Chapter 34: Sword Practice

Bolai’s face had turned an indescribable shade of black.

He had expected that even if his daughter wasn’t exceptionally talented, she would at least inherit some of his sword skills.

Even if she didn’t inherit much, being able to mimic the form after seeing it once would have been acceptable.

Even failing that, if she were mediocre enough to at least catch and remember a move or two, he could have let it slide.

But what was this clear, pure stupidity?

He was so angry he almost wanted to throw his sword on the ground and go straight home.

Vylian remained silent.

Seeing Anlis’s expression and Bolai’s grimace, she didn’t let her guard down just yet. She continued to observe their reactions.

But inwardly, she was shocked.

What a joke?!

The scene of her father teaching the Hero swordsmanship didn’t exist in the original story at all!

A proper Hero should be wielding the Holy Sword, brute-forcing their way through with Excalibur, right?

If it were just ordinary swordsmanship, it might be fine.

But just now, she had clearly seen faint dragon shadows flickering around Bolai as he swung his sword!

This set of sword techniques had some weight to it.

Even Vylian had to admit that although the techniques had flaws, they were still impressive enough to catch her eye.

Oh, right. In the original story, this old father had already been killed by Kakaki, so he could never teach the Hero swordsmanship.

Now, all of this was her doing.

Damn it, was this the punishment for changing the course of the original story?

If Anlis, this Hero, actually learned it, she would definitely be stronger compared to the original, who only knew Excalibur.

Fortunately…

Anlis seemed to be an idiot.

Fortunately?

“You really didn’t learn anything?”

“Uh, well, I, I did remember a few moves. Watch this.”

Anlis hurriedly picked up a tree branch and swung it haphazardly. Her movements were clumsy and stiff, vaguely resembling a shadow of Bolai’s earlier swordsmanship, but completely distorted.

“Pfft.”

Vylian barely stifled a laugh.

What was all that supposed to be?

Bolai slapped a hand over his own eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.

“With talent like this, how can I rest easy letting you set out on the Demon King’s Expedition?”

His eyes were filled with bitterness and helplessness.

Anlis scratched her head apologetically, wearing a shy, embarrassed expression.

She didn’t bother to defend herself.

In this situation, even if she had mastered it, she wouldn’t dare show it.

“How about this. Start with the basics. When you’ve made some progress, then I’ll let you set out.”

“Huh?”

Anlis had already expected this outcome.

But Vylian froze.

What did “made some progress” mean before allowing the expedition?

In other words, as long as Anlis never learned, she would never leave the Beginner Village.

At that thought, Vylian formed an idea.

Didn’t this mean she could just cause trouble while Anlis trained hard, making sure she never learned?

Anlis had a different idea.

She planned to practice mechanically on the surface while secretly repeatedly deducing the sword techniques in her mind.

Of course, she didn’t have some cheat-like Mental Training Ground—she relied purely on imagination, even more impractical than theory alone.

But it was her only way to practice secretly right now.

Later, after showing just enough mediocrity, she would reveal barely passable strength and leave the village legitimately.

There was no way she could stay in the village too long.

Leaving Vylian, the Demon King, in the village—even if she meant no harm for now—would eventually bring disaster.

She would live in constant fear, to the point of nightmares.

Dreaming of the village burning in flames, the Demon King revealing her true form in the sky, laughing at her.

At least taking Vylian away from here would let her have peace of mind.

And so, Anlis was left behind. Bolai also left his sword with her.

After briefly teaching her the proper swinging posture, he made her swing at a tree trunk mechanically.

He said that when she mastered the basics, they would move to the next step.

Vylian didn’t leave. She found a tree stump to sit on, staring intently at Anlis swinging her sword, but her mind had already wandered, quietly recalling Bolai’s sword techniques from earlier.

Perhaps thanks to inheriting the knowledge and wisdom of the Corrupt Monarch, just watching once allowed her to see many flaws in those techniques.

It was like a clumsy imitation of an exquisitely refined sword art.

Imperfect, but the foundation of the techniques was exquisite enough.

What should the true sword techniques be like?

Vylian’s index finger swayed as she moved the deduced sword techniques in her mind.

She didn’t channel any magic power, so nothing was triggered—it was like a child playing with their fingers.

But all of this was caught by Anlis, who had been watching her out of the corner of her eye.

How could she not see that Vylian was deducing her father’s Imitation Dragon God Sword Technique?

The movements traced by her fingertips were slightly different from her father’s demonstration, yet more refined and smoother, clearly finding the essence of the techniques!

This Demon King was actually honing the true Dragon God Sword Technique!

Anlis’s heart stirred. She tried, in her mind, to combine Vylian’s finger movements with her father’s earlier sword-swinging posture.

On one side was the mechanical but increasingly practiced sword swing; on the other, the ever-clearer outline of the techniques in her mind. The two confirmed each other, deepening her understanding of the sword art.

But Vylian’s deduction didn’t go all the way.

The enthusiasm for deduction came and went quickly. She soon lost interest.

She was a Demon King with immense magical power.

No matter how exquisite the sword techniques, they weren’t as cool as magic.

This life, she wanted to walk the path of a pure mage. There was no need to waste time on an incomplete sword art.

This drove Anlis crazy. Not seeing the complete Dragon God Sword Technique left her itching with curiosity.

Damn it!

Why wouldn’t this loli Demon King keep deducing?

Wasn’t she only halfway done? Where was the other half? You have to finish what you start! Wouldn’t she not be able to sleep without finishing it?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She wanted to try deducing the rest herself.

After all, people can do anything when they’re desperate.

But the result was that, without a vast knowledge base, she had no idea how to proceed.

She thought and thought, and then suddenly, inspiration struck.

Actually… whether it was sword techniques or magic, wasn’t it all just projecting energy in some form?

Fire magic and water magic were manifestations of energy, and the Dragon God Sword Technique was also a carrier of energy.

The right method could convert energy into different forms, but it was still just an exchange of energy.

What if…

She abandoned all flashy moves and just swung her sword with pure energy?

Thinking this, Anlis raised her sword.

Strands of radiant light gathered on the blade, gradually filling every edge of the sword.

The swinging motion was still the same mechanical one she had repeated thousands of times that afternoon, with no frills, but carrying the familiarity of countless hours of practice.

As the sword light fell.

A startling chasm split open before Anlis, even the giant tree was torn apart by that single slash. The cut was clean, with wood chips flying everywhere.

After the loud noise, the clearing fell into dead silence.

“…”

That… might have been a bit too much.

She had just thought trying it wouldn’t hurt!

But then this happened!

Cold sweat dripped down Anlis’s back as she stared at the sword in her hand. Her pale hands trembled subtly, but fiercely.

She felt a terrifying gaze fixed on her, as if she would be torn apart at any moment.

Damn it!

She had gone too far!

Anlis heard someone approaching from behind, step by step, slow and heavy, each step feeling like it was stomping on her heartbeat, nearly suffocating her.

“Lady Hero Anlis, how impressive. After only a few hours of swinging a sword, you’ve already managed to reach this level?”

Her voice was sickly sweet.

“I, am, truly, so, happy, for you~”