Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Duel (1)
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“Those are some rather harsh words.”
Joshua struggled to keep his composure as he spoke. Veronica’s abusive remarks continued toward him.
“What do you mean ‘swordsmanship’? You were just staring in awe because something was moving in front of you.”
“Ah, no… that’s not it, it really…”
“Fine, let’s say you started learning at around eight years old. That’s at least fifteen years of sword training, right? So it took you a minimum of fifteen years to reach High Class?”
“You could see it that…”
“Demian Haksen did it in less than a year.”
At that moment, Joshua’s face twisted in a frown.
“What kind of nonsense is…”
“Demian Haksen became High Class in less than a year.”
Joshua’s face began to crumple bit by bit.
“I’ve heard the rumors too… but I didn’t believe them.”
“Why?”
“It’s too absurd. Even becoming Middle Class in a year is hard to believe, let alone High Class? Rumors are always exaggerated, so only fools take them at face value…”
“It’s true.”
Veronica cut in sharply.
“I saw it myself, so I know. A few months ago, when I first fought him, he was Middle Class. But when we met again, he was High Class.”
“If you keep spouting such nonsense…”
“Believe it or not, that’s up to you. But don’t act strong when you’re weaker than Demian. It’s annoying to watch.”
Gasps echoed from all around, as if breaths had stopped. It was clearly crossing the line.
The problem was that Veronica wasn’t done yet.
“Demian Haksen is my marked prey. How do you think it feels when a worm like you looks down on my once-in-a-lifetime hunt?”
“…A worm like me?”
Anger slowly colored Joshua’s face.
“You insolent bitch… I showed you some courtesy, and now you don’t know your place and spew whatever you want!”
Killing intent poured from Joshua.
A High Class’s killing intent was no different from a lethal weapon itself. The horses neighed and bucked wildly from the spreading aura. Some soldiers even spat up blood.
“Draw your sword right now. I’ll show you firsthand whether I’m weak or strong!”
“Why should I?”
Veronica replied without a hint of hesitation. It was such an unexpected answer that Joshua’s expression blanked for a moment.
“I’m Middle Class and you’re High Class—why would I fight you? Am I crazy? Are you?”
“To mock me, a High Class, despite being mere Middle Class! Do you really want to die?!”
Unable to contain his rage, Joshua gripped his sword hilt.
But he couldn’t draw it. Something was stopping him from unsheathing his weapon.
A longsword.
More precisely, a sheathed longsword was now pressing down on Joshua’s hilt.
Bewildered, Joshua followed the scabbard with his eyes.
At its end, Demian gripped the hilt.
“That’s enough.”
Demian said in a calm tone.
* * *
Joshua looked back and forth between Demian and the longsword in stunned silence.
He hadn’t noticed.
Neither when Demian took hold of his sword, nor when he extended it to block his wrist.
He hadn’t even noticed up until the moment he drew it.
Was this really the same High Class level? Goosebumps rose all over Joshua’s body.
“My companion was a bit rough with her words, but is it proper for a High Class to draw on a Middle Class?”
Demian retracted his extended sword as he spoke.
“I’ll apologize for my companion’s outburst. But you were the first to reach for your blade, so how about we both step back here?”
Joshua nearly nodded.
The move Demian had shown surpassed his own level entirely.
“That won’t do.”
But before he could, his father, Javier Silva, spoke first.
“That young woman insulted my son. For a knight, honor is like his life. How could we just let this slide?”
“Even so, a High Class drawing on a Middle Class doesn’t look good.”
“And why would that be a problem?”
Demian initially thought Javier was being unreasonable.
But seeing Javier’s expression, he seemed genuinely convinced.
“My son has been ‘dishonored.’ Repaying that—how could that be a problem?”
Demian inwardly clicked his tongue at the arrogant attitude. He hadn’t expected such lawlessness.
The issue was that this shameless man was Master Class.
“What do you propose, then?”
“We must exact payment from that woman. If she offers a finger, I’ll let it go.”
“I can’t allow that.”
Demian replied without hesitation.
Veronica’s words had crossed a line, but cutting off a finger was out of the question.
“I was being generous… and you refuse my offer?”
Javier’s brow furrowed slightly.
In that instant, overwhelming pressure surged toward Demian.
It felt like being crushed in the deep sea, squeezing his entire body.
‘Even this is getting bearable with exposure.’
But Javier’s aura had little effect on Demian.
Seeing no reaction, Javier’s expression changed.
He looked at Demian with evident interest.
“…I’ve changed my mind. I’ll let this slide.”
Demian nearly burst into laughter at the magnanimous tone.
“Instead, I want to verify if that insolent girl’s words are true.”
“Verify?”
“A duel between you and Joshua—to see who’s stronger.”
Liam Bluegreen shouted in panic at the words.
“A duel right before the tournament? That won’t do.”
“We can end it at an appropriate point, can’t we?”
“What if something dangerous happens…?”
“Dangerous? With me here, what could possibly go wrong?”
Javier scowled in displeasure. Liam Bluegreen couldn’t push back further.
“Sir Demian.”
Liam Bluegreen looked to Demian as his last hope.
“That sounds amusing.”
But Demian betrayed his expectations.
Demian was sorry to Liam Bluegreen, but he had reason to accept this duel.
‘When that guy reached for his sword in rage… I felt something.’
When Joshua couldn’t hold back his fury and went for his blade, Demian sensed a faint, strange energy.
It was too subtle to discern anything from alone. So he accepted the duel to investigate further.
“Joshua, what say you?”
Javier turned to his son. After a moment’s thought, Joshua replied.
“I accept.”
“Ha! Good, that’s my son.”
Javier laughed heartily before shouting to the soldiers.
“What are you all standing around for? Prepare the dueling ground!”
* * *
The soldiers began overturning the field. They packed the earth flat and firm.
After an hour, the dueling ground was complete.
‘Unnecessarily extravagant.’
Demian tapped the packed ground with his toe as he thought.
As if a duel were some grand event requiring the earth itself upturned.
That was when Demian was thinking this.
“What the hell are you thinking?!”
“What did I do?”
“Because of you, big bro’s in a tough spot!”
“Should I have just sat there after hearing that?”
“W-well, no, but…”
He heard Michael and Veronica arguing. Demian turned to them.
“Both of you, stop.”
Michael shut his mouth immediately at Demian’s words. But Veronica didn’t.
“Demian Haksen! He’s only picking on me! Say something to him! You were pissed too, right?!”
“Well, yeah, I was annoyed.”
Demian nodded.
The father-son duo’s manner had irritated him too.
“Right? I did good, didn’t I? I knew you’d think—wait, why are you pulling out that club?!”
The moment Demian drew the club, Veronica hid behind Michael.
Demian slapped the club against his palm.
“Just in case, here’s a warning. Don’t step forward again… one more time, and I’ll really ‘reform’ you.”
“You said you were annoyed too. Isn’t it fine if I said what you wanted to?”
Veronica’s eyes shone with pure innocence. She seemed to truly believe it.
A sudden headache hit. As Demian pressed his temple,
“Sir Demian, thank you for making the hard decision.”
Joshua, who had stepped onto the dueling ground, expressed his gratitude.
“Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t that hard a choice.”
Joshua’s expression hardened slightly at Demian’s words.
“…Real swords are fine, right?”
“Do as you like.”
No sooner had he spoken than Joshua drew the longsword from his waist.
Curiously, the blade glowed reddish. Clearly no ordinary weapon.
“A sword made of rare metal.”
“You have a good eye. Precisely, it’s forged from a rare metal alloy.”
Joshua spun the blade once. It bent smoothly, slicing the air.
“Not just any alloy either. It’s dwarven alloy. Suits me perfectly, don’t you think?”
Braggart.
Demian clicked his tongue briefly and gripped Dawn’s hilt. Then, a thought struck him.
‘With that personality… he’ll probably brag nonstop to the capital with his old man?’
Just imagining it turned his stomach. For a peaceful trip, he needed to crush Joshua’s spirit thoroughly.
“Michael.”
“Yes, big bro.”
“Get me a tree branch. Thin is fine.”
The sudden request bewildered everyone—except Michael.
Without a word, Michael scanned the surroundings for a branch.
But in the middle of the field, none were in sight.
Then, a lone tree caught Michael’s eye.
He swung his sword at it immediately.
A sharp aura grazed the topmost branch.
Even severed by aura, it didn’t fall right away. Coated in sticky sap, it slid down slowly before dropping.
“…”
Every knight’s eyes widened at Michael’s display.
It was too clean and precise for mere Middle Class.
“You could’ve just snapped it by hand…”
Only Veronica clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.
“Big bro, here.”
Michael handed the branch to Demian. He gripped it and swung it a few times.
Thumb-thick, about two handspans long.
Perfect for holding and swinging.
“…Why did you ask for that?”
Joshua asked Demian with a dumbfounded look. Demian dangled the branch as he replied.
“Can’t fight barehanded.”
Joshua’s expression blanked.
“Come at me. I’ll face you with this.”
Soon after, Joshua’s face twisted savagely.