The Demon King's Paladin Part 1 Vol 2.

Chapter 348. Warrick's Sparring Session

                                                                      John Ericsson's Point Of View

/CLANG!/

" Ah!"

/THUMP!/

* Stab! *

" Phew!"

" Again?"

I questioned myself as I looked at my hands. My blunted training sword went flying from them and the stabbed itself blade into the ground after being knocked out of my hands by Warrick.  Despite the shaking of my hands, I wasn't really hurt, just dealing with the aftermath of a sword strike I put a lot of strength in being parried. Warrick on the other hand seemed to be having fun.

" Hey, John... Have you been practicing with the sword?"

Warrick asked a legitimate question. Even I can tell that my movements and technique look stifled. I can thank Angel's Swordsmanship for that. I thought that it had finally settled since I didn't have any issues during the battle with the God Of The Blackwoods, but now that I think about it, I cast a lot more spells than attacking with my sword and when I did, I was just trying to kill them with any attack I could, I guess Angel's Swordsmanship's intent and mine were one in the same? Now that I'm sparring Warrick, I feel like I haven't improved at all since my last sword sparring session.

" Is it that skill of yours? Angel's Swordsmanship? You mentioned you were having issues, right?"

Of course, I told Warrick and Aqua about my issue, since I thought maybe another Job had such a weird requirement like mine, but they came back with nothing. It looks like the Paladin Job is even more unique than I originally thought. All I could do was take a deep breath to steady my breathing and then answer Warrick's question.

" Yeah, it is. When it comes to using a sword for sparring it's like I'm constantly forcing my body to do what I want instead of what it wants to do. It's kind of like trying to control waves of water. Maybe if the movement is small, I'll have more success with it, but usually it's giant impulses when ever I fight. So my attacks and defense becomes too stifled and easy to read and counter."

" John, You're sparring me with a blunt training sword, why are you trying to stop yourself from attacking me? It's not like you'll hurt me with a training sword."

" I wouldn't be so sure..."

" What? It's not like you'll be able to behead me?"

"..."

" Oh come on, John."

" it's a mild concern."

" John, you do remember that it took 3 months and all of you to be able to land a scratch on me, right?"

Warrick seemed to be in disbelief as I answered him honestly. I understand that it's a blunt sword, but the fact that Angel's Swordsmanship aims exclusively for killing strikes or crippling blows scares me. That lack of control over my own body is something I find particularly unsettling.

" John. Just give it a try. Worst comes to worst, you can heal me. Just give it a try. You won't know what'll happen until it happens. It doesn't make sense to fear it like you do."

" Warrick, I nearly hurt Sarah and Anna when we tried sparring after I unlocked the skill. It's not some-"

" You stopped before you hurt them, didn't you?"