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Chapter 106

Fortunately, I had bought a swimsuit after the midterm exams. We had planned to go swimming, whether it be at the sea or in the valley during the summer. I thought that I would have a chance to hang out with my friends soon.

Anyway, Yeon-woo headed back to the hill behind the orphanage once again.

Clear water trickled between the trees. I vividly remembered when we had dug a natural pond together with Claire, a size big enough for the kids to swim in.

Usually, my younger siblings would wear their swimsuits from the orphanage all the way down, but thankfully, there was a simple changing room available. I couldn’t just let the kids run around naked outside.

Entering a somewhat shabby cabin, I rummaged through the many clothes in the storage and pulled out some swimsuits. Did I really store this many? I grabbed three swimsuits that had fallen from the air.

‘But I’m glad I bought this just in case.’

When I bought the swimsuits, Yeon-woo thought it was nice to have cute swimsuits for the children, but that it was also wise to get rash guards. Because….

‘It might steal the hearts of other kids….’

Of course, wearing a rash guard wouldn’t guarantee that I could lock the kids’ hearts away, but Shar’s chubby belly would surely be quite tempting to other children of the same age…. Is that what you’d call a fool? Whatever.

Tae-oh wouldn’t be much different. His smooth, sun-kissed skin would catch eyes just by standing there, especially since he flaunted it so boldly….

I thought about the rash guard set I bought, but unlike the sea, here at the valley where there was a risk of hitting rocks, it turned out to be a very good choice. What I brushed off as a slight consideration at the time could potentially lead to trouble later on.

“Shar, have you put on weight?”

“I was always like this!! Dragons don’t gain weight!!”

“I know, but it sounds a bit funny when you say that.”

I teased Shar’s chubby belly while putting on the rash guard.

“Tae-oh has to be careful not to bump into rocks since his skin is sensitive, okay?”

“Got it…!!”

After giving a light warning to Tae-oh, who was looking intently at the pond, I put on my own trunk-style swimsuit. If you were to ask why Yeon-woo wasn’t wearing a rash guard, there was a reason.

“When you bump into a rock, the rock breaks.”

Wow, what a brilliant idea. After finishing warm-up exercises meticulously, the water play began.

“By the way, can Tae-oh swim?”

“I’ve tried it before!!”

“I don’t know, but I think I can do it!!”

Hmm. Although the pond was made for the younger siblings and barely came up to Shar’s shoulders, if I taught them in advance, it would certainly help later when we went to the sea.

“Alright, how about we teach Tae-oh to swim together, Shar?”

…….

Swimming is an incredibly important skill. It is essential not only for leisure but also for a hunter’s survival— Yeon-woo could affirm this without a doubt.

There were times when I regained my senses drifting in the ocean the moment I stepped into the Gate, and there were occasions when I thought there was nothing in the Gate only to find ruins lying deep beneath a lake. If I hadn’t known how to swim, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with those situations at all.

Of course, when it comes to crossing water, if one really tries, they could manage to walk on water using an enormous amount of mana, but….

Wouldn’t it be several times better to learn how to swim instead?

Naturally, the reason for creating this pool and teaching the younger ones to swim was simply for some fun, but….

Looking back, that’s how things have turned out.

Regardless, hunters aren’t exactly known for their good image in the future yet remain a much-envied profession. Ninety percent of the world’s population possess mana, and the awakening rate among newborns is rapidly increasing. The younger siblings at the orphanage were no exception.

While I may not be able to provide them with much, teaching the siblings, who might one day become hunters, how to swim seemed like a fitting contribution.

“Wow, look at our Tae-oh go!”

Watching Tae-oh lazily floating on the water, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but chuckle. Shar burst into a bright laugh too. Instead of swimming freestyle, he preferred to float around without any tension, enjoying himself.

No need to insist on freestyle swimming; I just thought if he found a way to swim that he was comfortable with, that would be enough, and now I was pleasantly observing the two kids.

Yeon-woo sat at the edge of the pond, quietly watching them play. Whether they were splashing water at each other or competing to see who could swim to the end first. When I caught sight of Shar using Tae-oh as a floating raft, I couldn’t help but pull out my smartphone to take a picture.

An impromptu meeting and the unexpected formation of bonds, but nonetheless, it was starting to feel quite family-like.

“This feels good.”

In the leisurely time, Yeon-woo leaned back and gazed up at the sky. It was nice. The atmosphere, the situation as a whole. So I imagined what it would be like to have time with Nea someday.

*

After the delightful swimming session and returning to the orphanage for dinner, the two kids, despite being incredibly energetic, seemed worn out after playing in the desert and swimming, and they fell into a deep sleep in Yeon-woo’s arms.

Beneath the impossibly dark night sky that was too overwhelming to even peek into, Yeon-woo wiggled his fingers.

Was it because I was swinging a sword yesterday? Aside from some simple physical training, it felt like my body was yearning for the sword, even though I had decided to let my body rest.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. Right now, I was quite satisfied with the realm I had established. At the point where I could perfectly execute the Aura Blade, I could now confidently call myself an Aura Expert.

Considering that I was only a first-year student, merely fifteen years old, this level was quite remarkable. However, when I thought of the countless things yet to come… it honestly felt like it wasn’t enough.

‘Should I enhance my magical aspect….’

Right now, the only way to become stronger as a swordsman was to complete the Full Moon Sword Dance. The problem was, I still wanted to swing the sword.

Just then, a soft laugh echoed in Yeon-woo’s ear. Looking up, I saw a familiar blonde girl in sight.

“…When did you arrive, Sister?”

“I just got here a little while ago… Huh, it reminds me of old times.”

“Old times?”

“It reminded me of when Yuri visited our country. You were just like Yeon-woo back then, eager to swing a sword.”

…She completely saw through me. Yeon-woo chuckled awkwardly. Soon, Claire, who stopped smiling, slowly approached me. Sitting on a bench, the forest scent tickled my nose.

“Would you like to see the sword a little?”

“Hmm….”

It was a very tempting proposal. As I fiddled with the doppelganger wrapped around my right arm, I sighed. I had wanted to stay away from the sword for a while, but this intense temptation…

“…Then could you show me just a little?”

“Hu-huh, shall we go up?”

*

The ancient tree Yeon-woo had damaged must have been cleared away, as a clean open space appeared. With this view, it felt entirely different. Claire took out two wooden swords from the storage and tossed one at Yeon-woo.

“Don’t take it too seriously; let’s keep it light. Stand opposite me.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Bowing slightly, Yeon-woo stood in front of Claire. Yeon-woo held the sword with both hands, while Claire held hers with one. Each of their wooden swords was enveloped in golden and green auras, respectively.

“Here I come.”

“Come at me.”

As Yeon-woo opened his mouth, his figure disappeared. It was only after obtaining the Sword Heart Technique that I realized, but the flow of this unnamed technique given to me by Yuri was identical to the flow of the Sword Heart.

That meant it was similar to the flow of the Full Moon Sword Dance too.

In the needed moments, I could produce the intended effects as much as I wanted. The technique that Yeon-woo executed now focused not on speed, but on deceiving the opponent’s senses.

He kicked off the ground, but the acceleration was not immediate. However, Claire had clearly captured Yeon-woo, who had jumped out at an odd angle, with her keen eyes.

With all his might, he made a diagonal slash. But Claire, smiling, effortlessly deflected the blow. Yeon-woo, who could see mana, knew better than anyone that the level of power she was using wasn’t far from his own.

“Oh my, what a great force!”

“I’m going for more…!!”

Maintaining the balance of opposing forces, Yeon-woo’s sword slipped away as if losing its consistency. Switching his right foot into a horse stance and firmly stepping down with his lower body for stability.

Based on a stable lower body, Yeon-woo unleashed numerous real and feigned attacks. Like the moonlight pouring down from above, countless sword strikes scattered.

Though it could be called a storm of blades, Claire maintained her smiling expression.

Compared to Yeon-woo’s rapidly swung sword, Claire’s movements were astonishingly slow.

Tap. Tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap.

Anyone listening might wonder if it was raining, as sounds filled the air, and she began to brush aside Yeon-woo’s feigned strikes.

Seeing that made Yeon-woo feel a sense of futility, yet he nodded. It was only natural when considering the unique shape of the golden sword she was wielding.

The sword known as the Shield Sword Aurum. The tales about this sword, said to be obtainable only by the greatest elves and the Swordmaster of the Great Duchy Wigdras, were things I later researched online.

To wield that sword with its abnormally wide blade that could obscure the wielder’s vision, what was needed more than anything was defensive capability. It was easy to swing it and hit with force, but managing to defend while enduring that weight was not an easy task.

Only then did it hit home. The figure before him was not his mother, nor was it the nun from the orphanage; it was the elven strongest shield and sword, the Swordmaster.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

“It can’t be!!”

The raindrops that had been blocked began to split apart even more finely. The dissolved attacks occupied the space around them. A number of strikes imagined as a one-versus-many scenario; though preposterous, they could also be applied in such a way so as to restrict the opponent’s movements.

“Your swordsmanship has surely improved compared to the old days.”

Even so, Claire remained relaxed. I didn’t think I could take away that air of ease. Yeon-woo knew his own level precisely. He wasn’t a threat to an Aura Master like her.

‘Still, let’s give it my all.’

You never know, while catching her off-guard might be impossible, getting her to hold her sword with both hands could be feasible.

(To be continued…)

 

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