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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The thrust of the greatsword and the swing of the saber. The destructive force created by the collision of the two weapons was extraordinary.
The only reason we weren’t caught in the aftermath was thanks to the Sword Saint, who stood in the corner and lightly waved her hand to create a barrier.
“What do you think?”
Clash, clash, clash.
It was fortunate that the people had been cleared out, the clash between the two was so intense.
Nevertheless, neither of them backed down.
They were strong, but were they this strong? I had never seen either of them fight with their full strength, so honestly, I was a little surprised.
“It’s an even match.”
The Sword Saint spoke calmly and then slightly furrowed her brows. And she lightly waved her hand once.
Because of the clashes of energy created each time the two weapons collided, parts of the training grounds were being destroyed and sent flying.
The magistrate did say not to worry about the repair costs, but I should probably chip in a bit.
“I thought they would go a bit easier…”
“They are going easy.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes. They haven’t used any proper techniques yet. They’re just fighting with their individual skills.”
Even with that level of fighting, the Sword Saint answered nonchalantly. Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but admire her. She really was the Sword Saint.
“By the way… I heard you spoke to them.”
“About what?”
“That you didn’t want them to get seriously injured.”
“They’re not fighting monsters or the Demonic Cult, and they’re not even fighting enemies, so why should they fight to the point of getting injured?”
The Sword Saint glanced up at me. She was a head shorter than me, and she looked at me with deep eyes before shaking her head.
“…You’re very kind. That’s right. There’s no reason to fight to the point of getting injured.”
“If the Sword Saint were to meet the Sword Master, would you fight like that?”
“I wouldn’t. The Sword Master would know that too. When we really have to clash our weapons.”
The Sword Saint paused for a moment and exhaled calmly.
There was no emotion in her voice.
“It will be to take each other’s lives.”
So that meant they wouldn’t care about injuries or anything?
I stared at the Sword Saint and then turned my gaze back.
“They’re about to use techniques. I’ll explain if you need it.”
“Please do.”
“Yes. Ryeon is preparing the latter part of the Hongseong Divine Art, the Changyu Sword technique, and Chae-jin is about to use Manhanse.”
Changyu Sword and Manhanse were both powerful techniques. They’re going to use that? As I looked on in surprise, the Sword Saint chuckled.
“The Changyu Sword is an attack that gathers sword energy to slash as if opening the sky. And Manhanse is a kind of defensive technique that uses the sword to receive an opponent’s attack. Of course, a counterattack is possible, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly.”
“Will they be alright?”
“There’s no killing intent, so it’s fine. If it gets dangerous, I’ll intervene.”
“Thank you. I apologize for the trouble.”
“Hmm. They had to fight each other at some point. Thanks to you, we’ve shed unnecessary blood.”
After that, there wasn’t much conversation. The Sword Saint occasionally explained the techniques, and I nodded in response.
How much time had passed like that? Only after dozens of exchanges had been traded did a change finally occur in the two. Their techniques were becoming more refined.
“Hmm…”
“Based on what you’ve seen so far, who do you think will win?”
“It’s still an even match. Ryeon has gotten a lot stronger, but… Chae-jin is also incredible. She’s catching up quickly, perhaps because she’s awakened to ‘Doon’.”
“Is that so?”
“In the end, the winner will be the one with the stronger will.”
In other words, even the Sword Saint didn’t know the outcome of this match. Then there was nothing I could say…
“I hope neither of them gets hurt.”
“I hope so too.”
The setting sun had completely disappeared, and darkness had settled, yet the fight between the two did not stop.
And, both of them started to falter at the same time.
“Tsk, tsk.”
They were feeling the lack of internal energy. They were clearly exhausted, but neither of them stopped. I looked at the Sword Saint, but she was just calmly watching.
“It will be over soon.”
-Clang!!
The greatsword and the saber clashed. At the same time, both weapons were sent flying.
But as if they both knew that would happen, they both threw punches.
-Thud!
-Thud!!
Punches landed on each other’s chests.
As they both slowly crumbled from the impact, the Sword Saint burst into a low laugh.
“They’re quite stubborn.”
“Hahaha…”
So it was a draw? They had both collapsed, so I was about to approach them, but the Sword Saint raised her hand to stop me.
“Iyaaaaa!!”
“Haaaaaa!!”
They had no internal energy, and they couldn’t use their techniques properly. It was obvious that they were exhausted, but their eyes were filled with a strong will.
Were they really going to go all out?
As I watched the two, I said to the Sword Saint.
“Isn’t this going to get really dangerous?”
In a weakened state, even a bad hit could be fatal.
Even if they were experts, they had been fighting like that, and their internal energy was almost depleted, so I thought it was time to stop them.
But even so, the Sword Saint was just watching.
And.
Thud.
In the end, the two of them fell, exhausted, even their punches falling. But their glares directed at each other remained unchanged.
Is this really going to change their relationship?
“It’s time to end this.”
The Sword Saint stepped forward, as if she thought there was no more meaning to it.
Only when she approached did Hongryeon and Chae-jin stop reaching for each other. In fact, they didn’t seem to have any more strength to attack.
“You both know who won.”
“…I, if only I had a little more.”
“I could have won… if.”
They don’t seem to know.
The Sword Saint’s eyes wavered as if she was a bit taken aback by their reactions, but she managed to hide her expression.
I shrugged at them, who were speaking weakly. Both of them were bleeding from various places. They were bruised and swollen, but considering the fight they had, it wasn’t too bad.
“Alright. Let’s stop now and get you both treated. I’ll call for a physician.”
“…Do we have to get treated here?”
Hongryeon, whose tongue seemed to be not working properly, spoke in a trembling, weak voice, and the Sword Saint smiled.
“Yes. Get a quick treatment and then return to your cl—”
“…The inn.”
Huh?
The inn?
My inn?
As I looked on, Hongryeon nodded.
“I want to… rest… at the inn. Can I?”
“…Why leave the clan aside and go to someone else’s inn.”
“Not someone… else.”
At the Sword Saint’s blunt words, Hongryeon smiled faintly and bowed her head.
The Sword Saint stared at me. I don’t know why she’s looking at me like that.
I looked at Chae-jin, but she was motionless. She seemed to have fainted a moment after the Sword Saint stopped them, still in that position with her head bowed.
“Not someone else… Well, that’s not wrong.”
“Haha…”
“Then, I’ll move the two of them to the inn.”
“Yes. Please do.”
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I lost.
I’ve been defeated.
Hongryeon struggled to suppress the tears that welled up as she regained consciousness but kept her eyes closed.
Of course, her master, the Sword Saint, had said it was a draw, but if she analyzed the duel objectively, Chae-jin had more effective hits.
If it weren’t for what Yuwol had said beforehand, she would have definitely fallen first.
No, leaving that aside, this was Seomhwa Village.
Even a stray dog gets cocky on its home turf, but a draw in Seomhwa Village where the Hongseong Clan was based?
I lost.
Aah.
I said all those things to him.
Even though I didn’t use what I had realized last time…
A loss is a loss.
I can’t raise my face, and I can’t open my eyes.
My body hurts, but it’s just a few bruises.
A few rounds of energy circulation and some medicine will fix it.
But what about the wound in my heart?
Hongryeon felt a sense of defeat, that she had lost.
To Chae-jin, no less.
And in front of her master and him. Her chest felt like it was collapsing.
Just then, something cool touched her face.
It was a rough hand. At that sensation, Hongryeon slowly opened her eyes, and a man came into her view.
It was Yuwol.
Seeing him, Hongryeon closed her eyes again in fear. And after hesitating for a long time, she finally managed to speak, as if spitting out the words.
“…I lost.”
At her weak voice, Yuwol replied in a low, pleasant voice.
“It was a draw. The Sword Saint said so too.”
“But…”
“What’s important is that you kept your promise to me.”
At Yuwol’s words, Hongryeon squeezed her eyes shut.
He was a truly amazing person.
Just a few words were enough to easily heal the pain that had been tearing at her chest until just a moment ago.
When he tried to take his hand away after finishing applying the medicine to her face, Hongryeon hurriedly grabbed it.
“Don’t go…”
“I’m not going anywhere. This is my inn, after all.”
“I won’t lose next time…”
“Do you have to fight to decide the winner? How about something else?”
“…Like what?”
“Like complimenting each other’s strengths.”
“…Whose? Chae-jin’s?”
What part of that thieving cat was there to praise?
Of course, she knew that Chae-jin was pretty, had a good body, long limbs, and a bold personality. Also, as the head disciple of the Moonlight Pavilion, she was probably rich.
But what else was there to praise besides that?
But his voice was filled with discontent. Something other than praising? What could that be?
Hmm…
She felt the warmth held in her hand and smiled. Her lips were slightly torn, so it hurt a bit.
But it was okay.
Another way?
Then… How about who gets closer to him?
“…Will you allow anything as long as it’s not a duel?”
“Anything.”
“You can’t take back those words, okay?”
She finally felt relieved. Hongryeon slowly drifted off to sleep, feeling the sensation of her hand holding his.
For the sake of her own feelings, which were greater than her jealousy and competitive spirit towards her.
This was a decision that she could never give up on.
.
.
.
I lost.
I lost again.
I thought I could win this time.
But I could clearly tell.
That I had lost.
Even though I didn’t use any dangerous techniques, neither did Hongryeon.
Then it was right to say that I had lost.
That’s how it had to be, because before she lost consciousness, Hongryeon had opened her eyes.
In the end, the winner was the one left standing.
This is such a mess.
He had believed in me.
He had told me that learning Chae Family’s Tai Chi from me was his pride.
And yet…
The rising sense of shame and humiliation made it impossible to regain her senses.
Unable to even open her eyes, she lay in bed, not daring to say she had woken up.
Just then, something cool was being applied to the wound on her face.
Slowly opening her eyes, she saw him.
Her disciple, and the person who trusted her.
Seeing that, Chae-jin quickly closed her eyes.
“You’re awake?”
“…Yes.”
“The Sword Saint said it was a draw.”
“…I lost.”
She had to tell the truth. If she leaned on that kindness, she might collapse.
“No. It was a draw. The result of this duel is determined by the Sword Saint. No matter what you think. The conclusion is a draw.”
“…But if it weren’t for your conditions.”
“Even if there were such conditions, the result wouldn’t have changed. Let me make it clear right here. It was a draw.”
At his firm statement, Chae-jin tightly closed her eyes. And, she eventually nodded.
If he said so, then it must be so.
If the person who believed in her said so, then she had to believe it.
“…I won’t lose next time.”
“Still, I don’t want to see the two of you fighting. How about a different kind of contest next time? Like praising each other’s strengths…”
“…Don’t say such strange things. Um… Ah.”
Praising each other?
Ugh. Does that fox-like girl have any points to praise?
Of course, she was pretty, diligent, and good at cooking, making clothes, and embroidery. And last time when she saw her cleaning the Murim Alliance’s office, she was good at cleaning too.
But that was about it, wasn’t it?
So that kind of ridiculous…
“…Hehe.”
“What’s so funny?”
“Ah. No. No. I just thought of something good.”
Chae-jin chuckled. She couldn’t see his face because her eyes were closed, but she could easily imagine Yuwol’s face as she thought about it.
Then, how about a contest to see who can sit next to him first?
She was confident.
She was in the Hongseong Clan, and she could be by his side anyway.
So she could approach him with a more advantageous condition.
With a smile on her lips, Chae-jin spoke.
“A contest other than a duel? Alright. Let’s do that.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re close, aren’t we?”
“Uh? Oh. Well, yes.”
“Hehehe…”
Chae-jin closed her eyes, looking forward to the new contest that would start tomorrow.
Perhaps because it wasn’t a contest about being recognized like before?
She could feel a warmth in the corner of her heart, which had been bound by chains and was extremely cold.
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They are in sync lol