The Extra Wants To Live

"So, in other words, the dual swords have not yet been proven to be weak in the area of mana handling, right?"

"that… … . yes…"

Carl nods heavily at Catherine\'s shaky voice.

This debate is not over yet. Maybe it will never end.

… … So who is stronger?

"… … Would you like to learn dual swords?"

Bilford speaks very cautiously.

They misunderstood that it was because Carl wanted to wield dual swords. He cannot help but misunderstand it that way given the circumstances.

"huh? No, it\'s okay. Just handling a long sword and a long weapon is daunting, so what kind of dual swords I can handle?"

So, Bilford was embarrassed when Carl rejected it so lightly.

"Then why did you ask?"

"…It wouldn\'t be a bad idea to learn a little bit of it as part of my culture."

Catherine, who was worried, spoke thoughtfully.

"Being uncommon is enough of a threat on its own. Even within the Imperial Knights, left-handers are required to constantly spar with other knights."

A left-hander is a problematic entity in situations where one must maintain ranks, but in a duel, it is the best decisive weapon.

Most humans are right-handed, and therefore most martial arts are aimed at right-handed people. Left-handed people are threatening just by their presence.

But how terrifying would it be to face someone who uses two swords?

"Aren\'t you wasting your time?"

Carl asked, though he found it difficult to refuse the allure whispering, "Wouldn\'t it be okay just once?" He wouldn\'t do it if it wasn\'t useful, but Catherine said it wouldn\'t be a bad idea to learn some techniques.

"You will be fine if you just lightly learn posture whenever you have time," Catherine assured him.

Of course, the reason Catherine said this was because she sensed Carl\'s interest.

No matter how talented Carl was, she couldn\'t recommend dual swordsmanship.

That was Catherine\'s true intention.

"Then let\'s do it right away." Carl stood up as if he had been waiting, and grabbed the two one-handed swords prepared in the training area.

Bilford looked at Catherine, and Catherine nodded with her lips pursed, as if she had no choice.

She had planned to teach him about the combination of rapier and main gauche, but since Carl had picked up two one-handed swords of the same length, there was nothing else she could do.

\'Looking at him like this, I see he has a bit of a childlike side,\' Catherine thought as she picked up two swords, just like Carl.

"It is important in all martial arts, but it is especially important to maintain the correct posture in dual sword fighting. If you make a mistake, your own limbs will be cut off."

Catherine moved slowly so Carl could observe clearly.

She pulled the sword in her left hand to the right and swung it towards Carl\'s head, then swung the sword in her right hand half a beat later.

"The basic rule is to use one hand to attack and the other to defend. You must attack in a way that allows you to defend even when both hands are attacking."

Carl imitated Catherine\'s movements and realized that the sword he swung with his left hand was not an attack, but a move to block the sword aimed at his head.

"Dual swords are much more defensive than holding a long sword or shield."

"Yes, that\'s right," Carl realized.

All the dual sword techniques he had seen through the media were false. Dual swordsmanship was truly a martial art focused on defense.

Swinging a sword slowly and loudly with one hand and acting aggressively without a shield was a method of suicide.

"Uhm…"

Carl found it very difficult.

Following Catherine\'s movements, he ended up hitting his right forearm with the sword he was holding in his left hand.

Catherine and Bilford didn\'t make a fuss. She had only hit him lightly with a bladeless sword.

"It\'s difficult."

"…You are doing very well," Catherine said reluctantly.

She worried that Carl might become preoccupied with dual swordsmanship, but he was actually following along very well.

Not only Catherine, but also other knights, had twisted their hands and feet and hit their thighs and forearms countless times when they first learned dual sword techniques.

Many had hit their heads with such force that they fell down, or struck their knees and elbows hard enough to make them scream.

However, with Carl\'s incredible talent, he only lightly hit his forearm once on his first attempt.

"Rather than thinking of it as swinging two swords, it\'s easier to think of it as combining everything into one movement," Bilford, who was watching from the side, advised.

Catherine turned and glared at him fiercely.

What if Carl really wanted to use dual swords?

"Oh, indeed!" Carl gained enlightenment from Bilford\'s words and began to imitate the movements shown by Catherine much more easily.

On the first day he picked up the sword, Carl had shown such talent that he could imitate Bilford\'s pose after seeing it once.

Carl had already mastered the basics of martial arts by using a long sword and a spear. Anyway, everything was within the broader framework of basic martial arts.

The same goes for dual swordsmanship, and he could handle almost any situation by following the correct posture. And imitating the posture was not difficult for Carl.

Whoosh! Shhh!

Although not perfect, Carl performed excellent dual sword techniques, defending himself while attacking his opponent.

There were still some immature aspects.

However, this was by no means the skill level of someone who had only started learning dual swordsmanship ten minutes ago. His immaturity was mainly due to a lack of strength.

"Huh…" Catherine was silent, lips pursed, while Bilford let out a hollow exclamation.

They had thought Carl was amazing with a long sword and a spear, but seeing him master the dual sword technique so skillfully felt like witnessing a genius at work.

\'…Come to think of it, Carl can already handle mana,\' Catherine remembered, playing with the hilt of her sword.

Carl\'s mana was still only a handful, but considering his incredible talent, it would soon increase.

Could it be that mana was responsible for the strength and stamina that seemed excessive for such a small and thin body?

So what happens after his body grows?

\'With a little refinement, it might not be a bad idea to learn dual swordsmanship properly,\'

she thought.

If you don\'t have talent, you can\'t handle dual swordsmanship. But Carl had so much talent, so what was the problem?

\'…First, let\'s teach it step by step. Of course, the focus should be on longsword techniques,\' she decided.

Catherine also had homework to do. She needed to learn dual swordsmanship to teach Carl.

As Carl continued to practice, Catherine observed him closely. His natural talent was undeniable, and she couldn\'t help but feel a mix of pride and concern. He moved with a fluidity that was rare, especially for someone so new to dual swordsmanship.

"Let\'s take a break," Catherine suggested after a while. Carl, slightly out of breath but visibly excited, nodded and set down the swords.

Bilford handed him a canteen of water, which he gratefully accepted.

"You\'re picking this up remarkably fast," Bilford said, admiration clear in his voice. "I\'ve never seen anything like it."

Carl smiled, wiping sweat from his brow. "It\'s thanks to your guidance. Both of you."

Catherine couldn\'t help but smile back, though her mind was still preoccupied with the implications of his rapid progress.

"Lord Carl, I think it\'s time we talk about something important."

Carl looked at her, curiosity in his eyes. "What is it?"

"Your training," she began, choosing her words carefully.

"While it\'s clear you have an extraordinary talent for dual swordsmanship, it\'s also essential to ensure that you maintain balance in your overall training. The long sword and spear are still your primary weapons."

Carl nodded, though he looked slightly disappointed. "I understand. But can we still practice dual swords occasionally?"

Catherine hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, we can. But it will be supplementary to your main training. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Carl said eagerly.

"Good," Catherine replied. "Now, let\'s move on to something else for today. We\'ll work on your long sword techniques. Bilford, would you mind sparring with him?"

"Not at all," Bilford said, stepping forward with a grin. "Let\'s see how well those skills transfer."

Carl picked up a single sword, his demeanor shifting to one of focus. The sparring session began, and it was clear that Carl\'s skills with the long sword had not diminished. If anything, his brief foray into dual swordsmanship seemed to enhance his awareness and dexterity.

Catherine watched with keen interest. \'He\'s learning to integrate everything,\' she thought. \'This could make him even more formidable.\'

After several intense rounds, Bilford called for a halt, breathing heavily but smiling. "You\'re a quick learner, Lord Carl. Well done."

"Thank you," Carl replied, equally winded but clearly thrilled.

Catherine stepped forward. "That\'s enough for today. You\'ve made impressive progress, but remember, it\'s a journey. Mastery takes time."

Carl nodded, his expression a mix of determination and respect. "I won\'t forget. Thank you, Catherine, Bilford."

As they wrapped up the training session, Catherine found herself thinking about the future. Carl\'s potential was staggering, and with the right guidance, he could become one of the greatest warriors the Imperial Knights had ever seen.

Later, as Catherine and Bilford walked back to the barracks, Bilford turned to her. "Do you think we\'re doing the right thing?"

Catherine sighed. "I hope so. Lord Carl\'s talent is undeniable, but it\'s also a responsibility. We need to ensure he stays grounded and focused."

Bilford nodded. "He\'s a good kid. I think he\'ll manage."

"I hope you\'re right," Catherine said quietly. "For all our sakes."

They continued in silence, each lost in their thoughts about the remarkable young knight who had already begun to change the dynamics of their training and their expectations of what was possible.