Chapter 31 : Instructor, the progress is too fast (2)

After sorting out the peculiar situation, I decided to get to the point with Reese.

“So, what is it you wanted to ask?”

Though her spirit had dampened a bit, she immediately answered my question.

“It’s about that sword you carry, Instructor.”

“Respectful tone.”

“…Yes, sir.”

I glanced down at my waist. Fastened there was Galid, the treasured sword I’d received from the Ritheal Trading Company. Though I could store it in my family’s artifact, the Dimensional Bag, I preferred to keep a blade close by at all times. The Gladius I’d used before was stored in the bag, while Galid had become my primary weapon.

“That sword is Galid, isn’t it?”

To my surprise, Reese recognized it by name.

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Although I wore this sword every day to the academy, Reese was the first to notice what it truly was.

“How do you know about Galid?”

“It’s not that I know a lot, really,” she said, awkwardly adding, “just a little, sir.”

Seeing her scramble to adjust her words, I chuckled.

The lesson on respect had been sufficient by now. My issue hadn’t been her informal speech but the way she’d addressed Ray so thoughtlessly. So, I decided to relax a bit with her.

“You can speak casually, if you’re uncomfortable with formality.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but only when we’re alone. Still address me as ‘Instructor,’ and make sure to use formal speech with Ray.”

“Got it, Instructor!”

The way her mood instantly lifted made me think she was a pretty straightforward cadet. Even her previously gloomy aura, likely due to her dark hair, seemed to lighten.

“So, what about Galid?”

“Oh, um… I read in the papers that when you were hunting in the Red Thicket, you used some unique ability with Galid? They described it like a waterfall of flowing water magic…”

She must have been referring to Wave of the Sword, an ability embedded in the blade. Although it wasn’t a skill I could typically use, my Fifth Inevitable, Sword Resonance, allowed me to wield it.

I nodded. “I did use that, yes. Why do you ask?”

“So that was Wave of the Sword, wasn’t it?”

“You seem to know quite a bit about Galid.”

“To my knowledge, only truly exceptional people can use Wave of the Sword. You have to fully understand Galid and be able to handle it perfectly. How did you manage to wield it, Instructor?”

“It seems you’re no longer trying to hide your curiosity.”

I didn’t know the full details, but it seemed Reese had some connection to the Venher Kingdom. Maybe she had close acquaintances there, or perhaps she was even from Venher before settling in Kleppe .

The fact that she’d revealed this likely meant she thought the matter at hand was more important than any secrets.

I gave her a slow nod and replied, “Perhaps I am one of those exceptional people, as you put it. Wielding a sword to its fullest depends on the skill of the swordsman, after all.”

“That… That can’t be right…”

“I’m not expecting you to understand. So, is that all you needed?”

It was only natural she couldn’t understand. I didn’t know how much she truly knew about Galid, but my ability to wield Wave of the Sword was due entirely to fate and inevitability.

But there was no way I’d explain my Sword Resonance to her. She was just a cadet I’d met in yesterday’s lecture, whose true identity I still didn’t know, and I wasn’t kind enough to lay out my abilities to someone like that.

“W-wait a moment, Instructor!” Reese suddenly stopped me, her expression a mix of desperation and resolve.

“There’s somewhere I’d like you to come with me.”

“I’d rather decline if it’s an invitation for a date.”

“That’s not it!”

The outskirts of Tristan, near a place called the Blue Marshlands.

Though the name contrasts sharply with the Red Thicket, the two locations share similar terrain, though no monsters are found in the Blue Marshlands.

Ray and I had come here at Reese’s request. Fortunately, it was a day without any classes, so I had plenty of time.

Here’s what she told us: While exploring the area, she’d stumbled upon a monster lair. She claimed she sensed an aura similar to Galid there.

She suspected it might be another treasured sword from the Venher Kingdom, Polic, but every time she reached the source of the lair, she couldn’t go any further.

So it seemed that Reese sought my assistance specifically because I was able to wield Galid properly.

“…There really is a monster lair?”

“To be honest, I thought you might be lying.”

“Why would I lie about this…!”

Since Reese’s story was based on bits of speculation and limited knowledge, I hadn’t placed much trust in it. But here we were, in the Blue Marshlands, staring at a real fissure that led us into an actual monster lair—a fresh, undiscovered lair that adventurer heroes would undoubtedly be thrilled to explore.

And as we arrived…

Grrr—
Snarl.

The lair was teeming with monsters that filled the space around us.

Proto.

They looked similar to crocodiles, characterized by their speed and sharp, blade-like teeth. At a glance, their physical abilities suggested they would be quite powerful, but they lacked magical abilities, and their hides were unexpectedly easy to pierce, leading to their classification as “low-level monsters.”

Then, as I observed them, a thought clicked.

“This… might be perfect for training.”

It was rare to find a monster lair near Tristan where low-level monsters like these were the main occupants. Low-level monsters could be manageable, even for cadets who had only just reached the “First Fork in the Road” in their development, provided they worked together. In other words, there couldn’t be a more ideal location for practical combat training.

And beyond that, it was also a perfect match for Valut Swordsmanship. With its emphasis on fighting multiple enemies, this Proto-filled lair was practically tailored for the style.

Somehow, with Reese’s unexpected help, I’d found an ideal “special training ground.”