" kind of feeling.

"Eh? I never said anything like that, did I?"

Acaite displayed his characteristic annoying, sly demeanor.

"Did you seriously expect to get a lesson and boom, your skill doubles? Wow, I didn't take you for someone so greedy, you've got hair on your conscience~?"

Of all things, it had to be the world's top predator doing that, so I couldn't even punch him.

"...You didn't say it directly, but didn't you say you'd give me teachings to move to the next level?"

"Haha, well, something like that."

At my continuing words, Acaite shrugged his shoulders, then twirled his sword in a circle in the air.

"But you know, don't you? This 'martial arts' guy never gives anything for free. He's a very stingy old man."

"You shouldn't expect such a huge discount service~"

I knew that well. More than anyone.

Especially since I had only managed to reach this level by repeating death hundreds of times.

"Well, enough teasing... I have a question."

"That attack just now, how do you think your companions... uh, I mean. Yuna, Khan, Elwin?

Serene? How would they have handled it? Do you think they could have parried it?"

It was a rather sudden question, but since I was asked, I fell into thought.

Serene, even at this point, was practically a Master Knight... capable of demonstrating even greater skill depending on the conditions, so she would have somehow parried it.

Elwin, though not as good as Serene, still possessed enough skill to be a high-ranking Senior Knight, and if well, could stand against Master Knights.

In Khan's case... he was good at long-range attacks, but his physical abilities were on par with Elwin's, so he probably could have just barely responded.

Honestly, it would be impossible at her current level... but considering her unfathomable talent, she might have shown a brilliant response about one out of ten times.

I conveyed those thoughts to Acaite exactly as they were.

He scratched his characteristic mask, then let out such a hollow laugh, as if dumbfounded.

"That's exactly what I guessed."

As for me, what more could I say? I was confident I'd lose a hundred out of a hundred clashes.

That was the nature of my talent in martial arts. I could reach the level of an excellent

individual within the realm of ordinary people, but a head-on battle in the realm of geniuses was definitely impossible.

'It's sad all over again.'

Despite all my struggles, the gap between the protagonists of this world and me remained not only unclosed but even seemed to grow faint, and that made me sad again.

No, perhaps that kind of sense of deprivation... had already hit me when I first clashed with Theodore.

Was I truly incapable, no matter how much I struggled? A part of me thought so.

"What's wrong with the mood? You should be happy after hearing what I just said."

As if sensing my subtle mood, Acaite continued.

My face usually didn't show much emotion, but he was eerily perceptive.

"What part of that should I be happy about?"

Anyway, I asked that. Was there anything in that question that should make me happy?

"You, you punk. You made the exact same judgment as me, someone who makes a living by his judgment. You should be a little happy, so I don't lose face. You impudent brat."

Acaite said, making a gesture of tapping my head with the edge of his hand.

Well. Acaite certainly possessed one of the best situational judgment skills in the world.

If he said so, then it was true.

"But without power, it means nothing. It can't support that judgment."

That was it. It was also the biggest flaw I had felt in myself until now.

And Acaite, at the exact moment my words ended, extended his index finger towards me.

"The teaching I'm going to give you is precisely about that part you just mentioned."

"Your way of thinking right now."

Power to support judgment is essential.

What error was there in that thought? An error so profound that I needed to correct it through his teaching.

"You, you know, you're quite sharp, but when you enter a combat situation, your mind works even faster."

"Normally, when an attack far exceeding one's skill comes, it's normal not to be able to gauge the exact difference. But... you're different."

It was certainly true. An ant fleeing from an elephant wasn't thinking about how much difference in strength there was between them.

"It's the same when attacks come. Normally, with that much skill difference, people can't even think of a response. Their minds go blank. In this case, you're different."

I certainly had confidence in that kind of composure. Having repeatedly faced death countless times, I had become accustomed to calmly analyzing attacks.

The reason one's mind goes blank when an attack comes is the fear of the damage the attack will inflict.

And the fear of death.

But I lacked those. Therefore, I could calmly accept attacks as attacks themselves. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on n0velfire.net

Because what was truly terrifying was something else.

"That's an incredible weapon. But... you seem to have forgotten that fact recently, haven't you? I saw you being very impatient."

"Specifically... after the last Joint Grade Mock Battle?"

He was truly a terrifyingly sharp man, impossible to fool.

To catch that I was worrying about my skill after the fight with Theodore.

I hadn't even consulted him about it.

'...Was I... impatient?'

And to detect my impatience, which lay deep within me, unknown even to myself.

"You know, don't you? A knight isn't someone who wins a head-on fight. They're someone who wins the battle."

"And in battle, 'defeating all enemies in sight' isn't always the right answer. It's the easiest method to think of, but as a direct approach, it's difficult."

I had no words to refute.

"You are a person who can find the easiest path to victory on the battlefield better than anyone else. In this academy, there's no one who can surpass you in that aspect."

Saying that, Acaite placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Find your own path. Don't be impatient."

"That's where the next stage begins."

As Acaite said, martial arts were like a stingy old man.

They never gave anything for free, and there was no guarantee when the results would appear.

Yes, it might be like climbing a steep cliff.

That's why Acaite said.

If you're going to climb a cliff anyway, wouldn't it be better to climb the gentler side?

Instant power-up is an illusion. It seems to exist somewhere, but it's an illusion that never existed in the first place.

Recognize strengths, admit weaknesses.

And based on that recognition and admission, steadily accumulate martial arts.

Acaite was saying that this was the only way to reach the next level.

Then, someday, I would be able to reach the top of the cliff.

That wouldn't necessarily mean the absolute end of the cliff, but... well, it would be enough comfort for a life that would continue to climb cliffs.

It was truly the best lesson I had ever received.

So much so that the way I used 『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』 had completely changed since receiving that lesson.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, I calmly recalled the remaining moves I had.

『Moment of Decisive Battle[A]』, which I had saved until now.

Origin Magic, which I had practiced with Arien.

My ultimate firepower projection means, 『Outlaw』.

Knight Robe to provide defense.

『Spellbinder』, my primary weapon and means to deflect magic.

And, 『Fortress Kill』, which I had recently obtained.

I had to perfectly use these moves I possessed to find the path to victory.

And for me, that was an area I was more confident in than anyone else in this world.

'Keep doing it until it works' was outdated.

I do it because it will work.

'Even if I fail, I have a backup.'

『Overcoming Ten Thousand Deaths』 existed for that very purpose.