—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“No holding back.”
“Don’t expect any.”
Ella and Egenir faced each other, catching their breath.
The five, seemingly accustomed to being knocked unconscious, had already recovered and were watching the duel, along with Cecilia, who’d brought the potions, and Harfon.
‘How much has she improved…’
Harfon, while training Ella, had realized her potential. She’d been practicing tirelessly since dawn, even skipping her morning classes to hone her skills.
She’d made significant progress with Wind Swordsmanship and was now integrating it with Dragon Swordsmanship.
‘The Righteous Sword and the Destructive Sword…’
The Righteous Sword followed the established path, seeking its own style within the confines of tradition. The Destructive Sword defied convention, forging its own path through sheer force.
Ella and Egenir embodied these two opposing styles.
‘Full power.’
‘Crush everything.’
Ella channeled all her skill into her blade. Egenir unleashed the fiery power of Salamander.
“Incredible!”
Harfon was impressed. Ella was seamlessly weaving Wind Swordsmanship into her Dragon Swordsmanship, while Egenir’s blade was wreathed in flames.
The Destructive Sword, amplified by an unexpected trait, had become a blazing inferno. The clash of wind and fire, though an unfavorable matchup for Ella, captivated Harfon.
‘Are these…students?’
Their techniques were refined, precise, worthy of high-ranking knights.
‘Fwoosh!’
Guided by the wind, Ella’s movements were measured, controlled. Egenir’s blade, consumed by flames, danced erratically, a destructive force seeking to break through Ella’s defenses.
“Die!”
Egenir’s voice dripped with venom.
“I won’t lose!”
Ella’s short, sharp retort. She wouldn’t be defeated again. Her competitive spirit surged, carried by the wind.
“You monster!”
She’d mastered Dragon Swordsmanship so quickly, and now she was already integrating Wind Swordsmanship. It was like teaching someone two simple equations and having them solve a complex, third-degree equation.
“Damn it!”
No one had taught her the advanced techniques. She’d simply…intuitively grasped them, integrating complex theories into her swordsmanship in a matter of weeks.
‘Who’s the real monster here…’
Harfon chuckled.
He could sense the magical energy in Egenir’s sword. Integrating mana circuit methods with swordsmanship…a difficult technique rarely seen even among Magic Swordsmen, let alone knights.
A fusion of science and martial arts. The mana circuit method, combined with the Salamander trait, channeled fire magic into his Dragon Swordsmanship.
If Ella was applying third-degree equations, Egenir was throwing the entire academy’s curriculum into his swordsmanship.
‘Clang!’
Their wooden swords clashed. Ella’s wind blade pierced through the flames, while Egenir’s fire consumed the wind. To follow the path, or to destroy it.
The five watched in awe, their earlier fear forgotten. A battle between a god and a demon.
Egenir fought with all his might, while Ella, like a deity walking a righteous path, remained calm, focused.
‘I won’t lose!’
Losing to Egenir didn’t matter. But his swordsmanship, the raw destructive power…it thrilled her.
What lay beyond that path of destruction?
She looked into his eyes, burning with intensity, and felt a surge of determination. She wanted to prove herself, to show him her own strength.
Proof.
She sensed his disdain, his dismissal.
‘I’ll make him acknowledge me!’
She wasn’t interested in a simple duel. She wanted to see his true strength, his full potential. Ella was surrounded by wind, Egenir by fire and heat.
‘Different from Cecilia.’
Unlike Cecilia’s uncontrolled rage, Egenir’s flames were contained, controlled by Spenny’s mana circuit method. It acted as a cooler, regulating the fiery energy.
‘Fwoosh!’
Egenir’s body glowed, pushing his limits.
‘That…’
The heat shimmered, intense enough to burn even the wind.
“Try that damn technique again.”
His eyes blazed as he raised his wooden sword, pointing it at her.
“Gladly.”
Ella smiled, gripping her sword tightly. She knew she might be consumed by the flames, but…
‘Here I go!’
She’d been waiting for this moment. Being the outcast of the Gainz family, the shame of her traitless lineage…it didn’t matter. She just wanted to defeat him.
Fueled by this simple desire, she attacked.
‘Fwoosh!’
The wind sliced through the flames. Egenir, amidst the swirling wind and fire, struck with a simple, vertical downward strike. The most basic, fundamental swordsmanship technique.
He wanted to humiliate her, to show her that even the most basic technique could overcome her complex maneuvers.
His sword, fueled by his desire for revenge…
‘One victory isn’t enough…’
Her condescending gaze, her betrayal…He poured all his anger, all his frustration into the strike.
Like a tiger’s bite, his descending blade met her thrusting sword, cleaving through her defenses.
‘Thwack!’
A loud crack echoed through the training grounds as Ella was thrown back.
“Ugh!”
Everyone gasped.
Even Harfon, stunned by the intensity of the blow, hadn’t anticipated Ella’s defeat.
“Ella! Are you alright?!”
He rushed towards her, his chosen disciple. She was unconscious.
“Ha…Ha…”
Egenir caught his breath, the flames around him subsiding.
“Hey.”
He walked towards her, sheathing his sword. Ella slowly regained consciousness, Cecilia pouring a healing potion down her throat.
“Pick your fights carefully.”
He smirked, mirroring her earlier disdain. Then he turned and walked away.
“What are you waiting for?! Get back to training! Lift some weights!”
“Yes!”
The five, thoroughly disciplined, immediately resumed their training.
‘Damn it…’
Egenir looked at his throbbing left arm.
‘She…’
Before losing consciousness, Ella had focused her attacks on his left arm.
‘If that had been a real sword…’
He would have lost his arm.
‘She…She almost killed me, and she still managed to land a critical hit?’
He’d used Salamander, Spenny’s mana circuit method, and Dragon Swordsmanship. A complex combination of techniques, and she’d countered it with just Dragon Swordsmanship and Wind Swordsmanship.
He’d attacked with all his might, aiming to break her, and she’d not only defended herself but also injured him.
“You…”
Egenir’s anger flared again. Horse stood before him, clapping, a smug smile on his face.
“As expected…I came to witness something interesting, and you delivered. This calls for a reward, don’t you think?”
That creepy, pretty-boy face. He walked towards Egenir, a predatory glint in his eyes.
[Horse’s affinity increased by 5.]
His affinity was increasing, and the energy radiating from him grew stronger.
“I’d like to request a duel.”
He looked at Egenir with a hungry expression. He’d been waiting near the entrance of the training grounds, away from the others.
“This gay bastard…”
“But it’s a shame. I’d prefer to face you at your best.”
He’d noticed Egenir’s injury, despite watching from a distance.
Harfon must have noticed it too, which was why he’d allowed Egenir to skip the training session. But Horse…seeing it from so far away…
‘This bastard also…’
Another cheater with a high-ranking trait, a member of the Royal Family.
“Now I understand why you’re so interested in magic. The Magic Swordsman, Egenir.”
“Cut the crap. Why are you here?”
“Hee hee, you’re so refreshingly blunt.”
He pulled out a document.
“There’s a swordsmanship tournament this spring.”
“It’s not canceled?”
Horse’s eyes gleamed.
“Do you know they always cancel the spring tournament for first-years?”
“I don’t care about your traditions. Why should I participate?”
“You have no choice.”
He gestured towards Egenir’s half-burnt wooden sword.
“Do you think an ordinary sword can withstand your flames?”
“…A magic sword?”
“Hee hee hee! You’re always so quick-witted. It’s a refreshing change from the idiots surrounding me.”
“Get lost. I’m not interested.”
“Not interested…A swordsman not interested in swords?”
“I said I’m not interested, so get lost.”
Egenir turned and walked away, spitting on the ground in disgust.
“Hee hee hee…”
Horse tore up the application form, scattering the pieces in the wind.
“I’ll have to upgrade the prize.”
He knew an ordinary reward wouldn’t attract the monster’s attention.
“To lure a monster, you need a suitable bait.”
He looked at Egenir, more convinced than ever that he was the perfect monster.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
