Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Sparring (4)
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Amid the fierce exchange between the two students.
Mateo's eyes, fixed on Rowen, trembled violently.
"What..."
Clearly, he had introduced himself as a Class D student.
Yet here he was, holding his own against the top first-year student.
Of course, the visible wounds overwhelmingly favored Rowen in number.
But considering their skill gap, the one who had seized the advantage was not Arien, but Rowen.
"No. Now it can't even be called a difference in skill."
The unbelievable scene unfolding before him made the very word "skill" feel awkward.
Clang!
Pushed back by Arien's raw power, his sword bounced away.
Clang clang clang clang!
He twisted his stance immediately, unleashing dozens of strikes.
If once wasn't enough, he swung repeatedly until he finally deflected Arien's blade.
'Thanks to that, he's holding the offensive edge.'
Arien, simply following her training and preparing her next move,
could only scramble on defense in this situation that refused to bend to her will.
"Overcoming differences in stats and traits purely with experience..."
When strength fell short, he thrust repeatedly until the gap closed.
Swish!
"...!"
Whenever she tried to widen the distance, he struck like a ghost at her exposed weaknesses.
His blade wriggled like a serpent, constantly forcing awkward positions.
Clang!
Because of it, Arien couldn't leverage her speed advantage.
From the moment she realized her opponent wielded fangs that could end her.
She had unconsciously shifted to a defensive stance.
"Absolutely refusing to give even a single opening for a thrust."
She had allowed just one attack from Arien.
Rowen's body was a total wreck.
Afterward, as if grasping some insight, he kept up the pressure relentlessly.
'No matter how sharp the sword...'
If it stayed sheathed, it meant nothing.
If trait levels differed, simply prevent that swordsmanship from emerging.
As if embodying the theoretical ideals armchair enthusiasts endlessly debated.
"Hup!"
Clang!
He proved it through his whirlwind assault.
"Above all, that swordsmanship..."
When stamina hit its limit, inevitably yielding to Arien's strikes,
he deflected her blade along bizarre paths, letting the momentum flow away.
Krrrk!
Not content with that, he turned her own force against her to reclaim the offense.
"It looks just like the Commander's..."
"Right. I taught him."
In that instant, a voice from behind made Mateo leap back in a flash.
Even lingering in the rear for so long, he hadn't expected to yield his back so easily.
In real combat, he'd be dead several times over.
'...But that voice feels familiar.'
Lifting his gaze, a black-haired woman stood there.
"Long time no see, Mateo. Still jumping at shadows, I see."
"...Commander. Please give some warning before sneaking up."
"Huh? This way, you lot stay alert. Heh... Rear guard duty's made you soft."
Serin, the youngest Swordmaster and Imperial Knight Commander.
Mateo, one of her knights, knew her well.
'Hasn't ditched that geezer attitude.'
Far younger than him, yet her behavior mirrored the previous commander perfectly.
Always haranguing the squad with "It's for your own good!"
Just like some soon-to-be-discharged grunt passing judgment.
"Never knew you had a disciple, Commander. You always said you wouldn't pass on your swordsmanship..."
"I did. But Rowen hit me like lightning. Had to be him—gut feeling. You get it?"
"...Sure."
Like hell I do.
No matter the famed prodigies from great houses,
it clashed with how she always dismissed them as trash.
"...What if he strays down the wrong path? Even for you, Commander Serin, isn't this rash?"
"...Doubting my judgment? Forgot who I am? Need a refresher on old times?"
"Doesn't matter. My stance won't change. Talent unused for good might as well not exist."
Serin clenched her fist, grinning like she was pissed.
'Hell no.'
Dreadful memories surged, his body shrinking instinctively.
But respected or not, this bore addressing.
Talent was merely a keen blade.
He'd witnessed far too many horrors from the wielder's hand.
"I get the concern. First time I saw Rowen, I wondered if he was some demon spawn. But he's not. I vouch for him."
"...If that's your will, Commander, I'll stand down."
"If he goes bad, I'll fix it myself. So ease up, Mateo."
No one else but the Commander said it. No needless fretting.
She always kept her word.
Clang!
In that moment, an off-kilter metallic ring echoed as Rowen's blade launched skyward.
"Damn it!"
Lost in thought, committing such an absurd blunder.
Too slow to react—defenseless Rowen was wide open for serious injury.
As he surged his aura to halt the attack,
whoosh...
In a blink, a faint breeze passed beside him, someone streaking by.
Serin already stood between Arien and Rowen.
"...Still a monster."
A speed beyond his perception.
Mateo could only chuckle dryly.
Hot.
His muscles screamed across his body, searing like fire.
His sharp mind gradually fogged.
'...And yet, it's too damn fun.'
Endlessly facing crises, hitting limits.
Knowing victory was impossible now.
Just this clash of blades felt exhilarating.
"..."
"..."
As if sharing the sentiment, Rowen and Arien both smiled.
Clang! Clang clang clang!!
Swords met, strengths tested.
Thrown back hard, Arien's barrage sparked through the air.
'Hero material, huh.'
Despite his early onslaught claiming momentum,
Arien parried every twist and turn, evolving before his eyes.
He'd thought he'd grown massively from this spar...
Yet Arien surged ahead even faster.
...Rowen didn't join the Demon King's Army for nothing.
No matter the growth, the Hero always stepped further.
He could almost feel the agony of that uncrossable gap.
"...Focus!"
Arien's voice snapped him from distraction.
He regripped instantly, lunging again—
Clang!
His blade, blocking Arien's, finally shattered under the impact.
The broken edge soared as Arien's strike bore down.
Arien's face twisted in panic, desperately twisting the path.
But momentum locked in, no stopping now.
'...Ah. Scolding incoming.'
Promised not to get hurt.
Lea and Estelle's fury at seeing him banged up again in a day...
Just imagining filled his heart with guilt.
'Serin might worry too.'
Always playing cool, but soft inside.
Still... kinda want her to.
As he mustered his remaining aura against the incoming blow—
"Enough now."
A cherished voice, and someone stood before him.
"Good work, Rowen."
"Serin... Professor?"
Black tresses, crimson eyes aglow.
Serin's ever-relaxed smile
felt straight out of a fairy tale heroine.
'...Dreaming?'
Training room held only him, Arien, and Professor Mateo.
Already woozy, now Serin materializes like magic.
Reality or blackout? Hard to tell.
"Stop! Spar ends here. Student Rowen, you alright?"
Late-arriving Professor Mateo called it off urgently.
"...Yeah. Fine. I can keep going..."
Tension snapped; dammed pain crashed in.
Balance failed, he staggered—
"Rowen. No pushing. You did more than enough."
Serin caught his fall, steadying him.
"Rowen! You okay...?"
Arien had flung his sword aside, worry plain on his face.
"...Pff."
"Why laugh!"
Arien, always so prickly,
showing raw concern stirred something odd.
Felt like he'd nudged him toward the better path, even a little.
'Eh. Kinda cringey though.'
A guy acting like that was off-putting.
"Aw, shame. Coulda won. I went easy, Arien."
"What...! Obvious I held back. Zero regrets."
"Saw that cold sweat? Ah, if only a sturdier sword..."
"...Wasn't used to it!"
Arien bristled, indignant.
'No shot anyway.'
Sword intact, he'd still lose for sure.
Nah, longer would've meant utter thrashing.
His blade had honed sharper mid-spar.
Now Arien had absorbed his tricks, leaped ahead.
'Feels good regardless.'
No bitterness at Arien outpacing him.
If he grew from his techniques, all the better.
Stronger Arien meant easier Demon King hunt.
No quitting over this.
Arien powered up? He'd match it.
A true rival did that much.
"Haha, Rowen. Don't sweat the loss. Holding ground against the top seat? Insane."
"...Yes, Professor Serin."
"Not that I've ever lost, mind you. Bask in your master's glory!"
Serin's opportunistic brag shattered the lingering tension.
"...Commander. Dignity, please."
Professor Mateo eyed her with pity, of course.
The Hero's first spar ended in Rowen's defeat.