The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

After telling many stories about his findings, Rukia said in the next interrogation that he would find out ‘what my secret’ was the woman was trying to spread.

“I would be conducting the interrogation by myself, and the Magic Research Department would also handle this case as strictly confidential, so you don’t have to worry too much.” Rukia said as he explained how the interrogation was going to be.

I’ve known for a long time that Rukia was good at his job, and since he was the head of the Magic Research Department, I was relieved to hear what he said.

When I asked if it was okay to attend the interrogation, Rukia answered it was okay.

Cedric glanced worriedly at me, but as I reassured him that it was okay.

And Cedric decided to visit the interrogation room at the same time as me, saying he also had something to ask from the woman.

I was told that the interrogation would take place in the evening.

Before that, I had decided to take a swordsmanship class with Cedric, so after class, we decided to go to the interrogation room together.

“What should you do when an attack comes in like this?”

When I asked question as I pointed my sword toward Cedric’s face, instead of answering, he quickly turned the sword around and put it slightly around my neck.

“That’s right. Good.”

Seeing him do what he learned steadily, I was proud.

After ascending to the throne, Cedric became too busy that he couldn’t take as many swordsmanship classes as before.

So I had no choice but to reduce the frequency of his classes to once or twice a week, but even that was canceled quite often when a sudden schedule occurred.

Although the amount of practice would have decreased a lot as a result, Cedric never forgot to at least inform me.

“Then I won’t say anything now, so just attack me.”

“Huh…”

Cedric hesitated and clenched his sword.

Even after fighting many times, Cedric was always a little nervous when he fight with me.

‘…I understand him.’

Because in my previous life, I was nervous whenever I played a match with a senior who was better than me.

‘Well, it’s fine. You have to be a little nervous to improve your sense of action.’

With that thought in mind, Cedric cautiously opened his mouth.

“Am I going to attack first?”

“Yes.”

Cedric, nodding his head, swung the sword diagonally.

After spilling his attack smoothly, I immediately swung my sword and put it between Cedric’s neck and shoulders.

“Please reduce your movement a little more. You’re moving like flowing water.”

After exchanging a few more match, the fight ended as it was considered enough.

“Oh, it’s already over?”

“Aren’t you tired? I think you should get some rest.”

“I think it’s okay to practice more.”

“Well…”

Cedric speaks like that, but it’s difficult to train him more intensely because he has to manage his physical condition.

‘I’ve been curious since last time, but I’ll give this a try.’

After concluding that thought, I held my sword and stood in front of Cedric, who was waiting for my answer.

“Your Majesty, watch what I’m doing.”

Then I held my sword with both hands and swung it slowly and horizontally.

The blue sparks surrounding the sword clumped together and created a crescent shape.

The crescent-shaped light from the tip of the sword cut through the air at high speed and was stuck in the wooden doll for sword practice.

“This is a horseshoe blade technique.”

I spoke as I looked away from the hollowed-out, smoking wooden doll.

“Let’s try this.”

“A horseshoe blade?”

Cedric asked in amazement.

“But didn’t you say this was an upper-intermediate skill?”

From the beginning, I had vowed not to teach Cedric too much of an advanced level.

I would have changed my mind if he had said he really wanted to learn first, but he has never done so.

Therefore, I taught him mainly beginner to intermediate level skills and defense techniques.

It won’t happen, but just in case Cedric encounters an enemy without an escort, so he could protect himself.

Also, rather than making progress, I focused on repeating what he had learned so far.

Making it a habit so that it would show even in practice.

That way, he could protect himself in case of an emergency.

“That’s true, but since you’ve mastered the lightning strike, I thought it might be good to practice this as well.”

Of course, there’s no need to learn the horseshoe blade technique unless he’s a professional magic swordsman who protects important people like the Imperial Knights.

‘I wonder if it’s possible, I’m just curious.’

Cedric was good at following everything that’s taught in class, he wasn’t objectively gifted with swordsmanship.

It was just an average level of aptitude, and I had made lesson plans accordingly.

However, if Cedric develops his talent late and shows the possibility of learning advanced techniques, it would be better to change the teaching method now, so I’d like to check.

“Well, I don’t know if it’ll work out, but I’ll try it for now.”

Cedric looked down at his sword with a serious expression and nodded.

“If Ciel teaches me, I might be able to do it.”

He looked at me with his red eyes shining. Seeing those eyes full of faith, my desire to teach him those skills surged.

‘I feel quite trusted as a teacher.’

Smiling satisfactorily, I began to teach Cedric how to use the horseshoe blade technique in earnest.

After repeating the demonstration several times, Cedric’s challenges continued several times.

However, until about an hour later, Cedric could not create a crescent-shaped mass of light at the tip of his sword.

Seeing Cedric standing in despair after being exhausted, Caliberne clicked her tongue.

[Hey, that’s ridiculous! How could a kid who uses a lightning strike not able to use a horseshoe blade?]

‘I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this before.’

Considering what Cedric has done so far, Cedric would someday be able to use horseshoe blade technique.

But, at least for now, it seemed very unlikely that he would be able to use it.

So, I thought that even if he mastered the technique, it would take a lot of time to do so.

[No, wasn’t it too extreme? He’s the king of the end.]

(T/N: 끝판왕- KR slang ‘King of the end’, the strongest, best of the best, highest level.)

Caliberne made a fuss even by using the word ‘the king of the end’ that I had told her.

As Caliberne said, a magic swordsman who knew how to use a lightning strike sounded like a genius from heaven.

That’s why Cedric received a tremendous cheer when he used a lightning strike.

However, I have heard many stories that people who couldn’t use a horseshoe blade skill have no aptitude and qualification to become a professional magic swordsman.

Whether or not the horseshoe blade technique was used to distinguish the boundary between amateur and professional magic swordsmen.

‘What the hell is this… ‘

Thinking it was strange, I approached Cedric.

“Shall we take a break today?”

Seeing Cedric nodding sadly, I felt sorry for him.

I held his hand and gave him words of comfort, thinking that I might have only hurt his self-esteem by being greedy.

“Your Majesty, it’s fine. It takes a while for even young knights to use the horseshoe blade stably.”

“Yes, thank you.” Cedric nodded seemingly depressed.

“I taught you such a difficult lesson. Sorry…”

“No, not at all.”

In fact, it wasn’t the first time Cedric was so frustrated.

He had been depressed a few times because things didn’t work out well when I moved on to teach him a new technique, but in the end, after a lot of hard work, he made it his own.

Perhaps even the horseshoe blade technique would take several times longer than others, but if he puts his mind to it, he’d master it perfectly.

[But nonetheless, let’s take a look at it more practically. It’s not that strange to know if someone who was already good teaches him once more.]

“Hmm, right?”’

[But, when he practices, the Emperor doesn’t seem to have any particular aptitude for swordsmanship. If you tell him one thing, he couldn’t do it right away, he has to practice over and over to get it done.]

That wasn’t wrong.

He’s the type who doesn’t forget what he’s been taught, but it’s true that he’s a bit slow in learning when it comes to swordsmanship.

[How could such a person learn lightning strike by himself?]

‘I know. I’m curious about that, too.’

I sat in the shade and watched Cedric, resting his head against a wooden pillar, and replied back to Caliberne.

Shortly after Cedric’s first lightning strike, I even thought that what he had shown in front of his servants might not be a lightning strike.

In fact, he doesn’t know how to use a lightning strike, but there’s a possibility that he made it look like a lightning strike with the help of magic.

However, even with my eyes as an expert, I could not find any special flaws in Cedric’s lightning strike attack.

And later, in the Nemesis lion attack, Cedric certainly used a lightning strike.

In conclusion, Cedric might have really mastered the lightning strike.

‘But I wonder how Cedric did it. The lightning strike was also difficult for me, so I got a lot of help from Sir Parbe.‘

Seeing Cedric having a hard time with the horseshoe blade today made me even more unsure.

‘It couldn’t be.’

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it and spoke to Cedric.

“Your Majesty, you know what?”

“Yes?”

Then I asked him, who was looking down at the floor in frustration.

“How the hell did you learn the lightning strike on your own?”