I Became a Swordsmanship Genius in the Game

Chapter 75. How should I mess him up?

A week had passed since Hyunwoo was freed from his slave status.

He lifted Cheonbyeondo in the training room.

Saaa—

Hyunwoo's sword moved slowly.

The tip of the sword, starting from below his left foot, spun around once.

A motion that drew a semi-circle.

Flash—!

The fan-shaped sword aura spread out, emitting light and creating a form.

A defensive barrier made of the sword, a sword-screen.

A flawless defensive barrier made of mana unfolded before him.

It had only been a week, but he could already deploy it with skill.

After swinging his sword for a long while, Hyunwoo let out a short breath and sheathed his sword.

Then, he plopped down on the spot.

Hoo—

Hyunwoo let out a short breath and checked the swordsmanship's proficiency.

⌜Veluma Swordsmanship (3-Star)—47%⌟

‘It’s much faster than I thought.’

When the 'Swordsmanship Genius' trait was combined with the 'Champion of the Bellatus Arena' title effect, the proficiency rose at an unbelievable speed.

Thanks to that, it seemed he could reach master level without even needing to use up the full month.

The faster-than-expected rise in swordsmanship proficiency gave him some breathing room.

With his mind at ease, the sound of the training room, which had been a gentle background noise like white noise, became audible.

Thud—! Thud—!

…No, it wasn’t like white noise.

Because a sound that shook the very earth was ringing out.

It was the sound of Van running around the training room in his heavy armor.

“Pant… huff….”

Watching Van panting and taking heavy steps, Hyunwoo spoke.

“Doing well?”

“Pant… Don’t… talk… to me….”

“Seeing as you look like you're about to pass out, you're doing well.”

“……”

Van didn't even glance at Hyunwoo, remaining focused.

After being completely freed from his duties as an administrator, he had devoted himself solely to training.

His dedication was beyond expectations.

Hyunwoo smirked and blocked his path.

“Stop for a moment.”

“…What… is it.”

“Catch your breath.”

“…Hiss.”

As Van slowly took a deep breath, his fingertips were trembling.

From that, I could tell just how hard he had been training.

To get that exhausted just from running around, it was only possible if you literally pushed yourself to the limit.

All Hyunwoo had done was tell him to train his stamina ‘to the limit’ while wearing heavy armor.

For Van, a High Orc, such a simple instruction was enough.

‘As expected of a High Orc.’

A steadfast race.

The guy who usually seemed quite smart was stubbornly straightforward when it comes to training.

A moment later, when Van seemed to have caught his breath to some extent, Hyunwoo approached him.

“How is it? Feels good to exercise after lazing around all the time, right?”

“…Do you think I was just playing around all this time?”

“I haven't seen you do anything besides bring me food.”

“……”

“Am I wrong?”

“That’s…… Never mind. Let’s not talk about it.”

Van had his own things to say, but he didn't bother to voice them.

Arguing with Hyunwoo was far more exhausting than training.

The answer was not to start a verbal fight in the first place.

Watching Van turn his gaze away from him, Hyunwoo grinned.

He wasn't as responsive as Pierre, but there was a subtle fun in teasing him.

“Enough with the nonsense, and step aside. My training isn't over yet.”

“Take it easy. You'll ruin your body at this rate. You need to manage your condition while you train.”

“…You were the one who told me to train my stamina to the limit.”

“Did I?”

Van’s eyes were sharp as he looked at Hyunwoo scratching the back of his head.

The jokes ended here.

If he teased him any further, he looked like he might just throw a punch.

“Wipe that look off your face. I called you because I have something to give you.”

“What, did you bring even heavier armor and call it a gift again?”

My memory was hazy.

I think I might have done that.

Ignoring Van's distrustful gaze, I approached one of the walls in the training room.

“This time it's for real.”

Hyunwoo placed his hand on the rectangular object leaning against the wall and spoke.

“You'll like it too. I prepared your weapon. I had Pierre custom-make it, so you should be grateful.”

“…That’s a weapon?”

“How is it? It’s a shield made just for you.”

The giant, rectangular, solid piece of iron that Hyunwoo claimed was a shield.

Van had to stare at it for a long time before he realized it was a shield.

“I was wondering why there was a table in the training room… that’s a shield? Not a table made of iron?”

“It’s a shield. If you look closely, there are handles on the back.”

Van moved closer and took a better look, and indeed, there were several handles on the padded leather part.

“Do I have the definition of a shield wrong? Isn't this, almost… the size of a door. I won't even be able to lift it properly.”

“What do you mean you can’t? Just try lifting it.”

“Haa… Watch carefully.”

Unable to resist Hyunwoo's insistence, Van grabbed the shield.

Then, he put strength into his arms and lifted it straight up.

“…Huh?”

“See. You lift it just fine. I told you it was just for you.”

“How in the world did I do that?”

“You’re the one who did it, why are you asking me?”

“…I suppose.” Fresh chapters posted on NoveIꜰire.net

Van had a bewildered expression.

Thick veins bulged on his forearms as if in anger.

However, there was no major problem in lifting the shield that had seemed absolutely impossible.

In truth, even Hyunwoo hadn't been sure if he could lift the shield in one go.

‘I thought he would need an adjustment period while I gradually trained him… but he really lifted it.’

It seemed he had underestimated Van, the High Orc.

High Orcs could grow stronger each time they reached their limit.

His training so far had not been in vain.

The speed at which he was getting stronger was an outcome that neither Van nor even Hyunwoo had anticipated.

‘To be this strong without any tattoos.’

If he could just get the tattoos that could draw out the power of a High Orc, how much more could he grow?

I looked forward to seeing Van in action later.

“You’ve used a shield before, right?”

“My main weapon is a two-sided axe. I haven’t held a shield since I was a child.”

“So what were you doing before you ran away?”

“……”

Hyunwoo fiddled with a small shield at his feet and casually asked about Van’s past.

As always, when the topic of his past came up, Van clammed up like a ghost.

‘Seems like there’s something there.’

The fact that he shut his mouth whenever his past was mentioned only made me more curious.

Since I expected Van wouldn't talk, I continued with what I was doing.

Hyunwoo picked up a shield.

“If you used one as a kid, you must know the basics of shield arts, right?”

“…Roughly.”

“Watch and follow.”

Hyunwoo nodded and demonstrated the shield arts of the ‘High Orc’ tribe.

‘I’ve only seen it in videos, though.’

Rummaging through the memories in my head, it was possible to roughly replicate the general form, however clumsy.

“That’s… our tribe’s shield technique? How in the world….”

“Focus. These are the techniques you’ll be using from now on.”

“……”

The High Orc’s shield arts weren’t composed solely of defensive movements.

However, Hyunwoo, who only had a superficial knowledge, couldn't teach him more than that.

‘First, the basics.’

Block, push, swing.

Hyunwoo demonstrated movements that were mainly the basics of the shield arts.

After repeating the movements several times in front of Van, he approached him.

“Hold the shield. I’ll check your posture.”

“Alright.”

A rare scene unfolded where Hyunwoo, a human, was teaching Van, a High Orc, the techniques of his own tribe.

Once Van was able to use the basics of the shield arts to some extent, Hyunwoo demanded the next set of movements.

Van shook his head.

“It’s impossible. I might be able to lift it somehow, but those kinds of movements are impossible.”

The movements Hyunwoo demanded included things like striking the opponent’s instep with the shield or swinging it wide.

As Van said, these were not movements possible with such a huge shield.

Hyunwoo clicked his tongue.

“Are you an idiot? Is your other arm just going to hang there? You can use both arms.”

“…You mean I should only hold the shield?”

“That’s why I gave it to you.”

“I should have known when you called it a weapon… what in the world do you think a shield is?”

“The ultimate weapon capable of both offense and defense?”

“…Haa.”

Van let out a deep sigh, but this time, it wasn't a joke; it was half-serious.

‘What’s wrong with a shield?’

If I had a physique like Van’s, it would be a weapon worth considering at least once.

It seemed a demonstration was in order.

Of course, the demonstration was planned to be done with Van’s body.

Hyunwoo took a step back and raised Cheonbyeondo.

“Hold the shield.”

“……”

When Van hesitated, Hyunwoo sharpened the blade of Cheonbyeondo.

Van sighed and lifted the shield with both hands.

As Hyunwoo had said, holding the shield with both hands made it look considerably lighter.

Facing Van who was holding the shield, it felt like a single wall.

Nevertheless, Hyunwoo smirked.

It had been a long time since he had surpassed Van’s physical abilities.

He would realize things after getting hit.

No, after blocking.

He had been doing useless things until now.

“Here I come.”

Swish—!

Crack—!

As expected, actual combat was the best training.

* * *

A short while later, Hyunwoo and Van exited the training room.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“……”

Hyunwoo lightly patted the shoulder of Van, who looked like he was on the verge of death.

“How was it? The shield is pretty useful, right? See. It works when you use two hands.”

“What are you talking about when you were swinging your sword like you’d kill me if I didn’t use the shield?”

“Looks like it was useful. That’s a relief.”

“You’re… never mind.”

Watching Hyunwoo say only what he wanted to say, Van shook his head and walked past the living room toward his own room.

I had given Van a room of his own as well.

Watching his back as he moved with a limp, Hyunwoo tilted his head.

‘Was I too harsh?’

Van with a shield was a very good punching bag (?).

Thanks to that, he had forgotten all about his original purpose of training the Veluma Swordsmanship and had swung his sword with glee.

⌜Veluma Swordsmanship (3-Star)—50%⌟

During the combat-like spar with Van, his proficiency had risen by a whopping 3%.

Hyunwoo rolled his stiff shoulders and recalled the spar with him.

‘His strength is no joke.’

His charge was enough to make the solid sword-screen waver.

If his proficiency was rising this fast, it seemed he could reach master level in just a few more spars.

Feeling good, Hyunwoo approached the living room table and opened the drawer containing tea leaves.

Thud—

The drawer was empty.

“What. Why is it empty?”

It was Pierre's job to stock the various daily necessities in the dormitory.

Come to think of it, I felt like I hadn't seen him much lately.

I heard a presence from outside.

That guy couldn't be a gentleman.

Just then, Pierre arrived at the dormitory.

“What took you so long. We're out of tea and….”

“I’m leaving this here. I’m too busy today.”

“……?”

Pierre ignored Hyunwoo's words, carelessly dropped off the items he brought, and left.

Lately, his rebellious attitude had become particularly severe.

‘Come to think of it… what should I do about him.’

When planning to leave the Arena, I had considered Pierre as a companion, but the more I thought about it, the more ambiguous his position became.

He didn't have any particular combat prowess, at best he was a source of money (?).

It was awkward to take him, yet a waste to leave him behind.

A guy who was like a chicken rib.

Seeing him slack off more and more as time went on, I could bet my entire fortune that he would pretend not to know me the moment I left the Arena.

‘What should I do….’

Hyunwoo began to ponder how he should mess Pierre up so that the effect would last a long time.