Chapter 30: Junior Knight’s Squire Title

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Junior Knight’s Squire Title

"The first thing we must master are the five core movements of Fencing: the cleave, the slash, the parry, the thrust, and the block. Every technique or combination is just a variation of these five core movements. Only by committing them to heart can you truly master Fencing."

In the courtyard, Sopps explained to Vili.

Since Sopps hadn’t brought his Cross Sword, he and Vili were just using tree branches as substitutes.

Nearby, Vilia was hugging Wally, watching the two with keen interest.

"Alright, let’s begin."

Sopps had a high aptitude for swordsmanship. Combined with his clear and logical explanations, it wasn’t difficult for Vili to learn.

Besides, Vili’s Intelligence was higher than an ordinary person’s, and the attribute included one’s capacity for comprehension.

"Not bad at all."

Sopps was very pleased with his student.

Although they were just five simple movements, achieving precision required constant practice. This placed high demands on a student’s stamina. Someone with a weak constitution would find it difficult to maintain such high-intensity training.

"Vili, your Constitution is almost on par with what mine used to be."

Sopps looked surprised. "If Baron Kels recruits more Guard Members, you should absolutely try to sign up. Your chances of passing would be high."

Vili didn’t respond. He had no way of explaining the reason for his powerful Constitution.

"There’s about a third of the Combined Techniques left. Do you want to keep going?"

Sopps asked. He still looked relaxed, but Vili was starting to feel the strain.

The Combined Techniques of Fencing looked simple, but coordinating the body to perform them was surprisingly strenuous.

"Let’s continue."

Vili was determined to learn the entire set in one go.

A flicker of admiration crossed Sopps’s eyes. He believed it was Vili’s experience as a Hunter that had given his younger brother such endurance and persistence.

Finally, as noon approached, Vili learned all of the Combined Techniques in Fencing.

"Fencing Combined Techniques learned. Title acquired: [Junior Knight’s Squire]. Reward: 0.5 attribute points."

"Upon acquiring the title [Junior Knight’s Squire], you will automatically learn the basic real-world applications of all Fencing combinations. You are now a qualified Junior Knight’s Squire."

[Vili Ferren—Constitution: 1.6; Intelligence: 1.2; Remaining attribute points: 0.5]

Everything went just as Vili had expected. ’Just as I thought, learning all the Combined Techniques gave me a new title. Every breakthrough comes with a pleasant surprise.’

With a thought, Vili allocated all the attribute points to Constitution. His Title Attribute Panel updated.

[Vili Ferren—Constitution: 2.1; Intelligence: 1.2; Remaining attribute points: 0]

’Just like that, my Constitution has truly reached the standard for a Junior Knight’s Squire—more than double that of a normal person.’

After allocating the attribute points, Vili felt the fatigue from his Fencing practice vanish, his energy completely restored.

"Vili, you’ve only just learned the forms of Fencing. Don’t think you’ve truly mastered the art. You need to practice every day and find opportunities to use it in real combat."

Sopps cautioned him. He had already decided to guide Vili down the path of a Knight’s Squire. While being a Hunter was a respectable profession, serving a nobleman was a far more glorious calling.

Of course, he could never have imagined that in that brief instant, Vili had already grasped the essence of Fencing for a Junior Knight’s Squire. His practical combat ability was now not far behind Sopps’s own.

"I know."

Vili remained outwardly composed.

’I wonder what it takes to get the Middle Level Knight’s Squire title...’

Vili mused, perhaps he needed a Middle Level Knight’s Squire to teach him further, or perhaps he needed to go through a real battle.

"I want to learn, too!"

Vilia, who had been watching with great enthusiasm, hurried over when she saw the two of them take a break.

Sopps laughed at her words. "You can’t learn Fencing just yet. I’ll teach you when you’re older."

Sopps wasn’t just humoring Vilia. In Baron Kessel’s Personal Guard Team, there really were female Knight’s Squires. However, most of them were in the bloom of youth—slender and beautiful—and served the Baron in more... intimate capacities.

Sopps had also heard rumors that in larger, more prosperous fiefdoms, female Knights even existed.

...

「Two days later, in Diamond Town.」

"I have to head back to Baron Kels’s manor first. You can go sign up on your own."

Sopps said to a fully equipped Vili. "Good luck."

"Alright."

Vili responded.

For the past two days, Vili had been pretending to learn Fencing from Sopps while also training White Bear Wally. He was now more at ease with Wally. The mutant species was highly intelligent and could easily understand his intentions. So much so that Vilia had yet to notice any of Wally’s peculiar changes.

Today was the day Sopps was due back in Diamond Town, which was also the registration day for the expedition into Bole Forest. So, Vili and Sopps had traveled together. Now that they had arrived, it was time for them to part ways.

Following the route from memory, Vili arrived at the Diamond Town’s Town Hall.

Baron Kels was the master of Diamond Town and the highest authority in the territory. The Town Hall was the administrative body under his command, and all officials within the territory served him.

The Town Hall was a large, four-story building in the very center of Diamond Town. Its exterior walls were coated in fine white paint, and its roof was laid with dark red tiles. At the very center of the facade was a large, round insignia bearing a rhombus pattern that resembled a diamond. This was the family crest of Baron Kels, the symbol of the Aure Family, the masters of Diamond Town.

Vili stopped to gaze at it for a moment. ’If the Ferren Family ever becomes nobility one day, I’ll design our family crest to look like Volibear—a Thunderous Giant Bear clad in armor.’

"Excuse me, where do I go to register for the Bole Forest expedition?"

Vili walked into the Town Hall and asked a clerk who was passing by.

The clerk looked at Vili doubtfully. "You’re a Hunter?"

’Even though he’s carrying a Crossbow and a long spear, he looks way too young. Are there really Hunters this young?’

The clerk subconsciously assumed Vili was just another opportunist trying to cash in on the five Gold Rums reward.

"That’s right. I’m a Hunter."

Vili paid his skepticism no mind.

"Second floor, to the right."

The clerk sneered as he watched Vili head upstairs.

’Does he really think Bole Forest is as safe as Diamond Town?’

’How naive.’