NoveLight ™
‘Ah…!’
Theo couldn't help but let out a groan.
He understood better than anyone how critical the 'state of concentration' he'd been in just moments ago was to a swordsman.
At times, it could be a pivotal moment that allowed one to leap forward several levels.
In fact, Theo had managed to grasp a clue to the secret swordsmanship technique he had only vaguely sensed until now.
And just as he was on the verge of going beyond, he was interrupted.
Naturally, an expression of frustration was bound to surface on Theo’s face.
But Rendon’s face was equally flushed with anger.
‘Looks like he got scolded by Mother.’
Had he come to lodge a complaint?
For a brief moment, Theo felt the urge to brawl with him was utterly pointless.
Wasn’t this fool too dim-witted to even notice he’d been engrossed in meditation?
Talking to him was a waste of time.
Better to use that time to refocus on his swordsmanship.
Without sparing a glance at Rendon, Theo resumed his stance and spoke.
“Still lingering here, are you?”
“What…!”
“Didn’t you hear it from Mother? I’m sure I asked you to clear out by this morning.”
“That’s…!”
“As you can see, I’m rather busy. If there’s nothing else, please be on your way.”
Rendon’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red with rage.
Being treated with such disdain by Theo, whom he’d secretly considered a halfwit, only made his anger rise to the brim.
But Theo couldn’t care less.
He resumed his slow steps, swinging his zweihander.
*The Dragon’s Three Claws.*
He was attempting the failed sword technique once again.
* * *
Theo’s actions only stoked Rendon’s anger further.
‘This wretched fool, daring to act like this in front of me…!’
The title of being a direct family instructor of the Ragnar lineage was a badge of honor wherever he went.
Rendon had no intention of giving that up.
If he had to, he’d use threats, but Theo just happened to be practicing swordsmanship, albeit poorly.
Then perhaps he could make Theo understand the difference between them firsthand.
*Swish!*
Rendon swiftly drew the sword hanging at his waist and swung it.
His target was Theo’s neck.
‘If I can just nick him, he’ll be scared out of his mind and—!’
But Rendon’s thought was cut short.
Just as Theo’s zweihander swept across the ground, it suddenly darted forward, deflecting Rendon’s attack.
*Clang!*
“...!”
It was an overwhelming force.
Rendon staggered back, shocked by the pain that seemed as though his arm would be torn off.
At that moment, Theo’s sharp gaze turned toward him.
*Flinch!*
For a brief moment, Rendon felt his heart drop at Theo’s fierce aura.
“More.”
“What…?”
“Try attacking me more.”
Theo’s eyes shone with a stronger light than ever before.
[A First Sword Technique has been mastered. (1/10)]
[Strength has increased by 2 points.]
[Endurance has increased by 1 point.]
Messages appeared before him, floating in his vision.
Did it really count mastering a sword technique just by blocking an attack?
And his physical abilities were increasing as well?
He could feel a newfound strength surging through his body.
By now, Theo was thoroughly captivated by the mysterious powers these messages held.
There was no way he could just let this go.
Why not seize the opportunity?
A faint sizzle.
For the first time, Rendon looked to Theo like a golden goblin.
‘Just because you blocked a single attack, you dare to ignore me? This idiot is really asking for it!’
*Swish!*
Grinding his teeth, Rendon moved swiftly, convinced that Theo was mocking him.
Theo, on the other hand, remained calm.
He focused all his senses on Rendon.
The way he breathed, the movement of his pupils, the muscles he used, the direction of his steps, the angle of his sword...
An immense amount of information flooded Theo’s vision.
‘The amount of mana in my aura heart has increased since last time. My dynamic vision has improved, too.’
All his physical abilities were enhanced.
Thanks to that, he could easily decide on his response.
‘Counter his move by reversing the third stance of *The Clown’s Play*.’
The Zweihander carved a soft arc.
Unlike the intense technique he’d used before, this was a sword technique of an entirely different nature.
*Clang!*
Once again, Rendon’s attack was blocked.
‘It’s clear. The strength behind my sword has increased. My breathing feels more stable too.’
It was no illusion.
Rendon staggered, barely managing to hold his ground.
With this, Theo was confident.
The more he fought…
The more he mastered the sword techniques…
The faster he grew stronger.
And then.
*Ding!*
[A Second Sword Technique has been mastered. (2/10)]
[Agility has increased by 1 point.]
[Intelligence has increased by 1 point.]
Once again, messages flashed, and his body underwent changes.
His muscles tightened, and he felt noticeably lighter.
‘Does this mean my speed has improved too?’
For the first time, instead of merely defending, Theo initiated an attack.
*Thud!*
The power channeled into his kick-off surprised even him.
Naturally, he reached Rendon much faster than he’d anticipated.
“…Gasp!”
Rendon, shocked, widened his eyes, attempting to quickly pull his sword back, but Theo, who had already regained his composure, slipped inside his defense.
Theo’s Zweihander slammed into Rendon’s chest.
*The Forceful Mountain Strike.*
A secret sword technique that emphasized pure strength.
*Boom!*
“Argh!”
Barely managing to parry the strike, Rendon stumbled back several steps.
Eventually, he tripped on something, falling backward.
[A Third Sword Technique has been mastered. (3/10)]
[Strength has increased by 1 point.]
[Agility has increased by 1 point.]
[Luck has increased by 2 points.]
‘Even luck?’
*Heh.*
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle.
He could feel himself growing stronger every second.
‘This… This is the power of the message and the talent of a Ragnar.’
It wasn’t simply that the message boosted his stats.
The natural talents of Ragnar’s body enhanced his quick judgment, adaptability, and reflexes, creating a synergy with the message.
‘And then there’s the power granted by the aura heart.’
Message.
Ragnar’s talent.
The Dragon’s Heart.
With these three things, Theo could become infinitely stronger.
‘Maybe… I can win.’
Now, instead of just sparring with Rendon, Theo had a new desire: victory.
“I’ll kill you! Kill you! Kill you!!”
Meanwhile, Rendon, who had cut a ridiculous figure, now had his eyes flipped in a deranged fury.
*Screech!*
The murderous intent in his gaze was unmistakable.
But Theo, unfazed, continued to wield his Zweihander calmly.
*Slash!*
* * *
‘He’s getting faster.’
Julius watched the sparring—no, the non-sparring—between Theo and Rendon, his eyes glinting.
At first, when Rendon had interrupted Theo’s moment of enlightenment and picked a fight, he’d intended to step in.
No matter how much of a scoundrel Rendon was, he was still a 2-star swordsman—a level a novice could never handle.
But Julius quickly abandoned that thought.
‘The longer they fight, the sharper his senses become, and his stance stabilizes.’
To the casual eye, it seemed as though Rendon held the upper hand.
Rendon was pushing Theo relentlessly, and Theo’s efforts to defend appeared to be all he could manage.
But their eyes told a different story.
While Rendon couldn’t suppress his excitement and swung his sword wildly, Theo remained calm and composed.
And with each counterattack, Julius could see Rendon startle and pull back.
‘He must have gained insights into higher swordsmanship during his moment of concentration! To be so young and already…!’
Julius realized something.
Theo wasn’t dueling Rendon.
He was using him as a training aid, a stepping stone for his growth.
“You son of a…!”
Perhaps Rendon had realized this as well, judging by the furious look on his face.
‘Is this even possible?’
A novice, practicing swordsmanship against a 2-star swordsman.
No matter how talented Ragnar’s bloodline was, this defied common sense.
‘A genius. He’s a genius.’
Not knowing about the messages, Julius’s misunderstanding grew into a fierce desire for Theo.
A talent like him—he had to acquire him by any means necessary.
*Smack.*
Julius licked his lips involuntarily.
“…”
Watching this, Evelyn shook her head with exasperation.
Oh dear, his obsession was acting up again.
She was reminded of Julius’s old nickname.
*The Talent Hoarder… no, the Collector.*
He was someone who couldn’t resist the sight of potential talent.
* * *
“This… this can’t be…!”
Even as Rendon lay collapsed, utterly exhausted, his face was filled with disbelief.
[A Tenth Sword Technique has been mastered. (10/10)]
[Strength has increased by 2 points.]
[Luck has increased by 1 point.]
Theo was basked in the lingering thrill of victory.
His fingertips and toes tingled with adrenaline.
Was this the feeling that Ragnars’ swordsmen lived for? If so, it was understandable why they were so consumed by combat.
It was Theo’s first time savoring this feeling, and he could only imagine how others must feel experiencing it regularly.
But what resonated most with Theo wasn’t the thrill itself.
It was the sense of victory.
The pride.
The feeling of accomplishment.
For the first time in his life—or rather, across his previous life and this one—he’d achieved something tangible with his own hands, and that exhilarated him.
Where his skills had initially lagged behind Rendon’s, he now completely overwhelmed him.
It was an almost impossible rate of growth.
‘I did it. I… I can do this.’
This, Theo thought, was the greatest achievement he had gained in this life so far.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Quest #7.]
[Evaluation: A+]
[As a reward, you have received the ‘■■■’s Arm■’.]
[An additional reward, <Observation>, has been granted based on your evaluation.]
Observation?
Theo’s eyes widened at the sight of the new message that appeared.
‘Is this the end of the mana rewards? That’s a bit disappointing.’
Still, he felt confident that this new reward was no less valuable.
‘How does this work… Observation?’
Just as Theo muttered to himself while looking down at the collapsed Rendon—
[Observing ‘Rendon Harvey’.]
Rendon Harvey (32 years old / Male)
‘…So it’s like having personal information about someone?’
It seemed <Observation> allowed him to gather information about the people he focused on, even revealing their talents and current mental state.
It could turn out to be a formidable weapon if used wisely.
‘Can I see information about myself, too?’
But as it turned out, Theo couldn’t view his own information.
Observation, it seemed, required him to be a third party, unable to observe himself.
‘Also, there’s no corrupted text this time. I wonder what’s changed?’
Theo squinted as he thought about it, finding the contents of Rendon’s ‘Status’ rather ridiculous.
‘As always, I can’t stand him.’
“This should be enough. Vacate the room by today. If you keep hanging around, I’ll call the Law Enforcers.”
The Law Enforcers were responsible for internal discipline and security within the clan.
Aside from the patriarch, they had the authority to discipline even the clan elders and were feared as grim reapers by the clan members.
Rendon’s head drooped, clearly defeated.
Whisk.
Theo turned away, no longer interested in him.
Normally, he would have continued his sword training, but now, reviewing the techniques he’d just mastered felt more crucial.
However—
“You bastard! Die!”
Suddenly, Rendon raised his head, throwing something at Theo’s back.
An unexpected sneak attack.
‘…!’
So he’d only been pretending to be crushed to catch Theo off guard with a concealed weapon.
Theo spun around quickly, but the dagger was already speeding toward his face.
Thump-thump-thump!
As the Dragon’s Heart pounded faster, everything around him seemed to slow down.
At that moment—
A flash descended from above, deflecting the dagger with ease.
Clang!
And there, revealed in the wake of the flash, was a middle-aged man with fierce, tiger-like eyes, standing before Theo.
“White Armor… the Courage Captain?”
Julius Ragnar.
One of the top-ranked members in the clan—what was he doing here?
Before Theo could even voice his question—
“A duel, my boy, requires caution until the very end. For a swordsman, the most dangerous moment is not in the fight but in the moment of careless victory. And—”
Even as he offered Theo these words of wisdom in his calm voice, Julius swung his sword with a fierce, deadly energy.
“When you decide to fight mercilessly, see it through to the bitter end.”
A flash of aura glinted off Julius’s blade, and in one swift motion, it slashed across Rendon’s throat.
Swoosh.
Spurt!
A fountain of crimson stained the training ground floor.
Rendon’s face, full of venom, looked like he still hadn’t realized he was dead.
“Argh! The training ground is a mess! Captain! Why did you have to go and do that! Now I have to clean it up!”
Ignoring the scream of Evelyn, the manager of the Fourth Training Hall behind him, Julius turned to Theo.
“Are you unharmed?”
Nice