That was the image of Raymond that Gordon remembered.
A jerk who doesnât know how to do anything and always bothering others by relying on his background.
Always ignoring knights, saying magic is the best.
Thatâs why he didnât doubt that Raymond would lose to the youngest knight.
The match between Raymond, who had never trained before, and the youngest knight, who spent his entire life training his swordsmanship, the victor should have been decided before it started.
But that wasnât the outcome he expected.
The current scene he saw was the opposite. The youngest knight was being pushed by Raymond since the beginning.
He was not a match to Raymond in the first place. The youngest knightâs attacks did not work at all to Raymond.
Did Raymond use magic? No. It was impossible.
No matter how much a jerk Raymond is, did he have the guts to break the rules in the first place?
Above all, Raymond is incompetent. It would be really funny if he used magic when he didnât know how to use it. And even if he use it, it did not mean that the youngest knight would be defeated.
The Millennium family is a Wizardry Family, and as the familyâs knights they all learned how to cope up with magic.
In many ways, the youngest knight should have really won.
However, as Raymond held the sword, the atmosphere around him had changed at some point.
He became more serious and sharper.
The confrontation began, and Gordon Corman unknowingly admired him.
Raymondâs swordsmanship was practical. He knew how to effectively overpower the opponent.
Gordon was curious.
Raymond had never touch the sword, and he was from a wizard family, so why would he learn swordsmanship?
Seeing his ability, this must be the reason why he was confident.
At some point, his initial thoughts changed to astonishment.
When Raymondâs momentum changed, his Killing intent was so dense that he, the Commander, almost pulled out his sword.
But in the end, he couldnât deny his admiration anymore when he saw Raymond overpowering the youngest knight.
Although it was true that he didnât like him, there was one thing he was certain with.
âHeâs a genius. The young master was actually talented in swords, not magic.â
Raymond possess an overwhelming talent for swordsmanship.
***
âWhooâŠâ
Raymond took a deep breath. Slowly, the wooden sword pointed at the neck of the youngest knight was lowered.
The Killing Intent that he had unknowingly exuded quickly disappeared.
âGood.â
Yeah, this is how it feels. I love this feeling of wielding a sword and sweating.
After looking at the sky, he slightly lowered his head and looked away.
The youngest knight looked up to him blankly.
It seems like his defeat hadnât sink in yet.
âTsk.â
Perhaps because Raymond broke away from his concentration, the pain in his palms started registering on his mind.
When he âtskâ his tongue, the youngest knight in front of him flinched and trembled.
Raymond look down and he could see blood dripping down from his hand holding the wooden sword.
It was too much for him to hold the wooden sword anymore.
âTake it.â
He tossed over the wooden sword towards the youngest knight, who was still in daze.
The youngest knight hurriedly accepted the wooden sword.
And he was stunned when he saw the blood at the handle of the wooden sword.
He seemed worried about what injury did the young master received.
Alice rushed over as she saw the blood dripping from Raymondâs hand.
âYoung masterâs hand.â
She took out a handkerchief and tied it around his hand.
In this way, it will be able to stop bleeding.
However, Raymond didnât seem to mind it because his mind was elsewhere.
âItâs refreshing.â
As he swing the sword, he felt free for some reason.
By wielding a sword, he could pour out all the emotions he had inside.
After wielding a sword, he felt better.
âIt hurts.â
The pain increased with the contact between the wound and the handkerchief.
He wanted to tell Alice that there was no need to put the handkerchief, he could go directly to the clinic without it but he choose to shut up.
Because the stunned commander was approaching.
âI will give up my position as the commander of the knight, as promised.â
It could be said that this was his dream job. But now he had to step down from the position that he could barely get by with all his efforts
If his past self knew the outcome, he wouldnât have bet his position.
He is the Commander of the Knights from the Millennium family.
No one could easily let go of what they got after hard work.
âI didnât mean to have him stepped down from his position in the first place.â
It just amused him to see the commander looking down at his young master, also he wanted to hold the sword again.
If he really step down from the position, it would become very annoying. He may be called by Count Millennium and be blamed.
He was already busy, so he didnât want to waste his time on that.
âYoung master.â
Seems like Gordon knew what his face meant.
âNever mind. Letâs pretend today didnât happen. Because I will be bothered if you put me down as the commander.â
He shook his hand as if not to talk anymore.
ââŠ.â
The commander of the knight shut his mouth.
Perhaps he was embarrassed by what he just said unexpectedly.
âTrain properly. Donât be conceited and tarnish the familyâs name.â
That was the last thing he said before he had gone back to Alice.
However, the commander of the knight blocked him.
âWhat is it?â
Raymond was now a little annoyed. Gordon should be contented that he didnât need to step down from his position.
âYoung master.â
âWhat?â
What did he want to say now?
âThis bet isâŠâ
Was it hard to believe that he lost?
âThis bet is nothing.â
When he read the novel, there were many people like that. They made a bet with the main character, but they couldnât admit it when they lost.
Was this different to the commander of the knight general? Raymond donât think so.
Those who have reached the top have strong pride. Losing to a bum like Raymond, they hated it more than dying.
Unlike what Raymond was currently thinking, Gordon did otherwise.
âDonât you want to learn swordsmanship?â
He said something unexpected.
He was asking him if he wanted to learn swordsmanship.
Looking at him, he continued.
âSwordsmanship. Young masters your are talented in this field rather than magic!â
Gordon began to get excited. His eyes flashed with greed.
âIâve met quite a few knights. But no one, is like young master. You can use that kind of swordsmanship already at your first time!â
âSo what?â
He stared at him.
What Gordon just said was true.
Certainly, it was hard to think that his swordsmanship was coming from a beginner.
This was the natural reaction if he immitated the main characterâs sword technique.
âYoung master has an amazing talent! From the leading sword technique to the method of effectively overpowering. If a stranger saw it, they would have thought that the young master had trained swordsmanship his whole life. No, you would have been known as a mercenary who already went the battlefield.â
He talked too long.
Raymond could understand it if only he just talked briefly.
âYou talk too long. Just say it in simple words.â
His lengthy words just confused him more.
Even if he donât have to wrap it up, he can already see what heâs trying to say.
âLearn swordsmanship from me. I will make you strong.â
Strong.
For Raymond, who has a strong desire to live, these words were attractive enough.
Yeah, at least for those who have a strong desire to be strong over time.
He want to be strong. But it was not something it could be done within few days.
There were many more important things to him than training swordsmanship.
And all of them are essential things to protect his life.
Between what he canât obtain right away and what he can get right now with hard work.
If anyone had to choose between the two, wouldnât they choose the second one? Especially if the circumstances is quite urgent; a matter of life and death.
âI donât have time for that.â
No time.
That was true.
In order to create a force that could counter the protagonist, he have to move quickly and efficiently.
âButâŠâ
Even with his words, Gordon did not give up.
Raymondâs âactingâ must have impacted him greatly.
Incredible talent.
Anyone who wield the sword wants it and longs for it.
âDidnât the young master say he wonât do it?â
Alice stepped up as she noticed that Raymond was in trouble.
Gordon glanced over her and then look at him again.
Alice was angry to have been ignored but before she could say something to the commander, Raymond stopped her.
âYoung master?â
It didnât suit Raymond to have her step up.
It was shameful for a man to hide behind a woman.
He didnât accept the bet to get attention.
âI donât have time to learn swordsmanship. Instead, Iâll take your sword.â
ââŠ.â
The knightâs face hardened slightly by what he said.
âThatâs enough, right?â
âDo you know what that means?â
âI know. I know. Thatâs why Iâm saying this.â
The Commander hesitated for a moment. Then, he knelt down on his left knee, took the sword in his waist, and handed it over to Raymond with both hands.
âI will treat it well.â
It was a little different from the youngest knightâs sword.
If a person receives the sword from a knight, they would also receive their loyalty.
It can be said that having the commanderâs black sword wins the favor of the entire group of knights he commanded.
As long as Raymond have this sword, the other knights canât easily touch him unless they are idiots.
Because insulting him will insult the Commander of the knight.
Getting a sword from the commander of the knight means that he recognized him as his master.
Besides that, there are other things he can get, but he didnât want it right now.
âIf I have this sword, in time I will also learn his swordsmanship.â
Knowing that, the commander of the knight hesitated and but still gave him the sword.
Raymond didnât think heâd actually give it to him.
âLetâs go back.â
âYes, yes!â
***
15 days has passed in a blink of an eye.
During that time, he spent his time exercising and preparing for a banquet.
âThis banquet is a battlefield.ââ
It was not possible to visit Count Warlug at will, so this opportunity was extremely rare.
âIâve prepared enough.â
Exercising, choosing appropriate clothes for the banquetâŠ
He had been really busy these days.
Was it because his hidden purpose of getting close to Selina? To attract her on his side?
As the banquet day approached, he became more nervous.
Will he be able to do it well? This opportunity may be blown away by just a simple mistake.
âMust act like usual. Normal.â
He took a deep breath. Itâs not good to be this nervous already.
He must act like the usual.
âTomorrow.â
For tomorrow, when the banquet will be held, he needed to rest.