Chapter 57
#57. Unawareness
Now that the Crystal Spider, the boss of the spider nest, had been defeated, all that was left was to return to the village.
Lizmel said she needed to report on the Crystal Spider and put a few of the broken crystal fragments into her pocket.
I was interested in the material called Light Mithril too, so I picked up a few for myself as well.
[Lightless Light Mithril]
When I put it in my inventory and checked its info, the description said it had lost its light and its original power.
In the end, the only Light Mithril I managed to get was the five ingots I received as a clear reward.
No wonder there was no information about it on the community. From the start, it wasn't the kind of material you could obtain and actually use.
Still, five ingots should be enough to make one piece of equipment. I'll take them to that blacksmith later.
On the way back to the Dark Elf village, Lizmel stayed silent the whole time.
She looked like she was thinking about something serious, but for someone like me who was awkward with other people, the silence was actually welcome.
The Dark Elf scouts gave me an enthusiastic welcome when I returned after clearing out the spider nest.
"Are you hurt anywhere? It must have been tough—want something to eat?"
"You've already taken one down? Good job, human."
"You're really starting to look like a proper scout now. Nice."
It felt like they were praising a kid for successfully running their first errand, so I wasn't exactly pleased.
Lizmel left me to it and finished reporting on the Crystal Spider by herself. Then she immediately dragged me outside.
While I was chewing on a snack I got from the scouts, Lizmel asked,
"Why do you want to learn swordsmanship?"
Her expression was seriously solemn, utterly unlike the emotionless NPCs on the other floors.
Lizmel had already read the letter I handed her. Then she would also know that I wanted to get a sword from the blacksmith.
But the fact that she was asking like this meant she'd figured out that wasn't the real reason. I answered,
"To get stronger."
Swordsmanship is, after all, a fighting skill. What other reason would there be to learn it?
"Then why do you want to get stronger? You're already incredibly strong for a human."
"Being strong for a human isn't enough. I need to get much stronger."
I have no intention of talking about the Tower of Trials or anything like that to an NPC. They wouldn't understand it anyway.
Lizmel seemed dissatisfied with my answer, and with a frown she opened her mouth again.
"You will get stronger."
What a strange thing to say. Not that I can get stronger, but that I will. She said it as if it were already decided.
"I saw your skill. Your technique is lacking, but you do have talent. At that level, you don't need to learn from me to get stronger on your own."
She wasn't wrong. Even if I didn't learn swordsmanship from Lizmel, I would keep growing without stopping.
"So there's no need to throw yourself into real combat and build experience the dangerous way. Then why are you in such a rush?"
Lizmel said that I hadn't needed to rush at that spider like that.
She said that even calling for support and fighting with the scouts would have been useful experience.
"Like you were dying to get yourself killed."
Ridiculous. I opened my mouth to answer Lizmel's words.
"That..."
But that was all that came out of my mouth. Nothing suitable would come to mind.
I had rushed at the spider to grow by taking the boss-kill rewards. But it wasn't like I was desperate for them.
I didn't even know there was a hidden boss, or what kind of reward it would give. I didn't even need to fight alone.
Even if I had fought together with Lizmel and the other Dark Elves, I would still have gotten the highest contribution reward and the first-clear reward.
Besides, I'm already strong enough to far surpass the 7th-floor level. Even if I didn't grow at all, I could probably clear the 10th floor without trouble.
The reason I went to the spider nest with Lizmel was just to show my skill and learn swordsmanship.
There was absolutely no reason for me to throw myself at a Crystal Spider when I didn't even know the strategy.
At that moment, the one reason I had in mind was only one.
"Because I can."
Because I had sworn never to stop.
**
Lizmel made a strange expression after hearing my answer, then nodded after a long while.
"I see."
I had no idea what exactly she thought she understood, but it seemed she'd sorted out her thoughts. Lizmel took me a little ways away from the scout headquarters.
A quick glance made it obvious what this place was for. A wide space strewn with scarecrows and blunt swords—a training ground, no doubt.
1. Complete Lizmel's basic training, stage 3.
2. Complete Lizmel's advanced training, stage 3 (optional).
3. Complete Lizmel's selection test (optional).
4. Win a sparring match against Lizmel (optional).
In one corner of the system interface, a quest objective popped up on its own. Looks like she was going to teach me swordsmanship from here on out.
"Let me say this in advance: I've never taught swordsmanship to a human brat before. So I'm just going to do things the way I normally do."
"Whatever."
"Hey, do you know what 'the way I normally do things' means? It means I have no intention of adjusting to human standards. I won't go easy on you if you get hurt, either!"
Grumbling, Lizmel kicked away the scarecrows lying around and handed me a blunt sword.
[Scout Training Sword]
Attack Power +20 (Slash)
Critical Damage: x1.0
Durability 100/100
Enhancement Attempts: 2
The sword's stats were pathetic. Yikes, I didn't know there were weapons even crappier than the shop-bought ones on the 1st floor.
Still, I like the simple design and well-balanced weight.
Personally, I'd have liked it to be a little heavier, but all in all, aside from the stats, it feels good to use.
"For the training you do with me, you're going to use only that. Take off your shield and armor too."
A way to train pure swordsmanship without items? I'm completely into that.
"Then, let's start with this."
Lizmel said that and tossed a black jewel-like object down at her feet.
-Crash!
The jewel shattered, and a pitch-black shadow slowly began to seep out from inside.
The shadow wriggled as it gradually changed shape, eventually settling into something like a doll holding a weapon.
[Lizmel's Selection Test (Beginner) has begun.]
Huh? Wait, a selection test?
What happened to basic training and advanced training?
**
The quest objectives clearly listed basic training - advanced training - selection test in that order.
I thought it was supposed to proceed in that order. Was she starting with the test right away?
Was this what she meant by not going easy on me because I'm human?
"Your habit of using weapons doesn't look good. It said as much in the letter too. I thought I should check that first."
There were five shadow dolls in all, each taking a different direction and raising their weapons as though to surround me.
"Try taking those dolls down with that practice sword."
Lizmel said that and hopped away to a distant spot. Then the shadow dolls all started moving at once.
-Tap-tap-tap!
One of the sword-wielding dolls rushed over, quickly closing the distance. For something that looked like a trash mob, it was surprisingly fast.
I dodged the sword the rushing doll swung and brought the practice sword down toward its neck.
-Crack!
The strike itself landed accurately enough, but the practice sword was too weak to cut properly.
It felt like smacking a sandbag with a wooden stick. What, was it even possible to land a meaningful hit with this?
She's not the type to make me do impossible things just to mess with me. Doesn't seem like that kind of person.
-Whoosh!
I backstepped to dodge the doll's sword as it swung again. The doll's attack naturally flowed into a combo.
Smooth and fluid, but not nearly fast enough to catch my reflexes.
If slashes won't work, then it's time for a thrust. Dodging the combo, I forced my way into an opening and lunged.
-Thwack!
That still didn't feel good at all. Better than before, but it still didn't feel like I had actually stabbed it with a sword.
And then, from behind me, a shadow doll wielding a huge axe charged in. I knew from the start it wouldn't be a one-on-one fight.
Using my Instinct skill, I predicted the axe's path and twisted my shoulder to barely avoid it.
Then I swung my elbow at its head.
-Swish.
But the elbow that should have clearly connected just passed straight through the shadow's head.
What the hell is this, physical attack immunity?
The unexpected miss threw off my stance. Taking advantage of the opening, the sword-wielding doll rushed in instantly.
I tried to answer with a kick, but this time my foot passed straight through the doll's body too.
The doll swung its sword, failing to cut my throat, and instead smacked me in the temple.
-Bam!
The timing was off, so it wasn't a huge hit, but it was incredibly annoying.
I readjusted my grip on the practice sword in my right hand and swung hard, smacking it in the temple the same way.
-Crack!
As expected, it still didn't land properly, but at least it hit.
So swordsmanship training means I can only hit with a sword, huh?
"Right, got it."
I kicked off the ground to put some distance between us and readjusted my grip on my sword.
Definitely, a training method like this will improve my sword-handling. It's rough, but it's certainly effective.
But isn't it a bit much to spring something like this on me out of nowhere and then worry on your own?
"Ah, that... the head... it'll be okay, right?"
"It's only been five minutes since I said I wouldn't go easy on you if you got hurt, you bitch."