"One day..." Feed muttered, then let out an incredulous laugh. He looked more like a hero than anyone I had ever met, at least at first glance.
He studied me, as if trying to read my thoughts, and asked, "Do you know what a single day in the life of an S-class hero is worth?"
"I do. That is why I'm asking. Entering the sacred grounds of the winged race must be a rare privilege. If I were to trade that privilege, wouldn't it equal one day in the life of an S-class hero?"
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized that I sounded rude. I had just asked him to weigh the value of his time against a ticket to the sacred grounds. The approach felt cowardly. If Feed was truly from a noble lineage of the winged race, refusing my request would place him in an uncomfortable position.
"You are bold and quite rude," Feed said evenly. "Nevertheless, you haven't crossed the line. It is refreshing. Strangely, I'm not offended."
I suppressed a smile. If not for last night's Heroic Battle, I doubted I would have received such a measured response. He would have immediately taken it as an insult and put pressure on me.
In fact, if that had happened, I would have had no defense. My request bordered on shameless. More than a hundred people would leap at the chance to spar with an S-class hero and receive their guidance. Many would pay a fortune for the opportunity. No analogy was necessary. If Feed dedicated an entire day to a commission, he would earn dozens of gold at the very least, possibly several times that, depending on the contract.
"I accept," he said at last. "I was going to stay at the Hero Society for a few more days anyway."
"Because of this A-class commission?"
"That's right. I need to recruit more people. I've only met with ten so far," Feed replied.
"I see."
I reviewed the commission form again. The odd thing was it only listed the mission rank, the number of participants, and Feed's name as the representative. There was no other information.
Not all commission forms are so sparse.
The B-class commissions I had just handed to Verita included full details.
I frowned in confusion until Feed explained, "Most A-class missions keep their details strictly confidential. Only those who pass certain evaluations receive the full briefing."
"So that's how it is."
"By the way, you are qualified. Would you like to hear about it?" Feed asked out of the blue.
I considered the offer for a moment before asking, "If I hear them, am I obligated to accept?"
"That isn't the case. However, this matter must remain confidential. Don't tell your acquaintances or fellow clan members," Feed clarified.
I shook my head. "Then I'll just not listen. I'm not the type to keep my mouth shut."
"I see." Feed nodded and let the matter drop. Then he returned to the point at hand. "I can't devote an entire day to you. I have my own schedule. Let's do this instead. I heard that Corrupted will return to their base in two days. I'll spar with you for four hours today and another four tomorrow. How does that sound?"
"Yes."
Spending an entire day fighting this fellow had its appeal, but it wouldn't be efficient in many ways. If we split it into two sessions, I could review today's spar and prepare for tomorrow's. The time I spent digesting each exchange mattered as much as the experience itself. In fact, this arrangement would serve me better.
I nodded. "Let's do that."
"When should we start today?" Feed asked.
"How about right now?" I suggested. "If you are free."
Feed hummed. "That works. Let's head to the training ground."
At that, I glanced at Verita. She had been focused on the commission form, but when our eyes met, she gave a slight nod.
"Go ahead, Brother Luan. I will sort everything out before you return," Verita said.
"Thank you."
Verita smiled. "Of course."
***
I followed Feed toward the Hero Society's training ground, but soon realized we were climbing higher and higher.
I asked, "Where exactly are we going?"
"The deck," Feed answered.
"The deck...?"
"Ah, it is slang," he clarified. "In simple terms, it's a training ground on the roof. A special area reserved for S-class heroes."
"I'm not S-class," I pointed out.
"We are allowed to bring one guest," Feed explained.
"Understood."
We continued up the stairs until we reached the rooftop.
The moment Feed pushed the door open, a powerful gust slammed into us. My hair fluttered fiercely, and it was hard to open my eyes. I squinted and scanned the rooftop. There was no sign of a storm, so there was no reason for such a violent gale to erupt without warning.
Then I saw him. A shirtless man stood at the center of the roof, gripping a greatsword the size of his body. His muscles were trained to perfection, like those of a master who had pushed his body to the limit. It wasn't just about bulk. The shape of his muscles was flawless, and each area was evenly developed. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that.
Surprisingly, the wind came from the greatsword. Each swing generated a powerful gust that swept across the rooftop.
Being on the rooftop means he is S-class...
The face was familiar, and I blurted, "Huh? You are..."
Sky-Destroying Sword Maxim stopped swinging his sword, looked at us, and laughed. "Aren't you the star of the promotion match? That was quite an impressive battle."
Feed, standing beside me, asked, "You've met the Sky-Destroying Sword before?"
"We met briefly in the capital the other day," I answered.
Feed hummed in response.
Maxim strode over and looked at us with open curiosity. "Feed, even you're here? This is an unusual pairing. What's going on?"
"Why else would two people visit a training ground?" Feed asked sarcastically.
"Oh, are you giving a lesson?" Maxim asked.
"It's more like sparring with teaching mixed in," Feed replied.
Maxim nodded, then turned his curious gaze on me. "You are amazing. You managed to secure this noble Heavenly Wind Knight's time. I heard he doesn't even make time for his own children, let alone his own race."
"You have children?" I asked.
"My teaching wouldn't help them. It isn't time yet," Feed answered with a quiet sigh. Then he looked at Maxim with mild puzzlement. "So, Maxim, how long do you intend to disturb us?"
"Ah, right. Excuse me. Go ahead." Maxim stepped aside but didn't leave. Instead, he sat nearby and fixed his attention on us. He clearly intended to watch.
"Is it all right for him to stay?" I asked.
"It can't be helped. If we used the outdoor training ground or the gymnasium where the last promotion match was held, we'd draw far more spectators."
"Fair point."
Certainly, if I had to become a spectacle, it would be much better to perform for Maxim alone than for a crowd of strangers.
We stood beside each other on the training ground.
I wanted the fight to start right away without saying anything else, but just before that, Feed asked an unexpected question. "Do you know the difference between a sparring match that resembles real combat and real combat disguised as sparring?"
The question caught me off guard. I froze mid-stance and considered it, then replied, "I suppose the latter is more effective?"
Feed looked impressed. "Why?"
"No matter how realistic it claims to be, sparring is still sparring. The mindset is different from the outset. On the other hand, if it's real combat under the guise of sparring, you will commit fully from the beginning. The difference isn't that small," I reasoned.
"I see." Feed nodded. "There's no correct answer, so yours will do."
"Then what's the point of you asking it?" I asked.
"It is simple. Choose which one you want."
I laughed. "Then let's go with real combat disguised as sparring."
Feed smiled at my answer. "Didn't you just say that one is harder?"
"Exactly."
"You might get hurt," Feed warned.
"I'm prepared for that," I replied.
"Very well. Let's begin." Feed turned his spear like a windmill and rushed straight at me.
Is he opening with the spear technique?
I immediately discarded the White Sun Eclipse's stance and drew the Seven Sins Sword, meeting his charge with the Galaxy Sword.
Even now that I was experiencing it again, I admired his spear technique. Feed was flawless. He didn't just rely only on thrusts from the tip. He drove the shaft forward, swept it in slashing arcs, and even shifted seamlessly into basic hand-to-hand strikes.
It was the first time I fought with someone so complete as a martial artist. Fighting him felt like striking an iron fortress with no weaknesses. The reason I had managed to land a blow the previous night was that he had willingly discarded his weapon and fought me bare-handed.
I gathered internal energy into my left palm and slammed it against the spear's shaft. The attack was blocked, but the force sent Feed to skidding backward across the floor.
I braced for the next attack, but it didn't come.
Feed studied me for a moment, then asked, "Has your right hand still not fully recovered from the injury?"
"I suppose so. It will probably take another week or two to recover," I said.
"I'm sorry."
I laughed at the sudden apology. "Why bring that up now?"
"I felt it last time, but you seem quite used to sparring against strong opponents."
"I've faced my share of strong opponents."
"I see. I didn't expect to say this, but I don't have any advice for you." Feed stared at me. "Your martial arts have already reached their own territory. I may be stronger than you now, but the paths of martial arts we pursue are different. My advice would serve no purpose. What you need now is time. To be more precise, you need physical growth, increased mana capacity, and to digest and refine what you have already learned."
Surprise flickered through me. This was only our second match, yet Feed grasped my condition and pinpointed exactly where I had stalled.
He asked, "Do you intend to walk both the path of the sword and the path of the fist?"
I nodded. "That's right."
At first, my White Sun Eclipse had been my main focus, with the Galaxy Sword as a fallback. Now it was different. I planned to train in the Galaxy Sword with equal dedication.
"Then I have nothing to teach you." Feed said, "However, I think I can point out what you lack."
"What is it?"
"First of all, you have an absolute lack of long-range or ranged attacks," he replied.
I said nothing because he was right.
Feed continued, "Of course, most martial artists and swordsmen share that weakness. However, your improvisation is remarkable. You read your surroundings well and move with the terrain. Still, that alone won't carry you to the top. A skilled archer can pierce a fly's wings from hundreds of meters away. Using the terrain, throwing your swords... Such tactics have limits."
I nodded. "I understand what you are saying, but don't people have natural aptitudes?"
"Are you saying that long-range combat isn't yours?" Feed asked.
"I don't know about that, but I think I should hone what I am already good at. In fact, I only recently decided to commit to swordsmanship. I am worried that I'll stretch myself too thin if I learn anything else."
Feed nodded slowly. "To fully digest what you have already learned is a sound mindset for a martial artist. However, heroes who face the church are different."
"How so?"
"Heroes must be all-rounders. Only those who can respond to any threat in any situation can stand at the top of the Hero Society. It is just like your father." Feed swung his spear once. "Originally, I wasn't skilled with the spear either."
"Really?" I was quite surprised. Feed's spear technique was at the level of a master. No one reached that level in a matter of days.
Feed explained, "My main technique is the Blessing of Heavenly Wind. With my racial traits, I can summon a storm that overwhelms my opponents. I never suffered injury until I reached A-class. Most who advance to S-class would probably say the same."
Maxim, who had been watching, cut in, "I got hurt plenty."
Feed shook his head. "Didn't you choose to take those wounds? You said that a body without scars lacks a warrior's spirit."
"Did I? Hahaha !"
Feed returned his attention to me. "In any case, do you understand what I want to say?"
"I do."
I couldn't ignore advice from a superior martial artist and a senior hero.
My combat experience is solid, but it is true that I have little real experience against demons or the church.
"Shall we begin again?" Feed asked.
I nodded and resumed the spar with Heavenly Wind Knight Feed.
***
Four hours passed in the blink of an eye.
It was easy to say that in hindsight. In truth, I was physically and mentally exhausted. It felt as though I had been sparring for days. Sweat soaked through my clothes, and I struggled to steady my breathing.
Did he say it was real combat disguised as sparring?
Now I truly understood what this meant. My session with Feed had been very methodical. Each exchange forced me to engage muscles I rarely noticed.
That was only possible because his level surpassed mine. The experience felt like sitting across from a grandmaster as he offered guidance in a game of chess, much like the few times I had fought against my master.
I didn't know whether Feed himself knew it, but he possessed a natural talent for teaching. His insight perhaps surpassed even that of the ten Great Masters of the Badniker family. Thanks to those four hours of education, he exposed every weakness in my form until I could see them clearly myself.
"It is a pity that your upper-body strength lags behind your lower body. There is also a bit of waste when using mana," Maxim muttered as he observed.
I could not argue with that assessment.
Certainly, S-class is still a long way off... The realization struck hard, but strangely, I didn't feel bad about this.
Maxim told me, "Well, don't be too discouraged. For a sixteen-year-old, you have no rivals among your peers. Well, except for that monster who blew the entire gymnasium apart last time."
"Wait, sixteen years old?" Feed asked, frowning slightly at Maxim's remark.
"Yes?"
I instinctively touched my face. I don't look that old, do I?
Feed explained, "You carry Dark Fairy blood, so I assumed you were older than you appear."
"I see..."
"But sixteen years old... and already so accomplished..." Feed muttered, his confusion plain. A moment later, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked at me. "Are you married yet?"
"What now?" I blurted.
"My daughter is about your age. What do you think? She is a smart, well-mannered girl. I'm sure you'd like her..." Feed said eagerly.
I shook my head. "That won't be necessary."
What nonsense is this man spouting all of a sudden?