Lord of Caldera - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Test Of Willpower
When told to run until he couldn’t anymore, the usual responses were typically two: either questioning why they had to do so or, while starting to run, frowning.

Only a very small number of people, like Sylas, ran without any doubts. Those who did were often talented in swordsmanship, regardless of whether they had any prior experience.

‘But the real test starts now.’

Although he said he would check his stamina, that was actually a lie. This was a test of the learner’s willpower. Werner hadn’t said to run until they were tired; he had said to run until they couldn’t.

The time until reaching the limit was largely about physical stamina, but how much further one could go after hitting that limit depended on their own will.

‘Just how far will you go?’

Reaching the level of a motivated apprentice knight would be sufficient to pass. If he fell short of that, then learning swordsmanship or anything else would just be a waste of time. Werner decided to wait leisurely. However, the scene that unfolded shortly after exceeded his expectations.

“Huff, huff!”

How much time had passed since he started running? Sylas’s heart felt like it was about to burst, his legs were trembling, and he was gasping for air.

Despite that, Sylas continued to run.

“Y-young master! Stop! You can stop now!”

“I’m still able to keep running.”

“You have already surpassed your limits.”

Sylas shook his head, denying Werner’s words.

“My body is still moving.”

“…!”

Werner trembled involuntarily. When had he seen such a strong will? If left to his own devices, Sylas would try to keep going until he died. Werner declared the first-ever halt to a test.

“Young master, the test is over. You can rest easy now.”

“…”

As soon as the words were spoken, Sylas collapsed. His consciousness remained, but it felt as if all his strength had drained from his body. It was surprising that he maintained his awareness even in such a state.

‘Truly remarkable willpower.’

What if he also had talent for swordsmanship? They might witness the rebirth of Leonik Corleone, the founder of the Corleone family. Werner calmed his racing heart and picked Sylas up, carrying him on his back.

‘Ah, that stubborn old man. He wouldn’t stop until he was on the verge of death, all for a test of willpower. If I weren’t concerned about my image…’

Unaware of Sylas’s thoughts as he was carried on Werner’s back.

***

The next day, Sylas returned to the training ground. His body, which had been pushed to its limits the previous night, had fully recovered in just one day.

Thanks to a potion that Werner personally had.

Sylas made a deliberately apologetic expression and spoke bitterly.

“How could you use such a precious potion on me? I didn’t even sustain any serious injuries.”

“No, it’s only natural to offer it since you ended up like this because I didn’t stop you.”

Half of the response was sincere, and the other half was an excuse. In reality, he wanted to confirm Sylas’s talent as soon as possible.

But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. They had to start with the basics first.

“What you will learn now is simple. Just watch me and follow along.”

Werner took his stance and lifted a wooden sword. Then he executed a downward slash. It was a fast, ordinary downward strike. The second strike was slightly slower. The third was very slow.

“Did you see that?”

“Yes, it just seems like you swung the sword down.”

“That’s right. Now you try it.”

Sylas received the wooden sword from Werner and took his stance. Perhaps because he had seen it properly, his posture was impressive for someone holding a sword for the first time.

Werner nodded in satisfaction at the sight.

‘The start is quite good. If I teach for about three days, I might get a sense of whether the young master has talent…!?’

Werner’s eyes widened as he spoke. Sylas was following the downward slash he had just performed exactly.

What mattered was the quality of that downward strike.

As he swung his arm, his posture didn’t falter at all, and the sword drew a straight line without shaking. He even matched the speed that Werner had adjusted in the three strikes perfectly.

“I followed exactly as you said.”

“I-I apologize, but could you do it once more?”

At Werner’s words, Sylas repeated the downward strike. This time, it was a flawless downward slash.

Only someone who had swung a sword for years until their hands were calloused could achieve that posture. And he managed to do it with a sword he was holding for the first time?

“How was that? Did I do it correctly?”

“Oh, very good. Now, could you try this as well?”

Werner, trying hard to suppress his agitation, swung the wooden sword again. It was one of the forms of the Corleone family’s basic swordsmanship, known as Wind Sword.’

At first glance, it looked like a simple diagonal cut, but it contained three variations that could twist the blade’s path.

“Now, try to follow along.”

“Hm, it’s a bit difficult… Is it like this?”

“…!”

Werner barely swallowed his astonishment. The form of the Wind Sword was unfolding right in front of him.

Not at the level of an apprentice knight, but at a level of completion that only seasoned elite knights could display.

It was a level that even the word “genius” couldn’t do justice.

“Y-young master. How on earth did you do that? Have you really never learned swordsmanship before?”

“Yes. Look, my hands are full of marks from holding a bow.”

Sylas smiled and opened his palm. There were no calluses that would typically form on someone who held a sword. Only the calluses typical of an archer formed on his thumb and index finger.

Werner couldn’t bring himself to speak and just opened his mouth in disbelief. Sylas pretended not to notice and continued to swing the wooden sword with a distant look in his eyes.

“However, when I held the sword, I felt something strange.”

“Something strange…?”

Sylas, holding the sword with both hands, closed his eyes. It was as if he was communicating with the sword.

“This is the first time I’ve held a sword since I was born.”

“Yes, you did mention that.”

[Experience points have increased due to a perfect downward strike.]

[The same training has been excessively repeated.]

[The increase has been readjusted to the minimum.]

“But the moment I saw that swordsmanship for the first time, I could feel something.”

“W-what do you mean by something?”

[Experience points have increased due to displaying perfect swordsmanship.]

[The same training has been excessively repeated.]

[The increase has been readjusted to the minimum.]

“It was as if the sword was guiding me, a feeling that is hard to put into words…”

“…!”

[The proficiency of the ‘Wind Sword’ is already MAX.]

[No further proficiency can grow.]

[For additional growth, the higher-level swordsmanship ‘Wind Sword’ is required.]

“That’s why I was able to follow along with swordsmanship I had never seen before.”

“T-this is impossible…!”

[The current basic swordsmanship rank is ‘Expert.’]

[The Wind Sword is limited to ‘Expert’ rank. Learn a higher-level swordsmanship.]

Ignoring the sounds of the notifications pouring in, Sylas recalled a saying from his previous life.

Pretending to be a beginner is the content of those stuck in the past.