Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Carpediem
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Jeanne opened her eyes at Ea's bewildered voice. Ea, who had been approaching closely, had suddenly retreated far back, showing strong wariness.
"?"
She had clearly asked, "What did you do?" It was incomprehensible. She hadn't done anything. She'd simply closed her eyes, accepted death, and awaited her final blow. Yet out of nowhere, she was asking what she'd done. As Jeanne stared at her in bewilderment, about to ask why, her body jerked violently. The ground around her was covered in shadows. What had been ragged at her feet moments ago now blanketed the surroundings widely.
"What is this…!"
Had what she'd thought was death not been death after all? Yet even standing on the shadow-covered ground, she felt nothing particularly strange. Just a slight sense of disgust. Ea, watching her panicked reaction, furrowed her brow before suddenly kicking a loose brick fragment on the ground. The moment it left the floor, the blackened brick returned to its original color.
The brick soared through the air toward Jeanne. Jeanne, dazedly looking around, seemed oblivious to the incoming projectile—like a fool. At this rate, it would hit her helmet. Then, something slammed into the flying stone, deflecting it to the ground. Three streaks of light shot toward the scarecrow in quick succession.
"!"
It was a surprise attack, but Ea heard the air whistling and widened her eyes before swiftly retreating.
Pababat!
Four steps back, short swords embedded themselves before Ea at precise intervals with time delays. The daggers matched the color of the shadows covering the ground exactly, but the moment she glanced at them, they melted away like snowflakes, vanishing without a trace.
"You dodge well. Like a squirrel."
A mocking voice rang out, and a man appeared right in front of Jeanne. From his soft, thudding landing, it seemed he'd jumped from the building against which she leaned. But more than his appearance, his voice and silhouette felt familiar, like she'd heard and seen them somewhere before.
Where had she heard it? Where had she seen him?
Jeanne, helmet pulled low, cautiously addressed him.
"…Could it be, Judah?"
"Oh! That's right. Sir Jeanne. You recognized me? How have you been? Ah, judging by your current state, not well at all."
She'd asked just in case, but Judah turned with a friendly greeting. My goodness. His beaming smile looked so innocently pure, as if asking what the problem was. It left her flustered. She felt like she'd been helped, but how on earth was he here? Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
"How did you know to come here?"
"Shh. We'll talk about that later. First, let's deal with this scarecrow."
She had no words for his nonchalant finger-to-lips gesture. As she pursed her lips tightly, Judah grinned and turned away. She wanted to warn him of the danger, tell him to run, but he wouldn't anyway. She just foolishly watched his back.
"Hey there, scarecrow. We're really fated enemies, aren't we? Meeting again in a situation like this."
Ea ground her teeth. She'd planned to kill Judah pleasurably if they met, but now her mood soured from the interruption of a knight's duel. Deeply so. He was irritating in every way. Ea glared at Judah, her face twisting viciously.
"You… really want to die, huh? Daring to interfere in a duel staked on a knight's pride? You've lost your damn mind!"
"You were planning to kill me anyway, right? But… this is tricky. I can't let you kill Sir Jeanne—and I have no intention of dying either. How about it? Satisfied with your duel victory and head back?"
"Bullshit!"
Not content with butting in, now he was arbitrarily negotiating. Rage boiled to the top of her head. Ea exhaled a laugh.
"What a load of crap. Fine. Actually, perfect timing. I had a debt to settle anyway… I'll kill you both right here. Draw your sword."
Judah shrugged and drew the bastard sword and dagger from his waist. As he assumed a stance gripping swords in both hands, Ea's lips curled slyly.
"Ha, you. You really crack me up in every way. Daring to dual-wield against a scarecrow?"
"Have you heard of [Black Claw]?"
Probably not. Judah grinned and charged at Ea without hesitation. They instantly tangled, exchanging sword strikes. Watching, Jeanne couldn't hide her admiration. She'd thought him a skilled boy during the black wolf hunt, but she hadn't expected him to swing his blade so cleanly and without hesitation against a person.
"Arrogant fool!"
The scarecrow scoffed mockingly in response. Kaang! Sparks flew repeatedly with the clashes. Dazzling. With both wielding two blades, it was hard to know where to look. Jeanne's eyes widened in shock. Astonishingly, he was keeping up with the scarecrow's attack speed. Not just defending—he was finding openings to counterattack.
Shadow Sword Arts.
Mana gathered along Judah's bastard sword blade. Seeing the black energy converge, Ea flinched and retreated. But she could close that distance in an instant. Judah pulled the bastard sword back.
'3rd Form, Single Point.'
Eyes bulging, he activated the skill. The black energy around the blade enveloped it, instantly transforming into a thick lance.
"What the—!?"
Ea panicked at the sight. The sword turning into a spear out of nowhere—not even magic.
Wait, was it magic? Whatever it was, she had to block or dodge. Her sword screamed again, wrapped in red mana. Lowering her stance to protect vitals, she raised her blade to deflect.
The moment red mana touched the black lance, it flared like an explosion, peeling it away like fruit skin. The mana composing the lance scattered, revealing the original blade. A gap opened. Ea seized it, thrusting at Judah.
But Judah had already read her move. The [Shadow Deployment] on the ground and [Demon Eye] effect predicted her actions. He naturally lowered his posture, evading, then spun his body as he rose, preparing the next skill.
'2nd Form, Slash!'
The silver blade blackened once more.
"Damn it all!"
Ea spat a curse laced with frustration and racked her brain.
Block it? Can I? How?
Too late to retract her sword, too late to pull back. Her feet wouldn't move, and Judah's blade drew ever closer. Ea's eyes locked on it. Time seemed to slow. Cursing inwardly, she dropped to her knees in that stance. Already physically exhausted, this was far easier.
'Huh?'
Judah swung at empty air with a hollow expression. Ea, having knelt to dodge, rose. She crossed her halberds upward from both sides. Red mana coiled around the blades—he saw it all. The edges traced a red X in the air from below. Reflexively, Judah thrust his left-hand dagger to block, but it was a mistake. Too late, he realized a common smithy dagger couldn't withstand it. He could endure with strength, but the dagger couldn't. The halberd's edge chewed into it visibly.
'Am I dead?'
Time dilated. One wrong judgment reversed the situation. Before thinking, Judah reflexively triggered <Save>.
[Saving resurrection point based on current location and time.]
[Save complete.]
Time seemed to pause briefly, then the save finished. The dagger held for about three seconds before shattering into thirds. Simultaneously, a sharp sting came with spurting blood. He stared blankly at the aching pain and flowing blood.
"Judah!"
Jeanne's startled cry came from behind. But instead of turning, Judah looked down at himself.
Deeply slashed.
His body split with a crack. First time suffering such a wound—he panicked. Blood sprayed vigorously, soaking Ea ahead, but she didn't seem displeased, scoffing instead.
"Hmph, you had skill, but that's your limit."
He tried to stay upright, but strength drained from his body.
He staggered, then knelt. Thud. Agonizing pain crashed over him, but he gritted his teeth. Not unbearable—something capped the pain beyond a certain point. But more than that.
Judah curled his lips slyly, looking up at Ea.
This technique that slashed with the sword—I know it.
"…Narak… right?"
"!?"
Her red eyes widened instantly. As if asking how he knew, but he couldn't answer. In his fading mind, Judah forced out an angry voice.
"You're… dead."
"……."
Kneeling with head bowed, he met death. She looked down at him.
He'd definitely said "Narak."
'How does he know about Narak?'
It made sense if the Blue Spear Knight knew. They'd fought the Empire long ago, witnessing and experiencing it many times. Maybe Kaseun Sabnak taught him—but he couldn't use scarecrow techniques, so mere verbal explanation. Yet recognizing it from one glance?
Ea's mind reeled, but she couldn't ask the dead man.
"Tch."
Ea clicked her tongue and turned. The thrill of delivering "Narak" soured to unease. With Judah's blood on her halberd, she turned to the Blue Spear Knight. Taking her life would end things here.
Then, she saw the world tint gray.
And.
The world stopped.
…….
…….
…….
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