Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion
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It was a spear gleaming with a vivid blue light.
It felt like cold metal, but lighter than expected.
Its length was just under two meters—not too short, not too long—and the spearhead wasn’t fully sharpened yet.
The only unusual feature was the straight, ruler-like engraving running the entire length of the shaft.
Looking at the pattern, Rian asked Walter.
“This…… is an arrow?”
“Heh, what do you think? Doesn’t it suit you well?”
“Even so, engraving an arrow on a spear……”
Rian gave an awkward smile, not seeming displeased.
Walter spoke to him.
“Right now, rumors about you and Dianal are spreading like wildfire all over Bellotra. You’re a huge celebrity here.”
“That much?”
“Starting tomorrow, the boss of Shredded Wound Fragments is opening all the windows overlooking that clearing and setting up viewing seats during the day.”
He said this while mentioning that he’d initially planned to protest about the noise but couldn’t bring himself to mention Dianal.
Walter burst into laughter.
“Kekeke, they’re even running betting pools on you two now. You didn’t pass out today, right?”
“……Yes.”
“Heh heh heh, a lot of guys must’ve lost money today. Since you pass out every time, there were even bets on whether you would or not.”
“……”
Rian made a baffled expression, thinking how people came up with the strangest things.
Then, suddenly,
“……Old man.”
Noticing Walter’s gleeful expression, Rian asked.
“Did you…… bet too, by any chance?”
Walter flinched.
“W-what?”
“No, you just seem awfully pleased……”
Rian narrowed his eyes. Walter snapped indignantly.
“W-what are you talking about!”
“……You won.”
“Ridiculous! Do you know how busy I am? Thanks to the work you dumped on me, I’m the busiest guy in all of Bellotra!”
Walter protested vehemently, but his face betrayed the truth.
Rian let out a small sigh.
“Phew…… Well, glad you won. Looks like it was a pretty good haul, so consider the cost of this spear covered as thanks for my part in it.”
“You little……!”
“Haha, Walter. Let’s call it here and head out. Rian needs his rest too. Get some good sleep, Rian—training tomorrow. See you.”
“No, Branch Head! I haven’t finished……!”
“Come on, let’s go.”
Despite Walter’s strong protests, Adelson smiled good-naturedly and led him out of the room.
Once Walter was gone, Rian couldn’t help but chuckle in the now-quiet room.
‘They’ve gotten close.’
And it seemed Walter had undergone quite a few changes himself.
All positive ones.
Smiling at the sight of the lively Walter, Rian turned back to the spear.
“……Nice spear.”
The closer he looked, the more its true value shone through.
Rian stood and gripped it properly.
Whoosh—swish—!
Swinging it lightly, he thrust forward.
Even in the cramped room where he couldn’t swing freely, the spear’s movement felt incredible.
And moreover,
“This…… no way?”
Rian looked at the spear with a slightly surprised expression.
If his guess was right,
“……Your betting winnings, whatever they were, won’t even cover the material costs, huh?”
No wonder Walter had been so indignant about gifting something this precious after betting.
Rian felt a twinge of guilt imagining him fuming, but it also made him chuckle.
“Guess I owe him a proper thank-you next time.”
For now, he just stared at the spear with an embarrassed smile.
* * *
Rian arrived first at today’s training ground.
Even with the temple priest’s holy power healing him, the accumulating injuries seemed to leave some fatigue.
His condition wasn’t at its peak, but today felt strangely calmer than usual.
Plus, he now knew the guy’s identity: Silver Fang.
‘A legendary mercenary……’
His skills were far beyond what any ordinary mercenary could claim.
Rian couldn’t say he was at a general’s level yet, but he was more than a match for most mercenaries.
Even though the guy used a spear, Rian had never once landed a hit on him.
Dianal soon arrived at the training ground and gave an unexpected look at Rian waiting for him.
“Body holding up?”
“Thanks to you.”
“Kekeke, let’s see what you’ve got today.”
Dianal chuckled softly. But then he tilted his head at the spear in Rian’s hand.
“What’s with the spear? Different from the one you used yesterday.”
“A gift.”
Rian replied flatly. Dianal narrowed his eyes slightly at the spear and asked.
“No way…… that spear from Meister Walter?”
“Meister Walter? Oh, right. Walter…… no, Mr. Walter made it. He gave it to me.”
“You got a gift from Meister Walter?”
Dianal’s voice trembled slightly.
What was so surprising about that?
Dianal looked at Rian and said.
“Hah…… Getting a weapon straight from Walter. Even with Adelson’s backing, that’s no easy feat. Just who the hell are you? You didn’t really get it from him, right?”
“……?”
Rian gave a puzzled look, not understanding.
What was with this reaction?
From Dianal’s perspective, though, it was only natural.
Rian couldn’t keep tabs on local matters, but Walter’s reputation in Bellotra was immense.
Not just Bellotra— he was renowned throughout the eastern region as a master smith.
Knight orders from noble houses and magical gear production tied to the Hamel Merchant Guild kept him insanely busy.
There was even a joke that securing a weapon from Walter required a reservation and at least half a year’s wait—and even that wasn’t for just anyone.
To Rian, unaware of this, Dianal’s reaction just seemed a bit exaggerated.
Dianal looked sheepish.
“Well…… a good weapon’s nothing without the skill to wield it. Otherwise, it’s just pearls around a pig’s neck.”
Dianal drew his sword.
For some reason, the sword in his hand felt shabby today—or was that just his imagination?
Regardless of Dianal’s mood, Rian raised his spear.
“Please go easy.”
“Better watch yourself today. I’m planning something fiercer than usual.”
“Music to my ears.”
Woooong—!
As Rian channeled mana into the spear, a faint vibration hummed through his palm.
Injecting mana made it clear.
‘Mithril……?’
Impossible to use as the main body, but likely mixed in as fine powder.
Even that small amount made mana flow effortlessly and amplified it too.
‘With this spear, maybe……’
Flash!
Rian charged first.
“Hoh?”
Dianal’s lips twitched as Rian, usually defensive, took the initiative.
As Rian closed in quickly, Dianal’s expression turned serious.
“Hah—!”
Rian dashed toward Dianal, grabbed the spear’s midpoint with his left hand, pressed his right palm to the end of the shaft, and pulled it toward his body.
Using his momentum,
“Hup—!”
With a short shout, he released the spear with his left hand and thrust it toward Dianal like a thrown projectile.
Stab—!
The spear shot forward like an arrow with tremendous force.
Faced with this massive first strike, Dianal twisted his body aside.
‘Not bad.’
Dodging the spear, Dianal swung his sword from below upward.
Clang—!
Sword aura formed on his blade, radiating deadly energy as it struck the spear away.
Snap!
As the spear nearly slipped from his grasp, Rian caught the end with his right hand and whipped it downward.
The spear, flung upward, now lashed toward Dianal’s head like a whip.
“Aren’t you stretching your reach too far?”
But before it connected, Dianal slipped inside Rian’s guard.
The distance he’d used was the spear’s maximum effective range.
Perfect for long-range attacks, but against a stronger foe, it could be the worst choice.
Dianal closed the gap faster than Rian could recover.
Flash-flash—!
Dianal burrowed into Rian’s bosom and raised his sword.
One swing, and it’d be over.
Twirl.
Dianal twisted the blade as he swung, aiming the flat side at Rian.
It wouldn’t kill, but a solid hit would shatter at least two or three ribs.
‘……Did I misjudge?’
Had he gotten careless with the new weapon, leaving such a huge opening unlike his usual self?
Seeing this uncharacteristic lapse, Dianal thought he could end it much quicker than yesterday.
And as Dianal’s sword neared Rian,
“Ribs shattered?”
“……?”
Swoosh—!
“……!”
Dianal hurriedly twisted his sword aside at Rian’s mutter.
Rian’s recovering spear was already whipping toward his side.
Boom—!
A dull thud shook Dianal’s body.
He’d blocked, but without full aura, numbness shot through him.
“Crazy……!”
Dianal spat a curse, his face stunned.
From the tavern, guys watching through open windows gasped in admiration.
“Ooooh—! Did you see that!”
“He finally landed one!”
“Nah, he blocked, so not a clean hit.”
“But Dianal took some damage, right?”
So much had happened in that instant; spectators cheered and some even clapped.
Day eight of training.
Rian’s spear had touched Dianal for the first time.
One might call it just another sparring moment, but most knew better.
It wasn’t simple at all.
Tadak!
Dianal quickly backed away and eyed Rian.
‘What just happened……?’
Had he missed Rian’s movement?
He’d moved faster than the spear recovery…… No, more than that—this power……!
“Reached Step Two with this?”
Rian murmured lowly, spear aimed at Dianal.
Dianal fell silent, staring at the spear in Rian’s hand.
Shimmer-shimmer—!
Faint aura rippled along the spear.
Dianal knew exactly what it was. So did Rian.
‘Already…… emission?’
Aura born of emission.
A strange smile crept across Dianal’s stunned face.
Snicker.
Gripping his sword again, Dianal said.
“Now it’ll be fun.”
“Then let’s keep going.”
And that day.
The clash of their weapons echoed until sunset.