Chapter 223: The Gentleman Beaten Up by the Lady Over There Is Paying
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223: The Gentleman Beaten Up by the Lady Over There Is Paying
There was no need for a signal to start.
Both Encrid and his opponent had taken their stances, and that was enough.
The woman raised her shield. Encrid expected her to play the long game, building her strategy around defense. After all, that was the most effective tactic for someone equipped with a sword and shield. It was how everyone he had faced with that loadout had fought before.
His experience guided his movements. He took one step forward—a calculated move to seize the advantageous ground.
But the moment he advanced with his sword raised, the shield seemed to expand. It grew larger, instantly filling his vision.
'Bullshit.'
The curse rose naturally in his mind, but there was no time for it to escape his lips. Before he knew it, a gray iron wall loomed right in front of his eyes. He could see nothing else.
In that split second, Encrid crossed his arms in front of his face and chest, still gripping his sword, and braced for impact.
Crash!
The gray iron wall slammed into his forearms. A floating sensation washed over him as the impact rattled his vision, followed immediately by a second shock against his back as he hit the dirt. Reflexively, he slapped the ground with his left hand, performing a rough breakfall.
It was the result of his relentless training in Valaf-style martial arts.
His stomach churned, but he managed to keep his lunch down. It was an unexpected timing, a sudden, overwhelming blow. Having been blown backward and landing flat on his back, he was left sprawled in an awkward posture.
“Hah!”
Encrid exhaled sharply and drew in a fresh breath to dispel the shock, trying to spring back up, but he wasn't given the chance. Something whooshed down toward his head. He didn't even have time to look, let alone catch his breath.
Feeling his chest tighten, Encrid swung his sword upward from his half-reclined position.
Clang!
As the blades clashed, he kicked off the ground with his right foot and rolled to the side. He couldn't utilize the Heavy Sword style; his stance, position, and timing had been completely disrupted. He had no choice.
His attempt to deflect the blow with something akin to the Soft Sword style was only half successful. He had parried the sword, but he couldn't stop the follow-up.
His opponent simply let her sword slide and threw a kick. It felt like an iron mace was flying straight at his face.
Steel Boots.
The heavy iron footwear filled his vision.
Thud!
The toe of her boot slammed into his chest. The blow sent Encrid rolling backward, tumbling more than twice the distance he had when hit by the shield. He had intentionally traveled the distance to absorb the momentum.
“Phew.”
As he rolled, Encrid planted his left hand on the ground, snapped his hips, and flipped back onto his feet.
“You're quite nimble,” the female warrior said.
She had already recovered her stance, pulling her shield close to cover her body. It was the exact same posture she had held at the start. It was vexing; her guard was so tight it was difficult to find even a sliver of an opening.
Above all, her fighting style was formidable.
'She's highly skilled.'
She knew exactly how to exploit her opponent's weaknesses using her equipment and stance. This meant she possessed extensive experience in both formal duels and raw, bloody brawls.
Drip.
A sharp stone must have grazed his forehead when he was kicked back; a drop of blood trickled down his temple. The slow-moving droplet ran down the side of his face, pooled at the tip of his chin, and dripped onto the ground.
As if that were a signal, the female warrior—the half-giant—kicked off the ground once more.
Boom!
With a loud burst of speed, that familiar gray iron wall materialized before his eyes. It was a solid iron round shield large enough to cover half her body—a weapon that acted as a mace when swung. Even for a well-trained warrior, it would be incredibly heavy. It was a piece of equipment impossible to wield unless one was a giant or a Frok.
It was the same tactic as before, but it was a surefire move. How could anyone block a weapon with such a wide surface area when it was swung with such speed and power?
'If I can't block it...'
'I just have to dodge.'
He awakened the Beast's Heart.
His Single-Point Focus brought absolute immersion. Opening his eyes in this state of hyper-focus, he heightened his senses and moved.
Encrid's body swayed to the side like a shadow stretching and blurring under a lamp. It only appeared that way because of his sudden, explosive acceleration. At the same time, he brought his sword down, aiming for his opponent's sword arm. It was a Heavy Sword style downward slash.
In response, her shield swept sideways to intercept. She blocked with the iron and shoved forward. Sword and shield collided. Their raw strength clashed through the steel.
Crash!
An explosive boom erupted. One had awakened the Heart of Monstrous Strength, while the other carried the blood of a giant. The noise was so deafening, like an explosion spell detonating, that the onlookers reflexively covered their ears.
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
Screams of shock burst from the crowd.
While his sword struck her shield, Encrid caught sight of a blade grazing his flank. He twisted his body to dodge, but he couldn't avoid the strike entirely. It wasn't a deep wound, but blood flowed, quickly soaking his side. He was wearing a thin leather breastplate, but her blade was incredibly sharp. It was no ordinary weapon.
Its cutting edge was easily on par with his own sword, despite the weapon looking incredibly blunt at first glance. The blade was twice as thick as a normal sword—a modified longsword that, because of her massive build, looked like a standard arming sword.
“You're quick,” she said.
Her expression and attitude remained completely flat, devoid of any enjoyment.
'She's strong.'
She fought well, cut cleanly, and possessed incredible reaction speed. He had been yearning to face someone other than Rem, Audin, Ragna, and Sachsen, and here she was. She was like a welcome rain after a long drought.
“Ah, let's go again.”
Encrid smiled without realizing it. It was that rare expression he wore only when he was having the absolute time of his life.
*
“Look at that face. She must think he's out of his mind.”
She was a formidable opponent. Rem and the others recognized it at a glance. Rem was the one who spoke up, staring at his captain who was grinning like his brain had short-circuited.
“Well, it is baffling the first time you see it,” Ragna agreed.
“Since she wouldn't know he's always been like that,” Sachsen added, speaking up for once.
“Hoho, our sister opponent seems rather displeased,” Audin chimed in.
Rem inwardly agreed. Encrid had been like this even before he had the Beast's Heart. To Rem, Encrid had grinned just like that even when he was desperately clawing his way up by grasping onto a rotten tree branch—something that could hardly even be called progress.
Did he not know it could snap at any moment? What was so damn fun about it?
'Back then, I thought he'd die in no time.'
Yet, before he knew it, the man had caught up. A human who had once been so far behind he wasn't even in sight was now within shouting distance.
'Ah, I really don't want to be overtaken.'
Rem thought as he watched the fight. No matter how he looked at it, that female warrior had come to kill his captain. Should he stop them, then?
In the past, he would have. If this were a battlefield, he would have stepped in. But he couldn't do that now. Encrid was a man who had carved out his own path toward his dreams.
'If I step in now, he'll resent me to death, won't he?'
Of course, he would still step in if Encrid was on the verge of death. It seemed he wasn't the only one thinking that. Beside him, Ragna subtly closed the distance by half a step. The presence of that sly wildcat faded, and Audin, though still chuckling, leaned forward slightly.
'Crazy bastards, the lot of them.'
Rem felt like he was the only normal one there. Their captain was utterly obsessed with fighting, whether he lived or died, and the rest of them weren't right in the head either.
'I'm the one who has to keep my head straight. Me.'
Wasn't that why he had just beaten that beastman, Dunchabel, half to death?
'Beastmen are sturdy, after all. And they make for good punching bags.'
Well, she would recover quickly. Knowing that was why he had pushed her so hard. Rem turned his attention back to the fight.
Though his flank was cut, Encrid didn't seem to feel any pain. Once again, she charged with her shield.
'I feel like he could just split it.'
Though that wouldn't be easy. Before, he had dodged to look for an opening, only to be blocked. He did the same this time. Leaving behind something like an afterimage, he stepped to the side. It looked the same at first, but it wasn't.
As the shield tracked him, Encrid moved even faster. Usually, he was advised to use only half of the Heart of Monstrous Strength, but now he seemed to be going all out. Encrid's movements accelerated further.
He slipped behind the half-giant's back, his swinging sword tracing a circle as she turned to follow him.
Cl-cl-cl-cl-clang!
As his sword scraped against the surface of the gray iron shield, it repeatedly struck and deflected, showering sparks. It was an exchange occurring at a speed ordinary eyes could barely track. Then, Encrid's blade grazed the side of her waist.
But his opponent wasn't one to just take a hit. Having lost sight of Encrid, she plunged her sword vertically behind her without even looking.
Whoosh!
The modified longsword sliced through the empty air. Encrid, who had barely grazed her waist, had already leaped back. Having evaded her counter, Encrid lunged forward again the instant he gained distance. It was as if he were retaliating for the shield strike from earlier.
As he lunged, Encrid seemed to turn his own body into a bowstring, launching his sword like an arrow.
'That technique.'
It was the technique of the last opponent he had faced in Martai.
'He used that on me so many damn times!'
He was bringing it out again here. It was like a treasured sword flying from its scabbard.
Crash!
His opponent blocked that as well. However, she couldn't block it cleanly this time. Encrid's sword scraped past the side of her shield and struck her pauldron, sending the armor piece flying with a heavy thud. Naturally, the blow didn't stop at the armor.
Drip, drip.
Blood dripped from the half-giant's shoulder. She didn't care. She simply flowed into her next movement. Instead of covering her entire front with the shield, she angled it to protect her left side, holding the sword in her right hand in a loose, ready stance.
It was a textbook stance for sword-and-shield combat. The half-giant didn't even let out a grunt. Instead, her jaw clenched tight, muscles bunching.
She charged. Encrid retrieved his thrusting sword, spun half a turn, and swung. It was a Heavy Sword style spinning slash. The heavy force delivered at a speed as fast as a thrust was easily on par with a giant's strength.
Crash!
The half-giant held her ground, blocking with her shield. Blocking her opponent's weapon with her shield while simultaneously swinging her sword—this was the very essence of wielding a sword and shield. Her sword came down from above once more. Delivered with exquisite timing, it was a blow designed to steal Encrid's breath.
Rem reflexively twitched his right index finger. He had almost thrown his axe. He wasn't the only one; Ragna, Audin, and Sachsen had all reacted the same way.
But they held back. There was no need to step in yet. At the critical moment, Encrid drew his second sword.
Clang!
With a single block, the middle of the blade cracked with a sharp snap, but it had done its job. The sword drawn with his other hand had successfully stopped his opponent's blade.
“......Your left hand?” the half-giant spoke, their swords still locked.
Encrid nodded. “It's one of my specialties.”
“Do you have others?”
“Plenty.”
“This might end before you can show them all.”
It was a challenge to show everything he had. For a half-giant who seemed the epitome of taciturnity, only speaking in brief bursts, this was her longest exchange yet.
Encrid said with a smirk, “I can't show you everything. That includes my talent for wooing women, after all.”
Hearing this, Rem snorted.
'He certainly has a way with words.'
Encrid's tongue was indeed the sharpest of his treasured swords.
“So you're just a lunatic,” the half-giant muttered.
Though brief, she had accurately summed up Encrid's identity. She swung her sword once more. It was the orthodox style of sword and shield. To be precise, she had integrated shield techniques into the Orthodox Sword style.
Encrid tossed aside his half-broken sword and focused on wielding just one.
'Dual wielding is only for critical moments.'
It was a sound tactic. Their battle finally drew to a close around sunset.
As for the outcome...
'He lost.'
It was Encrid's defeat. Anyone could see it. One of his cheeks was cut. When his cheek was cut—or rather, after it was cut, since most of the onlookers couldn't even track the exchange properly—several female townspeople shrieked in horror.
Encrid's reputation within the territory was at an absolute peak. He was the ultimate bachelor, and there were women who would gladly sell everything they owned just to have him as a lover. Yet that very Encrid now had a slashed cheek and several broken ribs. His entire body was covered in minor cuts and bruises.
He had attempted close-quarters combat, landing eight strikes while only allowing one in return—but that single blow was what had shattered his ribs. His opponent had taken consecutive hits to the jaw and solar plexus, yet she had endured. Such was the resilience of a giant.
Encrid hadn't underestimated her. But even with a highly trained body, one couldn't block everything in the face of overwhelming force.
'Defeated by decision.'
Everyone present likely reached the same conclusion. Encrid panted heavily. His ragged breathing was a clear sign of exhaustion; he had reached his limit.
The half-giant, meanwhile, had just realized she couldn't finish him off. Her mission was a failure. She had assumed that since he wasn't even a real Associate Knight, it wouldn't be a difficult task, no matter how fiercely he fought.
'He is strong.'
The man before her was strong. His skill, his grit, and especially his sheer madness.
'Is he strong because he's insane?'
As ripples of doubt spread through the warrior's mind, Encrid calmly assessed his own condition. He glanced down at his body, then raised his head to look at hers. She was in no better shape.
“Let's do this again tomorrow.”
“......What?”
For the first time, his opponent looked utterly bewildered. Before she could speak, an axe slid neatly between them.
“Didn't you hear him? If you want to go again, do it tomorrow or the day after. Get some rest. Oh, and the inn is free, and so is the food. The gentleman beaten up by the lady over there is paying for it.”
Rem said, gesturing with his thumb toward the battered Encrid. Even if she attacked now, she couldn't kill him. Her only chance had been during the duel. Right now, there were too many dangerous figures surrounding them. The axe-wielding bastard in front of her was one of them.
As the warrior fell into thought, Rem spoke again. “Of course, if you just want to leave, you're welcome to.”
His tone was completely indifferent, despite the fact that she had beaten his captain into a bloody pulp. Of course, that 'bloody pulp' was still standing perfectly upright. It was a terrifying level of resilience. While it couldn't quite match a giant's, it felt as though he were built differently from birth.
In truth, it was the result of the Isolation Technique and the devilish training of Audin, but there was no way the half-giant could know that.
“You intend to interfere,” the warrior said.
“Nah. Watching today, I realized there's really no need for that.”
The warrior couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind his words. However, she understood that she had been granted another opportunity. Besides, she wasn't in a position to return immediately anyway. Returning with all her limbs intact after failing her mission? Whispers of betrayal and treason would surely follow. Every single one of her actions would be questioned.
“Very well.”
The warrior silently retreated.
“Alright, happy now?” Rem turned to look at his captain.
“Yes, that's fine.”
Encrid expressed his satisfaction. But could a body covered in wounds heal in just a single day? Audin had told him about the Regenerative Body—how it grew tougher the more it healed after being broken. For now, he just had to rest.
“I learned a lot.”
“Is it really that great?”
Rem supported Encrid, whose legs had finally given out. With his arm draped over Rem's shoulder, Encrid replied.
“Somewhat.”
Somewhat, my foot. He looks ready to drool.
Rem grumbled inwardly as he helped him walk.
And when the next day arrived, the female warrior realized she was in a situation where she wouldn't easily achieve her goal, while Encrid wore a smile twice as bright as the day before. It was a radiant smile that those who knew him had rarely, if ever, seen before.