Chapter 54
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Scene 054 Defeat
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......
Blanche took a step back.
Bella kept closing the distance between them.
Tell me. Where do you go every afternoon?
Thats... something I cant tell you.
Blanche couldnt bring herself to say that Kaël owed a huge debt.
She didnt want to burden the dukes family with money problems when they were already in a tough spot.
Blanche took another step back, and Bella advanced another step.
Why not?
...Its a personal matter.
Bellas feet stopped.
Thats disappointing, Blanche.
Im sorry.
Blanche bowed her head deeply.
Bella knew this was Blanches firm refusal, so she couldnt press further.
Bella smiled quietly.
Hehe... Do you remember? The day we first met.
...Of course.
Blanche nodded.
How could she forget that day?
Blanche had been shot by Tristan and fallen into the sea, washing up on some beach.
In deep despair, waiting only for death right there, she had been saved by Bella, who was strolling along the beach.
I almost walked right past you. Who wouldve thought someone would wash up on a private beach reserved for nobles only?
If it hadnt been for you, miss, I wouldve died there.
Blanche gave a wry smile.
In truth, she had intended to die there.
She had believed without a doubt that she would live her life as an assassin for the Ruelverta family.
But one bullet had shattered her future.
Blanche had lost her life once before, root and all.
And now, the second life given to her had been taken away too.
She no longer knew how to go on living.
Blanche had spent days there doing nothing.
She had slowly decided to die.
Her life force, infused with the magic of magical beasts, was tough, but not invincible.
Days of hunger, cold, waiting only for death.
It was Bella who had pieced together Blanches broken heart.
Youve changed a lot... my Blanche.
Bella continued, sword pointed at her.
When we first met, I wondered if you were even human. You didnt smile, didnt speak. You were just... breathing.
Yes...
What were you doing there, anyway?
Who knows. I dont remember anything about why I was there...
Blanche had no choice but to lie.
The truththat she had been in despair, waiting to die on that beach. And she couldnt drag Bella into her dark past.
You... are my lifesaver.
Hehe... Then will you tell your lifesaver? Where you go every afternoon?
If you beat me, Ill think about it.
Blanche raised one palm, assuming her stance.
Her hesitation was now gone.
Pretty confident, arent you, my Blanche.
Bella adjusted her wooden sword.
It was a stance that made one mistake it for a real blade.
Seeing it, Blanche realized Bella was serious about winning this.
Yes. As I said earlier, Im confident.
Hoo...?
Blanche beckoned Bella with her fingers.
And she lifted the corner of her mouth in a smile.
It was blatant provocation.
Think of this as your last attack and come at me. Ill show you just how strong your ladys guard knight is.
Thats... delightful!
Bellas wooden sword sliced through the spot where Blanche had been.
Blanche leaped into the air with beast-like reflexes.
But Bella didnt miss the afterimage Blanche left behind.
Her wooden sword whipped like a snake, gleaming.
Izarkhel Style
First Form: Light Fang Strike
The wooden swords tip thrust sharply.
Blanche, mid-air, had no way to dodge.
All she could do was block it with both hands.
Thats what she thought.
...!
In the next instant, Bellas eyes widened.
She hadnt expected certain victory.
Bella knew her own skill level well.
She just wanted to land one hit on the overconfident Blanche.
But the wooden sword Bella had swung was gone.
She could still feel it in her hands.
Looking down, only the hilt remained, sliced clean off.
The wooden sword hilt slipped from Bellas hand.
...I lost.
Turning around, Blanche held the blade of the wooden sword.
Below it, the cut was as smooth and shiny as if made by a razor-sharp knife.
How... how much training does it take to get this strong?
I just exercised a lot.
Come on... no kid would believe that...
Bella stared at Blanche in disbelief.
But this... isnt this cheating? Who cuts a weapon in a spar? Is this how a veteran toys with a newbie?
At that, Blanche smiled softly.
Cheating? Perish the thought. If anything, didnt you cheat, miss?
Well, yeah, thats true.
Bella scratched the side of her head sheepishly.
Just now, when she swung the wooden sword, a faint trace of magic had leaked out.
It was the result of Bellas greed to win.
Total defeat. Should I be happy that my guard knight is this strong... or disappointed in my own pathetic skills? Im not sure.
Dont be disappointed. Your skills are quite impressive, miss. Im just too strong.
Youve grown a lot too, Blanche. To tease me like this.
Yes! Teasing... Im not teasing! Im just telling you the truth, miss.
...You know doing it now is teasing me twice? Sigh... Whats my problem, Blanche? Do I need more training?
Uh...
Blanche pondered Bellas lament.
Comparing Bella to Blanche, who was near-superhuman, was unfair from the start.
So Blanche spoke carefully.
First off... you have talent with the sword, miss.
Really?
Yes. You learn quickly. You can mimic a sword technique after seeing it onceyour eye is sharp. And when you wield a sword, youre ever-changing. You mainly use Izarkhel style, but youre not confined to it.
...Sounds like flattery.
Im no good at flattery. Anyway, you have no stubbornness about swordsmanship. No hesitation, you could say. So youre a swordsman who can accept anything.
Blanche looked at Bella and spoke clearly.
So dont worry. You can get plenty strong, miss.
Strong enough to beat you someday?
No. Thats impossible. Im ridiculously strong.
Seriously... you boast right to the end... Is there anyone stronger than you, Blanche?
At that, Blanche gave a wry smile and answered.
Yes. There is.
Oh? Who?
Its a secret.
Bella puffed out her cheeks at Blanches firm reply.
Fine, then at least give me a hint. Is that person famous?
Not one person. Two.
Two of them?
Yes.
Bella couldnt help but be shocked.
Two people stronger than Blanche?
She thought it might be a lie, but Blanches eyes were serious.
How strong are those two?
One of them... it might sound like an excuse, but if we fought again, I wouldnt lose.
Then the other one?
...Im not sure.
You dont know...?
Bella had no choice but to be puzzled.
Shed never seen Blanche, who thought she wouldnt lose to anyone, look so dejected.
Yes... Even if I fought that person again, I couldnt guarantee a win.
Blanche recalled.
.
..
That day, when she awoke after losing consciousness, Marco was gone.
He said hed left first, but she knew from experience that Marco wasnt the type to withdraw so easily.
Marco was the kind of man who would use force to drag the count away if needed.
For him to leave without doing anything was nonsense.
Yeah. There was only one conclusion.
The final puzzle piece clicked in Blanches mind.
Marco had lost.
To that man, Count Tristan Ruelverta.
Blanche spoke with a bitter expression.
...I still have much training left too.
Hmm... The world is vast, huh.
Yes...
Bella and Blanche reflected anew on how small they were.
A brief silence followed.
Then, something occurred to Blanche.
Miss. How about taking a disciple?
A disciple? Suddenly?
Yes. Teaching others isnt as easy as it seems. It can be a form of training itself.
Blanche thought of Wendy, whom she taught at the Ruelverta estate.
To teach others, you must reflect on yourself. If you had a disciple, miss, it could help you discover sides of yourself you didnt know.
Hmm... Coming from you, thats pretty convincing.
Bella nodded on instinct.
But it was only for a moment.
Still, taking a disciple is on hold for now.
Why?
The person who becomes my disciple might inherit the Izarkhel style lineage. And primarily, it has to be someone from the Izarkhel family to carry it on. They need to handle light magic.
Then...
Yes. Ideally, my child would inherit it. Well... truthfully, if theyre qualified, the gods will grant them light magic, so an outsider wouldnt be a problem.
Really? Thats allowed?
Yes. In the end, the Izarkhel gained light magic because the founder, Alonso Izarkhel, received it from the gods.
Magic with attributes is like an inherited bloodline.
Thats why the Izarkhel were praised as the bloodline of the gods.
Still, I like your idea, Blanche. So not a full disciple, but maybe an opportunity to teach someone.
An opportunity to teach...? Have you got someone in mind, miss?
Of course. Hehe...
Bella chuckled at Blanches question.
Blanche. You havent forgotten, have you? The Izarkhel are a dukes family. Think we have no connections in the empire?