Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Sword Maniac (6)
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Surprisingly, more people thought that Lord Cain Blackguard would win.
The ratio was probably something like 3:7. However, this was only thanks to the boundless trust of the territory's residents.
Those who knew even the slightest bit about Scardi didn't hesitate to predict her overwhelming victory.
She'd been rather subdued lately, but anyone recalling the rampage she'd unleashed as the Sword Demon in her prime couldn't help but agree.
From the start, the only one who could stand toe-to-toe with the [War God], the alliance's guardian deity who'd protected it for a full century, had been the Sword Demon herself.
Having a worthy rival might count against her, but she was still just a young woman in her mid-twenties.
'They said that given time, she would surely surpass even the alliance's War God one day. And that was one of the reasons the alliance was rushing to settle things.'
The common thread between the War God and the Sword Demon was that both had reached utterly unprecedented realms unique to themselves.
The War God was bound by some rather tricky vows, but as long as those weren't broken, he became the alliance's strongest shield.
However, if the War God was the alliance's greatest shield, then conversely, the Sword Demon was the empire's sharpest spear.
Even though she'd lost interest now and was suppressing her instincts, defeat was simply not an option for Scardi.
Crown Prince Siegfried, Master Grandel, Sword Light Chris, and the like—those in the know were all betting on her decisive win.
But just two... Morgana and Anna alone believed in Cain Blackguard's victory.
And right at that moment, Cain Blackguard was gladly living up to their faith.
When their swords first clashed, most people gasped in admiration. By the second exchange, everyone was on their feet applauding.
But the instant they realized the exchanges were continuing without end, their expressions turned to ones of disbelief.
"No way. He's trading blows evenly with big sis...?!"
"Even a Master struggles to keep up with her exchanges—how in the world?!"
The crown prince's shock was entirely justified. At first, even enduring had been a challenge.
But as they began trading blows back and forth, Cain gradually started gaining some breathing room—little by little, but unmistakably.
And past the twentieth exchange, though he was still at a disadvantage, he was no longer being overwhelmingly pushed as he had been at the start.
'Was he hiding his strength? No, that can't be... Those initial exchanges were unmistakably in earnest, to anyone watching. Then could it be...'
In that moment, a certain hypothesis flashed through the crown prince's mind. A hypothesis that made absolutely no sense, no matter how he turned it over.
But what if... what if Cain Blackguard was growing stronger with every clash?
What if Cain possessed talent so blessed that it allowed for such a thing? Just entertaining the idea sent shivers down his spine.
'Fuck! Somebody save me!!! Is there anyone around?!'
Of course, our Cain possessed no such overwhelming talent.
That said, the performance he was putting on in front of everyone right now was undeniably dominant.
Still, one might wonder how he was managing to hold out. Even using Defeat Regression to analyze her moves, how could he endure?
Perfect condition.
It meant she was exerting her full power without the slightest deficiency. Scardi was indeed unleashing her complete strength.
Yet the reason Cain could still stand before her was precisely because this was nothing more than a friendly bout.
'If it were a desperate life-or-death struggle, he wouldn't have had even this much time to hang on.'
Sir Grandel. Even though he was an Expert infinitely close to Master but not quite there,
Cain had been utterly unable to react when they first crossed blades, losing his life in an instant.
How much more so against a Master in perfect form? He'd have died far more times just trying to react to her slashes.
'The reason he could adapt relatively easily is probably because her targeting is so blatantly obvious.'
From the start, Scardi had been aiming solely for Cain's sword. A perfectly natural choice, really.
After all, when a Master swings with full power—even with wooden swords—the opponent has no choice but to suffer serious injury.
At the very least, Scardi still had enough reason left to consider the consequences. For now.
Boom!!
Even though it was wooden swords clashing, the roar was loud enough to rupture eardrums.
Unlike his initial overwhelming defeats, Cain had now blocked Scardi's sword well past the thirtieth exchange.
'Looks like all the buildup so far will let him adapt somehow.'
It had taken ten regressions to deflect the first exchange, five for the second.
At least the number of regressions was decreasing as time passed—a glimmer of hope.
This was thanks to repeated regressions allowing him not just to throw his body at it blindly, but to grasp more efficient methods.
Visually locking her attacks in memory, then repeating the motions until mastered.
It was a feat possible only for Cain, who had honed his skills and experience through battles against countless powerhouses.
And as he accumulated that experience, he was gradually growing accustomed to her power and speed.
'If it keeps going like this, he'll at least avoid defeat. Not that it matters in a friendly match... She won't go for the kill.'
Defeat Regression meant regressing upon defeat—which was the same as saying no defeat meant no regression.
Cain's plan was to endure, keep enduring, and force a draw. A strategy viable only because it was a friendly bout.
Cain thrust his sword into the tiniest gap. It was a feat akin to threading a needle's eye.
"A gap."
Even that had only been possible because a sliver of an opening had appeared. Though he didn't know why... It felt like she'd been lost in thought...
Chill.
In that instant, Cain felt goosebumps erupt across his entire body. A sensation as if blades covered every inch of his skin.
'What the hell? I heard she was using full power from the start...!!'
If Scardi wasn't lying, then she truly had been at full strength from the outset.
Which was why Cain had thought it somewhat manageable. At least she wouldn't suddenly get stronger.
But that assumption was crumbling now, thanks to her steadily rising momentum.
Cain met her eyes. And in doing so, he clearly saw it—the twisted smile curling at her lips.
It was a sight eerie enough to make her moniker of "ghost" feel entirely apt.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ She wasn't particularly disloyal to her homeland. No, if anything, her loyalty was what let her endure this long.
But life wasn't enjoyable at all. She should feel joy gripping her beloved sword and swinging it, yet she felt nothing.
Applause doesn't sound unless hands clap. In exchange for her overwhelming talent... she was cursed with ennui.
Challengers weren't nonexistent, of course. But her talent was so dominant that she could see exactly what they'd do.
If even fellow Masters were predictable, how much more so those beneath them?
And once her sheer superiority crushed their fighting spirit... boredom was inevitable.
But right now, for the first time in ages, Scardi was witnessing a sword that defied prediction.
'Crude and monotonous. But it's unmistakably keeping up with my blade. What is this? I've never seen a sword like it...!!'
All those who'd crossed blades with her thus far had been swordsmen of the highest caliber.
Only natural. Those lacking the skill couldn't even face her in the first place.
She didn't mean to belittle him, but Blackguard's sword was rough-hewn. Closer to a novice's than a master's.
Yet despite that, it was reliably matching her swordsmanship.
Her mind was rejecting Cain Blackguard's sword more fiercely than anything.
But instinct was brutally honest. Without her even realizing, a smile began creeping across her lips.
'No, don't get your hopes up. This guy's just like the rest—he'll drop soon enough. They all do.'
"A gap."
"...?!"
It was a blunder she'd never make under normal circumstances. Or more precisely, one that wouldn't have mattered even if she did.
Scardi von Leonhardt. When it came to raw martial prowess, she was indisputably the empire's strongest knight.
Yet right here, right now, he was overturning a fact no one else could touch.
Caught up suppressing the reckless excitement and anticipation boiling within her, she'd lost focus amid stray thoughts.
Even so, the gap wasn't large. Needle's-eye small, at best.
Yet his opponent had exploited it, thrusting his sword through. Her body was shoved back hard as a result.
Chill.
A freezing sensation gripped her back. She'd nearly taken a clean hit from that precise thrust ripping through her guard.
How long had it been since she'd felt such a threat? For the first time in ages, she felt like she was in a proper fight.
'I know it's just a friendly match. I know ending it moderately is best. But...'
A little fun couldn't hurt, right?