WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈
Chapter 84: Training
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“Teach me swordsmanship.”
Hakain was greatly flustered.
He could not understand the situation at all.
Johan had suddenly vanished, and a demon had appeared from nowhere.
Then the demon abruptly demanded swordsmanship lessons.
Hakain could only stare blankly, unable to give any answer.
As he stood frozen, a sharp voice rang out.
“You insolent bastard! Can’t you hear the words of the great End?!”
An Imp wreathed in flames shouted from atop the bookshelf in front of him.
It was Zalkarin.
Hakain was thoroughly confused. He muttered with a blank expression.
“Is this truly a den of demons?”
Zalkarin cried out.
“A den? This is the stronghold of all evil! It is the domain of Evil where the great End resides!”
Hakain looked at Mapheltan with a tense expression.
“Th-then, could you possibly be an Apostle?”
Zalkarin had a fit.
“If you understand that much, kneel and show the End proper respect!”
Mapheltan clicked his tongue.
“You’re noisy. Stop.”
“But...”
“I said shut up.”
“Y-yes, I obey.”
Zalkarin immediately wilted. The flames around Zalkarin slowly died away.
Mapheltan stared at Hakain.
“Hakain, I’ll say it again. Teach me swordsmanship.”
Hakain could not answer at once. After composing himself for a long time, he finally spoke.
“...Why would a demon wish to learn the sword from a human?”
As soon as he finished speaking, black Demonic Energy condensed in Mapheltan’s hand.
The mist swiftly transformed into a long spear.
Dread Spear Turabak. It was the relic he had taken from the Third Prince, Gawain.
Mapheltan held Turabak before Hakain’s eyes.
“I should correct myself slightly. Teach me spear techniques for now, then teach me swordsmanship in the morning.”
As the Sword Demon, Hakain was fundamentally skilled with every weapon.
There would be few humans who could handle bladed weapons better than him.
With the Sword Demon as their teacher, Johan and Mapheltan could grow quickly.
Hakain was bewildered.
“Swordsmanship and spearmanship? Why would a demon need such things?”
Demons were different from humans. They did not become stronger through training.
A demon grew by accumulating deed of evil and feeding on human fear.
That method was certainly more efficient.
But it had clear limits.
Mapheltan spoke.
“To combine innate strength with skill. You humans are born so weak, yet you honed your skills and made up for the deficiencies of your race. In the end, you rose to become the rulers of the continent. You humans, the most insignificant of all.”
Long ago, countless races had existed on the continent, but now humans were nearly the only remaining intelligent species.
The weakest race had become the victor.
The foundation of that victory must have been skill.
Every kind of craft born from grinding away flesh and bone had made humanity great.
Hakain said, “Are you saying you intend to train like a human, shedding blood and sweat?”
Mapheltan nodded.
“Exactly. I do not care if you drive me to the brink of death. Teach me the sword and spear.”
It was not something one would expect from a demon.
Hakain had met countless demons in the Shadow Realm, but he had never encountered one like Mapheltan.
He felt strangely unsettled.
“...Do I have the right to refuse?”
Mapheltan smiled.
“Of course. I will give you a choice. Become Ilea’s test subject, or become my teacher. Choose.”
Hakain gave an awkward laugh.
“Haha, there is no need to say more. I will become your teacher.”
Ilea sighed.
“A Sword Demon is not a common ingredient. What a shame.”
It was impossible to tell whether she was serious or joking.
Goosebumps rose on Hakain’s skin.
He stood from where he had been sitting and spoke.
“C-can we begin right away?”
Mapheltan snickered.
“Good. You seem overflowing with enthusiasm to teach.”
At least outwardly, Hakain had no choice but to give it his all.
Living as a Mage’s test subject would be worse than death.
He glanced over Dread Spear Turabak.
“I will begin with the basics. First... let us loosen up.”
Hakain had taught several disciples, but he had never taught a demon before.
Honestly, it was difficult to know where to begin.
For now, he would proceed as usual and adjust the curriculum to suit a demon’s characteristics as they went.
Mapheltan lifted the spear.
“What should I do?”
A vicious demon and an enormous black spear. Together, they created an overwhelming presence.
Hakain smiled awkwardly.
“F-first, put down the spear and follow my movements.”
He began to stretch.
Mapheltan immediately copied him.
He bent backward, his huge body curving like a bow.
His head touched the ground.
Mapheltan now resembled an arched bridge.
“Is this right?”
Hakain sincerely admired him.
“...Yes. Your flexibility alone is different from a human’s.”
Even his elasticity and physical strength could not be compared to a human’s.
He had been born strong.
If Mapheltan’s physical abilities were combined with skill, he would likely become a monster beyond all standards.
Mapheltan straightened his back again.
“Come on, hurry up and move on to the next part.”
He was in a hurry.
He wanted to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
And so, the training began.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
Even the warm south was struck by bitter cold.
The old castle was covered in snow. The ivy surrounding it had all frozen to death, and frost bloomed from every crack in its weathered stone walls.
The whole world had turned white.
Even the breath leaving one’s mouth was pale with cold.
Johan lay sprawled across the snow and exhaled a white breath.
He was panting, almost dead.
‘I’m going to die. Seriously.’
His bare body was covered in injuries. Torn wounds, blue bruises, and small scars. It was no longer the body of a young noble.
He looked more like a mercenary or soldier.
He had also gained considerable muscle and was no longer slight.
Hakain approached Johan with a calm expression.
“You have made tremendous progress. To be honest, talent like this is truly rare.”
It had already been nearly two months since Johan began training with Hakain.
Johan had moved his body every day without fail.
As a result, he had achieved considerable growth.
An ordinary human would no longer be a match for him.
Johan painfully raised his upper body. Sitting in the snow, he said,
“It is still lacking. Especially the sword. I cannot get a feel for it at all.”
Johan had been practicing spearmanship and swordsmanship together.
The spear was more comfortable than the sword.
A significant gap had formed between his skill with the two weapons.
Hakain spoke.
“With this much growth in swordsmanship, you could be called a prodigy. In terms of talent alone, you would rank among the top five of my disciples.”
Johan said, “That is mediocre talent. I will not be able to reach your level in swordsmanship.”
“I will not deny it. However, the spear is a different matter.”
“Even you think I am better with the spear?”
Hakain nodded.
“My Lord Baron, you are a genius in spearmanship. If you make the effort, you will be able to challenge every level.”
Hakain addressed Johan as Baron.
Johan had become a Baron.
The Count had truly changed the law.
Johan Myatro. He was the Watcher of Narak.
“A genius,” Johan said. “That is good to hear.”
In this world, strength was law.
As the story moved into its latter half, that truth would only become more apparent.
The value of martial strength was immense in this world, so Johan was quite pleased.
Hakain spoke.
“Now, you only need to awaken Aura. In truth, swordsmanship and spearmanship alone have their limits.”
Swordsmen were divided into two broad types.
Those who could wield Aura, and those who could not.
No matter how great a swordsmanship master one was, there were clear limits without Aura.
Without Aura, one could never reach the ultimate realm of the sword.
Johan knew that well.
“I have no intention of learning Aura.”
“You said the same thing before. Is there another reason?”
The moment one filled their Dantian with Aura, their body became incapable of learning other supernatural abilities.
Johan intended to possess an ability superior to Aura.
He shrugged.
“My Dantian is too valuable.”
Hakain could not quite understand.
“...I do not fully understand, but it appears you have another method in mind.”
Johan nodded.
“Something like that. In any case, we will stop here for today.”
He needed time to rest. Once night came, Johan would have to wield a spear in Mapheltan’s body again.
As soon as he finished speaking, Raguel, who had been beside him, lowered his bow.
“Johan, you worked hard.”
He had practiced archery for two months.
At first, Hakain had taught him, but that was no longer necessary.
Raguel was a High Elf.
His talent for the bow was utterly overwhelming.
He could accurately strike a small target from over one hundred meters away.
Johan said, “Raguel, you worked hard too. I will get you a good bow later.”
It would not be a waste even to invest a first-class treasure in him.
Raguel was now one of their greatest sources of strength.
He smiled brightly.
“Really? Thank you.”
Raguel had become much brighter. He laughed more often, and his voice was full of energy.
The timid boy was nowhere to be found.
An energetic boy had taken his place.
Johan lightly ruffled his hair.
“Good. Let us head inside. It is getting cold.”
Once the heat of training faded, the chill seeped in.
Johan rose to his feet.
Just as he was about to move, Ilea’s voice called out.
“Johan, I have good news.”
As she entered the training ground, translucent ripples stirred.
A barrier had been placed over the training ground.
It was a measure to conceal Raguel.
It was troublesome, but unavoidable.
If the castle servants saw Raguel, they would find it strange.
He had once been blind, yet now he was practicing archery.
At least a minimum level of protection was necessary.
Johan looked at Ilea.
“Good news? What is it?”
She handed him a large piece of parchment.
“It came from the Royal Capital. Read it.”
Johan unrolled the parchment.
As he read its contents, the corner of his mouth rose.
『 Decree of the Kingdom Council 』
Regarding House Myatro’s admission to the Council and the formal recognition of the Watcher of Narak.
The Kingdom currently stands beneath an unprecedented threat. The descent of an Apostle, the appearance of an ancient demon, and an assault on the Royal Capital by a demon army. These are not mere incidents, but signs of calamity that will shake the Kingdom to its foundations. Therefore, the royal family and the Council hereby issue the following strict decree as an irreversible order for the Kingdom’s survival and the restoration of order.
Article 1.
The lineage of House Myatro was temporarily severed in the past, but...
[The remainder is omitted.]
The contents were simple.
It stated that Johan was recognized as a member of the Kingdom Council.
Johan had now become one of the eleven nobles who governed the Kingdom.
‘As expected, he is competent.’
The Count was acting in a very satisfactory manner.
Johan was quite pleased.
“We should prepare to depart for the Royal Capital. Ilea, obtain a fine carriage and clothing. We need to at least look the part.”
The territory was poor, but Johan did not care.
If he invoked the Count’s name, he could borrow as much money as he wished.
From now on, Johan had no intention of sparing investments.
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