Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Plan B
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"......"
Frixon stood with his mouth agape, utterly speechless.
He'd never imagined the duel would end so quickly.
Even I was inwardly startled, so I could only imagine his shock.
*He's quite skilled.*
Though I hadn't been watching closely, I'd momentarily lost track of the opposing warrior's movements.
In terms of speed alone, he didn't seem much different from me.
"Ta-Talos!"
No one was more stunned than Merchant Lord Bill.
Talos was a man who had been with the Melgier Merchants for a long time.
He was highly trusted, his skills proven in various fields.
Yet, he had lost his life the moment the duel began, without putting up any real resistance.
It was a situation hard to believe even after witnessing it firsthand.
"...Quickly, retrieve Captain Talos's body."
"Yes, sir."
As Bill Melgier commanded, hiding his devastation, the merchant guild staff set off with a stretcher.
Soon, only a faint bloodstain remained on the arena floor.
"The next combatant, please come to the center of the arena."
Deaths during duels were a common occurrence.
The official proceeded with the formalities as if nothing had happened.
The second combatant was already on his way up, but the Melgier side remained silent.
It seemed the outcome of the first match had been a considerable shock.
"Hehehe! Look at these cowards. If you're scared, forfeit now! I'll at least spare your lives."
Malcolm swaggered onto the stage, taunting them. A spark ignited in Frixon's eyes.
Since that bastard had come out first, there was no need for a strategic lineup.
"I'm going to defeat him. Cover my back."
"Go and crush him completely."
"Right. I have to avenge Mr. Talos."
Frixon stepped into the arena with a grim expression.
And so, the second duel began.
*Clang—!*
"Ugh!"
This time, too, the opponent landed the first effective blow.
While not as fast as the first mysterious warrior, Malcolm's sword strikes were also swift and sharp.
Swift enough to put Frixon on the defensive, even after nearly a year of training in the Imperial Sound Lock Sword and the Velgart Energy Arts.
*He's surprisingly skilled. His sword is fast despite his large frame. His basic physical condition is far better than Frixon's.*
But as I watched the fight, I noticed something.
"His swordsmanship is similar to the first guy's?"
—*Of course it is. That one gives off the same disgusting stench.*
As I muttered to myself, Alkheim's voice suddenly cut in.
I recalled what he had said earlier and posed a question.
—*Right, you were saying something. What do you mean by a 'disgusting stench'?*
—*Why should I have to explain that to you?*
—*Hey, if you weren't going to explain, you shouldn't have brought it up.*
—*If you want to know, draw Calipe. That will solve everything.*
—*You rotten bastard, trying to pull a fast one?*
I scoffed and slapped the scabbard of Calipe hanging at my waist.
*It certainly is a coincidence.*
From them storming in and demanding a duel, there were more than a few strange things.
I could guess why the Silant Merchants had made such a bold move.
*They must have gained confidence with those guys joining them.*
The two Black Knights, standing there solemnly.
Their identities seemed to be the key to today's events.
*They're probably from the Bloodfiend Cult. Would revealing their faces turn the tables?*
But it was unlikely that such meticulous individuals would neglect the identities of their combatants.
They would have sent in men who could easily deny any accusations.
Unmasking them would likely be meaningless.
"For now, what's important is winning..."
*Baaang!*
While I was observing the Black Knights, the second duel was reaching its climax.
Surprisingly, Frixon had taken a heavy blow from Malcolm and was staggering.
"Oh no! Don't tell me the young master is also..."
"N-no!"
The members of the Melgier Merchants watched the duel with sweaty palms.
Bill Melgier, too, was shaking his leg nervously.
But I remained perfectly calm.
—*Aren't you worried about your friend?*
—*Of course not.*
—*Not a very loyal fellow, are you?*
—*I might not have much of that, but right now, I'm not worried because there's no need to be.*
—*Oh? And what does that mean?*
—*You'll see. There's no way he can lose.*
Despite Alkheim's taunts, I wore a confident smile.
Malcolm clearly had the upper hand in every aspect.
But Frixon possessed something decisive that his opponent lacked.
And that was...
*The Imperial Sound Lock Sword.*
*Clang!*
A series of clear, ringing strikes.
Sword forms utilizing wrist snaps parried the opponent's attacks.
Malcolm was visibly flustered.
In fact, anyone experiencing the Imperial Sound Lock Sword for the first time would react that way.
Unexpected power erupted from simple movements.
Moreover, Frixon was now unleashing a barrage of killing moves.
Faced with sword strikes that came right up to his nose, Malcolm stumbled back in surprise.
*Swoosh—!*
"Urgh!"
As the aura-infused tip of the sword flew at him, the opponent rolled on the ground in an unsightly manner to dodge.
He must have felt that if he didn't, his body would be sliced to pieces.
"You little brat!"
*Whooosh! Clang!*
To break out of his defensive position, Malcolm launched a powerful strike.
Normally, swinging a sword with such a large motion would leave one open to a counterattack.
But the man's movements were so fast and his attack range so wide that Frixon missed the timing.
As a result, the advantage he had just gained vanished all at once.
—*He's more or less figured it out, so it won't work as well now. That's not how you use a sword. Tsk, tsk!*
Alkheim, watching the situation, clicked his tongue and began to lecture.
—*Sigh! Spoken like a true fossil who's lived for hundreds of thousands of years. Just wait and see.*
I chided Alkheim in a nonchalant tone, but my leg was tapping out a rhythm of its own.
I was sitting next to Bill Melgier, and we were shaking our legs in unison.
*If he loses, it's all over.*
The Melgier Merchants, whom I had hoped to get some help from, would likely be absorbed by Silant.
Of course, I couldn't step in first.
From what I could tell, Frixon was no match for that second Black Knight.
*Clang! Craaack!*
But contrary to our hopes, Frixon was being pushed back.
Having regained the initiative with his powerful attacks, Malcolm was pressing on like a storm.
"Mmmph!"
Bill Melgier squeezed his eyes shut as if he couldn't bear to watch any longer.
A series of moments unfolded where it seemed Frixon would be defeated in a matter of seconds.
Just as I too was watching with a pounding heart, it happened.
*Clang! Crack—!*
"Gaaah!"
The second form of the Imperial Sound Lock Sword's mid-sequence, Piercing Meteor of the Frozen Abyss, which Frixon unleashed, tore straight through Malcolm's side.
But landing the attack came at a price.
The difference in their skill levels was paper-thin.
*Baaang!*
"Keuk!"
Frixon was struck by a wild sword swing and sent flying.
The man was so powerful that even a carelessly swung attack produced such a result.
The damage to his opponent was far more severe.
But Malcolm, blood streaming from his wound, grit his teeth and walked forward.
He was desperately trying to finish off the fallen Frixon.
"Kraaaah!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Malcolm, screaming, swung his sword as Frixon, struggling to his feet, passed by him.
*Spurt—!*
A gush of red blood erupted. One man fell, and the other rose.
Cheers erupted from the Melgier Merchants' side.
"He... he won!"
"Woooah!"
In the end, the final victor was Frixon.
He had managed to evade at the last second and thrust his sword at a perfect angle.
Frixon stared blankly at the dead Malcolm before staggering down from the arena.
"It wasn't direct revenge, but I landed a blow. Father."
"Yes. You did well."
After reporting to Bill Melgier, Frixon turned to me and said.
"Sorry to put this burden on you. This isn't why I brought you here..."
"Don't worry about it. What are friends for? You can pay me back with money later."
"Wh-what?"
I clapped him on the back as if to say it was fine and laughed heartily.
"Ugh!"
*Thud!*
Frixon immediately collapsed to the ground.
It seemed the shock of my words had aggravated his internal injuries from the battle.
"Oops! I didn't expect that to happen."
Still, he wasn't coughing up blood or unconscious, so it didn't seem too serious.
Leaving Frixon to his meditation, I slowly rose to my feet.
It was my turn to step up.
"The third combatant, please come to the center of the arena."
Hearing the official's voice, Bill Melgier, roused from his thoughts, looked at me.
"The future of our guild now rests on your shoulders. I'm counting on you."
"I don't plan on taking it easy."
"Thank you... but I have no choice but to set up a safety measure."
"What do you mean all of a sudden?"
Bill Melgier came close and whispered secretly in my ear.
A moment later, I stepped into the arena, my eyes blazing with fire.
—*What in the world did he say to make your mood change so drastically?*
It seemed Alkheim hadn't heard Bill Melgier's voice either, as he posed the question.
The corners of my mouth curled into a grin as I grimly drew the Black Dragon Sword.
"You don't need to know."
—*Tsk! You cheapskate.*
I ignored whatever Alkheim was muttering and looked straight ahead.
From the opposite side, a Black Knight with an unusual aura was ascending the stage.
Indeed, this one's presence was completely different from the first combatant's.
*This guy is something else... I need to be careful.*
A bad feeling crept over me, and the tension naturally rose.
After briefly explaining the rules of the duel, the official shouted the command.
"Third combatant duel, begin!"
At that very moment.
*Flash—!*
A powerful flash of light erupted, and suddenly, the opponent's sword was right before me.
The sword tip, having closed the distance in the blink of an eye, looked as if it would pierce through my throat.
Of course, that didn't happen.
*Swish.*
With a tilt of my head and a slight turn of my body, the confident strike stabbed into empty air.
The opponent had struck nothing but an afterimage.
"Gasp!"
"N-no!"
Gasps erupted from all around, as it must have looked like my neck was being pierced by the sword.
I lightly pushed the blade away with the back of my hand and let out a cynical laugh.
"Hehehe! Worthy of a 10,000 Geld price. This won't be easy."
The reward, far exceeding my expectations, fired me up.
It didn't matter whether the Black Knight was dangerous or not.
To me, this guy was now a living golden golem.
—*So you were tempted by the offer of money after all? You money-grubber.*
—*Shut up. Unless you're the one paying.*
—*...*
I dismissed Alkheim's criticism with a single sentence and prepared to thrust the Black Dragon Sword.
But then, the Black Knight suddenly began to back away.
He then cocked his head stiffly and muttered in an eerie voice.
"A variable has occurred. Proceeding to Plan B."
"What are you suddenly..."
I was about to voice my confusion but quickly shut my mouth.
An incredibly powerful pressure was radiating from my opponent.
It was as if he had become a completely different person.
Alkheim, also sensing something, added a word.
—*Th-this aura is!*