WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 59: Swordsmanship

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After listening closely to Rizmel's explanation, I had to admit that the method I'd used had basically been a cheap trick.

Instead of finding a way to win within the rules, I'd found a loophole and won through that.

Still, as long as I was a Solo Player, it couldn't be helped.

I wasn't in a position to clear things the proper way. If there was anything I could use, I had to find it and use it.

As long as that was my basic mindset, there was no way this "test" could've ended differently.

"Normally, you'd find the Sword Path that lets your attack land and correct your movements, but you really... Is this because you're human?"

"I don't think so."

"Haah, right. The humans I know are clever and quick to learn. You're probably just a little strange."

Rizmel sighed and pressed a hand to their forehead. After seeming to consider it for a moment, Rizmel spoke again.

"Still, yes, you did well. I think you need to know how to use methods like that too."

Rizmel continued, patting my shoulder.

"But tricks are what you resort to when your skill isn't good enough. Your fundamentals are far too lacking."

They were completely right. If my basic swordsmanship had been good enough, I wouldn't have needed to fight so loudly and dramatically.

It had been the same when I fought that Elf Knight. If my swordsmanship had surpassed that Elf Knight's, I could've won without much trouble.

I'd only been making up for my lack of swordsmanship and other fundamentals with flashy little tricks that were practically circus acts.

I knew this way of fighting had its limits. That was why I'd decided to learn swordsmanship here.

"First off, the way you swing your sword is crude. You're using it like an axe or a cleaver. Of course your weapons get damaged."

Watching Rizmel explain it like this made me think, once again, that joining the Dark Elf faction had been the right call.

I didn't think I'd be able to find a teacher this good anywhere else.

* * *

After seeing my combat style, Rizmel seemed to have decided it would be better to teach me again from the very basics.

Apparently, aside from the stamina-building parts, like swinging a sword a hundred times in place, I was following the same course taught to young Dark Elves.

Rizmel's instruction was not only exceptionally high-quality, but exceptionally kind as well.

Whenever there were terms in the theory that would be hard for me to understand, Rizmel explained them in simpler words.

When it came time to put the movements into practice, Rizmel even stood behind me, holding my arms and hands to show me directly how to move.

Naturally, while Rizmel was guiding my movements, two enormous lumps with an incredible presence were pressed firmly against my back.

The lessons had the kind of power that made me focus hard enough to mostly ignore that.

Mostly.

It wasn't like I didn't notice at all.

Honestly, what was I supposed to do?

Right?

Anyway, Rizmel's swordsmanship lesson went on for almost half a day.

Even though I was learning from scratch, Rizmel praised me for picking it up very quickly.

The janky swordsmanship tricks I'd built up until now probably gave me a foundation that helped me understand it.

After the lesson ended, I faced the Shadow Dolls from before again.

-Slash!

I'd only mixed Dark Elf swordsmanship into the swordsmanship I already used, but the result was completely different.

Most of the five Shadow Dolls were taken down in one or two strikes.

[You have acquired Passive Skill: Intermediate Swordsmanship Lv. 2.]

My Beginner Swordsmanship skill evolved into Intermediate Swordsmanship, immediately reaching Level 2.

I'd achieved the Intermediate level, the goal I'd set when I started learning swordsmanship, in less than a day.

Damn, was this the power of a star swordsmanship instructor?

When I was a student, I never understood why people paid so much for online lectures, but high-level lessons really were different.

This was on a completely different level from the idiots on the Open Community who called themselves swordsmanship masters and spewed bullshit as useful tips.

"Wow... So this is real swordsmanship."

"Heh, that's right. Do you get it now?"

As I stood there admiring my suddenly improved skills, Rizmel shrugged.

Normally, wanting to nitpick when someone got smug like that was an instinctive trait of pathetic losers like me, but not this time.

It had been a while since I'd felt such a thrilling sense of growth.

Honestly, shouldn't I give my master a deep bow at this point?

I wasn't actually planning to do that, but I felt that good.

1. Complete Rizmel's three stages of basic training (Complete).

When I opened the quest window, the first objective had been marked complete.

I hadn't noticed any clear division between stages while learning, but I guessed this meant I'd passed the basic training stage.

If what I'd just learned was only the basics, how insanely good would the advanced training be?

I'd heard even most high-ranking Rankers hovered around the Intermediate level in weapon skills. Was I seriously going to reach the Advanced level here?

Unfortunately, today's swordsmanship lesson ended there.

"That's enough for today. The sun has set, so I can't keep a rookie like you here any longer."

"Why? I'm fine."

"Resting is training too. Don't be a brat. If I tell you to rest, just rest!"

I didn't want to wear Rizmel out for no reason and lose their favor, so I simply agreed.

Of course, I had no intention of resting. Just reviewing what I'd learned today would make dawn come soon enough.

The night deepened.

* * *

After finishing my swordsmanship training with Rizmel, I returned to the room I was using as lodging.

I figured it would be better to focus on training by myself in my room rather than wandering around outside for no reason.

Eleanor was waiting inside.

"Welcome back, my dear."

She was lying seductively on the bed in light loungewear.

What the hell was I looking at right now?

I'd seen her naked in the bath once, but this was incredible in a whole different way.

I had no idea what this situation was, but my fingers instinctively searched for the interface's screenshot function.

"I heard you did great work with the Reconnaissance Team. You and Rizmel defeated a terrifying monster all by yourselves."

"Uh, yeah. We did."

"Thanks to that, I can finally hold my head high. I think I'll be able to move my plan along faster."

The plan Eleanor spoke of probably meant using me as an excuse to break off her engagement to the High Elf prince.

It meant the Epic Quest was progressing quickly, so it was good news for me too.

"So, I thought I'd give you a reward. We fell in love at first sight, didn't we? Sharing a bed should be fine."

Eleanor smiled seductively and slowly beckoned me closer.

It was the kind of temptation that most Challengers, no, any man with a functioning lower half couldn't resist.

But after talking about various things with Rizmel, I'd learned how Dark Elves saw humans.

Remembering that as I looked at Eleanor made this feel kind of... messed up.

Like I was looking at some crazy perverted bitch.

Because of their long lifespans and the difference in age, Dark Elves treated humans entirely like children.

Not just children, though. More like especially adorable children.

Erwen, the blacksmith who counted as middle-aged among Dark Elves, looked at me the way someone would look at a grandchild.

Rizmel and the Reconnaissance Team members, who were considered young, treated me like a younger sibling or a small animal.

Eleanor was one of the youngest Dark Elves, but she probably wasn't any different at heart.

This situation was basically like a high school or college girl hitting on an elementary school boy.

And when you added the fact that we were different species, wasn't that some kind of horrifying hybrid?

"Ahahaha, I'm joking, I'm joking! I never get tired of your reactions!"

What was I supposed to do with this beastly bitch, who claimed it was a joke while still looking at me like I was prey?

For now, I just wanted her to leave.

I had swordsmanship practice to do.

* * *

Was that fortunate? At least Eleanor didn't suddenly try to pounce on me.

It seemed she had business besides teasing me. I pulled over a chair and sat down.

"I heard you're learning swordsmanship from Rizmel?"

"Yeah."

"That's a good idea. There was something rather precarious about your sword."

Come to think of it, Eleanor had seen me fight before. She might've understood my abilities even better than Rizmel did.

Looking back now that I'd newly grasped the basics of swordsmanship, I really had fought crudely back then.

My switching strategy using the inventory, the way I fought while handling all kinds of weapons at once.

Setting aside the fact that it had let me defeat the High Elf Knight, that had been closer to a circus act than actual combat.

Eleanor must've found it very precarious.

"Yes. It looked like you and your sword were thinking different thoughts. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but still."

"It'll be different from now on. I'm improving fast."

"I hope so. If you become stronger, my plan will go more smoothly as well. I'm looking forward to it."

Eleanor added that I could call her whenever there was something she could help with.

She said it was still too early, but that she might be able to teach me something good before long.

"Something good?"

Maybe it was her clothes and that look in her eyes, but it sounded extremely inappropriate.

Right after that, Eleanor said, "It's still a secret," then vanished through the shadows in an instant. What was that about?

Well, either way, I was alone again.

I stayed up through the night practicing the swordsmanship Rizmel had taught me.

Footnotes:

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