Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Kendrid (2)
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The Galdic territory runs primarily on its miners, which means they dig like nobody's business.
Finding a deep pit suitable for Krat and me to trade blows in wasn't all that difficult.
"No regrets?"
"..."
It sounded like something you'd say to a man on death row.
I could understand why he'd say it.
I'd faced off with Gideon like this before, but this time was different—this guy actually meant to throw down.
"If I had any regrets, I wouldn't have picked a fight in the first place."
Krat grinned and took a step back.
He was gearing up for direct combat.
"Um, excuse me, Margrave...?"
"Daddy."
"...Father. Let me fight in your place instead...!"
"Eliya."
Krat's gaze shot over to Eliya, who was stammering those words from outside the pit, and nailed her in place.
He'd just been telling her to call him Daddy moments ago, but on this point, there was no give.
You could really see the fire in a person's eyes sometimes.
Even Eliya, who never backed down no matter the situation, froze up stiff.
"Don't interfere."
"..."
"Some things you only learn by crossing fists. I might not know the details, but I can get a feel for it."
It was a sweat-drenched philosophy, but the fact that he thought that way was something I appreciated. At least he wasn't just out to torment me.
Sure, he wasn't the type to go easy on some academy student like me, but he wasn't completely unreasonable either.
He wasn't the sort to smash your head in on a whim just because he didn't like you.
"Let's set some ground rules before we start."
That much was obvious from his next words.
Krat grinned as he continued.
"I won't kill you. If you lose consciousness, you lose."
"..."
"If you can land even one solid hit on me, that's it—we're done. Got it?"
On the surface, it sounded like he was giving me a huge handicap.
But chewing over the practical implications brought a hollow laugh.
'...His ceiling might be lower than a battle priest's.'
If I gave the Klein I'd taken down before about two hours to stack buffs, he might even surpass this guy.
That's how their kind worked—give 'em time, and they got stronger without limit.
Imperial holy knights like Krat, on the other hand, didn't have that progressive power-up ability, but their base specs were monstrous from the start.
His ceiling was lower than a battle priest's, but his floor was absurdly high.
And as the pinnacle of them all, the Kendrid Margrave...
[Using 'Scout'.]
[Retrieving target's information.]
[24-hour cooldown applies to the same target.]
[Character Info]
[Krat Bellium la Kendrid]
[Trait: Northern Margrave – Ruler of the Snowfields]
[Status: Body heating up, itching to give the punk in front of him a proper thrashing.]
[Status Info]
[Standard]
Strength: S+ (Doubled effect from trait)
Agility: S+ (Doubled effect from trait)
Durability: S+ (Doubled effect from trait)
Luck: B
Authority: S
[Supernatural]
Mana: S
Spell Power: F
Divinity: S
[Skills]
Martial Arts: SS+
"..."
Was this even human?
He might not be going all out, but the gap between us was rabbit versus bear. Slacking off against him could get me killed for real.
Even Elnor, with her Strength/Agility/Durability all painted S-rank—the standard metrics for raw physical might—was basically a walking bio-tank.
And this guy's specs were a perfect upgrade over hers, doubled by his trait to boot.
Not content with that, his close-quarters brawling Martial Arts skill sat at one step below EX-rank. Top of the world in hand-to-hand.
'...No way to survive this, honestly.'
He wasn't some academy student level—this wasn't a matter of perfectly timing a parry to take zero damage, even with Swordmaster's Focus. Even mobilizing every built-in skill from Ultrim, the best I could hope for was minimizing the pain.
He knew the level gap too, which was why he said it. Basically testing how long I could last while he held back and pummeled me.
"Yes. Sounds good."
"..."
So, the way I accepted without batting an eye would come off as one of two things.
Either a clueless idiot who didn't get it.
Or a madman with balls hanging outside his body.
"But I'll add one condition of my own."
"..."
Hearing that, Krat probably pegged me as the latter for sure.
"Spit it out. I'll hear you out—got guts, I'll give you that."
"If I win, grant me one thing I want."
"...Win? You?"
"You said one solid hit counts as my victory, right?"
He'd probably said it without even realizing.
Because it was common sense that it was impossible.
"..."
Krat pondered for a moment. Wondering what the hell I was basing this insanity on.
"Do what you want. But."
Considering his personality, he'd reach a simple conclusion soon enough.
"I'm not holding back either."
Fight and find out.
As Krat cracked his knuckles and closed in, I finished my final checks.
[Using Skill: Guidance.]
Current available functions
▶ Possession – Wrath {Elnor}
▶ Tristan-style Swordsmanship – Severing Strike {Gideon}
Father and daughter lined up nice and cozy.
But this time, my business was with Daddy.
[Activating 'Tristan-style Swordsmanship – Severing Strike' via 'Guidance' skill.]
A skill I'd confirmed acquiring from the system message before entering the lord's castle.
And if he'd properly mastered the 'goal' I'd told Gideon about...
"..."
I could show him neither was the case.
That I wasn't clueless, and I wasn't bluffing without a plan.
It'd hurt like hell, explode, and I'd roll around like a dog as always.
But I had the means to land one solid hit on him.
Right on cue.
[Emergency situation detected.]
[Judged as direct threat to life.]
[Applying Skill: Desperate Situation at EX-rank.]
Krat's body launched forward.
●
"...We have to stop this somehow. Do something...!"
At Eliya's desperate plea, Elnor turned to her with an impassive expression, arms still crossed.
"He chose to do it himself. How do you suggest I stop him?"
"But...!"
Her gaze shifted back into the pit.
Dawood, preparing to draw his sword, and Krat, moments from charging, flickered at the edge of her vision.
'No way he can match him...!'
She knew better than anyone what kind of monster that man was—having trained with him relentlessly even before reaching adulthood.
The reason she, as a hero candidate, feared no enemy was because she'd always matched herself against the most vicious human she knew.
He was the kind who could make abstract madness like 'carving his flesh with the fury of the heavens' sound plausible.
Eliya still remembered her first training session with the Kendrid Margrave, when he'd turned a boulder dozens of meters wide into gravel with his bare fists as 'warm-up.'
"...Can't stop him, so I'll step out for a bit."
As those thoughts churned, Elnor stood.
"Pardon? Where are you going?"
"Dawood with that look on his face has something up his sleeve—that's why he's pulling this stunt. He's not the type to do something crazy without a plan."
"..."
"But."
She let out a deep sigh.
"...That look usually ends with him coming back with some major injury."
She definitely couldn't watch it stone-cold sober.
She could draw her sword and charge the Kendrid Margrave.
That alone would be a disaster for the Tristan Duchess, no question.
But politics, fallout, repercussions—those were secondary.
More than that.
'...He wouldn't want me doing something like that anyway.'
It'd be meddling where it wasn't wanted. If he needed help, he'd have asked her first.
So.
"I'll go call for medical support."
With those blunt words, Elnor trudged off into the lord's castle.
As if she couldn't bear to watch what came next.
"..."
Eliya stared blankly after her.
An inexplicable heaviness pressed hard on her chest.
'...Ah.'
Realization hit her out of nowhere.
'I'm jealous.'
Because she realized the 'trust' between Dawood and that student council president was far thicker than between her and Dawood.
The president knew sides of Dawood she didn't—and they understood each other deeply without words.
Compared to that, what about her?
Had she ever truly helped that man properly?
Her expression darkened at the thought.
And then.
-!
Krat leaped at Dawood.
The packed earth shredded like an explosion had gone off, and even from afar, his body blurred to the spectators.
Trauma must have surged through Eliya, turning her face ghost-white.
A man who could pulverize anything if he got a clear shot at it—and he had that approach speed too? Insane.
Even she, who prided herself on combat instincts and improvisation, had been thoroughly thrashed by him countless times without reacting.
But.
'...He reacted!'
She clenched her fist tight at the sight of Dawood drawing his sword from its sheath.
That was him, alright.
He often seemed hopelessly dimwitted in daily life. Dawood really was a weakling who tired out from the slightest activity.
But.
How many had fallen for that facade, Eliya included?
In crucial moments, he always unleashed unbelievable prowess.
'Still...!'
He'd drawn and reacted successfully, but the moment his sword met that fist, his body flew like a feather.
A small animal rebounding off a charging beast.
The distance gaped to several meters in an instant, but for the Kendrid Margrave, it was nothing—not even a breath to close.
Krat closed on the rebounding Dawood and threw another punch.
The exchange continued. Each hit sent Dawood tumbling like a ball.
Incredibly, despite the gap, Dawood held on. Cuts and scrapes multiplied, but no fatal wounds landed.
Even accounting for the Margrave clearly holding back, it bordered on miraculous.
"...Nothing there. That's all you've got for that bluff?"
But.
Eliya tensed even more, peering down.
Disappointment filled Krat's face.
This turtle-shell defense was hitting his reverse scale. He'd always hammered home never to just take hits during her training.
"Fine. Let's see how long you last."
The attacks intensified.
"No spirit, no grit, no will. You even a man?"
Dawood's body, barely hanging on, accumulated more wounds. Arms and legs twisted, bruises bloomed, skin peeled.
"Can't see why my daughter has to suffer because of trash like you."
The words slipped out like a sigh. Contempt now gleamed in Krat's eyes.
Dawood heaved ragged breaths. His body was a total wreck.
"...Just end it. No point watching anymo—"
"Before you do, one thing to say."
Dawood spat a mouthful of blood and opened his mouth.
"Quit the boomer bullshit, Margrave."
"...What?"
"What era is this? Stalking your daughter's every friend? Even the craziest parents don't pull that."
"..."
Krat let out a hollow laugh.
"So, my wish for beating you—hand Eliya over to me completely. You won't regret it."
Eliya's face flushed crimson, mouth agape.
That guy.
What the hell was he saying right now?
No, more than that—in this situation, wishing for something after winning?!
"..."
Krat's expression turned icy.
Killing intent practically wafted from his body.
"...Tired of entertaining this crap. Hate big-mouths with no bite."
With that, he approached Dawood, sighing.
Slower than before, but the 'malice' in his movements dwarfed anything prior.
As if.
This time, he meant to kill.
"Lie down for a while. And stay the hell away from Eliya."
A blue sigil blazed along the Margrave's arm.
The materialized aura unique to martial holy knights. His already lethal body grew deadlier.
And as that fist rocketed toward Dawood's head.
"...!"
Gooseflesh raced up Eliya's arms.
Dawood, a total mess, lifted his head right then. The expression on his face.
She knew it.
That was Dawood's 'ace' face.
-...
First second.
Dawood thrust out his right arm, wrapped in a divine shield, toward the Margrave's fist. A hopeless defense, obviously. The shield shattered instantly, and the fist reached his arm.
Not flesh on flesh—like a massive greatsword cleaving through. His right arm split open entirely. Blood fountained from the torn flesh, spraying everywhere.
But thanks to that. Sacrificing his whole arm.
The physical force halved sharply. Partly because the startled Margrave slowed his punch.
A split-second opening born.
Second second.
Dawood yanked the arm, drawing his left—the sword arm.
Stepped back for swing room.
[Tristan-style Swordsmanship – Severing Strike]
--------!!!!!!!!!!
A massive shockwave-laced blow slammed into Krat's body.
Another crater formed deep in the pit. The Margrave's body flew off like Dawood's had before—like a ball bouncing everywhere.
As if.
All the strikes he'd dealt Dawood returned in one go.
"Still conscious. Landed one on you."
With his shredded right arm dangling like a rag.
"I win, right?"
Dawood Campbell grinned.
●
First thought.
Fucking hurts. Hurts like dying.
Not an arm on my right side—felt like a chunk of meat bolted to my body. Brain outright refusing to send signals there.
Second thought.
[Skill Info]
[Skill: Tristan-style Swordsmanship – Severing Strike] [Rank: S]
[Reduces incoming damage by 60% when defending with sword. Accumulates received damage. Accumulated damage adds to next attack upon activation. Effect amplifies with lower user HP.]
Without this, I'd be dead.
Even maxing Durability and Divinity via Ultrim's built-ins, each of Krat's hits rattled my bones and churned my guts.
Elnor's dad... thank you...!
I'll repay this favor...!
"..."
Across from me, Krat stared in shock.
No real damage, sure, but he couldn't process letting me land a hit.
"...Won't ask what trick you pulled. Everyone's got their hidden blade."
His voice dripped with that sentiment.
"How'd you pull off something that extreme?"
"...Pardon?"
I blinked at the unexpected question, and Krat continued with a look of disbelief.
"Even I wouldn't think of a combat style that suicidal. Not even northern barbarians obsessed with training and battle pull shit this close to suicide."
"..."
Really?
I'd been rolling around injured so much lately, my sense for that stuff was probably off.
Losing one arm felt like getting off cheap?
"Put another way."
Krat chuckled as he rose.
"That's reason enough to let Eliya stick near you."
With those words, a window popped up.
[System Message]
[Target 'Krat's favorability has upgraded to 'Curiosity Stage 5'!]
[Good-aligned character. Rewards reduced!]
I breathed a sigh of relief.
This counted as solid recognition. Mission accomplished.
Like Gideon, Krat was a heavy hitter for the main story if I stayed on good terms. His presence or absence made a huge difference in Chapter 4's holy sword hunt.
"...Don't get cocky. I haven't fully acknowledged you ye—"
"Just drop it. No sore loser whining from a grown man."
"..."
Sure, after I'd wrecked an arm rolling around, I snapped a bit at the backtalk.
Sighing inwardly, I glanced outside the pit.
Eliya stared down blankly.
Like she was entranced.
'...She changed too, huh?'
Anyway, she was one I had to drag to the scenario's end, alongside Elnor. Top priority.
That's why I'd dangled that wish at Krat too. At minimum, no interference—even if no active help.
In the end, this mess was me fighting 'for her.'
She'd seemed down lately because of me, so partly to cheer her up. Hope it worked...
[System Message]
[Checking Negative Mark stack status on target 'Eliya'!]
[Enthralled by your appearance from 'Despair' state!]
[All harmful effects of Negative Mark released!]
[Major personality change occurs!]
[Favor greatly expands!]
[Target's favorability upgraded to 'Trust Stage 1'!]
[New receivable rewards added!]
[Target's exclusive quest unlock condition met!]
[Quest unlocked!]
[Content added to Gift tab!]
"..."
Yeah.
Expected the rise.
But what's all this?
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