Sparring or Duel (1)
Sparring or Duel (1)
The old man and I stood facing each other in the indoor training ground.
I held two swords, while the old man held one that looked like a skewer.
I didn't know whether it was made that way to fit inside a cane, but with the Duke of Ceuta holding it, it didn't look like a skewer at all.
Though the Duke of Ceuta had lost his mana, he seemed never to have stopped training in swordsmanship.
As he straightened from his leaning posture, his frame looked somewhat slender, but he stood as tall as any knight.
The Duke's instruction to attack first crossed my mind, but launching an immediate assault was impossible.
A few years ago, I would have just charged in. But now I'd developed an eye for judging an opponent's ability, at least to some extent.
I wasn't detecting it with mana or relying on my ordinary senses alone, but I could sense the old man's prowess.
Right now, this old man wasn't a single step below the Duke of Gracia.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
"Amusing. Don't tell me you're hesitating because you recognize my strength?"
The Duke of Ceuta stepped forward with his skewer-like sword, and I flinched, stepping back.
I had no choice but to move. I felt like I'd be cleaved in half if I stood still.
But I couldn't just keep facing off against him forever.
Just as the old man had said, the artifact had its limits.
Even now, the mana flowing out of it was gradually weakening.
Its duration was much shorter than my necklace's—even shorter than I'd anticipated.
"Your ability to size up an opponent seems superior to what I expected, but are you going to end this by doing nothing but stare?"
When I didn't pounce, the Duke spoke again.
The reason the Duke wasn't attacking was that he couldn't afford to waste his mana.
If I didn't move, it felt like things would just end like this.
I had no intention of letting that happen.
It wasn't my first time throwing myself at an opponent I was likely to lose against.
I took a step forward.
I hadn't entered his mana territory, nor had anything triggered my senses, yet a sharp sense of crisis prickled my skin.
"I wondered if you possessed Mana Resonance, but perhaps you're simply highly skilled."
Thanks to that, I'd managed to keep my other secrets hidden and even mislead him, but right now, none of that mattered.
I gritted my teeth and pressed forward.
It felt as if I'd plunged into a swamp thick with bloodlust.
Though we weren't yet within striking distance, I swung my greatsword as if slicing through the dense aura of death.
The greatsword, its tip shimmering, plunged toward the old man like a flash of light.
The fight ended in an instant.
Fortunately, my sword didn't go flying, nor did I end up sprawled on the floor.
That was because, as expected, the mana contained in the bracelet was depleted in no time.
The clash was brief. There had only been the initial attack and defense, followed by a few exchanges of blows.
Our blades clashed only once, just before the mana ran dry.
Even though it had lasted an incredibly short time and we'd barely crossed swords, I was utterly exhausted.
That was how much mental energy I'd poured into it.
As I circulated my mana, gasping for breath, the Duke also took off the bracelet and sat on the floor.
The Duke was breathing just as raggedly.
Indeed, even if he'd borrowed mana from the bracelet, the old man's body had its limits.
Having gone so long without using mana, his physical condition couldn't have been much different from an ordinary person's.
Yet he'd forced mana into such a body to fight a commander-level knight.
There was no way it wouldn't take a toll on him.
But the Duke of Ceuta paid no mind to his own physical condition.
"Is your method to derive abilities from artifact weapons? Just as you stole the Rattenhamar family's ability with that dagger, is that greatsword also an artifact belonging to another family?"
Instead, he deduced the source of my various abilities.
His deduction was only half right, of course—and I'd intentionally led him to it.
"What a remarkable and fascinating ability. Is that why you're sticking close to the Grand Archduchess? To find artifacts?"
It seemed his misunderstanding was heading in a rather strange direction.
It was awkward to deny it, and as I stood there with a perplexed expression, the Duke tossed the bracelet to me. Then he addressed my bewildered self.
"Always charge it with mana before our training sessions. Since it's being used for your sake, you should be the one to fill it. The more mana you bring back, the more you'll have to learn."
I'd thought its duration was far too short for an artifact, but it turned out it hadn't been fully charged.
But was this really something he could just hand over to someone else?
It seemed like an emergency artifact kept for contingencies, much like my own ring.
Yet the Duke of Ceuta paid no further attention to the artifact bracelet he'd thrown at me.
Besides, it looked as though the old man's body wouldn't be able to handle having any more mana injected into it.
But instead of concern, I got a scolding.
"Do you think that thing charges up so easily? Besides, why are you worrying about my body? Do you think I didn't take all of that into consideration?"
It certainly felt like he'd thrown the bracelet at me on a whim, but...
Well, if he said he was fine, what could I do?
Instead, I asked him something else.
"Then, did I pass?"
Receiving the bracelet seemed to make the answer clear enough, but I needed a definitive response.
Things were different from before we fought.
This wasn't just a matter of being grateful.
I had to cling to his coattails and learn from him, no matter what.
Not just his swordsmanship—I absolutely had to learn the mana cultivation technique he'd displayed while executing his techniques.
Not long ago, while fighting the Duke of Gracia, I'd witnessed the absolute pinnacle of our Duke's House's mana cultivation technique and swordsmanship.
It was the moment my complacency—the belief that I fully understood our family's mana cultivation technique and swordsmanship—was shattered. Thanks to that, I'd been able to gain a great deal.
Just now had been no different.
Though I'd exchanged only a few blows with the old man, I'd been able to observe and feel so much.
The swordsmanship and mana cultivation technique the old man had shown me were completely different from what the Duke had demonstrated.
Yet they contained the swordsmanship and mana cultivation technique Carlos Hero had demonstrated in the Mental World.
Though different from the Duke's, they were a swordsmanship and mana cultivation technique derived from the very same Hero.
Even though it had been only for a brief moment, I'd also been able to gauge the Duke of Ceuta's true strength.
Even now, when he was merely borrowing mana from the bracelet, he didn't fall short of the Duke of Gracia's skill.
I could only imagine how formidable he must have been before he lost his mana.
Indeed, the world was vast, and there were plenty of hidden masters.
"It is difficult for me to make time every single day, but I will come at least once a week. When you train with me, we shall meet here."
It wasn't a direct answer to my question, but it was as good as a confirmation.
"Some things remain unclear, and I am curious how you accumulated such skill at your age, but I suppose I can find that out gradually."
I was glad to hear his response, but unfortunately, it seemed this wouldn't be an easy class.
Though he'd promised to keep my secrets, it would be better for both of us if he didn't find out anything at all.
Or perhaps there was a way to reveal things little by little as I learned.
Hmm. Maybe this way would be better.
A genius knight... I'd heard the word "genius" often enough since I was young, so it should be fine.
While I was lost in these thoughts, the sound of a cane tapping against the floor echoed.
"More than anything, worry about how you're going to charge that bracelet with mana. It is an exceptionally finicky artifact; it took me over a month just to fill it to that level."
As expected, these bracelets were emergency artifacts meant to be used in times of danger.
"Don't exhaust yourself trying to charge it alone. Ask your other friends, or perhaps the Princess and the Grand Archduchess."
There was a limit to what one could ask.
'There's an old man who's going to spar with me, but he has no mana, so I need to charge this bracelet. Therefore, please fill it with your mana.'
He was basically telling me to say exactly that.
It was such an absurd request that I didn't even know where to begin objecting. No matter how I looked at it, asking such a favor was impossible.
Besides, it didn't seem like I'd even need to ask.
"If only the Princess had awakened her Mana Resonance, it would have been much easier. Though, if that had happened, the succession issue might have become even more of a mess."
I couldn't help wearing a complicated expression at the old man's muttering.
Though the Duke didn't know it, the Princess did possess Mana Resonance.
And there was one more person who possessed Mana Resonance.
'Is that why it's filling up so quickly?'
I looked down at the bracelet in my hand.
I could feel the mana swelling inside it.
At this rate, I'd be able to charge it to the same level as the Duke had in less than a day.
I didn't know where its limit lay, but I'd probably be able to charge it to its absolute maximum by our next training session.
The path back to the Academy Dormitory after training was incredibly lively.
Classes had just ended, and a flood of students was pouring out.
There were classmates, seniors, and green, fresh-faced freshmen.
I walked down the path in high spirits, pleased that things had turned out much better than expected.
It seemed that with Katrin and the Princess's help, I'd be able to acquire the swordsmanship and mana cultivation technique of the first king, Carlos, much faster than I'd anticipated.
'I feel like I should express my gratitude to the Princess and Katrin...'
It didn't feel right to feign ignorance and let it slide.
I thought I should stop by the next auction and pick out a small gift for them.
'Then maybe I can take it a bit easy on the group project?'
Since I'd be busy learning the Duke of Ceuta's swordsmanship and mana cultivation technique, I figured I could just go along with the others without taking the lead for the time being.
'After all, developing the Grand Archduchess's abilities is important, too.'
Lost in those thoughts, I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
It wasn't because my senses had picked up on anything.
Someone had simply blocked my path.
I looked at the person standing in front of me.
He was a large male student around my age.
Judging by the epaulets on his shoulders, he was a freshman.
Why would a freshman block my way?
As I stared at him in puzzlement, the freshman opened his mouth.
"You are Senior Alex, correct? I heard you are the strongest in the second-year Knight Faculty."
His next words were entirely predictable.
His ability to gather information so quickly was commendable for a freshman, but I had no idea what he thought he was doing at the very start of the semester.
The students passing by were all staring in our direction—from returning students to freshmen.
Huh. There was no way all the freshmen knew who I was...
Was he surprisingly famous?
"There was no one left among the first-years who could help me grow. That is why I am asking you, Senior, for a spar—"
"I refuse."
I cut him off before he could finish his predictable speech.
I didn't have time to indulge in children's games.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to have quite impressive skills, but at best, he was only at the level of an official knight.
In fact, the female student standing at the center of the group of freshmen watching from behind him looked much more promising.
'So my assessment of her was correct.'
When I refused, the freshman boy who'd boldly requested a spar looked back.
He was looking at the very female student I'd deemed more promising.
The female student raised her eyebrows, and the boy quickly turned back, shouting loudly once more.
"Gael de Pisen, the second son of Marquis Pisen, challenges Senior Alex to a duel!"
Everyone gasped in shock. My jaw dropped, too.
"A duel?"
"Ah, no, a spar..."
The large boy went pale as a sheet.
It seemed he'd let the word slip.
But once a noble uttered the word "duel," it couldn't be taken back.
It was obvious he'd blurted it out in a rush because of the girl watching from behind him.
Yet the freshman girl was clutching her forehead at his words.
I could tell exactly what was going on at a glance.
The girl, who seemed to possess quite exceptional abilities, was likely famous even among the first-years.
That much was clear just from looking at the freshmen gathered around her.
The boy who'd challenged me to a duel had made a mistake while trying to request a spar so he could show off in front of her.
Whether he'd done it purely to look good or because the girl behind him had played a trick on him, I couldn't be sure.
But for the child of a Marquis to act so recklessly...
No, wait. The Pisen Marquisate?
If it was the House of Pisen, they were definitely a family that had split off from the royal family a long time ago, right?
They were a family renowned for their mana cultivation technique, and a wealthy house that possessed many artifacts.
In that case, there was no reason to avoid a spar.
And if it was a duel?
"I accept the duel. But since it would be troublesome for students to kill each other, let us settle the outcome with something else."
The boy froze completely at my acceptance of the duel, but his expression finally softened slightly when I suggested wagering something other than death.
That was how terrifying a duel was. Declaring one meant proclaiming that there would be no issue even if the duelists killed each other.
A long time ago, my sister-in-law, Adria, had almost made the same mistake when we first met.
She'd corrected her mistake immediately, but the boy in front of me had no such opportunity.
"Let us agree that the loser must grant one request of the winner. Something within reason, staked on a noble's honor."
When I said that, his face, which had barely regained its color, turned pale once more.
As the one who'd accepted the duel, this was the alternative I offered instead of death.
It wouldn't be easy for him to refuse with everyone watching.
Especially not with the girl he liked watching from behind him.
"I... I will do so. I-I just have to win, after all."
Perfect.
A nice, gullible mark had practically walked right into my lap.
The Fellowship of the Ring... No, the Artifact Investigation Squad's first destination had just been decided!
