[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-idle-tycoon-system":3,"chapter-idle-tycoon-system-idle-tycoon-system-chapter-33":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Idle Tycoon System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1828029,2431,"Chapter 33: Level 2 Swordsmanship Skill","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-33",33,"\u003Cp>In the familiar training courtyard, Noah gripped his wooden sword with some confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weapon felt lighter now, more natural in his hands than during his first clumsy attempts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\" Valeria crossed her arms, studying his stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Show me whether you've been practicing or just slacking around.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah nodded, flowing through the basic forms she'd drilled into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High strike. Middle strike. Low strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His movements still lacked the grace of a swordsman, but they were much better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least I'm not embarrassing myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although you haven't improved much, you didn't get worse either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria's assessment stung with its honesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She's not wrong. I haven't practiced at all since my last visit here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's pick up where we left off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the sidelines, Finn sat with his usual notebook, quill scratching furiously across parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man's eyes burned with desperation. He was just a man trying to learn swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poor guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah caught Finn's gaze briefly. Something about the young man's hunger for knowledge resonated deeper than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Kip and Alissa watched from their corner with undisguised fascination. Their eyes tracked every movement, studying Noah like he was performing miracles instead of stumbling through basic drills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They think I'm awesome. If only they knew how often I nearly drop this thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty minutes into the session, sweat beaded on Noah's forehead despite the cool breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His muscles screamed once again as Valeria pushed him through different combinations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glance toward his employees made guilt twist in his stomach. Alissa stood watching him, she was very interested, her tail swinging around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She's just recovered from illness. Standing here watching me flail around can't be interesting. Besides, I brought them here, I can't just leave them doing nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah lowered his sword, wiping forehead sweat with his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alissa, do you want to join me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She jumped slightly from the sudden call, before shaking her head immediately. \"I-I'm fine watching, Sir Noah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you still not feeling well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another shake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should train hard. I'm just a servant—I can't interrupt your practice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, I've never touched a sword before. I'll just slow you down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come join him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria's unexpected interjection made Noah smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm bored watching him do the same strikes anyways. I'll teach you for a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah seized the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You heard her. This is once in a lifetime—Valeria's an Adept swordmaster. Very few reach that stage in all of Esta.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kip nudged his sister's shoulder. \"Go try it, Alissa!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctant but somewhat excited she finally nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria retrieved a second practice sword from the weapon rack, testing its balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Basic stance first. Feet shoulder-width apart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alissa mimicked the position perfectly on her first attempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That too me a few tries to get right.' Noah thought, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes as he continued with his training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The grip on the sword should be firm but not rigid. Let the weapon become an extension of your arm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mhm,\" Alissa nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, flawless execution. Her tail swayed with natural balance as she adjusted her posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Okay, that's actually impressive.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, basic strike pattern. Watch me once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria demonstrated a simple diagonal cut, her blade moving with grace. Alissa observed intently, her silver ears twitched in concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she replicated the movement, something extraordinary happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden sword flowed through the air like it belonged there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her form wasn't just correct, it was elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Natural. As if she'd been born holding a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What the hell? How did she do it so quickly? I don't even think i can perform it that well, at my current level.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria's eyebrows climbed toward her hairline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another perfect strike. Then another. Each repetition carried improving fluidity, subtle refinements that spoke of intuitive understanding and natural talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah had long since stopped training, and just looked at Alissa blazing through the routine that took his hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try the basic combination. High, middle, low.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alissa nodded, her eyes focused with laser intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her first attempt was clean. Her second was smooth. By her third, Noah's mouth was hung open, just like Finn's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spent hours reaching basic competency. She's getting there in minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finn's quill had stopped moving entirely. His mouth hung open as he watched talent bloom before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kip bounced on his toes, pride radiating from every whisker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's my sister!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes. That's all it took.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten minutes for Alissa to demonstrate sword work that surpassed Noah's current skill level—skills he'd earned through repetition, sweat, and determination for close to three hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Natural talent. Actual, genuine, terrifying natural talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria lowered her own blade, studying Alissa with new eyes. \"Have you ever handled weapons before? Any kind of combat training?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Never.\" Alissa's response carried confusion at her own success. \"I was always assigned household duties.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course she was. Waste of potential doesn't begin to cover it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well,\" Valeria's grin turned predatory, \"that changes today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training session suddenly felt less like practice and more like witnessing the birth of something dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I thought my learning curve was impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inspired by the cat girl's supernatural progress, Noah gritted his teeth and threw himself back into training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she can learn that fast, I can at least improve and hopefully increase my skill's level to 2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden sword became an extension of his determination. Each strike carried his competitive spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat dripped steadily as the hour stretched on, his muscles screaming protests he chose to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alissa continued her own practice nearby, her movements flowing like water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should have been encouraging felt like salt in an open wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She's making me look like a child playing with sticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But stubbornness had always been Noah's strongest attribute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed harder, refined his techniques, forced his body to remember every correction Valeria had beaten into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system's chime came as a needed intervention, before his body gave out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your Swordsmanship skill has levelled up to level 2!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relief flooded through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The satisfaction lasted exactly three seconds—until he glanced at Alissa executing a complex combination that hurt his hands, just thinking about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mood soured like milk in summer heat. He was happy for the cat-girl's success, yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the competitive fire in his chest burned with wounded pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>System. Can I ever get better than her? Her talent is terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Her talent is indeed exceptional. Regarding your question—yes. You can surpass her, but you would need products that enhance swordsmanship training. Comprehension boosters, talent amplifiers, that sort of thing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah's eyes lit up like a child discovering hidden candy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are such things?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Of course, host. There are far better items available. But you need to work hard and upgrade the shop.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More products. More possibilities. More power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The future suddenly seemed brighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Valeria's voice shattered his system-induced trance. He looked up to find the guild captain studying Alissa with undisguised interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alissa,\" she continued, never taking her eyes off the cat girl's perfect form, \"would you like to be my disciple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words hung in the air like a blade threatening to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time seemed to freeze. Finn's quill stopped scratching. Kip's excited bouncing ceased. Even the training dummy appeared to lean forward waiting for the cat-girl's response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A disciple. Of an Adept swordmaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noah's heart hammered against his ribs. Valeria didn't make such offers lightly, he could tell from her personality. Disciples received personal training, advanced techniques, connections that could reshape their entire lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alissa's amber eyes went wide, the practice sword trembling in her suddenly uncertain grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard held its breath, waiting for an answer that would rewrite the future.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​\u003C\u002Fp>",1275,"2026-06-09T06:05:14.055Z",1,"novelbin.me","ccdf3da262dba7793b9a35a71f0fb7dc6906fc613af45daa4851c642747ae66f","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-34","idle-tycoon-system-chapter-32",438,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fidle-tycoon-system-cover.jpg"]