Chapter 10
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Duel in Haraderiman Plaza
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Sharon Alter Tassalpo.
A fellow initiate from Camilla's FakeWarrior pledge—a bond that was said to be both tenacious and deep.
“Huhu, I suppose it’s because I live a good life, unlike some people?”
“You’re full of it. Anyway, what are you doing here? We came here worked like dogs.”
“We’re leaving tomorrow. The stench of the stray dogs that just wandered in is just too much, you see. Huhu.”
Sparks seemed to fly where the two women’s gazes met. Or was it just my imagination?
“Hah, there it is. A famous sight in the FakeWarrior world—the war of nerves between the first and second ranked!”
Then, the playfulness in Sharon’s eyes vanished, and her brow furrowed.
“Camilla, your hair color is completely…”
“…”
“You idiot. How much time is left?”
Only the two of them knew what, exactly, was running out.
It was then.
That a third party suddenly interjected, shouting at Camilla.
“When the hell are you going to teach me! We’re already at the city!”
“I said I’ll teach you after we rest. Do you have shit for ears?”
“You kept putting it off, saying you’d teach me before we arrived, and now you have to go see the commander?”
Kaisen.
A boy covered in dust and grime.
Seeing the longsword at the boy’s back, Sharon tilted her head.
“Camilla, is that modeled after Aradamanthel?”
“Yeah.”
“And the crest of Valkaro on his cheek… You really are an interesting one.”
“I find it boring.”
“Hey, why don’t you play with me instead of someone like Camilla?”
“Not interested.”
Kaisen answered immediately.
Sharon let out a whistle, surprised by the rude answer—something she hadn’t received in a long time.
Immediately, another person interjected.
“You insolent brat. Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?”
Brilliant blonde hair.
She was the girl who had been standing next to Sharon, her long, curly hair—a style typical of nobility—and pale face exuding a natural elegance.
She looked to be around Kaisen’s age.
“That’s right, you pleb, you need to learn some manners. Do you even know who she and I are?”
Camilla chimed in.
At that, the girl let out a small ‘Hmph’ and clenched her fist in her mind.
I’ve scored points with the top FakeWarrior, Lady Camilla!
“?”
Kaisen looked at the girl.
He stared for about three seconds before speaking in a tone devoid of any interest.
“And who are you?”
“...?”
“Mind your own business and get lost.”
He then turned back to Camilla and started shouting again. A shadow fell over the girl’s eyes, and her fists trembled.
“It’s bad enough you insult my master, but to ignore me as well…”
In that instant, the girl drew her sword.
Her stance alone spoke of her immense skill. The tip of her blade came to rest coldly against the nape of Kaisen’s neck.
“You blasphemer, with the crest of Uruk carved on your cheek! My name is Ria Raily. I challenge you to a duel for staining the honor of the Fierce Count House Raily, and for defiling the dignity of Lady Camilla and my master!”
A moment of silence fell.
For a moment, only the dry sound of trash tumbling across the ground could be heard, then the company’s mercenaries burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs.
“Kaisen! Accept the fight for Lady Camilla’s honor!”
“Lady Sharon and Lady Camilla are old rivals! Uphold our lady’s pride!”
Sharon Alter Tassalpo.
The second-ranked of the seven living FakeWarriors.
Far from stopping them, Sharon clapped her hands as if this would be fun and looked at Camilla.
“Camilla, is he your disciple?”
“Since when do I take disciples with dicks?”
“Huhu, you say that, but it looks like you’ve trained him quite hard. He seems pretty strong. Alright, Ria. Show him the fruits of your training.”
Ria’s face lit up.
My master has given her permission, so I’ll finish a guy like this in an instant…
As she thought this, Ria felt a sudden chill that froze her to the bone.
“Hah.”
Kaisen let out a sigh.
At the same time, beneath his messy black hair, his crimson eyes sharpened with a cold edge.
“So selfish, without a clue what others are thinking… Hey, you. What are you betting?”
“What?”
“If I win, I take one of your wrists. As payment for your insolence.”
Was it a provocation?
No, it seemed more like a threat born of confidence, but to back down now would tarnish her master’s honor.
“You talk a big game. Fine. I’ll give you my wrist. But if I win, I’ll take yours. How about it?”
“Go back on your word, and I’ll cut out your tongue.”
Cheers, cheers erupted.
A source of entertainment had appeared in their otherwise boring daily lives.
Watching this, Camilla snorted and started walking toward the main street. Sharon asked quietly.
“You’re not going to watch?”
“It’s obvious without watching. What’s the point? I’ve no time to waste. Besides, I have something urgent to report.”
Without looking back, Camilla gave a slight wave of her hand as a farewell.
“Tell your disciple I said thanks. Thanks to her, I got rid of a leech.”
An obvious result…
Mulling over Camilla’s confident words, Sharon glanced between Kaisen and Ria, then smiled meaningfully.
“Well, I suppose so.”
End of Childhood,
The Siege of Aristarpo (1)
“What are you doing! They’re having a showdown in the square! Let’s go watch!”
“What? Who? With whom?”
“The disciples of the FakeWarrior ladies! This is no time for poker!”
Soldiers who had been scattered about, amusing themselves in the city’s pubs and inns, poured out in a rush.
Haraderiman Grand Plaza.
To the fountain where a statue of the Light Dragon Haraderiman—said to have helped the gods annihilate the Abyss in the Age of a Thousand Years—spouted water.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen! You’ll have to pay an admission fee.”
Jin of the Long Rifle shouted slyly.
“Who the fuck are you?” Jeers erupted from all over, but when Jin’s squad members shoved their gun barrels forward, coins began to pour in.
“Allow me to introduce the contestants. The lady on the left is the beloved disciple of the renowned Lady Sharon Alter Tassalpo, Ria Raily!”
Ria politely performed the duelist’s salute.
The mercenaries of Sharon’s company erupted in supportive cheers.
Among the onlookers were several mages and knights.
“The Raily Fierce Count House?”
“One of the Three Great Sword Families.”
“Then that longsword must be a weapon modeled after the Holy Sword Tassalpo.”
Before the crowd’s excited cheers could die down, Jin pointed to the right.
“And on the right, we have the dirt-poor beggar, the world’s biggest son of a bitch, personally raised by Lady Camilla Alter Aradamanthel! It’s Kaisen!”
Kaisen sighed and scratched the back of his head.
This time, the mercenaries of Camilla’s company let out a roar. The beastkin soldiers even added their own howls, making it loud enough to burst eardrums.
The onlookers muttered in tones of disbelief and bewilderment.
“Wait, isn’t that a guy?”
“He has to be a guy. I heard Lady Camilla doesn’t take disciples.”
“A pet dog raised by someone like that? Does that mean he’s exceptionally skilled?”
“Nah, but can he really be a match for someone from the Raily Fierce Count House?”
The Fierce Count House, a knightly family that earned a title equivalent to a count with the sword alone.
Only three such houses existed in the empire, and they were known as the Three Great Sword Families.
For reference, Camilla was the illegitimate daughter of the Belchester Fierce Count House.
“If you apologize now, I’ll make a special exception and forgive you.”
Ria drew her longsword.
She aimed its tip at Kaisen with an arrogant smile.
Kaisen didn’t answer.
Instead, he unfastened the scabbard from his sword belt and drew his longsword… and in the next moment, the onlookers were all struck with astonishment.
“Stop flapping your gums and come at me.”
Kaisen didn’t raise his sword.
He threw the sword to the ground and aimed only the scabbard at Ria. His face was expressionless.
“…”
A vein popped on Ria’s forehead.
Inside her, the flames of adrenaline burned cold.
“I am Ria Alter Tassalpo.”
She raised her longsword, half-covering her face with its spine, closed her eyes, and quietly began her prayer.
“I wish to wipe the tears from this land.”
Kaisen reacted to that.
It was a cold, humorless sneer, the corners of his mouth barely lifting.
“Why do women always have to strike a pose before fighting? Camilla does it too.”
“You really aren’t Lady Camilla’s disciple. I can tell since you haven’t even learned the Sword’s Prayer.”
“Never wanted to be.”
Their gazes crossed.
Their spirits clashed.
Their heartbeats resonated.
The silence, in which everything in the world seemed to have stopped, shattered in an instant as Ria kicked off the ground and lunged forward.
“Whoa!”
“She got behind him in an instant!”
“Hey, you brat! Stop with the pointless bravado and pick up your sword!”
Supreme Spider Sword.
Sharon Alter Tassalpo thought.
‘An extreme offensive sword style that aims for the kill by stealing the enemy’s breath.’
Its footwork, bordering on assassination techniques, is its main feature.
‘Now then, what will Camilla’s little toy show me?’
She had completely stolen his breath.
All living things reveal an opening when they breathe, and striking that opening results in a kill.
That was the offensive method pursued by the Supreme Spider Sword style.
‘This gap, this distance.’
Ria was sure of her victory.
He’s already within my longsword’s range. I had no intention of taking his wrist. I’ll just get an apology out of him and let him off easy.
A chill ran down her spine.
In that moment, she felt the scabbard slam into her abdomen, crushing her ribs.
She felt blood pooling in her throat.
As the chilling touch of death consumed her entire body…
“Ria!”
…At the sound of her master’s voice, Ria barely managed to come to her senses.
“!”
She immediately kicked off the ground, putting distance between herself and Kaisen, who had been behind her.
An illusion?
A hallucination?
That guy… he caused a hallucination with his killing intent alone?
‘No, that can’t be…?’
The mercenaries, unaware of the situation, tilted their heads in confusion.
“Why did she just run away?”
“Did Kaisen kick her or something?”
“Hehe, you pathetic fools. This is what you call a war of nerves between masters.”
Kaisen, who had extended his scabbard along the path Ria had charged, grunted and retracted it.
“You’re stronger than you look.”
“...!”
“I was going to end it just now… but this is a waste of time, so I guess I’ll get serious.”
Kaisen picked up his longsword.
He rested the sword on his shoulder, held the scabbard horizontally out in front of him, and began to close the distance.
“Ten-Character Sword, Third Form: Blunt.”
From the Ten-Character Sword style, where the transition between offense and defense is as smooth as water, this was a powerful stance used for heavy strikes.
“Ooh! Looks like the kid’s finally getting serious.”
“Kid? Hey, you bastard! Who are you calling a kid? That guy’s already got a full bush down there. A total jungle.”
“Gasp.”
“Shut up, Jin.”
What is this.
I can’t see an opening.
I can’t see a gap in his breathing. Where should I strike… Ria’s mind went blank.
‘No, that’s not right. I am the true successor to the Supreme Spider Sword style.’
And I am Sharon’s direct disciple.
How could I possibly lose to someone like him?
‘Focus.’
She closed the distance of about ten paces in an instant.
And in a flash, she snatched a fleeting breath and thrust her sword into the opening.
It might hurt a little, but I have to teach him a clear lesson.
────CLANG!
But her sword was deflected by Kaisen’s scabbard as he suddenly turned.
In the instant her sword’s trajectory and her stance crumbled, she was tripped by Kaisen’s foot, lost her balance, and fell flat on her back.
A counterattack that turns the opponent’s offense against them, shattering their internal mechanics.
“Hey, hey, that’s…!”
The veterans of Camilla’s company stared blankly at each other.
“Yeah, that’s the move Lady Camilla used to beat Kaisen four years ago!”
Swoosh────!
The scabbard stopped right before her eyes.
At the same time, the blade flew toward Ria’s hand… She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the searing pain, but nothing happened.
“Next time, watch who you’re messing with.”
The dizzying shadow of the scabbard that had loomed before her eyes vanished.
Click, the sound of a sword being sheathed.
At the sound, she opened her eyes to see Kaisen attaching the scabbard to his sword belt and walking back toward his company.
“Aargh, shit! My money!”
“Told you to bet on our jungle kid, kekeke.”
“Anyway, that kid is obviously strong as hell, who the hell is he?”
The plaza grew noisy again as the mercenaries who had bet on the duel celebrated their wins and lamented their losses. Ria Raily shouted at the departing Kaisen.
“Why didn’t you finish it? You won. You said you’d take my wrist.”
“You didn’t intend to take my wrist either.”
Kaisen grew up surrounded by death.
Which meant he knew better than anyone whether an opponent wielded their weapon with true killing intent.
“Besides, I didn’t learn to use a sword to kill people.”
Ria’s eyes widened.
A faint smile formed on the lips of Sharon, who had watched the fight intently from beginning to end.
‘Just as Camilla said, a complete defeat. In both skill and spirit.’
Sharon approached Kaisen, who was being mobbed by his comrades, his head getting playfully smacked as they praised him (since they’d won more than ten times their bets).
“Should I thank you?”
“?”
“The moment your sword touched Ria’s arm, you would have been dead by my hand. Or at the very least, that arm of yours would have been gone.”
“Figured as much.”
“And if that happened, Camilla would have killed me.”
“Nonsense. She would have thanked you.”
At that, Sharon looked at him with puzzled eyes.
“You don’t know anything about Camilla, do you.”
“...?”
“She’s just not honest. Doesn’t know how, either. How to treat the people she cares about. I wonder what she learned from that great master of hers.”
Sharon suddenly pressed a light kiss to Kaisen’s forehead.
In a flash.
The mercenaries who had backed off for a moment because of Sharon, and Kaisen himself, were all dumbfounded.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“A thank you. Receiving something like this from a beauty like me is something you can brag about for the rest of your life.”
Sharon smiled brightly and turned away.
The mercenaries, looking like they were dying of envy, were about to start bothering Kaisen again, but they quieted down when he shot them a single glare.
“Hah, the little bastard. Still as unsociable as ever.”
“My lady, our Kaisen doesn’t get excited unless it’s a kiss from an Uruk.”
“Kuhahahahahaha!”
Shaking off his company comrades, Kaisen stared blankly at Sharon’s retreating back.
‘What a bunch of weirdos. This FakeWarrior lot.’
One’s a potty-mouth.
The other is a woman with a creepy smile. I never want to become one. Not that I could, anyway.
Meanwhile, a curious smile played on the lips of Sharon as she walked away.
‘To have taught the Ten-Character Sword to a man, and to such a high level…’
You’re playing an interesting game, Camilla.
Taking a disciple when you were so against it, and a man at that.
Is it because death is drawing near?
‘Knowing her personality, I doubt that’s the only reason. What could it be?’