Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: No Normal People Here
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The attempt to trip her up fizzled out in an instant as Elena swiftly dodged backward.
With my first gambit failing, all I could do now was attack.
I swung my wooden sword at Elena.
A one-on-one duel is all about the flow, after all.
One side attacks, the other defends.
You wouldn't thrust forward with a sword at your throat just because you desperately want to attack, right?
That'd make you a lunatic—or someone suicidal enough to take the opponent down with you.
You could look for an opening or dodge if there was distance, sure.
But as Elena retreated, I'd closed in, so the gap between us hadn't widened much.
Right waist, left shoulder.
I aimed for her upper body—any spot that could land a solid hit.
My swordsmanship was beginner-level, so there had to be gaps here and there.
'...Why isn't she coming at me?'
She showed no signs of counterattacking.
Attacking someone who's dead set on defense isn't easy.
That's when the openings appear... the moment they switch to offense.
That was my plan.
But Elena parried every one of my strikes with her usual blank expression.
At this rate, I'd just be wasting my stamina, putting me at a disadvantage.
So I whispered just loud enough for the surrounding knights not to hear.
"...What? Is that all you've got?"
"......"
"They call you a genius...! Ugh, but you're nothing special?"
Right now, I was using Body Reinforcement, a staple skill for medieval fantasy knights.
It hadn't been long since I'd learned it, so the output was weak, but it should've added at least ten percent more weight to my swings.
Meanwhile, she was fighting barehanded—no reinforcement at all.
Even accounting for the natural strength difference between men and women, it should be tough for her.
How the hell was she blocking this? Seriously, no clue.
"Why not ditch the sword at this point... and go sip tea with the young ladies in the back garden?"
"......"
"I'll take good care of the ducal house for you...!"
If she'd gotten mad or shown any reaction, I could've figured something out.
But Elena just kept blocking my sword from that one step back she'd taken at the start.
A few minutes passed like that.
After dozens of clashes.
Elena's tightly shut lips finally parted slowly.
"Is that all?"
"...What?"
After staying quiet this whole time, that's what she says?
Is that all?
"Ha."
Okay, fine. That one got under my skin.
I'm putting everything I've got into this so-called spar, and she's noob-stomping me? That's harsh!
"Y-Yeah, that's all! I've only been holding a sword for two months...!"
"I see."
She effortlessly deflected a strike I'd put real force into, then slowly nodded.
-Paang!
For the first time, she struck back hard with her wooden sword.
My arm bounced away, exposing my chest wide open.
Elena didn't miss the chance and swung.
A downward slash—the basics of Rovelen swordsmanship.
But unlike a regular knight's strike, Elena's sword was beautiful.
A perfectly straight trajectory, without the slightest waver.
"Hup...!"
I forced my recoiled arm to block the sword.
Normally, you'd hold horizontally to block an overhead strike.
But I swung to clash offense with offense.
Our wooden swords met quickly.
And when they did...
"Good work."
The wooden sword flew from my hand.
-Ah.
-Shit.
Sighs of disappointment rose from around us.
Just as everyone expected, I wasn't enough to block Elena's sword.
Or so... that's what I wanted them to think.
"......"
I hadn't gripped the sword tightly from the start.
I'd planned to ditch it anyway.
What I was aiming for was that split-second opening—like with Arwen's artifact—when senses get thrown off.
Elena's sword, with a bit more force to parry, wavered slightly from the unexpectedly light impact.
And since I'd twisted my body early to dodge...
-Paak.
Her sword grazed the edge of my left shoulder by a hair.
And then...
'Wong-i...!'
I called out mentally to my mascot, Wong-i.
-Wong-i.
Before the duel started, I'd secretly kept some dirt in my gauntlet instead of tossing it.
It wriggled out now, forming a hard shell over my knuckles.
Swordsmanship was a lost cause anyway, so this was the technique I'd drilled with Wong-i for a week straight...!
It was just a bit harder now—not enough to knock me out from one hit.
"If I can just land one...!"
Even the Duke couldn't complain about that!
Elena widened her eyes and tried to back away.
-Tuk.
But Wong-i's signature move—packing dirt and hardening it—stopped her cold.
I'd made it subtle so no one else would notice.
Good thing it worked.
'Nice one, Wong-i! Roll around in dirt to your heart's content later!'
-Wong-i.
I aimed for her stomach to keep it from hurting too much.
Hitting anywhere else might get me beaten by the Duke later.
"Sorry, Sis. Just take one...!"
Elena stared blankly at the approaching fist.
"......Surprised."
"...Guhk!"
As her lips parted, a shock hit from below.
Looking down, Elena's leg had somehow slammed into my solar plexus.
The unexpected impact sent me flying back.
She used the recoil to retreat.
-Whoosh.
My fist sliced through empty air.
Damn, even after all that, no dice?
She's insanely strong!
"Gah, kek!"
Even as the shock choked my breath, I quickly backed away and snatched my flying wooden sword.
Not out of any knightly honor.
I just figured pissed-off Elena was about to hit way harder now.
"......"
Thankfully, she stood a short distance away, hand on her chest, still.
That distant look in her eyes—was she having some epiphany?
If so, it'd be great if she put in a good word with her dad after.
"Sorry."
"......Huh?"
Elena closed her eyes deliberately.
"I'll get serious."
A bluish aura wrapped around her body.
Mana so dense it dwarfed my own Body Reinforcement.
And that red, alien glow on her wooden sword was probably...
"W-Wait a sec, Sis... I mean, Lady! If that hits, I'll really, really die...!"
"It's fine."
"No, fuck. I'm telling you, people die from that...!"
What the hell was "fine" supposed to mean?
That I wouldn't feel pain if I died? Or that even if she bisected me, a priest could fix it?
Personally, I'd prefer neither.
-Tadak!
I raised my wooden sword just in time to block Elena's incoming strike.
A wooden-sword-only stance: palm on the blade tip to deflect a side attack.
Maybe because of the urgency, my form was near-perfect despite the lack of time—just like the knight taught.
It met Elena's sword.
"Huh?"
Like slicing cake, no resistance—my wooden sword parted smoothly.
Wood... cuts that easily?
Her sword slid in like an automatic door and smashed my waist.
"Fuck, for real."
After that, I don't remember.
My vision went black, body floating like on a ride.
At least give me something to see.
-Kwang!
Ah, the sudden agony means I tumbled across the ground a few times.
They say there's a suspension bridge effect.
Was my pounding heart from falling in love... or just spasms?
"Fuc..."
"Get up."
"Ah...?"
"It's fine. I held back."
The voice nearby made me open my eyes. Blurry vision caught a black silhouette.
Elena?
What, here to rub in the win with one last taunt?
"Take it back."
"......Take what back?"
"The first provocation."
Provocation?
The very first one... calling her makeup heavy?
Elena's vibe screamed she'd hit me again if I stayed quiet.
So I answered fast.
"Oh, c'mon. That was obviously a joke to psych you out... I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you, Sis...?"
"......Good."
She nodded, seemingly satisfied, and walked off.
Did she really just come back for that? She's got a weird personality.
"...Hoo."
Tension released, and my strength drained away.
I lost.
Honestly, I never thought I'd win... but a guy can hope, right?
I figured I could land at least one.
Yeah, I was too optimistic.
Contracting with Wong-i didn't make me dramatically stronger or anything.
"Urgh."
Dirt everywhere on my body and head. Gotta wash up back home.
Elena was gone, spar over. Time for me to get up too.
Just as I tried...
-Beep.
"Ah."
Tinnitus hit, delayed shock dropping me back down.
So that's what she meant by "held back"...
"She left time for an excuse, huh."
Something told me there were no normal people in this ducal house.
Or maybe all fantasy nobles were like this.
-Wong-i!
As if agreeing excitedly, Wong-i's voice was the last thing I heard.
Then I blacked out completely.
"Good work today."
"Yeah."
That night after the spar.
Elena had bathed and returned to her room, where Eirin was brushing her hair.
Body care from her bodyguard knight wasn't part of the job.
But she'd asked to try it once, and now it was routine.
"Why'd you do it?"
"Pardon?"
"The spar. You told me to."
Elena knew her skills had been off lately.
Ever since manifesting aura, her mana and all senses had gone haywire.
She agreed with Eirin that rebuilding from basic swordsmanship was needed.
"But I could've done it without a spar."
That was regular training stuff.
No need to ask Father for a special duel setup.
"What do you think the Lady lacks most right now?"
"Dunno."
"...Quite straightforward."
If she knew, she'd have fixed it already.
As Elena blinked expectantly, Eirin relented.
"...I think it's the intent behind the sword."
"...Intent?"
"Yes. What lies at its end. Why swing the sword. Cliché, but vital."
Intent.
In other words, primal desires and goals?
Elena understood Eirin's point immediately.
No one knew her better than herself.
She'd lived because she was born, swung the sword because she had talent.
So no clear goal came to mind.
"I saw a glimpse of it in your final strike."
"Final?"
She remembered that last hit, aura-wrapped.
It could've seriously hurt him, but she trusted her control.
Not a panicked output spike from a surprise attack.
She'd had plenty of time.
But...
'...Did I need to use aura?'
She wasn't sure why she'd done it.
Body Reinforcement via mana would've sufficed.
His sloppy form—she could've ended it in a few exchanges.
But the reason she'd pulled out aura was...
"I felt sorry."
Slacking against someone coming at her sincerely wasn't right.
He'd fought so desperately, covered in bruises.
"Yes, the first time your sword held true will. Congratulations."
"...Really?"
"Even if sparked by others, you chose it yourself."
I see.
The lack of intent in her sword.
She just hadn't found something worthwhile among what she'd seen.
Young as she was, living more, seeing more, feeling deeper—something would settle in her heart, become her standard, her life.
No need to rush.
"What puzzled me more was the beginning."
"Beginning?"
"When the Young Master tripped you, I thought you'd end it instantly."
Ah, that.
She'd been a bit flustered, honestly.
That weird rule of yielding the first move, then starting with a sneak attack.
But...
"...That would've been too pitiful."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. He prepared a lot."
She knew from Eirin's report about the spirit contract.
He'd planned strategies for the duel.
If she crushed him instantly, wouldn't that waste all his effort?
"It seemed a bit dangerous for that."
"...Ah."
...Eirin saw it.
First time, really.
Someone calling her ugly upon seeing her face.
She'd nearly countered on reflex, barely stopping her hand in time.
Debutante done, she was used to noble ladies' roundabout insults.
But straight to her face? Even Elena couldn't respond right away.
Beauty standards vary.
So hearing his true feelings at the end relieved her a bit.
"It's fine. It was fun."
"...I was shocked."
"Why?"
"You seem to care for the Young Master more than I thought."
Care for him.
Thinking about it, her feelings toward Dane were close to fondness.
Not blood family, someone she'd never met before.
Why? Well...
"...Eirin."
"Yes, Lady."
"I think... I wanted a little brother."
Mother died giving birth to her; only Father qualified as family.
But at banquets, seeing other young ladies holding hands, chatting happily...
She'd felt a twinge of envy.
So her rare brother felt special.
"He's cute too."
"...Pardon?"
His rare dark hair gave a sense of kinship, maybe.
His occasional curses sounded like a hissing kitten—adorable.
"...What about Hoban Young Master, then?"
"Huh?"
"The orange-haired boy we run into sometimes."
Hoban—butterfly count's kid?
Always approaching at banquets, seeming to pick fights but ultimately obedient...
"Not cute."
Not like Dane.
Was that a problem?
Eirin frowned in confusion at her answer.
"It's all about looks, then..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Time for bed. I'll take my leave."
"Yeah, good work."
Eirin confirmed Elena in bed, extinguished the lantern carefully, and walked the hall.
"Looks, looks..."
Appearance was always the root of trouble.
Empire nobles' affairs and bastards all started there.
Good thing she still saw him as a brother—and had the 2nd Prince as fiancé.
But if the engagement ever soured...
"...Bad feeling about this."
The bitter taste lingered until she reached her room.
"Fuck, what is this."
-Wong-i?
"What the hell is this."
-Wong-i!
The morning after passing out from the spar and waking in bed.
Strange noises started playing.