A Medieval Knight in a Martial Arts Novel – Chapter 13

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Shrine
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‘A katana.’

William slowly observed the sword Yasuo was holding. The length of the blade was 2 feet (60cm).

A single-edged sword with a gentle curve to the blade.

He had decent knowledge about katanas.

That’s because katanas were a staple in works related to Japan, weren’t they?

They even frequently appeared in foreign films, so although he didn’t know much about swordsmanship using a katana, he knew to some extent what kind of sword a katana was.

‘A sword focused on slashing. I heard it had relatively low durability in medieval times.’

Medieval katanas were famous for their low durability. He judged that it might be possible to intentionally shock the sword and break it.

‘And… if it’s a sword focused on slashing, it will mainly use the middle section.’

Due to the characteristics of a single-edged sword, it was difficult to deal meaningful damage with the tip or base of the blade, so they would primarily use slashes utilizing the middle section of the single edge.

Having finished his simple analysis, William spoke.

“I’ll give you a move. No, I don’t mind giving you three moves.”

‘This bastard…’

He was already getting on his nerves before the duel, and now he’s adding provocation on top of that.

He could tolerate anything else, but treating him as an inferior without hesitation was unacceptable.

His swordsman’s pride wouldn’t allow it.

However, he remained still as a stone statue.

No, he couldn’t move.

‘Confidently proposing a duel means he’s confident he’ll win.’

At a glance, he wasn’t below William’s level. At the very least, they were equals.

At best, he was a swordsman above William’s level.

The length of their swords also seemed to differ by about 1 foot and a half (45cm), so if he rashly rushed in, he would be pressured by the long reach.

Therefore, he couldn’t move recklessly. Falling for that provocation was no different than risking his life. Yasuo solidified his stance with sunken eyes.

“I gave you an opportunity, but you won’t come?”

“…Hmph.”

‘Since he defeated the next successor of the Haenam Sword Sect, he should at least be at the direct disciple level. Then he should be able to use aura, right?’

If it’s Aura, he could use it too.

However, he hadn’t yet figured out how he would use aura.

There were people in the world who utilized aura in strange ways.

The ways to use aura were endless, so he had to find that out first.

‘Shall I test the waters?’

“If you don’t come, I will.”

William approached him with steps that looked sloppy as if daring him to attack. Not slow, not fast. At a glance, it seemed like he could jump in and cut him down with a single stroke at any moment.

However, Yasuo didn’t swing his sword. Just like a carnivorous plant lures insects by emitting a sweet scent, he knew William’s movement was merely to induce his attack.

Eventually, the distance between the two narrowed to three steps. Close enough for Yasuo’s thrust to reach William’s ears.

Yasuo’s body was within William’s reach, but Yasuo was in a position where he had to take a step forward to slash.

William openly sneered at Yasuo, who had no intention of attacking at all.

“Being so timid, can you even fight? Strong against the weak and weak against the strong. The name of samurai is wasted on you.”

Yasuo gritted his teeth.

Having lost all his subordinates and even surrounded, he couldn’t be aggressive when he wasn’t in perfect condition for the duel.

“Do you think I’ll fall for such cheap provocations?”

“Maybe not.”

As soon as he finished speaking, William’s sword was thrust forward. A probing thrust.

Since it was a blatant feint, Yasuo didn’t even swing his sword and stepped to the side, escaping the trajectory of the sword. William, who quickly withdrew his sword, returned to the Ox guard stance and solidified his defense.

“Coward.”

“Nonsense.”

Simultaneously with Yasuo’s answer, William’s sword flew in, tracing a diagonal trajectory. A simple slash. A movement without any technique mixed in.

It would be dangerous if it hit, but even a third-rate swordsman could deflect this level of swordsmanship.

As he felt the oddity, Yasuo received the attack with his blade. The clashing swords slid as if oiled. A gentle sword strike, as if there was no intention to attack from the beginning.

William returned to his initial stance and this time drew his sword vertically. A sword that was neither strong nor weak tapped Yasuo’s katana and gently returned to the same position.

Because he immediately returned to a defensive stance after attacking, Yasuo couldn’t go on the offensive.

Attacking an opponent who had solidified their defense would only give them an opportunity to counterattack.

Unable to hold back any longer, Yasuo spoke.

“Are you mocking me?”

“Well…”

William trailed off and this time swung his sword from the upper right to the lower left, lowering his stance. Naturally, the tip of the sword aimed at Yasuo’s heart.

Pflug (Plow).

As the name suggests, it was a stance that prepared for a thrust by holding the handle at the waist and diagonally raising the blade, like plowing a field.

Taking that stance, William met Yasuo’s eyes.

‘Judging by the stance, the next attack will be a thrust-‘

Before Yasuo’s thought could finish, the sword gripped in William’s hand was shot out like an arrow.

Yasuo diagonally raised his sword to block the incoming thrust.

The optimal stance to block a thrust.

He attempted to deflect the giant’s bull-like charge to the side of his body.

‘Got it!’

Yasuo’s sword, reacting at the last moment, pushed William’s sword to the side. And as if he had expected it, William’s body rotated in the direction he was pushed and retreated backward.

Yasuo realized upon seeing that.

If he continued to be led along like this, he would die without being able to do anything. The enemy was pressuring him without even showing a proper attack.

‘I’m completely being led around.’

The initiative was completely taken away, so both offense and defense were happening at the opponent’s will.

To turn the situation around…

‘I need to seize the initiative!’

Yasuo’s right foot stepped forward as if mirroring William’s movement.

His sword was swung with the momentum to bisect William’s waist with the blade, tracing a red trajectory. And William’s sword was also enveloped in a blue glow.

Aura.

Called sword energy in the East.

The crystalization of destruction, a symbol of an outstanding martial artist, clashed and unleashed a shockwave. A thunderous roar that could deafen the ears echoed through the port.

“Are you finally getting serious?”

“Let’s see how long you can block!”

As if he couldn’t miss this opportunity, Yasuo continued his attacks like flowing water. Striking from above. Slashing. Thrusting, swinging the sword using rotational force.

He poured out all the sword techniques he knew.

Each strike was filled with lethal intent.

William calmly deflected Yasuo’s sword strikes by adjusting the amount of aura. The longsword swordsmanship he learned was superior to anything else when it came to having a solid defense.

And also in offense.

Breaking through Yasuo’s relentless sword strikes, William reached right in front of him and clashed swords. The colliding swords stuck together, and eventually, the crossguards collided.

In a situation where they faced each other with swords crossed, William pressed down on Yasuo with the size and strength derived from his physique.

“Hey, you know what?”

“What nonsense are you spouting again, you giant?”

“We have a saying on our side. Never give a knight distance.”

William pressed the sword surface firmly with his thumb.

The essence of longsword swordsmanship.

One of the reasons longsword swordsmanship became the swordsmanship of knights.

revealed itself.

“Go to the afterlife and butt heads with the guys you killed.”

William’s sword began to rotate outward. Yasuo, who had been blocking William’s sword strike with all his might, couldn’t keep up with William’s sudden movement.

‘Back edge!’

The blade that rotated around Yasuo’s crossguard in an axis tore through Yasuo’s chest. Because it was coated with sword energy, the armor only allowed him to barely avoid a severe injury.

Yasuo, like an experienced swordsman, gritted his teeth and gripped his sword.

It wasn’t a fatal wound, so if he counterattacked…

‘Damn it!’

Before he could even assume a stance, William’s sword was swung.

A terrifying diagonal slash that sounded like it was tearing through the wind. Yasuo blocked the strike aimed at his neck while staggering.

‘Blocked…!?’

The moment he thought that William took a step forward and grasped the upper part of the blade with both hands. A strange action for a swordsman to grab the blade.

Before Yasuo’s puzzlement could fade, William pressed down with both hands like pressing a guillotine’s blade.

Unable to overcome the force pressing down from above, Yasuo’s stance crumbled, and in an instant, the blade was thrust into the side of his neck.

“I don’t… want to die…”

“Farewell.”

William’s sword, enveloped in a faint sword energy, sliced through Yasuo’s neck.

The head of the swordsman who had caused a bloodbath on Haenam Island rolled on the port ground, splattering blood.

—

“How is Senior Brother Hajin’s condition?”

“He’s out of danger. But you… that head…”

“Didn’t I say? I would bring that bastard’s head before sunrise.”

I placed the head on a suitable rock and leaned against the rock to catch my breath.

He wasn’t such a difficult opponent, but I should say he was worth encountering, I guess.

“Uncle!”

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No! I’m fine! What about you, Uncle?!”

“As you can see, I don’t have a single wound, so don’t worry.”

After briefly exchanging greetings with Hye-ryeong, I looked at the Sect Leader to continue our conversation.

When the Sect Leader’s eyes met mine, he opened his mouth.

“We’ll continue the rest of the talk after we return.”

Well, the priority now is to transport the patients first.

I joined their return procession while carrying an injured martial artist on my back.

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