Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Feigning Composure While Bluffing (6)
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Information that no ordinary person could ever perceive flooded in. Sounds I wouldn't have heard before reached my ears, and scents I couldn't have smelled now registered clearly.
It was senses comparable to those of a wild beast.
Above all else,
"......"
I closed my eyes and focused on the emptiness deep in my gut. I gently coaxed it, letting it seep out bit by bit.
I felt pitch-black threads unraveling around my body.
'I can sense it.'
Every living being within the range the threads touched.
Absolute Domain.
One of the reasons Requiem was called the strongest, most terrifying sword. A vast detection range that didn't permit enemies to approach at all.
In the original story, Abel wielded it as naturally as breathing. Like a passive skill.
'That's why the imperial army couldn't lay a finger on him.'
Neither ambushes nor stealth worked. No living creature could hide itself within Requiem's Absolute Domain.
'Though the range is still limited for now.'
This would resolve itself naturally as I grew accustomed to using Requiem. For the moment, it drained my strength considerably each time, making it hard to maintain for long.
I withdrew the Absolute Domain and turned to the person currently closest to me.
"You're here."
"Young Master Abel."
Liam, approaching the stables, came to a halt.
"What brings you here first?"
"Just felt like it."
Liam tilted his head quizzically as he drew nearer.
"You're not usually like this......"
Liam's footsteps stopped again.
"Young Master?"
"What."
Liam frowned as he looked at me.
"You seem... somehow different."
Sharp kid.
Philip had hesitated upon seeing me earlier too. It seemed to be the effect of acquiring Requiem.
"Must be your imagination."
When in doubt, deny it flat out.
"No, definitely something—"
"Is it news to you that I'm handsome? Enough with the flattery."
Liam's face crumpled at my curt reply.
"That's not what I meant."
"Or maybe I grew taller. I'm in the middle of my growth spurt."
"......"
Liam's brow twitched. Before he could probe further, I swiftly changed the subject.
"Anyway, let's start sparring. I've rested too long."
"......Yes."
Liam reluctantly agreed and picked up the wooden sword he'd brought.
"Same as before."
"Begin."
I gripped my wooden sword and assumed position. Thanks to my ingrained Ovest swordsmanship, my stance formed naturally without thought.
"Here I come."
Liam gripped his sword in a reverse hold and charged. His wooden blade sliced through the air toward me.
'......Huh?'
I blinked.
Liam appeared to move incredibly slowly. As if he were deliberately showing me every motion.
'Could this be...'
In that instant, I realized.
It wasn't that Liam was slow—my senses had sharpened to that degree. Every stimulus registered in slow motion.
'I can see it.'
Where Liam was aiming on my body, and how he planned to move.
Blocking it seemed nearly impossible.
Clack.
Liam's wooden sword was parried before it could touch me.
"......?!'
Liam's eyes widened. In a voice full of disbelief, he asked,
"What... what was that just now?"
"Blocked it."
Bewilderment deepened on Liam's face.
"It didn't even touch you."
"Weren't you aiming for my right shoulder?"
"Yes, but..."
Liam pulled back his sword and stepped away. He stared intently at my face, weighing my words.
"......Again,"
He finally spoke.
"Try it again."
Liam erased the shock from his face and attacked once more. But the result was the same every time.
"......"
His strikes were intercepted before they could reach me. The moment he extended his blade, it halted at the outset; before he could swing, it was blocked, preventing any advance.
"What in the world?"
Liam lowered his sword and stepped back from me.
"Young Master, how are you doing this? No,"
His expression turned grave as he asked,
"Who are you? Are you really Young Master Abel?"
Hey, even if I've changed, treating me like a total stranger is a bit much. And what's with that tone? Like he's been waiting for this chance to pounce.
"Are you insane? Want to die?"
Unable to take it, I glared, and Liam faltered.
"You really are Young Master Abel."
"Who else would it be?"
Liam quickly bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. But you're so different from the Young Master I knew......"
He snapped his head up and scrutinized me.
"What happened in the meantime? Your skills have improved beyond recognition."
"Have they? No idea."
I deliberately narrowed my eyes and feigned ignorance.
"Hah."
Liam glared at me with an expression that said this couldn't be happening. Pretending not to notice, I swung my sword idly.
"What're you doing? Let's continue."
What followed was a repetition of the previous exchanges. Liam's attacks kept turning into futile attempts, and with each one, the gloom on his face darkened.
I snickered inwardly.
'This is fun.'
After that first spar where I'd struck Liam's armpit, I'd never once landed a solid hit on him.
No, I hadn't even grazed his clothes. I'd been solely focused on defending against his overwhelming offense.
But now,
'I could aim higher.'
It felt like I could go beyond that.
"Hold on."
Smiling, I took a large step back.
"-?"
Liam halted his sword and stared at me. I met his gaze steadily, letting my sword hang loosely.
My breathing remained even and calm, my arm fresh as if ready to swing the sword hundreds more times.
Unlike before, when I'd tire quickly. That fact bolstered my confidence further.
"You said before not to hurt me, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm taking that back."
I tossed a massive boulder into the lake-like depths of Liam's eyes.
"Attack me with the intent to kill."
"......"
Liam's eyes rippled violently.
He soon calmed the turmoil in them. His face hardened coldly as he glared at me.
"Do you realize what you just said?"
"I know exactly."
I nodded heavily.
"I promise. Even if I get hurt, I won't hold you accountable."
"......"
"And your pay won't be cut either."
Liam's jaw clenched tight, then relaxed.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. When have I ever said empty words?"
"......"
He stared at me intently, gauging my sincerity, then asked,
"Swearing on your family name?"
Jeez, he really doesn't trust me that much? Well, given what Abel's done before, it's understandable.
Snorting derisively, I agreed readily.
"Yes."
"......"
Only then did the tension ease from Liam's face. He slowly readjusted his grip on the sword.
"In that case, I won't hold back."
The expression that crossed his face in that moment said,
'Finally, I can give this insolent young master a proper thrashing.'
'Look at this guy?'
Reading it, I chuckled softly.
The next instant, fierce fighting spirit blazed from Liam's eyes.
"You'll regret this."
Flash!
His figure vanished. Or at least, that's how it would have seemed to my former self.
'I can see it.'
Liam kicking off the ground and charging.
His movements, the subtle twitch of his arm muscles, the angle of his bending wrist—all visible in sharp clarity.
Even,
'So slow.'
As if each moment were stretched out long, the entire flow entered my vision.
Liam stood before me like a paused frame. More vibrant and eager than ever during our spars.
'You must really want to beat me up.'
I curled my lips into a grin. Gripping my sword tightly.
'Regret it, you say?'
Probably not me. I could clearly see how this fight would end.
Clack.
I lightly parried Liam's sword.
"......"
Since it had happened repeatedly before, Liam seemed to have anticipated this to some extent.
This time, he pushed with full force. In the past, I would have slid my sword away and retreated, but...
'Let's see.'
Not today. I braced my hands with power.
I'd felt it since blocking his sword. My strength had grown enough to match his.
No, surpass it.
"-!"
Liam's eyes widened further. He looked utterly shocked that I wasn't yielding an inch.
In disbelief, he gritted his teeth. The pressure from his sword intensified.
"......"
I kept my smile. Slowly tightening my grip.
Surprisingly—and to Liam's dismay—
I still had plenty in reserve. For quite a while.
"......What?!"
Liam's mouth gaped. He couldn't hide his astonishment as his sword was gradually pushed back.
"This... impossible."
"What's impossible?"
I grinned widely.
"I told you I was doing stamina training, didn't I?"
Liam gawked in utter incredulity.
"That... such..."
Even as he spoke, my sword steadily shoved his back. Just before his arm fully folded, "Ngh!"
Liam shoved me away hard. A sharp metallic clash rang out, widening the distance between us.
"......"
Panting heavily, Liam glared at me. Unconcealed defeat shadowed his eyes deeply.
"Really, Young Master."
He soon overlaid composure over his gaze.
"You keep surprising me."
His voice came out gritted, as if he couldn't fully contain his emotions.
"Aren't you happy about your student's progress?"
I smiled faintly. Liam's lips twitched as he replied.
"I am."
Sure didn't sound like it.
Liam looked extremely uncomfortable. He didn't want to admit being overpowered.
"One more. Here I go."
He reset his stance, as if resolved.
'Ah.'
I could guess his thinking. If brute force failed, then perhaps...
'He'll try technique.'
Having crossed the borderlands dozens of times and served long in the Ovest Knight Order, he had sword forms two and three that he'd never shown me.
Indeed, Liam's grip differed from before.
'That's form two, huh.'
A stable sword art that compensated for the first form's vulnerable low stance, with enhanced offense.
It began manifesting from the tip of Liam's blade.
"See if you can block this too."
His tone implied, *Let's see if you can.*
"Bring it."
Of course, I was fully prepared.
Swoosh—
Liam's sword flashed toward my wrist like lightning.
'Shoulder!'
I clearly read his weakness. No, it was visible without trying.
Clack.
Lightly blocking the flat of his blade with mine,
"-!"
Then powering a full twist.
"Uh......!"
Liam let out a startled yelp.
Clang!
With a crisp strike, Liam's sword flew through the air.
Thud.
It spun in circles before embedding in the dirt.