What is a protagonist?
A protagonist, also known as a Child of Destiny, is someone favored by Destiny.
Children of Destiny reap benefits in their own way, from unexpected encounters with people to treasures and immense wealth unattainable by most.
Destiny grants them a protective shield, safeguarding them from harm before they rise as Children of Destiny.
No matter how harsh or bitter the life a Child of Destiny endures, they will ultimately make an impact on their nation, society, and even the world in the future.
Now, Charlie has reincarnated with the template of a protagonist—Karasuki Rio.
Though this world is not Rio's origin, and he is not the protagonist of this world, that does not negate his status as a protagonist from another world.
After all, even among Children of Destiny, there are distinct differences.
The worlds of Danmachi and Seirei no Gensouki share the same essence: standard fantasy isekai with RPG-like systems.
Compared to the inhabitants of the Danmachi world, whose power systems heavily rely on the Falna granted by gods and are limited to three magic slots, the people of Seirei no Gensouki face no such restrictions. They can learn as much magic and swordsmanship as their talents allow.
Charlie is blessed with the power systems of both worlds—Danmachi and Seirei no Gensouki—enabling him to reach the heights of the original Rio.
For instance, Rio trained extensively in swordsmanship at the Beltrum Kingdom Academy, developing his own style and excelling in techniques that confounded instructors older than him. He defeated the Royal Guard, Charles Arbor, something his competitive classmates couldn't achieve. By age 16, Rio was already a recognized master swordsman, impressing many with his skill.
Given this context, it's no surprise that Charlie possesses the Prodigy Swordsman skill after his Falna digitized the innate potential of his template.
This is a fusion of two destinies, two systems merged within a single soul, creating an unprecedented anomaly.
(Previously, I was too focused on becoming stronger by gathering as much Excelia as possible without exploring Rio's true potential. The best analogy for my situation is like blindly boosting a game character's stats without caring about refining techniques or other aspects.)
Charlie closed his eyes, feeling his steady breathing and rhythmic heartbeat after training in swordsmanship until noon. Suddenly, amidst the silence, an epiphany struck like a bolt of lightning.
The word "Prodigy" in his Prodigy Swordsman skill wasn't mere decoration; it began to reveal its brilliance to him.
In his mind, he saw himself wielding a sword—not just as Charlie, but as Rio. He could feel every muscle fiber stretching, every pressure point in his palm, every gust of wind created by his blade.
He didn't just see swordsmanship; he felt its essence.
The Prodigy Swordsman skill, which he initially thought was merely the ability to mimic and master techniques quickly, now revealed itself to be far more profound.
Charlie began to understand that true swordsmanship wasn't solely about strength or speed. It was about efficiency, about becoming one with the sword until there was no separation between intent and action.
He started to see how every movement, no matter how small, could be optimized.
A simple slash could cut through the air in a way that minimized resistance, producing extraordinary speed and power.
A basic parry could perfectly redirect an opponent's attack momentum, turning their strength into their own weakness.
In his mind, Charlie reanalyzed every fight he'd ever been in, every movement he'd made. He saw mistakes he hadn't noticed before—extraneous motions, inefficient swings, and fleeting openings.
With this new understanding, he could reconstruct his movements, eliminating every flaw and creating a more perfect version.
He saw the invisible threads connecting all sword styles, from the most aggressive to the most defensive.
He no longer merely imitated; he understood the foundation behind every style, enabling him to create his own unique style, a fusion of the best elements.
(Mind's Eye…)
A name surfaced in Charlie's mind, as if it had always been there, waiting to be discovered.
What is called Mind's Eye is, at its core, a state that reaches different endpoints in the hands of different beings.
An enlightened monk could master Mind's Eye to achieve spiritual awakening.
The highest saint could master Mind's Eye to see and feel divine truth.
A powerful martial god could master Mind's Eye to perceive every flaw and weakness in an opponent.
Unbeknownst to him, Charlie had awakened the power of Mind's Eye for a swordsman. With it, he could comprehend and master all sword techniques—not just physically, but their essence, their soul.
He could see and feel the flow of power in every swing, identifying the beauty and flaws of each sword movement.
(This is an unexpected advantage! Awakening Mind's Eye has elevated my swordsmanship to a higher realm!)
Reflecting on his rapid progress, Charlie couldn't help but smile faintly.
His face, previously tense, now relaxed, and his eyes gleamed with unshakable confidence.
"Let's test how strong my swordsmanship has become after awakening Mind's Eye!"
His hands itched to push the limits of his newfound power. With burning intent, Charlie raised his wooden sword and began executing a series of refined sword techniques he had perfected in his mind.
*BZZZZTTT!*
At that moment, it wasn't just the sound of the sword slicing through the air. An awe-inspiring, indescribable sword aura radiated from him, like an invisible shockwave of energy that could be felt.
In an instant, Charlie stood like an unseen pillar piercing the sky, as if he were the center of a storm of power.
"…!?"
On the terrace, Astraea, still watching alongside Est and Aishia, widened her eyes in shock.
The teacup in her hand trembled, nearly slipping from her grasp.
The aura emanating from Charlie was so pure and terrifying that even she, a goddess, felt a slight tremor of awe.
Even the Divine Beasts that usually lounged lazily around the Citadel—White Tiger, Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermillion Bird, and Qilin—suddenly grew restless. Their fur stood on end, their eyes widened, and they let out strange sounds.
A sword aura so pure and fearsome had emerged, causing even Divine Beast-level spirits to tremble in fear.
Fortunately, Empyrean Citadel was enveloped in multiple layers of magical barriers Charlie had set up beforehand.
Without those barriers, the emergence of such a powerful and striking sword aura would have been felt by many in Orario, triggering panic and countless questions.