Chapter 13: The Tireless Rein

"But...."

"After that loss, Thick Brows would obviously refuse even if I proposed sparring!"

"What a pity...."

Rein looked around at the other apprentices. The only one with similar strength was Thick Brows, so... should he choose Freckles?

Just as Rein was pondering this, the swordsmanship mentor, Humbert, shouted,

"Pair up on your own and start practicing!"

Thick Brows immediately paired up with Freckles for sparring.

This left Rein with no choice but to spar with George.

But essentially, with just one exertion of strength, Rein would defeat George, significantly diminishing the effectiveness of his practice!

This scene was clearly noticed by Humbert, who had been watching Rein.

Thinking it over, the eager Humbert stepped forward and said,

"Rein, come over here. Let's spar a bit."

The words of the swordsmanship mentor Humbert astonished the many apprentices present.

Their gazes towards Rein, especially those of Thick Brows and the other pseudo-second generations, were filled with even more jealousy!

Clearly, Rein was taken aback as well, realizing that although he had raised his basic swordsmanship to level 3, his actual strength couldn't hold a candle to Humbert's.

But upon thinking further, Rein was overjoyed!

*Humbert intended to offer him guided moves!*

Rein took another glance at his militiaman's professional panel. His basic swordsmanship was at level 3 (20/500), still far from upgrading, but his current militiaman level was already at lv1 (69/100).

If he could spar with a master, Rein was certain that he would soon advance his militiaman profession level to lv2.

"Yes, Mentor Humbert!"

"Rein, don't be nervous, attack me," Humbert signaled with a smile.

Rein nodded, slightly bowed to Mentor Humbert, and assumed the starting stance of basic swordsmanship.

In the next second, Rein raised the ironwood short sword in his right hand in front of his chest, the tip pointing outward. With a step thrust of his right foot, the push-off propelled him like a released arrow towards Humbert.

It was a perfect striding thrust!

Facing the swordsmanship mentor Humbert, Rein didn't hold back this strike but exerted his full strength.

"Thud!"

There was the dull sound of ironwood clashing.

Humbert deflected Rein's thrust with his sword and quickly countered with an upward slash, forcing Rein to retreat and block.

Right from the first exchange, Rein noticed that Mentor Humbert controlled his strength to a very skilled degree.

Almost every sword strike was unleashed with power roughly equal to Rein's maximum capability.

Their sparring was rapid, exchanging more than ten moves in just over ten seconds.

"Thud!"

After another clash, the two quickly parted.

The sparring concluded!

"Very good! Rein, take a rest," Humbert said, pleased with Rein's recent performance.

The other apprentices could clearly see that Mentor Humbert was giving guided moves to Rein.

This was akin to a special tutoring session in the previous life.

It was a privilege only for outstanding students!

Now, all the apprentices looked at Rein with faces full of jealousy. This guy not only had talent in hoof repair, but now he displayed talent in swordsmanship too. It was truly.....

Among them, Thick Brows was the most consumed with envy, his eyes burning red with anger!

"Damn Rein! If it weren't for this brat, Mentor Humbert would surely be focusing on me now!"

"And the sparring partner would definitely be me too!"

...

Meanwhile, Rein was panting heavily, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

"Huff~~ Huff~~"

The brief confrontation with swordsmanship mentor Humbert had consumed much of Rein's physical and mental strength.

Because the pressure Mentor Humbert exerted on him far exceeded that of Thick Brows.

After catching his breath, he once again checked the system notifications:

[Your skill in basic swordsmanship has increased, Experience +21]

[You experienced a battle, Militiaman Professional Experience +12]

"Gasp! So much Experience!"

"In less than half a minute of sparring, I gained as much as from roughly three days of hard training! Of course, this was a result of Mentor Humbert deliberately suppressing his own strength to guide me."

Seeing that Rein seemed to have recovered, Humbert, smiling, walked up to him and said,

"Rein, your basic swordsmanship level is already on par with an average militiaman, but don't get arrogant. Keep up the rigorous training!"

"Thank you for your praise, Mentor! I will continue to work hard," Rein answered respectfully at once.

Humbert smiled and nodded. He glanced at the setting sun, realizing it was Saturday and time for the apprentices to go home.

So, he turned to the rest of the apprentices and announced, "Today's swordsmanship practice ends here! Alright, dismissed!"

Instantly, the group of apprentices, already exhausted, couldn't help but cheer, with many plopping down on the ground to rest.

Humbert then strolled leisurely, preparing to leave the outer fortress grounds.

At this moment, he inadvertently saw Rein beside him, staring intensely at him, which prompted him to ask curiously,

"Rein, what's up? Is there something?"

For this boy, who showed remarkable talent in swordsmanship, Humbert held a good opinion.

The opponent's steadfast dedication in training reminded him very much of himself in his youth!

"Um.... Mentor Humbert, could I spar with you once more?" Rein asked expectantly.

Such a good opportunity to earn Experience, it would be a shame not to seize it.

Humbert, of course, didn't know Rein's current thoughts and assumed it was the spirit of a youth unwilling to lose.

He smiled warmly and appraised Rein, saying, "Sure! But... Rein, are you sure you don't need to rest first?"

"As long as you want, I can keep training with you."

"Really, Mentor?" Rein's joy was evident on his face.

At this moment, Rein's physical strength was nearly exhausted, but the opportunity for personal sparring with Mentor Humbert was too valuable to miss, and next week was the introductory training for dog handlers.

So, Rein unhesitatingly invested the one attribute point he had saved when leveling up at the blacksmith's shop directly into Strength.

Suddenly, a warm current surged from his heart and spread throughout his body!

In an instant, Rein's fatigue vanished!

Allocating points to recover, amazing!

With this point allocation, Rein's Strength reached 6, roughly equivalent to that of the average adult male in this world!

Name: Rein Carlan

Profession: Ironsmith Apprentice lv3 (0/500) / Militiaman lv1 (81/100)

Constitution: 5

Strength: 6

Agility: 6

Spirit: 8

.....

The sparring began again!

After three rounds, Humbert was sweating profusely, while Rein still looked eager, his gaze intense, which made Humbert's scalp tingle slightly.

"Well... Rein, sometimes overtraining isn't necessarily a good thing. Balance is most important."

"Mentor, I'm not tired!" Rein stated firmly.

*Looking at the panel showing Militiaman lv1 (99/100), Rein was clearly unwilling to remain just 1 point away.*

*"Just 1 more point and my militiaman profession level would increase!"*

*"Mentor, give it your all!" Rein shouted in his heart!*

Humbert paused for a moment and then gently said, "Ahem... Rein, it's getting dark. I still have some things to take care of at home."

This....

Faced with Humbert's polite refusal, Rein had no choice!

He could only watch Humbert's retreating figure, the swordsmanship mentor, with great reluctance, as he quickly left.

....