Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Cheaper, But Similar (2)
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Somehow, I ended up sparring with Hilde.
If I beat her, it'll count as beating someone from the Imperial 1st Knight Order, or so they said.
'She's level 125, so why make me fight level 150 Hilde?'
I wasn't thrilled about it.
Hilde was way stronger than that guy I'd fought before.
'Telling me to point my gun at a woman I've already pounded?'
The only thing I could point at my woman was my dick.
My expression soured inevitably.
This wasn't why I'd fucked and fought my ass off. Self-loathing and frustration gnawed at me.
"It's fine, Yi Hyun. Relax your face."
"Captain Blanc, but..."
"This works out even better. I figured we'd lose anyway, but sparring Hilde makes us look good, right?"
"Silpi's right. Even Hilde will give Yi Hyun enough time to shine, so let's just be satisfied avoiding the blessing drain in front of Her Majesty."
"......"
One more reason for my sour mood.
Not a single person believed I'd win.
Not even Blanc, who knew about my blessing.
'What? Do they see me as cannon fodder?'
I'm level 89 now...
Actually, more like 110 with the elixirs.
I'd gained roughly ten levels' worth of stats from elixir chugging, plus one magic power from pussy juice blessing.
That should be enough to tangle with Hilde.
'She'll go easy on me anyway. No way she'd go all out against a noob like this.'
That overconfidence didn't last.
My puffed-up ego shriveled like a dick after ten straight misses.
That battle-crazed beastkin would probably charge in for an instant KO.
'If she blitzes before I react, it's over... She'll hold back, right? We're on the same team?'
"Right, Hilde's changing into her armor. When's she coming? Doesn't she have some instant-swap armor like yours, Captain?"
I switched topics to hide my anxiety.
Mentioning Hilde drew all the knights' gazes.
Toward the 2nd Knight Order building.
"Hilde's armor has a unique design."
"It's tricky to enchant for that kind of magic."
"What's it look like?"
"The kind that makes you think, 'Who'd go that far?' Oh, here she comes."
Speak of the wolf, and her ears appear.
Hilde, who'd stepped out to change into armor, was approaching from afar.
Vice captains rarely joined spars, so the princess had specially approved it.
'But even so, with the empress here, why bother changing?'
Thinking back, it felt off.
She could've fought in her clothes. Why make the empress wait ten minutes?
Why did everyone accept it so casually?
Blanc should've stopped her.
The questions hit me late...
"Sorry, ran here sweating but still late."
"Vice Captain Hilde, all set... Huh?"
Those doubts vanished the moment I saw Hilde.
My head filled with question marks.
"All set, Yi Hyun?"
"......"
'What the hell is that pervert outfit?'
Where to even start.
First, the chest.
Whatever fabric fluttered, exposing her nipples.
Next, the lower half.
A high-leg thing barely covered her crotch, ass fully out.
Not even worn right—fabric wedged, one labia waving 'Hi, I'm pussy!'
Yet arms and legs fully guarded.
What bizarre getup was this?
"Haa, she fought in that from the arena..."
"Wolf beastkin overheat in fights, so no choice, or whatever."
"Even if she's victory-obsessed, would a woman want to fight like that?"
Good, I wasn't the only sane one in this one-eyed village.
Despite common sense alteration, they all shared the 'that's too much' vibe.
Riding public opinion, I chimed in.
"Vice Captain Hilde, that outfit..."
"My custom armor. Like it?"
"No different from fighting naked, is it?"
"You idiot? Who fights naked? That's for perverts."
"......"
Better to laugh than cry.
Just enjoy the eye candy.
If it gets me hard, what's not to like?
"Yes, let's go. Her Majesty's waiting."
"Yi Hyun, don't think I'll go easy."
"Says the one who declared defeat in front of the knights after losing to me."
"Th-that was different! This is real combat!"
"Ah, sure."
And finally.
One last question.
"By the way, expensive armor?"
"Huh? No, patched from broken ones. Cheap."
"Won't mind if it breaks fighting me?"
"Pfft, you break my armor? Try it."
Okay, noted.
Now I can go all out.
'Rifle won't dent it anyway. Safe even if hit, but still careful.'
"Ahem, then."
After this brief exchange.
We faced off center arena.
Click— Summoned rifle from inventory, gripped it.
-Murmurs.
"What? Sudden dagger?"
"No way, same blessing as the Hero!?"
The crowd buzzed.
Even distant princess and empress widened eyes.
That 'Hero' was so freakish, my similar summon boosted my rep.
'Hero's a woman too? Wonder how many levels fucking her gives.'
"Vice Captain Hilde, please teach me."
"Come. Learn while taking hits."
We ignored surroundings.
Hilde knew I wasn't easy prey.
I knew her strength best.
No room for complacency.
"Ready... Three!! Two!! One!!!"
-Grip.
Rifle in hand.
"Begin!!!!!"
With the knight's signal.
Spar started.
As expected.
Hilde coiled legs to charge but...
"First... Huh?"
-Halt.
She froze mid-lunge.
Battle lust turned to confusion.
"What are you..."
-Murmurs.
"What's that, Captain Blanc?"
"No idea. His blessing doesn't need that pose."
"What the hell's he doing?"
Crowd buzzed again.
'Natural reaction.'
Because I held rifle sideways, slightly angled.
'Got chewed out by senior for this on night watch.'
"Aah~ Didn't wanna use this here!!"
I raised voice.
Distract to block her close rush, my weak spot.
"What're you saying."
"If this gets out, everyone'll beg me to be a knight!!!"
Channel magic power.
The skill I'd just tested, its awesomeness fresh.
Prep chant secretly.
'Instant cast risks misfire, ease it in slow.'
"Watch close!! And don't tell a soul!!!"
Recall Blanc. Her blood's blessing.
Accelerates nerves tenfold, super speed self.
Unique skill 'Super Acceleration'.
'Just like cyberpunk games.'
Replica, not original.
80% her performance.
Good name...
"Full Power!!! Cheaper, but Similar!!!!!"
"Gasp!?"
Blanc sucked in breath.
First to grasp arena events: her.
'How does Yi Hyun have that!?'
Foolish shout, dagger repositioned.
That speed abnormal.
Normies couldn't track.
Avg knights track but no react.
Only Hilde could barely follow...
'Our family's blessing!!'
Noble 'blessing' in her blood.
God's favor proof.
Her exclusive miracle, now from Yi Hyun.
"No way."
"What happened!?"
"Yi Hyun, hidden Rosenthal bloodline!?"
Others gasped too.
Obvious meaning.
Even princess, empress glanced at her.
Her expression said no.
"Impossible?! His blessing isn't that!!"
"Huh? Then what?"
"Looks like blessing. Another one?"
"Yes!! Look!!"
Finger pointed arena.
Silver trails everywhere.
-Rat-a-tat-tat!!!
'What is this!?'
Hilde first visible.
Leisure gone, panicked moves.
Eyes chased afterimages.
Yi Hyun.
'Dodging this?'
He circled arena edge.
Rifle aimed, firing nonstop at Hilde.
Unfamiliar with accel, barely direction changes...
But apprentice knight speed x10?
Tornado to foe.
Why Blanc top knight: Yi Hyun showed.
'Damn, what'd captain feed him...'
'MP drain huge, but I can hold. My magic decent now!!'
Pew-pew— Bullet rain.
Godly sword aura etched efficient silver lines.
'Still, manageable!!'
Hilde dodged even that.
Full beastkin physique, reflexes; predict from blade tip.
-Jiggle.
'Whoa, check those tits.'
Outfit made it tit shake show to him.
Objectively, amazing sight.
Princess awed.
"My god..."
'Double blessing shocking enough, but that sword aura?'
Awe mostly Yi Hyun.
Hilde famed vice captain.
Yi Hyun looked apprentice at best.
Apprentice overpowering vice captain?
Outlier only explanation.
"Lilliana, impressive?"
"That aura, speed—both blessings."
"Two blessings? First ever."
"Yes!! Historic!!"
Mood boiled.
They sensed legendary birth.
Most thrilled: Blanc.
'How he uses our blessing unknown...'
Heart pounded.
Man she pledged to showed history-making.
Love exploded.
Lips parted unwittingly.
"Yi Hyun!!! You got this!!!!"
Uncharacteristic yell before empire's pinnacle.
But natural for lovestruck woman.
'Captain...?'
Hilde's eyes spun.
Stunned by Blanc's outburst.
But Yi Hyun.
Didn't look away.
'Thanks for cheer, but can't miss!!'
Click— Hilde slowed; selector to burst.
Even Blanc shocked: 10+ rounds/sec sword aura.
Princess later: war god tech unexplained otherwise.
Bullet deluge horizontal to Hilde's armor.
"...!!!"
'Damn, slacked!!'
Hilde twisted late.
Aura long hit target.
Slice— Thin line on shoulder joint.
Armor slid off arm pathetically.
"Ah."
Clunk, heavy metal hit ground.
-Click.
"Said no complaints if broken?"
Yi Hyun closed in; rifle—dagger—nailed chest.
"...Damn."
"I win?"
"Yeah, you win. What'd captain feed you now."
Silence amid all.
Hilde's defeat quiet.
"Yes~ Then, knight who called me 'Know your place, commoner'?"
"Hiiik!?"
Muzzle turned.
"Proof enough? Want a go, sir?"
"...No."
'Beat that monster how!!!'
1st Order talented newbie,
"Scared? Sca~red?"
"......"
"Then I win. Third knight, come on! 2v2 now, final round~!!"
"......"
"Huh~? No takers? Scared of commoner?"
"........."
'Step up lose=total shame!!!'
1st Order prestige-backed bravos.
No guts face muzzle.
"1st Knight Order admits defeat; friendly spar 2nd Knight Order victory... Ngh!!"
"Waaaaaaah!!!!"
"Yi Hyun, knew you had it!!!"
"What blessing!?"
"My man! Hands off my man!!"
"......Heh."
'Worth the marathon fucking.'
Cheers late.
"......?"
'What? Sudden chill.'
Why though.
Blanc shivered.
"Lilliana. Close with 2nd Order. Plans?"
"That talent in 2nd=neglect. Keep close, use heavy."
"Good call. Helps pussy juice too. Assign 1st post-ceremony..."
"......"
'Her Highness?'
Cheers amid, Blanc eyed high princess.
-Grit.
'...My man. Can't let him go.'