Chapter 47: This Really Isn't Just Taking a Beating?

Kili could no longer remember how the battle between Teacher Tarnes and Mr. Bernahl had ended. He only knew that his eyes could no longer capture their figures toward the end, until the sound of sword clashing against sword suddenly stopped, and one of the knight's greatswords flew out, rolling onto the lush green ground.

Who had won?

Kili hurriedly looked over, only to discover that Teacher Tarnes and Bernahl's forms were overlapping, making it impossible to tell whose weapon had been knocked away.

Tarnes and Bernahl didn't keep the spectators waiting long. They quickly separated, with Tarnes' knight's greatsword still gripped in his hand, while Bernahl's hands were now empty of weapons.

"The victor is decided! Elden Lord Tarnes has defeated Recusant Bernahl! Let us offer our cheers to His Majesty Tarnes, and let us also give applause to Lord Bernahl, who dared to challenge the Elden Lord!"

Nepheli Loux shouted loudly, bringing this duel to a close.

Fili and Kili were the first to excitedly applaud and cheer for this spectacular battle.

The watching Golden People followed with their own cheers, while the Elves elegantly clapped softly.

Bernahl didn't show any angry or displeased expression, but rather satisfaction with this exhilarating battle.

His only dissatisfaction was probably losing to Tarnes for the ninth time. He sighed deeply: "I never expected you'd also know that Bloody Finger Knight's Bloodhound Step. I thought someone specialized in magic would be less skilled in close combat—I miscalculated."

Due to Bernahl's misjudgment, thinking Tarnes couldn't handle his close combat, he had slightly relaxed his guard against attacks from behind, only to have Tarnes seize the opportunity to instantly appear behind him using Bloodhound Step.

Though Bernahl had reacted quickly enough to block Tarnes' attack with his knight's greatsword behind him, it was still a moment when old strength was spent and new strength hadn't yet emerged. His hand wielding the greatsword was struck by the premeditated Tarnes, causing the sword hilt to slip from his grasp.

Tarnes sheathed his knight's greatsword and smiled modestly: "I was just trying to learn various schools to relieve boredom. In pure swordsmanship, I'm indeed slightly inferior to you—you just lost to the unknown. Moreover, you didn't even use your Devourer's Scepter, did you?"

Bernahl shook his head self-mockingly: "Real enemies on the battlefield won't voluntarily reveal their trump cards to opponents either. I lost, plain and simple—my skills were inferior. No need to make excuses for me. Besides, counting this time, I've already lost to you nine times. It has nothing to do with the Devourer's Scepter."

At this time, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed. Nepheli Loux picked up the knight's greatsword that had fallen to the ground and walked over to return it to Tarnes.

Tarnes took it and weighed it a few times, then sheathed the knight's greatsword and handed it to Bernahl: "I still prefer how you look when wielding a greatsword, Bernahl."

Bernahl wasn't polite about it, taking the knight's greatsword and hanging it on his back: "My maiden also liked how I looked when swinging a sword... forget it, let's not talk about these broken things. Aren't you going to call over those two Dwarves who still refuse to leave?"

Only after Bernahl's reminder did Tarnes notice that Fili and Kili were still standing in place, not having left like the other dispersing spectators.

So he waved to the two, signaling them to come over.

Fili gently pushed Kili's back, making him follow along. The two Dwarves came before Tarnes and Bernahl together, looking up at them both with admiring eyes.

Tarnes said to Fili and Kili: "I think Nepheli Loux has already introduced him to you. This is the combat instructor I found for you. You've just witnessed his strength with your own eyes—even learning just ten percent of his techniques would be enough to make Thorin look at you with new eyes."

This was also why Tarnes didn't use magic in his battle with Bernahl. Having Bernahl fully display his swordsmanship was one of Tarnes' purposes for this duel.

Moreover, during his duel with Bernahl, Tarnes also understood why Nepheli Loux had recommended him as Fili and Kili's teacher.

Because although Nepheli Loux herself was skilled in combat and used battle axes that Dwarves favored, she didn't use incantations in battle.

If it were teaching Dwarves like Dwalin who couldn't use incantations, Nepheli Loux felt she could teach them without problems. Even if she wasn't skilled at verbal instruction, she could compensate with practical combat.

But when she heard that the Dwarves Tarnes wanted her to teach were Fili and Kili, she immediately thought of how these two Dwarves had systematically learned incantations with Tarnes.

If she only had them learn axe techniques without teaching them how to integrate incantations into their respective fighting styles, it would obviously be a waste of Fili and Kili's talents.

At this moment, Fili and Kili simultaneously bowed to Bernahl and shouted: "Teacher Bernahl!"

Bernahl raised his hand to stroke his chin, then walked over and pressed firmly on each of Fili and Kili's shoulders several times.

Fili and Kili felt a strange force transmitted from their shoulders, as if trying to press them down. They instinctively exerted force with their legs and feet together, only swaying slightly.

"Mm, very solid bodies. I can feel that you two have been training seriously in your daily lives." Bernahl released his hands, ending this small test, and evaluated his two new students. At least their first impression wasn't bad.

If Fili and Kili had just been pressed to the ground by him like that, Bernahl would have had to first consider how to train these two Dwarves' lower body stability.

Tarnes smiled and said: "I already told you to trust the Dwarves' mastery of their body balance. That little move of yours couldn't trouble Fili and Kili."

Bernahl glanced at Tarnes: "How I teach my students is my business—don't interfere."

Tarnes shrugged, then asked: "By the way, do you still have your Crimson Tear Flask on you?"

Bernahl somehow produced an exquisite transparent bottle filled with red liquid that occasionally flashed with golden light.

Only then did Tarnes nod: "Then I have no problems. Just remember to give them the blessed dew drops from the bottle in time. To replenish it, just place it in the Golden Tree's courtyard for half an hour. As long as you don't let these two have accidents, you can use whatever methods you want to teach them."

Bernahl put away the Crimson Tear Flask and replied: "I understand."

Fili and Kili blinked together. The Dwarf brothers were still in the dark, not understanding what the conversation between Tarnes and Bernahl meant.

Bernahl waved at Tarnes: "Since we're idle anyway, there's no time like the present—let's start teaching now. If you have nothing to do, go help me and my new students find a quiet, sparsely populated, and spacious courtyard. If you have business, go attend to it."

"Then follow me. The military training ground within Stormveil Castle is quite suitable."

Tarnes didn't mind Bernahl's words, because he knew Bernahl was actually eager to pass on his combat techniques. In this regard, Bernahl was always so enthusiastic.

Tarnes led them with practiced ease to the area within Stormveil Castle where the Banished Knights and Exile Soldiers lived. The two Exile Soldiers wrapped in dark red cloaks who were standing guard bowed to Tarnes and Nepheli Loux, respectively, then proactively moved aside the chevaux de frise at the main entrance.

After they entered, Nepheli Loux separated from Tarnes and the others, heading to another training ground to check on the Exile Soldiers' training situation.

After all, Nepheli Loux was now the Storm Lord, and the Exile Soldiers were her direct forces in name, unlike the previous Godrick Royal Army that Tarnes had merely entrusted her to command.

Tarnes led the remaining three to find a relatively secluded training ground and stopped.

The afternoon sun's radiance penetrated the clouds, spilling onto the field.

In the nearby armory, armor and blades were arranged neatly, gleaming with cold light.

Tarnes cast encouraging looks at Fili and Kili: "Fili, Kili, do your best! Bernahl is an excellent teacher—he once taught me too. I look forward to the day you complete your training."

Fili replied very politely: "We won't bring shame to you, Teacher Tarnes."

Kili said confidently: "That's right, Teacher Tarnes! Fili and I will definitely work hard to learn combat techniques!"

Hearing the Dwarf brothers' voices full of energy and enthusiasm, Bernahl couldn't help but smile.

Tarnes nodded: "Good, I'll go arrange for someone to prepare rest rooms for you."

But before leaving, he stopped and looked at Bernahl's smiling expression with hesitation, finally still warning Bernahl: "Don't frighten Fili and Kili—restrain yourself."

"I know, I know. Don't worry. Remember to prepare some meat for their dinner," Bernahl said.

Only after seeing Bernahl nod did Tarnes leave with peace of mind.

Why did Teacher Tarnes say Teacher Bernahl would frighten us?

Fili and Kili looked at each other.

Bernahl clapped his hands to focus Fili and Kili's attention on himself. His aged face showed a hearty smile, as if he had become several years younger.

He laughed loudly: "Alright, without further delay, let's begin now! It's combat technique teaching time!"

Why does it feel like Teacher Bernahl suddenly changed into a different person and became excited?

Fili thought to himself while quietly asking Kili: "Do you feel anything wrong?"

Kili looked over with a blank expression: "Huh?"

"Never mind." Seeing his brother's appearance, Fili immediately understood he couldn't rely on him.

So Fili suppressed the slight unease rising in his heart and waited with Kili for Bernahl's next move.

Bernahl looked the Dwarves up and down with a smile: "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm called Bernahl..."

Fili and Kili immediately gave their names.

"Fili, at your service."

"Kili, also at your service."

But Bernahl smiled and raised his hand to interrupt: "Wait, wait. I know you two are excited because you're going to learn combat techniques, but I'm still talking!"

Wait, the excited one seems to be you! And this should already be called hyperexcited—your whole body is swaying happily!

Fili looked at Bernahl with some surprise, but Kili reacted more slowly, showing an apologetic expression.

He felt he indeed shouldn't have interrupted Bernahl's speech.

Bernahl also seemed to realize he was overly excited, so he calmed his emotions and settled down.

He took down the knight's greatsword hanging on his back, resting the scabbard's tip against the ground, and continued: "I only know how to use swords—I've devoted all my heart and soul to combat techniques. So I very much want to pass on combat techniques to people like Tarnes."

Then Bernahl smiled and looked down at Fili and Kili: "But passing them on to you isn't bad either."

Fili blinked and tried to guide the topic in the right direction: "So when do we start learning combat techniques?"

Hearing this, Bernahl laughed loudly while walking toward the training ground's armory to rummage through the weapons placed there: "Good! So where should we start teaching?"

He seemed unable to find suitable weapons in the armory and walked back, but Bernahl appeared to have made up his mind.

So he looked at the Dwarf brothers, patted his chest, making his Beast Champion armor ring crisply, and said: "Fili, Kili, you two come and beat me up."

"Huh?"

Fili and Kili were both stunned, not expecting Bernahl to say such a thing.

Bernahl didn't pick up the knight's greatsword stuck in the ground but crossed his hands in front of his chest in a defensive stance: "Don't worry, I won't fight back. Just attack me—don't be polite!"

Fili hesitated for a moment but finally nodded together with his brother Kili: "Then we won't be polite!"

The two charged toward Bernahl. Since Bernahl wasn't using his knight's greatsword, Fili and Kili also didn't draw weapons but raised their respective fists.

Bernahl stood motionless in place, eyes fixed on the two Dwarves charging toward him.

Due to their height difference, Fili came behind Kili halfway through his charge, and Kili very cooperatively jumped to a height even taller than Bernahl with Fili's help, then brought his fist down.

A flash of light appeared in Bernahl's eyes, and his entire body suddenly shuddered.

"Thud!"

But the scene Kili had imagined of Bernahl blocking his punch didn't occur. Instead, his fist solidly struck Bernahl's right cheek with a dull sound.

However, Bernahl's body didn't move, and even his head didn't sway. It looked like he had taken Kili's full-force punch head-on.

Fili behind Kili immediately widened his eyes and covered his mouth, while Kili also landed on the ground, rolled to Fili's side, and stood up with the same surprised expression.

Fili said quietly and urgently: "How did you actually punch Teacher Bernahl in the face?!"

Kili's eyes showed innocence and bewilderment: "I thought he would block it."

Fili said quietly again: "But you used too much force. Look, your own fist is red. I bet Teacher Bernahl's teeth are about to be knocked out."

Now Kili didn't dare speak either, looking nervously toward Bernahl.

"Haha, don't worry—I did it on purpose!" Bernahl's laughter drew the Dwarf brothers' attention back to him.

Fili quickly apologized: "Sorry, Teacher Bernahl. We were too rough."

But Bernahl said: "I already said it was on purpose. Look carefully at my face—look at where I was just hit."

Fili and Kili looked over. The place where Bernahl had been severely punched by Kili only showed some slight redness, appearing to have taken less damage than Kili's own injured fist.

Fili immediately turned to look at Kili: "Did you not use force just now? Or didn't you eat enough?"

Kili glared back indignantly: "I ate two more pieces of cheese than you at lunch! And do you want me to use force or not?!"

Obviously, both Fili and Kili understood that Bernahl's facial injury shouldn't be so light.

Bernahl raised his hand to gently touch his right cheek and grinned: "What just happened was the combat technique Endure."

Fili and Kili couldn't help but speak simultaneously: "Endure?!"

Then Fili asked with disbelief: "Endure? Can that really be considered a combat technique?"

Kili also nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, this seems no different from simply taking a beating."

[Chapter Complete]

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