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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Life is often compared to a marathon.
However, unfortunately, in our lives, there are rarely occasions where we run on an organized course like a marathon.
Sometimes we have to walk on a rough mountain path, sometimes we have to run along a waterway, and sometimes we have to wade through sticky mud.
And the course is not always set like a marathon.
Our lives, we run on one path, but forks keep appearing.
If we call the biggest fork a turning point in life…
Everyone has at least one turning point in their life.
It may vary from person to person, but it will come striding towards you, taking the name of fate, miracle, or tragedy, and stand in front of you.
At what age would one be able to take responsibility for a choice that completely changes their future life?
For example, for me, the biggest turning point would be when I was expelled at the age of 18 and headed to the Demon Realm Forest.
From the perspective of having experienced it directly, 18 years old was still too young to be responsible for one’s future, but…
“Phew.”
Can we choose that time as we please?
Here, a girl who faced a turning point in her life at the age of 18, just like me, Tana Krista, took a deep breath and gripped her wooden sword tightly.
“I can do it.”
There was a tremor in her voice as she repeated it to herself, but nevertheless, she kept repeating it as if reciting a prayer to God.
“It’s okay.”
Fortunately for Tana, the fact was that she had companions with her.
Not just one, but two.
“Yeah, you have already defeated the twins dozens of times. Don’t worry.”
At my words, Eve and Tana nodded their heads together.
Rin, who was standing next to me, made a puzzled expression as she didn’t understand, but this was a kind of code that only the three of us could understand.
“Then, we will begin the duel. Both sides, please prepare.”
The royal servant who was the referee for today’s duel declared in a forceful voice.
I thought Bertia might come since it was to select Elise’s maid, but it seemed she couldn’t come because her face was known at the academy.
“Have a good match.”
I gently pushed the backs of the two.
The twins standing on the opposite side exuded a relaxed atmosphere from their expressions, but in the eyes of the younger sister, Valtory Mayas, there was a hint of fear just in case.
‘That’s right, you’re also too young to decide your future.’
If Tana won here, Valtory Mayas would be dragged away as Elise’s maid.
At the age of 17, a year younger than us.
It was unfortunate, but in the end, someone had to go.
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“We will begin the duel with mutual consent.”
The servant spoke in a tone that conveyed they didn’t care who it was and just wanted it to end quickly.
With the starting signal, the ones who moved first were naturally the twins’.
They didn’t need to intentionally drag out the time.
‘Finish it in one go.’
Ben and Valtory didn’t even need to have a conversation.
They were twins who had supported each other by each other’s side for a whopping 17 years.
Although they fought a lot, they relied on each other just as much.
Just like a pre-arranged dance, the two could clearly see each other’s movements in their minds.
Then, on the contrary…
Tana and Eve, who had not even been friends for a year.
If we were to compare time and teamwork with each other, it was an overwhelming defeat.
After all, blood is thicker than water.
But the one who was solidly standing behind the two girls was a man who had explored the only forest on the continent where demons were said to live.
Exploring the forest wasn’t simply a matter of beating magical beasts and surviving.
In the first place, to hunt magical beasts, one had to meticulously analyze the opponent’s movements, habits, preferences, favorite places, disliked smells, routines, etc.
Because the boy wasn’t a strong one who had reached the highest level from the beginning.
To grow step by step, he needed an effort that made him feel like his brain and eyeballs would fall out.
Even before clashing with magical beasts and swinging a sword, the sherpa had already started fighting with his head and eyes.
Compared to the magical beasts rampaging like berserkers living there, the twins from a prestigious noble family were literally at the level of roasting beans.
Clack!
Thud!
Two sounds intersected.
One was the sound of Ben Mayas’ swung wooden sword clashing with Tana’s wooden sword.
The other was the sound of Eve’s sword precisely striking Ben’s solar plexus.
‘It hit!’
Tana, who made eye contact with Eve, ducked and crouched, passing by the drooling Ben, and once again crossed swords with Valtory, who was aiming for Eve.
The twins are looking down on us.
So naturally, as soon as the duel starts, they’ll rush in.
The one we need to target first here was Ben Mayas.
Since he was a boy, he’d be faster at running than Valtory, so there would be a time where he jumps forward alone for a bit.
Aim for that moment.
Both of you, deal with Ben first at the same time.
Daniel’s voice seemed to echo in the ears of the two girls.
The current situation of holding a wooden sword was very awkward.
Both Tana and Eve.
They were children who had much more talent in magic studies, writing, or thinking rather than directly fighting.
So Daniel twisted their perspective a bit differently.
There was no need to intentionally draw those children into a duel.
It was simple if the duel was substituted with those children’s specialty areas.
Valtory knows how to use defensive swordsmanship efficiently.
Try not to get caught up for too long if possible.
Keep in mind, you two need to constantly create a situation where you’re fighting one person together.
That’s how you win.
Tana, who had been dealing with Valtory, stepped back again before Ben regained his senses and stood next to Eve.
Ben, who had been hit hard in the solar plexus from the start, glared at the two while letting out a painful groan.
“Interesting.”
Fierce hostility and excitement etched in the corners of his eyes.
It would have been extremely advantageous if he had gotten excited like this and rushed in alone again, but this wasn’t a 1:1 duel.
“Ben, calm down. If we stay composed, we will definitely win.”
“……Hoo. Yeah, sorry.”
The way he immediately acknowledged and bowed his head looked like a well-trained beast.
Ben, who had been about to charge, made eye contact with his younger sister and took a deep breath to solidify his resolve.
Eve and Daniel were helping to ensure that Tana wouldn’t be dragged to the palace as a maid.
Unfortunately, the same went for the opposing side.
For the sake of his younger sister, Ben Mayas froze his rising anger coldly.
Didn’t they promise from a young age to become the two-pole swordsmen who would support the Mayas family together?
“It’s not going to flow easily.”
“You’re right.”
Eve bit her lips, and Tana wiped off her cold sweat.
Even though the twins were a year younger than them, as they started approaching by matching their strides, a sense of pressure incomparable to the first charge strangled the two.
Like that, the twins approached right in front of them as they charged out once more.
Ben tried to strike Tana right away, but Eve intervened in between.
Valtory was in charge of Tana.
“A 1:1 situation? I can handle it!”
It was a battle formation that the twins, who were far superior in individual skills, rather welcomed.
“Ah……”
“Of all things.”
The sighs of Hayun and Sen, who were spectators, could also be heard, but Daniel’s attention was solely focused on Eve.
Even though they could look at each other with just a slight glance, Eve was staring at Ben without losing a moment of concentration.
If he swings the sword high, step back.
The power goes deep, but the stride is short.
Ben’s wooden sword, which had been raised high, sliced through the air.
Eve had already pulled her body far back.
A horizontal slash starting from the waist is for closing the distance.
It’s okay, so grip the sword tightly with both hands and strike out.
You have to strike forward to make the hit point off.
Clack!
A clear ringing sound of clashing spread through the dueling ground once more.
Because Eve struck straight forward, Ben’s sword couldn’t be swung properly.
Of course, even so, Eve’s hands tingled numbly, but…
“Eek!”
If you take one step back, it will be an upward slash.
Lower your body and have your sword down in advance.
You can sufficiently block an upward slash that doesn’t have proper power behind it.
“Where did you learn those fancy moves!”
You won’t be able to block it if he starts a combo.
You can think you’ll definitely lose.
But if you do as I say, his technique won’t continue.
“Are you looking down on the Mayas!”
In the end, Ben made up his mind to abandon the Mayas family’s refined swordsmanship and push through solely with his physical abilities.
He tried to overpower with strength and speed, and this was an unexpected problem that Daniel couldn’t provide the answer to, but…
What if he gets excited and swings his sword recklessly?
It’s okay.
That didn’t mean there was no defense at all.
You’ve become able to sufficiently follow and block the reckless sword strikes swung by a mere 17-year-old child without proper posture, as long as you follow them with your eyes.
It’s not for nothing that you’ve been doing morning exercises, right?
‘I can do it.’
I can block it.
It’s not like the number of swords is increasing to two or three anyway.
The concentration cultivated through reading was solely poured towards Ben Mayas’ wooden sword, and although her hands ached, she had never taken a proper hit even once.
“Huff! Huff!”
In the end, Ben, was wiping the sweat flowing on his forehead and taking deep breaths.
When he judged that he couldn’t win with a sword swayed by emotions, he adjusted his posture again.
“I never thought I would have to use one of the family’s five principles in a duel like this.”
A fierce wind began to blow.
The windows and doors of the dueling ground were open, but the source of the wind wasn’t something natural like that.
The small boy, who had firmly planted his two feet in the dueling ground, was now becoming the center of this place.
The five principles?
You can’t block it.
I saw them practice it once, and you can’t block it or dodge it.
The only drawback is that it takes some time.
Daniel’s voice echoed in Eve’s mind.
For the first time during the duel, she glanced to check Daniel’s expression.
He was smiling and giving a thumbs up.
So make him use the five principles no matter what.
Eve immediately raised her wooden sword and threw it towards Ben, who was maintaining his posture.
Startled by the sword that flew in with a pleasant rotation, Ben hurriedly twisted his sword to block it.
“Are you giving up?”
Usually, throwing a sword during a duel was no different from a sign of surrender, but…
Keep this in mind.
Eve’s feet were moving faster than ever, not giving up.
Not towards Ben, who couldn’t move freely as he was preparing the five principles…
But towards Valtory, who was overwhelming Tana.
Creating a situation of numerical superiority is the only way we can win.
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