Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Sword Debate(?) (2)
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What the hell is a sword debate?
'Seriously, what is it?'
It was still an unfamiliar world to Rishir.
Even as he engaged in the sword debate, he wasn't confident he truly understood its meaning or rules.
That was the first dilemma he faced in this state.
'How do you even open a sword debate?'
In real combat, the moment the fight begins, every factor in the surroundings falls within the battle's scope.
The distance between opponents. Their conditions. Mutual awareness. Thoughts. Breathing rhythm. Even minor habits.
The Clana style that Rishir wielded considered all of it to create the optimal opening before striking with a surprise attack sword.
Of course, it was the sword of a murder ghost who stood out even among superhumans. Its subtleties wouldn't be limited to mere surprise attacks—
But it was an undeniable fact that, for the current Rishir, the most proficient technique he could wield was the one-strike kill 'Shadow Step' that embodied the ambush sword's essence.
Because it best exploited his unique traits.
Thus.
The moment the sword debate began, Rishir started considering every element just like in real combat.
'If the debate's already started, what's our distance? Which hand is the sword in? Which foot is forward, left or right? Where's the center of gravity—'
In the midst of that, Rishir had a realization.
'This is endless.'
This wasn't the right approach to a sword debate.
Sword debate. Debating swords to determine superiority.
The words sounded grandiose, but at its core, it was just a verbal fight.
Rishir knew it well.
How childish humans became when arguing about 'strength'.
The lifelong dilemma from his previous life: 'Tiger vs. Bear'.
And in this life, the eternal debate: 'Dragon vs. Giant'.
When two people with differing opinions argued over those topics?
Two winners and two losers were born instantly.
Hey, I'm right.
No, I'm right.
In the end, it was just a war of words.
Something you could always win if you set your mind to it, or never lose if you wanted.
Maybe sword debates were the same?
With that, Rishir reached a conclusion.
'Maybe I shouldn't worry about petty details like distance?'
This wasn't real combat, where tiny differences and minute details could change the outcome.
To secure a definitive victory, he had to deliver an overwhelming defeat that left no room for excuses.
A typical argument—
No.
It wouldn't be easy in a sword debate—
But Rishir found the solution.
The key lay in the spirit's words: 'both at the 6th tier'.
Perfectly equal power.
The most fundamental element for a sword debate.
'Targeting that is the way to conquer the sword debate...!'
An unprecedented approach in sword debate history.
A shocking strategy born from it—one move!
I.
7th tier.
Superior. Troubling.
Rishir gazed at the box with triumphant momentum.
Well? What now?
'I'm 7th tier, you're 6th—what're you gonna do?'
In a sword debate, where all variables were excluded to purely compare techniques, overturning a tier difference was no easy feat.
In fact, real combat—with its myriad variables—might make reversing tiers even easier.
In other words.
Rishir was essentially certain of his victory.
-Are you serious?
The box asked in a trembling voice.
"Are you scared?"
-You madman...
The spirit guarding the box was trying to maintain composure even now.
In truth, it wasn't an entirely unusual case.
It happened occasionally.
Like the madman before it—immature lunatics who trampled over sword debate rules.
Dealing with them was surprisingly simple.
Such childish nonsense, lacking any basis, was naturally riddled with errors and contradictions.
Just exploit those.
Like a sword made of paper.
Flashy on the outside—but hollow within, shattering on impact.
-Raising your power to 7th tier... care to explain how?
"First, I send my mana into overload via resonance, then seal it within my body to contain it."
The spirit realized this opponent had exceptional talent.
-You madman...
A talent for making such words spill from its mouth with every reply.
'Looks like he's handled swords plenty, yet he spouts that nonsense so calmly.'
At that level, it wasn't childish nonsense—it was pure madness.
The spirit was certain.
Once combat began, this guy wouldn't blink before throwing sand in the opponent's eyes.
Separately.
The spirit already saw the end of this nonsense.
Another victory in sight.
Did he know?
That he'd already doomed himself in the sword debate?
-It's over.
"What?"
-You've lost.
"...Suddenly?"
-Not suddenly. You just said it yourself: containing overloaded mana in your body. Congratulations. Your power's tier rose temporarily. But as a cost, your body overloads. You're unfit for continued combat. Thus, you lose.
"Ah. Wait."
-What now?
"I said it at the start. Resonance alongside Blue Breathing. Blue Breathing reinforces the body to endure, and while enduring, resonance controls the mana flow maximally. That minimizes overload effects.
-You're insane. Have you ever done a sword debate before?
"No. First time.
-Yeah, figures. Anyone can see it. Anyway... setting aside bringing up Blue Breathing out of nowhere in a sword debate.
Whew.
The spirit sighed.
So much to say, but it'd hold back for now.
-But if I concede that, shouldn't you clarify at least one thing?
"One thing?"
-Are you debating as a mage or a swordsman? Pick one.
"Obviously a swordsman? It's a sword debate. So, I'll stick to swords for now.
-Sword debate means only swords? What nonsense. If it weren't a sword debate, you'd use both sword and magic? From the start—controlling a mage's overloaded mana with Blue Breathing? You think that's possible?
The spirit's tone had grown polite.
Like a veteran kindly explaining rules to a novice.
"Ah."
Did its sincerity get through?
He nodded as if understanding.
And his enlightened words—
"Surprisingly, it works."
-Ah.
The spirit let out a soul-draining sigh.
What was the strongest opponent in a sword debate?
A legendary swordsman? Swordmaster?
No.
A stubborn fool.
No? It works. Yes? It does.
The ultimate swordsmanship in debate.
Nothing you could do against it except wield the same.
"Want me to show... wait, is that allowed in sword debate?"
-Fine.
It had conceded enough.
No more pandering.
-You said resonance and Blue Breathing together raise your mana's tier?
"Yes."
-I'll counter with the same method.
"...!"
The spirit's counter-nonsense.
Rishir's eyes widened.
The spirit felt a thrill at his reaction.
As expected.
Tit-for-tat worked best on such guys.
It could already see his next response.
'How do we settle it if you pull nonsense like that?' he'll retort.
Textbook stubborn fool.
Thus.
The moment the spirit lost all interest, deeming no need to engage further—
"You can do that too...?"
Genuinely shocked Rishir.
His eyes sparkled with interest, asking earnestly.
-...
What technique was this?
The completely opposite reaction threw the spirit into confusion again.
'You can do it?'
The spirit couldn't tell anymore.
Was this Rishir guy stubborn and vile, or just a bit dim but good-hearted?
"To think someone else can do it... Well, no reason there couldn't be...
Rishir's eyes gleamed.
The eyes of a man meeting a kindred spirit or rival.
Once indifferent to sword debate, he now burned with passion belatedly.
"Alright, my turn now?"
Just in case.
Rishir described the murder ghost's sword—avoiding its name directly—in verbal terms of its ambush style.
Footwork embodying acceleration and feint to create perceptual gaps, then piercing with an illusory sword—
-A sword without systematic forms or stances?
"Yes."
-For your sake: relying on senses like that won't reach high realms.
"...Is that so?"
-Anyway—
The spirit's counter.
It spotted the flaw in Rishir's move.
-Step back. Keep going. Further. Further... There.
Rishir distanced himself from the table holding the box, per the spirit's command.
The spirit gauged and spoke.
-That's your preferred range.
"...Oh."
Spot on.
"How'd you know?"
-To deceive senses while closing in, your footwork's subtlety requires not too far, not too close.
Rishir felt pure admiration.
'Not just talking big about sword debates.'
Thus, from that distance, the spirit replayed Rishir's move.
-You've only faced inferior swordsmen habitually. That's why tricks work. At this range, fully deceiving my perception is impossible. Even if briefly—even if you did— it won't buy enough time. Your sword falls just short.
"What if sword aura bridges that gap?"
Just when it seemed serious sword talk, back to it.
The spirit inwardly lamented.
Discussing 6th-tier swords, yet Blue Breathing, sword aura—
Chaos ensued.
The spirit, briefly serious, spat out self-reproach.
Via pre-prepared magic, it'd interfere with his actions.
"Huh? Sword debate, but magic?"
-You used Blue Breathing first.
"Ah, true."
He accepted it readily.
Even grinning eagerly, spirits lifted.
"Fun, right? Pure talk, but this style of matchup is new."
-Same here. Never dealt with... someone disregarding all bounds.
"Disregarding bounds—nice ring. Alright, let's lay all our cards out and go all-in?"
-Do your worst.
Let's see how far.
The spirit replied indifferently.
"Such composure. Makes me more curious what's in that box."
Rishir admired.
Judging the spirit's attitude as 'composure'.
Next move from Rishir.
He attempted to seize control of the interfering magic.
The spirit declared the seizure failed, then ambushed with a hidden contrivance.
"Oh, hidden weapon ambush. We're in sync, huh?"
Spirited up, Rishir acknowledged it—
And healed the resulting wound with divine power.
-Even with the stage set... you really go all the way. Now divinity too?
And it didn't end there.
After divinity came wind and fire magic simultaneously.
The feat of multi-attribute mages, born with innate talent.
-Ah. Not just knowing magic—you're proficient?
Then, amid sensory-disrupting sandstorm, unquenchable flames clung—
Finally, spirits appeared to support him.
-Insane.
Now, it reverently admired his audacity and imagination.
Even a child's fantasy might be less fanciful.
Playing along, the spirit suddenly felt self-loathing.
'What am I even doing?'
By its calculations, the opponent should've felt this and stopped the farce.
But far from it—he was more excited, continuing the sword debate(?).
Thus, when the spirit's imagination hit its limit, came one move.
-I'll raise my tier again. Now I'm 8th tier.
The spirit's tone was soulless.
Knowing the absurd counter it'd get.
"...!"
What was this?
Rishir's face filled with shock.
"That's... possible...?"
The spirit was inwardly dumbfounded.
'Now?'
It chuckled dryly.
-...
Then,
The spirit belatedly sensed the atmosphere.
The swordsmen's gazes had changed notably.
The frustration and grit in those eyes had notably faded.
Effect of the fierce sword debate(?) with Rishir.
-...
No way.
The spirit belatedly realized Rishir's intent.
Perhaps he'd entered the debate to thoroughly humiliate it.
'Looks innocent, but sly bastard...'
The spirit seethed inwardly.
"Hahaha!!!
Gorein burst into cheerful laughter.
He approached Rishir, clapping his shoulder familiarly.
"Quite the fierce exchange, eh?"
He'd thought the same as the spirit.
Gorein recalled Rishir talking with Drein before the debate.
His disbelief at hearing the Gray Wolf lost a sword debate.
Gorein connected that to Rishir's debate actions.
'He saved our master's face!'
Tiers suddenly rising.
Magic, divinity—everything flying.
That was a sword debate.
Rishir proved in that short time how ridiculous 'swords by words' was.
Thus, showing respect to the Gray Wolf who lost the debate.
Gorein's eyes toward Rishir sparkled mercilessly.
He'd deemed the box debate pointless.
Yet obsessed with victory to deny his master's loss and avenge it.
But the box's impenetrable debate left no strategy, forcing inner turmoil—
Who'd expect this method?
'What ingenuity...!'
Gorein's fondness for Rishir surged.
He'd wondered why a picky guy like Drein took interest in this average man—
Now, it fully made sense.
"You seem pleased...?"
"Huh? Why'd I be sad?"
"No... Isn't that box yours and the Gray Wolf's? Aren't you stumped? How do you even beat it and open—
"...No. What? Why so serious?"
Gorein faltered.
Rishir's attitude seemed genuinely serious, against expectations.
And Rishir.
Still not over the defeat's frustration, he thought.
What's inside that thing?
What's in there to summon such an off-the-charts debater?
'Can I really open what's inside...?'
As Rishir gazed reverently at the box—
"Huh?"
His eyes sharpened.
Soon, he approached the box, placing a hand on the lid.
-What're you doing! Now you—...
The spirit's words cut off.
The box opened without resistance.
The chaotic atmosphere from the mad sword debate(?) settled.
Gorein, eyes tense, said.
"...When did it open?"
The box.
Its contract judged.
During the debate, one side discussed power it couldn't wield itself.
The box's guardian spirit.
The nameless swordsman in its true form.
Having lost his body, obsessed with sword debates to that degree—he truly couldn't handle magic.
Obviously.
"...
Rishir's group, witnessing it all, trembled.
-...?
The spirit, belatedly grasping the box's state, uttered blankly.
He started it, yet why?