Overpowered Sword

Overpowered Sword Chapter 3

Level up with swords (3)

Huh!

In an empty lot where no one is around, only the sound of the wind blows sharply.

The sword’s trajectory was simple.

There was no flashiness or skill to be found. From top to bottom, from bottom to top, from left to right, from right to left. These were movements that could be said to be the basics of swordsmanship.

Vertical cut, horizontal cut, diagonal cut, stabbing.

The swordsmanship taught at the academy was simply a combination of those movements or slightly modified ones. Esoteric swordsmanship, which contained deep principles, was not permitted to commoners.

So Leon’s swordsmanship training was always a repetition of the basics.

Huh!

I swung it nearly a thousand times, but it didn’t shake. Only the same speed, strength, and accuracy push the wooden sword as when you just started.

The proficiency in basic skills was already at a perfect level.

In some ways, repetitive training can be considered meaningless.

At some point, Leon focused on sharpening his mind rather than his body or skills during this training. That was the driving force that gave me hope that I could defeat Lian, a different type of power than that of an Auror.

Even though it was not visible to the eye, the power clearly existed.

Ugh!

succeded.

Unlike the ones swung before, the sound of the wind was faint. It wasn’t a real sword, it was a bladeless wooden sword that cut the wind. It was not something that could simply be said to be good with a sword.

After completing a thousand cuts with that, Leon wiped away his sweat.

‘Is this the end of everything?’

Only after the two towels became wet did my body cool down a bit. The cold wind passing through the mountainside dried my damp hair, and the sound of birdsong that I couldn’t hear while swinging the wooden sword tickled my ears.

Leon sat down in his seat with a sad feeling.

Curfew must have already passed. Even if I got penalized for today, I wanted to stay in this vacant lot longer.

“Haa…”

Leon, feeling frustrated, let out a long sigh.

Even though I cut myself a thousand times, I couldn’t shake off all my regrets. Well, he worked hard for several years, but is it possible for him to clear his mind in one day?

How many calluses were peeled off and how many wooden swords were broken? There is probably no one in the academy who has been to the training hall more times than him, and no one has broken more wooden swords.

Leon asked himself to overcome that feeling of self-destruction.

‘Why should I give up?’

It was because there was no repayment. Some people say that effort is beautiful in itself, but that was either the excuse of a failure or the nonsense of a fool who has never experienced real frustration.

And someone else will say.

Except for a very small number of people, most people compromise without achieving their dreams. It’s just that you are like that too.

But while Leon agreed with that, he still had something to say.

‘…What’s the point in trying if everything is decided from the beginning?’

There is a possibility, but if it fails, that’s fine.

Because we can acknowledge that failure as the value of life.

Some people might laugh it off and say it was a reckless challenge. Some people may wish they had tried a little harder.

But what if it’s a problem that doesn’t even have that possibility?

If someone’s success or failure is determined from the beginning of life, can that life really be given meaning?

Is it no different from an OX game where the process is meaningless?

“Goddess.”

I have never looked for God before. A nameless god. A goddess of mercy who has nurtured this world since the beginning and does not demand worship but simply watches over the free life of life.

Leon spoke to the great being for the first time.

“Are my efforts and my life meaningless?”

Naturally, God did not answer.

The sky, studded with countless stars, was silent as always.

No, that judgment was a little premature.

Flash!

Light exploded in the sky as Leon looked up blankly.

“Wow!”

Leon, who saw the flash of light, reflexively threw his body away. My eyes went blind due to exposure to intense light, but that was probably a good thing.

Swordsmanship is not the only thing you learn at the academy. Natural sciences as well as humanities such as classical history and etiquette were part of the curriculum. Therefore, Leon at least knew what a ‘meteor’ was.

A piece of a star.

It is a disaster that falls from the sky far away and crashes down on the ground at an immeasurable speed. Because it is accompanied by enormous heat and shock waves, the entire area is completely devastated, and even a single meteor, no matter how small, is enough to blow away a castle wall.

Leon, who desperately tried to throw his body away, fell flat on the ground.

‘please!’

Hoping he could survive, he squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the explosion and shock.

How many more seconds did I wait?

The shock I had hoped for did not come and time passed.

[Get up.]

An unknown voice rang out in Leon’s head.

“Who are you!?”

[If you’re curious, shouldn’t you just stand up and see with your own eyes?]

Leon blinked as he stood up at those indifferent words.

My eyes, temporarily blinded by the flash of light, were still blurry. He rubbed his eyelids a few times and spoke carefully.

“I can’t see it yet…”

[Hmm? Oh wait a minute.]

It was right after that.

Leon immediately felt coolness around his eyes. My blurry vision recovered as if it had never happened before.

But he soon had no choice but to doubt his own eyes.

‘…knife?’

Just a few steps ahead. Leon gaped as he looked at the ‘sword’ shining brilliantly in front of him.

A blazing golden sun burns from the very center of the sword body, which flows down from the grip and crossguard that protrude long from the top and left and right. A light that burns away all the darkness of the mountain. It was a majesty that would awe even those without faith.

There is only one type of sword in the world with such characteristics.

“Holy sword?!”

[Yes!]

The Holy Sword answered cheerfully, scattering light in all directions.

[And you called me Leon.]

“My me?”

[Yes, your heart led me. The world is inherently unfair; those who have more have more, while those who have nothing lose what little they have. However, opportunities must be given equally.]

The holy sword shining alone on the mountainside spoke majestically.

[I will ask the goddess the one who discussed the irrationality of fate.]

Leon raised his head while breaking into a cold sweat at those words.

[Those who do not try have no right to blame the irrationality of life. Only those who have burned their lives fiercely are eligible for it. Leon, do you think you have that qualification?]

The intimidation emanating from the holy sword was terrifying.

As if encountering a legendary dragon, the bones and muscles are frozen and do not move. The gaze of an absolute being who does not allow even a single lie was watching him.

Nevertheless, Leon was able to speak.

Before I knew it, even though I had stopped breathing, my soul was spitting out words.

“-there is!”

The strength of my mind that I honed every day became that voice.

“I deserve it!”

[If so, I will give you a chance to prove it.]

As if responding to Leon’s answer, the holy sword scattered light.

When the dazzling light faded away, there was only a single, beautifully shaped sword left.

A holy sword stuck in a rock as if waiting to be pulled out.

[Hold it!]

The Holy Sword said without losing its intimidation.

He urged me to prove what I said, radiating pressure that would make it difficult for an ordinary person to take a single step forward.

As a rule of thumb, it’s roughly four steps.

What was heavier than anything was that determination. Leon’s eyes widened as he knew what it meant to hold the holy sword.

Was it something that had to go that far?

“Tsk!”

When he took a step forward, the holy sword gave a cold warning.

[Don’t think that just because you get me, you will immediately become stronger. You will have to endure a greater ordeal than the opportunity you will receive from me.]

As you took your second step, the Holy Sword gently encouraged you.

[It is not something you should bear. A being with a great destiny must live an even harsher life. You may have to sacrifice everything you love, the friends you trust. Do you really need to walk that thorny path for your ‘special’ life?]

When I had only taken the third step, the Holy Sword sweetly suggested.

[If you want to defeat that master named Rian, I will give you a little help. As the owner of the holy sword, your duty is to pass it on to someone else and fulfill your wish. Isn’t it worth it to save this world at the cost of defying fate?]

After leaving the last step, Leon stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. The Holy Sword’s voice shook him with every word.

A ‘trial’ that warns that the holy sword will be harsh.

A ‘sacrifice’ that I had never considered before.

The ‘victory’ that I have longed for even in my dreams for the past three years.

If you stop here, you don’t lose anything. No, you will be able to overcome Rian’s unreasonable strength and experience the joy of victory.

“…but.”

Nevertheless, Leon said as he took another step forward.

“That’s cowardly…!”

The reason he trained every single day was to crush that irrationality. This was because I was not convinced by the unfair reality of rankings and results that were determined regardless of effort.

If you compromise with the Holy Sword’s words here, your resolution and efforts of the past will become waste worthless.

Although the life of a loser was full of inferiority complex, it had meaning.

Because Leon stood in front of the Holy Sword to prove its meaning!

[―Correct.]

After taking four steps and stopping, the Holy Sword raised its voice as if praising the answer.

[You have proven your nobility, warrior!]

The faded light of the holy sword is filling up. While waiting for the hand of a worthy owner, the sun engraved on the sword body burned with joy.

That was the will of the Holy Sword.

A warrior is not determined by an oracle or something like a prominent lineage or family name.

A heart that is not broken even by unreasonable fate.

The will to prove my beliefs rather than covet gold and fame.

A person who possesses all of these qualities is worthy of becoming a warrior!

[Now, pick me!]

As if driven by the holy sword’s zeal, Leon reached into the center of the burning light and grabbed its handle.

Then, vitality fills my tired body and courage springs up.

A feeling of omnipotence, as if one could overcome any ordeal!

The Holy Sword, which was already very excited, shouted loudly.

[I am El-Cid! The alter ego of Saint King Rodrigo Caldias El Vivar and the sword that guides the light of this era! Master Leon, let’s subdue evil together with El Cid!]

It was an introduction that some might call shabby.

The story of a holy sword and a commoner warrior meeting in a vacant lot behind the academy was not a story that was likely to sell well.

However, that framework is the enemy that the warrior Leon must defeat.

The moment he grabbed El Cid, a storm began to blow in his life.

It’s a storm so big that it’s okay to have inherent limitations.

* * *

[What did you call me?]

A frivolous voice echoes in an unknown space.

El Cid, who had previously praised Leon but returned to his usual tone, grumbled.

It wasn’t wrong.

El Cid is an alter ego that contains the soul of Saint King Rodrik, so his personality is not much different from his base self.

In a word, the personality shown now was the true nature of Saint King Roderick and was the truth covered with praise from historians. It was a case where personality flaws were hidden because of so great an achievement.

[Why did you break the trust? What are you talking about? Leon, that guy’s name also means ‘lion’. Even though it was a prophecy passed down to the Clyde Imperial Family, it did not say that it was only for the Imperial Family. Isn’t that right?]

El Cid, wondering who on earth he was arguing with, accepted the criticism with a sly tone.

Actually, it wasn’t Leon who was supposed to be the hero.

[That guy called Rian falls short of my standards. Even though I had both talent and destiny, I couldn’t awaken my ‘will’. [It’s hot.]

El Cid spoke in a tone as if he was criticizing a rotten potato.

[By the way, there is less nagging than I thought. I guess you like Leon a lot too, right? In fact, he is a rare person in today’s era where the system of vested interests has become entrenched. Even in my time, there weren’t many people like that. Three at most?]

After that, El Cid’s monologue became quite long.

We talked for a while, grumbling, refuting, and laughing at what someone said. There was only one being that could speak directly to the ‘Holy Sword’ and that ignored space and time.

Also, at the end, he spoke in a voice without a trace of laughter, perhaps because the story was quite serious.

[Oh, don’t worry. If I use my legacy, I guess I’ll be better than the previous warriors? It’s time for those guys to repay their debt.]

El Cid’s light is fading in an unknown space.

The end of the story has arrived.

[Then it’s your job to watch closely from heaven, right?]

With those words, the light of the holy sword returned to earth.

To the side of an ordinary warrior who was recognized for the first time in 300 years.