Chapter 86: Defeat Alisa! (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 86: Defeat Alisa! (2)
Alisa Badger.
A woman of massive stature with a ferocious scar running down her left eye, she was the Captain of the Tikan Guard and the wife of the Ghost Sword, Casimir.
I have to defeat her within six months?
Judging by appearances alone, Alisa seemed far stronger than the numerous criminals Jin had encountered in Mamit. Her physique was nearly twice the size of Casimir’s, and her bulging muscles were clearly not for show.
But was she truly that powerful?
Powerful enough that he would need at least six months to win, even using magic and spirit energy alongside his sword?
During his month-long stay in Tikan, Jin had seen her every day. They shared breakfast almost every morning and exchanged lighthearted jokes.
Yet, he had never sensed the aura of a truly formidable expert from her.
She’s a unique character, but… is she really so strong that I’d struggle even with magic and spirit energy? If I play all my cards, I’m confident I can hold my own against a mediocre 7-star knight. Sir Casimir must know I’m at that level.
Nevertheless, seeing Casimir’s supreme confidence made the prospect interesting.
"Lady Alisa, I see... If Sir Casimir says so, there must be a reason. Very well, I will spar with Lady Alisa. Provided she gives her consent, of course."
"She will certainly agree. Ever since she became the Captain of the Guard, she’s been bored, complaining about the lack of action. A duel with Young Master Jin will be a great gift for my wife."
As Casimir predicted, Alisa’s reaction was boisterous. She accepted the moment Jin and Casimir approached her with the request.
"Me, against Young Master Jin? Haha! That sounds fun. I was getting bored dealing with nothing but scrawny criminals lately. Not that there are many left, since I’ve rounded up most of them…"
"Is Mommy going to fight Big Brother Jin?"
Yuria, who was being held in Alisa’s arms, looked on with trembling, worried eyes.
"No, we’re not fighting. We’re strengthening our friendship."
"But everyone who fought Mommy turned into mush…"
"I told you, we’re strengthening our friendship this time. Yuria, if Mommy and Big Brother Jin fight, who are you going to cheer for?"
"Umm… Big Brother Jin."
"They say there’s no point in raising kids… Listen, a good five-year-old is supposed to cheer for her mother at times like this."
Alisa spoke as she playfully nipped at her daughter’s cheek, but Jin was momentarily left speechless by Yuria’s subsequent answer.
"But, but! Big Brother Jin is the weaker one. Yuria will always stand with the weak! With the weak and the struggling!"
"Pfft—hahahaha!"
Murakan, who had been lying on a nearby sofa reading a smutty novel, suddenly sat up and burst into fits of laughter.
"The weak and… struggling, pffft, Big Brother Jin. Hey, Kid Ice-Cream, you’ve already got a sharp eye for people! Truly worthy of being Az Mil’s contractor."
Jin wore an awkward smile and quietly approached Murakan, stepping on his foot with all his might. Murakan slid his foot away to dodge the attack, but he couldn't stop Jin from snatching the smutty novel away.
"You crazy—no, you foolish dragon… Didn't I tell you not to read this stuff in front of the kid?"
"I specifically picked one written in an obscure archaic dialect so I could read it secretly. Give it back while I’m still being nice."
"Where do you keep finding these? I’m certain you didn't have this book when we left the Garden of Swords."
Casimir cleared his throat, letting out a dry cough.
He had been procuring five smutty novels a week for Murakan. If a Great Black Dragon demanded them, how could a mere mortal refuse?
"Ahem! Anyway, how about we start the sparring the day after tomorrow, Young Master Jin?"
"Once I get off work, we’ll have dinner and then spar every day. For the next six months. I’ll have to show the Young Master the dignity of Tikan’s Captain of the Guard."
"Every day? I don’t mind, but I’m worried I might be taking up too much of your time, Lady Alisa."
At that, Alisa gave a small smile and shook her head.
"It’s fine. For the time being, it’ll probably be over in an instant anyway."
*
Two evenings later, in the underground training hall of Casimir’s mansion.
Jin had skipped his personal training for two days to bring his physical condition to its peak. He intended to face the first spar in top form so he could get an objective measure of the gap between them.
"Young Master Jin. Before we begin, there is one thing I should disclose."
Alisa, standing across from Jin, spoke as she warmed up.
"Please, go ahead, Lady Alisa."
"I was once a member of the Viment Special Task Force. I was tasked with protecting Casimir before he became a deposed prince, and I left Viment with him when he was exiled."
The moment Jin heard those words, he realized why he hadn't been able to sense Alisa’s true strength until now.
Unlike the Imperial Guard, the Special Task Force carries out missions in the shadows. Consequently, the first thing they learn is how to conceal their power.
I expected there was more to her, but a former Special Task Force member… Sir Casimir didn't say six months for nothing.
As far as Jin knew, the minimum requirement for the Viment Special Task Force was 6-star.
However, that was merely the baseline. If she had been assigned to protect a prince like Casimir, it meant Alisa was at least a 7-star expert, if not higher.
"So, I hope you won't be too discouraged even if you lose to me many times. Also, I have no intention of going easy on you. Shall we begin?"
The moment Jin gave a silent nod.
Whoosh!
Alisa closed the distance in an instant, her fist flying toward his face. It was a speed a typical 5-star knight could never react to.
Alisa intended to end the first spar with a single blow.
It was her philosophy that even a spar should be treated like a real battle.
After spending the last two days asking Lord Murakan and Lady Gilly about the Young Master’s past, I’ve concluded that what he needs right now is an overwhelming defeat—and the struggle to rise above it. He probably won't be able to dodge this strike for at least ten days.
From what Alisa had heard, there had always been 'opportunities and variables' in the crises Jin had overcome.
When fighting Alu, he created a variable with the Rune of Mul-ta.
When fighting Quicantel, he released his sword and cut her wing while she was unaware of his identity.
Even recently, when fighting Andrei, he only managed to strike him thanks to Murakan and Luna.
And Quajito Truka of the White Wolf Tribe, his strongest opponent during his cadet days, wouldn't have lost if he had known beforehand that Jin possessed spirit energy.
In other words, the formidable enemies Jin had faced so far had either been overconfident or lacked information about him.
In contrast, Alisa knew almost all of Jin’s abilities. Not only did she know he used swordsmanship, magic, and spirit energy, but she also knew he possessed the Rune of Mul-ta.
Therefore, Alisa decided she needed to make Jin realize what a 'true crisis' felt like. For a martial artist to grow stronger, there was no better catalyst than a crisis.
However, the place where Alisa’s fist landed was not his face.
It was his scabbard.
He blocked it?!
Alisa’s eyes widened.
It couldn't be called a perfect block. The shock that traveled through the scabbard sent Jin stumbling backward, his balance completely shattered.
In a fight, nothing is more fatal than losing one's balance. It meant defense and evasion were gone. Alisa could easily silence Jin with her next strike.
However, the mere fact that Jin hadn't allowed a clean hit was a shock to Alisa.
That speed should have been impossible to block. Even considering the blessed physique of a Runcandel… have I grown dull? I did feel like my fist was minutely slower than usual.
Jin was still in a defenseless state, unable to regain his posture. He hadn't even drawn his sword, and Alisa’s newly extended fist was already inches from his ribs.
However, he had activated the Rune of Mul-ta to manifest the helmet.
And in his left hand, a single spell he had cast before entering the underground training hall was ready.
Flash Cannon!
Flash—!
No matter how disciplined a martial artist is, they cannot help but close their eyes when suddenly faced with an intense light—even at the moment they are certain they can finish their opponent.
"Ugh!"
Thwack!
Because her posture had momentarily faltered from the light, her fist didn't sink as deep as she’d intended.
Nevertheless, it was enough to break one of Jin’s ribs. The power was still sufficient to end the spar.
Before following up with a third strike, Alisa let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
The opportunities and variables in Young Master Jin’s past crises weren't just handed to him. He created them all himself! To think he had a spell like this prepared in advance.
It was the same this time.
In a manner of speaking, Alisa had lost the 'battle of wits.'
I see it now. The reason he was able to block my first strike… was because he used Earth Magic to lower the density of the ground I was standing on. That’s why I couldn't reach my usual speed.
Glancing down, she saw that the ground she had stepped on was gouged slightly deeper than usual. It was an extremely subtle difference.
If Jin had messed with the floor even a little more, she would have noticed before closing the distance. Such was the intuition of a martial artist of Alisa’s caliber.
—It’s fine. For the time being, it’ll probably be over in an instant anyway.
Jin had predicted that Alisa would try to end things early.
Until the spar began, he had constantly agonized over what variables she wouldn't expect. As a result, all the variables Jin created had worked, but…
It was still impossible to defeat Alisa.
Crack!
A third punch hammered into Jin’s side. Jin was sent flying about three meters before crashing to the floor, and Alisa momentarily shuddered with a thrill.
Naturally, it wasn't because she was intoxicated by victory, but because she was amazed by Jin, who had managed to fluster her from the very first day.
"Ugh… As expected, petty tricks aren't enough."
Petty tricks?
Alisa almost corrected him. She wanted to tell him that this wasn't a petty trick, but a strategy.
"...You are impressive, Young Master Jin. I never imagined I’d have to strike three times on the first day."
Jin, who had been staggering to his feet, collapsed flat on his back again.
He, too, was quite shocked.
She truly lives up to her background in the Viment Special Task Force. Even though all my variables worked, I couldn't even swing my sword properly.
It was disappointing and frustrating, but his heart was racing.
Was it because this was the first time since his rebirth that he had been so thoroughly defeated despite using every trick in his arsenal?
Just as Casimir had foreseen, he felt his head cooling down with refreshing clarity.
"Um, Lady Alisa."
"Yes, Young Master Jin."
"Are you… not going to call a healer?"
"Ah! My goodness, look at me. It hurt a lot, didn't it? Just wait a moment!"
As Alisa hurriedly ran out, Jin let out a small chuckle.
Defeat Alisa before six months are up.
That goal, which felt incomparably closer than the Heart Sword or the Runcandel Secret Techniques, was igniting a fierce desire for achievement within Jin’s heart.