Chapter 17: Things Needed to Break the Hero

Upon a flat, yellow land without a single curve.

A battlefield that looked somewhat familiar unfolds.

However, the perspective from which the battlefield was viewed showed a stark difference from before.

And for good reason, for Kariel was currently positioned high in the sky.

The domain of hawks and Giant Turtles that roam the firmament.

Because of the dizzying height, everything spread out below looked like swarms of ants.

“Was it too high?”

Before her words could even finish, the world zoomed in in the blink of an eye.

Now, it was a distance where they were clearly distinguishable as crowds of people rather than swarms of ants.

“Since the situation has changed, the process must change as well. From now on, what you must observe closely is….”

The process of combat.

“Take in as much as you can. And after that, you will encounter the combat techniques that are scattered all over the world.”

Pick the ones that suit you from among them.

“Do not beg me; judge and choose for yourself.”

After that, Kariel watched countless battles shown by the Demon King.

Battles where various armaments and means of combat were fully mobilized.

One-on-one combat, battles against multiple foes.

Battles between army and army.

The results of those who were prepared.

And the devastation of reckless impulsiveness, charging in without any preparation.

There were instances of clashing with similar armaments, and others facing off with entirely different weapons and means.

There were factions that were unilaterally dominant, others that were the opposite, and some that fell into a stalemate—only for the tide to shift or the formation to be overturned by a single small variable.

Giant monsters rampaged, tearing up the earth, while flying corps unleashed unilateral violence, launching an offense from the sky.

Some devised countermeasures quickly, while others, having no way to resist, simply endured and suffered until the tide of battle turned.

From the perspective of the invading Demon Race.

From the perspective of the various races of the Middle Realm defending themselves.

There were times when offense and defense were reversed, and the attacker became the defender.

Taking advantage of terrain, or facing total annihilation without variables, or even charging headlong into a decisive battle prepared for mutual destruction.

“One may boast of overwhelming victory in a one-on-one fight, but surviving and thriving in a place like that is another story entirely.”

Even if one were a champion of a Mounted Combat Tournament or an arena.

Once placed on a real battlefield, there is no telling when or how they might die.

They would likely excel as much as their skill allows.

But what if they are struck by an unseen arrow, or exposed to an Arrow Barrage without any defensive equipment?

What if they make repeated mistakes under the pressure of sheer numbers until injuries accumulate, or if a vital spot is accidentally slashed or pierced?

Who knows if a sudden magic bombardment will fall, or if they will become an absurd living sacrifice to siege engines, including catapults.

Or if they waste time by charging into the wrong place instead of where they should go.

Yet, somehow, that might act as luck, and a belated arrival could become a timely element that decides the direction of the battlefield.

An expert of unknown origin might excel as a mere soldier.

And not just one, but five or six such individuals might appear, surrounding and overwhelming the enemy commander.

What if the ground flips or splits without warning?

What if the sky suddenly collapses and crashes down upon you?

What if lightning strikes and beats you down?

What if fog settles so thick that it’s hard to distinguish an inch? What if wind and rain rage? What if snow swirls violently?

What about a chaotic brawl atop a muddy field?

What if one is exposed to a unilateral offense from the enemy while crossing a river?

Not on solid ground, but upon the undulating sea or river.

What if one fights on a swaying deck?

Even as the ship sinks, if everyone charges forward in a desperate struggle of ‘you die or I die’?

What if one slips while climbing a hill, a slope, a cliff, or a towering City Wall, or is pushed off by interference?

“How… how am I supposed to assume every single one of those scenarios before entering combat?”

“That is why the fundamentals are important. It is realistically difficult to devise countermeasures for everything. Not impossible… but the effort would be excessive.”

If so, what did the ‘fundamentals’ she spoke of mean?

“Being excellent in swordsmanship does not mean one can skillfully handle such things. That is a different matter entirely.”

Even a master of the sword will drown if they cannot swim.

If there is a variable, it would be that the probability of drowning differs slightly depending on whether one is in Heavy Armor or light armor.

Since they have no wings, it is an undeniable fact that even a master of swordsmanship will die from the fall if dropped from a great height to the ground.

Even if they survived, it would be hard for their body to remain intact.

Of course, it might be different if they devised their own countermeasures in the meantime.

Overcoming the absurdity one faces.

Overcoming the trials before one’s eyes.

That is why strength is necessary.

And if strength is lacking, there is the method of supplementing it by squeezing out wisdom and stratagems.

Skill, in essence, is proven in such a way.

“This is not something that can be solved immediately. So, just keep it in mind.”

Eventually.

“There are countless styles of swordsmanship in the world. However, swordsmanship is originally the means of the weak.”

“Is it because it utilizes a tool?”

A tool called a sword.

It wouldn’t matter if it weren’t a sword, but why specifically a sword?

The Demon King asked.

“Do you know why the sword became the representative armament of its time?”

“Because it is the symbol of the Religious Order.”

“Yes. You know surprisingly well.”

It was certainly not because the sword possessed overwhelming utility.

If one considers it, the sword is a weapon that requires a considerable, even significant, level of proficiency.

If one were to hold it without knowing anything.

A blunt weapon would be more efficient, and holding an axe would be far more useful.

If a bit of training is included, the spear could be called the most practical weapon.

But not the sword.

Despite that, why was the sword chosen?

A sword mimicking the cross.

The Arming Sword eventually became the symbol of the knight.

When the Knight Oath was performed in a simplified manner, it didn’t even need to be a sword.

However, as the culture of swearing an oath with a straight sword, extending straight like this, took root, and consequently, a process was added where clergy blessed not only the knight but the sword the knight held.

Only then did the culture of chivalry and the Knight Oath, along with its symbolism, begin to establish itself.

A noble is a knight.

This was naturally established within the Empire, but the situation in neighboring countries was different.

Why must a noble be a knight?

What connection is there between Blue Blood and a knight?

“Still, it’s true that the sword is useful in many ways. It’s easy to carry, and it looks good.”

Spears are cumbersome and inconvenient to carry.

Axes are hideous and barbaric.

Bows are the weapons of the weak and the poor, including hunters, and the impression that they cannot even carry a melee weapon is a problem.

Blunt weapons are efficient but require strength, and they are more crude and cruel than axes.

Divine Warriors.

In terms of symbolism, such weapons are utterly inappropriate for them to use.

It wasn’t like that from the beginning.

At some point, knights who held swords mimicking the cross—more accurately, knights who held swords manufactured to mimic them—increased.

As they did, the symbol and prejudice that they were the Divine Warriors became ingrained.

In the Empire, the sword became the king of all weapons, the symbol of the king, and the exclusive property of the knight, the Divine Warrior.

The Holy Sword of the Hero is the same.

The reason heroes and protagonists in old tales and fairy tales all hold swords can be seen as representing that symbolism.

“The reason the sword was spotlighted in terms of symbolism is that it’s something that has continued since before the prehistoric era.”

The Demon King briefly dismissed it, saying she had no intention of teaching history, so he should just know that much.

“Anyway, unlike the Middle Realm, there are not many examples of utilizing armaments in the Demon Realm.”

Even so, if they are used.

“It is because they possess the physique and aptitude to handle armaments, or because those armaments exert overwhelming efficiency and power.”

Understand this well.

“A sword is ultimately a tool, and there is no truth or anything of the sort here. Ultimately, this is a tool and a means for convenience, for the achievement of a goal.”

So, erase your prejudices and observe closely.

What kind of swordsmanship suits you.

Or perhaps other armament techniques or combat arts besides the sword.

Or even which ones are inappropriate.

“Do not be trapped in your own world.”

Even if you do not use them.

Someday, you will face those who do.

“If you don’t want to be unilaterally crushed later because you don’t know how to deal with it.”

Even so.

If it could end with a defeat, without dying or becoming crippled.

That in itself would be the height of luck.

====

“The masters of the Imperial Sword Forms have similar movements, but the way they utilize them varies wildly.”

Some handle it with strength.

Others utilize agility and nimbleness.

There are those who gain an advantage in a battle of wits by intelligently mixing anomalies and tricks.

And those who neutralize the opponent with sheer honesty, patience, and persistence.

“Depending on each strength, the characteristics of the swordsmanship also change.”

In that sense, Imperial swordsmanship is quite excellent in terms of popularity.

There is a reason why even the prestigious families within the Empire learn the Imperial Sword.

They build their foundation with it, even if they learn other swordsmanship later.

“However, as I mentioned before, this is the swordsmanship of the chosen. Even so, this choice is not a completely wrong means. For a state, combat techniques that can be used quickly and practically are important.”

In that sense, the first Imperial Sword Form is something anyone can reach a level of mastery in, regardless of who learns it.

“But it takes too long.”

The Demon King said.

“If you start learning today, you’d have to pour your soul into it for at least 5 years, and up to nearly 10, to barely be able to use it in actual combat.”

Forming a body suitable for the sword.

Until the senses are redesigned so that the optimal movements and countermeasures can be implemented reflexively, reaching the stage of adaptation.

“In the process, the Sword Path is naturally learned, and later, even without being taught, parts of the swordsmanship optimize themselves to fit one’s aptitude and physique.”

If you were to teach your child just one style of swordsmanship in the future, this would be the most excellent choice.

“Provided you can overcome the disadvantage of it being extremely tedious. It’s also easy to teach, so there’s no need to put in excessive effort to guide them.”

But, at the very least, you have no particular attachment to the Imperial Sword, do you?

If anything, you might even hate it.

“Then, in the Dabas Kingdom, which is in opposition to the Empire… was it called the War God Style?”

A name that is utterly arrogant.

However, it is also a swordsmanship that is said to live up to its name.

“But it’s far too late to start learning that now.”

To begin with, this is not the swordsmanship of a knight.

It is the swordsmanship of a warrior.

The swords used are not straight swords mimicking a cross, but a relatively diverse range of swords.

Before learning the swordsmanship, one first selects the optimal sword that suits them.

One can choose a different sword later, but that is a problem for later.

Looking at it this way, it was clear that the War God Style was overwhelming in terms of system and in-depth education.

But in terms of popularity or the mass production of troops, it was bound to lose to the Empire.

This too should be seen as an element specialized according to the local circumstances of each country.

“Besides those, there are various swordsmanship styles used by the human race, and the ways of handling swords among non-human races have spread and developed in truly diverse ways….”

One by one.

Though not in exhaustive detail, those who had mastered various styles of swordsmanship.

Their combat scenes poured out incessantly, like a flowing river.

The Demon King pointed out the origins of those styles, why they developed and changed in such a way, or why they degenerated.

Kariel, taking all of it in and engraving it into his mind, eventually reached the end.

“In that sense, how your father wielded the sword during his prime.”

Quite curious, aren’t you?

“From now on, your goal should be to defeat that.”

Not only in swordsmanship, but countless people fell, defeated by the sword of his father, Lueld.

Most suffered serious injuries, but they did not lead to fatal wounds.

Suppression.

Or neutralization.

This was a result possible because his skill was overwhelming.

In the midst of fierce combat, a few reached an extreme death.

But Lueld was not among them.

“That is his skill right after he grasped the Holy Sword.”

He had become shockingly strong.

It couldn’t be explained, but he was simply on a different dimension than before.

Even before grasping the Holy Sword, he was a powerhouse to the extent that the current Kariel couldn’t even dream of challenging him.

“Even so, compared to your Emperor at the time, there were many shortcomings.”

The being praised as the Hero Emperor.

And his father.

Even looking at their ages, they seemed similar to him or even younger.

Yet, for some reason, he could feel a level of experience and spirit from them that he dared not even glimpse.

The young Emperor held a sword and shield.

His father held the Holy Sword with both hands.

The two faced off and clashed.

The young Emperor, who used even his shield as a blunt weapon to deflect the Holy Sword.

In an instant, he thrust his sword in like a snake gliding across the ground, piercing Lueld.

Lueld suddenly rotated his body to evade.

Even while retreating, their swords crossed once, and when the shield was half-cut, the Emperor threw it away as if discarding it and rushed in, lowering his body like a weasel.

Lueld evaded that as well by a hair’s breadth.

Having now drawn a dagger from his waist and armed himself with both a sword and a knife, the Emperor skillfully, and at times precariously, managed to deflect some of the Holy Sword’s strikes with that small dagger.

In terms of pure skill, Lueld was infinitely lacking.

Yet, the reason the two seemed to be in a somewhat equal match.

Was because Lueld possessed overwhelming physical abilities.

“Was that around the time he was one year younger than you are now?”

“…….”

This was not at the level of a mock duel.

It was closer to a bloody battle resembling real combat.

If one’s skill is that exceptional, can such a picture be drawn even from a mere duel?

“First, set your goal to defeat that level.”

If you cannot even surpass that.

“Defeating Lueld at his peak? Not a chance in a million.”

Thus, even as the Demon King hummed a tune, the duel between the two was racing toward its end.

“Was there ever a time when my father was defeated in actual combat or a duel?”

“He was defeated many times. Very many.”

“Among them, I wonder if there was someone so great that my father felt a wall.”

“Hmm.”

So it ends up like this.

“There were about three people whom your father considered an impossible answer even after grasping the Holy Sword.”

“…Other than you.”

“I said three, didn’t I? Why are you pointing at me when we are discussing whether you can acquire it or not?”

Kariel let out a groan with a reluctant face.

“It’s just….”

“As I said, you cannot learn mine anyway, and I have no reason to teach you, so let go of your lingering attachments.”

“No, it’s not that… I just thought that by this point, it would be time for you to brag a bit….”

“…….”

The Demon King glared at Kariel with narrowed eyes.

“You brat. I might just kill you a hundred times over for your Heretical Crime.”

“…….”

Perhaps because even a casual remark contained genuine intent.

Kariel found his knees trembling for no reason.