That evening, after finishing his archery training, Raine made his way to Claire's study.

He practiced the Great Bear Breathing Method for a while, then followed Claire through the door at the rear of the study into a private training room.

The room covered more than two hundred square meters. Racks of longswords, two-handed greatswords, shields, and even bows and arrows lined both sides. Three fixed target posts and several wooden training dummies stood opposite the entrance.

Clang!

Their swords collided, setting Claire's chestnut ponytail swaying. She nearly took half a step backward, surprise plain on her face.

"Raine, how has your Strength increased so much?"

Only then did Raine realize his mistake. Advancing to Blacksmith had raised his Strength to 9, and he had yet to master his new power. His blows during the spar had been noticeably heavier, and Claire's keen senses had caught the difference at once.

"Ha... perhaps the Great Bear Breathing Method is exceptionally well suited to me."

Raine rubbed his nose and offered the first excuse that came to mind.

Claire studied him with her large brown-gray eyes, plainly suspicious.

"But you've only reached the second posture. Could the Great Bear Breathing Method really improve your body this much?"

"It does focus on Strength and Constitution, but I've never seen anyone's physique improve so dramatically so soon after beginning."

Her brows knitted as she considered the matter. Unable to find a better explanation, she gave a slight shake of her head.

"For now, that appears to be the only possibility. Your body must be exceptionally compatible with the Great Bear Breathing Method. Cases like yours are extremely rare throughout the Empire, though not unheard of. In Mayst County, you may well be the first."

*Compatible, my ass.*

Only Raine knew the truth.

Still, the way Claire had looked at him, almost as though she could see into his heart, had made it skip a beat. He would have to conceal his future gains more carefully.

"In any case, this is good news. I had already set aside a parchment scroll for you, but now I can teach you the sword art paired with the Great Bear Breathing Method directly—Great Bear Swordsmanship."

The sudden change caught Raine off guard.

Great Bear Swordsmanship?

Excitement surged through him. The name alone told him that whatever Claire was about to teach would far surpass Basic Swordsmanship.

Claire had never expected Raine to surprise her again.

From what she could see, his body was extraordinarily compatible with the Great Bear Breathing Method. Only a few days of training had produced a remarkable increase in Strength. Such a result was exceedingly rare.

She now had far more confidence that Raine could enter the transcendent realm and become a Knight before turning eighteen.

Otherwise, given her own talent, she would probably become an intermediate Knight within another three years. A retainer who remained only a third-level Knight Attendant would be of little use to her.

It wasn't that Claire's standards were unreasonably high. Anyone who wished to stand beside her had to approach her pace of advancement—or at least avoid falling too far behind.

She regarded Raine with open approval.

"Great Bear Swordsmanship was created by imitating the claw strikes of transcendent bear-type creatures. Its attacks are heavy and powerful, emphasizing raw Strength and overwhelming momentum."

"It is therefore paired with a heavy two-handed greatsword and places considerable demands on the wielder's Strength."

"No matter how strong an ordinary person may be, without a breathing method they cannot properly wield a greatsword weighing dozens of pounds. Even the rare few with sufficient natural strength would leave openings everywhere."

Raine found her reasoning sound.

If his Strength had not reached 9, he probably would not even qualify to practice Great Bear Swordsmanship. He would have needed to reach the fifth or sixth posture of the breathing method and temper his body further first.

That was likely why Claire had prepared the scroll but had not taught him earlier. Before learning Great Bear Swordsmanship, he at least needed to be capable of wielding a two-handed greatsword.

"Your current Strength should be enough for the lightest greatsword here. It weighs thirty-six pounds."

Claire pointed toward a nearby rack.

Raine examined the weapons. Each had a crossguard and a blade at least 1.2 meters long.

He selected the lightest one. It was vastly heavier than a one-handed sword, and even with 9 Strength his swings were far from smooth. Still, as Claire had said, he could just manage it.

Claire casually selected a two-handed greatsword of her own and began her demonstration.

"Great Bear Swordsmanship consists of five forms."

"First Form: Wrath Cleave."

"Watch closely, Raine."

Her expression sharpened, and she burst into motion.

Whoosh!

Her powerful legs drove against the floor. She shot forward like a swift leopardess, crossing several meters in a single stride, then brought the greatsword down on an ironwood dummy.

Crack!

The silver blade flashed, and the ironwood post split cleanly in two.

Raine drew in a sharp breath.

What terrifying power.

He was certain Claire had not used her full strength. This was only a demonstration, yet its destructive force was already astonishing.

Now he understood what Hamilton had meant by calling her exceptionally talented.

"If you understand the movement, try it."

"Yes, Miss Claire."

Raine stepped forward in imitation of her movement and brought the greatsword down with all his strength.

Thud!

A dull impact filled the room.

Raine stared awkwardly at the result. His blade had sunk roughly three inches into the ironwood post—and lodged there.

"Pfft. You little fool."

Claire burst into laughter at the sight.

Raine smiled in embarrassment. It was the first time he had seen her laugh so freely that her shoulders shook. In public, she always maintained flawless noble composure. In battle, she was valiant and imposing. This was an entirely different side of her.

"Your wrist is far too tense when you apply force," Claire explained, still smiling. "Your Wrath Cleave is stiff."

"Only tighten your wrist at the instant the blade lands, releasing a sharp, jolting force. Then your sword won't become stuck in the target."

As she finished, her eyes drifted toward the greatsword embedded in the dummy, and she nearly laughed again.

Raine finally understood. Wielding a two-handed greatsword differed far more from using a one-handed sword than he had expected.

After repeated practice under Claire's guidance, the system responded.

[You have practiced Great Bear Swordsmanship. Relevant comprehension increased.]

[New Skill Acquired: Great Bear Swordsmanship.]

[Great Bear Swordsmanship EXP +1]

[Great Bear Swordsmanship Lv. 1 (1/100)] appeared on the Militia panel. Its icon showed a bear gripping a greatsword, which looked rather comical.

While Raine practiced inside the castle, a burly middle-aged man in thick gray plate armor stood respectfully in a second-floor room, reporting everything he had learned about Raine to a sullen young noble.