The Saturday Duel – Part 2
Plop!
The hook with the bait sinks into the depths of the lake.
A moment later, the float pops up with a "tong!" and the ripples on the lake surface gradually calm.
“Hmm.”
The old man, stroking his chin as he gazed at the lake, probed around as if checking something, then smiled contentedly, as if it was enough.
And then, sitting up straight on the chair, he began to quietly enjoy the passage of time as if he was about to catch either a fish or the time itself.
“Will you really fulfill that kid's request?”
The man standing beside him suddenly opened his mouth.
His attire immediately told that he was no ordinary person.
The fabric of the clothes and the decorations sporadically embedded in them were so luxurious that words like "expensive" were insufficient.
The medals dangling on his chest also indicated that the man was not just outwardly flashy.
Nevertheless, the man was treating the fishing old man with utmost respect.
“Edwin. Will you try it too? Fishing, I mean. It turns out to be more fun than I thought.”
“Well, from what I see of you doing it, it doesn't look that fun.”
“I thought the same at first. But that guy kept urging me because he said it has good 'hand feel,' so I tried holding the fishing rod once, and the feeling... ugh, only those who know can understand this.”
Tattered clothes, and a speech that doesn't convey much authority.
No matter how you look at it, he's just an old man living day by day fishing.
Nevertheless, the man called Edwin was not treating the old man lightly.
“I heard it's related to the royal family.”
“Haha. While you're at it, are you investigating my old man's background too?”
“...You wrote that in the letter you sent me, though?”
“Hm? Ah, yes. Sorry. It seems my head has hardened lately.”
That's a lie. Hardened head? You, my great father?
Even if the whole world becomes stupid, the old man in front of me is definitely not.
Probably, even until the moment of his death, he won't understand even a little of his father's wisdom.
Edwin thought that over and over.
“That kid isn't one to make strange requests. Although young in age, his mind is quite deep.”
“I agree. He was already showing his talent before becoming an adult.”
“Even that talent was only shown to those who could benefit him sufficiently. Don't you think it's amazing? A kid who was only in his teens knows the meaning of 'appropriately.' At that age, it's natural to desperately try to show off his great points and hide his shortcomings. It's not wrong, it's just inevitable.”
“Yes.”
“But that kid, on the contrary, used my shortcomings to create a shield to hide himself. Really, what a mischievous kid. He knows how to show appropriately and hide appropriately. He knows that if he sells his name to everyone around, it'll cause trouble. So, despite having merits in many areas, he kept his mouth shut. Look at the swordsmanship you're using right now. Others say you learned it to compensate, but in reality, it was thanks to that kid's help, wasn't it?”
The old man's words made Edwin nod his head. In fact, he found that part suspicious too.
If there is a weakness, one should have a strong point to cover that weakness.
That kid, on the contrary, hid his strong points with his own hands and showed them to no one.
Only to those he judged as trustworthy, and only to those he was confident he could handle.
“He doesn't have strategies to cover the world. He doesn't have overwhelming military power. He doesn't have magical abilities that shake the continent. Nevertheless, the reason I watch over that kid is because he knows the line. The line I can cross and the line I can't. At a vigorous age, he perfectly handles that, which means his mind is deep, and that makes him a great talent of the kingdom.”
The old man, chuckling, suddenly let out a "Eik!" exclamation.
He confirmed the float sinking below the surface and immediately grabbed the fishing rod and pulled up the fish biting the bait from underwater with great force.
A brief struggle, then the fishing rod bent a bit, and soon the surface of the lake roiled roughly.
Before long, a fairly large fish hooked on the line was pulled up, breaking the surface right in front of the old man.
“Not bad. Hahaha! Why didn't I know this taste earlier.”
The old man quickly removed the hook from the fish's mouth.
Then, sprinkling water on the gills, he carefully released it, and soon the fish, still in his hands, swam away vigorously through the water.
Watching that scene, Edwin opened his mouth, looking puzzled.
“It's strange to catch it with effort and then release it.”
“Today, I didn't feel like filling my stomach with fish. Sometimes it's just like that. Why do unreasonable killings?”
The old man put away the fishing rod and placed it beside him.
And he continued to gaze at Edwin standing beside him in the same posture without any sway.
“Therefore, you think it's better not to fulfill that kid's request?”
“Even as your father, it would be burdensome to dig into royal matters.”
“I'm not digging into any secret, just wondering what words were exchanged between the Cleasant family and what I talked about with Duke Haniell. That's what I'm curious about?”
“More sensitive than the kingdom's secrets is the internal affairs of the royal family. Once you start hearing that you're interfering with the king's private life, there's no stopping it.”
“Strange. When His Majesty the previous king asked that, he didn't say much specifically.”
Because that was because his father was on good terms with the previous king as a military minister and close friend.
Edwin kept that remark unspoken and just closed his mouth.
After all, as his father, he would know what he would say.
“But, Edwin. I plan to help that kid.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It's not such a difficult request, so if I answer 'I can't' after weighing it, won't I be deeply ashamed? That kid sent me a letter after agonizing over it.”
“...If Father has made up his mind, then I will too.”
“What's this? I thought you'd stop me.”
“After all, you wouldn't listen anyway, right?”
When Edwin said that with a reluctant voice, the old man burst into laughter "Heh heh heh!"
After sighing at that reaction, Edwin said he'd prepare and turned his body first.
The old man left alone stared at the lake for a moment, then suddenly recalled the letter that had flown in front of him.
The reason he was intervening now, when he's supposed to be keeping a moderate distance from the world and waiting for death.
It was the first time he had ever felt that way about that kid, the moment he saw the letter.
That kid was finally showing the appearance befitting his age.
“After all, it's said that women are the ones who move and change men.”
Chuckling, the old man slowly closed his eyes.
***
The Saturday set by Pove was approaching quickly.
For the remaining two days, he had been training hard with Rie, but the path was still long.
Defense had reached a level where even just placing a chocolate behind me was enough to some extent.
But attack is different. I can't get the feel for how to stab in what way so that the body moves.
“...I have no choice but to wait for him to get tired while defending against Pove-senpai's attacks.”
“Indeed, there's no other answer besides that.”
“If there was plenty of time, I might have looked for other methods or changed my thinking. After all, tomorrow is the duel day.”
“Yes.”
“...Not 'yes', but! So why! Why did you set the duel date without consulting me! Blocking my attacks is definitely a great growth, but it's just defense. Doesn't swordsmanship end with just defense?!”
“Absolutely not. On the contrary, attack is the best defense.”
When I answered that, Rie raised her voice, saying she knew that but why then!
If there was a little more time, I might have found a way to attack or at least a way to defend more easily.
In the current situation, the only thing I can do is protect the chocolate, but how am I supposed to beat Pove, who is skilled in swordsmanship as a martial artist?
“Rie. There's something you're misunderstanding.”
When she gets angry like this, I need to counter with an unexpected attack to shut her up.
Like a confession attack or something impossible to defend against.
“It's not just now that I'm swinging the sword to protect the chocolate, but in the end, the duel is to protect you from that brute. That human keeps provoking you, so should I endure it more?”
“Eh, um... u, ue? W, what did you just say...?”
“Don’t say it twice. What you heard just now isn't a hallucination, so the content is correct.”
At that, Rie's face turned red instantly.
It was so red that it looked like it might burst.
She had boldly confessed first, and even when confessing, she acted very confidently.
Now that I'm the one entering first, she's fidgeting because she doesn't know what to do, which is too cute.
It's like an angel who knows how to give love, but when receiving it, she feels embarrassed.
“Yes, that's exactly it. You applied for the duel to retrieve your appearance from that brute senior.”
“...But... I think it would have been better to discuss it a bit more with me.”
“There is such a thing as 'timing' in the world. If you miss that moment, you always regret it. And that's how I judged it. Ah, I should apply for the duel now and knock down Pove as soon as possible. If not, even if I win later, I'll have deceived you and suffered a lot in the meantime. That's what I thought.”
At my words, Rie nodded as if she understood.
Then, now the last thing is to check.
“...”
Rie, who had been standing still, suddenly swung her sword like lightning.
I see it, I see it, very clearly. Which path the sword will take and where it will enter.
The moment I figured out the direction, before it reached my brain, I gritted my teeth and swung my sword.
There are still many unstable parts, but compared to before when I couldn't react at all, it's much better.
Tatak! Tak!
After that, Rie's attacks continued repeatedly.
I blocked her attacks at the maximum speed I could each time.
Now, I've become familiar with the wooden sword flying in front of me to the point where I can say I'm confident to some extent.
But I also know that I can't guarantee victory with this method.
In fact, while learning swordsmanship, I realized that attack and defense aren't strictly divided in using the sword.
You can defend while attacking at the same time, and attack while defending.
It's not cut off and divided, but flowing like water, transforming and swinging.
That's what the sword is, and that's what Rie was talking about as swordsmanship.
The most basic counterattack is to block the opponent's attack and immediately stab them.
But I can only block up to that point, and my body can't follow beyond that.
What's the point of blocking all the time? In a situation where a decision must be made, it's a huge penalty.
“Concentrate!”
“Ah.”
Suddenly, Rie’s shout made my body jolt.
At the same time, the wooden sword that rushed right in front of me barely stopped in front of my eyes.
“...Are you trying to withdraw by claiming you got injured to match the duel date?”
“No, that's not it. I just had a momentary other thought. Sorry, Rie.”
“I understand. What are you worried about. But there's no sharp idea. Then let's postpone it. It's already hard to focus on the current situation, so I don't have the leeway to look beyond.”
At Rie's words, I nodded and agreed that it was correct.
Yes, by worrying like this, since no method will come to mind anyway, focusing on what I can do right now and perfecting it without mistakes will be the most important.
“Um, Lucian. Can I ask you one thing?”
“Anything.”
“If I lose to Pove-senpai... what will you do?”
“Hm. Maybe take a leave?”
I just blurted it out as if following the flow of consciousness. At my answer, Rie frowned deeply.
You shouldn't think of losing there! That's the standard, she shouted.