A larger replica of me is the perfect description of my father. I inherited almost everything from my father.

He puts out his arms and I embrace the warmth.

"W-Woah...you've become a different person." He pats my back.

"It's been a year," I say.

"Yeah, I'm sorry."

"It's fine..."

My father pulls away and gets me a bottle of beer. "Come. Your mother is asleep."

I sigh. "Haha..."

I get two small cups and my father pours the beer. He holds the cup up.

*clang*

One shot down burns my throat. "Ugh..."

Right, this is my first time drinking alcohol in this life.

"One shot in your first cup? Have you been drinking?"

"Ngh...no...it burns. This is my first time."

"The way you drink reminds me of a drunkard. I have a close friend who always drinks after a battle to honour those who died, he has the same posture as you."

...Of course, I was an alcohol addict in my first life.

"Right..."

My father and I catch up with each other as we slowly drink our worries away.

"Why are you up so late?" I ask.

"Why else? To see you. Besides, a master swordsman can blow our physical fatigue away! That's how I became a commander."

"I see."

...

My father gulps beer and sighs. "Anyways, I heard some rumours that an unaffiliated commoner is taking part in the grand tournament of Akatski Academy. Sounds familiar?"

"Yeah, that's me."

...

"I won't object to it but..." He looks at me eye to eye. "Tell me, will you regret your decision?"

"No. I am firm on the path I take."

My father smiles. "That's all I need. I will support you all the way."

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

I return the smile. "Thank you."

"Alright alright. Let's do some light spar to sober up." My father gets up.

"This late?"

"Hurts nobody if we move a distance from the cabin. Besides, I can tell you are not tired."

"Hm...alright."

As we leave deeper into the woods with our weapons, my father says "Odd, how did you grow this strong?"

He stops at an empty patch and raises his sword at my face. "Tell me. Who are you? Where is my son?!"

...What?

"Loi Krist," I reply.

"My son a year ago didn't have aura yet your aura is not any weaker than mine."

"Dad, why are you acting like this?" I ask.

"The Loi I know is an immature child. The person in front of me is someone who went through thick and thin."

Damn it! What do I do now?

...

"Fine. If it calms you down, let's fight." I deflect my father's sword and jump in.

!

I stop my momentum and duck as the blade swings above. My thrust pushes my father away.

...

He stares at my blade. The current me has attained my previous peak power but my father is still stronger.

The only thing I can win is speed.

*rustles*

I appear above and strike down. My father easily blocks it and attempts to grab me, which I quickly jump away to avoid.

"I see. The speed type." My father mumbles.

He aims his sword at the ground and discharges his aura.

*BOOM!*

The erected smoke masks his presence. Before I realise it, a tip pops out. I barely step aside and counterattack.

"Got you."

His feint switches the trajectory, slashing me diagonally.

*BANG!*

Bits of spark flies. I slide across the ground with my sword up.

"You blocked that? Interesting..." My father says.

...My hand is numb.

Despite my father holding back, his strike was fierce and powerful.

...

I suppose I have to fight the mercenary way.

I pretend to retreat into the forest and my father gives chase. A second later, I stop immediately and stomp with all my might, throwing up a cloud of dirt attempting to throw him off guard.

He easily slashes the smokescreen away to meet my sword swinging. My father parries the "sword" to find a sliced twig imbued with aura, my real blade swings from below. It's difficult to differentiate weapons in the night.

!

He jumps back but suffers a small cut on his chest.

"You-"

I waste no time pressuring him, swinging a barrage of attacks, mixing feint with non-lethal cuts.

Soon, my father, who was pushed to the edge, releases a roar. Large mana outbursts throw me against a tree, crashing through.

"Arck!"

T-That's...domain. A skill exclusive to Master Swordsman. For a short buff, the swordsman exhausts the stored mana and distributes it in their body and the atmosphere.

He plunges his sword and pulls it out, unleashing an electrifying crescent slash on my path.

I evade to the side to see my father's meteor strike.

*CHING!*

Our swords collide, emitting sparks while trembling. His strength pushes me to my knees.

"Fuck! Listen to me!" I shout.

My father seems to ignore my plea, he plans to incapacitate me.

"I've seen how you fight. You are a mercenary. Who hired you? Where is my son?"

"ARGH!!" With gritted teeth, I unleash my attributes as a last resort and finally gather enough strength to push my father back. Fiery of light and dark engulfs my blade.

!!

My father widens his eyes. "Conflicting attributes! Who the hell are you?!"

"Huff huff...let me explain," I say.

"I don't know how you will explain that. My son doesn't have an attribute."

"Look. Just calm down and let's talk this out."

...

"Fine. Speak."

"Haah..." I heave a sigh of relief. "For starters, how about asking me questions only I would know."

My father ponders and nods. "What was his first word?"

Seriously? He expects me to remember that?

Wait...I remember my mother mentioned it when I was young...it was...

"Dada?" I reply.

"Hm...alright. What was his childhood dream?"

"To be an adventurer and explore Vasteaira."

...

He lowers his sword. "Explain...what happened. How did you obtain this strength?"

I don't think I can keep a secret anymore. I need to come clean with my father.

...

"I am from the future," I say.

"...What?"

"It's a long story. Let's talk back at the cabin."

"...Alright."