Chapter 77
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Fun Sparring Time
Enlightenment is like a mirage—close enough to touch, yet always slipping away. Sometimes you manage to grasp it, but more often than not, it scatters like mist in your hand.
That's why talent means the ability to truly seize that enlightenment. The talented gain more insights and hold them firmly.
And Lione was a talented swordswoman.
Even for her, though, the enlightenment needed to ascend to demigod wasn't some toy she could grab at will. To fully clutch the insight dangling at her fingertips, she had to focus on it entirely.
"That's why I'm trying to avoid using my power as much as possible for a while. If I use force out of habit while in that enlightened state, I'll just stick to the old path."
"Oh? That's a shame."
Enoch had been secretly looking forward to sparring with Lione now that she'd reached grandmaster, so he couldn't help feeling a bit downcast.
Just as Lione opened her mouth to console his deflated spirits—
Knock knock.
An unfamiliar presence knocked on the door. Lione set aside what she'd been about to say and called out.
"Come in!"
The door opened soon after, revealing an elf woman. Her face was somewhat familiar from a few encounters, but Enoch didn't know her name.
"What is it?"
"Ah, Lady Lione."
The woman beamed brightly, then spotted Tsukiyo crouched in the corner of the courtyard and raised an eyebrow.
"Lady Tsukiyo vanished without a word. Do you know how much I searched for you?"
"Hmph. Where I go is my freedom."
"Ugh."
Tsukiyo snorted and pointed at the elf with her hand.
"Her name's Deru. She's the elf assigned to guide me while I'm with the alliance."
"Ah, Deru? I've heard of you. You're Delphina's daughter, right? Every time we chat, she brags about you nonstop— so you're the one?"
"Mom's been saying that again? Ugh..., I told her not to."
Deru scratched her head sheepishly at Lione's words, then shot Tsukiyo a pouty glare.
"Anyway! At least tell someone when you're going somewhere. When I heard from an acquaintance ranger that you'd gone to Tetica, I thought I was losing my mind."
As a great warrior, Tsukiyo was an important figure, and guiding her was a significant duty. One misstep, and Deru could face a scolding from the aunties and uncles.
"Ah, Deru. Looks like this cat wasn't planning to come back anyway, so I'll keep her here."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah. She's too busy clinging to our Enoch to earn her keep."
Tsukiyo narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Who's the one not earning their keep?"
Sssip— As Enoch inhaled sharply, Tsukiyo flattened her cat ears.
"...Daddy's supposed to take my side."
Whether Tsukiyo sulked or not, Deru—now freed from her duty—grinned widely with delight.
"Then I'll come visit often! I have to bring snacks for Lady Tsukiyo sometimes too."
She pulled a candy from her pocket and shook it. Tsukiyo, who had snuck up close, snatched it in one swift grab.
"Do whatever you want."
Crunch crunch. Elf candy was delicious.
*
With his anticipated spar against Lione canceled, Enoch had nothing to do, so he mindlessly continued his training.
Since meeting Lione, he hadn't skipped training a single day unless something major came up. It had become as natural as breathing, to the point where he'd sometimes find himself training without realizing it while zoning out.
Knock knock.
Lots of visitors today. Enoch extended his hand and pushed out the external ki.
Clunk. The door opened smoothly. It was a grandmaster technique distinct from telekinesis or grasping from afar. Unlike before, he could now deploy it effortlessly.
"You're here again. Is Lady Lione out?"
He was pretty sure the guy was the ranger captain. Enoch stared at the neatly dressed elf man, who twisted his expression.
No, was that a smile?
His smile was so awkward that it scrunched his face oddly as he tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"She's inside, but should I call her?"
"Hmm, no need. I came to see you anyway."
"Me?"
The elf man strode forward and extended his hand.
"You saw me before, right? I'm Philoti, undeservedly serving as the ranger captain."
"Enoch."
He shook the offered hand, and the man flashed that same strange smile.
"Why are you doing that?"
"...It does look a bit weird, huh?"
"Yeah."
"You're blunt."
Philoti gave a wry smile. He was quite tall—close enough now that Enoch had to tilt his head back to meet his eyes.
"I followed my gut and came here..., but honestly, I don't even know what I planned to do, so I'm not sure what to do now."
"What? Do you need something?"
"Well.... I just wanted to see you again. The young hero's face."
Young hero? Sudden praise. Maybe he's a decent guy.
Enoch nodded eagerly.
"If you've got nothing else, want to spar?"
"Spar?"
A strange fervor lit Philoti's eyes.
"That okay?"
"Sure. If you want to, let's do it."
Philoti stared off into the distance with a dazed look, then nodded with a smile.
"An honor."
This time, his smile seemed a bit more natural.
*
The sudden spar originated from Enoch's pent-up frustration.
With his eagerly awaited bout against Lione off, his heated body sought an outlet.
"How do you want to do this?"
"No Lione around, so no lethal strikes."
"Anything else?"
"Doesn't matter much."
Philoti nodded and drew his sword. Watching him steadily, Enoch pondered briefly before pulling his own from his waist.
"A sword? Aren't you more of a bare-hands guy?"
"Feels right today."
It felt a tad restrictive with a sword, but he could manage.
Lione loved swords so much that he'd picked it up from her, and really, it was like an extension of his hand—no big deal.
"I'd love to call that nonsense..., but with you, who knows."
Philoti chuckled awkwardly and assumed his stance: left hand extended forward, sword in right hand pulled back, tip aimed at Enoch.
Enoch gripped his sword two-handed and raised it overhead. No need for a starting signal. Both were grandmasters. The moment Enoch stepped forward, the spar began.
Boom—!
Enoch stomped, unleashing formless pressure that bore down on Philoti.
"Urk...!"
Was it always this intense? He'd seen it used on Kyle's clone, but experiencing it firsthand was beyond imagination.
As his stance wavered, Enoch brought down his raised sword.
Ruuuumble────────
The sword hadn't reached him yet. But the massive mana flow overlaying it plummeted with crushing force.
"Sssip...!"
Philoti inhaled deeply and, from his lowered stance under the pressure, spun his body to slash upward.
Boom—!
The sword rebounded more easily than expected.
'Feint!'
By the time Philoti realized, Enoch was already upon him, eyes wide.
Kiiing—!
Two rings encircled his pupils, spinning. Under that eerie pressure, Philoti gritted his teeth and swung his sword swiftly.
Clang—! The clear ring of steel on steel. Amid the rapid exchange of strikes, Philoti realized he was steadily retreating.
It felt like all his moves were read. Wherever he swung, Enoch's sword was already there. His advances were met with charging blades, forcing constant changes in trajectory. His inferiority in pure swordplay became tangible pressure, restricting his movement.
Boom—!
Enoch stomped again, formless pressure crushing down. Shake it off and swing, and the pressure vanished instantly, throwing his sword off course. Forget it for a moment, and it exploited the gap to crush him anew.
"Haha...!"
Philoti wasn't losing for any special reason right now. Pure swordplay. That alone was pushing him back this far.
"I can't lose this helplessly!"
Philoti closed his left eye. His vision narrowed instantly. In that darkened field of view, he swung his sword.
『Dark Sword』
Enoch's eyes widened at the sudden intense pressure surging forth.
As grandmasters with established mental images, he knew the strike's name through the intent flowing via their swords.
Dark Sword? The space around the blade dimly glowed as it rushed in—hardly a fitting name.
"This is fun!"
Grinning, Enoch infused his star into his sword.
Heavenly Slaughter.
The baleful aura enveloped the blade in pitch-black lightning. With intent to kill the Dark Sword technique itself, he swung.
Rumble—!
The black lightning tore through space. The Dark Sword shattered with it, and Philoti swallowed back surging blood as he fixed his eyes on Enoch's sword.
Scree—!
From below upward. He grasped it and blocked the path with his sword.
Clang—!
'Blocked...!'
The instant he thought so, Philoti realized the blade had twisted at an unnatural angle to touch his throat. He laughed hollowly.
Pulling the sword with external mana, huh. Easy to say, but an advanced sword art. Probably some secret technique.
"Whose swordsmanship is that?"
"Dunno. Saw a demon use it in a dungeon."