Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Festival - 3
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Hand tilted to the left.
It was the direction of the purple bracelet, the same one Ellie had picked.
"Does that mean you don't need me today? Is that it?"
This time, hand tilted to the right.
It was the direction of the red bracelet, the same one Sua had picked.
"Earthbound Spirit?"
A cold voice brushed past his ear.
Ellie had only said his name curtly, but it was easy to guess what sentence she'd swallowed after it.
This, of all things—this absolutely could not be the right answer.
Hand turned left again.
"How do you do reverse summoning again...?"
"Hey, you gonna play it that cowardly?"
"If you want to enjoy a festival without fireworks, go ahead."
It was Sua, sulking either from pent-up resentment or clinging to the festival.
If she suddenly turned uncooperative, not only would the guard duties he'd been proxying as a summon go awry, but the fireworks scheduled afterward would face issues too.
Her petty response made his head spin.
Matching colors with Sua would send Ellie's mood into an irreversible nosedive, while matching with Ellie would have Sua toss aside all the favors she'd asked of him.
He could understand the former, but he hadn't expected Sua to act so unreasonably.
She knew he couldn't choose easily if she held the festival hostage, so she was deliberately throwing a tantrum.
"So, what color will it be? Red? Purple?"
The street vendor pressed for his choice.
He just swung his hand back and forth, unable to grab a bracelet.
The longest ten seconds of his life passed.
In the end, he pointed at one of the items on the stall with his finger.
"This one?"
"Yes, that one."
"Uh... alright."
The vendor handed over the bracelet, tilting his head.
Either way, he'd gotten paid for two bracelets, so he didn't mind.
There was a hint of disappointment at not seeing the fun he'd hoped for.
"Unexpected. I figured you'd pick a completely different color. Haha."
He hadn't chosen red or purple.
Instead, he'd bought two bracelets of an entirely different color, the same type.
"Why two? One for each arm?"
"No way you're planning to wear them with someone else...?"
"Gonna give them both to someone. Not for me."
Someone came to mind.
It was the only way to quickly escape this thornbush of a situation.
"......"
"Aw, boring."
It was a bittersweet solution, but the best choice considering both of them.
Crowds gathered at the park's center.
Coincidentally, it was the same spot used for the last guild sparring match.
Wide enough for two to clash freely, with benches around the center perfect for spectators.
And in the middle stood Raymond.
"Why? I'm the referee."
"Referee...?"
"Matches need referees, obviously?"
Fair point.
In a match deciding victory or defeat, a referee to judge was natural.
The question was why Raymond was taking that role.
An innkeeper who handled cleaning as quests had the expected physique.
Hardly suited for physical activity—doubtful he'd even refereed before, let alone sparred.
The guy who hadn't moved on time for festival prep duties had volunteered for sword match referee.
"Your look right now screams, 'Why's that guy reffing?'"
"Spot on."
"What's hard about refereeing? Just shout who downed who."
None of the participants were sore losers denying defeat, and it didn't demand top skills, so not wrong.
Still, no good answer to "Why Raymond, specifically?"
"I know how to make this match more fun."
"More fun?"
"I can read what you and the instructor are thinking."
"Picked up mind-reading in the meantime?"
"Quit yapping. Anyway, both of you think as long as you beat the other, victory's yours."
Due to the skill gap among the four participants.
Only Tiana could match him evenly; only he could match her.
Most townsfolk watching figured it'd be him or Tiana winning—outcome set.
Koon and Delion, similar-level guards, would put on a decent show for the crowd.
But insufficient to beat him or Tiana.
Raymond, displeased, grinned at him.
Then raised his voice to the audience.
"Alright, everyone! Before the match starts, one rule addition!"
Raymond's twist to steer the match unpredictably began.
He explained the rules.
One memory from his childhood.
"Guardian Knight, folks your age should know it."
"What's that?"
"You wouldn't, Earthbound Spirit. It was a popular sparring style back in the day."
First, Raymond handed him and Tiana each a sword.
Not real blades—wooden bokken.
A thud on the back revealed it was hollow inside.
They used real swords for habitual spars at the training grounds, so wooden for a sword match was unexpected.
Accidents in real sword spars were rare among experts.
Knowing the next strike would land, no one risked thrusting to the throat.
"Something's off. I heard it'd be real swords."
"Rules changed. Too dangerous if it hits."
"That sounds like underestimating my skill."
"Ah, getting hit applies to someone else."
Guardian Knight spars focused on 'guarding,' as named.
Not just defending oneself and striking the foe.
"Pick your protectee. Anyone in town except your opponent."
"What?"
"Choose carefully. Your protectee is your life in this match."
With wooden swords, exposure to the opponent's strikes wasn't lethal.
Tiana's strength would hurt, but tolerable a few times.
Rules-wise, taking a hit from the opponent was fine.
But brushing the opponent's protectee with the sword tip meant instant win.
Failing to guard yours meant loss.
That was Guardian Knight sparring entire.
Swordsman's skill still key, but not pure sword-on-sword.
Deep engagement weakened protectee defense.
Protectee's evasion and delay tactics influenced outcome.
"Note: Protectees can only evade—no attacking."
"Unarmed protectees attacking?"
"Before such rules, surprises happened. Just in case."
Aim to give Koon and Delion a shot at upset.
Standard swordplay would've made their win odds near zero.
Not easy with new rules, though.
'Who to pick as protectee?'
Easy to guard: smallest build?
Or fast mover for evasion?
Candidates swirled in mind.
"Oh, Earthbound Spirit picked Ellie, as expected!"
"Huh? Ellie?"
He hadn't named anyone yet.
Turning, Ellie was suddenly in his face from spectator seats.
"Why? Thinking of protecting another woman?"
"You sure? Bokken's a relief, but still hurts if hit."
"Hmm... really?"
That enigmatic smile again.
He knew what it meant.
"Got it. Guard you so it doesn't hurt, right?"
"Yes."
Ellie finally nodded, satisfied.
"Instructor Tiana? You need to pick a protectee too."
"Well... no one I particularly want to guard."
"Anyone's fine. Really, anyone."
"Even so..."
Unlike her confident air, Tiana struggled with the rule change.
As she hesitated, one spectator jumped out.
Bell, relatively petite.
"Can I do it?"
"Bell?"
"Scary since Earthbound Spirit's not on my side, but rare chance. I'm pretty fast at running!"
"Oh, a volunteer! Instructor, alright?"
"...Fine."
Protectees set for both.
Wooden swords in hand, the first act of Guardian Knight sparring began.