Chapter 28
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Friendly Spar
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“That friend of yours really stands out. Even I, a complete layman when it comes to knights or swordsmanship, can tell at a glance how exceptional he is.”
“As expected, Viscount Domos has a keen eye. That friend is none other than Cleidor, the captain of our house's knight order. The time, effort, and gold we poured into recruiting him were staggering, but I don't regret a single bit—he's that good. Hahaha!”
“Is he really that impressive? Someone might mistake him for your secret son.”
Lilia overheard the praise for Cleidor from where she sat.
She jabbed her elbow into Cleven, who stood behind her, and teased him.
“They say so? Must be nice. Having such a brilliant big brother.”
“You said it. Thanks to having a brother who's too brilliant, life as the little brother is pure misery.”
Cleidor dominated from the training's start to finish, outshining even the unusually elite knights of a baron's order.
Once training wrapped up...
Cleidor paraded the knights, then took position at the front. Representing the order, he saluted Yegar and reaffirmed his loyalty.
“Well done, Captain Cleidor. Viscount Hirobenkal is thoroughly pleased, and that makes me proud. Organizing and running a joint training for the entire order can't have been easy—you handled it superbly.”
“Just doing my duty, my lord. Your praise is too much.”
“Nonsense. You deserve every bit of it. Don't you agree, Viscount Domos?”
“Absolutely! Quite the spectacle. I'm not usually one for this sort of thing, but time flew by today.”
Clap clap clap clap!
Domos applauded personally, and Cleidor bowed his head in thanks.
“We can't just send hardworking knights away empty-handed—that's not the mark of a true lord. Go on, name your reward. I'll open the coffers today to honor your efforts.”
“Then I have one request.”
“Yes, what is it?”
As if it had been rehearsed, Cleidor turned his gaze not to Yegar, but to Domos.
“I've heard tales of the Gurkan Mountains and the infamous Gurkan Orcs who rule them. Yet Sir Alpha, Viscount Hirobenkal's proxy, not only sought out those dreaded orcs alone but even negotiated a trade route with them. Is that true?”
“It is. But why do you ask?”
Domos countered, and Cleidor bowed low with his plea.
“To challenge such a hero and test my limits against him—it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that might never come again! I beg you, grant me this precious chance.”
“...”
Johann met Domos's glance and gave a subtle nod.
Johann strode to the training ground's center, met by the knights' piercing stares ringing the field.
“Thank you for granting my request, Sir Alpha.”
“I'm not sure a spar like this is fitting recompense for such an impressive joint training.”
“It's more than enough. Though...”
Cleidor pointed to Johann's empty hip and hands.
“If you tell me your preferred weapon, I'll provide the finest quality...”
“I appreciate the thought, but I'll pass. If I ever deem you a foe who warrants me drawing steel, then I'll make the request.”
“...”
Cleidor's lips curved into a smile at Johann's confident demeanor.
The joint training had shown his opponent he was no pushover.
“If you think what you just saw was my all, you'll regret it sorely, Sir Alpha.”
“I'd be disappointed if that was your all. Come at me anytime.”
Whoosh!
Johann crooked a finger in invitation, and Cleidor—muscles relaxed, tension shed—blasted forward in a straight charge.
“Fast!”
“Captain's going all out, huh?”
“What're you talking about? The guy's unarmed.”
“His choice. No idea how tough he is, but barehanded against Captain Cleidor? He's asking to die.”
Even they, proud of outmatching other orders, knew a full-force mob couldn't wipe the grin off Cleidor's face.
The knights were certain: no matter how skilled the foe, he'd pay dearly for the insult.
But...
Whoosh! Swish! Fwip fwip fwip!
“Good lord... I can't make heads or tails of it. Can you see them, Sir Yegar?”
“Truth be told, I can't either... Hahaha!”
Cleidor's speed was hard for knights to track with the eye.
Naturally, non-practitioners like Domos and Yegar saw nothing.
But some watched gravely: Lilia and Cleven among them.
“Are they both using aura?”
“Not sure. But my brother—no, the captain—isn't using it yet. Aura changes the air around you completely.”
“I knew the captain was strong, but not this strong. Still...”
Lilia's astonished gaze shifted from Cleidor to Johann.
If I'd been there, dodging or blocking even one of the captain's serious strikes would've been incredibly tough. But Sir Alpha is evading or deflecting them with ease. That's impossible without reading the captain's moves in advance...
Lilia couldn't imagine it.
How many battlefields Johann had survived, how many fights he'd won in them.
That experience lived on in him now.
Spotting an opponent's breathing told him their style in a glance.
The rest was clashing to confirm, then countering accordingly.
Even complex styles boiled down to a handful of core sword forms once the frills were stripped.
This should do it...
Johann dodged assaults, or—if needed—slapped the flat with palm or backhand to redirect.
Most would've lost cool and composure by now...
Not enough? Or maybe...
Cleidor's eyes sparkled fiercer as he pressed on, forcing Johann into a wry inner smile.
Oblivious, Cleidor beamed like a thrilled child, ramping up the barrage.
He's strong! Felt it facing him before, but now I'm sure—this guy's beyond my wildest imagination!
The foe stood right there, yet swinging felt like slicing empty air—hollow.
No matter how he tried, he couldn't envision Johann yielding to his blade.
Not blindingly fast, but those movements dissected his attacks perfectly, as if preempted.
For once, Cleidor could swing freely.
No fear of maiming a worthy foe, pure earnest swordplay after ages.
That instant!
Thud. Swoosh!
Whoosh!
Eh? Why's the sky under my feet...?
Cleidor panicked.
Mid-step, his balance foot slipped—sky and earth flipped suddenly.
Thud!
“...!”
The bone-rattling impact nearly blacked him out.
“Captain!”
“He didn't just go down, did he?”
The shocked crowd half-stood, staring wide-eyed at Cleidor sprawled spread-eagle.
“No way... Captain got fireman's-carried by Sir Alpha?”
Lilia gasped. Cleven scowled.
“Not your average carry. Brother's full plate adds twenty kilos easy, and the steel armor reflects shock inward—way more damage. Plus, if my eyes didn't lie, Sir Alpha timed it perfectly to flip him mid-acceleration. Impact like falling unprotected from a second-story roof.”
“Then the captain...”
“He's fine. Not the type to drop from that.”
Cleven grinned confidently.
True to word, Cleidor soon clutched his head and rose slowly.
“You should've stayed down. Sky and ground'll blur for a while. Bet you're fighting nausea right now, huh?”
“Hah... hah...! Spot on. But where else do I find a powerhouse like Sir Alpha to cut loose against? Lord Yegar taught me: seize chances with all you've got.”
That moment.
Vrrrrmmm...!
Mana surged inside Cleidor, resonating with the air, radiating an eerie aura.
Even non-sensitives felt it indirectly.
“Captain's channeling mana!”
“For real?”
“Captain at full power? First time seeing it?”
As the knights buzzed, Cleidor going all-out was a rare sight.
Johann's smile faded.
As expected...
Cleidor's swordsmanship was a notch below Gellpin's, bluntly put.
But as an Aura User, Johann suspected he edged out Gellpin.
Training and spar alike, mana flowed instinctively with his moves—unconscious proof.
Gellpin's mid-novice Aura User; Cleidor's novice-high. And with his youth, the gap'll widen.
A baron's order boasting a novice Aura User was astounding enough.
Even mid-novice like Gellpin could captain a viscount's knights easy.
Domos looked shocked too.
“L-Lord Yegar? Why didn't you mention Captain Cleidor's an Aura User?”
“Didn't seem worth bragging about. Even he isn't satisfied with his level yet.”
Yegar stood and called out.
“This friendly spar's gone far enough. No need for blood—shall we call it? What say you, Sir Alpha?”
“I'll defer to Sir Cleidor.”
“Very well. Captain, your thoughts? I'll respect them.”
Cleidor reined in his mana, sheathed his blade.
“I got carried away. My apologies. As my lord says, no life-or-death stakes here—we'd only embarrass each other with needless injuries. I'll never forget today's lesson. Thank you, Sir Alpha.”
The call suited Johann fine.
Lightning Mana could've stayed hidden longer—better that way.
“I learned plenty too. Next chance, no regrets.”
“By then, I'll be strong enough to see your true face.”
They shook hands, ending the friendly spar.