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Episode 9. The Beginning of Training (1)
A burning desire to become stronger.
For the first time in his life, Yuri’s heart was etched with such a fierce yearning—and Johan noticed the change.
‘Hah… I only meant to break his pride, but it looks like I’ve ended up fanning the flames instead.’
A normal person would’ve despaired or given up when faced with the overwhelming power Johan had shown.
But Yuri found purpose and motivation from it instead.
And that was exactly what Johan welcomed.
People with goals and motivation grow fast.
‘Well then… maybe I should throw a log on that fire so it doesn’t burn out.’
Step—
Johan turned toward Yuri and spoke.
“What I want to test through you is the effectiveness of a newly developed body–sword technique. But I’ll say this up front—it’s incomplete.”
“……”
“Up to now, I’ve built the framework for this new technique based on my own experience and knowledge. From now on, you and I will work together to flesh it out.”
“……”
“It’ll be grueling work that’ll take a long time. So hard you might want to give up every single day. If you do decide to quit, you’re free to run away. I won’t stop you. But…”
Johan paused, and his eyes flashed sharply. His voice grew stronger.
“If you don’t run away… if you endure everything and, through that, complete the martial theory I’ve been building—!”
Shrrk—Clack!
His sword slid smoothly into its scabbard. Johan grinned and pointed at Yuri with his index finger.
“Then once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be able to land a solid blow not just on my face—but even on the Sword Master’s. That’s the entire reason I created this technique in the first place.”
“……”
“So. Think you can handle it?”
At Johan’s provocative question, Yuri tilted his head slightly.
‘He’s seriously asking that?’
Run away?
Can I handle it?
The “Black Sword,” who had challenged the Sword Master twice and survived.
This was a body–sword technique designed specifically to counter the Sword Master, developed from that man’s own experiences.
And I’m supposed to run away from a chance to gain real power that’s right in front of me?
Ridiculous.
Whoosh—
Heat flared in Yuri’s eyes, and a grin crept across his lips.
“Can I handle it? The real question is—can you handle me, old man? I never half-ass anything I start. So don’t come crying later that you’re tired or want to quit.”
“Pffft, this brat’s got a mouth on him. Fine then, let’s see who gives up first.”
Boy and old man.
Gold and gray—two gazes, different yet strangely similar, clashed midair and sparked fiercely.
The pride-fueled staring contest lasted quite a while.
And then…
“Hey, old man.”
Yuri’s voice came, slightly pouty.
“You know what?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was actually planning to leave. I’ve been saving up money, supplies, and gear like crazy for years. I was ready.”
“Oh? Perfect, then you can pack up and leave right away.”
“Yeah, except… it’s all gone now.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s gone. Just disappeared a moment ago.”
“……?”
“You blew it all away. Along with that.”
Yuri pointed toward the place where the cliff—and his hideout—had been.
“……”
“……”
Silence fell between them.
Whooooosh—
Cold wind swept through the wide, empty space where mountains and cliffs used to be, whistling between the two of them.
Yuri glared furiously.
“Old man.”
“……”
“Showing off your power is fine, great even! But—”
“……”
“My clothes? My food? And above all, the money I scraped together over two—no, eight years?!”
Yuri’s voice rang out, and Johan’s gaze slowly dropped toward the ground.
“Th-that’s such a trivial thing to fuss over…”
Johan tried to defend himself weakly.
“Trivial? Trivial?! Are you seriously calling eight years of my blood and sweat trivial?!”
Hiss!
Faced with the black cat-like boy hissing at him, Johan completely averted his gaze.
And so, the first pride battle between Yuri and Johan ended—
Hyaaaak!
—with Yuri’s fierce victory, punctuated by his relentless hissing.
The vanished mountain and cliff.
The gaping empty space left behind.
Gunter’s lips parted slightly at the sight.
‘Good heavens?!’
The report came early that morning—an entire mountain and cliff had disappeared overnight.
At first, they suspected a prank. But it wasn’t.
A mountain had truly vanished in a single night.
Ashraf was convinced it was Johan Redner’s doing. He was the only one in the region capable of something like that.
And that certainty shocked Gunter even more.
‘Can a single human being really do something like this?!’
He’d heard of Johan’s legendary reputation, but he hadn’t expected this level of power.
‘If this is what a Master can do… just how terrifying must the Sword Master’s power be?’
The Sword Master had defeated Johan twice. Imagining the strength of someone capable of that was difficult.
Gunter clenched his fists tightly.
Crack.
‘The Black Sword Johan Redner… and the boy he chose, Yuri Holland.’
He heard they had left Irons.
While Gunter would be training inside the Cradle, Yuri would be growing under Johan’s guidance.
And someday—they would meet again. He could feel it.
‘When that day comes… I don’t want to lose.’
Yuri had been chosen, not him. But Gunter didn’t want to believe it was because he lacked something.
He wanted to prove it—to the future Yuri Holland.
‘I have to push myself even harder.’
Yuri would grow quickly under the systematic and brilliant training of a Master.
To surpass him, Gunter would have to train more intensely than anyone.
Even so… a hint of envy crept in.
“I wonder what training under a Master is like…”
Gunter gave a small, wistful smile, then erased it and returned to the estate.
Time for his daily training.
While awaiting the day he’d face Yuri again.
By noon, Yuri and Johan had left Irons and were preparing lunch in a forest.
“Hm hm~ huhu~”
Yuri hummed a cheerful tune.
“……”
Johan frowned silently.
Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You rob my wallet clean, and your big ‘thank you’ is rabbit roast?”
“Hey hey, don’t say ‘just’ rabbit roast! Wait and see—Yuri Holland’s special rabbit roast is coming right up.”
“No matter how you season it, a rabbit’s still a rabbit, what’s so ‘special’ about—”
“Would you stop grumbling if you want to eat at all?”
“Grr…”
Johan groaned and fell silent, grumbling internally.
‘This greedy little brat…’
Because of one small mistake, Johan had blown away all of Yuri’s savings. When Yuri complained, Johan snapped back, “I’ll just reimburse you!”
That was his second mistake.
Yuri immediately pounced on that and emptied Johan’s wallet.
‘No way that kid’s savings were even half of what he took from me…!’
But since Yuri—the victim—insisted it wasn’t enough, Johan ended up handing it all over begrudgingly.
Grinding his teeth at his flattened wallet, Johan thought,
‘I can always withdraw travel funds from the bank later… but still. To be conned by a fifteen-year-old brat, of all things!’
One thing was clear now:
‘At least I don’t have to worry about him starving in the Cradle.’
Johan clicked his tongue and looked at Yuri, who was happily grilling the rabbit.
He was smearing some kind of mixture on it.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, this? Powdered herbs and dried angola root. Gets rid of the gamey smell and seasons it nicely.”
Yuri’s hands moved with practiced ease.
From the quick hunting, to the skinning, to the cooking—everything was efficient and skillful.
Far beyond what was normal for his age.
Johan’s eyes narrowed with interest.
“Where’d you learn that?”
“Learn? I didn’t ‘learn’ it. I just picked it up after eight years of trying not to starve to death.”
“Eight years? You said you’re fifteen now, didn’t you?”
“Yup.”
“…So you’ve been wandering alone since you were seven? What about your hometown?”
“I dunno.”
“You don’t know?”
“I left where I was born and just wandered aimlessly. Eventually ended up in Irons trying to survive.”
“Hmm…”
Johan was surprised.
Even though the Sword Master had united the continent, the world wasn’t exactly kind to a seven-year-old alone.
Even having a divine blessing doesn’t put food in your mouth or money in your pocket.
‘No wonder this kid’s got such a worldly, jaded personality. He grew up fast.’
A child who saw the ugliness of the world too early and lost his innocence.
That was Yuri.
Johan asked quietly,
“What about your parents?”
“If I had any, would I be like this now?”
“Are they dead?”
“I dunno.”
“…Is there anything you do know?”
“How would I know if the parents who abandoned me are alive or dead?”
“……”
“There was this old granny who picked me up and raised me. But she died eight years ago. And we weren’t exactly close, so don’t give me that pitying look.”
Yuri’s indifferent tone actually left Johan speechless.
‘I figured as much from his guarded attitude, but… he’s had it tougher than I thought.’
When Johan stayed quiet, Yuri glared suspiciously.
“What’s with the sudden background check?”
Johan relaxed his face and joked,
“Well, if you die, someone’s gotta send your body back to your family, right?”
“Hey, don’t jinx me! Spit three times, hurry!”
“Pffft.”
“Bad luck! I’m not dying, so spit it out!”
Their bickering went on for a while, until the delicious smell of roasted meat finally ended the squabble.
Yuri, cheeks stuffed full of rabbit, asked,
“So when does this ‘training experiment’ of yours start?”
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
Despite Johan’s scammy personality, his power and reputation as a Master were real.
What would he teach first?
What kind of Master-level training awaited?
Yuri’s heart raced with anticipation.
Johan grinned knowingly.
“I was planning to start today anyway. Hehehe. Eat up and rest well. This’ll be your last supper.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Don’t start crying later that you can’t do it.”
“That’s not happening.”
Yuri replied firmly and confidently.
But that confidence didn’t last long.
A short while later, Yuri stared at Johan and then at the object behind him.
“Old man… what’s that?”
“What? You’ve never seen a cart before?”
Johan tapped the rickety old cart he’d dragged back earlier.
“I’ve seen one. I’m asking why you brought it. We don’t have that much luggage.”
Johan smirked, hopped on the cart, propped his prosthetic leg on the rail, and declared proudly:
“Now, pull!”
Yuri blinked.
“…Pull it? Me?”
“Of course. Who else?”
“Why should I pull it?”
Johan crossed his arms.
“Tsk tsk. Foolish child. Do you know what you’re most lacking right now?”
Yuri thought for a moment.
“Probably mana?”
Johan snorted.
“Pffft. Manaaa? What kind of idiotic answer is that? What you lack most is stamina, boy! Stamina!”
“What are you talking about! My stamina’s great!”
“Sure, compared to ordinary people. But your future competition are monsters who can sprint for four days carrying fifty-kilo boulders without breaking a sweat. Next to them, your stamina’s trash!”
“Tr… trash?”
“If you want to survive, you’ll have to build up your body and energy relentlessly! Only then can you harmonize with your soul. So quit whining and start pulling!”
“I’m not a horse!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you can run better than a horse soon enough. Hehehe. Now move it! Or are we camping here forever?”
Tap tap!
Johan banged his prosthetic leg against the cart, clearly showing he had no intention of getting off.
Yuri narrowed his eyes.
“…Old man, let me just ask this. You’re not using this ‘training’ as an excuse because you’re too lazy to walk, are you?”
“……”
“You are, aren’t you?”
“……”
“You are.”
Johan didn’t answer, just looked away and banged the cart again loudly.
“Listen here! In my day, if a great master told us to drink sewer water, we did it without complaint, boy!”
“…That’s disgusting.”
“You brat! When a master gives an order, you follow it!”
Yuri was speechless at Johan’s sheer old-man stubbornness.
‘What? Master-level training? A meaningful first step?’
Yeah, right.
He should’ve known better than to expect anything.
“You brat! Why aren’t you pulling yet? What’s wrong? Gonna give up? Over something this trivial? Tsk tsk, I misjudged you completely!”
Johan shouted, egging him on.
Yuri was now absolutely certain:
‘This geezer… is a total scammer.’
Master, my foot.
