Chapter 5
Despite being blind, Godfrey usually kept his eyes open. It was a symbol of his resolve to abandon his life as a Knight of Prophecy and dedicate himself to Religious Life.
Now, he closed his eyes. Eugene, understanding the significance, carefully regulated his breathing.
I had been blinded by my own perceptions.
Beneath his rock-like solemnity, a kindness peeked out like moss. That was Eugene's impression of Godfrey.
But now, that impression was gone. Standing before him was not a Knight who revered honor and justice, but a sword demon, mad for the blade itself.
Eugene glanced around. He could move a little and enter the reed field, but such a petty trick wouldn't fool his Master's ears.
-Many who tried to lure me into such places to fight in the past only ended up losing their own vision and going to the underworld.
He remembered a story his Master had told him once.
"I can hear your eyeballs rolling. Don't even think about trying any tricks."
"Was it that obvious?!"
He'd even rolled them slowly, just in case, yet he was still caught. Truly, his Master's hearing was a Divine Domain.
It's a joke. I can't hear that far. Master, you shouldn't joke at a time like this...
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a blade flew at him.
A frontal thrust rose 20 degrees. It was a Swift Sword strike that would pierce the heart of an ordinary swordsman before he could even react.
Once the initiative was lost, evasion was impossible. Whether he retreated or dodged sideways, the blade would pursue. To the one on the receiving end, it felt like being chased by a flying viper.
And if he blocked it with his sword? The blade would slide up his own sword, severing his wrist.
There was only one sure way to counter it: shatter it with overwhelming force.
Eugene recalled the sensation of crushing the Monster Boar's head and unleashed his power.
Clang!
It was a sound that seemed impossible for two swords colliding.
Thud!
The tip of the blade, which should have reached Eugene's chest, plunged into the ground, and Godfrey dropped to one knee.
Yes, that's it.
He stumbled as he pulled out his sword, then regained his stance and aimed it at his Disciple.
Once a fight begins, never relax your guard for a moment. Always choose the best option. Didn't you ever get criticized for being dishonorable during your Knight days? No. I didn't use it in Tournaments, and everyone who saw it died. I feel like I'm learning a lot of new things about you today, Master. Isn't it the same for both of us?
Thus, countless Sword Strikes were exchanged. It was more than just pushing Eugene to his limits; it was a comprehensive test of everything Godfrey had taught him.
Flash.
Godfrey's blade angled, reflecting the sunlight.
The stinging glare fiercely pierced his eyes, and Eugene closed them. He then pushed all his senses to their limit and dodged the attack.
Godfrey's blade missed Eugene's armpit by a hair's breadth. Only about an inch of his clothing was cut, but an ordinary Knight would have been gushing blood from his armpit.
Humans instinctively raise their arms when their eyes are attacked. And those wearing armor are easily killed if you aim for the armpit. Though for you, who can shatter armor itself, it's a needless trick. I remember all your teachings.
With each exchange, everything he had learned with Godfrey, from his childhood until now, was replayed in his mind.
Just now, even the vision-blocking surprise attack was something he'd learned two years ago.
-Vision can disappear at any moment, whether your eyes are cut on the Battlefield, dirt or dust gets in them, you're poisoned, or you're affected by Magic. There are even those who die in a duel because a drop of sweat from their forehead gets into their eye.
-That's a truly futile death.
-To avoid such a death, don't rely solely on sight. Train and refine all your senses.
Following that teaching, Eugene trained not to rely solely on his eyes, just as his Master had done.
Clang!
Godfrey's sword, wielded with full intent, was incredibly tricky. It was tremendously fast, yet its changes were fluid and unconstrained.
It was like facing two time-delayed attacks from a single sword.
If he prepared to defend or evade the initial attack, Godfrey would read his movements with superhuman hearing and immediately launch a modified attack.
Since the sword in his grip couldn't move faster than his muscles, Godfrey was always at least one step ahead.
Clang!
Just now, as he decided to parry an attack coming diagonally, it transformed into a thrust aimed at his shoulder. He wasn't called the Knight of Prophecy for nothing.
Clang!
Again, he parried an attack that came back at a strange angle.
Eugene thought this was the toughest fight he'd ever had, and Godfrey felt the same.
*If this had been a real fight to the death, I would already be dead.*
He didn't show it in front of his Disciple, but this was Godfrey's true feeling.
Cold sweat streamed down his back, but it wasn't from exertion. His body was trained enough to push away the wrinkles sown by time with sheer muscle.
Each time he struck at Eugene, his instincts sounded a death knell.
That's what made him sweat uncontrollably.
Clang!
Attacks that had cut down countless skilled Knights in real combat were all being blocked.
Even a decent opponent would have their hands and judgment muddled by his unique Consecutive Attacks, leading to their head being severed, but his Disciple was completely unaffected.
Clang!
Because Consecutive Attacks themselves were impossible.
Stumble.
Each time Eugene defended, Godfrey's stance and breathing were completely shattered by that overwhelming power.
Therefore, to defeat his Disciple, he would have to finish him in one go with a One-Hit Kill...
*How can I deal with someone who surpasses me in stamina, strength, speed, and talent?*
Experience is a deadly weapon above all else, but if it's the *only* thing you have an advantage in, it's a different story.
Clang!
Moreover, his Disciple compensated for his lack of experience with innate intuition and beast-like senses.
He was the kind of person who could skillfully wield even an unfamiliar weapon after just a few swings.
Their Sword Dance continued until twilight fell and the moon began to wane.
Eugene had considered this his Graduation Exam, so he had focused primarily on defense.
But at some point, he realized there were no more problems left to solve.
Haa! Haa!
Hearing his Master's ragged breathing, he realized it was time to leave the examination hall, because the scabbard Godfrey had forged in his heart had long since been torn apart.
Crash!
Godfrey's stance shattered, and his sword spun away, landing far off.
Eugene stopped his blade before the neck of his Master, who was now on both knees.
Haa... haa...
He waited for his score, but Godfrey seemed to have taken a heavy blow from the last strike.
Clutching his torn, bleeding palm, he trembled and gasped for breath.
"Kill me." "That joke was actually pretty funny."
Eugene laughed, sheathed his sword, and helped his Master up.
"Even that first surprise attack was a joke, you know?" "People call that cheating."
Eugene brushed the dirt from his Master's knees and shins.
"That's enough. I can do it myself." "Isn't this one of the few dutiful services your Disciple can perform for you? Please accept it."
Thud!
Instead of answering, Godfrey simply collapsed.
Fighting a Monster Child in human skin makes it hard to even stand. Not a Monster Child, but a Witch's Child. Yes, yes. It's good to see you take pride in a mother everyone curses. You are a truly *dutiful son*.
Godfrey scoffed lightly.
Eugene sat down beside him. Master and Disciple cooled their heated bodies in the night breeze.
Eugene took Godfrey's wrist.
Let me see the wound. You were bleeding.""It's fine. It's minor.""Even a Hegemon can be crippled by a small boil, and a lion can starve to death from a single thorn in its paw.""I remember raising a Knight, not a Bard."
Despite his words, Godfrey quietly offered his hand to his Disciple.
Eugene retrieved a water pouch from his separate pack.
"This might sting a little." "Save that talk for when you're tending to a Young Lady's hand. I've had a sword in my gut three times in my life." "Remarkable that you're still alive."
Clean water washed over Godfrey's torn palm, but he didn't even flinch.
Next, Eugene pulled out a thick-leaved herb.
I expected a bandage, but you're different, as always.
Eugene bunched several leaves together. The method was to twist them like a pretzel to extract the juice, but with his monstrous strength, the juice gushed out with incredible force. He sprinkled Powdered Medicine over it, as if seasoning it.
What trickery is this? The pain suddenly subsided. It's Mushroom Powder with pain-relieving effects, quite a rare item. Please understand that it should technically be applied last. You're truly resourceful. If you ever become crippled, you could still make a living as an Apothecary. Give your thanks to Homi. She collected it.
Godfrey chuckled. He saw through Eugene's unspoken gratitude, hidden by shyness.
Physique, Swordsmanship, technique, intuition. A complete man, possessing everything necessary, stood before him.
Finally, Eugene bandaged Godfrey's injured hand and held it with both of his own.
"Is there still more?"
"Yes."
Eugene closed his eyes and lightly moved his lips. It was a unique resonance, neither conversation, recitation, nor song.
Each word from Eugene felt mystical, as if taking form and seeping into his grasp.
You, you, you... surely you can't use miracles?
Godfrey was as surprised as he had been when Eugene defeated the Monster Boar.
Truly exceptional Priests could perform wondrous miracles, but their numbers were extremely few. Even in the village Monastery, only the Abbot was capable of it.
Eugene shook his head.
Of course not. I have no faith, and I'm a Witch's Child. I can't heal wounds like a famous Bishop.
Everything was passed by word of mouth, so rumors were easily distorted in that era. Especially concerning divine miracles, all sorts of false rumors were mixed in.
However, Eugene, having lived in the Monastery and occasionally witnessed the Abbot's miracles, knew that not all of it was false.
My mother told me once: if priests blindly worship a god residing in another dimension, witches try to understand the other dimension itself.
Godfrey felt as if the Herbal Liquid applied beneath the bandage was somehow moving.
Talented Witches can summon something from another dimension and let it reside in this world. Right now, it feels like something is crawling and tickling on my palm.
For the first time, Eugene saw fear on his Master's face. Neither sword wounds nor death could shake him, but superstitions seemed to frighten him.
Wouldn't living juice work better than just juice?
Eugene smiled faintly.
I'm taking this off right now, you rascal! So the wine incident back then wasn't a coincidence either! I was surprised back then too. I didn't do it on purpose. It must have been my mother's blood, residing within me, manifesting on its own.
Eugene pointed at Godfrey's bandaged hand.
It's good for your body, so don't worry. It won't eat away at your flesh like maggots." "!!!"
Eugene had to struggle quite a bit to stop his Master from tearing off the bandage.
* * *
When the howl of wolves echoed in the distance and dawn was not far off, the two bid each other farewell.
"Are you truly leaving alone?"
"The path I must walk is the Pilgrimage Path. I seek not worldly things like wealth, honor, power, or retainers. If we traveled together, we would only hinder each other's dreams."
Godfrey pointed to the armor lying to one side.
"Those are yours from now on." "What about you, Master?" "Armor is a luxury for a Pilgrim. A hood to cover my body is enough."
Godfrey's cloudy eyes were open once more. The impression of the sword demon had vanished, and he had returned to his usual Monk self.
"Understood. I will use them well." "You could at least pretend to refuse once, but you just gobble it up." "I know you dislike such melodrama." "Alright, you're clever. Since we're talking, take one more thing."
Godfrey tossed a ring to his Disciple, who was looking at him with bright, expectant eyes.
"What is this?" "It's the Family Seal Ring of Sir Rein Meyer, who was my Master. He's already passed, so from now on, it's your family now." "Huh? What's this all of a sudden?" "Once you've raided the Sealing Chamber, you'll be leaving the village, won't you? Don't you think you'll need a good status? A Noble Knight will get a loaf of bread and a piece of meat more than a Commoner, no matter where they go." "Impersonating a Noble is the worst crime, though? It's grounds for hanging without trial." "It's not exactly Impersonating a Noble. My Master was the last survivor of his Noble House."
Godfrey narrowed his eyes, as if recalling a memory.
Everything of his, the one who had no children, was inherited by me, and now it's merely being passed on to you. It's a Noble House with only a name left, at best, but it's better than nothing.
Eugene quickly assented. He knew well how useful Noble status itself was in this world.
"So, from now on, I'm Eugene Meyer." "Anyway, it's a defunct Noble House from a distant land, so there'll be no way to verify it. Your accent, appearance, skill, and even..."
Godfrey turned his face towards the forest.
...your excellent Squire will ensure you won't be suspected." "You seem to covet Homi quite a bit." "A Disciple is someone to pass things on to, not someone to exploit."
And then he tore off the bandage wrapped around his hand.
"Ah! You shouldn't do that yet." "That crawling sensation is too awful, so I can't stand it!"
Godfrey rubbed his palm.
Huh, amazing.
The torn wound was half-healed. The blood that had profusely flowed was also cleanly gone, as if something had consumed it.
Godfrey picked up his fallen sword, sheathed it, and silently faced Eugene.
Whoosh-.
Only the sound of the night wind rustling through the bushes lingered between them.
Godfrey seemed to want to say more, but all the conversations to be had were already finished. He was not a naturally eloquent man.
Aren't you going to perform the knighting ceremony?
A Knight can appoint a new Knight.
It's a right passed down as customary law from ancient times, so it cannot be used carelessly. Knights are sometimes punished by their Feudal Lord for doing so.
Of course, if a renowned Knight like Godfrey bestowed it upon his only Squire, no one would dare question it.
Enough. None of that cheesy stuff. Just be a Knight from now on.
...
Godfrey, who had been about to move his lips, suddenly turned and walked towards the horse tied nearby.
Eugene supported his Master, who was staggering from severe exhaustion, and helped him onto the horse.
Then he took the reins and led him to the road outside the village. Only a few jokes were exchanged between them.
That was their farewell. Thus, the Master departed, and the Disciple remained.