After awakening the Blessing, Qianshuo could clearly feel how much it had enhanced him.
Even though his ability values were still at zero, the very existence of Sword Technique Mimicry gave him a deeper—more structural—understanding of swordsmanship and his own sword path.
And soon, he met the second member of Freya Familia he'd ever properly interacted with besides Heith:
Hedin Selland—a Lv. 6 adventurer of Freya Familia, bearer of the title "White Fairy's Magic Staff."
A spellcaster and swordsman in one, and recognized as one of Orario's strongest mages.
Freya had assigned him as Qianshuo's teacher, the one who would oversee and guide his training from this point on.
The first time they met, Hedin gave him an "evaluation" Qianshuo would never forget.
"Insufficient presence. Sloppy in behavior. A blockhead with no relation to the word 'sharp.'"
"But you kept a calm head in a desperate situation. So you're not a complete idiot."
"Since you were chosen by Lady Freya, I will shoulder the responsibility of being your teacher—and instruct you in the strictest manner."
Being torn apart like that on first meeting was the equivalent of taking several punches to the stomach in rapid succession—enough to make one bend over in pain.
Worse, he was being insulted beyond recovery by an elf with outstanding looks.
It was genuinely hard to stand tall again.
Sharp-tongued. Extremely sharp-tongued.
That was Qianshuo's first impression of his new teacher.
He felt a little depressed. He hadn't expected to end up with this kind of "mentor."
When Heith heard, she laughed with shameless delight—then, after the teasing, explained.
Hedin's personality and speaking style were simply like that: a mouth like knives, but a "soft heart" underneath.
During the period when Qianshuo was resting and sleeping, Hedin came to ask about Qianshuo's recovery—his condition, his physical indicators, how the healing process was progressing. He also instructed Heith to watch his body carefully.
Those actions quietly changed Qianshuo's opinion of him.
A word surfaced in his mind:
Tsundere.
His teacher's personality matched that term perfectly.
Of course, Qianshuo didn't dare say it aloud. He only kept it inside his head—because with Hedin's temperament, he'd probably die on the spot.
Morning came.
The sky still carried traces of deep blue, but it was clear and bright, like the world after rain.
Among Orario's top factions, Freya Familia's headquarters possessed an estate so vast it could honestly be described as open wildlands.
A mansion atop the central hill was surrounded by a sea of grass. The plains, damp with morning dew, glittered under the rising sun so brilliantly it was hard to look away.
Tall, fortified walls and gates went far beyond the idea of a simple fence—they completely blocked the outside streets from view.
Qianshuo's body had fully recovered, thanks in large part to the Blessing. His physique and baseline conditioning had risen by an entire tier.
And that meant it was time.
Time to begin training under Hedin.
The members of Freya Familia had already begun their daily "slaughter" cultivation.
Battle cries thundered into the sky.
The deafening impact of strikes and the ringing of blade-on-blade, mixed with savage roars, shook Qianshuo to the core.
The courtyard truly looked like a furnace, an arena where brutal combat was performed from dawn to dusk.
Qianshuo stood on the far side of the grassland, watching carefully.
Every "sword style" he saw was carved into his mind—replayed, dissected, simulated.
In his field of vision, there seemed to be nothing but the sword.
"Finished watching? Then it's time to begin."
Hedin's cold, clear voice came from behind him.
"Yes, Teacher Hedin!"
When Qianshuo faced him, his youthful face tightened with seriousness. He nodded firmly.
Heith had warned him: Hedin disliked people with sloppy attitudes—especially in matters of training and instruction.
Qianshuo understood. The easy comfort he'd shared with Heith did not apply here.
He straightened his posture and prepared himself to listen and obey.
After all, this was a Lv. 6 adventurer—a mage-swordsman. His swordsmanship had to be extraordinary. There would be much to learn.
"I've looked over your magic and abilities."
Hedin's eyes were calm.
"Pick up your sword. Attack me using every method you have—except Ittou Shura—until you fall."
That was today's "training."
For a sword-path "genius" like Qianshuo, combat was the best classroom. Only through repeated grinding battle could more be understood.
And with Sword Technique Mimicry in play, Hedin wanted to see just how far Qianshuo's "learning" could go.
To pursue the sword—one battle was enough.
For a sword genius, even more so.
As for forbidding Ittou Shura, there was a reason.
A "finisher" like that—one that burned life itself—was a killing move that hurt the user almost as much as the enemy.
"I understand. Please instruct me, Teacher Hedin."
Qianshuo nodded. A sharp aura rose from his body.
His katana was already drawn before anyone could tell when.
He stepped forward, taking a stance like a steel-cutting iaijutsu.
Hedin simply picked up a longsword, then gave a slight nod—permission to begin.
But to Hedin's eyes, Qianshuo's motion was slow… almost like an afterimage that hadn't caught up.
Clang!
Hedin's black blade smashed down on Qianshuo's wrist.
A numb ache shot through bone. Qianshuo's grip wavered.
He instantly retreated, forcing himself to stabilize.
"Again."
Hedin's voice remained cool.
Qianshuo inhaled hard and nodded, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.
An afterimage howled past.
Sword-light chased sword-light.
On that day, Qianshuo truly learned what a "strong one" meant—what Lv. 6 looked like when pressed down upon Lv. 1, and upon any ordinary human.
It was not merely defeat.
It was dimensional suppression.
No matter how refined one's technique, no matter how brilliant the tricks—before absolute strength, it all became meaningless.
On that grassland, Qianshuo no longer knew how many times he had launched himself forward at Hedin, how many times he had fallen, and then forced himself up again.
But the harvest was enormous.
Hedin's elven swordsmanship began to take shape inside Qianshuo's mind—simulated endlessly, optimized, then dismantled, piece by piece, to be grafted into his own sword.
In the next moment, Hedin's light, deadly attack snapped forward. The sword tip was already aimed at Qianshuo's throat.
And at that exact instant—
Qianshuo moved.
His black katana rose in front of him, catching the strike.
At the same time, his body twisted—an angle so unnatural it looked impossible—and his blade shot toward Hedin's vital line.
Hedin blinked once.
Expression unchanged, he shifted his body with a speed Qianshuo couldn't comprehend. The longsword flicked up, skimming past Qianshuo's clothing—
—and left a fresh cut across his body.
The sixty-ninth attack.
Qianshuo lost again.
But his growth made even Hedin quietly surprised—though it still fell within expectation.
Four hours earlier, Qianshuo couldn't even withstand a single sword stroke.
Now, he could not only block one—he could react and counter immediately.
Most importantly—
Hedin could clearly feel it.
Qianshuo's Sword Technique Mimicry.
That counter just now was essentially a "prediction" of Hedin's action.
In Qianshuo's mind, Hedin's sword was being replayed and dismantled continuously—then reshaped into Qianshuo's own sword.
Even if it was only a small portion, and even if Hedin had held back during training…
It was enough to prove how terrifying this child's talent truly was.
Sword Technique Mimicry. Secret blades. Ittou Shura…
A child born to chase the ultimate extremity of the sword.
Hedin looked down at the exhausted Qianshuo.
His gaze was as calm as ever.
But inside, he was waiting.
Waiting for him to stand again.
Because this much… still wasn't enough to satisfy Lady Freya's "need."
Hedin understood why Freya had brought Qianshuo back and decided to raise him.
After Aly… he was the second person capable of shining with the radiance of a "partner" (odr).
And so, for Lady Freya's expectation—for the completion of the goddess's lifelong wish—
Qianshuo's training could not stop here.
"Stand up."
Hedin's strict voice cut through the air.
"As an adventurer, you have reached the minimum standard to be considered usable."
"All our power exists for Lady Freya."
"To offer ourselves to Lady Freya, we crave greater power."
At that moment, Qianshuo dragged himself upright, breathing harshly, eyes fixed forward.
He knew it.
To become the world's greatest swordsman, he would have to pay a hundred times, a thousand times the effort others did.
As long as there was strength left—even a sliver—he had to stand.
He had to pour everything out.
Only training carved into bone could force true breakthroughs.
In an instant, Qianshuo's aura surged like a rainbow piercing the sun, the hidden potential in his body erupting again.
"Ittou-ryuu… Secret Sword!"
Seeing Qianshuo charge again, a trace of satisfaction flickered through Hedin's eyes.
"I hope you can keep that resolve."
Hedin murmured inwardly as his gaze sharpened, his longsword reversing in his grip.
If he was to be Qianshuo's teacher—if he knew the boy carried the goddess's expectation—
Then he would teach him without reservation.
And to be honest…
Hedin didn't dislike this disciple.
He even admired him.
Especially that courage and calm mind shown in desperate circumstances.
It proved the boy was not foolish.
And people like that—
They were the ones who could reach the "expectation" held within others.
They were the ones who would gamble everything to get there.
So Hedin wanted to see it.
To see just how high the child favored by the goddess could climb.
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