kscans

1

The lottery was conducted. Since it was completely random, it was possible for participants from the same country or the same department to face each other. Unfortunately, Doriatessa was scheduled for the second match, while Chantillion was set for the fourth match. In other words, the two of them wouldn’t face each other until the finals.

In the sixth department, which was the comprehensive departmental battle, simply surpassing the opponent in skill wouldn’t result in a victory according to the judges. It had to be deemed as a blow that could defeat the opponent, otherwise it wouldn’t be considered a decisive strike. Therefore, practically speaking, it was almost a prerequisite to knock down the opponent. Conversely, as long as one could withstand the attacks, they wouldn’t lose. Naturally, everyone would be wearing metal armor. It was impossible to inflict damage on a knight wearing metal armor, especially heavy armor, with a rapier. In other words, it could be said that it was nearly impossible for participants from the rapier department to advance.

It was probably an unusual sight to have one knight from each country not wearing metal armor among the participants. Chantillion and Doriatessa were those knights. Chantillion was dressed in the same light attire as yesterday. Black pants, a collared white shirt, leather boots, a leather chest plate, and a leather band wrapped around the forehead. If it weren’t for the overwhelming swordsmanship he displayed yesterday, it would be seen as an insult to the martial arts competition.

Doriatessa, on the other hand, was slightly different from yesterday. What was different was that she had nothing covering her head. Moreover, she had cut her previously long chestnut hair short. Both sides were surprised by Doriatessa’s appearance. And she was wearing metal shoulder guards. While her chest and below were covered in leather armor, her shoulders were adorned with familiar silver armor.

In the first match, a knight wielding a double-handed axe, who was the runner-up in the third department, faced off against a knight wielding a one-handed sword, who was the runner-up in the fourth department. The knight using the one-handed sword skillfully manipulated his shield and emerged victorious. He effectively utilized the difference in attack range between the sword and the axe.

And now, it was Doriatessa’s turn in the second match.

2

Her opponent was a knight who had won the second department and wielded a double-handed sword. Knights who used heavy and powerful weapons would also receive heavy and powerful attacks. Therefore, they wore sturdy armor. Sturdy armor securely fastened the joints with hinges and clasps; otherwise, the strain on the body would be too great. Naturally, their movements were restricted compared to those wearing light armor. However, the impact of their strikes was tremendous.

The knight from Goriora, though not wearing a helmet, was covered in armor that looked incredibly sturdy. He struck his sword with a terrifying sound. It seemed that the instruction to allow Doriatessa to achieve good results had not been given to participants from departments other than the rapier department. It was understandable. If participants from departments other than the rapier department were to intentionally lose to Doriatessa, who used a rapier, it would be seen as deliberate.

Doriatessa evaded the sword that came rushing towards her with swift steps, moving further and further back. It was a graceful step. She lured her opponent by moving diagonally or rotating while retreating.

It reminded Bard of the chase and play between Jurchaga and Karz by the riverside some time ago.

That’s what Bard thought. No matter how large and powerful a knight was, if they continued swinging a heavy sword while wearing heavy armor, they would eventually tire. No matter how durable and resilient the knights fighting on the front lines are, there are moments of exhaustion after a continuous onslaught. Not missing the slightest waver in her opponent’s step during one of these moments, Doriatessa boldly leaped in and struck the right knee from behind as she dashed past. The knight wielding the great sword lost his balance greatly. Doriatessa swiftly turned around and kicked the opponent’s right leg from behind, causing him to fall. Unable to withstand the attack, the knight tumbled down. Holding the great sword with only his left hand, he sat on the ground with his right hand touching the floor. As he tried to gather his strength and stand up, Doriatessa’s sword was pressed against his throat.

“One point! Doriatessa Fafarlen.”

If it weren’t for the open face helmet, the judgment might have been different. Cheers erupted. The Parzam side was cheering enthusiastically. Perhaps because they were both participants from Goriora, they were simply enjoying the spectacle. It’s no wonder they felt the urge to cheer when a lightly armored female knight triumphed over a heavily armed giant.

In the second match, the knight with the great sword charged as soon as the bell rang. He must have intended to catch Doriatessa before she could escape. However, Doriatessa’s movements were beyond the expectations of the knight with the great sword. She suddenly leaped, evading the great sword and delivering a skilled thrust-like slash to the opponent’s face. The knight with the great sword, fueled by Doriatessa’s fierce attack, added to his own momentum. The sword struck the center of his forehead. Unable to bear it any longer, the knight with the great sword fainted. The chief referee declared Doriatessa’s victory and had the knight with the great sword carried out by the staff for treatment outside the arena.

It was a major upset. Moreover, it was a victory achieved by striking a blow to the opponent’s face and completely knocking him unconscious. It takes considerable courage to drive a sword into a person’s face. With this magnificent display of skill, the knights from both countries lining the arena must have recognized this woman as a warrior.

Bard was amazed. The Great Barrier is said to have been created overnight. It’s just a legend, but it also has another meaning. It means that a person can show remarkable growth in just one night. The Doriatessa of yesterday and the Doriatessa who showed a splendid fighting style now can be considered different people. It’s unclear what happened, but one thing is certain: she didn’t waste this night.

“I’m surprised. With this technique and spirit, there might be a one in a million chance of winning. And she even showed the composure to conserve her stamina.”

As the commotion continued, the announcement for the next match was made. The knight from Goriora who had placed third in the fourth division stepped forward from the north. The champion had been injured and unable to participate after being defeated by Bard, so a third-place match was held. The knight from Parzam who had been the runner-up in the second division stepped forward from the south. In this match, the knight from Goriora equipped with a one-handed sword and shield emerged victorious. The standard equipment of a one-handed sword and shield proved to be reliable. Perhaps the knight from Parzam had some kind of injury, as his movements lacked brilliance.

The fourth match was between Chantillion and the knight from Parzam who wielded a giant club. The moment the knight’s entire weight was on his left leg, Chantillion struck it from the side. It seemed that the blow landed directly on the joint of the armor, causing the knight to fall over. His left leg seemed to be broken or unable to move. Without being able to stand on both legs, it was impossible to swing the giant club. Nevertheless, the knight forcibly lifted the club, and Chantillion struck his right elbow. When the elbow bent, there was a slight opening in the armor, which Chantillion skillfully exploited. The knight dropped the club.

The knight reached out his left hand to grab Chantillion. Chantillion struck his index finger. No matter how much gauntlets were worn, it was unbearable. Was his finger broken? At this point, the knight declared surrender, and the match was over.

“It’s brutal. The technique is beautiful, but the match is not beautiful.”

Bard thought so. At that moment, Chantillion looked at Bard. No, that’s not it. He was looking at Karz, who was standing diagonally behind Bard.

Ah, I see, Bard realized. Chantillion was confused about how to take yesterday’s match. It was a victory that was almost a defeat, or rather, a victory that was more frustrating and unfair than a defeat. In other words, Chantillion was irritated. That unrest in his heart would slightly increase Doriatessa’s chances of winning.

3

Four matches had been completed so far. The winners and runners-up from the second division to the fifth division, a total of eight people, competed in martial arts. At this point, everyone had fought once. The four winners would compete, and the last two remaining would compete for the championship.

The bell for the fifth match rang. It was Doriatessa against the runner-up of the fourth division. When facing each other like this, it didn’t seem like there was any chance of winning. The knight armed with a shield, sword, and armor seemed to have a clear advantage over the rapier. Unless it was a magical sword like Sharli Ururu the “Night Maiden,” a normal rapier would break just by striking a thick shield. If it received a heavy and sturdy sword, it would also break. In other words, it couldn’t attack or defend properly.

Originally, the rapier was also called a dueling sword, a weapon for nobles in personal combat. It was not meant to be used against metal armor or shields. Knights were instruments of war, and the armor and weapons required were not delicacy but sturdiness and power that could handle a hundred opponents.

However, there was no sense of desperation in Doriatessa. With a calm face, she let her sword hang loosely and waited for the opponent’s move. The knight in metal armor took a step forward, making the sound of armor. Doriatessa moved the same distance backward. The knight took another step forward. Doriatessa moved further back. This chase continued for a while. Doriatessa evaded in a curvilinear manner, skillfully maneuvering her opponent.

That’s right.

This is not a battlefield. In a battlefield, knights ride on horses and are accompanied by squires and foot soldiers. There is no escaping in such a situation. But here, it’s just the knight and Doriatessa alone, and they can run as much as they want. Doriatessa’s weapon is her stamina, which is required for movement. Wearing that heavy armor, carrying a shield and a sword, and chasing after a nimble opponent, all of that takes a toll on them. Moreover, in the second match, Doriatessa’s opponent must have remembered what happened to them, as he is wearing a helmet that completely covers his face. It must be suffocating. Doriatessa dragged her opponent around for a long time. Finally, the armored knight’s feet stopped. He must have realized the foolishness of continuing to chase after the agile Doriatessa.

Doriatessa circled around her opponent from the right. The armored knight rotated his body to match Doriatessa’s movements. Doriatessa swiftly struck her opponent’s head. A dull metallic sound echoed.

Doriatessa continued to circle around and struck her opponent’s head again. The sound echoed once more. When she repeated the same action again, the armored knight stopped rotating. Seizing this opportunity, Doriatessa approached from behind and delivered consecutive attacks to her opponent’s head.

“Well done. It’s a simple move, but that’s why it’s effective,” Bard admired. The armored knight ran around in their heavy armor until they were out of breath. He stopped chasing after Doriatessa. Then, his helmet was attacked. It was difficult to defend with a shield while moving left and right. Besides, there was no need to block a single strike from a rapier with a shield.

But that was a trap. Even without it, spinning around when out of breath would make one dizzy. The enclosed helmet was already suffocating even without any movement. The good weather also favored Doriatessa. Inside the armor, it must be terribly hot due to sweat and steam. And that type of helmet resonated loudly when struck by a sword. If repeatedly attacked in quick succession, it would cause headaches and dull one’s thinking. The armored knight was probably feeling quite dizzy now. Of course, being a trained knight, he would quickly recover. If he had the necessary time.

Doriatessa didn’t give him that time. Thanks to her compact size, she struck the back of the armored knight’s right knee. Despite cutting through the heavy metal armor with a rapier, it seemed to have delivered a strong impact. Perhaps she accurately hit a joint. Hitting that spot would send a shock to the knee. However, even for a seasoned knight, it was difficult to accurately aim at the joints of a moving opponent’s armor. Doriatessa’s composure and lack of hesitation today were truly remarkable.

Unable to withstand it any longer, the armored knight fell backward. Doriatessa struck the hand holding the fallen knight’s sword. The armored knight dropped their sword.

“One point! Lord Doriatessa Fafarlen.”

The rule that falling meant defeat was in place because if a knight in armor fell on the battlefield, they would immediately be surrounded and neutralized by enemy foot soldiers. If they were also knocked down and had their weapon taken away, they would be as good as dead on the battlefield.

The armored knight sat up, removed his gauntlets, and took off his helmet with both hands. He threw away the bothersome headgear in the direction of his own side and took several deep breaths to regulate his breathing. It was an action that could be seen as buying time and not something to be praised, but Doriatessa silently watched. The referee informed the armored knight of something. Nodding as if understanding, the armored knight put on his gauntlets, stood up, and held his shield and sword. He was a handsome man with a strong face.

The two returned to their designated positions, and the second bell rang. The armored knight tried to quickly move forward. He seemed cautious in his movements, perhaps remembering Doriatessa’s attacks in the second match. However, he still couldn’t respond to Doriatessa’s attacks. Doriatessa closed the distance in one go, forcefully stepped forward, and struck her opponent’s forehead head-on. Her speed was like lightning, leaving no time for the opponent to raise his shield or deflect with his sword.

Since he had discarded his helmet, there was nothing to protect his forehead. Even though it was a blunted sword, the blow would have dealt a significant amount of damage. But knights are monsters of war who trample enemy soldiers even after suffering fatal injuries. The armored knight raised his sword and was about to bring it down on Doriatessa’s head with enough force to crush it. And then, he stopped his movement.

Doriatessa’s sword was pressed against her opponent’s throat. Her gaze, staring into the eyes of the knight who was a head taller, seemed to say that if he moved, she would definitely pierce his throat, filled with the determination of a raging fire. After a long stare-down, the armored knight dropped his sword, raised both hands, and showed his intention to surrender.

4

The voice of the judge resounded. Doriatessa had secured her place in the finals.

After the shocking upset where the participant in the rapier division defeated the participant equipped with a one-handed sword, shield, and armor, the sixth match was held with the exact same pairing. Chantillion quickly ended the match. First, he struck his opponent’s left ankle. As a result, his opponent’s left leg movement became impaired. Next, he struck his opponent’s right ankle. As a result, his opponent’s right leg movement became impaired. Finally, he launched a relentless series of attacks, causing his opponent to fall and scoring a point. Since his opponent couldn’t get up, the match ended there.

“Hmm. Striking with a rapier on top of armor shouldn’t have such an effect. Is that some kind of technique?”

In any case, it was clear that Chantillion had many tricks up his sleeve. Now, the final match between Chantillion and Doriatessa in the rapier division was about to take place. It must be said that Doriatessa’s chances of winning were slim.

5

“Goriora Empire, Lord Doriatessa Fafarlen! Parzam Kingdom, Lord Chantillion Graybuster!”

Their names were announced loudly as the two stepped into the arena. It was unusual for swordsmen to fight each other in the final round of the comprehensive battle.

When facing such a situation, one’s fighting spirit would naturally be ignited, causing their mind and body to become heightened. However, the demeanor of these two individuals was surprisingly calm. This, too, was abnormal.

Although Doriatessa was taller for a woman, Chantillion was slightly taller when they stood side by side. They both chose swords of the same length. Chantillion seemed to have a slightly longer reach. This slight difference in stride and arm length held great significance in a duel between rapier users.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew. It was a north wind blowing from the south. Doriatessa’s chestnut-colored hair fluttered in the wind, while Chantillion’s white shirt flapped. The bell rang.

Chantillion raised his sword smoothly and aimed it gently towards Doriatessa. Doriatessa, on the other hand, kept her sword lowered. Her gaze did not meet Chantillion’s eyes. Instead, she seemed to be focusing on his lower body, trying to capture his entire body in a gentle manner.

A particularly strong gust of wind blew. Chantillion swiftly closed the distance and swung his sword diagonally from left to right. Doriatessa lowered her body to dodge the attack. If she hadn’t, her head would have been severed by the strike.

A chill ran down Bard’s spine. This man was truly intent on killing. Moreover, he was aiming directly for a woman’s face.

Chantillion swung his sword downward from above. Doriatessa dodged to the right, but it was not a simple dodge. She dodged while closing the distance by half a step. Now, Doriatessa was diagonally in front of Chantillion’s left side. The distance between them was just half a step. While Chantillion stared at her intensely, Doriatessa’s presence seemed vague. It was unclear from Bard’s position, but it appeared that she was not looking directly into her opponent’s eyes.

Chantillion’s sword grazed Doriatessa’s left ankle. It was a low and fast strike, but Doriatessa quickly moved back to avoid it.

Taking a breath, Chantillion increased the speed of his sword and launched a series of consecutive attacks. The first strike was a sweep, followed by a thrust. He likely intended to finish with another sweeping strike on the third attack. Doriatessa twisted her body to dodge the first strike and swung her sword in front of her shoulder just before the second strike arrived. For a moment, it looked like a shield. Chantillion stopped his attack and took a half step back.

Doriatessa stood in a relaxed posture. Her right elbow naturally bent, and the tip of her raised sword was at chest height.

Chantillion took three breaths to adjust his breathing and then took a deep breath before launching his next attack. Fast, fast, fast. Chantillion’s sword changed from a thrust to a sweep and then reversed, relentlessly attacking Doriatessa. Doriatessa evaded, evaded, and evaded, as if possessed by Jurchaga, continuously dodging under the white blades. At the end of the series of attacks, Chantillion’s sword approached her chest with a thrust, but Doriatessa deflected it with her own sword.

Just as Chantillion took a step back to catch his breath, Doriatessa, with lightning speed, stepped forward forcefully and unleashed a slashing strike towards Chantillion’s face. It appeared that Doriatessa’s sword had sliced through Chantillion’s head. However, it was an illusion, as Chantillion narrowly avoided it and counterattacked by slashing at Doriatessa’s face. Doriatessa twisted her body to dodge, but the strike hit her right shoulder. Despite wearing a metal armor plate, Doriatessa was struck by a powerful impact and fell to the ground. Chantillion quickly approached and pointed his sword at Doriatessa’s throat.

“One point! Lord Chantillion Graybuster!”

Without hesitation, the referee’s decision was made. Doriatessa remained on the ground, clutching her right shoulder, unable to get up for a while. It seemed that Chantillion indeed possessed a technique that could cause damage to the person inside the metal armor.The presiding referee approached Doriatessa and began speaking to her. Doriatessa lifted her head, shook it, and stood up. The bell rang, signaling the start of the second round.

The two of them faced each other with their swords, refusing to make a move. The wind grew stronger once again, kicking up dust. Yet, neither of them budged.

Doriatessa had always adopted a defensive strategy. The question was Chantillion. Why was someone who had shown such aggressive attacks now hesitating to make a move?

The answer became clear immediately. A trickle of blood ran down Chantillion’s forehead. It was evident that he hadn’t completely avoided Doriatessa’s previous strike.

Anticipation is a prediction based on intuition. As one becomes more experienced, they can clearly see the trajectory and timing of their opponent’s sword. Chantillion had fought Doriatessa yesterday. He should have memorized her sword speed, footwork, and striking habits. He should have observed the trajectory and power of her thrust-like strikes that came from a strong step forward. He likely also watched the second and fifth matches today. Those memories should have influenced his actions, making Chantillion’s anticipation more accurate.

However, Chantillion’s anticipation had betrayed him. On the contrary, Doriatessa’s sword surpassed her previous self. It must have appeared to Chantillion as if her sword had extended and suddenly accelerated. Humans in the midst of growth can sometimes perform such miracles. Doriatessa’s growth had disrupted Chantillion’s anticipation.

Due to the injury causing bleeding from the head, Chantillion’s vision might still be blurry. The headache might be affecting his judgment. At this moment, it could be said that Doriatessa was cornering Chantillion. Her victory seemed within reach.

Doriatessa began circling to the right. She ran with incredible speed. Chantillion adjusted his position accordingly.

Round and round Doriatessa circled around Chantillion. Then, with a powerful step forward, she delivered a thrust-like slash to Chantillion’s face. As Doriatessa entered her attacking stance, Chantillion pulled his sword to the left.

Here it comes! Chantillion’s secret move.

Chantillion launched his first strike in response to Doriatessa’s slash. Despite adding acceleration to his charge, Chantillion’s sword was faster than Doriatessa’s. Doriatessa, in her attacking posture, couldn’t dodge Chantillion’s sword. However, Chantillion’s sword was intercepted by Doriatessa’s sword. The slash she had shown was a feint, and she had intended to defend from the beginning.

Chantillion immediately pulled back his sword and delivered it again in the exact same trajectory, but with a half-step forward. Doriatessa lowered her head and evaded the second strike. It was a move that could only be executed if she had planned it from the beginning. Now, the tip of Doriatessa’s sword was right in front of Chantillion’s chest. However, this also meant that Doriatessa was within Chantillion’s striking range. In that position, she couldn’t possibly dodge the third strike, which was approaching at a terrifying speed.

Indeed, the third strike hit Doriatessa. She didn’t try to evade the slash. Instead, she twisted her upper body to the right, lowered her shoulder, and met the incoming blade head-on. Chantillion’s blade struck Doriatessa’s shoulder guard, emitting a sharp metallic sound as it was absorbed into the base of her neck.

Bard felt as if a demon had grabbed his heart. From Bard’s perspective, Doriatessa was on the right, and Chantillion was on the left. The tip of the sword that had struck Doriatessa’s right neck was in a blind spot, completely invisible.

Bard thought that Doriatessa’s head was about to be severed. But it didn’t happen. The clash of metal informed him of what had occurred. It was the neck guard. Doriatessa’s shoulder guard had a neck guard attached to it. Doriatessa had drawn Chantillion’s sword towards her neck and intercepted it with the neck guard.By daringly stepping forward and taking the opponent’s sword, Doriatessa’s sword had almost reached Chantillion’s chest. However, because she had stepped too far with her right foot, it seemed that she would have to withdraw her sword and foot once in order to launch a powerful attack. However, Doriatessa rotated her hips in her current position and thrust her sword forward.

That move! The move that Karz showed yesterday, Doriatessa perfectly reproduced it. The sword pierced deeply through Chantillion’s leather chest plate.

Both of them stopped moving. The arena was enveloped in silence.

6
Chantillion looked at the sword that had pierced his chest with eyes filled with disbelief. The madness of battle had already left him. What would have happened if this sword had not been blunted? It goes without saying. The sword would have pierced through his organs, causing him to lose his life. Chantillion should clearly understand that he has been defeated.

He should not have had any intention of letting the enemy’s sword touch his body. In case the sword did reach him, he wore a high-quality chest plate to protect his weak points. However, the crushed sword pierced through the leather chest plate and reached Chantillion’s body. It must be a shock as if the world had turned upside down.

Chantillion raised his head and looked at Doriatessa. Doriatessa was staring intently at her opponent. Bard thought her profile was beautiful. There was no trace of servility, hatred, or rage. There was only the face of someone who was trying to wield their best technique. With flushed cheeks and rough breaths, her face was filled with the joy of giving her all.

The chief referee spoke to Chantillion. Chantillion nodded. The medical team was called, and the sword that had pierced Chantillion was carefully removed. Chantillion, without showing any signs of pain, continued to gaze at Doriatessa as if in a daze. After Chantillion was carried away on a stretcher, the chief referee’s declaration resounded.

“The match is over! Doriatessa Fafarlen-sama is the winner.”

Cheers erupted from the Goriora side, soon turning into a thunderous applause. Doriatessa Fafarlen had achieved the remarkable feat of winning the overall division with a rapier. It was an unprecedented great achievement that should be passed down in the history of the martial arts competition. Doriatessa knelt down and offered a prayer of gratitude. To the gods, and to someone else.

After finishing the ceremony, Doriatessa began to walk towards her own side, and her eagerly awaited friends climbed over the stone wall to greet her. They patted her shoulders, surrounded her, and cheered for the goddess who had brought the honor of winning the overall division to their country.

“Be proud, be proud. Be proud to the fullest.”

In truth, Bard himself felt a sense of pride. It was as if his own daughter had achieved a great accomplishment. However, when Bard looked at the gathering of the Parzam side, he felt as if he had been drenched in water.

The knights of Parzam were silent. High-ranking nobles must be the role models for the knights. The same goes for knights in high positions. Chantillion comes from one of the most prestigious families in the country. At the same time, he holds the position of captain of the royal guard, a position that should possess special martial prowess. The fact that this man was surpassed by a woman from another country is a disgrace to all the knights of Parzam, they must feel. It’s still fine as long as they remain silent. But if what follows this silence is not a sincere congratulation, what will happen?