<h4>Chapter 94 - ude Zahard Kirihal’s Progress</h4>


    ude Zahard Kirihal’s Progress


    Twenty-five days had passed since the first gathering of the student alliance and only twenty-five days to go until the Foundation Anniversary where the meeting to get the establishment of a student alliance approved would be held. Fifteen days until they headed for Jarazack. Five days until ude started his practice matches with Professor Mikhail. Considering all this, they didn’t have much time left.


    「Hmm. The tea you make is simply the best.」


    「Really? I’m d to hear that.」


    Hikaru and Lavia were at their apartment in Schrzard. The tea after breakfast was one of Hikaru’s pleasures. Lavia tended to be very particr with her tea leaves. She went around different stores to buy some andpare them. She seemed to have figured out Hikaru’s taste; the tea was getting more and more delicious every day.


    「So this means we have Kirihal and Kotobi’s vote, right?」


    「I think so, yes. I received a letter yesterday from Silvester who’s back in Zubura.」


    A lone lettery on the table. The first part read “Please tell League too”. Silvester wouldn’t send a letter directly to League. People watched thetter’s every move. So Silvester sent it to Hikaru instead.


    “I convinced my fatherst night. I’ll see you at the Foundation Anniversary”.


    That was all. It would seem Silvester chose to stay in Zubura


    「That’s three votes. All that’s left is Jarazack.」


    「How’s ude doing?」


    「It should be about time.」


    Lavia knew immediately what Hikaru meant. It was time to use the Soul Board.


    「ude, Ivan.」


    「Hey there, Hikaru.」


    「Come on, man. You gotta show up more often.」


    Hikaru arrived at the short sword ss which had be training session for ude and Ivan. Professor Mille wasn’t around, only the two guys and the other Jarazack students.


    Hikaru hadn’t seen Roy these past few days. Apparently moredies followed League around now, so Roy was sent to keep thempany. As such, Hikaru couldn’t talk to League about the student alliance. The young heir had an important role during the anniversary. As such it was best if he didn’t draw unnecessary attention at the moment.


    「A practice match, huh? How’s ude doing, Ivan?」


    「Like you said, ever since he learned to use a shield, he’s moved better. Right now he can win against me three out of ten.」


    「I see.」


    「By the way, I got a message from the boss yesterday. I told him there’s someone who wants to fight him and he was overjoyed. There hasn’t been anyone young to challenge him recently.」


    「Th-That’s great.」


    Damn maniac... Hikaru’s cheeks twitched.


    「.........」


    He shot a nce at ude who looked dispirited.


    「ude, do you have a minute?」


    「What’s up?」


    「I need to talk to you.」


    They moved away from Ivan and the others. The sunlight was strong as always, but the nights were chilly – a sign that the peak of summer had passed.


    「Why the long face?」Hikaru asked.


    「Can I really win the way I am right now?」


    While he knew he was improving from his training with Ivan, ude knew it wasn’t enough. His opponent was much stronger than Ivan.


    「Do you have a Soul Card?」Hikaru asked.


    「Ah, you did mention keeping it with me at all times even during training.」


    Unlike the Guild Card, Soul Cards were issued by temples. Mostly owned by nobles and wealthy people, the card itself was made with expensive metals. As such, not a lot of people carried theirs around. But Hikaru advised ude to keep his with him.


    ude took out his Soul Card.


    「Your job ss was Ordinary One-handed Sword Ritual God: Swordsman of Honor6, correct?」


    「Yeah.」


    「I want you to check if more was added.」


    「More job sses appearing is rare. It doesn’t happen that often.」


    「Just check.」


    ude reluctantly took out his Soul Card.


    「...What?」


    He froze.


    「What did you get?」


    「Huh? Ah, sorry, what?」


    「Tell me.」


    「Ah, yes. Ordinary One-handed Sword Warrior God: Sword and Shield, and one that has five characters! One-Handed Sword Technique God: Technical Swordsman5!」


    「Ahuh.」


    Hikaru finished tweaking ude’s Soul Board.


    【Soul Board】ude Zahad Kirihal


    Age: 18 Rank: 7


    9


    【Vitality】


    ..【Stamina】1


    【Magical Power】


    ..【Spirit Affinity】


    ....【Air】1


    【Physical Strength】


    ..【Strength】1


    ..【Weapon Mastery】


    ....【Sword】3


    ....【Shield】1


    【Agility】


    ..【Power Burst】1


    【Willpower】


    ..【Mental Strength】1


    ..【Charisma】1


    Hikaru put one point on both Sword and Shield. He was considering adding points to Strength and Power Burst ater time. Getting Sword to four points would be hisst resort.


    「You know that by changing job sses, your abilities change as well, right?」


    「B-But this is something from the gods...」


    「Some people change when they grow stronger. Just like me.」


    「Really? What kind of job ss do you have? Don’t tell me you have something with less than five characters?」


    Hikaru couldn’t tell him he had a two-character ss.


    「Forget about me. Try changing your job ss.」


    「O-Okay.」


    After setting it to Technical Swordsman, they headed back to the other guys.


    「What’s going on? What did you say to ude? He looked down in the dumps earlier, but now he’s looking confident.」


    「I wasn’t down in the dumps.」


    「Yeah, right. You got drunk every day andined. You even made Lukamad.」


    「I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, Ivan. You’re getting too close to Luka!」


    「What’s wrong with that? We’re members of the same alliance!」


    It looks like they’ve all been getting along while I was gone.


    Hikaru felt like he was left alone.


    「Right. You shoulde with us to Three Cheers for Booze too, Hikaru.」Ivan said.


    「Wait, you’re drinking there?」


    「It’s safe. Professor Mille’s also there.」


    「That actually worries me... Wait, I told her not to drink.」


    「She said it’s fine since you weren’t around anyway. You only allowed her to drink during the day.」


    「Eh, I guess it’s okay.」


    「You shoulde too. We’ll have some boys’ talk!」


    「.........」


    The men from Jarazack looked like they were ten years older than their actual age. It felt a bit weird calling it “boys” talk...


    I guess being invited isn’t so bad...


    There was something refreshing about talking to someone like Ivan who said whatever was on his mind.


    「I’ll think about it. Anyway, try fighting ude again.」


    「Sure. Let’s see why he looks so confident.」Ivan said, grinning.


    「I’ll have you know, I cast a powerful spell on him.」


    Hikaru smiled back.