93 – Full-scale Sports Competition (7)
The moment I held the silver-white sword in my hand, vitality surged from my body as if it were a lie.
Aria opened her eyes wide and immediately activated her aura.
Woah!
Black flame. Her proprietary patent is reflected in a new weapon. It’s also slightly more powerful than before.
Aria looked down at her sword in a daze at the rather surprising sight.
…… It’s an amazing sword. Just by holding it, your wounds will heal and your body will feel lighter.
It was not a simple metaphor.
Actually, at this moment, she was sure.
This sword will never be inferior to that black sword.
Sweet love!
“…… !”
At that moment, a sharp sword attack came from Aria in front. It was a jihadist attack.
Aria quickly raised her sword upward, creating a barrier for the Aurors.
Kagaga River!!
I thought it was just one sword strike, but Jihad’s sword made several noises even after hitting the wall.
It was quite an unbelievable sight.
‘…… ‘There is such a difference.’
Aria swallowed her dry saliva. She thought she knew, but in reality she didn’t even know that completely.
If it was natural, it was also natural.
On that day 7 years ago, Jihad was such an outstanding person that he received special recognition from the Sword Saint.
He perfected his sword form early on, and it is certain that he will advance to a higher level someday.
…… That person has been preparing for seven years, probably by sharpening his sword in hatred. If I had become stronger, I would have become stronger, but I would never have stayed that way.
Aria took a short but laborious breath.
Even with the sudden appearance of a sword and the presence of incredible reinforcements, the situation is clearly inferior.
It will definitely not be easy to win this battle and escape danger.
‘But.’
Still, I had to do it.
If she had to, she had to fight herself to be in this position now.
‘Slowly.’
Arya laid her sword at an angle.
‘…… Let’s go calmly.’
Immediately afterwards, Auror flames rose up in a line from the tip of her sword.
Woah!
Yeonhwageomgyeol (蓮火劍訣).
Jay Chosik (第2招式).
‘The burning lotus.’
The moment when Aria’s red eyes stare straight ahead with a ‘flash’.
Her sword suddenly became blurry.
“!”
No, it fades and then appears. Unexpected timing, in an unreadable place.
To exploit the enemy.
Wow-
Of course, Jihad’s response was not late.
Rather, it could be said that the spacing was measured with utmost precision.
His sword had a slightly darker aura and was pointed at a blind spot, which was exactly where Aria was aiming.
Just as the sword and sword are about to collide.
Pajik!
“… ….”
The current wavered once again.
It is an extremely faint omen.
However, Jihad had the ability to fully read it.
Blame!
So I chose avoidance rather than defense.
Quarrr!!
Lightning struck and burned down the place where Jihadi had been standing a moment ago. It was truly a brutal force.
Jihad looked at the clock tower with eyes filled with considerable displeasure.
“Is it okay if I look away like that?”
Aria did not miss her momentary stiffness.
Wow!
She was bright red and blood was splattered. It was definitely the blood of jihad.
However, Aria’s expression was not so good.
‘I avoided it.’
The attack was successful, but it was too weak to be the final blow. It is not a fight that can be ended just by drawing out a little blood.
Biting her lip, she immediately began her next move.
Swing the sword.
The sword is swung.
Kaang! Kang!
Kagagagak…… !
The sword strikes were mixed countless times and so quickly that it was impossible to keep track of them.
Nevertheless, it was undoubtedly Jihad that had the upper hand.
Jihad knew his superiority well, and Arya was not unaware of that fact either.
So, it is not something else that becomes a variable.
Pajik, Pajijik…… !
This time it’s a little more powerful. Jihad realized this and turned Arya’s body away, sharply striking away her sword.
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‘You have to avoid it quickly… ….’
Jihad, who was about to step on the ground, soon stiffened. Late. It’s faster than you think.
…… Could it be that he was controlling his strength all this time?
Kwahahahahahhhhh !!!
Immediately after Jihad had that thought, a lightning strike with a force and speed clearly different from before penetrated his body.
A lightning strike so heated that the ground in the surrounding area melted.
“…… Cough.”
Jihad let out a sigh of pain for the first time. Clearly, hurt.
‘Gap…… !’
Aria immediately threw her body away. She carries a sword and carries an auror.
She has learned that she must connect with Dante’s thunderbolt as much as possible.
In fact, that simple strategy was quite effective.
Chaeeng-!
The moment Jihad turned to block her sword, another barrage of lightning pierced his body.
This time the interval was much shorter.
Jihad knew that, and also vaguely guessed other facts.
‘It’s getting closer.’
The power is gradually increasing, and it is reaching its peak quickly. If you are not controlling your power, it is correct to think that you are narrowing the distance.
…… The speed was definitely not slow either.
‘As it is… ….’
Thought Jihad, swinging his sword.
‘…… ‘It’s dangerous.’
Yes, it is dangerous.
It wasn’t good.
I shouldn’t have been caught in a place like this before I could achieve my original purpose.
Aria’s growth, not just physically, but also mentally, was definitely unexpected.
Also, the presence of a third enemy who suddenly invaded.
‘Is this someone from the Academy?’
She catches both the sword and the thunderbolt at the same time and rolls her head. Continuing her thoughts.
The existence of the enemy, and the identity of the enemy.
There were only a few possibilities I could think of. An outsider, if not a person within the academy.
And as far as he knew, there were countless experts gathered in this academy.
It wouldn’t be too surprising if there were someone who could handle lightning outside of these standards at will.
‘It’s not good.’
Jihad gradually felt his mind becoming foggy.
‘…… Not good.’
It was not the effect of the battle. It had nothing to do with that.
It’s just a slightly more fundamental cause.
My resolve has become blurred, my resolve has faded, and my will has been pushed to its limit.
To put it bluntly, I was exhausted.
No, it was probably quite a long time ago that I started feeling this kind of skepticism. At least it wasn’t a problem that arose suddenly.
There is only one reason why I held on to my tired mind and body and held on.
Because it has to be that way.
He doesn’t do it unless he does it.
Kang, Kaang… ….
Jihad half-closed his eyes, hearing the metallic sound that seemed to be getting further and further away from him.
I don’t know, but I guess the look in my eyes beyond those eyelids must be horribly empty.
…… How did I end up in a place like this?
“… ….”
Yes. It can certainly be said that the incident from twenty years ago was the culprit.
‘Ah.’
Jihad laughed helplessly. See. He started to show.
Is it a hallucination or a rebirth of the past?
It doesn’t matter either way. It’s clear-.
Because it was the memory of that day, the starting point of everything.
*****
Ten years old. I am young. At least an age that cannot be said to be too old.
Definitely an age that can be said to be just a child.
Good luck-
He lost both his parents at that age.
He collapsed, bleeding right before his eyes.
-Huh?
‘Jihad at the age of ten’ thought. Why did my mother collapse like that?
And that too, with a terrible amount of blood being shed.
-Oh my, are you?
Sharp!
And it was the very next moment.
-Father…… ?
As if his turn had come, my father collapsed. Likewise, without meaning.
It was probably a shock and experience that I would never experience again in my life.
The brain refused to accept the situation and closed its eyes following its instinct. I closed my eyes and decided to forget.
He had never seen the scene before his eyes.
I just kept repeating it to myself.
-You… ….
…… It was then that the man’s voice rang out for the first time.
I reluctantly opened my eyes. I didn’t know what the hell happened, but just like that.
– …… Did you have any children?
Looking back now, it seems that he was not able to erase the memories at the time.
Even now, it is so clearly engraved in my mind.
It was a childhood wound that I had no choice but to carry with me, and that probably will never be erased.
*****
I was led somewhere by the hand of a man who introduced himself as Reinhardt.
At that time, there was no need to look around.
I just moved my legs without any strength.
The place we arrived at was Yeongsan (靈山).
According to information I found out later, this is the place where the continent’s strongest swordsman and his disciples stay.
…… At that time, he realized that it was Geomseong who killed his parents.
In addition, it was when he became an adult that he learned the cause of the tragedy.
-Twenty-six.
– … ….
-This is a story of innocent people who were murdered by your parents in a terrible way.
Geomseong said that with an unreadable expression, and he just listened to the story.
Rather than saying he was willing to accept it, it seems he just didn’t find it easy to accept.
Close your mouth and listen. Still, I just can’t accept it. Because I don’t want to believe it.
I denied it like that.
-Probably not.
I didn’t think it was true.
-They weren’t those people.
It was not just a groundless denial. At least the two people he remembered were not people who would ever commit such a thing.
…… At least they weren’t people who would come home after committing such a terrible act and laugh at themselves.
If he said that, he couldn’t have known.
If that were the case, you would have definitely noticed something suspicious.
I believed that and thought that.
I was just wandering around looking for the truth.
-It can’t be… ….
Probably not. It must not be. It is not you who is bad, it is not your parents, and it is your teacher who is bad.
He killed two people.
He swung a sword in front of his child and killed him like that. I still remember it clearly.
-That can’t be possible.
I finally decided to look into the past for myself.
I went down to Yeongsan for a while and visited his hometown.
…… Right now, she has a clear memory of her mother stroking her head that day.
And that evening, I clearly remember welcoming my father, who came in carrying the pheasant he had hunted with a simple smile.
They are definitely not those people.
They weren’t the ones to die like that.
I had no doubts about myself at the time.
After two years of wandering, I found evidence.
-Why, why…… ?
…… It is not evidence that proves their innocence, but rather that they have committed truly brutal acts of murder.
Such evidence that cannot be taken away.
*****
‘That’s right.’
Opening his eyes again, Jihad raised his sword diagonally and drew a line.
‘…… ‘It was like that.’
At the same time as she barely manages to dodge her flying thunderbolt, she rotates her body and kicks Aria’s side.
Wow!
“Ugh!”
With a short spitting voice, Aria was pushed behind her. And she grabs her side, but doesn’t give up and aims her sword.
Jihad looked at her with her mouth tightly shut.
Aria.
Aria Ten.
The only granddaughter of the Sword Saint…….
Her own sister-in-law.
‘You’ve become stronger.’
I realized it the moment I first clashed my swords, but it was definitely like that. Aria became stronger.
Once again, both physically and mentally.
“… ….”
About that time, Jihad turned his head and looked in the opposite direction.
The target of attention is not Aria, but a boy.
You are young. She’s probably around the same age as Aria.
But he was not someone who could be ignored.
That’s because it was that boy who had fired the spear of lightning at him just moments before.
Jihad stared at the boy with deeply sunken eyes.
A faint electric current surrounds his body, and crucially, the tingling energy of the thunderbolt on his sword.
It is clear and obvious.
He was the master of sniping.
‘…… Aria.’
Jihad looked at the boy and Aria next to him with a faint smile.
That gaze had a vague, vague look to it.
‘Have you made a friend?’
A boy stands next to Aria holding a uniquely colored sword.
Jihad saw the shape of the sword for a moment.
‘Devil sword.’
That too, an extremely powerful magic sword.
It’s probably true.
It wasn’t something that someone who looked like a student at the academy would be holding…….
Right now, it could be said to be a good problem.
Jihad tore his gaze away from his sword. The next thing we look at is the boy and girl again.
They were pointing their swords at themselves as if they were on guard.
Above all, the girl among the two had a shocked expression on her face when the boy next to her appeared.
Jihad let out a helpless laugh.
Perhaps it was because he had gone so long without smiling, but he felt a little awkward. What happened?
I guess it’s not a good idea, right now.
‘I think it’s fortunate.’
Jihad was just muttering to himself.
‘Probably the teacher wanted to see you like that, so he sent you to the academy.’
Bright. It’s so bright.
To the point of dazzling.
That’s true…….
She was a younger sister who grew up very well.
“… ….”
Gooooo-
Veins sprouted on the back of Jihad’s hand as he held the sword. Auras began to rise like steam from his entire body, and all of that heat was transferred to the blade.
In the end, Jihad closed both eyes.
Because I didn’t want to see it.
Because it’s hard to watch.
I felt like if I kept watching, I would be burned along with my sins by that bright light.
‘There were two people who were evil, and it was definitely Master who carried out the good.’
…… The underlying emotion was clearly a sense of guilt.
‘Unmistakable fact. Even if you try to deny it, you can’t. I already saw it with my own eyes… ….’
This is something that should not be done.
‘…… ‘The terrible truth.’
I know I shouldn’t do it.
I knew I had to stop.
But, I couldn’t do that anymore.
Jihad still closed his eyes and raised his sword.
Is it too cowardly to give this act the justification of inertia?
‘I will not believe it.’
Even though I have seen the truth, I will not consider it the truth.
Because I didn’t want to do that.
‘Their kindness, their affection for me. I will believe in the contradiction that runs counter to the ugly deeds I have seen.’
Even if revenge against the Sword Saint is not right, I will not stop. It shouldn’t have stopped.
Even if everyone else criticizes my parents.
Even if that is true.
That’s why even more-.
As much as myself.
‘I will stand on their side.’
Patchot, parts, that is-!
Jihad’s sword was imbued with a gray aura.
It was the same auror and same sword as before.
“Huh.”
“…… Dante!”
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Dante and Aria instinctively sensed that it was not an ‘ordinary sword.’
That is what is called a sword shape.
In terms of level of magic, it is equivalent to that of an archmage, and is a power that is difficult to reach and is not much different from the inherent magic of the 8th circle.
Because it was just below the level of swordsmanship that all swordsmen aim for.
Jihad’s sword pointed toward the sky, and his legs took a step toward the ground in front of him.
‘I will believe them.’
The gray auror soon turned into a huge mountain and headed towards those in front.
The perfect sword form of a prosecutor was revealed at this moment.
‘I have to trust them.’
Jihad’s eyes were still covered with thick eyelids.
He just muttered to himself.
‘…… ‘If it’s not me, there’s no one who can take their revenge.’
Yes, I will believe them.
Even if the reason is an ugly struggle that cannot be accepted even after seeing clear evidence.
Even if the reason is the complaining of a ten-year-old child who did not want to lose his memories with his parents.
…… Because he is the son of those two people.
‘It’s hideous, really.’
Jihad just repeated this and lowered his sword.