The Crown Prince Who Raises a Side Character

#18 The New Adventurer Bern (16) – Rising Star

*Swish!*

A portion of the unevenly sprouting brush was cut down by Blanca’s swung sword.

Bern, carefully observing her posture and the sword’s trajectory, inquired,

“Have you ever received formal swordsmanship training?”

“Not from a proper master, just some brief advice from a former party member. Is it… awkward?”

“No, it’s not as bad as I thought.”

By Bern’s standards, he couldn’t honestly say her skill was high.

However, she didn’t have any particularly bad habits, nor was she burdened by unnecessary flashiness.

It was literally just the basics, properly laid down; lacking in distinctiveness, but all the easier to teach because of it.

Bern had been prepared to overhaul her technique from the ground up if necessary, but with this, she could likely progress to a more advanced form.

“Seems the one who taught you was a rather good instructor.”

“…That, uh, would be one of the two warriors you knocked down, Bern. The one with the bushy beard. He was originally a man of few words and stubborn, but after I saved him from a near-death experience with healing magic, he became more amicable. He said he specialized in blunt weapons, so he wasn’t very good at swordsmanship, but he taught me quite diligently.”

“Hmm? Ah.”

Bern recalled one warrior from the Karina party who had been conspicuously reluctant to fight during their encounter.

No wonder he couldn’t quite meet Blanca’s eyes; so that was the connection.

“Hoo, so you’re saying this sister here is your savior, and you just watched her leave the party like that?”

Lenya sighed beside her, but Blanca only offered a wry smile, showing no real sign of anger.

“He’s the head of a household with many mouths to feed, after all. He couldn’t very well keep a useless party member around.”

“Ah, sister! Your heart is truly as vast as the ocean!”

Blanca merely shook her head at Lenya’s exaggerated praise, offering no significant reaction. She had finally learned that reacting to everything was more exhausting.

“So, specifically, what does this training entail? Are you saying I should restrain my fire magic and focus on body strengthening and swordsmanship?”

“No, there’s no need to throw away your strengths when you have both firepower and control. What I’m asking of you, Blanca-ssi, is this.”

With that, Bern approached Blanca.

Stride by stride. Just two steps closer and their bodies would almost touch.

“This distance. At this interval, where you can draw your sword and reach an enemy at any time, you must strike them with a spell. Of course, in the midst of battle, while also wielding your sword.”

Blanca considered the scene in her mind for a moment.

Then, looking dubious, she asked, “Is that even possible? Hitting them with magic might somehow work, but if I did that…”

“You’d likely feel some of the aftereffects yourself. That’s why the main focus is on lower-level spells. If you spammed those, at most your skin would just feel a little hot.”

“……”

“However, when the situation demands it, you need to be prepared to hit them with a mid-level spell, even considering you might get caught up in it.”

Even if it meant being caught in the blast, stick close and deliver the blow.

Despite Bern’s seemingly reckless words, Blanca did not get angry.

Even though Bern’s words seemed somewhat reckless, Blanca wasn’t angry.

She believed that, regardless of who was in charge, Bern wouldn’t ask this without a reason.

“Can you tell me why?”

“The first reason is to become accustomed to casting attack spells, healing spells, and enhancement spells simultaneously. Currently, Ms. Blanca, you’re cycling through them, casting one after another, which negates the advantage you possess.”

It was akin to saying, “Wouldn’t it be more efficient to use your left hand and even your right foot while drawing, instead of just your right hand?”

But Vern’s face, as he uttered those words, seemed to imply, ‘Surely, you’re capable of this, aren’t you?’ leaving Blanca unable to retort with ‘Don’t talk nonsense.’

“The ‘first’ reason… does that imply there are others?”

“If that distance is uncomfortable for you, Ms. Blanca, it will be even more so for a pure mage.”

“Ah.”

Blanca blinked, the obviousness of the statement registering slowly.

With a few exceptions, mages are, fundamentally, ranged damage dealers.

They can unleash powerful and widespread destruction, but they must maintain a certain distance from the enemy to avoid being caught in their own attacks.

It’s rare to find adventurers who are solo warriors, but even rarer to find solo mages, for much the same reason.

To project firepower reliably, they need allies to act as a barrier, preventing the enemy from getting too close.

“Our goal is to subjugate the Lich. Therefore, it’s only right to choose a growth path that targets the Lich.”

The chances of Blanca, with her lower rank, winning a conventional magical battle against a Lich are slim.

Therefore, Vern said, she should employ unconventional methods.

It wasn’t wrong, but it also meant that the mage was going to repeatedly self-destruct against the Lich while swinging a sword, so this was not an easy thing to accept.

“It’s alright, Ms. Blanca. I have no doubt you can do it.”

As he said that, Vern offered Blanca a smile filled with confidence.

Blanca looked as though she had a great deal to say, but upon seeing Vern’s smiling face, she simply nodded blankly.

[…Oh dear, how did I get stuck with a guy like this?]

The demon in the shadows watched Blanca with pity, but no human was aware of that fact.

“Hyung-nim, Brother… then what kind of training should I undergo?”

Lenya, his complexion slightly worse than usual, asked with a rare hint of unease.

He seemed to fear being subjected to training as absurd as Blanca’s.

“You must first learn to manipulate mana. Specialize in sensory abilities, rather than physical enhancement.”

“T-That’s all? Nothing like… charging the enemy with a sword in hand, or anything like that?”

“A scout’s job is to reconnoiter without being detected. Combat ability is good to have, but it’s a low priority. Of course, if you want to become stronger, we can train in that area as well…”

“No, no, I don’t need any of that! I will dedicate myself to supporting you both! Isn’t each person doing their best in their respective roles the ideal party dynamic?”

“Hmm… A good attitude.”

Bern seemed pleased, Lenya felt relief at his apparent salvation, and Blanca felt despondent that she couldn’t talk her way out of this.

And so, days that would be very rewarding for some, and immensely difficult for others, began.

*

“Blanca-ssi, in swordsmanship, the position of your hands and feet is crucial. To strike down again with a sword that has already struck downward, you must first raise it. But magic is not like that. Once you create it in your palm, you can arbitrarily decide the direction and timing of the release to some extent. Meaning, you don’t need to show your palm to the opponent every single time.”

“Blanca-ssi, skilled swordsmen can deflect or even cut down magic coming towards them. They can also block a sword being swung at them. But a sword is only one weapon. Meaning, if you swing your sword to provoke the enemy’s defense, then slam them with attack magic through the opening, the enemy will be in a very difficult situation. You can reverse the order of the sword and magic as well.”

“Blanca-ssi, keep your field of vision wide. Just because you are engaging an opponent in close combat does not mean you can ignore a group of enemies in the distance. If you restrain a strong enemy with your sword while firing a mid-level spell at enemies far away, you can play the roles of both tank and dealer simultaneously. More than anything, this prevents you from getting caught in your own attacks, while also making the enemy in front of you impatient, creating openings.”

“Blanca-ssi, are you alright? Good. Relax. Even if you make a mistake, it’s just training, so you can try again. As long as I am by your side, a truly fatal situation will not occur. So feel secure and be bold. Now, shall we try again?”

*

Among adventurers belonging to the Eastern Branch, the story of a certain party was constantly making the rounds.

“Speaking of the Blanca Party, they completed the Gruatang region’s monster extermination request in just one day, I heard.”

“What? Gruatang takes at least four days even for three 3rd class parties. There’s no way they did it in one day. They must’ve just done a bit and run off.”

“No, apparently they brought back so many monster materials that the auction house and wholesalers all went crazy. Aside from being slightly scorched, the quality is top-notch, they say?”

“Heard about that newbie and the receptionist’s party? Apparently, a lizardman tribe, fifty strong, was causing trouble, snatching up passersby for grub. And those three just waltz right in and butcher the whole lot!”

“No way, weren’t they just off taking down kobolds, like, three days ago? They went lizard hunting already? When do they ever rest, anyway?”

“Don’t even get me started. They bought and learned some kind of scroll that turns magic power into stamina. They barely sleep now, just going around slaughtering monsters!”

“Tch, everywhere you turn, it’s about those guys. They’re just adventurers like the rest of us. What’s so great about them?”

“Hey, hey, you. Badmouthing them is fine, but don’t go picking a fight. Some guy tried it after too much ale, and they beat him with the flat of a blade, healed him with magic, then back to the beating until he was begging for mercy. Gave me the chills just watching.”

“Huh, so the redhead beats them, and the blue-hair heals them? A real tag team!”

“No, the blue-hair beat him, and the blue-hair healed him. Didn’t even look angry, just kept at it all business like, like a tanner working on hides, all nonchalant.”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

“Man, remember how everyone laughed when they first formed, saying they’d break up in a week? Now they’re all eating their words.”

“Isn’t it more of an intelligence problem than a matter of pride, talking smack about guys who can wipe out a whole Rank 3 party solo?”

“Ah – right. Speaking of which, what about Karina’s party? Still sharpening their knives for revenge, or what?”

“Nah, quiet as a church mouse since then. Smart move, honestly.”

“You notice the receptionists are all smiles these days? It’s because Bern’s party is snatching up all the requests that are too dangerous and low-paying for anyone else.”

“They’re clearing requests at three, maybe five times the rate of everyone else. Even if each one pays less, it all adds up, right?”

“And what’s more, they’re the only Rank 3 party with just three members, when five or six is the norm. They must be raking it in per person.”

“Tsk. I wonder if they’re recruiting. I’d be better than that tagalong they got, that’s for sure.”

“There were guys throwing themselves at them, begging to join. Apparently, the initiation is beating the tagalong at a game of tag.”

“Oh? The results?”

“He wasn’t even hiding, he was right there, and they still spent ten minutes flailing before they all failed. Anyone who hangs around those two can’t be normal anyway.”

“Damn, can’t catch a break.”

“Hey, hey. You hear about it?”

“About what?”

“Bern, Blanca, and that Renya fellow. Word is, they’re getting bumped up to Grade 4 soon.”

“Huh, hasn’t it only been a month since Bern started adventuring? Unbelievable speed.”

“It’s so amazing it’s almost…not something to be jealous of. Strange, isn’t it?”

“A rising star, if there ever was one.”