The Healing Solaris Cleric-Chapter 413: Master (2)
If there were a million swordsmen in the world, then there were a million styles of swordsmanship. In a way, swordsmanship was like a hairstyle. Even if people went to salons to get trendy hairstyles, the results would always differ depending on the shape of their head, the condition of their hair, and the length.
It was the same with swordsmanship. Even when learning the same technique, depending on the swordsman’s physique, personality, and understanding of the sword, it could feel entirely different to their opponent.
Then what about me?
Kai asked himself that question for the first time. To him, swordsmanship had merely been a tool. He needed to hunt monsters to level up, and to do that, he needed to wield a sword. In short, swordsmanship was just a means to level up.
But that was all in the past. His sword had slain monsters. His sword had rescued NPCs. His sword had even gone on to protect those he had rescued. The reasons for taking up the sword had grown.
The reason I wield a sword.
What conviction did he want to place in his sword? For Bach, it was the Ironblood. For Patrick, it was finishing power. For Paval, it was protection, a desire to shield his allies.
What is my conviction?
Conviction was something everyone had. There were people who didn’t know what their conviction was, but there wasn’t anyone who didn’t have one at all because conviction was the most important part of shaping a person’s values.
Kai seriously pondered what it was that he truly wanted. Was it protection, because he wanted to save Helik? Or was it annihilation or destruction, because he wanted to kill Muldine? After thinking for a while, Kai suddenly shook his head.
No, it’s not any of that.
Kai, Han Jung-Woo, had held only one wish before he became a Solaris Cleric.
“Freedom.”
What he wanted when he took a leave from school and locked himself away in his room from the world was freedom. He wanted to help others freely without worrying about what anyone else thought. That was why he had entered the world of MID Online. However, freedom was not something that could easily be gained.
“Freedom isn’t something granted by others, but something you must obtain yourself.”
A famous quote by the Russian writer Tolstoy, a line he had seen in passing as a child returned after more than a decade to shake Kai’s heart.
So then, the reason I felt I wasn’t free back then...
Was it because he had put shackles on his own ankles?
Kai forcefully struck down Bach’s incoming sword.
“Grah!”
Bach let out a groan as one of his knees was forced down. At the same time, Kai felt a tingling sensation on the top of his head. The foggy, clouded feeling in his head had suddenly lifted.
To obtain freedom means to bear the responsibility that comes with it.
Freedom from work, freedom from school. It sounded sweet, but what kind of future awaited at the end of that? No matter how rough that future might be, one had to bear the consequences alone. That was why most people were afraid to be free.
Because they’re afraid of responsibility.
But Kai shook his head.
It’s only right that I take responsibility for the consequences of my actions.
That was both the right and the duty of one who had won freedom.
So from now on, I’m going to...
Follow not his mind but where his heart led. If he wanted to save Helik, he would save her. If he wanted to annihilate his enemies, he would annihilate them. If he wanted to show kindness to the weak, then he would. That was the kind of freedom he wanted. No, that was the kind of freedom he wanted to give himself.
“Bach.”
When Kai suddenly called his name, Bach’s eyes widened.
He tried to hide his tingling hand and replied, “So you’ve come to your senses.”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“Then show me.” Bach took his stance. “What conviction have you placed in your sword?”
The place they stood now resembled more of a ruin than a sparring ground, but Bach’s posture was unchanged. He waited for Kai’s sword in the same stance as before.
A breeze blew from somewhere and rustled Bach’s hair. At the same time, Kai vanished from his spot. It was a movement so seamless it felt as if he had become the wind and merged with the world.
Where... where is he?
Bach’s gaze, known to be the sharpest in Rashion, slightly trembled. How long had it been since he had lost track of someone’s movement?
Then, a sharp iron sword suddenly appeared in his vision.
Clang!
Bach urgently swung his arm and blocked the attack. But right after he blocked it, he instinctively flinched.
What is this?
Kai’s swordsmanship had changed during just the brief moment while he had been sparring with him. From that point on, even following Kai’s sword with his eyes became difficult for Bach.
There’s no form in his swordsmanship...?
Swordsmanship was usually made up of basic techniques like slashing, striking down, striking upward, diagonal cutting, and thrusting. It was a complete product assembled from various foundational forms. But at that moment, Kai’s sword had none of those forms.
The sword that stretched out like wind carried the will of freedom and wandered through the air like a living creature. It moved wherever the heart went, wherever the hand wanted. The sword in Kai’s hand dashed around like a mischievous child let loose in the world and pressured Bach. Faced with such swordsmanship for the first time in his life, Bach’s stamina and mental strength quickly drained.
After a short exchange of blows, Kai quietly looked down at the iron sword in his hand. This wasn’t it. He was sure the sword he swung now was endlessly free, yet this couldn’t be everything.
Freedom is a power that isn’t bound by anything.
Kai suddenly felt stifled, as if his swordsmanship was trapped inside a worthless iron sword in his hand. So he let go of the iron sword.
Clang.
The sword fell to the ruined floor.
“What does that mean...?” Bach asked with a puzzled expression.
He didn’t know whether he should continue the duel or stop it.
“Bach.”
“Mhm.” Bach nodded once to show he was listening.
“The conviction I put into my sword is freedom.”
“Freedom...?” Bach blinked.
He had seen countless knights and among them were those who made their name echo across the continent. However, not one of them had ever held the conviction of freedom. Naturally so, since the profession of a knight itself was one bound to someone. To an order, to a church, to a noble, to a nation, to a lord. One who offers their sword to another, that was a knight. However, Kai was not a knight. He was merely a cleric who wielded a sword.
Which means... he can live by the conviction of freedom.
Excitement surged up through Bach.
“Come.”
A sword that pursued freedom was something he had never heard of before. To face such a sword and cross blades with it was a great honor and a badge for him.
Kai slowly raised one hand. “Then... here I go.”
A cool breeze struck his palm and slipped through his fingers. When holding a sword, the weapon in hand was his only means of attack. But the moment Kai let go of the sword, the will of freedom he held in his heart resonated with the world.
Bach instinctively turned at the sharp slicing sound that came from behind him. The fifteen-meter-high wall surrounding the training grounds slid and fell over.
At a loss for words, Bach unconsciously walked toward the wall. When he looked at the cut surface, he let out admiration.
“So sharp...”
When he placed his hand on the cut surface, a bead of blood formed at the tip of his finger. That’s how sharp the surface was.
“Kai, what is this?” Bach asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
The sword of freedom had passed over Bach’s body and only sliced the wall. It was a realm that couldn’t be understood with ordinary swordsmanship.
Kai replied in a voice that sounded completely drained, “Not sure. I don’t even know what to call it...”
Formless Sword, or perhaps a Mind Sword. No matter what name was given, it was just wordplay in the end.
“A sword is just a sword, really.”
“Is that so...” Bach also seemed to realize something in Kai's words and nodded. “You are right. This is simply a sword.”
He stepped forward and walked toward Kai. Bach, who was about a fist taller, placed his hand on Kai’s shoulder. Perhaps because it was right after the battle, his palm radiated heat.
After looking down at Kai for a moment, Bach slowly said, “From now on, you are the greatest swordsman in the Kingdom of Rashion.”
“Pardon? I’m not sure I...”
“No, it’s certain. From this point on, perhaps across the continent, there is no one whose swordsmanship surpasses yours.”
Bach Den Black. His second sword master gave him the highest praise he could offer.
Moved deep in his heart, Kai bowed his head. “Thank you...”
It was a quiet murmur, barely loud enough to reach Bach’s ears. At that moment, countless system messages began to appear in front of Kai.
Ding!
[Proficiency of Swordsmanship of the Dawn has reached its maximum level.]
[Swordsmanship of the Dawn has advanced to Master rank.] 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
[Your understanding of the sword has reached the heavens. You have gained the incomprehensible power of freedom.]
[Freedom is the complete state of being unbound by any form of restriction or control, internal or external.]
[You have acquired the Master exclusive skill Formless Sword.]
[You are the first among players to master this skill.]
[Special title acquired: First Skill Master.]
[It is a remarkable feat that would astonish even the gods of the Celestial Realm.]
[The Solarian God Helik is proud of you. +50 Benevolence stats.]
[Due to the effect of Witness of the Sun, your Benevolence stat has additionally increased by 25.]
[Level increased.]
[Level increased.]
[Level increased.]
[Level increased.]
.
.
.
[Acquired 30 stat points.]
[Rumors that your swordsmanship has reached the heavens begin to spread from the Kingdom of Rashion.]
[+1,250,000 Fame.]
[You are affiliated with multiple factions.]
[Fame of the Solarian Church greatly increases. The spread rate of the church increases by 25% for one month.]
[Development speed of your territories and happiness of your residents have significantly increased.]
“Wow...”
It was such a massive wall of text that he couldn’t even take it all in at once. But the moment Kai saw it, he felt reality hit him again.
Skill Master.
It was funny that a cleric had mastered a sword skill, but Swordsmanship of the Dawn was the only skill he could have mastered to begin with. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. Only skills that progressed through these three stages could be mastered. That meant they were the only ones that could reach their peak form.
Most skills of the Solaris Cleric were fixed at MAX LV.10. If it hadn’t been for Swordsmanship of the Dawn, Kai would have never mastered even a single skill in his entire life.
“Once again, congratulations.” Bach smiled brightly. “Seems like the anger that had been holding you down is gone now.”
“Yes, it’s all thanks to you, Bach.”
Would he have been able to master swordsmanship even if he hadn’t met Bach today? Kai, who suddenly found life interesting again, looked around.
“But... is this really okay? I feel like I went too far.”
“You worry over nothing.” Bach smiled and patted Kai on the shoulder. “You have plenty of money, don’t you?”
The Hero of Salvation pressed his lips tightly shut.
