Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 82
Meditate before entering battle.
Clear your mind of everything but the fight ahead. Imagine every possible scenario, one by one.
It was the captain's teaching, the culture of the Trevion Mercenary Corps.
This match felt different.
He wasn't stepping into the arena as Asher, the 1st Class Knight of the Holy Order. No, he was Asher, the last mercenary of Trevion, sword in hand.
He could dismiss it as personal feelings, but Versia had given her blessing.
There was nothing left to hesitate over.
"Saintess, it's about to start."
Versia spoke.
Asher slowly opened his eyes and rose to his feet.
A bright smile crossed his face as he replied.
"Yeah, I'll be back."
Time to settle it.
Asher headed into the arena.
* * *
"He's finally here! Baern's divinity clashes with the great tree!!!"
"Woooaaah!!!"
The cheers roared to life.
The crowd's fervor was on another level from before.
Kaol grinned as he leaped onto the arena floor.
Across from him, the woman who'd be fun to toy with glared with murderous intent, filling him with delight.
"Challenger! With her swift blade, she fends off all who target her oppa! Baern's craziest bitch who loves oppa way too much! Incest~ Tiiiiaaa!!!"
"Kuhuhu, what a lovely nickname."
The woman's brow furrowed just as Kaol's introduction rolled on.
"And facing her! Baern's Lion Corps legend! The grade-1 executive of Sandstorm, the Desert Fox Kaaaol!!!"
"Woooaaah!!!"
Veteran mercenaries and rookies differed from the start in moments like this.
Once your reputation built up, you got proper nicknames instead of insults.
That name alone carried the weight of years as a sellsword.
He couldn't lose.
He absolutely mustn't lose.
And he sure as hell couldn't show fear.
He feigned nonchalance.
"One more time. Come under me, and I'll give you a decent nickname. 'Incest Tia' is a bit much, no?"
That was the moment.
"That's weird. The Desert Fox I know is so cute and lovable, but that face..."
She trailed off like she was firing back, flashing a sweet smile.
A vein bulged on Kaol's forehead, and the crowd's cheers exploded even louder at the taunt.
"Oh! Oooh! As expected of Incest Tia! Every man who's not oppa is a total loser!!!"
"...Once this match ends, you're first on my kill list."
"Kyaaah!"
The announcer exaggerated his shock, stumbling back in clownish retreat.
Soon, only Kaol, face flushed with rage, and Tia remained in the arena.
"Can't go easy on you now. Damn bitch."
"Never asked you to. Let's give it our all..."
Before she could finish.
Chaaeng!
Kaol launched a sneak attack.
The bell had already rung. No disqualification.
Kaol clicked his tongue.
Incest this, thatstill, she had real skill. She'd blocked the strike without even looking.
Not an easy opponent.
"Oho."
"Such cowardice...!"
"Got time to talk?"
He'd overwhelm her in a blitz.
Kaol's shoulders twitched.
Chajaeng! Jaejaeng!
A violet blade sliced through space.
Straight sword, but its path whipped like a lash.
"Whoa! Kaol's secret art! Song of the Viper!"
"Amazing! Tia's not even countering once!"
"Woooaaah!!!"
The crowd's voices swelled.
But Kaol couldn't smile.
He gritted his teeth, eyes bulging wide.
The audience was missing it.
'She's blocking everything?'
Not top-tier, but Song of the Viper was a secret art.
Beyond the snaking trajectory, it forced the foe with binding power woven in.
Like a serpent coiling, mana rings trapped and struck vitalsthat was its effect.
Yet Tia blocked it all.
Her breathing steady, half-lidded eyes coldly tracking every path with chilling precision.
'Impossible...!'
This woman didn't wield secret arts.
She might one day, but right now, no trace on her.
How the hell?
Kaol felt sudden impatience.
Let this drag, and something unpleasant would happen.
'Just graze her once...!'
It was a cursed blade.
A mere brush would drop the bitch.
Kaol poured in more power.
Loosed even more mana.
Chajaeng! Jaejaeng!
He shifted steps.
Created more variables, more trajectories.
Until even he couldn't track the blade's path.
"Low-grade secret art's limit."
Tia murmured softly.
"I can break it. If I focus just a little."
Then, the unbelievable happened.
Thud!
Tia's curved sword traced an eerie path.
Kaol's breath caught.
The announcer lost it.
"Sh-she stole it!!! Tia stole Kaol's song!!!"
Two curved blades writhed like serpents.
Like a twin-headed viper baring fangs.
Alarms blared in Kaol's head.
'Steal a secret art? Ridiculous...!'
The mana-binding core was absent.
But the trajectory? Perfect copy of his.
...No, superior.
Only one person Kaol knew could do this.
'That creepy little brat!'
Trevion's child lion from over ten years back, a horrifying prodigy.
Did he return?
The absurd thought hit, despite the woman before him.
Tchud thud!
Song of the Viper halted.
The sword rose high, exposing Kaol's chest.
Chills raced down his spine.
Tia lowered her stance, closing in.
Her reverse-gripped blades crossed in an X, like scissors.
Those edges felt like a beast's gaping maw.
Survival instinct kicked in.
No longer about win or loss. His mercenary gut screamed.
Keep this up, he'd die.
But surrender? No way.
'Can't lose. Everything I've built crumbles!'
Why enter this tournament himself?
For achievement points.
Even defeat was finein the finals.
Total loss to a bitch with no secret arts?
After taking his sword?
He'd be a joke.
Realization ignited venom.
The poison that lifted a mere sellsword to Lion Corps grade-1.
Win or die togetherthat mindset.
Kaol slashed downward.
Abandoning defense.
Tia's eyes widened in shock.
Her surprise sparked faint glee.
'What? Expected me to yield?'
Kaol curled his lip.
Tia bared her teeth, thrusting.
Shaaak!
"Keurk!"
Blood sprayed from Kaol's chest.
Deep wound. Needed treatment now.
Kaol steadied his staggering body by force.
Blood soaked the floor, but his mouth grinned.
'It grazed!'
The blade nicked her shoulder.
She'd faint.
Curse of warrior souls etched in the swordwrithing in agony.
Just stay upright, victory was his.
He counted mentally.
'One, two, three...!'
But nothing happened.
'...Huh?'
Tia frowned at her torn hem, then kicked Kaol down.
"Eurk!"
"You grazed my collar. Congrats."
She glanced at the announcer, who blinked in stupor before stammering out.
"V-victor: Tia! Incest Tia!!!"
"Can we drop the 'incest' part now?"
Tia descended the arena, sounding exasperated.
Kaol gasped raggedly, bloodshot eyes chasing her back.
'Why!!!'
He screamed inwardly.
Then passed out, carried off.
* * *
Kaol came to after the tournament ended.
He stared blankly at the ceiling as reports came in.
The winner: Blue Sword.
Not Tia who'd beat him, but Ergo the pedomiddle-aged guy shadowing the kid mercenary captain.
Lost to a non-winner bitch.
That fact made veins throb on his forehead.
He bolted up, storming to the palace depths.
Deep annex. Bang! Kaol kicked the door open.
"Hey!!!"
"Oh dear, making a racket. Ouch."
A woman inside.
Black hair, snow-white skin, blood-red eyes.
Her smile oozed eeriness.
The witchprime contributor to the rebellion ten years ago, Sandstorm's creepy partner.
Kaol bellowed.
"What the hell with that sword! The curse didn't work! Because of it, my position..."
"Ever seen such a dumb kid?"
"...What?"
"Curse fails, you ever think there's a reason?"
Kaol scowled viciously.
But the witch just smirked mysteriously.
"Curses get devoured by bigger curses. Common sense."
"What..."
"That bitch bears a curse no ten warrior souls can touch."
The witch hummed.
"Hmm~ Wonder what curse it is."
She looked genuinely amused.