Ren didn't exactly experience a surge of excitement at the suggestion.
(I have zero interest.)
He was surprised by how little he actually cared.
The fact that the guests were Regular Knights, including one of commander rank, was interesting enough. However, as someone who already received personal instruction from Weiss, Ren couldn't see much value in getting pointers from a Regular Knight.
"U-Umu... I certainly didn't expect you to look quite that uninterested..."
Ren realized he might have been a bit rude. Feeling guilty for letting his feelings leak onto his face, he cleared his throat.
"As I’ve said before, I’m just the son of a country knight..."
Weiss laughed and placed a heavy hand on Ren's shoulder.
"Then how about simply watching the young lady's lesson? You might still find something worth learning, lad."
"Ah, if it's just that..."
If it was only observing, Ren could agree to that. On second thought, he figured it might provide some new stimulation, so watching wouldn't be a total waste of time.
(Since I’m here anyway.)
However, he wondered why this evaluation of Licia’s swordsmanship was happening now. When a curious Ren asked, Weiss explained that Lezard had been planning this for some time to help Licia improve. Since a unit of the Regular Knight Order was on an expedition nearby, their commander had agreed to stop by.
"Is the person visiting a famous knight?"
"He has the strength required to lead the Regular Knights, so he's quite formidable. I heard his style is the Holy Sword Arts. Have you heard of them, lad?"
Ren nodded.
"I believe those are the techniques founded by the Hero Lauren."
"Oh! You even knew that?"
"I read about it in a book. It’s the style many knights choose to study... if I recall correctly."
"Umu. Exactly. It’s good that you’re so diligent."
In addition to basic swordsmanship, knights often specialized in a style that suited them. Among those choices, the Holy Sword Arts were the most popular. The primary reason was simply that the legendary Hero Lauren had spread the style, so knights from all factions tended to learn it.
Ren, of course, knew all this because of his knowledge of The Legend of the Seven Heroes.
(The Holy Sword Arts were really convenient.)
There were many branches, but if a practitioner mastered the style, they could learn "Arts"—special combat techniques fueled by mana. For those born without a natural Skill, these Arts were a vital means of combat. In a sense, they were an acquired power that served as a substitute for a Skill. Ren still remembered the stances and movements for those Arts from the game.
(I wonder if I could trigger an Art by mimicking the movements from the game—no, that’s probably impossible.)
"I would be happy if both the young lady and you could learn as much as possible," Weiss said as they walked toward the garden. "I myself have never studied anything but Imperial Swordsmanship. I wasn't suited for anything else, so I devoted myself entirely to it... though there was a time I considered other styles."
"I think that’s perfectly fine. Imperial Swordsmanship is a defensive style; it’s perfect for someone serving Lord Lezard."
The Imperial Swordsmanship they were discussing was the standard curriculum for knights. It was highly versatile and, as Ren noted, focused on defense. For those tasked with protecting others, it was a reliable set of skills.
(Personally, a knight like Master Weiss feels more like the 'real deal' anyway.)
Prioritizing defense was the natural duty of a knight. That didn't mean he neglected offense, but Ren felt the style suited Weiss perfectly.
"If you're interested, I could teach you Imperial Swordsmanship sometime," Weiss offered.
"Wait, really? That would be a huge help!"
"Haha! If you're that happy about it, it'll be a joy to teach you."
Seeing Ren's genuine excitement, Weiss’s expression softened with pride.
(Come to think of it...)
In the game's lore, the Saint Licia was a powerhouse who had mastered the Holy Sword Arts. Since the protagonists were usually part of the Hero Faction, the Holy Sword Arts were a constant presence. The style’s defining trait was its all-rounder nature—it handled offense, defense, and support equally well, and if the user had a Skill, the style amplified it. It was only natural that Licia, with her White Saint skill, would be incredibly powerful once she mastered it.
(But there are swordsmen even higher up the ladder.)
Every sword style had its own ranking system. Licia eventually reached the rank of Sword Saint, which was just one step below the absolute peak. Those who stood at the summit of any style were called Sword Kings, and there were only five of them in the entire world across all disciplines. They were ranked by the War God himself in what was known as the Sword King Rankings.
(Well, that’s probably irrelevant to a commoner like me.)
The Sword Kings didn't have much to do with the main plot of the game. Thinking it wasn't his concern, Ren turned back to Weiss.
"By the way, what was the other style you tried to learn, Master Weiss?"
"Umu. The Strong Sword Arts."
"Ah... I see... that explains it."
"It seems you know of them as well. Then I don't need to tell you that the Strong Sword Arts require an innate talent just to learn. That’s why there are so few practitioners... and unfortunately, I lacked that talent."
As Weiss wore a self-deprecating smile, Ren gave a dry laugh.
(The Strong Sword Arts, huh?)
The founder of that style was the Lion King, the progenitor of the Leomel bloodline. In the game, it was an "enemy-only" style used by the Imperial Faction. Its performance was terrifying—fierce in both offense and defense, boasting utterly broken power. Because the techniques were separate from Skills, players couldn't learn them even on a second playthrough. The game never provided an opportunity to acquire them, which frustrated players in two different ways.
(Ugh... the bad memories are coming back...)
Equipment destruction, permanent stat debuffs, and to top it all off, nearly instant-death attacks that were impossible to dodge. The Strong Sword Arts were a literal parade of unfair mechanics, a privilege reserved only for bosses. While the Holy Sword Arts were the all-rounders of the battlefield, the Strong Sword Arts were the undisputed experts of combat.
By the time Ren finished organizing his thoughts, they had arrived at the garden. Licia was already receiving instruction from the Regular Knight commander. Several other Regular Knights and the Clausel family’s own guards were present. Servants stood ready at the edge of the grounds, making the atmosphere feel even more lively than usual.
"...Like this?"
"Yes. You have excellent instincts, Lady Saint."
The commander’s voice reached them as he praised Licia.
"Now then," he continued, "let us move on to some practical application."
He began a sparring session with Licia, much like the matches Ren had often had with her. Seeing it in person, Ren could truly feel the difference. The trajectory of the blade, the footwork, the management of distance—everything was different.
(Lady Licia and Master Weiss are refined too, but this... it’s so sharp. It feels incredibly honest and direct.)
It was a style of swordsmanship he had never seen before. Ren found himself captivated by the commander’s movements. He hadn't been interested initially, but watching it was proving to be fascinating.
Just as Ren was getting into it—
"Ren!"
Licia noticed him during a break. She wiped her brow and ran to his side, grabbing his hand.
"Hey, come on! Ren, you should get some pointers too!"
"Um... I don't think we should just decide that on our own."
Ren tried to explain that being presumptuous might offend their guest, adding, "I’m perfectly happy just watching."
However, the commander called out to them from across the yard.
"Please, feel free to join the Lady Saint if you wish."
Since the offer had been made, Ren felt it would be rude to decline. But why was the man so welcoming? As Ren walked over with Licia, he got his answer.
"I’ve heard much from the Lady Saint. She says you are even stronger than her, and that Lord Weiss recognizes your talent."
Ren gave a strained laugh. "She exaggerates, I assure you."
But the commander seemed genuinely intrigued. "You seem like a very promising young knight."
"No, really, I’m—"
Before Ren could finish his humble protest, the commander cut him off.
"First, I would like to see your form for a moment."
Caught in a situation where he couldn't back out, Ren decided to treat it as a learning experience and stepped forward. Licia moved to the side as he took up a training sword.
"Let’s start with some light strikes."
It was meant to be a warm-up. Ren swung his sword without too much tension. Just as he always did when preparing for exercise, he focused on loosening his body, swinging repeatedly and testing himself against the commander’s guard.
The other Regular Knights watching from the sidelines suddenly went quiet. As they watched Ren’s sword work, they found themselves drawn in, focusing on him with an intensity they hadn't shown even for Licia.
Eventually, the commander spoke with a grave expression.
"Let’s see how you handle a proper spar."
"Yes, sir. By your leave."
The commander didn't go on the offensive. He focused on parrying and delivering light counters, as the gap in their experience was still vast.
(So this is a commander of the Regular Knights!)
The training swords met with a dull thud, far removed from the ring of real steel, but the intensity of the exchange didn't feel dull at all. Ren’s flashes of speed, entirely unbefitting his age, held everyone’s gaze, and the very grass beneath them seemed to ripple from the pressure of their movements.
Seeing it up close made everything clear.
"I’m impressed! I never expected this level of skill!"
"I’m honored by your praise...!"
"There was no need for such modesty! —However,"
The commander’s skill was in a different league. Beyond the simple difference in physical strength, his techniques were so refined that Ren couldn't find a single opening. Despite that, Ren found himself enjoying it. His heart raced as he wondered what kind of strike could possibly break through such a perfect defense.
But then, abruptly, the commander took several steps back.
"Young man, try fighting more like yourself. You don't need to try and mimic our sword style."
"Mimic...?" Ren tilted his head, confused.
But then it clicked. He realized he had been consciously thinking about the Holy Sword Arts. Before coming to the courtyard, he had been wondering if he could replicate the "Arts" from the game by mimicking the movements. He must have been doing it unconsciously.
"Like myself..."
"Don't hold back on my account. Move in the way that feels most natural to you."
If the commander was telling him to stop, then that was the lesson. Ren cleared his mind. He gripped his sword, recalling the basics Roy had drilled into him since childhood, the instincts he had honed in the forest, and the growth he had experienced in the life-or-death struggle against Jelququ. Setting aside the Magic Sword's power, he focused purely on how he, Ren Ashton, would fight.
"Then... here I come."
The aura around Ren shifted instantly. The presence he gave off was no longer that of a boy, but something akin to a powerful monster.
"I see... I thought it might be so...!"
The commander’s eyes sharpened, and the strength he put into his sword increased. He had to. Far from just looking for an opening, he felt that if he didn't step it up, Ren might actually land a decisive blow. Faced with this new, ferocious intensity, the commander tightened his grip.
"Forgive me!"
The commander brought his blade down with a massive surge of strength, intending to shatter Ren's guard.
"Guh...!"
"What...!? You blocked that!?"
It didn't break. Ren had braced his sword horizontally, taking the full force of a grown man’s strike without even dropping to a knee. Not only that, but Ren was already looking for his next opening. The commander nodded to himself, as if confirming a suspicion.
The two exchanged several more fierce blows before the match ended as suddenly as it had begun. The pressure the commander exuded vanished in a heartbeat as he sheathed his sword. He stood at a distance and asked a single question.
"Tell me your name."
Ren, feeling a bit guilty for the late introduction, answered clearly.
"I am Ren Ashton."
"I see. Master Ren, then."
The commander let out a long breath. He walked up to Ren and, to the boy's surprise, dropped to one knee to look him directly in the eye.
"I apologize. I cannot offer you instruction in the Holy Sword Arts."
"...Eh?"
Ren hadn't expected a formal lesson anyway, and the match had just been a spur-of-the-moment thing. Still, the bluntness of the statement left him speechless. But it was the commander’s next words that truly shocked everyone present.
"The reason is simple: you decisively lack the aptitude for the Holy Sword Arts."
He didn't say it to be cruel. His tone was professional and observational. Yet, no one watching could wrap their heads around it. After seeing such an incredible display of skill, they couldn't understand how anyone could say he lacked talent.