The Female Knight of Doom - TFKOD 19: Life Preserving Technique

The following day, Alice accompanied Rom to the martial arts training area on the farmhouse grounds.

Rom had established this training area specifically after purchasing the farmhouse.

Given his background as a former mercenary, he couldn’t just retire and live a peaceful life completely different from his past. With the training area available, it was convenient for him to stay active and train others.

Rom had spent the entire night reflecting on Alice and had barely slept.

Feeling tired, he yawned and requested her to demonstrate her sword skills to him, “You have been using a thin sword, however, you have observed me using a large sword many times, so you must have some comparisons in mind, right?”

Alice agreed, as she had previously used a sword in battles and learned some techniques on her own.

With his encouragement, she proceeded to showcase her sword movements.

The massive sword was incredibly heavy, originally meant for someone like Hercules or DeWitt.

Rom was slightly concerned that she might struggle with it, but to his surprise, she handled it effortlessly.

Comparing it to the delicate sword she was used to, he was amazed at how well she managed the heavy sword.

The child’s strength had not just increased slightly. Now, she seemed unbeatable no matter who she compared her strength to.

However, using a large sword effectively was not solely about physical strength.

He crossed his arms and observed her, giving a nod as he spoke, “It appears that you have no trouble handling this sword, you just need a bit more practice. Thankfully, we have had some free time in the past two days, so it’s an opportune moment to offer you some special training.”

Upon hearing about the special training, Alice’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

In the three years she had been under her master’s tutelage, they had been constantly on the move, rarely having the chance to dedicate a significant amount of time solely to training except for the initial months.

For the most part, their training sessions were brief in the early morning or instructions were given directly on the battlefield. While this approach was effective, it lacked structure.

Now, since Rom had decided to provide her with special training, it could greatly enhance her swordsmanship skill.

The master and apprentice followed through with their plans and practiced intensely that day.

Despite wielding a large sword, Alice’s strength was not quite what it used to be, and there was still a sense of lightness in her movements.

Rom noticed a slight improvement in her sword skills after his guidance, as she quickly grasped the techniques he taught her, showing potential in her abilities.

Observing her progress, he had confidence that she could handle the responsibilities of a Special Class Mercenary on her own.

Once there was an agreement between the master and apprentice that when she turned seventeen and became an adult, they would part ways.

Although Alice had already celebrated her seventeenth birthday on the battlefield, this topic was never brought up again, with one focusing on teaching and the other devoted to learning.

The main goal was to help her become stronger and more skilled in combat.

The master and apprentice duo had only been training for a short period when they received a message from the Mercenary Union informing them that Alice had successfully completed her tests and was eligible to be promoted to Special Class Mercenary.

This news did not come as a surprise to the duo, as they had been anticipating it.

The union also mentioned that a ceremony would be taking place in a month’s time to promote her to Special Grade Mercenary, to be held in the Royal Capital’s Square.

The master and apprentice duo realized that this event would mark the approaching end of their time together, leading to feelings of nostalgia.

Despite this sentiment, they knew that they had limited time and could not afford to dwell on emotions.

The specialized training persisted, Rom maintained a strict approach, imparting his keen skills, and the final month was spent in this manner.

On the eve of the ceremony for Alice’s promotion, he shared with her his ultimate life-saving technique, grasping the sword and demonstrating it to her.

“No matter the strength of your adversary, the enormous sword will effectively capture their attention. If you find yourself unable to overpower them, use your left hand to retrieve the hidden dagger and swiftly stab them. With the opponent’s focus on the large sword, such a surprise attack is likely to succeed. Give it a try.”

Alice attempted the maneuver as instructed by him, but her strikes were not swift enough and she hesitated, resulting in each surprise attack being blocked by him.

Rom expressed his disapproval by frowning and stating, “You cannot engage in sneaky tactics like this. Acting with hesitation will not yield results. Do you not find such a strategy distasteful and dishonorable?”

Alice, feeling exposed by him, gave an embarrassed smile.

While she did feel that this approach lacked honor, upon reflection, she realized that the sneak attack method taught by her master was not dissimilar to the tactic she had previously used to defeat DeWitt.

In that instance, her survival was at stake, and striking with a dagger while catching the opponent off guard was almost instinctual, leaving no room to ponder the ethics of a surprise attack.

Rom sighed, “If we were of noble birth, we might view this approach as overly strict and disrespectful to the honor of a warrior. However, we are merely mercenaries who are willing to sell our lives to anyone as long as we are compensated.

It is important to note that we have relinquished the concept of honor since the moment we entered this profession. Even achieving the status of a special class mercenary is nothing but empty pride; we mercenaries do not have families or friends, and honor is a luxury we cannot afford.

All we possess is this singular life; nobles who perish in battle may be regarded as heroes, whereas mercenaries who die in battle are insignificant and merely become the dust beneath the feet of the living. In the future, you will have to fight alone, and when that time comes, do not forget the words I have spoken.”

The words of Rom echoed loudly.

Despite Alice’s lack of knowledge, upon hearing this, her heart began to grasp some understanding.

It was not simply due to luck that her master had managed to survive for so long.

Reflecting on the mercenary DeWitt she had killed, she realized that if he had not tried to show off by cutting her hair, she would not have had the opportunity to defeat him.

If he had understood the truths that Rom was discussing at that moment, he might still be alive today.

After coming to this realization, she nodded in agreement with him, “Master, I understand.”

Following her statement, she practiced the technique he had taught her once more.

This time, she executed the move with determination, aiming the tip of the blade directly at his abdomen without any obstruction.

Observing her progress, Rom displayed a satisfied smile, “If you can reach this level, you can leave the group. Even if you take on assignments as a Special Class Mercenary, there is likely nothing wrong with it.”

“Do not fret, I will not bring shame upon my master,” Alice assured.

He shook his head, “You failed to grasp the essence of my words. I became a mercenary in my youth, and those comrades I once fought alongside have all passed away. I made a conscious decision to avoid forming strong bonds with others to prevent the anguish of losing loved ones once more. However, in a moment of vulnerability, I took you as my apprentice. I simply cannot bear witnessing more dear ones perish.”

Alice gazed at Rom in disbelief, realizing for the first time the hidden depths of his emotions.

Her shock caused Rom to regret his sudden openness, prompting him to quickly shift the conversation, “Ahem, I recall you mentioned wanting to reveal your true self during the promotion ceremony. How do you plan to do that? Have you given it any thought?”

He was skilled at diverting the topic of conversation, leaving Alice feeling a chill run down her spine.

The promotion ceremony was scheduled for the next day, and she had initially considered this idea.

However, the recent near-death experience during their mission had occupied her mind, and she had been preoccupied with special training.

As a result, when the topic resurfaced, she had not given it any consideration.

Although she and Rom both acknowledged that the Mercenary Union was unlikely to release an Special Class Mercenary due to her being a woman, they were not the ultimate decision-makers.

This was an unprecedented situation, making it unclear what the final result would be.

Alice furrowed her brows at the thought, but Rom reassured her with a calm smile, “Have you not considered it yet? No worries, I have a plan in mind. Leave it to me to decide by tomorrow.”