62 – 62. Broken Wings (7)
▶A specific character has confirmed the incident at the training ground!◀
▶Intimacy levels will be converted to different values!◀
[ Flora Vagrand ]
[ ??? : 71% ]
I chuckled as I looked at the status window.
By now, my pouch must be completely torn to shreds. Unless they are knights, it would be difficult for anyone to confirm the owner, but now, even Flora could clearly recognize mine. Because I intentionally left something inside.
-Everyone, regroup!
Meanwhile, the morning break time for drills had ended.
I didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention, so I changed into my training clothes, wiped away the sweat, and before I knew it, the knights started gathering one by one.
Wondering what was going on, I noticed the knights were gathering items in piles.
“You too. Karsein.”
“What is this?”
“These are gifts bestowed by Lady Clare. It’s to support the knights.”
Huh. Why boast so confidently.
She prepared meticulously.
Even if she doesn’t know about the Empire’s culture, by supporting the other knights with items, no one would dare accuse her of misconduct.
In the meantime, a senior knight clapped twice, drawing the attention of the knights.
“Alright, listen up! As you all know, something unpleasant happened yesterday. I’m sure you’re all aware, right?”
Eyes shifted towards Bruce and me.
What’s there to say. Talking about misconduct and the like is one thing, but a trainee challenging a squire and losing is a hot topic.
“For that reason, we will adjust our schedule today and hold a sparring session! Since Lady Clare is doubting our knights’ abilities, we must show our best in front of Lady Arina! Understood?”
-Yes!
At the mention of a sparring session, some shrunk back.
Some thought it was time to test their skills after a long time and patted their junior’s shoulder.
And some…
“As a special note, trainees will also participate in this swordplay sparring. As you all know, trainees usually don’t participate in sparring matches, but Lady Arina has granted permission for this occasion.”
They must be thrilled to have seized this opportunity.
The continuation of the swordplay sparring was no coincidence.
No matter the outcome, once Arina steps into the training ground, Karsein will provide the chance to wield the sword.
Regardless, this match was something I had been hoping for from my end.
“Oh my. Are you the senior? I’m doomed.”
“You punk. How meticulously did you practice?”
The method is drawing lots.
Those with the same characters will continue to compete in the order specified on the list.
However.
“Oh? Your opponent is Bruce. Karcein.”
“How peculiar.”
“That’s true.”
My opponent was predetermined from the start.
-Ding!
▶Duel with Bruce has been confirmed!◀
▶Rewards will vary depending on the achievement level!◀
▶Due to the Broken Wing episode, penalties for defeat will be enhanced!◀
[If defeated by Bruce, a severe injury will occur on the left arm, leading to automatic expulsion from the arena.]
Originally, failing to achieve the set level in the mini-game meant getting a beating and a drop in reputation, but now, it seems like getting injured is the new norm.
If it’s just a minor injury, I might not be expelled, but sustaining an injury would naturally lead to expulsion from the arena.
Well, that Bruce guy has lost too much now.
After receiving such a blow, his enmity towards Karcein is unlikely to diminish.
Turning slightly, I see a guy snickering.
“He’s already making a face like he’s won.”
By now, Bruce might be imagining me valiantly standing after a miserable defeat in his mind.
He might even consider retaliating against me even more.
Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.
If it were a real battle, I would have caught him, not Karcein.
“Alright, everyone drew lots, right? Now, make sure to follow the order with your respective opponents…”
As Mark confirmed that everyone had drawn lots, he turned around, suddenly stopping mid-sentence.
He was looking at the current match-up table.
“…”
“Mark? Why the sudden change?”
“Deputy Commander, is the number of matches incorrect?”
“…No, it’s not like that.”
Trying to sound composed, Mark continued, urging everyone to prepare for the duel.
But his inner thoughts must have been quite flustered.
Mark’s gaze flickered over me as if questioning how this could have happened.
I mouthed a word to Mark.
‘I told you, right?’
That Bruce guy was going to be my opponent.
Mark swallowed hard, trying to conceal his surprise.
From Mark’s perspective, it must have sounded absurd.
Just with the information from Radiel, a rumor of match-fixing had surfaced within the Knights.
Perhaps I could have intervened immediately to quash this duel altogether.
Since something was brewing in the arena, an investigation could have been initiated.
But Mark held onto his composure till the end.
He understood that acting rashly was not the way to go.
It must have been well explained by Radiel.
‘For now, that should be enough.’
▶You have prevented a disturbance in the arena by meeting the conditions.◀
▶However, there are still individuals harboring hostility.◀
▶If not completely eradicated, the intimacy level of future characters may decrease!◀
Without concrete evidence, there’s no way to drive them out.
So, we must create it. Evidence that cannot be refuted.
“The next match! Carsein versus Bruce!”
Not my hand, but theirs.
Bruce, smiling slyly, ascended to the arena.
Unseen by Mark, the lad was gesturing as if drawing a line across his throat with his thumb.
Filled with confidence that he would emerge victorious even now. That alone was enough to make him look down on me.
“Get ready.”
At the signal from the combat instructor, the lad assumed his stance.
His leaning torso positioned the center of gravity straight ahead.
The lowered lower body was perfect for a frontal charge at the start using the imbalance of the stance.
The sword in his hand was held not with both hands as if to swing it widely but with one hand, suggesting that he would charge forward at the start and quickly gain the upper hand.
Things in this world are undoubtedly different.
They must be far removed from what I know.
But, I understand this much.
He is a typical thug.
Unlike truly powerful individuals, he is the kind of thug filled with nothing but bravado that I’ve seen most often.
In reality, he is not even that powerful. Just someone who tries to maintain his dignity by picking on the weak under the guise of strength.
Those who look down on others and laugh at the weak are predictable.
They only belittle, mock, and swagger.
From Noble mtl dot com
Relying solely on their meager power that seems utterly pathetic to others.
Ping!
The cheerful sound of metal friction rings out.
As the coin bounces outside the arena and hits the ground, the duel begins.
“Haah!!!”
Bruce charges forward with a thunderous voice, his eyes almost tearing apart.
He must be convinced.
That I won’t be able to parry this sword.
How many months has it been since Carsein laid down his sword? It’s not months but a count of years.
What about Carsein’s frail physique? Weak enough that he can’t even keep up with a morning jog.
Carsein’s sword? He probably hasn’t even seen one. To him, he would just appear as a typical weakling.
That’s why I can face him.
Thwack!
“!!!”
“That lad…?”
“He completely blocked Bruce’s sword?”
Bruce’s eyes widened.
The lads who had expected him to be knocked out in one hit, with their lips raised in anticipation, suddenly froze in surprise.
These guys are predictable.
If their opponent seems weaker, they believe they can win by just roughly fighting.
That’s all bravado is.
Empty, like a tin can.
***
‘…How could something like this happen?’
Mark had merely brushed off Carsein’s words yesterday.
He had taken it as a sign of readiness to make a move.
But after discovering the truth, he was shaken.
The old letters and Radiel’s prophecy.
Mark, deeply shocked, took a long time to compose himself before he could return to the training ground.
It’s impossible to act like nothing happened after hearing such things.
I didn’t want to believe it was a lie, but I wished it had been a lie.
“Oh? Your opponent is Bruce. Carcine.”
“How peculiar.”
“That’s exactly right.”
Yesterday, Carcine confidently mentioned that his opponent tomorrow would be Bruce.
Mark denied it.
How could one predict picking a person randomly from a lot?
While respecting the readiness, it was still hard to believe.
However, the unbelievable happened right before his eyes.
Carcine, as if foreseeing, accurately called out the name of his opponent that would be chosen from a random lot.
And this wasn’t even today, but a day ago.
Mark had noticed yesterday.
Upon hearing that Carcine knew his opponent from the day before, just to be sure, he double-checked yesterday.
The lot used to select sparring partners was a plain, ordinary lot.
“…But who prepared it.”
Theo Ramsteer.
The squire falsely accused by Carcine, marked by Radiel that day.
Mark clenched his fist.
“Captain, let’s stop this now.”
The confrontation between Bruce and Carcine must have been artificially arranged.
In this unfair match, who knows what might happen.
“They might cause trouble for the Lord. It would be better to stop the sparring now and focus on sword training.”
“…But, Mark. We didn’t receive such orders.”
“Did the Lord explicitly agree to this match? What will happen when someone who has been training for months is pitted against someone who has only built up stamina for 5 days?”
It might be a struggle to win even after a hundred fights.
Radiel is well aware of this difference.
But.
“No. The Lord must not have accepted this match without a second thought.”
“Captain…?”
“Look at the Lord. Holding the sword steady.”
Didn’t Carcine say that this time he was confident? That things would be different from before?
“Maybe even this is part of the Lord’s plan. Perhaps…”
“Could Bruce have known and prepared for the challenge?”
“Yes.”
Radiel nodded in agreement.
She was right.
Even though they clearly knew this, accepting the challenge wasn’t about stubbornly accepting defeat; it was about preparing for the possibility.
And indeed, that was the case.
“The Lord’s sword stance is… peculiar? Have you ever seen anything like that?”
“…No. I have no idea either.”
They had prepared something.
As if not even considering a future where they would be soundly defeated by Bruce.
“Both of them are prepared.”
In the meantime, a knight appeared to signal the start of the sparring.
The two assumed their stances.
The coin signaling the start was flipped immediately.
And.
Clang!
Karsein blocked Bruce’s attack as if expecting it.
“Is your stance… not steady?”
“As expected…!”
There was no more doubt.
Bruce, frustrated by his initial attack being miserably blocked by Karsein, was in a hurry.
Feeling displeased with the situation, he wielded his sword recklessly.
Everything is in disarray.
Unrestrained emotions are clearly felt in the sword strikes.
Despite having physical superiority, Bruce’s eyes were fixed on Karsein’s face rather than the sword.
Full of anger, lacking in fairness. His stance was already disarrayed.
His breathing was erratic, not regulating his tempo, exhausting his energy despite being in an attacking position.
However, what about the master.
Calmed.
As firmly grasped as the strings of reason, Karsein’s movements were agile.
Despite being relatively behind in physicality, his eyes never left the sword.
Maintaining a stance never seen before.
There was a smooth rhythm in his breathing and body movements. Matching the tempo of the opponent’s attacks, he efficiently defended with minimal movements.
In complete contrast, the two displayed opposite behaviors.
“Mark, it’s been a while since I’ve sparred… I wonder if…?”
“You’re right. The master has the advantage. In every aspect, he’s at a disadvantage… How on earth.”
When considering physique, experience, and training duration, it seemed like Bruce had the upper hand.
However, as the sparring began, it was none other than Karsein who seemed to have the upper hand.
They both had a rough idea of the outcome of this match.
Bruce’s sword repeatedly swung without reaching Karsein, losing stamina, slowing down, and the strikes becoming transparent.
Not missing this opportunity, Karsein struck.
Thwack!
“Huh…?!”
***
Thunk! Thwack!
After blocking the initial attack, Bruce’s sword fiercely struck back.
Though modern swords had distinct differences, it still emanated from the sword.
Just by parrying, you could feel Bruce’s anger through the sword strikes.
The sword, wielded only in anger, was truly pitiful.
It was as if he hadn’t learned anything.
Amidst the strikes that seemed like flailing around, a momentary opening appeared.
When his right hand, rather than confidently wielding as he did with his left hand, drew a sloppy line.
Seizing this momentary gap, I struck his neck with the hilt.
“Huh…?!”
Bruce staggered back, clutching his neck with one hand, glaring at me a few steps away.
Coughing, he lunged at me as if to kill.
Not content with just parrying, I stepped forward and struck, evading his attack.
“Ugh, this bastard…! aaargh!!!”
With bloodshot eyes.
Shouting almost like a scream.
He charged at me again.
His sword, clouded with scattered focus and only emotions, was now no better than a stick.
Just a simple glance was enough to predict where he would strike.
“Ugh!”
A blow to the side.
“Oof! Ugh!”
One to the thigh and one to the shoulder.
And then.
– Thwack!
A strike to the wrist holding the sword.
That was the end of it.
– Clang.
Bruce’s sword slipped from his neck.
This was a duel fought with swords held to the neck, a swordsmanship contest. If the sword fell from one’s hand, it meant defeat was certain.
However, he did not submit meekly.
No. He went beyond that.
“Die, you bastard!!!”
With a murderous look in his defenseless eyes, he tried to show his anger, even imbuing his sword with mana.
“Bruce!”
“T-that guy!”
Desperate, formal knights moved to restrain Bruce.
Though it was a weak amount, mana was imbued in the sword. If the opponent could handle mana equally, they might have had a chance, but a commoner would not fare well in such a situation.
Yet, they didn’t need to intervene.
– Swish!
With a clean sound of impact, something flew through the air.
Moments later, far outside the arena, the sword fell from the hand of its owner.
“Ugh…”
– Thud.
Collapsed in that spot with the sound of his last breath escaping.
“Hah. Bruce may be a sorry sight, but that sword held mana…”
“It doesn’t matter. What’s crucial is lowering your stance and precisely striking at Bruce’s wrist.”
“It’s hard to see it as luck. Dropping a sword imbued with mana required a calm and precise judgment.”
“…And it was a neck sword. Overcoming such a gap completely.”
Applause erupted from the audience.
Most of those applauding, praising the excellent skill, had nearly erased the gray boxes from this bout.
“One down, for now.”
Soon, the knights who served as judges and the formal knights moved forward to deal out punishment to Bruce.
The gazes of the onlookers had shifted slightly.
Like the vanished gray boxes, their eyes, which had once doubted any breach of the rules of the Arena, now sent applause and approval.
Meanwhile, I had to subtly turn my head to confirm one reaction.
Only one person.
Because his expression was likely far from pleasant.
▶ This individual is showing hostility towards you! ◀
▶ Be cautious! Your actions may lead to a dead end! ◀
‘As expected.’
He probably ordered Bruce to expel me from the Arena by any means necessary.
Teo Ramsteer.
‘Don’t worry. You’ll be next.’