Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Versus Largo
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A man with a sword versus a man with his bare hands.
Naturally, the former held an overwhelming advantage.
A sword is a weapon made to harm people.
Its reach was far greater than that of a fist.
Of course, this was merely a general rule, one that didn't apply in the realm of the strong.
Not since a brawler learned to skillfully wield fist ki.
The gap closed rapidly, and if they could manifest fist aura, it became a pure battle of skill.
In a way, the swordsman might even be at a disadvantage.
A brawler's reach was short, but it was like they wielded two weapons.
As if intending to counter the power of sword aura with his fist aura, Largo charged fearlessly.
He was nothing short of a human tank.
At this rate, I had no choice but to cede the initial advantage.
I couldn't quite bring myself to face that brutish charge head-on.
If he caught me, it was over.
Above all, maintaining distance was crucial.
The moment I was trapped in his range, I'd be in for a world of hurt.
Letting my guard down was out of the question.
He only looked brutish; that didn't mean he actually was.
A fighter of Largo's caliber would be skilled in tactical exchanges.
*Come on in. Plunge your sword right into my side!*
He was subtly revealing an opening with that kind of vibe.
Did he think I'd fall for it?
His intention to trade flesh for bone was all too obvious.
Not a chance.
I'd rather avoid a losing trade.
Perhaps because things weren't going his way.
Largo's gaze twisted, growing fiercer.
“If you're going to play it that way... I have my methods.”
The moment he uttered those chilling words.
He closed the distance with even greater speed.
I could react in time, but something was different this time.
“Huh—?”
My body lurched forward.
Largo had used a trick, the Art of Suction.
I barely managed to resist being pulled in.
But I couldn't prevent an opening from appearing.
“This is me getting serious!”
He thrust a fist wreathed in flames.
I recognized the technique at a glance.
The Bursting Fist, a favorite of brawlers who had reached a certain level.
A direct hit guaranteed a four-week recovery.
No way, he'd mastered that already?
It seemed he had trained relentlessly.
*Craack!*
The impact was immense, like a bomb had gone off.
The aftermath cracked the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Murmurs and whispers...
As the crowd's astonishment subsided.
I showed myself to be perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened.
I'd been pushed back, but I appeared to have taken no significant damage.
Seeing this, Largo wore an expression of disbelief.
“To think you wouldn't even flinch. As expected of the opponent I acknowledged...”
“...”
I had to swallow the bloody saliva in my mouth.
By activating my protective aura just in time, I had managed to minimize the damage.
I'd endured Aruru's punches, so what was this?
I wanted to shout something bold, but the reality was a little different.
*Agh, that one hit the bone!*
*Wait a minute. Attacking now would be a foul!*
It was a technique on par with a finishing move.
The Bursting Fist had landed cleanly, and it hurt like hell.
This was after I'd reduced most of the impact.
I endured it with superhuman patience.
My dignity would never permit such an unseemly display.
“I suppose it's my turn now...”
“...”
I made a subtle threat, as if to pay him back in kind.
Apparently unable to ignore my words, he hastily took a defensive stance.
It's working?
By bluffing, I bought myself time to regroup.
*Just you wait!*
I'm going to show him a thing or two.
Taking the first hit had pissed me off.
That guy is a vicious beast.
Holding back against a beast like that is ridiculous from the start.
He wants me to fight with all I have, so I'll oblige him.
*Fwoosh!*
At my will, an intermediate fire spirit was summoned.
My sword aura blazed fiercely.
Facing Largo, whose face had stiffened, I swung my sword without hesitation.
***
The moment he had been waiting for.
Largo couldn't contain his excitement.
Jace Crodain.
The strongest of swordsmen, once called the Prince of Swords.
His unparalleled perfection was something everyone had to acknowledge.
Though he had once suffered an unfortunate accident, he had swiftly regained his strength for all to see.
‘Yes, I believed in you!’
It was more than belief; it was close to certainty.
More than anyone, he had wanted Jace to become strong.
He had kept an eye on him, and in the end, Jace had met everyone's expectations.
He wasn't quite at his peak.
But to have already entered the early stages of S-rank was astounding.
Objectively speaking, they were nearly on equal footing.
Largo was extremely satisfied with this fact.
With no gap between them, no excuses would be valid.
It would be a tense, genuine duel.
He wasn't the least bit afraid of defeat.
He would simply use the experience to become even stronger.
Jace confidently took his stance.
The dignity of a true powerhouse emanated from his entire being.
“...”
*Can I win?*
Largo calculated his chances of victory in his head.
After running the numbers, they weren't very high.
The existence known as Jace was just that overwhelming.
Even when he was a Hero candidate, he didn't know the meaning of defeat.
Of course, he lost sometimes, but it always felt like he was intentionally holding back.
A genius of the sword who maintained a stable win rate against opponents of the same class.
Largo clenched his fists.
That was precisely why he was worth challenging.
The opportunity was now or never.
As time passed, the gap between them would only widen.
It was time to prove all his efforts by defeating Jace.
The moment the duel began, Largo launched his offensive.
As if determined not to enter the brawler's range, Jace kept his distance.
It was the right call, but even so, it was a rather passive response.
It was somewhat disappointing.
He had hoped Jace would fight with everything he had this time.
At this rate, he had no choice. He would have to force some motivation into him.
“If you're going to play it that way... I have my methods.”
A power gained through enlightenment.
Largo used the Art of Suction to pull his opponent closer.
A repulsive force immediately pushed back.
But Jace's stance wavered, revealing an opening.
How could he miss such a chance?
After closing the distance, he threw a straight punch.
The Bursting Fist, formed from compressed fist aura, was unleashed cleanly.
He felt the solid impact.
It must have caused considerable damage.
And yet, what was this unsettling feeling?
Largo waited for the dust cloud to settle.
Just as he'd suspected.
Despite taking a direct hit, Jace was perfectly fine.
Why? How?
It wasn't hard to figure out the reason.
‘A protective aura! How could he use that already...’
The ultimate defensive technique, an application of aura.
He always showed more than what was expected.
He truly hadn't expected Jace to block with a protective aura in that split second.
“To think you wouldn't even flinch. As expected of the opponent I acknowledged...”
Largo could also use a protective aura.
But he wasn't confident he could wield it as skillfully as Jace.
Indeed, he was every bit the former Hero candidate.
It seemed his past experience allowed him to apply such techniques with ease.
It was just as difficult as he'd anticipated.
The protective aura was just one example; from now on, he would unleash all sorts of techniques.
As he tensed up internally.
Jace murmured quietly, as if to himself.
“I suppose it's my turn now...”
“...”
A warning of a coming change.
Or perhaps a declaration that he would now fight seriously.
His majestic presence was so thrilling it was almost frightening.
A sudden thought occurred to him.
*Have I awakened something that should have been left undisturbed?*
Just then, flames erupted from Jace's sword.
The brilliant yet fierce momentum heated the surrounding air.
Largo resigned himself.
How was he supposed to overcome that colossal wall?
He thought his chances were pretty good, but it was a complete miscalculation.
‘This isn't so bad, either...’
In fact, it was for the better.
Hadn't he wanted to fight without worrying about winning or losing?
To be broken, but not bent.
Largo reaffirmed this creed and ignited his fighting spirit.
***
The duel proceeded with fierce intensity.
A slugfest where neither side backed down.
In a single moment, they exchanged numerous blows.
The incredible speed was impossible to follow with the naked eye.
One had to be at least A-rank to grasp what was happening.
So what of an ordinary person?
Marcel, dispatched from the Imperial Palace, was truly at a loss.
How was he supposed to write a report if he couldn't see anything?
They should have sent an expert.
He was only here because of his status as a royal.
In truth, this duel wasn't significant enough to draw the Imperial Palace's attention.
Marcel's mission was to attend an important event that would take place later.
The master of the Holy Sword.
A Hero might be born soon.
If that happened, he had to act quickly as a representative of the Imperial Palace.
It would be better if the person was from the Empire.
They could expect a cooperative attitude.
A foreigner would complicate things.
If the Hero's nationality was a certain kingdom, they would surely come forward to claim their rights(?).
‘What if they're a different race entirely?’
Among the Hero candidates were Elves and Beastkin.
They could communicate, but expecting loyalty was likely asking too much.
Well, that was a matter to be judged when the time came.
For now, he had to focus on the duel between the two male students.
It was an unexpected situation, but it was worth watching.
‘Jace Crodain...’
The heir of the Crodain Family.
From the Imperial Palace's perspective, he was a person of interest.
A talent who would lead the next generation.
In ten years, the entire family's course of action would be decided by Jace's whims.
What kind of family was the Crodain Family?
They were too massive to be treated as just another noble family.
While not a threat to the Imperial Palace, their immense power could not be ignored.
There were even voices calling for them to be kept in check.
If they produced a Hero this time, things would become uncontrollable.
Marcel fixed his gaze on Jace.
A breathtaking exchange of blows. It was still dizzying to watch.
But with commentary from Erich, who was like a nephew to him, he could more or less follow the flow of the fight.
“Wow, how did he counter there... and he parries it again.”
“So you're saying Jace is pushing his opponent back?”
“Yes. The more you watch him, the more amazing he is.”
“...”
He nodded his head coolly.
He even seemed proud, as if they were close friends.
It seemed he held a favorable impression of him.
Marcel spoke bluntly.
“Who do you think will become the Hero?”
“Hmm, Jace is the most likely candidate.”
“And you?”
“I'm sorry, but with my skills, I don't stand a chance. I'm always getting beat up.”
“...”
To think he was so simple-minded.
It would be best for a royal to become the Hero, but it was clear this one was a lost cause.
Still, for what it was worth, Erich was quite outstanding.
How many incompetent royals lived their lives in comfort?
By becoming a Hero candidate, Erich had proven his abilities.
In a way, he had contributed to demonstrating the superiority of the royal family and upholding the dignity of the Imperial Palace.
In any case.
He needed to find out more about Jace.
“If that boy becomes the Hero, what do you think will happen?”
“Well. I believe he'd do better than anyone else, but...”
Erich's expression turned serious.
He had belatedly grasped the intent behind the question.
“It's a needless worry. He's not the type to entertain foolish thoughts.”
“Your reasoning?”
“His usual conduct is upright, and everyone trusts him. He truly feels suited to be a righteous Hero.”
“Hmm...”
The more he heard, the more acceptable it sounded.
He'd have to watch a little longer to be sure, but for now, he was relieved.
However, those in power couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Simply possessing immense power made one a target of caution.
Marcel wasn't one of them.
But the Crodain Family's influence was so unparalleled that many were jealous.
*Jace is this and that, so there's no problem.*
Reporting it like that would likely be of little use.
There was only one way to resolve that conflict.
If the Imperial Palace and the Crodain Family were joined by a political marriage, it would be neatly resolved.
It would be a win-win situation.
What about proceeding in that direction?
“Uh, um... Jace is already engaged, you know?”
“What does that matter?”
“...”
In noble society, polygamy was commonplace.
This was because continuing the family line was of the utmost importance.
The heir of a family was expected to fulfill that duty and responsibility.
Marcel was thinking in conventional terms.
But Erich's mind became incredibly complicated.
*Is this right?*
Everyone knew that Jace and Ceria's relationship was special.
Even if the Imperial Palace proposed a political marriage.
Rather than accepting it gladly, they would surely feel troubled.
No, wait a minute...
*This could get interesting, couldn't it?*
Erich smiled wickedly.
Separate from his acknowledgment of Jace, he was of the opinion that Jace deserved to suffer a little.
And why not? The guy was too perfect, wasn't he?
He was also curious about how Jace would handle that ordeal(?).
*I don't know anything.*
*I tried to stop it once, out of loyalty.*
In any case, it was a matter for the higher-ups to handle; he himself had nothing to do with it.
Meanwhile, the duel continued.
The atmosphere was gradually solidifying into a victory for Jace.