Chapter 301 Sparring and Conscience
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 301
Chapter Title: Sparring and Conscience
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At dawn the next day.
Jeong Yoo-shin, the Skars, Cian, and Karin gathered in one place.
There was only one reason they gathered in the morning.
It was to watch the sparring match between Jeong Yoo-shin and the middle-aged Skar.
Everyone crouched in a row under the shade of the wall and watched Jeong Yoo-shin and the middle-aged Skar warm up.
The mystic guy yawned and slumped down.
"Why did I also have to come out?"
"Aren't you curious about how our youngest fights?"
"Not really."
He grumbled with his mouth, but the mystic guy's eyes were focused on Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Didn't everyone hear about it while we were having a drink last night? The kind of ability that guy has."
The big-breasted Skar shook her head.
"He achieved an Imprint Synergy. Was it Danse Macabre? But we have to observe his actual fighting style, excluding the Imprint Synergy. Seeing it in person is faster than hearing about it. It's starting."
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had finished warming up, held his longsword. He used a real sword for this spar to fight like he was in an actual combat situation.
The middle-aged Skar also raised his greatsword.
The greatsword was an ordinary Zweihänder. It had a ricasso near the crossguard to allow for half-swording, where you can grip the sword blade and fight.
Jeong Yoo-shin took a middle stance and looked at the middle-aged Skar.
"Here I come."
"Come at me comfortably, youngest."
Jeong Yoo-shin narrowed his eyes.
'It's not easy.'
The middle-aged Skar was just standing still with his sword resting on his shoulder, but it was hard to find an opening against him.
'I'll engage first!'
Jeong Yoo-shin switched to a high stance and rushed in.
Fast steps.
A strike swinging down from above.
Jeong Yoo-shin tried to skillfully close the distance and seize the momentum. Seeing that, the middle-aged Skar smiled shadily.
The middle-aged Skar immediately grabbed the ricasso and swung his greatsword.
Swoooooosh!!!
The greatsword, swung in a half-swording posture, tore through the air and quickly aimed for Jeong Yoo-shin's head.
With a speed almost similar to a longsword.
'Shit!'
The astonished Jeong Yoo-shin gripped his sword hilt tightly.
Claaaaaaaaang!!!
Sparks flew, and the sound of metal rang loudly through the yard.
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned and quickly stepped back.
'What's with that physical strength?'
His wrist burned.
When the sword and greatsword clashed, if he hadn't deflected the greatsword, the power would have been enough to shatter his sword and wrist bones entirely.
The middle-aged Skar quickly changed his posture and swung his greatsword again.
A middle slash.
He only turned his foot slightly, but the greatsword, loaded with rotational force, quickly slashed toward Jeong Yoo-shin's waist.
Kwaaaaaaaah!!!
Even the sound it made as it tore through the air was different.
Jeong Yoo-shin dug into the focal point of the swing and deflected it with a parry.
His action was faster than his thoughts.
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately rushed in and aimed for the hilt of the greatsword.
One.
Two.
"...!"
The greatsword that was sweeping sideways changed direction in an instant.
A straight slash coming up from below.
That’s possible?!
Astonished by the impossible posture change, Jeong Yoo-shin quickly turned his body.
Whoooooooosh!!!
The greatsword that came up from below grazed past Jeong Yoo-shin's side.
Cut hair fluttered and slowly flew in the sky.
"Rhythm."
The middle-aged Skar said briefly.
Jeong Yoo-shin's face stiffened like a board.
Goosebumps ran down his spine.
From that single sword strike exchange, the middle-aged Skar instantly grasped his opponent's timing.
The depth of his skill was on a different level.
"Let's continue. Do your best."
The middle-aged Skar gripped his greatsword short again and thrust it forward like a short spear.
Swoooooosh!!!
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened once again.
'No, this is crazy!'
It was definitely a greatsword…
But why is it aiming for my neck as fast as a spear thrust?
Was that even possible?
Jeong Yoo-shin twisted his body again and dodged the greatsword's thrust.
As if it was just beginning…
The middle-aged Skar's greatsword became faster and faster.
Jeong Yoo-shin couldn't even blink.
If he hadn't fought Thunder Blade Jern once, it would have been hard for him to follow such fast sword strikes with his eyes.
'I can't be pushed back in physical strength like this.'
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately gathered his mana.
[Sacred Weapon]
Property infusion.
Half-Ogre Gauntlet.
A golden gauntlet that increases the caster's strength appeared on Jeong Yoo-shin's hands.
Claaaaaaaaang!!!
Once again, the sword and greatsword clashed in the air.
However…
The middle-aged Skar pushed Jeong Yoo-shin's sword away without batting an eye.
'It'll break!'
He hurriedly let go of the longsword and ended up bare-handed.
[Sacred Weapon]
He created a golden halberd in his hands and swung it.
The halberd and the greatsword clashed loudly.
Kra-booooooooom!!!
The air burst, and dust rose from the yard floor.
'I have to change my fighting style!'
Jeong Yoo-shin made fast steps, summoned golden weapons, and faced the middle-aged Skar.
Starting from a simple battle of skills…
He was bringing out imprint abilities one by one.
Sword, axe, dagger, mace, spear, and more.
Dozens of golden weapons shone with the morning sunlight from Jeong Yoo-shin's hands.
The middle-aged Skar's face clouded for a moment, and then a small smile appeared on his face.
He had heard rumors, but clashing directly, he understood.
To be more precise…
He understood what kind of life his counterpart had lived up until now.
'He's crossed the threshold of death more than once or twice.'
He himself was no different, but…
This handsome guy was getting stronger while frugally taking care of the ties he had made.
He probably didn’t know…
Every weapon he had swung contained the posture of someone else.
Traces of Imperial swordsmanship also occasionally showed up.
He must have learned it from that woman called the hero.
The middle-aged Skar, who was swinging his greatsword while lost in thought, jerked his head.
Phlegm grazed his cheek.
"...Youngest, isn't that a bit too much?"
"You told me to do my best, didn't you?"
"..."
Increasingly despicable moves began to appear in the handsome Skar's fighting style.
The middle-aged Skar held back a hollow laugh.
From Jeong Yoo-shin’s fighting style, traces of how he had desperately climbed up from the bottom started to show.
He had learned various fighting styles in a really short time.
TS Skar, who was watching the fight, dropped her jaw in shock.
"He fights really well, right? Is this really his first year in this city?"
The mystic guy leaning against the wall grinned.
"Look at him spitting. He has no hesitation. I like him."
Karin was staring blankly at Jeong Yoo-shin's fight as if her soul had left her body.
Cian silently watched the middle-aged Skar fight with her eyes wide open.
She was sure…
That greatsword technique was definitely from the Empire's.
The middle-aged Skar, who had been continuing the sparring for a long time, stepped back.
"Let’s stop here. You worked hard."
Jeong Yoo-shin's body was drenched in sweat for the first time in a while.
"Haaaak!!! Haaaaaak!!!"
He was breathing hard.
However…
Let alone his breathing getting rough, not even the collar of the middle-aged Skar's clothes was disheveled.
"Hoooooo. Crazy."
Jeong Yoo-shin, who was gasping for breath, flopped down on the ground.
His muscles were stiff, but his head was burning hot.
Let alone mind games, no fighting style worked on the middle-aged Skar.
Rather, he twisted the timing and counterattacked.
Since this wasn't a life-or-death fight, Jeong Yoo-shin clearly felt that the man controlled his strength and speed.
Cian shot up from her seat and approached the middle-aged Skar.
"Excuse me."
"Hmm?"
The middle-aged Skar turned his head.
Cian looked at the middle-aged Skar with a stiff face.
"The sword technique you just used is..."
"Ah. It's the Empire's greatsword technique."
"A-As expected, is that so?!"
Cian's eyes sparkled.
Jeong Yoo-shin made a blank expression.
"First brother was from the Empire?"
The middle-aged Skar made a bitter smile.
"I spent quite a long time in the Empire."
"Then your imprints are...?"
The middle-aged Skar shook his head.
"I have no imprints."
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin now understood why he only used a greatsword.
"What’s your level?"
The middle-aged Skar thought deeply and shrugged his shoulders.
"I haven't counted since going past 60."
"Hah."
No wonder he was crazily strong.
How many monsters in the world had he cut down?
And…
Where did those monsters come from?
The middle-aged Skar noticed the question in Jeong Yoo-shin's gaze and merely smiled.
"I'll tell you later. First, there are a few things the handsome Skar needs to do. First, continue sparring with me every dawn. I think it’ll be a good experience for you."
"Sounds good."
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded. He had already thought that he lacked an opponent to spar with to his heart's content.
"And it seems like you got an imprint that summons weapons, but the summoning cooldown’s too long. I see openings. You have to reduce it to less than now. It's a problem with your mana operation, so Second Brother will have to be the one to help you with this."
The mystic guy waved his hand.
"Trust me and leave it to me. I'll help you."
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the mystic guy.
"Mystic, what’s your level?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, the second brother grinned.
"Me? I think I'm around 50? I forgot after a while too."
Jeong Yoo-shin's expression crumpled.
'He really is stronger than me.'
His own level was currently 10.
It was a situation where the level difference with the others was overwhelming.
Next was the big-breasted Skar.
"What about you?"
"I'm level 40."
The middle-aged Skar intervened.
"When I talked with the fourth yesterday, she had quite the extensive knowledge about imprint operation. Of course, there will be many absurd moves like spitting in the face, but if we think together, there will be other moves too."
The TS Skar smiled and beat her chest. At the jiggling and swaying breasts, the mystic guy opened his eyes wide.
"I'm the fourth and in charge of thinking? Leave it to me!"
"Jiggle jiggle. There are three heads."
The mystic guy muttered blankly.
"Stop making fun of my breasts. You ugly guy."
"But what's with those clothes? Dolphin pants all of a sudden."
"Karin lent them to me, and they're the most comfortable to wear."
TS Skar stuck out her thighs. Her firm muscles and plump flesh were balanced, exuding a healthy beauty.
The mystic guy frowned.
"Come to think of it, I feel a bit unfairly treated? I think I could think of imprint operation methods too, right?"
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had swapped with Cian, slowly approached him.
"What do you have?"
The mystic guy swung his fist in the air.
"You have a Half-Incubus imprint, right? If you put lustful energy into your fist and hit the belly, a lust sigil stamp slams forward! Sow Punch! It’s good, right?"
The big-breasted Skar and Karin glared at the mystic guy with cold eyes.
"Is this guy crazy?"
"Ugh. Robe Skar is a pervert!"
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his forehead.
'Actually, I thought about it too.'
He should just keep his mouth shut here. If he stays still, he'll at least be able to dodge the pervert accusation.
While people were chatting in low voices…
The middle-aged Skar and Cian finished their sparring, and Karin stepped up next.
Perhaps because neither of them had neglected their training, their movements were agile and their weapon strikes were sharp.
The middle-aged Skar smiled and gently stroked Karin's head.
"Both Cian and Karin are excellent. Your combat senses are outstanding. The handsome Skar is blessed with people."
"Hehe."
Karin’s wolf ears twitched as she smiled goofily.
At that time…
Creeeeak.
The kitchen door opened, and the wolf beast-person Skar peeked his head out.
"Please come eat."
The mystic guy quickly turned his head.
"Third Brother, what's the menu?"
"Army... No. Sausage stew."
"Ooh."
"Really?!"
The big-breasted Skar and the mystic guy shot up from their seats.
They had been wondering what the familiar smell wafting from the kitchen was.
The people who had finished sparring all flocked together, went into the dining room, and took their seats.
As they sat down and waited for a moment…
The third brother brought a whole pot of steaming sausage stew, put it in bowls, and handed them out.
"Third Brother went through a lot of trouble since dawn. Good job."
"It smells good."
"I'll eat well."
The people scooped their stew with their spoons and put it in their mouths along with words of thanks.
Jeong Yoo-shin also smiled at the wolf beast-person once and ate his stew.
The slightly spicy and rich broth, beans, sausage, and cheese mixed in his mouth, evoking a nostalgic taste.
Karin's eyes sparkled.
"It's really delicious!"
The wolf beast-person grinned.
"That's a relief."
The mystic guy trembled and laughed.
"Kuuu. I want to have a daytime drink in the morning."
"What drink? Hurry up and go to the Mage Tower."
"Stop picking on me. My hair’s going to fall out at this rate."
The big-breasted Skar and the mystic guy started bickering again.
The wolf beast-person guy, who was watching them, smiled faintly.
"Oh?! Third Brother is smiling!"
When TS Skar pointed at the wolf beast-person, the people's gazes focused on him.
"What's so fun?"
At the mystic guy's question, the wolf beast-person guy turned his gaze away and scratched his cheek.
"Just… It's more fun to eat with people who have taste than eating alone."
"..."
The people were silent for a moment.
It was a simple sentence, but the loneliness contained within it could be felt vividly.
The big-breasted Skar tapped the wolf beast-person guy's side.
"You can eat well and rest this time before you go back."
The middle-aged Skar smiled softly.
"Fourth's words are right. But has everyone thought of a name for themselves?"
No one answered.
Indeed.
It was because they had been out of their minds drinking last night.
The mystic guy stealthily raised his hand.
"I thought about it deeply last night, but this was the only one I could come up with. Call me Henry Ca*ill."
When the name of the actor from Su*erman popped out…
"..."
The surrounding atmosphere chillingly sank briefly.
The Skars made dumbfounded expressions.
"...Even if you have no conscience, that’s still too little."
"Grrrrr! Don't eat the stew I made!"
The middle-aged Skar also cleared his throat and turned his head away.
"Second Brother, please come up with a somewhat plausible name and come back."
The mystic guy, unable to bear the others picking on him, raised his voice.
"No. Why are you only doing this to me?! It's unfair, unfair!"
A morning inn in full spring.
It was bustling with people's laughter and the mystic guy's shouts.
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T/N - Lol, calling himself Henry Cavill, the robe Skar truly is chuni. 😂
Also, we get some background info about the other Skars here. So the middle-aged Skar is actually middle-aged, and it’s not an imprint like I first thought. And it seems like levels exist even outside the labyrinth as long as you kill monsters. Middle-aged Skar’s world must have had its labyrinth explode already if he’s hunting monsters all the way from the Empire.
Also, it now makes sense why they treat the MC as the youngest. Because he literally is the youngest out of the 6 Skars. Timeline and parallel world shenanigans and all that.