Overpowered Sword

Overpowered Sword Chapter 55

Level up with swords (55)

The journey after that was indeed smooth.

Leon had a hangover that left him all day long, but the atmosphere inside the top had improved a lot. Thanks to the banquet that day, the people who had been in the dark became quite close, and the adventurers and mercenaries who used to treat each other harshly did the same.

The guard troops hired by the Storm Merchant Marine Corps are not just Leon and his “Steel Claws” mercenary group. Even though the ranks were a bit low, there were members who each had their own roles.

Since it was like uniting them all in one day, it was a happy miscalculation in many ways even from the owner of the top, Arnold.

Of course, Leon also had his own income.

“You’re from the Northern Army?”

“Yes, I enlisted as a child soldier and served for about 10 years.”

Han Sen, sitting next to me, told me his story.

“The people the Northern Army mainly deals with are mountain orcs. “These bastards have skin as hard as a rock and know how to use weapons.”

Leon listened to his story with a piece of bread in his mouth. It was rare to have the opportunity to hear such a realistic story. It was not only fun but also beneficial.

To him who still lacked worldly experience, the mercenaries’ rich experiences were like rain falling on dry land.

My ears perked up, trying not to miss a single word.

“Maybe it’s because I climbed the steep rock wall with my bare hands, but my grip strength is amazing. It bends not only wood but also iron. And the two palms are harder than the rest, so the blade won’t get stuck in them.”

“Then how did you deal with it?”

“My way.”

Han Sen said, pointing to the spear hanging on his back.

“Their strength is great, but their weapon skills are nothing special. It just swings violently, so just block and stab it. Fortunately, the leather around the abdomen is thin and soft.”

“It’s an orc, but its abdomen is a weak point….”

“It’s a characteristic of mountain orcs.”

In general, monsters classified as ‘orcs’ had enormous muscle mass, so it was common sense to target joints or the head.

The defensive power of the abdomen, which is several times thicker than that of a human and surrounded by hard muscles, is at the level of armor. So, for Orcs, clothes were often decorations that revealed their authority, not armor.

Han Sen laughed after reading Leon’s question.

“Mountain oaks cling to rock walls with their arms and legs. The scholar’s analysis was that, perhaps because of that ecology, the torso was thin compared to the limbs and the front of the body was not exposed, so the abdominal muscles degenerated.”

“okay.”

It was an understandable explanation.

Monsters adapt very quickly to their environment, so it was common for them to mutate into an appropriate form. Just as the orcs living in mountainous areas have changed so much, those living along the coast or in desert areas will have different characteristics.

They have gills so they can breathe underwater, and they have a protective coloring that is indistinguishable from sand.

Either way, it was a story you wouldn’t know unless you experienced it.

‘If it weren’t for Han Sen, I wouldn’t have known about the weaknesses of mountain orcs.’

Leon repeated the information in his head. If I ever have to fight against mountain orcs someday, I might be able to apply it.

Even an indirect experience was a hundred times better than no experience at all.

So he listened to the story, even including the unsuitable chuimsa. Besides Hansen, there were dozens of other people who could share their experiences. There was no one who coldly pushed Leon away, even though he was a B-Rank at a young age.

‘Well, besides, there’s nothing to do on the way up.’

If you think about it, it was natural.

Most of the time spent on the ascent is spent traveling long distances by carriage. The tedious travel time is much longer than the time spent eating, camping, etc. combined.

Since there isn’t much entertainment to enjoy in the carriage, I have no choice but to spend more time talking to someone.

In the meantime, there was something I became aware of.

“Hey, master. “What is your relationship with your sister?”

“hmm? “What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Hamel, a mercenary belonging to , quietly whispered.

“Hey, why are you hiding it like that? “If a grown-up man and woman can ride in the same carriage, then all is said and done.”

“It’s not like that.”

“No. Oh, is this a priestly relationship? The movements seem to be somewhat similar. However, for a teacher and a student, they have no pretense. “There doesn’t seem to be anything up or down.”

Leon was surprised by those words, but did not show it.

He was a former ranger who could find something in common in the movements of the two people. His observation skills were indeed unusual.

Still, I couldn’t tell the whole truth.

“We became close friends while working on a mission together. “It’s not the relationship between men and women that people talk about.”

“Hoo, is it still there?”

“Not yet and everything!”

When Leon got annoyed by the obvious teasing tone, Hamel giggled darkly and ran away.

There was no other sly man.

After sighing at his mischievous attitude, Leon realized for a moment that what he said made sense. It was true that the two people had a slightly unnatural relationship in the eyes of others.

‘It’s not enough to be accompanied by an A-rank, a B-rank kid riding in the same carriage looks like a pillar to anyone’s eyes.’

It might be for a similar reason that mercenaries, including Han Sen, started arguing. How disgusting it must have been for the mercenaries who had lived a rough life to be a brat who hid behind a woman and accepted a request for nothing.

Even though the misunderstanding was resolved with one match, it would not be possible to resolve it this way every time.

“…I have no choice but to become more plausible.”

Leon looked down at his palm.

Calluses that have been torn and crushed countless times and stuck to the point where the palm lines cannot be seen. It was proof that I could do better than anyone else if I just worked hard.

If it is insufficient, just supplement.

If you are inexperienced, just train yourself.

Just as there is no one who is perfect from the beginning.

‘No, there was at least one person.’

Leon smiled without realizing it. I missed El Cid’s braggadocio, which wasn’t braggadocio. Listening to his confident tone, it felt like any adversity was no big deal.

But we shouldn’t just rely on El Cid.

In return for swinging the sword three times, I stayed silent for a month, so I don’t know what price I will have to pay next.

“I need to become stronger.”

You must become stronger and more determined than you are now so that you do not depend on El Cid’s power.

Leon immediately placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

The time you can get off the carriage is limited. When to eat and when to camp. Since you can’t swing a sword in a narrow carriage, you have to use this short time efficiently.

It’s good to listen to someone’s story, but to use the experience, you need corresponding strength.

Whoop!

Leon’s sword slashes sharply through the air.

The routine began as usual.

* * *

Boom!

The two swords collide, scattering sparks.

Longsword and Zweihander.

The shock wave that erupted from the point of impact of the blade covered the area, raising dust from the dry ground. A battle of strength and power. Blood spurted out from Leon’s lip, which was pushed there.

This is the reward for hitting the with all your might. I don’t know if I won, but the repulsion made me feel sick to my stomach.

“Tsk…!”

Gustav said in front of Leon, who was bending over.

“You’re strong. “You took my sword from the front.”

Although it sounded like self-aggrandizement, he was truly praising Leon.

Gustav’s nickname is ‘Smasher’.

He was born with great strength and could swing the 2.3-meter Zweihander like a wooden sword. That’s fine without using the aura, but what about after activating the aura?

It could tear down most castle gates with one blow.

“I didn’t take it… I just let it go.”

Leon shook his head at those words, but Gustav grinned and patted his shoulder.

“How many bastards do you think can do that in front of me? “Even if it wasn’t technique, I gave it my all, but I didn’t know that I would avoid it and fight back.”

“…I also have some regrets.”

“what? Hahaha!”

It was a stupid thing to do because it was a sparring match.

Responding to force with force and speed with speed.

Leon thought as he looked at his slightly twitching hand.

‘If it had been a real fight, my head would have been blown off because my defense was late at the next moment. This is a losing battle.’

This is an opponent that is difficult to defeat even once in ten fights.

B rank, which is very close to A rank.

Leon calmly weighed his strength and lowered his sword. It wasn’t serious, but I would have suffered internal injuries, and there was nothing to gain if I continued any longer.

“I’ll leave it here. Thank you for listening to my request.”

“Just make time for anything. “Having a fight with a talented person like you is quite helpful to me.”

Gustav chuckled and took Zweihander.

The sight of a large sword over 2m long moving smoothly did not feel realistic at all. According to Hansen’s story, he won an arm wrestling match against an orc, and it seemed possible with that level of strength.

As Leon was about to return to the carriage with him, Gustav suddenly spoke as if he had thought of something.

“This won’t work for a while.”

Gustav scratched the back of his head with a regretful expression.

“I’m going into the forest starting this afternoon. “If you make the same noise in the forest as before, monsters will come.”

“How many days will it take to get through the forest?”

“Well, that’s fine. If everything goes well, three days? “Maybe five days at the latest.”

Leon agreed and asked a question.

“We might have to fight monsters, right?”

“of course. You might not touch it at the top of this scale, but the danger level of that forest is medium. “If there is a medium-sized monster, it will definitely attack.”

“If it’s a medium-sized monster….”

“Most of them around here are Trolls.”

Leon’s eyes widened at Gustav’s words.

troll.

How many people don’t know that name? He was so well known that even people who didn’t fight monsters knew about him.

A giant with an ugly appearance.

“Adult forest trolls are about 4m to 5m tall and are quite agile compared to other species. It’s a bit different from the swamp trolls with their fat bellies. “There are even people who climb trees.”

“No, trolls climb trees?”

“People who haven’t seen it don’t believe it. “Forest trolls are almost like apes.”

Leon became interested in the story, so he went over to the carriage of “Claws of Steel” and continued listening to the story.

There was no way Gustav was talking nonsense, so it was probably true that forest trolls were fast enough to climb trees. If I had dealt with him without knowing that, I could have been in big trouble.

The mercenaries seemed to be satisfied with his attitude and willingly taught him.

“And forest trolls don’t act alone. If swamp trolls take control of a territory and do not leave the area, they band together and take over the territory of other monsters. “There are times when I use goblins or orcs as subordinates.”

“Cunning guys like goblins attack without even looking back, right? Then it is highly likely that it was bait sent by a forest troll. “While you are paying attention to the goblins, they will attack you from the side or from behind.”

The knowledge that was not taught and could not be learned at the academy is generously revealed.

Leon didn’t miss a single word and engraved it in his mind.

It was natural to return words of gratitude to the mercenaries.

It was right then.

“―We are now entering the forest. “Everyone in charge of escorting, please concentrate on your role.”

Merchant Arnold’s voice echoed throughout the carriage.

After passing through the plain and boring plain, I finally entered the forest where monsters live.

Leon greeted the mercenaries and returned to his carriage.

Then Karen, who was lying down, got up and gave a long yawn.

“What is it, hero? Is it time to work?”

“They say we’re entering the forest now?”

“If it’s the beginning, nothing much will happen. “I wonder if tonight or tomorrow afternoon will be a problem.”

In contrast, Karen, a veteran, remained calm.

She did not do just one big project like Leon, but successfully carried out over a hundred requests. He had a lot of experience fighting in the forest as well as in the upper guard.

The ecology of monsters is very complex yet simple.

Karen, who knew the reason, lay down on the hammock again, and Leon followed her and leaned against the backrest.

‘Either tonight or tomorrow afternoon.’

Are those words true?

Leon felt the vibration of the carriage gradually slowing down and tried to get over the internal injuries he had suffered from the sparring with Gustav.

At this level, it will be completely cured in 2 to 3 hours.

I had to get my body back in perfect condition before fighting the monsters.

Inside the carriage, only the sound of the two people breathing was heard, but it soon died down. This was because the noise coming from the wheels became louder because the ground was more uneven than the plain.

From then on, time passed and the sun set.

“It’s an attack!”

Just as Karen said, the attack by monsters has begun.