Swordsmanship Family's Martial Arts Genius - Chapter 36

Ethan emerged from the Blante family’s armory.

Outside the armory, Vincent was still waiting. His eyes held an expectation as he looked at Ethan.

“What kind of weapon did you get?”

Ethan responded by shaking the necklace hanging around his neck.

Vincent’s expression twisted, and a hint of disappointment lingered on his face.

“…… Is that all you brought?”

His voice was filled with both astonishment and slight anger.

The Blante family armory was lined with rare weapons that were like treasures. Some of them were so impactful that their release could cause a huge stir.

For someone who handles swords, it was a dream opportunity, replaced with such a plain-looking necklace.

‘Do you really have no intention of following the path of the sword?’

Vincent’s expression became complicated. He thought Ethan was being stubborn on purpose.

“I like this,” Ethan said with a satisfied smile. The necklace appeared ordinary on the surface, but its true nature was far from ordinary.

‘There’s a reason why the main character took this item.’

Its performance alone was outstanding, but there was another reason why Ethan chose this necklace.

‘Because it’s also a key.’

But he couldn’t explain that to Vincent. Ignoring Vincent’s sharp gaze, Ethan moved on.

***

“Uraaaaaagh!”

Morun screamed. He was in complete shambles, with bandages wrapped around his arms and neck.

He looked like a severely injured person. Morun couldn’t believe the humiliation he had suffered.

‘I… I lost to that fool.’

He wanted to get up right then and go kill Ethan. In the past, he wouldn’t have hesitated to act on that thought.

‘Damn it!’

But now, he couldn’t.

His injuries were one thing; his body would heal eventually. Broken bones grow back stronger.

The Blante body was tenacious and tough, becoming stronger as if it had been tempered and hammered.

But the mind was different. An irreparable trauma had been etched into Morun’s psyche.

Although his heart wanted to find Ethan and exact revenge immediately, his body trembled at the thought of Ethan’s face.

‘I am the firstborn of Blante and the future head of the household…’

It was an unbelievable reality. Morun slapped his own cheek.

His cracked neck and waist screamed in pain. The dizzying agony proved that this awful situation was real.

“Uraaaaaagh!”

All Morun could do now was scream in frustration.

***

“……Damn it.”

Karon’s condition was not much different from Morun’s.

‘I chose the wrong path.’

Karon was the youngest in the family.

Usually, the youngest had fewer options. Become a knight to protect the family or carve out one’s own path.

To build a place in the family, one had to crush their siblings.

Luckily, the Blante family followed the law of the jungle. Birth order didn’t matter.

Karon had a convenient prey: Ethan Blante.

The disgrace of the family, someone who feared the sword despite being born into the Blante family.

Karon built his position and self-esteem by trampling on Ethan.

He had no intention of challenging Morun or Lisa. Karon knew his place.

They were insurmountable mountains, but Ethan was different.

‘But why?’

When Ethan appeared after shedding his flabby mass, Karon should have realized something was wrong.

If he had thought and acted a bit more cautiously, he could have avoided everything.

“Damn it.”

But it was too late. The water had already been spilled. Karon was utterly trampled by Ethan, a complete and utter defeat without any room for rebuttal.

But there had been hope, until recently.

“I can’t believe even Morun lost…”

Morun, who had been their only hope, was also defeated without putting up much of a fight.

Karon clutched his hair in frustration. He had not just chosen the wrong path but had veered far off course.

Now, it was time to give up and crawl before Ethan.

Fear of Ethan sprouted in Karon’s heart.

***

Ethan was lightly running in the training ground to warm up.

Despite Vincent’s complex gaze, Ethan didn’t add any further explanations.

‘I can’t explain it anyway.’

The information Ethan had was not the kind that could be shared. All Ethan had to do was prove it through results.

‘Not sure who’s coming next.’

Instead of anxiety, there was anticipation. Ethan felt enjoyment in this feeling.

As he gradually increased his speed, Faion, who had been watching in silence, asked,

― I have one question.

“Please ask.”

Ethan answered while maintaining his pace.

― Why do you insist on barehanded combat? You must know that path is much harder.

Ethan stopped in his tracks at Faion’s question.

Ethan blinked with a subtle expression.

“Do I insist on barehanded combat?”

― …Wasn’t that the case?

Ethan chuckled at Faion’s question.

“Not at all. I have no intention of insisting on barehanded combat.”

Ethan pulled out a dagger from his waist, lightly tossed it, and caught it backhanded.

“It’s just that my opponents so far were manageable that way.”

He knew his proficiency was lacking.

During his days as a mixed martial artist named Ryuta Shin, Ethan had dedicated his life to combat.

Mixed martial arts was a collection of various historical martial arts.

Among the world’s top monsters, Ryuta Shin remained undefeated.

Analyses and strategies from experts were meaningless before Ryuta Shin.

No strategy could withstand Ryuta Shin.

This repetitive process dulled his enthusiasm.

It wasn’t that he lacked affection for fighting. He had spent his life training, and he had a love for the path he had walked.

But he wasn’t obsessed either. To Ethan, combat was now just a means.

Ethan swung the dagger lightly a few times.

It was unrefined, raw dagger technique, yet each strike was sharp.

“Swordsmanship hasn’t been necessary so far, and I’m not yet familiar with it.”

Ethan grinned.

― … You are truly an irritating fellow.

Faion looked at Ethan with the expression of someone who felt betrayed.

He thought Ethan walked the path of fists alone, but Ethan was different.

‘Perhaps that’s the right way.’

Having walked that path once, he knew. Conviction becomes obstinacy, and obstinacy becomes stubbornness.

When one holds onto stubbornness, growth stagnates.

Ethan was greedy. He wanted to explore everything, whatever it might be.

‘There’s a risk of being consumed by desire, but…’

For now, Ethan was his only hope.

― Arrogance becomes confidence if harbored by someone with the skills… Very well. The time has come, so I will teach you my ‘fighting style.’

Faion spoke in a solemn voice. Ethan blinked as he looked at Faion.

“Do I really need to learn that?”

Irritation dripped from Ethan’s voice.

Finally, Faion couldn’t hold back his rage.

― Just accept it!

***

“Is this Blante’s territory?”

As Emila dismounted, her face was filled with cold anger.

The horse was panting heavily as if it had run without rest, and Emila’s clothes were also dusty in places.

“Oh, you’re here!”

As Henry came running breathlessly, a small frown formed on Emila’s forehead.

“You’re Henry, right?”

Reading the accusatory tone in Emila’s eyes, he bowed his head.

“…I’m sorry, Emila.”

“Don’t call me by my name. Just ‘Swordsmanship Instructor’ will do.”

Emila curtly responded.

Cursing her sharp attitude inwardly, Henry didn’t dare show it.

Strictly speaking, the root cause of the issue was Henry himself.

“I heard there’s no gate on Blante’s territory, but I didn’t expect it to be true…”

Most territories of a certain size had gates installed.

Of course, using them was absurdly expensive for the common folk, but they significantly saved time.

“It’s a backward place.”

“Heh, but since it’s in the mountains, the air is nice…”

Henry, who was speaking without thinking, clammed up under Emila’s glare.

“When’s the schedule? I’d like to finish quickly and return.”

“The day after tomorrow. You came earlier than expected… haha.”

“Ha, I guess it can’t be helped. Please show me to my accommodation, I need to unpack.”

“Yes, I’ll guide you to where I’ve been staying.”

Treating Emila cautiously, Henry cursed inwardly.

‘Damn, she acts like a queen. She’s technically my junior.’

But he didn’t have the guts to say it out loud.

Emila was a famous swordsmanship instructor at the academy.

Despite her young age, her outstanding skills and appearance made her very popular among students.

Her popularity was so immense that even her prickly personality was seen as a charming trait.

‘I’m dimensions apart, stuck here in the boonies.’

Henry boiled with envy.

***

― Using fists and feet in combat has one advantage over cold weapons.

“Got it.”

― Do you have to respond like that?

“What’s wrong with it?”

― Ha… Never mind. Let’s proceed. Have you heard this before? Treat the sword as an extension of your body.

“I’ve heard something like that.”

In martial arts novels.

Nodding, Faion continued.

― No matter how well you wield it, a sword is just a tool. Until you reach a certain level, treating it as an extension of your body is essentially impossible. In that aspect, we have an advantage.

As Faion summoned mana, it enveloped his hand.

― Very few mana users can imbue sword with mana. Only those on the verge of mastering can barely do it, and even then, it’s inefficient.

Faion threw a punch. Though it was just a simple punch from his semi-transparent form, its momentum was not light.

― Martial artists who train their bodies to the extreme can infuse their body with mana. The speed, efficiency, and responsiveness of mana transfer within the body are on a different level compared to swords or spears. I will teach you how to utilize this. I was originally going to teach you my combat techniques, but that doesn’t seem necessary.

Ethan’s techniques were already perfected.

Faion realized it was pointless to pass on anything else to Ethan.

Faion, who had devoted his life to combat, couldn’t fathom Ethan’s limits.

‘What a shame, what a waste.’

If they had met while alive, they could have learned much from each other.

But there was no time for such musings now. Ethan looked at Faion with a curious gaze.

“Shall we start?”

Faion felt a chill in Ethan’s seemingly pure eyes.

It was greed.

A ravenous greed for growth. Faion, who had once been obsessed with strength, recognized it instantly.

‘Hahaha…’

A hollow laugh escaped.

Suddenly, Faion had a thought.

That this greedy descendant would strip him of everything he had.