Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Cluster of Stars (6)
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"I assume you already know this, but our spar will be purely with swordsmanship alone. Anything beyond that is a foul."
"No need to remind me. As if I wouldn't know."
"Just in case."
Jeil's words meant no using aura.
Since it was a mock duel, they couldn't truly try to kill each other.
It had to be a pure contest of swordsmanship without drawing on the mana they'd trained.
Violating that would earn a disqualification and the ridicule of all the nobles watching.
It could even tarnish his family's reputation, so it was absolutely forbidden.
Of course, I had no intention of doing so.
"Don't worry about me. I won't need to."
"Understood. Shall we begin, then?"
"Let's."
We each raised our swords.
I eyed Jeil's body, simulating his sword paths in my mind.
It had been a while.
Sparring against another person.
And without aura, no less. It reminded me of the Lion's Feast.
How had my first duel with Yoru gone back then?
'My eyes hadn't awakened yet.'
The eyes that perceived the Flow of All Things.
This ability, listed as 'Visual Enhancement' in my status window, had proven incredibly useful to me now.
I focused my gaze.
Staring at Jeil's form, I grasped the flows.
Predicted how they would extend—
"Hah!"
The moment Jeil kicked off, I charged as well.
Jeil's strike arced from the right in a semicircle.
Mine did the same. Like mirrors, we began our clashes from the right.
Clang!
The two blades met at the center, sparks flying.
Krrrind...
First clash.
They said masters gauged the gap with their opening move.
So, how did Jeil and I stack up?
"......"
Kiiing...
Our swords seemed fixed in place, unmoving.
Considering our size difference, it shouldn't have been possible.
Jeil, a seventeen-year-old swordsman, had a sturdy build.
Even with my second-ranked talent in this world, I was still just thirteen. He shouldn't have been comparable.
By weight class alone, he could crush me.
Yet the blades perfectly canceled each other out.
"......The rumors might not be exaggerated after all."
Jeil muttered from point-blank range.
I brushed it off with a chuckle.
'Still talking in questions, huh.'
So fixated on victory he couldn't see his opponent objectively.
No wonder he'd lose.
I was going easy on him right now.
If I'd controlled my strength a bit better, I could've deflected instead of locking blades, then countered.
I was just holding back to save his face.
I'd worried about the skill gap at first.
'He's better than I thought.'
This much, I could toy with him.
Clang!
We sprang apart, blades flicking back simultaneously.
We closed in again right away.
Jeil's sword flashed.
His blade tore through space threateningly.
A lesser swordsman than me would've been overwhelmed.
But it wasn't hard for me.
Ching! Ching!
I swung late but blocked surely.
Dull sword, was it?
Starting slow, blocking vital points with minimal motion.
Felt like imitating a technique I'd only heard of.
"Kuh!"
Jeil's eyes widened.
He hadn't expected his attacks to be so thoroughly shut down.
I was even making it look good.
"Hoo..."
Jeil leaped back.
He regulated his breath, then leveled his sword at me.
"......Impressive. You've got some skill."
"Is this enough?"
Unlike his glaring face, mine stayed calm.
Honestly, I wanted to end the spar here.
It was a hassle.
"No."
But Jeil wouldn't quit.
He gripped his sword tight and shouted.
"One more time."
Beating him would take a while.
Clang! Clang! Crang!
Blades clashed, ringing out.
"Hah, haap!"
Jeil yelled, swinging down from above.
I raised my sword and parried.
Clang!
With the metallic screech, his blade bounced upward.
"Tch...!"
Dozens of exchanges already.
The back-and-forth showed no clear advantage.
Our skills looked evenly matched.
If anything, Jeil had more experience.
Four years' difference.
He should be more polished.
Which meant...
Our even fight proved my talent superior.
And I was orchestrating it deliberately...
No need to say who was truly ahead.
"Eek...!"
Whoosh!
His sword traced two ellipses.
Upper right, upper left.
I parried the rapid strikes twice.
Crang!
-Look at that.
Voices from the spectator seats.
-Young Master Kline's defending perfectly.
-Yeah. Didn't expect it to be this close.
-Are Jeil and Kline evenly matched?
-Sure looks that way.
The murmurs evaluated the duel.
And they shifted toward fallout.
-Jeil's in trouble now.
-Yeah. Challenging a younger kid and it's a deadlock... The Stymond Count family deserves the disgrace.
-Win or lose, he'll get flak. I can't watch.
-I'm sticking around. Can't miss this drama.
The nobles smirked.
They had reason to.
Jeil had requested this uneven duel.
Yet he couldn't dominate.
It implied his talent fell short of mine—making it a self-inflicted wound.
And that was with me blocking to highlight his attacks.
A serious defense would've drawn worse judgment.
"Kuhk!"
Jeil gritted his teeth.
He thrust sharply.
The momentum was vicious. A hit would've wounded badly.
I frowned.
'Dangerous move, idiot.'
Not a huge issue for me, but risky in a spar.
Thrusts were harder to defend than slashes; easier to slip through.
He'd hurt himself more if it connected wrong.
'Tch.'
What a pain.
A little consideration for me, the one matching him, would be nice.
Grip—
I tightened on my hilt.
This much force to block the thrust.
And...
Ting!
Perfect harmony.
When blades meshed flawlessly, nullifying force.
My sword struck the thrust's center, canceling both momenta.
"Wha...!"
Jeil's eyes bulged.
He hadn't anticipated this block.
I stepped back a few paces and shrugged.
"Satisfied now?"
"......"
"Think you've grasped the point of this duel?"
If you'd hoped to beat me, this proves it's impossible.
"......"
Jeil ground his teeth, glaring.
But he had no retort.
The more he flailed, the worse he'd look.
"Let's call it."
I relaxed my shoulders.
Yeah. This was enough.
Even a kid like him would get it now.
He'd kick the blankets in regret later.
Still, ending on a draw here was best.
No grudge against the guy personally.
A mutual draw made a fine picture.
"......Again."
But.
Jeil shook his head, growling.
"Again. One more."
"Haa."
So stubborn.
I sighed, raising my sword.
No choice. Play along till his spirit broke.
A draw looked better, though.
Me winning would hurt him more.
Fine. Indulge till the limit.
Keep up the harmonies, then.
Perfect harmony occurred in close matches—or when the superior held back.
Wonder which way the nobles would lean.
Fun to wait and see.
"Haap!"
Jeil's sword arced.
I read his path.
The Flow of All Things revealed the weakness.
I placed my blade there.
Harmony again.
This would cancel cleanly with a clear ring.
If he charged again, repeat. If he quit, fine too.
With leisure, I watched his face.
It stiffened.
"......"
His eyes shook fiercely.
Jeil had realized from the exchanges.
Another harmony—or cancellation at least.
Grrrind—
His teeth gnashed.
Moment of conflict.
Moment of decision.
......Moment of mistake.
Fwoosh—
Blue energy flickered on his blade.
Tiny, unnoticed by others yet.
But any aura beat none.
And it'd build momentum.
'Ah.'
I clicked my tongue.
Worst possible move.
Better not to try.
"Tch."
I poured aura into my sword without hesitation, viciously batting his blade aside.