Chapter 84 - Training

"Teach me swordsmanship."

Hakain was utterly bewildered. He could make no sense of what was happening. Yohan had abruptly vanished, and a Demon had appeared out of nowhere. Now that Demon was demanding sword lessons out of the blue. Stunned, Hakain could offer no reply.

As he stood frozen, a shrill voice rang out.

"Impudent wretch! Did you not hear the words of the great End?!"

A flame-wreathed imp was shouting from atop the bookshelf ahead. It was Zal’karin.

Thoroughly confused, Hakain murmured blankly, "Is this truly a Demon's den?"

Zal’karin cried, "A den?! This is the seat of all evil! The fell domain where the great End resides!"

Hakain looked at Maphel’tan, his face tense.

"Th-then you're actually an Apostle?"

Zal’karin erupted.

"Now that you know, kneel and pay your respects to the End!"

Maphel’tan clicked his tongue.

"Enough of that racket."

"But..."

"I said shut up."

"I-I shall obey."

Zal’karin wilted, the flames around him quietly dying away.

Maphel’tan fixed his gaze on Hakain.

"Hakain, I will say it again. Teach me swordsmanship."

Hakain could not answer at once. Only after a long effort to collect himself did he speak.

"... Why would a Demon wish to learn swordsmanship from a human?"

As he finished speaking, pitch-black demonic energy condensed in Maphel’tan's hand. The haze promptly became a long spear: the fell spear Turabak, the artifact he had taken from Third Prince Gawain.

Maphel’tan brought Turabak before Hakain's eyes.

"A slight correction. Teach me spearmanship as I am now, and swordsmanship in the morning."

The Sword Fiend was versed in essentially every weapon. Few humans could rival his skill with a blade. With him as a teacher, both Yohan and Maphel’tan could grow quickly.

Hakain was baffled.

"Swordsmanship and spearmanship? What possible need could a Demon have for either?"

Demons were unlike humans. They did not grow stronger through "training." They grew by committing evil deeds and feeding on human fear. That method was certainly more efficient, but its limitations were clear.

Maphel’tan spoke.

"To combine innate strength with 'skill.' You humans are born so feeble, yet you honed your skills to compensate for the failings of your species. In the end, you became the rulers of the continent. You, the most insignificant race of all."

Countless races had once inhabited the continent, but humans were now almost the only intelligent beings left. The weakest race had emerged victorious. Skill was probably the foundation of that victory. Arts of every kind, forged at the cost of flesh and bone, had made humanity great.

Hakain asked, "You intend to train through blood and sweat, like a human? Is that what you're saying?"

Maphel’tan nodded.

"Precisely. You may push me to the brink of death. Teach me the sword and spear."

These were not words one expected from a Demon. Hakain had encountered countless Demons in Deathshadow, but none had been anything like Maphel’tan. It left him with a very peculiar feeling.

"... May I refuse?"

The corners of Maphel’tan's mouth rose.

"Of course. I will give you a choice. Ilea's test subject, or my teacher. Take your pick."

Hakain gave an awkward laugh.

"Haha, there's nothing to discuss, then. I'll be your teacher."

Ilea sighed.

"Material like the Sword Fiend is hard to come by. What a pity."

There was no telling whether she was serious or joking. Goosebumps rose on Hakain's skin. He got up from where he had sunk to the floor.

"Sh-shall we begin right away?"

Maphel’tan chuckled.

"Good. You seem positively eager to teach."

Hakain had no choice but to give it his all, at least outwardly. Life as a mage's test subject would be worse than death.

He looked over the fell spear Turabak.

"I'll start with the basics. First... let's warm up."

Hakain had taken a few pupils before, but he had never taught a Demon. Frankly, he had no idea how to begin. He would have to start as he normally did, then adjust the curriculum to suit a Demon's nature.

Maphel’tan raised his spear.

"Well, what should I do?"

A fearsome Demon and an enormous black spear. The combination was intimidating in itself. Hakain smiled sheepishly.

"F-first, put the spear down and copy my movements."

He began stretching, and Maphel’tan immediately followed his example. As he bent backward, his massive body curved like a bow. His head touched the ground, leaving him looking like an arched bridge.

"Is this right?"

Hakain was genuinely impressed.

"... Yes. Even your flexibility is nothing like a human's."

His springiness and muscular strength were also beyond comparison with a human's. He had been born strong. If skill were added to Maphel’tan's physical abilities, he would probably become a monster beyond all measure.

Maphel’tan straightened again.

"Come on, let's move things along."

He was rather impatient. He wanted to grow stronger as quickly as possible. And so his training began.

* * *

Time passed swiftly. Bitter cold reached even the warm south. Snow blanketed the ancient castle. All the ivy clinging to it froze to death, and frost bloomed in every crevice of its weathered stone walls.

The world turned white. Even the breath leaving one's lips was chillingly pale.

Sprawled in the snow, Yohan exhaled white clouds. He was gasping for breath, practically dying.

'I'm going to die. Seriously.'

His bare body was covered in injuries: cuts, blue bruises, and small scars. It was not the body of a noble young master, but of a mercenary or soldier. He had put on considerable muscle, too, and was no longer scrawny.

Hakain approached him with a calm expression.

"You've made tremendous progress. Frankly, talent like yours is exceedingly rare."

It had already been nearly two months since Yohan began training with Hakain. He had trained without missing a single day, and his efforts had yielded considerable growth. Ordinary humans would no longer be a match for him.

Yohan laboriously pushed himself upright. Sitting in the snow, he said, "It's still not enough. I can't get a feel for the sword in particular."

He had been practicing both spearmanship and swordsmanship. The spear felt more natural to him, and a substantial gap had opened between his proficiency with the two weapons.

Hakain spoke.

"Even your progress with the sword is enough to call you exceptionally gifted. In talent alone, you rank among my top five pupils."

"A middling talent, then," Yohan said. "I'll never reach your level with a sword."

"I won't deny it. The spear, however, is a different matter."

"You think I'm better with the spear, too?"

Hakain nodded.

"My lord, you are a genius with the spear. With effort, no level of mastery will be beyond your reach."

Hakain now addressed Yohan as a baron. Yohan had succeeded to the barony. The Count really had changed the law. Yohan Miyatro was now the Watcher of the Abyss.

Yohan said, "A genius. Now that's good to hear."

In this world, might was law. The further the story progressed, the truer that would become. Given the immense value of martial prowess in this setting, Yohan was very pleased.

Hakain spoke.

"All that remains is for you to master aura. There are limits to what swordsmanship or spearmanship alone can achieve."

Swordsmen fell into two broad categories: those who could wield aura, and those who could not. However skilled a master swordsman might be, without aura, his limits were clear. He could never reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship without it.

Yohan knew that well.

"I have no intention of learning aura," he said.

"You said that before. Is there a particular reason?"

The moment someone stored aura in their aura core, their body became incapable of learning any other supernatural power. Yohan intended to acquire a power superior to aura.

He shrugged.

"It would be a waste of my aura core."

Hakain could not quite understand.

"... I'm not sure I follow, but you seem to have another method in mind."

Yohan nodded.

"Something like that. In any case, let's stop here for today."

He needed time to rest. When night came, he would have to wield the spear again in Maphel’tan's body.

As he finished speaking, Raguel lowered his bow beside him.

"Good work today, Yohan."

Raguel had spent the past two months practicing archery. At first, Hakain had taught him, but he no longer needed those lessons. He was a High Elf. His talent for archery was nothing short of overwhelming. He could strike a tiny target with perfect accuracy from more than a hundred meters away.

Yohan said, "You worked hard too, Raguel. I'll get you a good bow sometime."

Even a Class One treasure would not be wasted on him. Raguel was now one of his most formidable fighters.

Raguel beamed.

"Really? Thank you."

He had become much brighter. He smiled more, and his voice was full of energy. The timid boy was nowhere to be found. A lively youth had taken his place.

Yohan lightly ruffled his hair.

"Of course. Let's head inside. It's getting cold."

As the heat of training faded, the chill crept in. Yohan rose to his feet. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Ilea's voice.

"Yohan, I have good news."

A translucent ripple shimmered as she entered the training grounds. A barrier had been erected around them to keep Raguel hidden. It was inconvenient, but unavoidable. The castle servants would find it strange if they saw him. He had been blind, and now he was practicing archery. They needed at least some precautions.

Yohan looked at Ilea.

"Good news? What is it?"

She held out a large sheet of parchment.

"It's from the royal capital. Read it."

Yohan unfurled the parchment. As he read, the corners of his mouth rose.

『 Edict of the Kingdom's Council 』

——Concerning the Admission of House Miyatro to the Council and the Formal Recognition of the Watcher of the Abyss.

The kingdom currently faces an unprecedented threat. The descent of an Apostle, the emergence of ancient Demons, and the assault upon the royal capital by a Demon army are not mere incidents, but portents of calamity that shake the kingdom's very foundations. Therefore, as an irrevocable command to ensure the kingdom's continued existence and restore order, the royal house and the Council solemnly decree as follows.

Article 1.

Although the lineage of House Miyatro was temporarily interrupted in the past... [intervening text omitted].

The substance was simple: Yohan was recognized as a member of the kingdom's Council. He was now one of the eleven nobles who steered the kingdom.

'He certainly gets things done.'

The Count was performing most satisfactorily. Yohan was thoroughly pleased.

He said, "We'll need to prepare to leave for the royal capital. Ilea, procure a good carriage and some clothes. Enough to look presentable, at least."

The domain was poor, but Yohan was untroubled. He could borrow as much money as he needed by invoking the Count's name. From now on, he intended to spare no expense on investment.