Chapter 42: Twins, Leaks, Solo, Predation, Insult (1)
Richard returned to the fortress at the Black Valley border, where knights from the Sea Dragon Sword family were stationed nearby. This time, it wasn't the commander of the First Legion, but the commander of the Third Legion, Renegade, who had been sent.
"Welcome, Lord Richard... no, Candidate Richard."
Renegade stammered, as he was still unaccustomed to Richard's new title.
After getting off the carriage, Richard received a brief report on the situation from Renegade.
"There have been no unusual movements from the Dark Dragon Sword family. In fact, their surveillance personnel have been significantly reduced."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Additionally, the tournament council has given its approval. The promotion match is scheduled for the closing ceremony of the Tournament of the Eight Swords! It seems the Dark Dragon Sword family has already begun its preparations."
The closing ceremony would take place after watching the matches of other sword families. This meant there was a slightly greater chance for his techniques to be analyzed. Of course, the Dark Dragon Sword family would be prepared for that as well, so Richard had to prepare meticulously.
"The Sea Dragon Sword family must also be busy preparing for the tournament. How is the family doing lately?"
"With the addition of the apprentice knights department, we are overwhelmed with their training. Well, thanks to the domino effect caused by you, Candidate Richard, everyone is full of enthusiasm, which has slightly lightened the burden on the instructors."
A major reform occurred after Richard turned the training island upside down. The training routine that had been practiced out of habit with little effect was abolished and replaced by a new, more practical system. Once the things that remained only in the name of tradition disappeared, the effectiveness of training skyrocketed. In this regard, Renegade held a positive view toward Richard.
He glanced at Katerina, who was standing behind Richard. The scrawny maid who used to follow Richard now looked very healthy.
(A very rapid change in just three months. Is it possible...?)
"Candidate Richard. Don't tell me you gave her a mana potion?"
"You noticed."
"Hah... using such a precious mana potion..."
"The Mantis Shrimp style doesn't consume much mana, so it's fine."
The mana potion was provided ahead of schedule by the family. It was something granted to him by the family leader, Edward, out of old affection.
(And he invested it in a maid!)
Renegade felt dizzy for a moment, but he regained his composure by reminding himself that Richard was the eccentric who created a "Sword Visualization Style" based on a mantis shrimp.
"Ahem, now that it has begun, I hope you achieve good results."
The first promotion match in the "Sword Ascension Ritual." Whether he liked it or not, and because he was the source of rumors, his evaluation would inevitably be linked to the evaluation of the Sea Dragon Sword family. If Richard were immediately defeated by the Dark Dragon Sword family, his family's reputation would also be damaged. Richard was aware of that.
"Thank you."
"We will leave now. We wish you luck."
Renegade and the remaining forces waved and withdrew. Richard spent his time taking a long-awaited rest. Many thoughts came to his mind, but his primary concern was: (In a situation like this, how can I make the Mantis Shrimp style stand out...?)
Another person's glory could not be allowed to overshadow the Mantis Shrimp style. Lost in deep thought, Richard fell asleep.
About a week had passed since the incident with the minor family.
Richard was in the "Holy Star Grass" cave, brewing mana potions as usual. The nullification field here did not affect Richard, so the process became easier day by day.
Swish!
Katerina's movements also became more graceful. Previously, the amount of mana she sent to her muscles was inconsistent, causing her to fall often, but now she showed a uniform transmission speed.
(It seems there won't be major problems even if I'm away for a while.)
Richard returned to the fortress to briefly replenish his food supplies. At that moment, "Lina Blackwood" appeared silently from a blind spot.
"I have something to report."
"Let's hear it."
Richard received a comprehensive intelligence briefing from Blackwood about the movements of the Great Eight Families and the minor families, public opinion in the capital, and more. Since the head butler of the Sea Dragon Sword family was a supporter of his, Richard was able to obtain more information than expected.
(Everyone is restless. But they won't act recklessly, choosing to gauge the general atmosphere instead...)
A rumor that Richard had already dealt with several members of the "Black Sword Unit" belonging to the Dark Dragon Sword family was circulating among the leaders of the major families. This was why they didn't approach the Black Valley border carelessly; one wrong move could lead to the collapse of their family's prestige, so they all decided to assess the situation after the promotion match.
"That's why nothing major happened. Thank you."
Richard looked at Lina and continued: "You should return to your family and take some rest. Katerina is fast enough now."
"Is that appropriate...?"
The time had come for things to become difficult, as food supplies were not exactly abundant. Lina Blackwood decided to return to her main house to restock on combat materials and take a long-awaited break.
"Oh, and how is your disciple's progress?"
"Her progress..."
While Lina asked for her report, Richard clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the mantis shrimp inside the aquarium.
"It seems she might arrive after taking a slightly longer path. Katerina's ego is still very solid, as you can see."
"Is that so? That's a relief. I was worried because her growth rate seemed too fast."
"Too fast, you say? To me, it seems slow enough."
"Even though she took down a low-rank monster in just three months?"
Lina was stunned. For her, having watched Katerina since Richard was in the punishment annex, her growth rate seemed incredibly fast.
"Try to imagine Katerina using an [Ultimate Move]. It will take a long time to transcend the Inner Eye and use an ultimate move."
Indeed... it was hard to imagine Katerina using the "Resonant Light Annihilation Wave."
"Ah, now that I think about it, you're right. Maybe because I've been watching her since she was in the punishment annex."
Scratch, scratch.
After quickly noting the details in her report, Lina faded into the darkness.
(The watching eyes are gone now).
After checking his surroundings with the "Mantis Shrimp Inner Eye," Richard pulled a small glass vial from his pocket. Inside the vial, a golden powder was floating. The powder gathered in one corner of the vial with a clear sense of direction, as if it were a living being.
Where is this pollen trying to go?
Richard recalled the moment he obtained this powder. That time when the flower bloomed in the cave... a few days ago, two days after returning to the Black Valley border.
Richard discovered a giant flower in the "Holy Star Grass" cave, which he was visiting for the first time in a while. The grass that had been a bud had finally opened. Richard's eyes widened as he watched the flower.
Flutter.
Fine powder was released from the Holy Star Grass flower. Richard remembered the yellow pine pollen that gathers on water in the spring. The star grass pollen was similar.
(There is no wind blowing inside... so where is it flying?)
Richard followed the pollen. It was leaking outside through a small crack in the cave.
"It has mobility..."
Richard, who was thinking of the usual process where butterflies or bees carry pollen, was a bit stunned.
(So it wasn't a monster carrying the pollen! To think it could move on its own).
Richard immediately brought a glass vial and began collecting the pollen. The reason for the pollen's existence is reproduction. This meant there was a high probability that this pollen was moving toward another mana grass somewhere. If there were other places like this, it would be an immense help in future battles.
"The probability of other special mana grasses like the Holy Star Grass being in other locations has just risen significantly."
A new goal was set, centered around the pollen.
Ending his recollection, Richard decided to make a compass using the pollen in the vial.
(If it moves in a fixed direction... it can certainly be used as a compass).
For the first time in a while, Richard sat in the fortress and focused on crafting. He mixed tree sap with the powder, placed it on a metal needle, created a structure that could rotate, and then covered it with glass.
(Completed!)
Richard stood up and held up the compass. The needle, which had been spinning randomly, suddenly caught a force and pointed in the opposite direction. Richard went outside the fortress and approached the forest. The direction of the forest, not the cliffs. The land the pollen wanted to travel to was inland.
(Inland. That's a relief. The Tournament of the Eight Swords is held in a large amphitheater in a first-tier city. Since the promotion match is scheduled for the closing ceremony, I can reveal the secret of the pollen then).
At that moment.
Richard's senses picked up something dangerous.
(A different kind of presence from the cloaked Dark Dragon Sword family...)
Chill.
As Richard entered the "Mantis Shrimp Mind State," two sudden attacks assaulted his senses.
(Twin sword style?)
Richard twisted his body to evade the opponent's attack.
Whoosh!
No, he tried to evade.
(What?)
The interlocking attacks suddenly moved much more randomly than Richard expected. He had no choice but to defend with the back of his greatsword.
Twang!!
Richard was launched into the air and pushed back. At the same time, a discordant voice reached his ears.
"He's weak. Did we get him? —No, the impact on my arm feels very light."
It sounded like two voices blended together.
Richard pushed himself up and checked the appearance of his attacker.
Two heads. Two arms. Two legs. But, one torso. Moreover, the swords held in each arm were of different lengths. Richard remembered the mutations seen when observing living beings. A very rare individual with a single torso...
"Siamese twins...?"
"You know about us? —He is wide in knowledge."
A twin duelist sharing one body stood before Richard. Richard immediately raised his guard and prepared for battle.
(This is dangerous. Filled with pure killing intent).
Even the Dark Dragon Sword family hadn't really tried to provoke him; after all, making an enemy of the Royal Family might cost them access to high-quality mana potions from the Crown. However, these two attacked regardless. They were likely individuals who didn't care about such constraints or didn't mind dying in a fight.
At that moment, the Siamese twin duelist spoke.
"We are the Twin Sword! I am Haidar —And I am Meiguer. Here —You will fight me!"
(The Twin Sword, Haidar and Meiguer?)
The names were unfamiliar to Richard. Clearly, they were duelists who had failed to make a name for themselves on the continent. As Richard watched their movements, he suddenly realized something.
(This man. His mana flow... don't tell me he's a "Berserk Duelist"...?)
Their mana flow was unstable. Normally, the residual mana pressure near a mana core should be constant, but Haidar and Meiguer’s mana pressure was extremely random. This meant they copied mana routes in an extremely unstable way...
This was a symptom seen in those who learned a "Sword Visualization Style" poorly or stole forms. Most of them were called "Berserk Duelists," and due to the instability of their mana routes, many showed extreme aggression or mental impairments.
(If they expect to die anyway, the symbol would be meaningless to them).
Berserk duelists were usually imprisoned or executed.
Therefore, Richard raised his guard and asked: "Who hired you?"
"Hire? Is that a type of drink? —Whatever! We will kill you!"
Crash!
A twin attack struck the spot where Richard had been standing. An attack he had already witnessed. Richard evaded with practiced ease, assessing his opponents' capabilities. Due to their berserk mana, they were not regenerating it like true visualization duelists.
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