Chapter 37
Swish!
The horizontally swung stick cut through the air in an instant.
But when Daphne tried to follow it with her eyes, there was nothing there. A stick would swing again just a hand’s width away.
“…!”
Daphne’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t just Heros’ precise swordsmanship that was impressive—it was something even more astonishing.
This sword style was:
“-Kuhahaha! Did you see that? You thought it was there, but it’s actually over here—an amazing fake! Teleportation sword technique!”
It was the same technique Berto had shown before.
“Wow, back then it really looked clumsy…”
Watching Heros now, it didn’t look clumsy at all—it even seemed mysterious.
“This is the First Form, Comet Wave Slash. It’s a sword technique that leaves traces like a comet’s tail to confuse the opponent.”
Heros, after demonstrating the first form, slowly swung the stick again.
“Ah! So you leave multiple afterimages so the opponent can’t tell which is the real attack?”
Arius shouted as if he finally understood after seeing the stick’s path. Heros nodded.
“It’s a practical technique for combat, so learn it well.”
“Yes! Understood!”
“Daphne. Do you understand?”
Heros looked at Daphne, whose expression was confusing. There was no way she looked like she understood.
Even when explaining the basics of swordsmanship, she hadn’t been able to focus, so maybe this stage was still too early for her. Heros frowned slightly.
“So… what’s it called? Comet Wave Slash?”
“Yeah.”
Daphne scratched the back of her head.
“Also known as the ‘That’s my afterimage, you fool!’ sword technique!”
Berto… lucky guy. His descendant even went and changed the embarrassing sword style name on her own.
Daphne slowly stood up.
“I’ll try it.”
“You’ll try it?”
Arius asked, surprised.
“D-Daphne. No matter how talented you are, you can’t possibly mimic a sword style just by watching it… can you? Wait, you can?!”
Swish!
Daphne’s bokken (wooden sword) swung along the exact path Heros had drawn, without deviation.
The twist of her waist, the angle of her arms, the strength in her wrists—all perfectly reproduced.
Arius’ mouth fell open.
“W-What? How did you do that?”
Do what? She had learned it before, so she knew.
Swish!
After finishing the last movement, Daphne felt a slight dizziness and staggered.
‘As expected, my body can’t fully manage it yet.’
But this was only a matter of stamina and time. With enough training, she could master it.
‘I also need mana.’
She thought, maybe a dark magician would appear so she could grab and draw from them.
“Phew.”
Daphne let out a short sigh and pointed the end of her bokken at Heros.
“How’s my skill, Master?”
Heros, who had been observing Daphne while stroking his chin, raised an eyebrow.
“Impressive.”
Arius nearly screamed, pressing his hand to his mouth to stop himself.
Could it be? Heros—the man who probably never complimented anyone in his life, anywhere in the empire—just said impressive?
That was an incredible compliment!
“‘Impressive’ is all you have to say? You should praise me more! Kneel and worship me!”
“Daphne. That’s your father’s compliment.”
“Compliments should be said in a nicer way!”
“Even with that kind of personality, he did compliment you.”
“…?”
Heros blinked at Arius, suddenly scolded about personality. But Arius didn’t notice; he was too busy sharpening his ambition.
‘I envy Daphne…!’
He had just absorbed both Heros’ demonstration and Daphne’s sword style into his mind, honing his skills.
‘I’ll surpass Daphne someday!’
Arius’ eyes sparkled as he gripped his bokken and rose.
“Arius.”
Heros’ hand grabbed Arius’ shoulder.
“Don’t rush. Focus on the basics a bit more.”
“Yes… yes?”
“You’re already good enough.”
“…Yes!”
Already good enough! That’s praise too!
Arius barely held back a grin, tightening his grip on the bokken. Still, a small smile escaped.
Right, Father is right. Don’t rush. Daphne is Daphne, and I’m me! But someday, I’ll surpass her!
“Daphne.”
Heros, calming Arius, returned his attention to Daphne practicing the sword form.
“Did you really see the First Form for the first time just now?”
“…Huh?”
Daphne blinked.
“You can’t mimic the First Form just by seeing it once. You have to invest time to find a way that fits your body.”
“Uh… um. Hmm.”
Daphne avoided Heros’ sharp gaze, unsure how to explain.
Actually, she had learned the sword from her grandfather—not this fancy-named form—but she had practiced it painfully until it became second nature. Could she say that? A cold sweat ran down her back.
“No way…”
“No way, what?”
Daphne swallowed nervously.
“Even the talent resembles me?”
“….”
“Genius?”
“….”
Is he crazy?
Daphne, momentarily flustered, clicked her tongue.
“You’re a genius, yes, but you don’t resemble me. I am me.”
Heros ignored her comment and raised his stick.
“Try it again. I’ll watch properly this time.”
“Alright.”
Daphne swung her bokken immediately, tracing the movements of Heros and Berto in her mind. But it wasn’t perfect—it called upon the path she had created as Selus.
Swish!
Heros felt the wind brushing his cheek and fell silent for a moment.
‘This is… strange.’
Before him, a five-year-old Daphne was swinging her bokken with her long blonde hair flowing.
Yet faintly, a vision overlapped—of a woman with short black hair and scales on her right arm.
The woman mirrored Daphne’s movements exactly, like the same person.
‘Interesting.’
Heros pressed his brows and let out a low hum. When he looked again, the vision had vanished.
“Haah… haah…”
Daphne finished the First Form and looked proudly at Heros.
“How was that? Amazing, right? Cool, isn’t it?”
“….”
Heros, after a brief pause, replied:
“Impressive.”
“Argh!”
Daphne pouted and twisted on her toes.
“Watch again! This time I’ll get a real compliment!”
Heros tilted his chin, daring her. His eyes focused harder—he wanted to see the vision again.
Then—
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Polin came running up the hill in a hurry.
Heros turned from Daphne to Polin.
“Haah… haah… Why didn’t you check the comm device? I’ve contacted you so many times!”
“Ah.”
Heros recalled the comm device left in the carriage.
“I forgot.”
“If you forget twice, a war might break out!”
Polin pulled a parchment from his arms.
“We’ve received a message from the royal family.”
He handed it over.
“The hunting party will consist of ten Guardians, five trainee Guardians, ten knights from the Marquis Finch, eight Rose Knights from Count Imperial, and three knights from the Duke’s house.”
Heros nodded after checking the list.
“Not bad.”
But Polin wouldn’t have run all this way for such a minor task.
Heros raised his eyebrows.
“You’ve got more members?”
“Yes. Lady Daphne.”
“…What?”
Heros thought he misheard. Polin continued seriously:
“She is to participate in the hunting party, to boost the knights’ morale.”
“….”
Was this the emperor’s will? Or some other family trying to pressure the Duke’s house?
Heros’ hand clenched the parchment.
They want to send a five-year-old girl into a hunting party just for morale? Ridiculous.
At that moment, a low growl came from Heros’ teeth.
“A dark magician?!”
Daphne’s eyes lit up as if she had overheard.
“Are we talking about hunting a dark magician?!”
Perfect! She’d been thinking her mana was low, but now she had a chance to grab a mana source! Daphne bounced with excitement.
“Great! I’m going! I’ll follow no matter what!”
“….”
“I’m going! Dark magician!”
“….”
Polin covered his mouth in awe.
“Lady, how much grudge must you have against a dark magician to be this happy…! Yes! Lady! You must go! Seek revenge!”
“Yes! Revenge! I’m going!”
Heros tilted his head, momentarily deflated.
Revenge… huh?
Near the imperial walls, temporary barracks for the empire’s Guardians were bustling.
Because the dark magician hunting party had been formed, thorough preparation was needed.
All Guardians and trainee Guardians were busy packing.
“Lord Rache!”
“There you are!”
Two children, still showing youthful faces, ran to a boy in a white robe.
The boy slowly turned toward the voices. His pale lavender hair peeked out from under his hood.
“I just heard from the commander!”
“Some incredible news!”
The children looked up at the boy, excited. He smiled softly and lifted one of the children.
“Yes, what did you hear?”
“Lady Daphne Akion will join the hunting party!”
The boy’s expression stiffened slightly, unnoticed by the children.
“Daphne! That hero!”
“You’re Rache’s sibling, right?”
The boy’s name was Rache Akion, the eldest of the Akion family, and one of those who hated Daphne.
