E3 Chapter 20

: Building up Experience

[Rudeus POV]

"Ruijerd Superdia, Have a match with me. "

It was so sudden that I actually dropped my spoon.

What’s wrong with this brat? Is he sane?

Ruijerd was himself, accepting the taunt and heading towards the ground. It’s a rare sunny day in the Great Forest.

Eris and I can only stare at the boy, who is pointing the tip of his blade at Ruijerd.As we see each other, I can see her eagerness and excitement.

Sigh, this girl really is a battle maniac.

…

..

.

[N POV]

As he dragged the coffin towards the sparring ground, the other people covered their ears because of the grating noise.

"What’s that thing?"

Ruijerd asked.

"This? My scabbard... "

As Claude said, he opened the weapon box.

There, weapons are coming out one by one.

An ax came out of the tiny space, from smaller to bigger than himself. followed by swords of all kinds and sizes, then spears, knives, and even hammers, including the anvil.

Everyone on the ground was amazed by the amazing weaponry coming out of the small coffin.

The sheer number of weapons that came out of it was astounding. No wonder the coffin was grating when it was dragged.

They even wonder how that boy, with a small stature, can drag something so heavy.

Almost a quarter of the sparring ground was filled with his items by the time he was finished.

"I know that he’s a blacksmith, but isn’t this too much?.." Rudeus said

"Wow! Rudeus! How is that even possible? What kind of magic is that?!"

"I also want to ask you the same question, Rudeus-Sama." Gyes adds, while the other Beast folks stare at Rudeus.

"Ugh, I also want to know that… I guess it’s one of Claude's artifacts. He’s an enchanter, so that should allow him to create an inventory space that can store his weapon." Rudeus stopped for a minute and started to mutter something more.

"I see. That means Claude is adept at space-time magic. But, he can’t reach greater mastery, so that’s why the coffin drags dirt along with its movement. "

While some of them didn’t understand what Rudeus was saying, the village chief nodded in understanding.

"Which means the coffin was heavier because, as he could create more space for it, he couldn’t decrease the weight. Is that what you mean, Rudeus-dono? "

"Oh, I guess so... From what I read, a weight reduction spell is something never before seen in this era. Even the space folding spell was a forgotten spell.. "

Rudeus’ reasoning was interrupted by Claude.

"I’m sorry to make you wait."

"It’s nothing. I can wait longer if you want. "

"No, this is enough. Although it’s varied, I can already sense that my weapons are brittle compared to yours.. "

"Of course, this is a Superdian spear. Created from our body, the longer we hold it, the stronger it will become. As a weapon that has been with me for 400 years, I can undoubtedly say that it’s stronger than yours... "

"Hah… how...." Claude Suddenly appeared before Ruijerd. "Boastful!"

"Impressive," Ruijerd said as he parried the strike and sent Claude away.

"Wha... Can you see it, Eris, Gyes, Elder? " Rudeus asked, as he could only see that Claude suddenly appeared before Ruijerd instantly.

Eris, Gyes, and the village chief were all training in combat. They are all better than the others, from the earlier to the latter.

But, even to them, it’s instant teleportation.

"As expected from a veteran, you’ve seen this magic before?"

"It’s been a while since I saw Time Magic... What a queer one. Even in the past, time magic was something that only a handful could use, not to mention master them. "

Ruijerd was amazed. Time magic is something that only a king grade mage can do. Even in the past, when the Demon Lord Laplace conquered the land, a mage of time was rare.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Claude is using a sword, a long sword to be exact.

Using his peak advanced class sword style, he moves slowly but surely toward Ruijerd, who’s still taking his time to guide him.

Claude already knows that he can’t beat Ruijerd, but he never expects that he can’t make the person get serious.

Each move created a sensation for the onlooker.

Claude was a child of her daughter's age and already better than Gyes.

"You’ve broken all the swords you had. What kind of weapon will you use next? " Ruijerd said as he stopped to let Claude take his time choosing from his weaponry.

Claude didn’t answer him. He attacked Ruijerd using a throwing knife. As Ruijerd blocked it, Claude took the hammer from the Ancient Troll.

"This might be strong enough to handle your spear then!"

BAM!

The ground shook as the hammer smashed the ground. Ruijerd dodged the attack and moved further away.

"That weapon..." Ruijerd squinted his eyes as he remembered the weapon.

"You know this? It’s something I took from the Troll. I told you before...."

"The one that chomped your arm, I presume?"

"That’s..." Claude once again used his time spell to suddenly appear before Ruijerd. "Right!"

Woosh!

The horizontal swing is dodged by Ruijerd by a slight margin, but because Claude was spinning while swinging the hammer, Ruijerd can only move further away from him.

Although he could parry the attack, he still took some time in the sparring.

Unknowingly, the hammer was thrown by Claude towards him.

"Ugh..."

Ruijerd groaned at the sheer force of the hammer.

"Whoa, success at last! Now, try this! "

Claude said as he moved to stab Ruijerd with a spear.

"Is this person really a human child? He’s not a Demon kin with a youthful appearance, right? "

Gyes said, in doubt.

"I can promise you that he’s my childhood friend... but I don’t know that he’s this strong.. "

"I can see why he’s mad at you, Rudeus... Claude’s still someone who had trouble handling you a year ago, right? "

"A year ago, huh… Is that Mana Burst the reason he’s this strong? "

"Mana Burst? What’s that?" Gyes asked, and then Rudeus told him the story of Claude’s mana burst.

"No, I can only presume that his talent was pushed to the peak after you guys grew apart." the elder said after hearing the story.

"Then, what does make him so strong?" Eris asked while the background noise of Ruijerd and Claude’s fight was still heard. She’s still focusing on the fight even now.

"Do you see the inconsistency in his skin color?"

"Yes...."

"I can only presume that it’s not some kind of disease, but a healed injury...." The elder said and stopped talking at the moment while pointing at Claude.

"Look at his injuries. They are healing slowly. "

Rudeus was astonished at what he saw with Eris and Gyes.

"As you can see, small wounds won’t leave any scars. But, what about Claude’s whole arm on the side and the patches of skin defect in the other areas? "

"...."

"I can only guess that the child was having a threatening, life-or-death moment when you all spent time journeying here..."

"Life and death moment... Mass Teleportation.. "

While they all had their discussion, the spar was nearing the end.

The ground is littered with weapons fragments as Claude gasps for breath. Ruijerd, with scratches on his body, was moving closer to him.

"It’s impressive... for someone Eris’ age, no… you are an amazing warrior, Claude."

"Sigh... I still am not your match, though. "

"If you can match me with just several years of training, I will waste all my time living several times more than you."

"Alright..." It’s my loss. The only one left is just that hammer and this glaive in my hands... I never expected a Sword Saint to be able to defeat a Superdian Spearman, but to only leave a scratch... what a disappointment...."

Claude said as he lost his consciousness.

…

..

.

[Rudeus POV]

I clenched my fist hard while seeing the sparring ground filled with weapon fragments.

I am mortified at what progress I made in looking at him. Even so, what can I do? It’s not like I am as crazy as that guy.

He’s a prodigy, while I am not.

Right now, I am feeling mortified.

We can just stop it there.

But, the pride of a reincarnated person inside me was screaming in agony. I am better than he is. I’m someone that has lived more than he has.

However, the fact that I’m lacking behind him is the truth.

I still remember the time I taught him about magic, and the fact that he’s still a grade lower than me in ranking is still there.

I am obviously better than him above the paper.

Still, his combat sense is way above mine.

"Don’t think too much, Rudeus, albeit he’s stronger than you physically. You’re still way above him in other knowledge! You’re also amazing! " Eris said, trying to encourage me.

"You see, Eris. Claude is also my disciple in magic, the same as you... Don’t you remember? " I said, remind her of Claude's status.

"He’s my senior?" Eris inquired, trying to recall Claude.

"Yep... the time he spent training his swords and magic is less than me. But, look at him right now. He can do blacksmithing by learning from his father and do enchantment because of a small wand. How long do you think it took him to do all that? " I asked her, while trying to make her remember things that I once shared with her.

"Years?" Eris guessed, not even trying to guess.

"Yep, 2 years, to be exact. From the age of seven to the age of nine...."

"That’s really amazing..." Eris can’t help but be amazed at his learning capability.

"By now, I can undoubtedly say that he’s better than my father. By the time I leave the village, he’s just a tad stronger than me. But now? I can’t even be a match for him without ambushing him. "

"Don’t belittle yourself too much. You’re still young. There’s also that magic eye you had, isn’t it? You can still improve. "

Ruijerd suddenly said as he approached us.

"Thanks, Ruijerd..." This is why I can depend on our kind Superd.

"Right! You’re still young! You are definitely better at magic mastery than he is. You just need to polish it more! " Eris said, following up on what Ruijerd said.

"Right, I’ll do that, Eris." I replied to her, giving her a small smile.

I thank Eris and Ruijerd. We then go to the grave Claude made the other day.

There, I can see the withered flower.

There are words written there.

"To my friend's parents, may you rest in peace."

Eris read it out loud.

"Claude’s friend..." I said, while trying to remember which one it was.

"It’s Somar’s parents. Do you still remember them? "

Claude suddenly appeared. Holding a fresh flower, he went to the grave and exchanged the withered flowers with the new one.

"Somar... is it that fat one?" I remember the one who bullied Sylphy along with Claude that day.

"Yep, the one that made you and Paul fight. You know, the woman who fell in love with your father and became the rumor of the village? "

"Oh… it’s that woman, huh."

"Well, anyway, I’m sorry that I blame you for their deaths... You don’t even know the story? "

Claude apologized to me, but I can’t say that he’s wrong.

All this time, I deceived myself by thinking that I was the only one who fell into this misfortune. I am so afraid of reading the notice board that something like this would happen.

I believe it's because I believed God too much that I forgot the most important thing.

"Information gathering... It’s what you always said to me, but I just forgot about it, huh..." I said, finding an excuse to hide my incompetence.

"I guess I’m expecting too much, right? To think that a kid less than 10 years old can remember something I repeatedly said while joking..." he said, with tones filled with disappointment.

Hey, even if you don’t know that I’m an old man inside, it’s still hurtful to be belittled by someone younger than you.

I agree that it’s my mistake, but don’t look at me like that...

"Urgh..." I grunt, unable to deny my mistake.

"Anyway, I’ve improved since then. I can create better swords for Eris and you, if you want. Though I definitely can’t create a stronger staff like what you have right now, yet....... "

"Huhum! Of course, it’s awesome! My family searched for the staff to give it to Rudeus on his 10th birthday! "

Right, your birthday... "Meh, I won’t give you any presents since you don’t even remember to give me one on my birthday. "

Right..

I never gave him any...

"Heck, I don’t even know your birthday!"

"I might be your future little brother-in-law, but it’s still in the future, so mind your manner. I'm still older than you, right, Eris? "

"I definitely won’t allow you to touch a single hair of my little sister, you bastard!"

"Hey! He’s older than you. I’m older than you! Respect us! "

"Yeah! Respect us! "

Eris, don’t mimic Claude!

He’s a bad example. Stay away from him.

"Ughhhh, water ball!"

"Whoa, he attacked us. Run, Eris! Run! " Claude I said teasingly, as he easily dodged my water ball barrage and nonchalantly walked away.

"Run! Hahaha!"

Hey, Eris, don’t just follow the hype and run away from me.

I’m hurt.

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[Edited 06/29/2022]

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