Three days later.

As Raine steadily revealed a Lv. 2 standard of swordsmanship, Instructor Humbert reached a firm conclusion.

Raine possessed exceptional comprehension of the sword.

Put simply, the boy was a swordsmanship genius, at least of the lowest rank. One in a hundred.

Humbert began to view him in an entirely new light.

"Today, we begin swordsmanship sparring."

His steady voice carried across the training ground.

"If you want to improve quickly, you need an opponent to practice against. That opponent cannot be chosen carelessly. Ideally, the two of you should be close in ability. That will drive your swordsmanship forward fastest."

"Raine. Richard. Step forward and demonstrate. Everyone else, watch closely."

Richard was Bushy Brow's real name.

"Yes, Instructor!"

The two boys answered together and stepped out before the formation. Both assumed the opening stance of Basic Swordsmanship.

Their ironwood sword tips pointed toward each other.

For days, anxiety and irritation had gnawed at Richard.

He hadn't cared when Raine distinguished himself at hoof trimming and horseshoeing.

Richard's goal was to become an estate guard. He had spent two years studying Basic Swordsmanship with a relative in preparation for that very position.

He had never expected Raine to capture Humbert's attention the moment swordsmanship training began.

That was something he couldn't accept.

Raine's rapid improvement had twisted Richard's anger, jealousy, and resentment into a poisonous knot.

*At this rate, the little bastard will become a serious rival sooner or later.*

Richard didn't believe for a moment that Raine would surrender a guard position if given the chance to compete for one.

This sparring match presented the perfect opportunity.

He could injure Raine by accident.

With luck, the boy would never hold a sword again.

Vicious intent hardened Richard's face.

"Begin!"

The instant Humbert gave the order, both boys thrust.

Raine recognized the difference at once. Richard's sword was faster.

He was taller, had longer arms, and possessed far more experience with Basic Swordsmanship.

Every factor favored him.

Raine changed forms and used the strong portion of his blade to knock Richard's straight thrust aside.

Thud!

Ironwood struck ironwood with a dull crack.

Raine retreated three steps.

Richard took only one.

The advantage was obvious.

Satisfaction spread across Richard's face.

*Genius or not, you'll need another half year before you can beat me.*

Raine remained calm.

He had expected this result.

Bushy Brow stood nearly a full head taller, giving him much greater reach. That mattered enormously in a sword fight.

He had also trained in Basic Swordsmanship for almost two years. Raine's current Lv. 2 couldn't compare.

Richard's swordsmanship was probably at or near Lv. 3.

*If I don't raise my swordsmanship level, I'll lose.*

*Why did Instructor Humbert pair me with Bushy Brow? Does he want me to experience defeat, then use it to force out my potential?*

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Raine blocked several attacks in succession, each exchange bringing him close to disaster.

The ironwood swords weren't lethal, but a heavy strike could still leave someone in agony.

Humbert watched with his arms folded, his expression unreadable.

In his mind, the result was already decided. Unless something unexpected happened, Richard would win.

Once Raine tasted defeat, he would work even harder to close the gap.

At that moment, the tall Claire rode into the outer bailey on a fine horse. A group of young nobles and merchant heirs followed behind her.

They appeared to have just finished riding practice.

From horseback, they had a clear view of the two sparring page boys.

Sweat poured from Raine. He had already noticed Richard's hostility and the way the other boy repeatedly aimed for his head.

*So this is what you've been planning. No wonder you stayed quiet these past few days. You were waiting for this chance.*

Raine spent his last skill point without hesitation.

Basic Swordsmanship rose from Lv. 2 to Lv. 3.

The leap from Lv. 2 to Lv. 3 far exceeded the earlier increase.

In an instant, the ironwood sword became an extension of his arm. Thought and blade moved as one.

Richard saw Raine freeze for a fraction of a second.

*An opening.*

He stepped forward and chopped down.

Raine raised the strong portion of his sword horizontally.

Thud!

The two ironwood blades collided.

This time, Raine caught the blow cleanly.

He didn't retreat a single step.

Richard used the recoil to spin and flowed into a downward slash aimed directly at Raine's face, specifically his left eye.

The attack was blindingly fast.

The watching boys could barely follow it.

A savage thrill surged through Richard.

He had exceeded his usual level with this strike. Raine couldn't possibly block it.

Afterward, Richard only needed to claim that the injury had been an accident.

One-Eyed Raine.

Not a bad nickname.

A smile tugged at the corner of Richard's mouth.

The watching page boys cried out.

George stared in horror, unable to tell whether his friend could escape the blow.

Humbert moved to intervene, then felt his stomach drop.

He was too far away.

Richard's strike wasn't part of Basic Swordsmanship. It was a derived variation.

Raine's heart jolted.

His body responded by instinct. Power snapped through his waist, and he bent sharply backward while bringing up the strong portion of his blade to intercept the vicious slash.

His abdomen contracted.

Raine whipped upright and counterattacked.

Smack!

His ironwood sword struck Richard's wrist with crushing force.

Richard's weapon fell from his hand.

The reversal happened so quickly that every page boy stood frozen.

Silence fell across the training ground.

*That instinct for the sword. His body moved before he could think.*

Shock and excitement surged through Humbert.

*A genuinely promising seedling.*

In the distance, Claire's gaze sharpened.

*Shadia said the black-haired boy is Raine. His father is an estate tenant, and his background is clean. Perhaps he's worth cultivating.*

If his talent was genuine, she didn't mind offering him an opportunity.

Whether he could seize it would depend on his own performance.

"Raine wins!" Humbert announced, approval clear in his voice.

Richard watched Raine turn and leave the field.

His face went blank, then filled with resentment.

*Enjoy this while you can, Raine. Just wait.*

He had already thought of another way to deal with him.

Under other circumstances, Richard would have considered the method beneath him. But Raine was improving too quickly, fast enough to make him afraid.

Richard's family had operated a tavern for years, and he knew all kinds of people.

Drunk Jack was one promising option. A former mercenary with considerable skill.

As Raine stepped off the field, system notices appeared.

[Basic Swordsmanship EXP +17]

[Militia EXP +9]

Raine's eyes brightened.

One spar had granted nine points of class EXP, almost as much as two full days of ordinary training.

Instructor Humbert had been right. Repeatedly sparring with opponents near his own level was the fastest route to sharper swordsmanship.