Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Ambitionless Adventurer? -2-
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"That power you all live and die for? I've never once in my entire life made something like that my ultimate goal in life."
Trembling with disbelief, Cutler asked again.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I've never set seeing the limits of human mana or the pinnacle of power as my life's goal. And I've never thought of discarding something precious for it either. I just lived without much thought, and this is where it got me. How about that? Doesn't it feel good to hear?"
"..."
Regardless of whether it was true or not, it was certainly words that would sow great confusion in someone like Cutler.
Even if it meant devaluing my own life and efforts with my own mouth, if I kept prodding at his mind, victory would surely be mine.
"Even if you hole up in this dim little room that reminds me of Limno and train your whole life, it still wouldn't measure up to the simple pleasures I've chased while lounging around as an adventurer."
Unable to accept it, Cutler shook his head with a serious expression.
"No. That's sophistry... a lie wrapped in nonsense. The way to use and counter those weapons isn't something a young sprout could know. It comes from mountains of life-or-death experience and real combat."
Even if my goal was to confuse him, it felt odd that my enemy wouldn't acknowledge my claim of living carelessly.
"Then, did you live more sloppily than me without effort? If I've mastered true aura at my age, what have you accomplished at yours?"
"...It's not a matter of effort—it's a difference in talent. The goddess doesn't mention fairness when creating life."
"That's awfully convenient. Just hide behind the word 'talent' for any shortcomings."
"Shut your mouth!! I'm only speaking truths that young fools like you don't know... Open your ears and listen!!"
Cutler's enraged face twisted like a demon's.
...He was laughing even when his ear got sliced off earlier. This old man's got mood swings that scream bipolar.
"See that woman over there?"
I pointed at Eclair, who was holding her breath in the corner. Cutler glanced her way briefly before turning his gaze back to me.
"What are you trying to say...?"
"If that knight over there wields true aura at her young age, would you just dismiss it as 'talent' too?"
Crunch—
The swords gripped in Cutler's hands tensed under his iron grip.
"Young friend—tell me. Are you saying... it's not talent?"
"I'm not completely ignoring the element of 'talent' either. It definitely exists. But... I believe it only shines when backed by a proper story."
"...."
"If you ask if Eclair Dreitna has talent... sure, she does. But has her life been free of hardships and toil? Has she endured no loneliness or bone-grinding effort? What if she had no talent but was the hardest worker on the entire continent?"
Cutler wiped the blood trickling down his chin with the back of his hand.
Clink—!
He sheathed his twin swords and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.
He neatly folded it and wiped away the crusted blood and sweat.
"Tch... I got uncharacteristically worked up. It's laughable hearing a platinum adventurer talk like he knows everything about some knight."
"I don't know knights. But you can tell by hearing their stories... She's endlessly upright, unlike us—someone who actually feels shame for her mistakes and flaws. She's a woman worthy of respect."
"You're naive. That just means she lacks experience. In this broken world, honestly feeling shame for mistakes means she's not fully ripened yet."
This time, I shook my head.
"No. You and I are just shameless scum wearing iron masks. Irredeemable trash."
At my conclusive words, Cutler tossed the bloodied handkerchief into the garden and gripped his sword hilts again.
"You sure love hyping up the empire's knights."
"I've said it plenty: I don't know knights and have no interest. I'm just admiring a way of life I could never have."
"Heh heh... When did I ask about that? You young fool can't follow the thread of the conversation. So, what grand life goal does an adventurer have who dismisses mana and power as 'whatever' and doesn't chase them?"
Ziiing—!!
Cutler's two swords began emitting their green glow once more.
"For ambition, they abandon family; they show their kids slicing open their mothers' bellies to teach superior swordsmanship... Compared to that 'true' aura those monsters master, my goal is simply to live fun and happy."
"Fun? Happy...? You're seriously flaunting something so trivial in front of me? ...Cut the jokes!! Spill your true ambitions to this old man."
Cutler's mana exploded outward in sync with his emotional swings.
A trickle of blood from his nose showed the strain on his body.
"I respect admirable people. I drink with folks who are fun to be around. I dream of a simple future with the woman I love. That's my life."
Ping!
I twisted my waist to dodge the green circle aimed at my neck.
"...Say it's a joke from a clueless adventurer. Are you telling me someone born with power and talent dreamed of and lived a commoner's life? And that's why you stand before me?"
This was nothing short of an earthquake to Cutler's worldview, built on grand ambitions.
He believed that only with ambition and greed could one attain commensurate power.
That those with great strength and talent must pursue something grand.
That setting lofty goals forged the vessel and power to match—that's what most empire nobles thought.
For Cutler, who had envisioned facing an arch-nemesis of vast ambition and ideology, and a death imbued with noble purpose...
I was truly a nightmare.
The moment he lost to me, everything would lose meaning—his lifelong efforts for rebellion subsumed beneath my humble happiness.
"Old man. Do you want me to dream of toppling the empire just because I have ability? If words won't enlighten me, then do it with force."
Half Shadow
Shing—!
A jet-black sword materialized from thin air.
Now Cutler just watched as if it were natural.
"Young friend. If you die here and are reborn, wield that power even greater. That's what it means to be a man."
"Power might bring opportunities, but there's no obligation. I'll live as I please... I've done enough tricks, so now I'll carve you up and bury you, old timer."
Even if the opponent was strong, this was different from the wolf-like demon Groto had summoned.
This old man was stronger, but he was human—blood flowing, organs inside, only one life.
No need to kill him hundreds of times like those sacrifices. Just one fatal blow.
One strike, and victory was mine.
—
Horizontal Boom
Slash—!
His massive muscles moved with unbelievable agility, dodging it.
Up to now, there had been effective hits, but no criticals.
And something astonishing, hard to believe as an illusion.
The more wounds accumulated on his body, the sharper and fiercer the adventurer's movements became.
"Grr... If it'd been just an inch to the side, I'd have gouged your eye out."
"...."
The way he brushed back his sweat-matted bangs with blood flowing down his forehead was overwhelmingly intimidating.
I've met self-proclaimed and others-certified madmen in my long life, but this guy was the real deal.
Made me doubt if even a sword to the neck would actually kill him.
"One question... If I cut your head off, you'll die, right?"
"Stop with the questions already. You're killing my momentum!!"
Clang—!
The pitch-black greatsword swung wildly, caught by his muscles.
No trace of formal training—just pure instinct swinging on whim.
The problem was that lifetime of accumulation was so profound it felt like formless swordsmanship.
'At this rate...'
Aura plus skills. My mana, overused recklessly, was hitting bottom.
Meanwhile, he hadn't shown his full hand. He seemed fresh as if just starting, making me think it was mind games even as my spirit got cornered.
Even finely controlling to avoid aura exposure was reaching its limit.
Clang—!
Kagagak!!
I slammed the clashing sword down hard, shoving his body against the wall. Seizing the chance, he erupted with sword-red aura.
"You bastard...!!!"
The madly pressing sword. Crushing force backed by aura bore down.
"Grrrrr—!!!!"
Chijijik—
"Kuhk..."
Lightning-like aura remnants splashed up, digging into my flesh.
'Not yet...!'
This wasn't the time for that. This wasn't a clear win condition.
My thoughts had shifted after a few exchanges. Even if I died, I'd take this arrogant bastard with me—that resolve had set in.
My arm, cracked like it'd been electrocuted, dripped blood profusely.
"Kaaak—!!"
Chaeeng!
Cutler surged mana enough to reflux blood, escaping the crisis. At this rate, no chance of winning—an overwhelming disadvantage.
No matter what sword path I took, his animalistic senses countered every change.
Talent transcended into extraordinary instinct.
"...."
I steeled my resolve.
With another genius waiting to target my neck, I'd die anyway.
'...I'll take you as my companion in death.'
The seasoned warrior naturally shifted stance, guarding high and slightly exposing his abdomen.
Making it look all too inviting for a slash. Against instinct-driven foes, they follow the subconscious.
He didn't defend against the thrust at his gut—taking it head-on.
"Hup—"
Pook!
The blade pierced straight through Cutler.
Endure
The sword plunging into his gut halted for a split second under Cutler's skill.
Dangkang—
Discarding his twin swords, he seized the adventurer's hands with both of his.
Burning his life force to muster a handful of mana.
"Cough—!! Die... you little shit!"
—
Cutler's skills totaled three.
Horizontal Boom, firing slashes horizontally.
Endure, hardening the body to endure pain.
And Bound Stiletto, shaping mana into arrow-like daggers.
Stiletto's auto-launch convenience was nice, but...
Its power wasn't that high—incapable of piercing tough flesh to the heart.
So, only one way.
Aim for the face. The brow, limited in mana reinforcement, would pierce easily.
Bound Stiletto
Pew—!
Seeing the flying mana clump, Cutler smirked triumphantly.
'I win...!'
Ttang!
Not flesh.
The sound of metal on metal.
"...?"
Where the adventurer's face should have burst with blood, a grotesque mask had appeared.
The stiletto ricocheted off the mask, scattering into harmless mana dust.
"Ahh..."
The jet-black blade through his gut vanished.
In its place, a sword spewing pure white flames materialized in his hand.
"An adventurer's got at least one trick up his sleeve."
Splash—!
Cutler's body split in half.