Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Theo Ragnar (5) >

“Ah...!”

Theo let out a sigh without realizing it.

It was because he understood just how significant the state of ‘absorption’ he had been in moments before was for a swordsman.

A critical moment that could allow one to leap several levels depending on the situation.

In fact, Theo had successfully grasped the clue to the secret swordsmanship he had only vaguely sensed until now.

And just when he was about to advance beyond that point, he had been interrupted.

Naturally, irritation was written all over Theo’s face.

However, Rendon’s face was just as flushed.

‘Looks like he got scolded by his mother.’

Was he here to complain?

For a moment, Theo felt like all this bickering with him was utterly pointless.

Wasn’t he just a fool who hadn’t even noticed Theo had been absorbed in his training?

Talking to him was a waste of time.

It would be a hundred times better to focus on the secret swordsmanship again instead.

Without even glancing at Rendon, Theo resumed his stance and spoke.

“Are you still here?”

“What...!”

“Didn’t you hear it from your mother? I clearly asked you to vacate the room by this morning.”

“That’s—!”

“As you can see, I’m a bit busy. If you have no other business, please leave.”

Rendon’s face turned even redder with fury.

He had always considered Theo a half-wit, so being disregarded by him made his anger boil over.

But whether that was the case or not.

Theo slowly started moving again, swinging his Zweihander.

The Three Claws of the Dragon.

He was attempting the sword technique he had failed to execute once again.

* * *

Theo’s actions only fueled Rendon’s anger further.

‘This idiot dares to act like this in front of me...!’

The title of being a tutor to the direct bloodline of the House of Ragnar was always a prestigious one, no matter where he went.

Rendon had no intention of ever giving that up.

If things didn’t go his way, he had even considered resorting to threats, but now, Theo was uselessly practicing swordsmanship in front of him.

In that case, wouldn’t it be better to make him realize the vast gap between them firsthand?

Swoosh!

Without hesitation, Rendon swiftly drew the sword he had at his waist and swung it.

His target was Theo’s neck.

‘If I can even leave a small cut on his skin, he’ll panic and fall to his knees in terror...!’

But Rendon’s thoughts didn’t last long.

Suddenly, Theo’s Zweihander slashed through the ground and shot forward, deflecting Rendon’s attack.

Clang!

“......!”

The force behind it was overwhelming.

Rendon, startled by the searing pain in his arm that felt like it was about to be torn off, instinctively stepped back.

At that moment, Theo’s sharp gaze turned towards him.

Twitch!

For a brief moment, Rendon felt his heart drop at the force of Theo’s presence.

“More.”

“What...?”

“Come at me again.”

Theo’s eyes gleamed more intensely than ever before.

[You have successfully mastered the first sword technique. (1/10)]

[Your strength has increased by 2.]

[Your stamina has increased by 1.]

Messages appeared in the center of his vision.

Did it consider merely blocking an attack as mastering a sword technique?

And his physical abilities increased too?

He could actually feel the surge of power filling his body.

Theo had already become thoroughly captivated by the mysterious abilities these messages possessed.

How could he just stand by idly now?

It was time to make the most out of this.

Sizzle.

For the first time, Rendon appeared before Theo’s eyes as a golden goblin.

‘Does he think he can look down on me just because he blocked one attack? This fool is really asking to die!’

Swoosh!

Rendon gritted his teeth and moved swiftly. He believed Theo was mocking him.

On the other hand, Theo remained calm.

He focused all his senses on Rendon.

His breathing. The movement of his pupils. The muscles being used. The direction of his footsteps. The angle of his sword...

All that information was quickly caught by Theo’s eyes.

‘The amount of mana in my Aura Heart has increased significantly. Thanks to that, my dynamic vision has also improved.’

All of his physical abilities had risen.

This made it easy for him to judge.

How to respond.

‘Reverse the third stance of The Fool’s Play to block it.’

Theo’s Zweihander drew a smooth arc through the air.

It was a sword technique that felt entirely different from the ferocity he had shown earlier.

Clang!

Rendon’s attack was, once again, easily blocked.

‘It’s clear. The power behind my sword has increased. My breathing is more relaxed.’

There was no mistake.

The fact that Rendon staggered back heavily, being pushed away, was proof enough.

* * *

“This... this can’t be happening...!”

Rendon, now a disheveled mess, collapsed in exhaustion, still unable to believe the situation.

[You have successfully mastered the tenth sword technique. (10/10)]

[Your strength has increased by 2.]

[Your luck has increased by 1.]

Theo was fully immersed in the thrill of victory.

Every nerve ending in his fingers and toes tingled with the rush of adrenaline.

‘Is this the sensation that Ragnar’s swordsmen live for? If so, it’s no wonder they are addicted to battle.’

Theo had barely begun to savor this feeling for the first time, so he could only imagine how others experienced it.

But there was something even more profound that lingered for Theo.

The sense of victory.

The euphoria.

The thirst for achievement.

From his first life, through reincarnation, and now to the present—this was the first time he had accomplished something with his own hands, and that filled him with an overwhelming sense of pride.

When Theo first faced Rendon, his skills had clearly lagged behind. But now, he had grown strong enough to completely overwhelm him.

It was an unbelievable, steep growth.

‘I’ve finally done it. I... can do this.’

This was perhaps the greatest achievement Theo had gained in this life.

[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Quest #7.]

[Evaluation: A+]

[You have received the reward ‘■■■’s Arm ■’.]

[As a bonus reward for your evaluation, you have gained the ability .]

Observe?

Theo’s eyes widened at the new message that appeared.

‘Are the magical rewards over now? That’s a bit disappointing.’

However, he had a strong feeling that this new reward would be just as valuable.

‘How do I use this? Obser...ve?’

As Theo muttered softly while looking at the collapsed Rendon.

[You are observing ‘Rendon Harvey.’]

—

Rendon Harvey (32 years old / Male)

– Title: Deceitful Mercenary

– Talent: Fraud

– Condition: Shocked by an unexpected defeat, or enraged.

—

‘...Is this personal information about him?’

It seemed that allowed him to learn detailed information about a target.

Not only could it reveal the talents a person possessed, but even their current state of mind.

It was clear that this ability could be a powerful weapon if used correctly.

‘Can I observe myself?’

However, Theo found that he couldn’t view his own information.

After all, was an action that required looking at others from a third-person perspective, and it seemed impossible to turn it on oneself.

‘There’s no scrambled text this time either. What’s changed?’

Pushing down his curiosity, Theo narrowed his eyes.

What really caught his attention was Rendon’s ‘condition.’

– Shocked by an unexpected defeat, or enraged.

‘Past or present, he’s always been unpleasant.’

Theo let out a scoff.

“Well, I think that’s enough. Make sure you vacate the room by today. If you keep clinging on, I’ll have to call the law enforcers.”

The Law Enforcers were those responsible for maintaining internal order and discipline within the family. Aside from the family head, they had the authority to punish even the elders, earning them the reputation of being like grim reapers among the household.

Rendon, having heard about their fearsome reputation, dropped his head in resignation.

Whoosh.

Theo, having lost all interest in him, turned his body and walked away.

Under normal circumstances, Theo would have continued with his swordsmanship training. However, reviewing the techniques he had just mastered seemed more important at the moment.

But then.

“You bastard! Die!”

Suddenly, Rendon snapped his head up and hurled something toward Theo’s back.

It was an ambush Theo hadn’t anticipated at all.

‘...!’

So, pretending to be in despair was just a ploy to retrieve a concealed weapon.

Theo tried to turn around in haste, but the dagger was already flying toward his face.

Thump, thump, thump!

His heart, The Dragon’s Heart, beat faster, and his vision around him slowed down just as the dagger approached.

Flash!

A burst of light seemed to fall from the sky, and in an instant, the dagger was deflected with ease.

Clang!

The figure that emerged was a middle-aged man with fierce, tiger-like eyes standing in front of Theo.

“White Armored... Dragon Commander?”

It was Julius Ragnar.

One of the highest-ranking individuals within the family, why was he here?

Before Theo could voice his confusion, Julius spoke.

“A duel. One must be cautious until the very end. For a swordsman, the most dangerous moment is not during the fight, but when you think you’ve won and let your guard down. And—”

As he calmly imparted his wisdom to Theo, Julius swung his sword with a savage force that didn’t match the tranquility of his voice.

“Once you’ve made up your mind to be ruthless, carry it through to the end.”

A flash of light emitted from Julius’s sword, and in the blink of an eye, the aura it unleashed sliced through Rendon’s neck.

Slice—

Fwoosh!

A fountain of crimson blood sprayed across the floor of the training hall.

Even in death, Rendon’s face, twisted in malice, seemed unaware that he had been killed.

“Aaah! The training hall is a mess now! Commander! How could you act so suddenly like that?! I’m the one who has to clean all this up!”

The high-pitched scream came from Evelyn, the manager of the 4th training hall, who was clearly distraught.

Ignoring her, Julius turned to Theo.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”