Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Chapter 3: Daily Mission

”Yes, father! I will find a way to earn money. I wonʼt touch our familyʼs treasury.”

As someone from the future, he knew many locations where he could find valuable things that were worth a lot of money. He also knew which businesses they could invest in.

”You donʼt need to feel pressured. If you need help. Donʼt hesitate to ask for my help.” Lucas said before he went back to his training.

Alaric bowed gratefully to his father.

He then turned his head to Galanar.

”Galanar, you can train on your own here. You can find the equipment there. Just be careful when you are swinging your sword.”

Galanar nodded.

”Yes, my lord.”

He cupped his fists and went to grab some training equipment, to begin with his training.

Meanwhile, Alaric went to the weapon rack and grabbed a steel sword.

He now had the SSS-Class Swordsmanship Talent so he wanted to find out if it wasnʼt a mere fluke that he had comprehended all those sword movements.

Some of the guards curiously looked over.

Alaric rarely came here to practice so they wanted to see what he would do.

Normally, people in the training grounds do simple physical training to work on their muscles and strength. Some also hone their weapon proficiency with repeated exercises. As for the knights, other than physical training and weapon proficiency training, they also do mana training.

Alaric was only a Knight Apprentice so he still couldnʼt control the mana in his body.

Before starting with his sword training, Alaric did some light exercises to warm up his muscles.

However, before he could start, the translucent cyan screen appeared before him.

He looked around and checked if the others could see the screen, but no one showed any reaction.

So Iʼm the only one who can see this thing?

Alaric was no longer surprised. He already believed that this thing was an immortal relic and he was planning to make full use of it. Why wouldnʼt he use it when itʼs already handed to him on a silver platter? Only fools would do that.

___

Daily Mission:

100 pushups

100 sit-ups

100 pull-ups

10 km run

100 vertical slashes

100 diagonal slashes

100 horizontal slashes

100 stabs

Rewards: 10 Battle Points, 1 EXP, and 1 Stat Point

Penalty for failure: - 1 random stat point

____

This… What is this?

Alaric stared at the tutorial for the weird training exercises on the daily mission. Each exercise had a tutorial so he quickly understood them.

So if I do these exercises, I will be rewarded.

There is even a penalty…

Alaric still had no clue about the specifics of the translucent cyan screen. However, his instincts told him that something good would happen if he followed the weird exercises.

So thatʼs how you do a push-up. I just need a hundred, right?

After watching the push-up tutorial, Alaric followed the posture and started doing push-ups.

The guards stared at him in confusion. The exercises they normally did were lifting heavy objects, wall climbing with weights, or sparring with training weapons.

”What is Lord Alaric doing?”

”Is that a secret exercise to train the body?”

Lucas also noticed his peculiar exercises. He rubbed his chin and observed Alaric.

That exercise puts pressure on the arms and the shoulders. Every movement also squeezes the core muscles.

Where did he learn that from?

Alaric ignored them and focused on completing the mission.

At first, he thought that it would be easy, but he realized that it was actually very tiring. Just doing 100 push-ups alone made his shoulders and arms feel a bit sore.

100 push-ups ☑️

Alaric rested for half a minute before he proceeded with the next exercise.

100 sit-ups ☑️

100 pull-ups ☑️

10 km run ☑️

After an hour, he finally completed half of the exercises.

So itʼs finally time for the sword exercises.

He muttered after seeing the tutorial for vertical slashes. It was just a simple slash with no flashy movements.

Alaric grabbed the training sword he had temporarily put aside earlier.

Swish!

Swish!

He followed the posture of the tutorial. The posture was different compared to what he normally did during combat. The vertical slash on the tutorial looked swift, accurate, and graceful.

”Wow! Is that a sword technique?!”

”It looks like a normal slash, but the movements are more stylish and sophisticated.”

As a Transcendent Knight sword user, Lucas discovered something more in the vertical slashes that Alaric performed.

That posture looks more natural than the orthodox stance. It also uses less arm strength since the force is drawn from every part of the body.

The more Lucas observed, the more astonished he became.

100 vertical slashes ☑️

100 diagonal slashes ☑️

100 horizontal slashes ☑️

Half an hour later, only one exercise was left.

Alaric was covered in sweat. He wasnʼt used to all those exercises so his muscles were sore.

After complaining inwardly, he watched the sword stab tutorial.

His SSS-Class Sword Talent helped him to quickly grasp the movements of the exercise. He didnʼt even need to rewatch the tutorial.

Ten minutes later…

100 stabs ☑️

[You received 10 Battle Points.]

[You received 1 EXP.]

[You received 1 Stat Point.]

Alaric Silversword [Knight Apprentice] EXP: 71/100

Potential: B

Traits: Horseback Riding (D), Swordsmanship (SSS), Close Combat (D), Archery (F), Hunting (E), Tracking (F)

Strength: 17 +

Stamina: 18 +

Agility: 15 +

Vitality: 17 +

Endurance: 17 +

Mana: 3

Battle Points: 1010

Stat Points: 1

Alaric saw the changes on the screen which displayed the quantification of his physical abilities.

What is this EXP thing? Will I become a Knight once it reaches a hundred?

A look of anticipation flashed in his eyes as he thought of this.

In his last life, he only became a Knight when he was in his twenties.

What do these battle points do?

Unfortunately, there was no tutorial on these things so he could only temporarily put it aside.

Suddenly, he noticed that there were plus (+) symbols on his stats.

These symbols werenʼt here the last time I checked it.

Out of curiosity, he clicked the ʼ+ʼ symbol on his strength.

+ 1 Strength

A message appeared on the screen, followed by his Strength going from 17 to 18. The Stat Points also turned to 0.

It finally dawned on him.

So the stat points can increase my physical abilities!

What a pity! I only got one from the daily mission.

He tried testing his strength by lifting some weights. It wasnʼt much, but he did feel a slight increase in his strength.

Sweet!

”Alaric!”

Lucasʼ voice interrupted his thoughts.

”What can I do for you, father?”

Lucas approached him and said. ”Those exercises you performed… Where did you learn them?”

Alaric scratched his head as he thought of a random excuse. ”I learned them myself.”

”By yourself?” Lucas was surprised to hear that.

Alaric nodded. ”Yes. I thought that doing those exercises could help me develop my body.”

”Then what about those sword techniques?” Lucas sensed the fluctuations in his eyes, but he didnʼt expose his son.

”That… I felt that the orthodox sword stances put way more emphasis on strength. This is good, but in the battlefield where stamina is important, you need to preserve as much strength as possible. Thatʼs why I made some adjustments with the postures to make them less draining to the muscles.”

This was Alaricʼs comment on the orthodox sword stance. He felt that the ones shown in the tutorials were better.

He didnʼt know why he felt that way. He guessed that it was related to his SSS-Class Swordsmanship Talent. After awakening that talent, it was as if he could see through the mistakes in any sword movements with just one look.

Lucas became silent. He felt that Alaric wasnʼt saying the whole truth.

There must be some kind of secret related to those exercises, but why did he perform them in front of the others?

I should ask him again next time.

”Alright. You may go.” Lucas waved his hand.

Alaric bowed lightly. He then left the training ground with Galanar.

After they left, Lucas grabbed his sword. It was a two-handed heavy sword that was similar to the one Galanar had.

Lucas closed his eyes and recalled Alaricʼs posture when he performed the sword slashes.

Seeing this, everyone immediately gave him some space.

A moment later, Lucas opened his eyes and abruptly swung his heavy sword.

SWISH!!!

The sword made a sharp humming sound and even caused a violent fluctuation of the wind.

Lucas was stunned by the unexpected power behind that slash.