Chapter 731 : Deck Sparring Match

Chapter 0731 Deck Sparring Match

Translator: ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Jay_Forestieri

Editor: ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tseirp

Having ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍returned the pirates to the sea, the crew of the Skidbladnir continued on their journey.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍carefully reviewing the information they had obtained, Abel reached a decision.

“This ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍time, we won’t head for the Kingdom of Nozoo. We’ll make for the Western Countries instead.”

Someday, it was possible that diplomatic relations would be established between their country and the Kingdom of Nozoo.

But this time...

“I agree it would be unwise to sail into waters we’ve never traversed before with Your Majesty aboard.”

Captain Paulina had said so without hesitation.

Hearing those words, Scotty, commander of the Royal Knights, gave a deep, emphatic nod in agreement.

With such firm opposition, Abel chose not to force the issue.

As originally planned, the Skidbladnir set a direct course for the Western Countries.

Everyone aboard the Skidbladnir devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their duties.

The crew worked diligently to ensure the ship’s safe passage.

The Kingdom Knights devoted themselves to rigorous training so they would be ready to protect their lord whenever the need arose.

Their responsibilities differed, but many of them wore bright, energetic expressions.

Among them, however, was one knight with a troubled look on his face.

After agonizing over something for quite some time, the knight finally descended into the cargo hold.

A little while later, he returned to the deck carrying two objects in his hands.

“Duke Rondo, I ask that you grant me a sparring match and your instruction!”

“Huh?”

Knight Zack Cooler had challenged Ryo to a practice match.

A wooden sword rested in his right hand, thrust out toward Ryo.

Two people were stunned by the sight.

Scotty Cobook, like Zack, was a commander of the Royal Knights.

The other was King Abel.

Both of them had a pretty good idea why Zack had challenged Ryo.

“Hey, Zack!”

“R-Ryo, I need to talk to you about something work-related.”

Scotty called out to Zack while Abel addressed Ryo.

Simply put, they were trying to separate the two.

Incidentally, Ryo had absolutely no idea why Zack had challenged him to a sparring match.

“Don’t stop me, Scotty! I can’t move forward until I’ve defeated that man!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! He’s a duke, for heaven’s sake. The Premier Duke, no less. And what are you thinking, challenging a magician to a sword match? Even if you win... Sera-dono isn’t suddenly going to turn around and choose you!”

“I know. I know, but...”

Scotty and Zack exchanged words in hushed voices.

Zack had long harbored unrequited feelings for the elf Sera.

He also knew that Sera was very close with Ryo standing before him.

He understood that sparring with Ryo wouldn’t change anything.

He understood in his head.

But his heart still ached.

“I want to throw everything I’ve got at him... If I don’t, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to move on.”

“Zack...”

Scotty frowned.

He knew how Zack felt.

He also knew about the relationship between Ryo and Sera... not in detail, but he knew they were extremely close.

Zack had probably suppressed those feelings all this time.

But after witnessing yesterday’s ‘battle’, that restraint was beginning to crumble.

Even so, the two of them were commanders of the Royal Knights.

Together, they commanded fifty knights.

And all of this was happening right in front of the men they led...

“Zack-san has been giving me scary looks ever since we first met.”

“I-Is that so...”

“I might have done something to upset him, but I honestly can’t remember what.”

“M-Maybe something happened without you realizing it.”

Ryo shook his head. Abel, who knew the whole story, had already decided not to tell him anything.

“So, Abel, you said you wanted to talk about work?”

“Huh? Ah, right...yeah.”

That had simply been something Abel blurted out to separate the two.

Naturally, there wasn’t any work to discuss.

Still, he had to keep the conversation going somehow...

“Ryo, you used to serve as the swordsmanship instructor for the Rune Knights, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. Everyone was so motivated that it made teaching them really rewarding.”

Recalling those days, Ryo nodded repeatedly.

“And what are you doing these days?”

“In the mornings, Sera and I have practice matches at the Elven Autonomous Office.”

“I see...”

Abel nodded.

He vaguely remembered receiving a report about that...

As Ryo and Abel were talking, Zack approached them.

Behind him followed Scotty, his head hanging low.

Seeing that, Abel understood.

Scotty had failed to persuade Zack.

“Duke Rondo, I ask you once more. Please grant me your instruction.”

Zack held out the wooden sword.

Ryo glanced at Abel.

Then, in a quiet voice, he asked,

“Should I handle this the same way I did back in Rune? Are there any taboos in the Royal Knights? Anything I absolutely shouldn’t do?”

“You mean forbidden techniques? Not really. At worst, someone can cast <Extra Heal> afterward and patch things up. Besides, you’re using wooden swords. It’s not like anything too terrible will happen.”

“I’ve never used a wooden sword before... but where I come from, we have something called a bokken. If you’re struck in the wrong place, you can end up seriously injured. I imagine wooden swords here aren’t much different.”

Ryo gave a small shake of his head.

When he’d been instructing the Rune Knights, they’d used blunted steel swords.

Compared to those, perhaps the chances of a serious injury really were lower.

“So, basically I can treat this the same way I did back in Rune?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

Ryo asked, and Abel nodded.

Then, as soon as he nodded, something occurred to him.

“Wait...wasn’t your instruction at the Rune Knights basically beating everyone into the ground?”

Abel knew about it.

Apparently, because Sera, Ryo’s predecessor, had taught that way, Ryo had simply followed her example.

“I said there wouldn’t be a problem... but maybe there will be after all.”

The king’s quiet murmur failed to reach anyone’s ears.

And so, atop the deck of the Skidbladnir, the sparring match between Ryo and Zack began.

“I look forward to learning from you.”

“Yes, likewise.”

Zack and Ryo exchanged greetings.

As always, Ryo settled into a middle guard stance. (TLN: Seigan-no-kamae kendo stance)

The instant he did, goosebumps ran down Zack’s arms.

(What... is this feeling?)

It was a sensation he barely remembered.

No, long ago, when the former Captain of the Royal Knights had come to inspect them, Zack had been granted a practice match... he had felt these same goosebumps then.

(The former Captain of the Royal Knights... Marquis Alexis Heinlein. Are you telling me this is the same pressure as the legendary captain known as the ‘Oni’?!)

I refuse to accept that!

“Uraaaah!”

Zack let out a fierce battle cry.

If he didn’t, he felt the pressure would swallow him whole.

Abel noticed something as he watched Ryo.

“His footing... it’s different from usual?”

Abel had witnessed Ryo fight in earnest several times before.

Each time had been against formidable opponents.

Back then, Ryo’s stance had been front to back... with his right foot forward and his left foot behind.

But now, his feet were spread sideways.

His right foot was still slightly ahead... but nowhere near as much as usual.

With his normal stance, he would drive off the ground and instantly leap into his opponent’s range.

This time, however... rather than moving first himself, it felt as though he was planting himself firmly to receive whatever attack came his way...

“Uraaaah!”

Once again, Zack shouted as he charged in.

His fastest downward slash.

Clack!

The distinctive sound of wooden swords colliding echoed across the deck.

Ryo firmly received Zack’s downward strike.

But that first exchange seemed to clear Zack’s mind.

His relentless barrage immediately began.

Its speed was astonishing.

Even the Royal Knights watching from around them couldn’t help voicing their admiration.

Their commander was truly living up to his reputation.

However, the two men who understood swordsmanship best saw something entirely different.

“This isn’t sparring anymore. Zack is swinging as if he’s trying to cut him down...”

“Zack has completely lost his composure.”

Those observers were Scotty Cobook, commander of the Royal Knights, and Abel, formerly an A-rank swordsman.

Zack’s ferocious barrage stemmed from not having any leeway.

Their assessment was correct.

(What is this guy? What’s with him? Just what the hell is this guy?!)

Zack Cooler was a commander of the Royal Knights.

Ordinarily, he was a warrior strong enough to command fifty Royal Knights.

Yet now he was being utterly overwhelmed by the sword of the robed magician standing before him.

(I don’t feel like I can land even a single hit. This defense... it’s like striking a boulder!)

Zack unleashed one furious combination after another.

But every swing was driven by the crushing pressure radiating from the robed magician before him.

And despite attacking with everything he had, he couldn’t find any opening.

The result was growing despair.

Yet despite maintaining that impregnable defense, the moment Zack’s assault paused for even an instant, Ryo answered with a sweeping horizontal slash or a thrust to keep him in check.

Yes, Zack knew they were merely probing attacks.

He knew that, yet he also knew that if he made a single mistake, one of those strikes would put him down... they were that sharp.

(You can’t call attacks like these ‘probes’!)

Zack screamed inwardly.

They were both using wooden swords.

And yet, the idea of a probing strike capable of ending the match in a single blow if dodged poorly was absurd.

Yet the sword flashes were so sharp that he instinctively understood.

They looked razor-sharp, yet at the same time, they carried tremendous weight.

(That weight... it’s because every strike comes from his hips. It’s not just the sword’s weight or his arms. It’s not just his upper body, either. His knees, hips, and shifting center of gravity all work together perfectly, that’s why his sword feels so heavy. Even I can’t do that. Scotty couldn’t either. Abel... yes, Abel probably could. Does that mean this guy’s swordsmanship is on Abel’s level? What the hell?!)

Zack’s thoughts spiraled into chaos.

Naturally, that turmoil began to appear in his swordsmanship as well.

Most of the spectators failed to notice.

That was because Zack had devoted himself wholeheartedly to the sword over the past four years.

His emotions rarely manifested themselves in his technique anymore.

It was proof of how thoroughly he had honed his blade.

Even so...those with discerning eyes could still see it.

“It’s difficult to swing a sword with a perfectly calm mind.”

“If even Your Majesty says that, then perhaps it’s impossible for anyone.”

Standing beside Abel and watching the match, Scotty responded to the king’s quiet remark.

“You can see Zack’s mind wavering.”

“Yes.”

“But the other one...”

“Duke Rondo... Ryo-dono is incredible. He’s like the surface of still water, without so much as a ripple.”

“As expected of you, Scotty. That’s a poetic way of putting it.”

“Please don’t tease me.”

When someone as handsome as Scotty spoke so poetically, it created quite an atmosphere.

Abel had been his classmate, so he’d watched for years as Scotty effortlessly attracted the opposite sex.

Since Scotty himself spoke that way without the slightest awareness... Abel imagined the hearts of those who admired him had been the exact opposite of a perfectly still surface.

“Anyway... regrettably, Zack doesn’t stand a chance against Duke Rondo in his current state of mind.”

“Ah... even if Zack’s mind were perfectly calm, he still wouldn’t beat Ryo.”

“It feels problematic that a knight can’t defeat a magician in a sword fight. That’s why I chose my words carefully.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Besides, Ryo succeeded Sera as the swordsmanship instructor of the Rune Knights, remember?”

“...Huh?”

Abel stated the fact plainly, and Scotty looked utterly bewildered.

“Well, it was before the Kingdom Liberation War, so it’s been about five years now...”

“The Rune Knights... you mean the Knights of the Rune Frontier Count?”

“That’s right.”

“The Rune Frontier County Knights who are renowned for their strength?”

“That’s right.”

“The Rune Frontier County Knights where Sera-dono served as swordsmanship instructor?”

“Exactly. And after Sera stepped down, Ryo took over as the swordsmanship instructor.”

“...Then Zack never stood a chance.”

“Don’t look at me...”

Scotty spoke in exasperation, while Abel merely shrugged.

In truth, the period during which Ryo officially served as the Rune Knights’ swordsmanship instructor had not been very long.

Even so, because he had repeatedly sparred with Sera in front of the knights long before his official appointment, every knight of the Rune Knights regarded him with the utmost respect...

“But even so, knowing Zack...”

“Yeah. He’ll eventually gamble everything on one decisive move.”

“And if Ryo-dono fails to defend against it, he could be seriously injured...”

“Hmm, I wonder about that. Well, let’s just watch and see.”

Scotty worried. Abel did not in the slightest.

Both men knew Zack well.

The difference between them was really the difference in how well they understood Ryo.

The sparring match continued.

Zack attacked. Ryo defended.

Gradually, however, Ryo’s probing strikes began grazing Zack’s body.

It wasn’t because Ryo’s sword had become sharper. Rather, Zack had begun trimming away his safety margin, pushing closer and closer to the limit.

Why?

To land a decisive finishing blow, of course.

(I’ll only get one chance. One is enough. I’ll bait out that diagonal probing slash. That’ll lower his sword... then I’ll finish it in one strike!)

Even with his thoughts in turmoil, Zack had been carefully analyzing Ryo’s swordsmanship.

Among Ryo’s many probing attacks, he had concluded that the easiest one to counter was the diagonal slash.

A strike descending from Zack’s left shoulder toward his right hip.

He would evade it, then strike.

And then...

Zack unleashed a horizontal sweep.

Ryo evaded it and answered with the expected diagonal slash.

(Now!)

Zack narrowly slipped past the very tip of Ryo’s blade and brought his own sword crashing down with all his strength.

Without question, it was a decisive finishing blow.

Clack!

A light sound rang out as Zack’s wooden sword was knocked upward.

Both of the arms holding it were thrown into the air as well.

His torso lay completely exposed...

One strike.

A lightning-fast body blow, swift as the wind.

Zack collapsed to the deck.

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