Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

“You want to dump all this mess on me? Do you think I’m your errand boy or something?!” Giovanni sneered with his arms crossed.

“You are not my errand boy, but I am your superior.” Leighnard let out a carefree smile.

“You!” Giovanni couldn’t offer a rebuttal so he could only glare at his older brother.

“Giovanni, you might not be afraid of the consequences, but think about your subordinates. Because of your decision, they would be charged with insubordination. I’m sure you are aware of what their punishments will be.” Leighnard’s face turned serious when he said this.

My dear brother, if you want to be a good leader, you need to learn how to value the people around you. A leader must think of the well-being of his people before his own.

Giovanni fell silent at his words, his eyebrows knitted into a deep frown.

After half a minute of silence, he opened his mouth. “Fine. I will take care of the matters here in Noyam, but I will need more soldiers to keep the locals in check.”

He went here in a disguise so he left most of his troops in Midgard. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel(ꜰ)ire.net

Leighnard agreed without hesitation. “No problem. I will leave ten thousand soldiers here, including Lord Christon Evander and one thousand Gryphon Knights.”

There were still thirty thousand soldiers in Noyam’s city defense forces. Not to mention the private armies of the local aristocrats.

Hearing his words, Giovanni shook his head.

“Ten thousand warriors? That’s not enough.”

“There are still many local aristocrats who haven’t sent out their private armies. If they decided to work together, ten thousand warriors wouldn’t be enough to stop them.”

Christon Evander and his Gryphon Knights Order might be powerful, but there were only a thousand of them. If they were besieged by thousands of enemies, even a strong army like the Gryphon Knights Order would struggle.

Leighnard shrugged. “That’s for you to worry about.”

If I give him more troops, he wouldn’t take this task seriously.

Giovanni, you need to start learning how to think critically.

“Are you serious? Things might go wrong if we are even a little bit careless…” Giovanni was dissatisfied.

“Then don’t be careless.” Leighnard stared deeply at him.

“You… You are really something. Dammit! Fine!” Looking annoyed, Giovanni massaged his forehead.

Leighnard rose to his feet and chuckled. “I knew I could count on you, my dear brother.”

“Fuck off!” Giovanni gave him the middle finger.

Leighnard raised an eyebrow at the unusual gesture.

“Where did you learn that from?”

“From our little cousin, Alaric. Who else would teach me something so strange?”

Giovanni shooed him away with an annoyed look.

“Just shut your mouth and leave already! Otherwise, I might not be able to hold myself from punching you.”

Leighnard shook his head.

Before leaving, he gave him one last reminder. “Don’t underestimate those aristocrats. They will come to bite you if you show even a hint of weakness.”

“I’m off, my dear brother.” Leighnard bid him farewell and left.

Giovanni was vexed.

“That bastard, he nags a lot. He is even worse than Alaric.”

Derrek who was silent the entire time snickered upon hearing this.

Giovanni glared at him. “I’m not done with you. Come here! Sit on the air and put your arms forward!

Derrek’s smile stiffened, but he still complied with the punishment. “Yes, Your Highness.”

***

Two days later in Midgard.

Alaric had just completed his daily mission and decided to visit the workshop to observe the blacksmiths do their work.

He didn’t go there alone. He brought Mathilda under the suspicious gaze of Yvanna.

“Your Highness, where are we headed to?” Mathilda asked curiously.

She was dressed in the standard Astanian warrior’s uniform, the one worn by the light cavalrymen.

Mathilda was a 1-Ringed Beast Soul Novice so she was a bit stronger than the average person. Wearing this kind of armor wasn’t an issue for her.

“The workshop. We will observe the blacksmiths forge my shield.” Alaric replied.

After discovering Mathilda’s sharp mind, he decided to train her as a capable assistant.

He was confident in his strength, but he lacked when it came to strategies and tactics. Mathilda would supplement what he lacked.

It took him a great deal of effort to convince Yvanna to agree with his decision.

The workshop wasn’t far from Alaric’s mansion.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, they found the place.

The building was quite old with some cracks on the wall, but the forging equipment was surprisingly new.

From outside the workshop, they could already hear hammering sounds.

This brings back memories.

Alaric subconsciously smiled when he recalled a distant memory.

“Let’s go in.” He mumbled.

The two walked inside the workshop. Behind them, Galanar and Caecus remained outside the building.

“It’s so hot here.” Mathilda fanned her face which was covered in thick beads of sweat.

Alaric turned his head and saw her face reddening because of the high temperature.

He looked away and said. “Bear with it. The heat will be stronger once we are there.”

“Can I at least take off this breastplate? I really can’t handle this kind of heat, Your Highness.” Mathilda coquettishly pleaded.

“Fine.” Alaric reluctantly agreed.

After getting his approval, Mathilda quickly took off her armor, leaving only her inner shirt which was drenched in her sweat.

“That feels better. Ah~” She intentionally let out a moan.

Alaric rubbed his temples.

I forgot about her trait.

Can those poor blacksmiths and apprentices keep their focus with her around?

He could already imagine the scene.

“I think it’s better if you put on the armor.”

Drenched in her sweat, her inner shirt clung tightly around her body, fully displaying her curvaceous figure.

Mathilda grumbled, but she still followed his command. “Your servant obeys.”

“That’s better.” Alaric was pleased after she put on her armor.

Although it couldn’t hide her beautiful face, much of her charm was hidden beneath the armor.

Soon, they arrived at the smithing room.