Chapter 367: Future Biographies Can Only Rely on That Publication

Chapter 367: Chapter 367: Future Biographies Can Only Rely on That Publication

The old man before him was watching with an expectant gaze, so Lance pulled up his system panel.

Lance invested the last little bit of Skill Experience he had left after completing the commission into this skill.

[System Notification: Congratulations, you have learned the Skill "Heartless·Extreme Intent (Legendary) LV1: 15/10000."]

’Holy shit! Legendary?!’

...

「About half an hour later.」

Elder Sword Saint Reinhardt walked back to a luxurious office in Violet Academy with his hands behind his back, a satisfied expression on his face.

Elvira, having just returned from the funeral, had already changed out of her black mourning clothes threaded with gold and into a black-and-white dress.

The dress fell to her knees, and her long, golden hair was tied into a ponytail with an aqua-blue silk ribbon.

At the moment, she was diligently reviewing and processing the newly submitted list of candidates for the Crimson Crown Knight Order’s preliminary selection.

As the Elder Sword Saint entered, several maids immediately bowed their heads in greeting.

The Elder Sword Saint nodded in response.

He noticed at a glance that Elvira’s mood was completely different from the angry, irritable state she’d been in the previous night.

A faint smile played on her lips, though he didn’t know what she was so happy about.

"Teacher, where did you go?" Hearing the footsteps, Elvira put down her pen and asked, puzzled. "I didn’t see you at all after we left the Divine Hall earlier."

"I went to see that boy, Lance, for myself."

Just then, a maid brought over a cup of fine tea.

The Elder Sword Saint casually took it and took a sip, not hiding anything from his student.

Elvira, on the other hand, was shocked.

She shot up to her feet, her expression extremely tense.

’Knowing my teacher...’

"You went to see him?! You didn’t draw your sword on him, did you?!"

’This is bad! I still haven’t told Teacher that Lance is my older brother. What do I do?!’

’He doesn’t think Lance faked his death to trick the Royal Family into bestowing him with honors, and now wants to kill him for it, does he?’

’With Lance’s current level of strength, he’d have absolutely no chance of surviving against a Sword Saint.’

Seeing his apprentice’s tense expression, looking as if she were about to burst into tears, the Elder Sword Saint shook his head with a sigh.

"Relax, he’s fine—all four limbs are still attached. In fact, after our exchange, I’m actually very pleased with him."

"When we first started fighting..."

The Elder Sword Saint smiled and shared his thoughts with Elvira. "At first, I thought he was just a genius with sharp combat instincts. But after parrying his attacks a few times in a row, I realized I was wrong."

"It seemed like I was completely overwhelming every one of the kid’s attacks, but each time he struck again, his Swordsmanship was making extremely subtle adjustments!"

"His Swordsmanship Skill Level was increasing!"

The Elder Sword Saint felt the joy of finding a kindred spirit. "He’s a lot like my younger self, who grew stronger with every battle. So, I decided to teach him that skill from the Instant Sword Court."

"That Secret Technique?"

Elvira knew of that Skill.

Her teacher had tried to teach it to her once, but she was completely unable to learn it.

The Skill was based on a pure concept. As long as one mastered that concept, they could use the Skill to continuously absorb combat experience from any enemy, allowing the Skill itself to evolve through battle.

At its most basic level, the Skill constantly strengthened one’s ability to Parry, deflect, and break through an opponent’s moves.

What made the Skill even more formidable, however, was that if its user engaged in prolonged, high-intensity combat against a specific type of enemy, the Skill could absorb enough combat experience to develop a [Slayer-Type Ability]!

A Skill so powerful was naturally incredibly difficult to learn. In fact, one could say its requirements went against human nature.

Namely, one could not think at all while using the Skill.

This is because in a life-or-death battle, the brain must race to analyze an opponent’s movements and predict their attacks to keep up with the rapidly changing situation.

Under such circumstances, a person’s Perception becomes narrowed.

The Skill, Heartless·Extreme Intent, however, required the user to enter a state of empty-mindedness to absorb combat inspiration.

’And in this entire world, it seems only a freak of nature like Teacher can use this Skill.’

"Yes, that is the Secret Technique."

The Elder Sword Saint nodded. "Counting the now-disbanded Instant Sword Court, I’m the only old man left who can use this Skill."

"Because only people like us, who can improve simply by swinging our swords continuously in battle without any need for thought, can even cross the initial threshold."

"But that kid... he’s even more ridiculous than I was."

The Elder Sword Saint recalled the days when he had first learned this Skill.

It had taken him a full month to master the basics, and even then, his own master had called him a monster.

"But that kid, Lance, right under my nose..."

"He learned it completely in a single attempt."

The Elder Sword Saint shook his head as he drank his tea, clicking his tongue in wonder.

’This is great!’

Elvira cheered internally.

’Lance wasn’t killed by Teacher, and he even earned his praise!’

"So, Teacher, where is Lance now?"

’Since Teacher admires Lance so much, I can get him to help me drag Lance back to the Royal Capital!’

’That would give me a huge advantage over Cecilia!’

"I don’t know." The Elder Sword Saint shook his head. "He left right after he learned the Skill."

"Huh?"

Hearing this answer, Elvira’s previously excited expression immediately fell.

Her "Huh?" was long and drawn-out, full of disappointment.

"Teacher, why are you always like this!"

In front of the Elder Sword Saint, Elvira acted like a normal girl, not the heir to the Royal Family that she was in the eyes of outsiders.

"Once your goal is accomplished, you don’t care about anything else."

"Information about Lance is very important to me!"

Looking at the pouting Elvira, the Elder Sword Saint smiled and offered a few words of comfort.

"A person with his kind of personality is not one to linger in White River City for long."

"I can feel it—his heart, which longs to grow stronger, is already getting restless."

"I believe that when the time comes for the battle for the ’Pole Star’..."

"You two will definitely meet again."

"When that time comes, don’t be shocked by how fast he’s grown."

...

「Meanwhile, on the other side of White River City.」

"What did you say?!"

Lance looked at Bazzer in astonishment.

"So you’re saying that from now on, if I want to forge a new Legend, the only way is to publish it through that Royal Capital periodical you submitted to before?"