Eventually, the two of them came to a halt.
They had walked deep into a wide corridor lined with thick, evenly spaced pillars, finally stopping before a massive stone door.
"This is the training ground. There are several others, but for the next few days, we shall have this one entirely to ourselves."
"Understood. Wait—for 'us'?"
"Yes. Just the two of us—myself and Master Ren."
Smiling like a kindly grandfather, Edgar reached toward the stone door. The door was a uniform jet-black, matching the surrounding cobblestones and pillars, and it stood as tall as a two-story house. Yet, Edgar swung it open effortlessly.
"Is it not heavy?" Ren asked.
"This door is exactly as heavy as it looks, I assure you."
"I see..."
Ren felt he could probably open it himself if he had to, but seeing such a slight, elderly frame move it so easily was a different matter entirely. He had never assumed Edgar was just an ordinary butler, but such raw physical strength was staggering.
Once the door was fully open, Ren took in the space beyond.
Azure—that was his first impression.
The stone floor and the arched pillars surrounding the room were made of an azure material that emitted a soft white glow. The space felt almost otherworldly.
(Now for the Strong Sword Arts.)
Ren’s heart raced as he stepped into the training ground. However, no matter where he looked, there was no sign of the swordsman he expected to be his instructor. Instead, several thick books sat atop a tall round table in the corner.
"It seems the preparations I requested are ready," Edgar said, standing beside him. "For today, let us spend about half our time on theory and the other half on practice."
"Pardon?"
"My apologies. It seems I neglected to mention it."
Edgar slipped off his jacket. The suspenders over his crisp white shirt suited him perfectly. With the jacket removed, Ren could see the lean, corded muscle of the old man’s physique.
"The one tasked with instructing Master Ren in Strong Sword Arts is none other than I—Edgar."
Looking closely, Ren noticed several longswords fastened at Edgar's waist.
(He’s strong.)
Ren had sensed it from his poise, but Edgar’s aura had shifted the moment he removed his jacket. His presence was that of an overwhelming master. While Ren wouldn't go so far as to say the man surpassed Asval, he possessed an intensity that defied comparison to any swordsman Ren had met before.
"It is an honor to receive instruction from the steward of the Ignat family," Ren said.
"Not at all. On the contrary, I feel quite humbled. I fear I may lack the strength to instruct the one who defeated Asval."
Ren felt a surge of certainty. "I know Lord Ulysses. If he were to introduce a Strong Sword User to me, he would choose someone of exceptional caliber. That is why I am certain you are a master in your own right."
"My, my... those words are more than this old frame deserves."
Ren glanced at the books on the table. In the legends of the Seven Heroes, there was a reason Ulysses was known for more than just his intellect. If he had been supported by a rare Strong Sword master in the shadows, everything made sense. The reason Edgar’s name wasn't in the legends was likely because he had fallen in battle at some point.
Regardless, he was a man Ulysses trusted. His age was irrelevant.
"We shall begin with the contents of these books. Master Ren, have you ever studied the theory behind swordsmanship?"
"No, this is my first time."
His father, Roy, was a man of pure practice, and while Weiss had been meticulous, his lessons had focused on the practical techniques of a Leomel knight rather than academic study.
"If anything is difficult to understand, please do not hesitate to ask," Edgar said.
"Thank you. By the way, is it common to start with theory when learning Strong Sword Arts?"
"That depends entirely on the master. I will not claim there is only one correct way to teach. However, in my case, I believe that practice must always be accompanied by theory."
It was a form of instruction Ren had never experienced, and he found himself eager to begin. He bowed respectfully and began his lessons. The thick volumes contained the history and origins of the style, and Ren approached the study with genuine excitement.
After about an hour, Edgar checked his wristwatch.
"Now, I shall provide instruction while including some demonstrations."
Several training swords were lined up against the wall. Edgar told Ren to choose one that suited him. Ren selected a blade with a length and weight similar to his Iron Magic Sword and returned to Edgar’s side.
"After we warm up, I would like you to strike at me. I wish to observe your current form."
Ren spent a few minutes warming up before signaling he was ready. Edgar took a stance with a sword in each hand.
"You may begin whenever you like. Please, strike at me as you wish, without holding back."
Ren hesitated. He felt a natural aversion to striking an elderly man with full force, especially since he hadn't truly tested his strength since gaining Physical Ability Boost (Mid). He wanted to avoid accidentally injuring Edgar—or himself.
Slowly, Ren began to increase the power behind his swings.
(Wait—)
He quickly realized Edgar’s immense skill. The old man caught Ren’s strikes with effortless grace, his body not budging an inch. The training ground echoed with the thunderous cracks of clashing steel—sounds that testified to Ren’s incredible strength. Yet Edgar simply nodded, parrying the blows with one hand as if he were barely paying attention.
"I see the shadow of Imperial Swordsmanship in your style."
"Yes! I've been learning from Weiss-sama—one of Lord Lezard’s knights. I imagine that's where the influence comes from!"
"I see. That explains why your grip and swings are so refined."
Satisfied with his assessment, Edgar called for a halt. "It seems there is no need for me to teach you the basics of handling a blade. You have had an excellent mentor. Now, let us move on to the foundations of the Strong Sword Arts."
He held a thick book in one hand, standing with a poise that felt strangely weightless.
"As you know, Arts are a concept that exists in every school. They are a power that can compensate for those not born with magical skills. One uses mana to activate them, unleashing a technique through the sword. However, in the Strong Sword Arts, that concept is slightly different."
"Different how?"
"For example, in Holy Sword Arts, there is an Art called Lightfall."
"I know it. I've experienced it firsthand."
"So I have heard—the incident with the Demon King Cultists in the Baldur Mountains. That makes this easier to explain. Lightfall uses mana enshrouded around the blade to weaken an opponent's magical defenses. Only those of the Master Swordsman Class or higher can utilize it."
Ren remembered how much he had struggled against those cultists.
"Magical defense refers to the protection provided by special metals like Mithril or by specific skills. Such metals contain mana, granting them hardness beyond ordinary steel and a natural resistance to magic. However," Edgar paused, "in the Strong Sword Arts, we do not consider Lightfall to be an Art. A technique of that level should be achievable through ordinary swordplay."
"Excuse me?" Ren stammered.
"Against the concept of magical defense, a Strong Sword must be able to inflict damage even without an Art. One must refine their skill until they can pierce such defenses through sheer martial prowess."
Ren listened, bewildered by the sheer absurdity of the claim.
(No wonder Strong Sword Users had such insane attack power.)
Painful memories from his days playing the game flashed through his mind. But if he could master this himself, the potential was limitless. It would be a powerful tool for protecting those he cared about.
"How do I put that kind of power into a blade?"
"By refining the mana within your body until it is more delicate than the muscle fibers themselves. Coating your entire body in that mana—the concept of Enshroud—is the foundation of everything. Understand that unless you master Enshroud, you cannot master the Arts of our style."
(I’m already lost.)
"Furthermore, Enshroud is not merely for offense. Just as metal containing mana is reinforced, this mana becomes an invisible suit of armor that protects your body."
Ren struggled to grasp how one was supposed to achieve such a state. "You mentioned I have a skill. When I first started using it, I had to focus entirely on the mental image of it."
"It is the same. Do not overthink the mechanics. Begin by focusing your awareness on the power I have described."
"I think I understand the concept of Enshroud," Ren said. "But why is it that other schools can use Arts without it?"
"Strictly speaking, all swordsmen use mana to perform Arts. The difference lies in the application. Others use mana as a coating for their equipment—a temporary reinforcement for their sword or armor. They use their gear as a medium. We, however, enshroud the body itself. It requires a much finer degree of control, as you must account for every muscle movement and every breath. Using a medium versus using the self... they are similar, but fundamentally different."
"So, the Strong Sword Arts turn the body itself into both weapon and shield?"
"Precisely. The talent to utilize refined mana in such a way is what defines aptitude for our style."
Ren finally understood why Strong Sword Users were peerless in both offense and defense. Whether or not he could actually master such a feat, however, was another matter entirely.