Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Perfect Imitation
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Clang-! Kreeeeeng-
As the sword bore down heavily from above, Lianus crossed his two blades to block it, then swiftly deflected it to one side.
'When deflecting, you can't give your opponent time to think. It has to flow naturally, like water. Don't let them twist the direction.'
Lianus muttered to himself inwardly.
After the deflection, his opponent wouldn't retreat but would spin with the momentum and counterattack immediately.
Whoosh-!
Sure enough, his older brother's sword followed the exact predicted trajectory without a single inch of error.
No, that wasn't quite right. It wasn't the path he had predicted. Precisely speaking, it was the path Nihil had shown him.
Lianus didn't back away but ducked low to evade. A bladeless practice sword whistled past the crown of his head.
If he had been just a bit taller, this dodge would have been utterly impossible.
The widely swung sword would take time to swing again, so counterattacking now could secure victory. He'd beaten Nihil—who was mimicking his older brother—in exactly this way.
But,
'Rian, you can't win.'
Lianus pressed his lips together and, instead of countering, retreated to widen the distance.
He had no intention of ignoring his best friend's advice from the start. He had simply been curious if the method that worked against Nihil would hold up against his older brother in real combat.
'It's exactly the same.'
It felt like doing the same sparring match all over again. No, more than once—it was like they'd already gone at it ten times.
He had never beaten Nihil when he was imitating their older brother, but yesterday, he'd finally snatched victory with this risky gamble.
Of course, he'd gotten scolded for it. Too dangerous. One wrong move, and his head would've taken a direct hit.
'How does Nil mimic him so perfectly? It really feels like sparring with Older Brother.'
His thoughtless question had made his friend's expression stiffen for a moment. Then came a mumbled response, uncharacteristic of him.
'...Mimic... essence...'
'...?'
'I... don't... exist... nothing... Rian.'
Lianus hadn't caught the full reply, but he'd resolved never to ask again. Something told him he should.
Clang-!
"...!"
The blade slammed down fiercely over his head once more, snapping him back to reality. He tried to deflect, but his back was arched too far, sapping his strength, and he could see his older brother deliberately restraining the sword's path.
"Getting lost in thought during a duel... Isn't that dangerous, Lianus?"
"...".
Unlike his gentle tone, his older brother pressed in close, bearing down with all his might. As if intent on crushing him flat.
Lianus debated simply admitting defeat. This was a match he wasn't supposed to win anyway, so ending it here would be fine.
'But... I want to go a little longer.'
With swordsmanship lessons abandoned for now, opportunities to spar with his older brother wouldn't come easily.
Of course, that didn't mean he had a way to turn the tables right now. He tried retreating or deflecting the path, but the longsword clung tight, pressing down from above.
"Lianus, holding out like that will strain your back."
"...".
"Wouldn't it be better to concede?"
"No."
Lianus replied curtly, then fully leaned back, collapsing his center of gravity. In that split second airborne, he twisted his waist and kicked his older brother's side, forcing him off balance.
Thud-!
He rolled noisily across the ground but succeeded in breaking free.
Lianus sprang up and reset his stance. The impact to his back made him cough repeatedly.
His older brother didn't fall despite the kick to his side. Nihil's assessment of his rock-solid balance had been spot on.
"...You're resorting to the same cheap tricks. Who taught you such crude moves?"
"Cough, cough. Older Brother will lose to those crude moves someday."
"...".
The air grew taut again as several fierce exchanges followed. Unlike before, tension was visible in his older brother's eyes. Meanwhile, since this was a fight he had to lose, Lianus felt mentally at ease.
'Nil would spin the sword in his hand sometimes...'
When Nihil wasn't mimicking their older brother, his movements were incredibly free and varied.
He'd toss the sword mid-duel or, while clashing blades, spin it half a turn to grip it in reverse.
He even used separated blade segments, which seemed full of openings but threw opponents into confusion like fighting multiple foes at once.
Beyond those flashy tricks, Nihil was exceptionally good at hand-to-hand combat. No, he was scarier without a weapon.
Something about not needing to control his strength.
His power was so immense that Lianus had once been grabbed by the collar and sent flying.
'Aaaargh!'
'Ack! Your Highness-!'
'Sir Evvaaans-!'
'Hang on.'
'You damn feral cat bastard-!'
Sir Evan had leaped in to grab him, and in that moment, he'd truly felt like a flying chew toy.
"...Laughing?"
Lost in recollection, he'd apparently smirked unconsciously. His older brother's face hardened.
Fearing a misunderstanding, Lianus quickly apologized.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought again...".
"...So you still have the leisure for distractions?"
Clang-! Screeech!
Angered, the sword plunged more viciously. His hands went numb.
His older brother's blade accelerated relentlessly. Lianus felt his own movements tangling up. Perhaps from wielding two-handed swords too long, both blades sometimes moved simultaneously.
"...!"
Clang-, one sword finally slipped from his grip with a loud ring.
"Nil! Watch out... Ugh!"
Lianus spotted the flying sword toward Nihil and tried to warn him, but his older brother lunged, knocking him off balance and sending him tumbling backward.
"Think you can afford to look away?"
"...The match is decided. Get off me, Older Brother."
Lianus shoved Lawrence's shoulder—straddling him with a blade to his throat—hard enough to make a thud, then hurried to Nihil.
"Nil, you okay?"
Nod, nod.
Fortunately, no injuries. It would be odd if his best friend got hurt by something like that.
"Well fought, both of you."
King Sedes inwardly marveled at Lianus's dramatic growth but feigned nonchalance as he spoke.
"Lawrence."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"I knew your skill was exceptional, but your calm handling of surprises was impressive. Your fundamentals are rock-solid."
"...I am honored."
"However, your sword paths are too straightforward. A bit more flexibility wouldn't hurt."
"I will... keep that in mind."
Despite the victory, Lawrence didn't look pleased. His ever-smiling face was slightly stiffened.
With Lianus's swordsmanship skills noticeably improved despite skipping lessons, it was understandable he'd be troubled. But since there was nothing Sedes could do, he turned his gaze elsewhere.
"Lianus."
"Y-Yes! Your Majesty."
"For someone who's only recently taken up dual swords, that was an outstanding duel. Skipping lessons without permission deserves reprimand, but finding a teacher and style suited to you is more important. I look forward to your future growth."
"Th-Thank you!"
"However, refrain from risky moves. Striving to win is good, but you mustn't get hurt."
"Yes, I will keep that in mind."
"Good. Well done, both of you. I expect the same from the rest of the evaluation."
Sedes said this while casually shoving aside the blank evaluation sheet—he had nothing to write.
"...!"
In that instant, the air shifted. The duke, who had been silently watching the duel, stepped forward slightly.
The old serpent made no effort to conceal his Swordmaster aura.
The subtle pressure made Sedes furrow his brow faintly. His breath caught, but he forced a calm facade.
"...Duke, do you have something to say?"
"It's just... quite intriguing."
He felt the nearby guard knights tense up. If the duke willed it, he could kill Sedes and place the 1st Prince on the throne.
Sedes's face crumpled further. He wished the old serpent's aura targeted only him, but it veered toward the white-haired boy.
'...I should have given Sirentea to Heinz.'
Sedes clenched his fist. The current helplessness, unable to call out this overreach, was pathetic.
Of course, he didn't regret giving Sirentea to Abel. But each time the duke pressured him like this, he couldn't help recalling his shadow knight, who'd said he could become a Swordmaster.
'Once Abel's treatment finishes, he'll reach 6th Circle without issue.'
Maybe even 7th. With the potential he'd shown as a child, dubbed the next Tower Master, it was possible. At 7th Circle, he could check even a Swordmaster to some degree.
Then, the air suddenly softened. Wondering why the duke backed off so easily, Sedes checked and saw displeasure etched on his face.
'Did he deliberately withdraw his aura?'
"Wh-Why are you doing this, Duke?"
Meanwhile, Lianus hesitated as the duke approached—not him, precisely, but his best friend.
"I've thought this since I first saw him... but he's utterly peculiar."
The duke raised one eyebrow, ramping up his aura. But it was quickly crushed by something else.
Lianus didn't know why the duke was acting this way, but determined to protect Nihil, he stepped forward. Normally, he couldn't even lift his head, but today, the duke didn't seem so frightening.
"Duke, I don't understand what you're saying. Do you have business with my best friend?"
"That thing... It's alive, isn't it?"
"...What do you mean?"
"It's right here in front of me, yet it feels like it doesn't exist."
Truly strange. No presence at all.
The duke flicked his wooden sword at Nihil's face veil. It lifted slightly before neatly slicing along the blade's path.
Through the parted veil, black opal eyes gleaming with an enigmatic light revealed themselves.
"What did my best friend do to deserve this threat!"
Lianus yanked Nihil into his arms. Even if the duke went berserk, he wouldn't lay hands on royalty.
By now, knights surrounded the duke, swords drawn in readiness.
The watching Sedes growled lowly.
"Tesaurus Duke, don't cross the line."
"It's merely a wooden sword."
"To a Swordmaster, even a twig can be a lethal weapon."
At that, Calor demonstratively tossed his wooden sword aside and reined in his aura.
As the knights sighed in relief, only Evan maintained tension, blocking Lianus's path.
Calor smirked at Evan as if it were amusing.
"Loyalty so touching it brings tears."
"...".
"How long will that hypocrisy earn you favor?"
"...That's for me to bear."
"Insolent whelp."
"...!"
Suddenly, Evan's knee buckled with a thud. The duke was unleashing his aura again.
Under the suffocating pressure, Evan gasped repeatedly. He sensed his baby kitten fretting behind him but had no mind to soothe.
The old serpent's lip curled slyly.
"Know your place...".
Thwack-!
"Guh!?"
Something struck Evan's back as the duke spoke.
Thwack, thwack, thwack-!
It kept coming.
"Guh, you mad... guh, bastard, stop...!"
Thwack, thwack-!
"Ow! I said stop!"
Evan finally snatched Nihil by the scruff. The crushing aura vanished naturally.
No, it hadn't vanished. The duke was still emanating it—it simply wasn't reaching him.
Sure enough, the old serpent's face twisted in fury.
"...Sorry."
In the end, with the disobedient feral cat tucked under his arm, he bowed his head again. But that wouldn't soothe the duke's mood.
"What is that thing?"
"...".
The duke stared at the gray-haired boy gazing back expressionlessly. He'd shifted the pressure from the 2nd Prince's guard knight to the boy, but those enigmatic eyes showed no flicker of disturbance.
"Truly a doll...".
"Keurk."
"...?"
The still boy—no, the gray-haired one—suddenly spat something red.
"Blood...?"
The boy wiped the blood from his mouth as if he'd never coughed and stared up at the duke again.
Then, a sobbing voice echoed from afar.
"Sob, Y-Your, Your Majesty, the Duke is sob, bullying my friend and, hic, my knight..., waaah, waaaaaah."