Clang! Clang! Clang!

Even against a Claire who was deliberately holding back, Raine lasted barely half a minute before being defeated.

There was no frustration on his face. If anything, he looked faintly delighted.

The beautiful system notifications had arrived.

[Basic Swordsmanship EXP +29]

[Militia EXP +17]

Watching from the side, Head Maid Shadia regarded him with growing admiration.

*Perhaps this is why Miss Claire values him. Defeat never discourages him.*

*Mayst County has more talented young men than anyone could count, many of them far stronger than Raine. Yet not one of them has his temperament. After losing to Miss Claire, they either hang their heads in shame or shamelessly pester her for attention.*

*No one else looks pleased after losing. He truly does love swordsmanship.*

Claire saw that Raine was still eager for another round, and her approval deepened.

"Raine, the speed and strength I used were roughly equal to yours. You should have lasted longer. Do you know why you lost so quickly?"

"Uh... because my swordsmanship is still too weak?" Raine scratched his head.

"That's only part of it. Every time you attack, you make your intentions far too obvious."

Claire demonstrated as she spoke, her long legs carrying her forward with light, springy steps.

"Keep your eyes level when you attack. Use your peripheral vision to track the target, and never reveal where you intend to strike."

Raine's casual expression disappeared.

Claire was teaching him a vital combat technique. Without her pointing it out, he might have needed years to recognize the flaw on his own.

"The point is to catch the enemy off guard?"

"Exactly." Claire nodded approvingly. "If you reveal your intentions too soon, an experienced opponent will immediately evade or block your line of attack. Some will even expose a weakness on purpose, lure you into striking, and then counterattack."

Raine considered her words and quickly understood.

"Miss Claire, please spar with me again."

Claire nodded and gestured for him to begin.

This time, Raine kept his eyes level as he attacked. He drifted forward like willow fluff on the wind, took one swift step, and thrust straight ahead.

Claire turned the blade aside with a light parry and stepped right, avoiding the thrust.

Raine kept looking at her without focusing on any particular part of her body. It delayed Claire's read by only a fraction, but the exchange already lasted noticeably longer than the first.

Spotting an opening, Raine lunged and brought his sword down in a chop. Claire evaded with her usual ease.

She deliberately fed him opportunities, allowing the two of them to trade a succession of blows. The ring of clashing steel filled the training area.

A minute later, Raine's stamina gave out. He collapsed onto the floor, drenched in sweat.

He was exhausted, but the sheer exhilaration of fighting without restraint left him immensely satisfied—and still wanting more.

[Basic Swordsmanship EXP +37]

[Militia EXP +21]

Then there was all that EXP.

"Raine, I can see that you have an exceptional passion for swordsmanship. That is both good and bad." Claire had noticed how his enthusiasm flared anew after every spar. "The breathing method is your foundation. You need to devote more attention to it and master all seven postures of the Great Bear Breathing Method as soon as possible. The earlier you master them, the better they can develop your body."

"Yes, Miss Claire."

Raine answered obediently, but sighed to himself.

*Miss, you don't understand. Sparring is the only way I can improve this quickly.*

Raine had never known time to pass so fast.

Now he understood the wealthy men from his old world who spent fortunes hiring beautiful personal trainers at the gym.

His situation was even better. He hadn't paid a single copper, yet a count's youngest daughter was personally sparring with him.

Today's training had only just ended, and he was already looking forward to the next session.

The same routine continued for four straight days, and Raine's strength advanced by leaps and bounds.

[Great Bear Breathing Method Lv. 2 (12/300)]

With the aid of Dire Bear meat and Black Tung Oil, he had already begun practicing the second posture.

It resembled a planche from his previous world and was vastly more difficult than the first. At present, he could hold it for only five minutes—still a long way from the required half hour.

Even so, the practice had increased his Strength by one point, bringing it to 7 and pushing him beyond the level of an ordinary adult man.

His physical attributes had not changed dramatically, but his combat awareness had undergone a transformation.

Instructor Humbert had taught Raine how to use a sword.

Claire had taught him how to fight.

Name: Raine Callan

Class: Blacksmith Apprentice Lv. 3 (265/500) / Militia Lv. 3 (78/500)

Constitution: 6

Strength: 7

Agility: 7

Spirit: 8

Remaining Attribute Points: 1

Remaining Skill Points: 1

[Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 4 (578/1000)]

Basic Swordsmanship still had not leveled up. It simply required too much EXP.

Even so, Raine could feel his technique steadily improving.

Militia had reached Lv. 3, granting him another Attribute Point and Skill Point. This time, he was in no hurry to spend them.

The later postures of the Great Bear Breathing Method would only grow more difficult. The second was already demanding, and the third would certainly be worse. He planned to reach Great Bear Breathing Method Lv. 3 through training, then spend a Skill Point to push it directly to Lv. 4.

Saturday arrived, which meant Raine could go home.

He was following the maid toward the castle entrance in high spirits when a tall, nobly dressed youth approached from the opposite direction.

"Young Master Dennis."

The maid seemed to tremble at the sight of him. She bowed, unable to hide her fear.

Raine did not recognize the young man, but bowed as well.

Dennis glanced at them and walked past without a word, his face expressionless.

After a short distance, however, he stopped and looked back at Raine's retreating figure, as though something had just occurred to him.

*Isn't that the commoner Claire has taken an interest in?*

---

After leaving Habsburg Estate, Raine walked along the town's main road in the evening breeze.

Night had already fallen. Teams of three Night Watchmen, carrying torches and clad in close-fitting leather armor, were refilling the streetlamps with oil.

Raine had learned a little about the Night Watchmen of this world. Their duties included keeping order after dark, fighting fires, and responding to attacks or disturbances caused by wild beasts and other unknown creatures.

During the comparatively safe daylight hours, the constables handled public security.

Both Night Watchmen and constables belonged to the Empire's official forces and answered to the town sheriff. They were a world apart from ordinary militia.

Their fine leather armor, the horn bows on their backs, and the hand-and-a-half swords at their waists made that perfectly clear.