Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Cho Clan's Ban (3)
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It would be a fact that would baffle Ban if he knew. He believed he wasn't strong enough yet, and that was somewhat true. But even so, he had drawn the attention of all those nobles.
The reason was simple.
"...Compared to the kids from the Cho Clan I've seen, that guy's swordsmanship seems better."
A knight muttered. No, many were saying something similar.
Ban wasn't wrong in his thinking. He was weak. Compared to a real knight's fight, his bout with Hazelrek was still sorely lacking. However, his swordsmanship was not.
A knight's standard hinged on whether they could wield Qi or not. But put differently, that meant not every knight was a master of the sword.
The conditions for wielding Qi varied. Some were born with it, others awakened it upon mastering a field. Some gained it through sheer time invested, while emotional shocks could trigger it for others.
For that reason, not every knight was a master of their weapon.
And thus, for knights, the realm of pure sword technique became all the more crucial.
"At that age, to reach that level... If he properly masters Qi, he'll become a terrifying monster."
"He's from the Cho Clan, right? They're lucky to have him."
"Not yet. He might graduate the Academy and join the Royal Knight Order."
Anya didn't find the murmurs around her strange. It was a fight that warranted it. Down below, the clash between Ban and Hazelrek was the most intense and brilliant of the entire exam.
"...Hazelrek's charging in with Qi."
Yeoryeong muttered. In this match, Hazelrek's determination not to lose was palpable.
Unlike their spars, this bout wasn't resolving easily. And rightly so—unlike in spars, Hazelrek was unleashing every ounce of his Qi.
[ You are clashing swords with an opponent of higher level than yourself. ]
[ Sword Path analysis speed is adjusted to the lowest stage. ]
[ This is a Sword Path you have already mostly analyzed. ]
Facing the familiar messages that always appeared when fighting Hazelrek, Ban curled the corner of his mouth. "Higher level." That meant Hazelrek was at least a 3-Star swordsman. Maybe even 4-Star.
It made sense. While Ban occasionally infused Qi into his blade like a finishing move, every one of Hazelrek's attacks now carried it.
'Heavy.'
Exaggerating a bit, it felt like fighting Yeoryeong. And in fact, he was employing the exact tactics he'd used against her. Not clashing blades directly, but deflecting.
A single mistake could sever his arm. But Ban wore a relaxed expression, while Hazelrek looked the one on the defensive.
'...Monster.'
Hazelrek ground his teeth inwardly. To anyone watching, he seemed overwhelmingly on the attack, but a closer look revealed inefficiency. Infusing Qi into every strike burdened him physically and mentally far more than Ban.
There was a reason they didn't spar like this normally. It exhausted the body, and if he mishandled his Qi and hurt Ban, it would be a nightmare. Even within the clan, Qi-infused spars were discouraged.
But now was different. Healers stood ready to mend any lost limbs perfectly, and above all... this match was worth risking life for. For him, and for Ban.
Hazelrek halted his assault. A war of attrition would hurt him more. The problem was, without Qi, he couldn't properly check Ban before getting countered.
'...How does he deflect Qi-infused attacks without using Qi himself?'
Speed, power, even blade hardness—using Qi made a huge difference.
Of course, Ban's sword wasn't meeting his head-on but glancing or deflecting... even so.
'Should I use that technique?'
"Aren't you coming in?"
Ban spoke. His face was sweaty, but compared to Hazelrek drenched head to toe, he was better off. Ban readjusted his grip on the longsword and assumed a stance.
"If you're not coming, I'll go to you."
"...Ban."
Hazelrek slowly parted his lips.
"I have a technique. One I've never shown you."
"Why tell me that?"
"It's not complete yet. So... I can't hold back 'just right.'"
Hazelrek gripped his longsword with both hands. Sweat-soaked, he smiled faintly.
"So, even if you die, don't resent me."
Light flashed. Ban instinctively stepped back. No need to deflect; the distance was safe. Or so he thought.
'What?'
He realized his mistake the next instant. He'd swung with all his might at the last second, slightly altering the trajectory... but a deep gash still marred Ban's chest.
And Hazelrek gave him no chance to process what happened.
'He'll adapt quickly. That's the kind of guy he is.'
Ban was a genius no one could deny. Even new sword techniques took days at most for him to analyze and dismantle.
This one would be the same. A bit different from pure swordsmanship, but to Ban, just a minor trick mixed in.
The technique was simple: condensing Qi at the blade's tip to extend a transparent edge. Its true aim was to disrupt distance perception. Just when they thought they had the range, change it again, forcing self-destruction through misjudgment.
Materializing Qi was still taxing for Hazelrek. His heart already ached like it might burst, limbs numbing. But he wouldn't complain. He'd learned long ago that fretting over safety against a genius was foolish.
Look at the Cho Clan. Born with giant-like strength, could anyone match their training and beat them equally?
Ban was no different. Lacking brute force, he possessed the talent every swordsman craved. Thinking of emerging unscathed was pure luxury.
He swung. The gash on Ban proved victory was possible. If he hurried. Before adaptation. Before realization. Just a bit faster.
And he realized. Too late. His blade no longer reached Ban. His sword slowed. Ban's accelerated...
Until it reached his nape.
§
"...Impossible."
Someone sighed in disbelief. Yeoryeong wasn't unfamiliar with such reactions. Even the Cho Clan's elders reacted similarly to Ban.
'They called him a gemstone. A rock-sized one.'
And now, that gemstone was polished enough to gleam as a jewel.
Hazelrek's loss wasn't surprising. He'd always lost spars, and at similar levels, imagining Ban losing was impossible. Even she couldn't beat him. Full power might change that, but...
Hazelrek materializing Qi had startled her a bit. Other onlookers murmured he might lose given the gap. But it wasn't enough to shake her conviction in Ban's win.
And indeed, Ban analyzed even that Qi. Predicting the invisible blade's length precisely, adjusting distance flawlessly... Even she, with the clan's superhuman strength, felt inadequate.
'You said you'd become the world's strongest swordsman, Ban.'
Did he know?
The reason everyone here was amazed wasn't just his strength.
They saw what she saw.
That the young man on that arena might truly hold the potential to become the "world's strongest swordsman." The round of 16 was over. Only three matches remained.
Until every citizen of Citadel knew the name Ban—just three more.