kscans

1

“Bard-sama! What an incredible match! Not just me, but everyone was moved to the core. That knight who defeated our country’s strongest warriors, it’s as if he treated them like children.”

Once again, Doriatessa burst into the room. It seemed as though she felt no resistance entering this room. Bard wondered if this was alright. However, he didn’t feel any discomfort himself, only concern for how Doriatessa would be perceived by others. Taking this opportunity, Bard decided to ask about something that had been bothering him. After Bard had chosen his weapon, there was a strange atmosphere in the arena. He wondered why.

“Huh? W-Well, that was… Everyone was taken aback. Bard-sama swinging that massive sword effortlessly with one hand. And the way you held your shield and sword, it was on a different level. Not only did you appear much larger than your opponent, but you also seemed to overshadow him by two or three sizes. I used to despise that knight, but suddenly I felt sorry for him. I even thought it was better that our country’s knight didn’t won.”

That was quite a way of putting it. In truth, Bard had gone into the match with all his might. Fortunately, the pain in his shoulder and elbow had subsided, so he wanted to show off a bit and endure as much as he could. Hearing this, Doriatessa vehemently denied it.

“That’s not true! I’ve always thought that Bard-sama’s self-evaluation is too low. Don’t you realize that you are a hero yourself?”

Bard couldn’t help but laugh at this. A hero? Well, from Doriatessa’s perspective, Bard was indeed a hero. He had saved her from a life-or-death crisis and given her something she could never have reached on her own. But in reality, it was Jurchaga who found Doriatessa, and it was Karz’s power that repelled the knights. Even the battle against the demonic beasts, it was Karz who provided the information, and they could have won even without Bard. There was no point in denying it, as it would only make Doriatessa more upset. So Bard didn’t mention it and asked if she would be okay for tomorrow’s battle.

“Huh? Ah, of course, I haven’t neglected my training. I never thought it would turn out like this though.”

Bard found her nonchalant response strange and asked for an explanation.

“Huh? Haven’t you heard from Jurchaga? Well, actually…”

The participants from the Rapier Division of the Goriora Empire were an unusual lineup, according to Jurchaga. First, there was Magistra Geli. This person was not surprising. He was the second son of a baron, and his father had once commanded a squadron of the Royal Guards. Magistra himself had shown his swordsmanship skills early on and declared that he would make a name for himself in the martial arts. His participation in this tournament was expected.

The remaining two were the problem. First, there was General Gassara Judiel, who was still active at the age of fifty-one. He had achieved great success in the previous war and was known as the Northern Expedition General. He had already won in the fourth and sixth divisions over ten years ago.

Then there was Kirie Halifalth, the instructor of the Royal Guards. He was in charge of teaching martial arts to the skilled knights of the Royal Guards. His youthful tales of valor were countless. He was skilled in all weapons, but especially proficient in the rapier, to the point where he could be called a master among masters. He was also Doriatessa’s mentor.

Both General Gassara and Instructor Kirie were not people who would try to establish themselves or gain fame at this point in their lives. They were not the type of people who would participate in a Frontier Martial Arts Tournament. This lineup was the Emperor’s decision, and it was undoubtedly intended for Doriatessa to win the fifth division. With these three participants, there was no way they would lose to young warriors from the Parzam Kingdom. If Doriatessa faced them, she would lose, but if not, she would win. Naturally, Doriatessa would secure the victory in the fifth division.

Ah, I see, Bard thought. According to what he heard from Jurchaga, Doriatessa was a person who was receiving a great deal of attention right now. If she were easily defeated, the people would be disappointed.

“At first, I was angry and frustrated. But then I reconsidered. If that’s the case, I will win in the sixth division and shock everyone. No, not just that. In the fifth division, I will push myself to the point where I have to give it my all and seize a magnificent victory.”

“That’s going to be difficult.”

Those were Karz’s words. It had been a while since Bard heard his voice. Bard looked at Karz and thought, “Oh?” Karz, who usually had narrow, sleepy eyes, slightly widened them. His long upper and lower eyelashes made a strong impression when even slightly opened. His eyes, which were usually amber, were now closer to yellow. It was a sign of excitement. When this man truly became excited, his eyes turned golden. Bard had learned this when he made the knight’s oath by the waterfall. Jurchaga also had a similar trait where his eye color changed to bright green when he was excited. While it was common for a person’s eye color to change slightly depending on their emotions, physical condition, or environment, it was rare for it to change as noticeably as these two. Doriatessa looked surprised at first but then firmly said,

“But I will do it. I won’t waste your teachings.”

In the mountains where they defeated the demonic beasts, Doriatessa had kneeled and begged Bard, a stranger who had saved her, to guide her to victory in the Frontier Martial Arts Tournament. Bard had just entrusted the guidance Doriatessa to his newly adopted son Sword Demon, Karz Rowen. In other words, Karz would be Doriatessa’s mentor. Would this aloof man be concerned about his disciple’s battles? Doriatessa probably thought that winning the championship in the sixth division would be difficult. But Bard wondered if that was really the case.

“I almost forgot an important matter, Bard-sama. The princess was overjoyed. She never expected to receive such kind words from you, and she said it made her feel like she was floating in the heavens. She immediately sent a maid to the garden to express her gratitude to the Sun God.”

Not understanding what those kind words referred to, Bard asked. Towards the end of the meeting, Julelan had mentioned that he would send a letter when the red Soliespi flowers bloomed. Soliespi was a flower used in the women’s crest from Shernelia’s mother’s family. Shernelia also inherited that crest. The color red symbolized passionate love. In other words, Julelan’s words were equivalent to a marriage proposal. Soliespi flowers bloom in autumn, which is six months from now. It would be right after the Crown Prince ceremony. Of course, it was still unknown what the King of Parzam and the Senate would say about this engagement. However, there was no doubt that Julelan had made a significant declaration of intent.

Nevertheless, expressing gratitude to the Sun God? Even Bard, who was unfamiliar with these matters, understood this. When a noblewoman falls in love with a knight, she prays for the favor of the knight’s patron deity. She offers sacrifices and performs rituals to try to please that deity. By doing so, the deity would turn the knight’s heart towards her. Therefore, a noblewoman who has chosen a knight would first try to learn about the deity the knight worships. The deity to whom Julelan entrusted his vows was the Sun God, Kōrama. Bard suddenly became curious, thinking about the lovely princess.

“Wait a minute. How did Princess Shernelia find out about Julelan’s patron deity?”

A patron deity is not something that needs to be kept completely secret, but it is not something to be casually shared either, as it could be used for malicious purposes. It was unlikely that the King of Parzam’s subjects would go around telling people about Julelan’s patron deity. It would be extremely impolite for a noblewoman to directly ask a knight about his patron deity. In fact, such a conversation did not come up during that meeting.

So, how did Princess Shernelia find out about Julelan’s patron deity? Bard thought she was an enigmatic princess. In truth, Julelan, who had already known Shernelia’s crest, was the same, but Bard did not realize it at that time.

2

Bard went to check on Yueitan. Although the paddock was small for the wild horse, Yueitan seemed to be spending his time without much discontent. Until the Martial Arts Tournament was over, even a horse like Yueitan couldn’t leave Lordvan Castle.

Yueitan was running leisurely. Even among the splendid horses gathered here, Yueitan’s white giant body stood out. The other horses made way for Yueitan as he advanced. He had the presence of a king. Running a little behind Yueitan was Krildzuka, Doriatessa’s horse. During the time Bard and Doriatessa were together, these two horses had become quite friendly. Satora, Karz’s horse, was not on bad terms either, but he didn’t seem to want to join the group, just as much as his master.

The stable manager ran over and greeted Bard. Bard thanked him. It was clear at a glance that the horses were well-fed and well-cared for.

“Oh no, thank you very much for the fine sake. It was the first time I had such high-quality sake. And the horses are behaving so well, all thanks to Yueitan.”

Horses that knights ride on the frontlines have a wild temperament. They may even quarrel with other horses. The stable manager said it was not good for humans to interfere too much in their affairs. The order among horses should be determined by the horses themselves, and if they were forcibly restrained, they would become dissatisfied. Horses are intelligent creatures and have emotions like anger and worry. However, it would be troublesome if they were to engage in fights that could cause injuries. But this time, it seemed that no fights had occurred. There were almost fights, but Yueitan stared down the formidable horses, and the hierarchy was quickly established. Once the boss was determined, the horses wouldn’t fight. Bard thought that humans should be as straightforward as horses.

At that moment, Seifert, the Frontier Knight Order Commander of the Kingdom of Parzam, arrived. He seemed to have come to inspect the horses. Bard took the opportunity to ask about something that had been bothering him. On the sixth day, there would be a comprehensive division battle between the winners and runners-up of the second, third, fourth, and fifth divisions. From what he could see, the participants in the second to fourth divisions were wearing very sturdy and high-quality armor, but he wondered if the participants in the fifth division, the rapier division, would have a disadvantage in battle. Seifert answered,

“As far as I know, no participant from the rapier division has ever won the comprehensive division.”

Bard thought that would be the case.

In other words, Doriatessa is eagerly determined to win in both the fifth and sixth divisions, but that is a very difficult task.

3

The sky is low. It is an unusual cloudy sky for this season. Large clouds flow from east to west, high and low. Where do these clouds come from and where do they go?

The lottery is over. Doriatessa is scheduled to participate in the fourth match.

The first match is between Kirie Halifalth and Chantillion Graybuster. Kirie, who is said to be the chief martial arts instructor of the Goriora Empire, is an older warrior with short, neatly trimmed black hair and a mustache that suits him. He is dressed in black leather from head to toe, probably wearing chainmail or armor underneath. He has a sturdy frame, but his tall stature gives him a slender appearance.

On the other hand, Chantillion is a young man with golden hair and fair skin, resembling a noble prince. He wears black trousers, a collared white shirt, leather boots, a leather chest plate, and a leather band wrapped around his forehead. That’s all. There is a buzz from the Goriora Empire side. Kirie remains silent, staring at Chantillion with a stern gaze.

Both of them have chosen their weapons and are waiting for the signal bell in their positions. The chief referee gives the signal, and the bell rings. Even after the reverberation fades in the wind, neither of them moves.

Both of them maintain their posture with their swords pointed towards each other with their right hand. There is a distance of five steps between them, a distance where swinging their swords would not hit. Yet, they look as if they are within each other’s reach, staring at each other.

Kirie extends his arm slightly, pushing the tip of his sword forward. Chantillion bends his arm and moves the tip of his sword in front of his left shoulder. Chantillion moves to the right, with a circular motion that neither distances himself nor approaches. In response, Kirie also moves to the right. Both of them slowly rotate to the right.

Chantillion’s figure disappears. He made a straight thrust. The distance of five steps disappears in an instant. The sword stroke from left to right is so sharp that it cuts through the air. Kirie dodges it by leaning his upper body backward. He is able to accurately grasp such a fast sword. Moreover, it is not just an evasive movement. His right foot is pulled back while leaving his left foot in place. This is to shift his center of gravity backward, allowing him to immediately counterattack. As Chantillion’s sword passes in front of his chest, Kirie explosively activates the muscles in his right leg through recoil.

Kirie extended his arm slightly, as if thrusting his sword forward. Chantillion bent his arm and moved the tip of his sword to the front of his left shoulder. Chantillion moved to the right. He neither moved away nor approached, but moved in a circular motion. Kirie also moved to the right, following suit. Both of them rotated slowly to the right.

He intended to counterattack immediately, but he couldn’t. Chantillion’s sword, which failed to catch Kirie’s body, reverses in mid-air and cuts Kirie’s right leg. No one could have predicted that a sword swung at such speed would immediately come back. Kirie’s movement momentarily stops. Chantillion steps forward even more. Nevertheless, Kirie swings his sword from left to right, slightly thrusting, to meet Chantillion’s attack.

Chantillion, who managed to dodge the sword, presses his sword against Kirie’s right side. If he hadn’t stopped it, even with a sword that had its blade dulled, it would have caused significant damage to Kirie. Two assistant referees raise yellow flags, confirming it, and then the chief referee raises a yellow flag to announce it.

“One point! Chantillion Graybuster.”

Unlike the other divisions, this division has one-point victories determined by the referee’s judgment. The Parzam side cheers loudly. The Goriora side falls silent, frozen.

The two of them return to their positions. Standing opposite Kirie, Chantillion appears small and slender. His exposed face is delicately shaped like that of a woman. His flowing golden hair and elegant white shirt with pleats flutter in the wind. On the other hand, Kirie, the chief instructor, is a manifestation of martial prowess. It seems like fighting spirit is emanating from his entire body.

The bell ringer strikes the hammer against the tube bell hanging from his left hand.

Without hesitation, Kirie dashes forward. He swiftly unleashes vertical and horizontal slashes. Three, no, four consecutive strikes. Chantillion moves back directly behind him, evading them. From Bard’s position, it seems as if he is being hit.

In the next moment, Chantillion, who successfully evaded the attacks, counterattacks. He unleashes a four consecutive strikes. Kirie moves back and evades them with minimal movements.

Kirie demonstrates lightning-fast footwork. His speed in moving left and right is so great that for a moment, he almost loses sight of him. If he can lose sight of his movements from such a distance, it would be even more so at close range. Kirie unleashes a two consecutive strikes from left to right.

Bard thought to himself, “This is not good.” His instinct whispered that he should have boldly stepped in and bet everything on a single strike.

Chantillion, who effortlessly evaded Kirie’s determined step, instead infiltrates deeply into his opponent’s defense. He launches a three consecutive strikes from left to right. The speed is much faster than the previous four consecutive strikes. The previous attacks were not at full speed. Kirie managed to evade the first two strikes, but he failed to dodge the final slash. Chantillion’s third strike accurately hits Kirie’s chest.

Kirie jumps back, and the two of them momentarily stop and glare at each other. Kirie’s chest is deeply slashed from left to right.

The leather clothes were torn, and even from Bard’s position, it was clear that the chainmail underneath was also ripped, with the wounds reaching the flesh. To think that a sheathed sword could have such a sharp edge. Bard had been taught by his master, a wandering knight, that in battles between swordsmen of great skill, their blades rarely ever clashed. Now he understood the terrifying meaning behind those words. However, it was not easy for someone as skilled and fast as Chantillion Graybuster, with his superior height and long arms, to deeply penetrate the defenses of a seasoned warrior. Chantillion possessed the courage of a king of beasts.

Chantillion calmly held his sword in position, not moving. Was he allowing Kirie to counterattack and planning to respond in turn?

“Fuuuuuuoooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhーーーーーーー!”

Kirie exhaled forcefully and raised his sword high. He severed flesh and shattered bones. With a strike fueled not by technique but by concentrated energy, he vanquished his enemy. It was no longer a sword for mere competition; it was a sword for a life-or-death duel. A desperate and lethal blow descended upon Chantillion from directly above.

In response to Kirie’s breath, Chantillion pulled his sword to the left, poised to unleash a technique. However, he abruptly halted his movement, swiftly shifted to the left, and struck Kirie’s right arm with his sword. Although the powerful blow was thrown off course, narrowly grazing Chantillion’s right shoulder, he deftly evaded it with exquisite timing.

Kirie dropped his sword, and his right wrist bent at an impossible angle.

“It’s over! Lord Chantillion Graybuster!”

Upon hearing the decision, Kirie picked up his sword with his left hand. The two returned to their initial positions, exchanged nods, then turned to acknowledge the referee and, finally, the organizers’ seat. They withdrew to their respective forces. As Kirie walked, small droplets of blood marked his path. The medical team hurriedly approached, but Kirie declined treatment and left the arena just as he was.

Chantillion had taken two swords quite easily, but Bard felt that their abilities were not vastly different. In fact, had Kirie not suffered the initial blow to his leg, he might have outmaneuvered Chantillion with his experience. The difference between Kirie, who tried to assess his opponent, and Chantillion, who launched a full-force attack from the beginning, determined the outcome. In the silent arena, boisterous laughter resounded.

“Hahaha! Hahaha! Well, well, I’m amazed! I thought they had gathered an extraordinary group, but it seems they had something even more extraordinary in store. How exhilarating! Truly exhilarating! If I can fight against someone like that, it was worth racing all the way from the far north! Uwahahaha!”

With a booming voice that reached the opposite side of the arena, the colossal figure, reminiscent of a Giant Red Bear, roared. Could that be General Gassara Judiel of the Northern Expedition? His voice carried well. Being able to project a voice that reaches many allies amidst the chaos of battle is an essential quality for a leader. Bard thought he smelled the scent of a seasoned warrior forged in actual combat.

4

In the second match, Gassara Judiel from the Goriora Empire emerged victorious. The third match was also won by Magistra Geli, also from the Goriora Empire. Finally, it was time for the fourth match. Doriatessa’s opponent was a young man named Benna Telmo.

Today, Doriatessa wore a leather armor. However, the chest area seemed to be reinforced with metal. The helmet covered everything except the eyes and mouth, and it also appeared to have reinforcement. Unlike a full-body suit of metal armor, it revealed a distinctly feminine figure. From behind the helmet, chestnut-colored hair cascaded down smoothly.

As Doriatessa stepped forward upon being called, there was a significant commotion from the Parzam side. They seemed surprised upon learning that the combatant was a woman. Benna Telmo approached the referee and said something, but the referee shook their head.

They were selecting their weapons. There were only two choices for rapiers. They had the same length but differed in blade thickness.

The two faced each other as the bell rang. Benna swung his sword down straight from the front. It was a strike that seemed to possess considerable speed and power. Doriatessa forcefully stepped forward with her right foot and unleashed a slashing thrust from left to right. In the next instant, Doriatessa’s sword was pressed against her opponent’s neck. A murmur arose from the Parzam Kingdom side, while cheers erupted from the Goriora Empire side.

“One point! Lord Doriatessa Fafarlen.”

Two assistant referees and the head referee raised their blue flags, indicating that the first point had been scored. The bell rang again, signaling the start of the second point. Benna Telmo launched a fierce assault akin to fire. He sought to intimidate his opponent not with technique but with sheer ferocity, but such tactics only worked against weak-hearted foes. Doriatessa anticipated and evaded all of his attacks. Eventually, Benna Telmo grew tired from his relentless assault, and his movements momentarily paused. Taking advantage of the opening, Doriatessa’s sword pressed against his neck.

“It’s over! Lord Doriatessa Fafarlen.”

Cheers louder than before resounded from the Goriora Empire side. The Parzam side was in a state of agitation.

“Wow, that’s brutal,” Jurchaga remarked, so Bard asked what was so brutal.

“Well, you know. It’s just… it’s awful, isn’t it? The way they’re talking. It’s unfair to field a woman. There’s no way she can compete properly. Let’s protest and get her disqualified or something like that.”

With such distance between them, it was impossible to discern the content of the bustling chatter. Jurchaga’s ears were, so to speak, specially made. Despite being small and round ears. However, the notion that there was no way she could compete properly was laughable. Benna Telmo had just launched a full-on attack moments ago. Such lines should be said after losing, not before. An official from the Frontier Knight Order approached and said something, quieting the group.

5

In the fifth match, the winners of the first and second matches faced off. That is, Chantillion Graybuster and General Gassara Judiel of the Northern Expedition. The announcer called out in a loud voice,

“Gassara Judiel of the Goriora Empire! Chantillion Graybuster of the Parzam Kingdom! Come forth!”

The two entered the arena and chose their weapons. As they headed towards their designated positions, General Gassara signaled to his soldiers. Two knights-like figures came running towards him, carrying large shields. The chief referee said something to General Gassara, who responded with a laugh.

General Gassara had the two knights support his shield. He bent both arms.

“Fuuuuuuoooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhーーーーーーー!”

With a ferocious expression, he exhaled forcefully, filling his entire body with fighting spirit. While holding a sword in his right hand, he struck his clenched fist against the shield. Along with a tremendous roar, the shield and the knights were blown away. The knights immediately rose to their feet, hoisting their shields high. General Gassara pointed at the shields and shouted,

“Chantillion! As you can see, I’ll even use unarmed combat techniques. Be on your guard! Uwahahaha!”

Unarmed combat referred to martial arts fought without weapons. In the center of the shield, there was a large dent clearly visible even from Bard’s position. To dent such a sturdy shield required an extraordinary impact. Moreover, the sound produced when striking it was unmistakably not the sound of bare hands. The gloves were fitted with concealed metal pieces. Since gloves were considered part of armor, even wearing metal armor was permissible, so there was no underhandedness in that equipment choice. By intentionally exposing his methods, it could be seen as fair play. However, it might also be a strategy to unsettle his opponent by revealing his techniques.

Seeing that the head referee did not voice any objections, it seemed that using unarmed combat techniques did not constitute a foul.

6

The bell rang. When they faced each other at close range, the difference in their physiques became even more pronounced. The Northern Expedition General stood imposing and enormous, resembling a Giant Red Bear. He wore thick leather armor embedded with metal plates.

The slender sword he held in his right hand looked like a utensil for dining. He swung the sword. It’s slow, Bard thought. The aura of martial prowess emanating from his entire body betrayed the anticipated sharpness of his swordplay. It lacked not only speed but also the necessary sharpness.

However, due to his immense size, he could swing his sword with great range. The power behind it must be considerable. Yet Chantillion evaded effortlessly. Then, a fist came flying from the opposite direction. It possessed enough force to dent the thick metal shield, and a direct hit could be fatal. But Chantillion dodged it with grace. And then, another sword strike followed.

This repeated. Because of his massive build, the angles from which the sword flew couldn’t be predicted. Sometimes, it took a trajectory as if it came from behind. And the tricky part was his fist. It was faster than the sword. If one focused too much on the sword, they would be struck by the fist. These two types of attacks, differing in speed, relentlessly assaulted without a pause.

Chantillion adeptly continued to evade this rather troublesome combination. He hadn’t launched any counterattacks yet.

Chantillion’s attention was directed at the Northern Expedition General’s sword, left fist, and upper body. He was likely searching for an opening to penetrate through the sword and fist towards the head. In other words, Chantillion was preoccupied with the upper part. Bard realized that this was the Northern Expedition General’s intention.

The abnormal way the front tips of his boots protruded. Iron rings were probably embedded in them, most likely sharpened at the tips. If Chantillion were to attack without noticing that, he would be in grave danger.

And then, Chantillion slightly lowered his waist. He intended to launch an attack. The Northern Expedition General didn’t miss that moment when Chantillion was about to leap. With a blast of wind, he unleashed a kick from his right leg.

Bard thought, “He won’t be able to dodge this”. However, Chantillion’s youthful agility surpassed the expectations of the seasoned knight. He rotated his body mid-air, twisting to dodge the kick. In a sideways position during mid-air rotation, Chantillion’s abdomen faced the approaching sword of the Northern Expedition General. He deflected it with his own sword. Furthermore, the Northern Expedition General’s left fist surged forth. Utilizing the rotational force, Chantillion blocked the Northern Expedition General’s left elbow with his right knee, successfully evading the attack.

Then, adding a twist, Chantillion landed and immediately leaped towards the Northern Expedition General in a low posture. The Northern Expedition General aimed a right front kick at Chantillion’s head. Bard thought Chantillion’s head was smashed, but it was an optical illusion. With a slight movement, Chantillion evaded the kick. Then, he struck the Northern Expedition General’s Achilles tendon with his sword. It was not a slashing motion, but rather a crushing one. The leap had been a lure. Chantillion saw through the trap in the Northern Expedition General’s leg and shattered it.

The Knight Commander Seifert, standing near the VIP seats, watched Chantillion’s battle with a stern gaze. However, the Northern Expedition General did not lose his fighting spirit.

“Seeei-yaaaahhh!”

With a determined spirit, the Northern Expedition General swung his sword upwards diagonally. To Bard, this strike seemed filled with a sense of desperate valor. At this point, it was already clear. The Northern Expedition General had injured his right hand. Not only his right hand, but his whole body had suffered injuries, and he was probably not in a condition to participate in the martial arts competition. That’s why he fought in this way. Under normal circumstances, his swordsmanship would not be like this. He had said he rushed from the northern lands, but it seemed that a battle had erupted right before the martial arts competition, leaving him severely wounded.

Chantillion easily dodged the desperate strike from the Northern Expedition General. With his right foot unable to support him, the general evaded the strike and lost his balance. His arm was fully extended. In that moment, Chantillion struck the base of his right shoulder with his sword. A strong blow in that extended state would be a fatal blow to his right arm. It sounded like bones breaking.

It was a sharp sword technique. Too sharp.

In a battle, one must win. But winning too much is not good. If one wins too much, kills too much, and takes too much, it will leave behind great resentment. Ultimately, it will come back to haunt them. It is best to win moderately and make the opponent submit. Giving the opponent half of the victory is just right.

Did Chantillion notice that his opponent was injured? He must have. Despite knowing that, he still launched a merciless attack. Does he believe that those who cannot manage their physical condition should not participate? Does he think that once they participate, it is permissible to defeat them without mercy? That is a valid argument. Chantillion’s sword at the moment is the embodiment of that argument.

What about the Northern Expedition General? Why did he intentionally damage his shield with unarmed combat before the match? It finally became clear. After witnessing Chantillion’s fighting style, the Northern Expedition General realized that he couldn’t defeat this opponent. With his movements restricted due to his injuries, he was ill-suited to face a swordsman with overwhelming speed. That’s why he deliberately showed it. That he still had fangs left. That he was a man worthy of being defeated by this young knight overflowing with natural talent. He proudly showed his best appearance, even if it meant his defeat.

The Northern Expedition General fell to his knees. He probably didn’t have the strength to fight another match. Chantillion’s sword was pointed at his forehead.

“The match is over! Sir Chantillion Graybuster.” (Sir here is -dono, so hard to pick the correct words. -sama -dono -kyo, by the way, General Gassara is Hokusei (sei here is not the character for star, but conquest) Shogun – North Expedition General)

The chief referee also seemed to have determined that there was no need for a second match. Chantillion had emerged victorious. The knights from the Parzam side were cheering loudly. But does Chantillion realize that the knights from the Goriora side are looking at him with eyes full of hatred?

7

The sixth match is between the winners of the third and fourth matches. That is, Magistra Geli and Doriatessa Fafarlen. Based on what he had heard beforehand, Magistra intends to intentionally lose. The participants from the Goriora Empire must have realized this, so they must be feeling indifferent.

Or so he thought. There was a great commotion. What happened?

As the match began, Bard realized it. Magistra intends to win. He is serious about defeating Doriatessa.

Later, Bard learned the circumstances from Doriatessa. About a year ago, Magistra won the martial arts tournament in the imperial capital and publicly declared that he dedicated his victory to Princess Doriatessa of the Fafarlen family. The next day, Magistra visited the Fafarlen family with a carriage full of gifts. Knowing that Doriatessa was absent from the royal palace, he came to deliver the gifts to her family. It was an act equivalent to a marriage proposal. Doriatessa’s brother, Arflaburne, welcomed him warmly. He embraced Magistra, showing a smile and saying that it was reassuring to have such an excellent warrior as his future brother-in-law, and led him to their private training ground. There, he mercilessly beat him until he was half-dead and threw him out along with the gifts.

Today, Doriatessa told Magistra that if he defeated her, she would become his wife or mistress. A knight’s promise is heavy. In other words, this promise can be considered as something that will definitely be fulfilled. It may go against the Emperor’s intention to let Doriatessa win, but she herself said so. And if a low-ranking knight who is infatuated with Doriatessa wins the martial arts competition and offers his victory to her as a proposal, how about that? As a continuation of a great story that excites people, it’s not bad. It probably doesn’t deviate too much from the Emperor’s intention. Indeed, it’s a way to get fired up.

The match ended with Doriatessa winning both rounds by Magistra launching attacks, Doriatessa evading them, and finally seizing an opportunity to strike Magistra. Both victories were decided with powerful thrusts from strong advances. The force of her charge, her swiftness, and the length of her reach were deeply engraved in the minds of the spectators, leaving no room for mockery because she was a woman. Magistra may have been a modest swordsman, but Doriatessa’s mastery of both heart and technique was extraordinary. However, if she had attacked earlier, she could have won in a shorter time, but she didn’t. Doriatessa exposed herself to Magistra’s fierce attacks to sharpen herself. For the final match.

8

That moment had come.

Doriatessa and Chantillion were summoned and entered the arena. Doriatessa was clad in a brand new, beautiful leather armor. The key points of the armor seemed to be very well-made. Covered in a deep brown leather, her fair skin and crimson lips stood out even more. Her graceful movements gave off a sense of martial prowess, reminiscent of a female leopard.

Chantillion’s white shirt seemed terribly out of place. One might describe him as transcendent like a goddess, but would he be angry if they did? His appearance resembled more of a wandering poet, enjoying the breeze, rather than a warrior tensed for a life-or-death battle.

The bell rang.

Doriatessa thrust her sword diagonally forward, waiting for her opponent’s move. Chantillion kept her hands hanging loosely by her sides. The arena was silent, not a sound could be heard. The commotion from outside the arena did not reach them. The whole world was watching the two of them.

Doriatessa inched her foot forward, Chantillion remained still. Doriatessa took another slight step forward. Chantillion’s sword was pushed slightly forward.

In the breathless silence, Doriatessa inched her foot forward once more. Despite being close enough to invade each other’s airspace, Doriatessa’s sword gave no indication of an attack. She was luring her opponent. Doriatessa faithfully followed Karz Rowen’s teachings. She would patiently wait for an opening, finding her opponent’s vulnerability and striking it with certainty. Until a vulnerability appeared, she would not attack. She would simply continue to dodge her opponent’s attacks, waiting for an opening.

In other words, Doriatessa was stepping forward to be attacked. Chantillion’s sword speed and technique were extraordinary. He was a dangerous swordsman who had effortlessly defeated skilled fighters known as the best and heroes in the Goriora Empire. And yet, Doriatessa was steadily advancing towards him. It was something that could only be done by continuously pouring one’s heart and soul into every move.

Chantillion’s sword danced. The sword that should have been aimed downwards suddenly attacked Doriatessa from an upper right angle. Dodging by pulling back her left shoulder and left leg, Doriatessa avoided the sword. Without missing a beat, Chantillion took a half step forward and swung her sword from the lower left to the upper right. At this moment, Chantillion did not twist her wrist. It was a technique unique to a double-edged sword with blades on both sides of the hilt. Doriatessa evaded it by twisting her upper body. Chantillion’s sword spun around and swung down from the upper left to the lower right. Doriatessa, unable to keep up with her footwork, evaded it by twisting her body. It was a dodge that could only be done with the flexibility of her body. However, she failed to completely avoid it, and the tip of Chantillion’s sword grazed Doriatessa’s left side.

This was the exchange of attacks in a single breath. Once again, both of them returned to stillness. Chantillion’s left foot was slightly behind her right foot. As he brought his left foot closer to his right foot, in other words, as he moved her body forward, Chantillion raised his sword in front of his left shoulder. Doriatessa did not attempt to strike. The opening had not yet appeared.

Chantillion’s sword swung down from the upper left to the lower right. It was faster. A much faster attack than before. Doriatessa took a half step back, twisting her body to dodge it. Chantillion’s sword changed from a downward swing to a thrust and stabbed into Doriatessa’s chest. Or so it seemed, but Doriatessa accurately assessed the movement of her opponent’s sword and instantly moved to the right to dodge it as well.

“Chantillion, you seem surprised,” Bard thought. The distance was too far to determine his expression, but he somehow sensed it.

Indeed, Chantillion’s sword was fast. However, it was not a speed that could not be captured by eyes accustomed to Karz Rowen’s extraordinary sword speed.

Chantillion launched a series of attacks. Fast, faster, fastest. Attacks much faster than before continued. From the right, left, above, below. Doriatessa dodged them all beautifully, and then, with a strong step forward with her right foot, she delivered a strike that was close to a thrust to Chantillion’s face.

Whether it was a deliberate opening or not, Bard couldn’t tell. Either way, Chantillion parried Doriatessa’s sword with his own, and pointed his sword at Doriatessa’s neck, leaving her defenseless. Doriatessa couldn’t move. Chantillion emitted an aura of fiery fighting spirit, completely different from his cold swordplay thus far. If she moved, her head would be cut off. It was an unmistakable killing intent.

“One point! Lord Chantillion Graybuster!”

The referee made the decision. The second bell rang, and Chantillion easily claimed victory. Doriatessa had exhausted her mental and physical energy with the first point. Doriatessa had shown such high concentration. And yet, she couldn’t match Chantillion. Doriatessa silently withdrew to her own side.

But Doriatessa could be proud. She had put on a good match, better than the Royal Guard Instructor and the Northern Expedition General. It was a match worthy of the finals. This runner-up position was dedicated to Princess Shernelia. In fact, the people of Goriora were filled with pride and admiration. Doriatessa had done well. It’s just that her opponent was a monster. The Sword King, Chantillion. Bard finally understood the meaning behind Seifert’s praise of him as a one-in-a-million sword genius.

At that moment, a black shadow flickered to Bard’s right. It was Karz Rowen’s turn to take the stage.

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