I walked towards my room, still able to hear Mark's harsh words echoing in my ears. He seemed really irritated by my provocation.
"HAHAHA! Did you see that ugly face of his? It was absolutely hilarious!" Envi laughed uproariously.
"Haha! He needed to be put in his place once in a while. Just watch, I'm going to defeat him in our duel later," I said, my tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
"By the way, I haven't seen Naoki's biological mother around. Where is she?" I asked curiously, wanting to dig a bit deeper into this family's affairs.
"Her... The First Wife of the Patriarch and your biological mother, Ayame von Blackmore, passed away when you were born. She was always frail, and her body couldn't withstand the strain of childbirth..." Envi explained, his voice unexpectedly somber as if recalling something painful.
"I see... I can understand Naoki's pain. In my world, my mother means everything to me, and right now her life is hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, that scumbag of a father abandoned us for another woman. It's almost as if Naoki's and my destinies are intertwined in some twisted way. I lost my father, while Naoki here still has a father who might understand him. And here, Naoki's mother is gone, whereas my mother is still alive on Earth..." I found myself slightly moved by the strange coincidence.
"Hah? That stubborn old geezer? Understanding? Don't make me laugh! Let's focus on making you stronger so you can save your mother instead!" Envi's sharp tone snapped me out of my thoughts, reigniting my determination.
"You're right... I'm counting on you, Envi." I felt a sense of relief knowing I had Envi as an ally, even if he could be annoying at times.
"Leave it to the great Envi-sama! >_<" Envi responded enthusiastically.
---
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"So, what should we do to get stronger?" I asked Envi, genuinely curious.
"Maybe go monster hunting right away? Taking down strong monsters should give you tons of EXP (experience points)," Envi suggested.
"Do you think I'm an idiot? If I went against a monster right now without proper preparation, I'd only end up dead!" I snapped at him for suggesting such a reckless idea.
"Hey, I'm thinking as hard as I can, okay? Hmm... How about buying some new equipment? Your armor and sword in the room are completely trashed," Envi pointed out.
"That's actually a good idea this time. Alright, let's head to the famous blacksmith in this kingdom," I agreed, leaving the house and heading straight for the industrial district.
When we arrived, I saw a massive blacksmith shop and eagerly went in to inquire about the cost of a new weapon and armor. But to my dismay, the prices were exorbitant—up to 10 gold coins for each piece of equipment. I suddenly remembered that I was practically broke, with only 5 gold coins in my hand.
This situation was due to me being ostracized after temporarily handing over the family title to Mark. I wasn't receiving a single penny from the Blackmore family anymore. On top of that, rumors had spread throughout the city, labeling me as someone who would be expelled from the family and left destitute. Because of this, most merchants and blacksmiths refused to serve me, despite my noble status.
"Haah... Where am I supposed to find a cheaper blacksmith?" I muttered in frustration after half a day of searching with no results.
Suddenly, Envi shouted, "HEY! You broke noble, look at that small blacksmith shop down the alley. Give it a try." His words, though mocking, carried a hint of hope.
I quickly made my way to the small shop. There, I saw an old dwarf—bald, muscular, and, amusingly, without a beard but with a long brown mustache that reached his chest. I had to stifle a laugh since he didn't look anything like the dwarves I'd imagined.
"Excuse me, could you make me a weapon and armor, sir... pfft," I asked, holding back my laughter.
"What?! Speak clearly, you brat! My name is Edwin, the Miracle Hand... Hey, aren't you from the Blackmore family? Naoki, the loser! AHAHAHA. What are you doing here?" My initial fear turned into annoyance at his mocking tone. If I still held any power, I would've ordered the execution of this insolent old dwarf.
"My apologies, Master Edwin the Miracle Head... I mean, Hand. Hehe. Yes, I'm Naoki von Blackmore. I'm here to request a custom weapon and some light armor. Would you be willing to take the job? I can offer you a total of 5 gold," I asked in a tone laced with a hint of pleading.
"Huh? 5 gold? Are you joking... I'm not some cheap dwarf!! The quality of my work is the highest you'll find!" Edwin barked back.
"...What a pity. I really wanted to see you craft a new weapon called a katana... Oh well, I guess I'll have to give up," I said nonchalantly, intending to bait him.
"What did you say? Katana? What's that? Tell me right now!!! There's no weapon I can't make!" Edwin yelled, his interest piqued.
Got him, I thought, smiling slyly. I described it in detail. "A katana is a long, curved blade with a single sharp edge, renowned for its sharpness and strength. It's designed with a long hilt for a two-handed grip. In essence, the katana is a flexible, tough, and ELEGANT weapon!" I explained enthusiastically.
"Whoaa... ELEGANT!!! Lord Naoki, please allow me the honor of being the first to create such a weapon! I'll take your 5 gold for the katana, and I'll throw in a complimentary light armor to match it. Give me a week, and I'll craft it to perfection >_<" Edwin agreed eagerly, his eyes practically glowing with excitement.
"Alright, thank you very much, Edwin the Miracle Hand!" I replied, shaking his hand happily as I left the shop. I could hear his enthusiastic cheers and the sound of his hammer clanging against metal.
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By the time evening came, I decided to train my swordsmanship skills while waiting for the katana and armor to be completed. I secretly took a training sword from the Blackmore family's training center and headed to the backyard of my house to practice. I wanted to train at the Blackmore training grounds, but I saw Mark practicing there. Not wanting to ruin my mood, I decided to train in the backyard, which conveniently had a lot of trees.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"Geez, Naoki's swordsmanship skill is only level 1? Has he been slacking off in training? Now I have to do intense practice to improve it." I grumbled as I unsheathed my practice sword.
"Hey Nao, it looks like Naoki has already learned the form of Blackmore Swordsmanship. That's a sword style passed down in the Blackmore family for generations. Well, though he only knows the first form -_-" Envi remarked, sharing some valuable insight.
"You're right, Envi! It says in the skill description that I can use Blackmore Swordsmanship. Even if it's only the first form, that's still great. Let's give it a try!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of motivation.
I stood facing a tree, preparing to test the skill. Suddenly, the movements flowed naturally into my mind. Maybe it was an effect of the mastered skill, as I instinctively understood the technique.
"Blackmore Swordsmanship, First Form: Kazekiri (Wind Slash)!" I swung the sword diagonally, releasing a crescent-shaped arc of white-purple aura through the air.
SLLAASSHH!
Reincarnated-to-Another-World-Family-Chapter-4 [https://i.imgur.com/8fEpFay.png]
The tree in front of me got a wide slash mark on its surface. But... it's still only Level 1. This slash can't even bring down a tree.
"Well, at least it's a start. I just need to increase its level. Hey, Envi, do you know how I can level up this skill? And also, how can I learn the next forms of the Blackmore Swordsmanship?" I asked.
"Hmmm, the more you use that skill, the more its level will increase. Besides that, if you want to learn the advanced forms of the Blackmore Swordsmanship up to its final stage, you'll need to train directly with the Patriarch. He's the only one who can teach you that sword style. Although, I think Mark probably has a better grasp of it than you right now," Envi explained analytically.
I had to accept the truth. The only way to fully master this sword style is to defeat Mark and ask the Patriarch to train me.
"Alright, if that's the only way, I'll just have to push myself even harder!!!" I made up my mind to keep honing my skills for a week until I surpassed my limits.
"Be careful though. Overusing physical skills will make you tire out quickly. You should also focus on practicing basic moves like slashing, parrying, and defending," Envi advised.
I kept training my swordsmanship until nightfall. By 10 PM, I collapsed from exhaustion. I couldn't even feel my arms anymore. I guess this is enough for today. After taking a short break, I decided to head back to my room and rest.
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One Week Later
I've been training from morning until night every day for a week. Today, I trained until noon. Thanks to my hard work, my swordsmanship level increased to Level 2. I've gotten used to this body—how to attack and defend with a sword. Moreover, my Kazekiri technique has grown stronger, now able to cut down a tree completely.
In the afternoon, I decided to visit Edwin's place, hoping that my katana and light armor were finished.
"Welcome, Lord Naoki. Your order is complete. I'll go fetch it right away," Edwin greeted me.
He returned with my order wrapped in cloth. When I unwrapped it, I was astonished... The katana was perfectly crafted. Though its design was plain, the moment I held and unsheathed it, I could tell it was of exceptional quality—light, yet the blade was incredibly sharp. The light silver armor was also incredibly light and sturdy, perfect for a katana user who relies on agility and speed.
"Whoa, this is amazing! Master Edwin, your hands are truly magical! I knew I chose the right person for the job. Thank you so much! Here's your payment." I equipped the armor and katana, then handed over the payment.
"I should be the one thanking you, Lord Naoki, for entrusting me with crafting such an ELEGANT weapon!!! If you have other ideas or want to modify your equipment, feel free to visit anytime ^_^" Edwin said with a wide smile.
After thanking him again, I said my farewells and headed to the monster forest to start leveling up. I need to reach at least Level 35. I'm sure Mark, who's currently Level 30, is also working hard to raise his level.
I made my way to the monster forest located north of Braveheart Kingdom. When I arrived, I encountered a group of Trolls. These creatures were humanoid, but far larger, muscular, with ugly faces, tusks, and wielded stone swords. They're carnivorous too, meaning they'd kill humans without hesitation.
"Damn, I thought I'd run into goblins or slimes like in typical isekai stories. But Trolls are a whole other level!" I muttered, but I had to face them regardless.
This was the path to becoming stronger.I charged toward the three Trolls in front of me. With my speed, they couldn't even react to my attack. I unleashed
Blackmore Swordsmanship: Kazekiri!!!
Two Trolls were instantly cut down by my sharp slash. They let out loud roars, gushing blood, and died. I noticed that when monsters die, their bodies disappear into particles of light, just like in games, and I got drop items. Envi immediately stored the drop items in my inventory.
The remaining Troll tried to strike back, but I skillfully blocked its stone sword.
"Ugh...!" The attack was heavy.
I barely managed to deflect it. But its follow-up move was slow. I dashed forward, sliding under its legs, then leaped and used Kazekiri!!!
The Troll's body was cleaved in half. But suddenly, another Troll charged at me, swinging its stone sword.
"Uoogh!!" I was sent flying into a tree from the impact.
Even though I defended, I still took damage. I coughed up blood. My HP was down to 1500.
"Hey, idiot, hold on!!!" Envi shouted, urging me on.
Despite being injured, I recalled the movements of a samurai. Back on Earth, I was a total otaku who loved katanas. I always tried mimicking the sword styles of samurai characters. I figured I might be able to pull it off in this world with this body.
"I'll give it a shot... It's now or never." I stood up, resheathed my katana, and took a samurai stance using the Iaido Style.
I attempted to merge Kazekiri with a katana technique to create a new move. I bent my body forward, preparing to draw my sword. The Troll charged at me, ready to swing its stone sword. I dashed toward it. My speed allowed me to reach it first. The Troll hadn't even finished its swing. I drew my katana with lightning speed.
Iaido Style Technique: Inazuma!!!!!
This technique unleashed a quick, powerful strike when the blade was drawn, like a bolt of lightning splitting the target vertically in half.
SLAAAASSHHHHHH
My attack hit the Troll with pinpoint precision, creating a perfect vertical line that split it into two parts. I was panting, completely worn out.
A sudden notification popped up:
"CONGRATULATIONS! YOU LEVELED UP!"
I leveled up from taking down four Trolls by myself. To restore my HP, I drank a potion I'd bought in the capital using the last of my savings T_T. I had used one potion, leaving me with only four remaining.
"Whoaa, that was incredible, Nao! Where did you learn that move?" Envi asked, clearly impressed.
"Oh, that... I just saw it back on Earth. Didn't expect it to actually work here," I replied, still a bit confused myself.
"That's awesome! With your experiences from Earth, maybe we can refine your swordsmanship even further and unlock new skills!" Envi said excitedly.
"That's true... I'll try it again, but it's really draining, you know! I can't use it too often just yet. Alright, let's keep leveling up." I ventured deeper into the forest.
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I've been grinding from dawn till dusk for an entire week.
On the 7th day of leveling, it was already nighttime. I kept hunting Trolls throughout the day and fought Shadow Wolves next. These monsters resembled regular wolves, but were pitch black and highly agile at night. But thanks to my speed, katana style, and my level, which had increased to Level 25, they were no match for me.
It was already midnight. The full moon tonight was beautiful.SLASH! SLASH! THUD!I took down two more Shadow Wolves. From dusk till now, I had slain a total of 15 Trolls and 10 Shadow Wolves, reaching Level 30. Maybe it was time to head back.
"Alright, Envi, it's time to head ba----" I suddenly sensed an overwhelming killing intent from behind me.
I could see a clear purple aura stalking me. My instincts screamed at me to run!!!
"RUUUN, NAO!!!! THAT'S AN ELDER SHADOW WOLF. THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN WIN NOW!!!" Envi shouted in sheer terror.
"Damn, why do we have to encounter a unique monster here?! It's supposed to be extremely rare! At least three S-Class Knights or Adventurers are needed to take it down." Envi sounded like he couldn't believe it.
I couldn't move under the pressure of its aura. I checked its status:
Elder Shadow Wolf | Level 50 | (Unique Boss: The One Who Conquers the Shadows)
Reincarnated-to-Another-World-Family-Chapter-4 [https://i.imgur.com/Muud5vc.png]
I was stunned... It was much larger than other Shadow Wolves. It emitted a terrifying purple aura, and its gaze was colder than ice.
"Am I... going to die again... HERE...??!!!!!"....
---To Be Continued in the Next Chapter---