Chapter 10. The Kid

“We will use wooden swords. The use of mana is free. If I judge it to be dangerous, I will stop it myself.”

Chris had me and Bethel stand and explained the simple rules. There wasn't much to call rules. It was just that we couldn't kill each other.

“So, can we start right away?”

Bethel, with his eyes fixed on me, asked Chris with a smug smile.

“Not yet. We have guests.”

“Guests?”

As soon as Bethel voiced his question, a group of people entered the training ground. A rough count showed there were about 40 of them.

“What's this?”

I asked Chris about the identity of the group.

“It would be boring to have a duel like this without an audience. You don't have to worry. It's like the fights that often happen in a country village. None of the participants will speak of today's events. Though I doubt anyone would be interested in who is fighting.”

It was a ridiculous answer. The ridiculousness didn't end there.

“Alright! Let’s hurry up and place our bets on who will win. The odds are 1.5 to 21.”

“Who’s 1.5 and who’s 21? Man. You have to tell us that.”

“You have to hear it to know? You can tell just by looking. If you bet 1 silver on that kid over there, you get 21 silver.”

They were even making bets. The people with money in their hands looked back and forth between me and Bethel and nodded as if they understood. Looking at their eyes, I knew all too well who was 21. Let's see you get a taste of 21.

“Rodrigo, you’ve done well. Who did you bet on?”

Chris asked Rodrigo, who had brought the audience.

“I…”

Rodrigo glanced at me. It seems he bet on Bethel even after exchanging swords with me.

Tsk, tsk.

“It’s fine. I respect your choice.”

“No, I didn’t bet on anyone.”

“Right, right. I respect that. What is Elliot doing? Tell her to hurry up and bet.”

Chris reacted with a generous expression.

“Elliot… says she doesn’t want to see Your Highness get hurt.”

At Rodrigo’s words, Chris looked at me. As if to emphasize that this was the current mood.

I let out a light snort and scanned the audience. Most of them were betting on Bethel. This would lead to one-sided cheering for Bethel. And I would be met with boos.

“It’s not too late even now.”

Chris said that this was the last chance to quit. I scratched the back of my neck with a nonchalant expression.

“It's not a bad strategy to use on a 15-year-old.”

“……”

“But I'm not your average 15-year-old. Just like someone isn’t an average mage.”

I picked up my sword, loosened my shoulders, and walked to the center of the training ground.

“Watch carefully.”

“Of course.”

“Not me, but that guy who’s going to get hit by my sword, watch him carefully.”

“You shouldn’t overestimate yourself. Not everyone is as generous as Rodrigo.”

“We’ll see about that.”

I gave Chris a deadly wink. Of course, Chris was not pleased.

“Alright! Let’s begin!”

* * *

Bethel, who was grabbing his wooden sword, let out a hollow laugh.

‘Fuck, even so, with a kid…’

It was a blow to his pride. Bethel’s face contorted as he fiddled with his wooden sword.

‘Should I just quit?’

Not anymore, but he had once been a member of a knight order. He had never forgotten the knight’s code of raising his sword for the weak and dedicating his body for the country.

“Hoo.”

Bethel let out a long sigh and looked at Maxim. He remembered Chris' request to knock him down a peg because he was dreaming a foolish dream. He also remembered Chris offering to pay off his gambling debts and give him a larger sum as a victory bonus if he won today’s duel.

“A spoiled brat, I’m just giving him a lesson. It’s not a bad thing.”

He repeated to himself that today’s choice was not wrong and picked up his sword.

“Alright! Let’s begin!”

As soon as Bethel made up his mind, Maxim shouted. Bethel’s face contorted.

“That rude brat. How was he raised?”

Bethel clicked his tongue and approached Maxim.

“Hey, kid.”

“What?”

“Do you have a Mana Circle?”

“No.”

At Maxim’s answer, Bethel burst out laughing. He thought that Chris had called him because he really wanted him to give the kid a good lesson.

“No? You don’t have one, so why are you doing this? Do you want to be a knight or something? Or is getting hit your hobby?”

“What would you do with it?”

“You think I'm a pushover because I've been letting you off easy…”

Bethel glared at Maxim with a fierce expression.

“Yeah.”

“……?”

Bethel blinked his eyes, unsure if he had heard correctly. Maxim was kicking his sword and yawning.

“How long are you going to keep talking? Aren't you going to start? Should I go first?”

“You really need a good lesson. This, as an adult, I can't just let it slide. But I'll do you a favor and not use mana.”

“Hah. That’s what they all say.”

“What?”

“Stop with the nonsense and just use it. No. What’s the point of talking. You'll use it on your own after getting hit a few times.”

Maxim readjusted his grip on his sword, exhaled, and kicked off the ground. Bethel was flustered by Maxim’s sudden movement.

Kaang!

He blocked Maxim’s attack with a hurried movement. But it wasn’t a clean defense. He was pushed back a couple of steps. His defensive stance was also broken at once.

‘This… is this possible?’

Bethel looked at Maxim with surprised eyes. It was a heavy sword, unbelievable for his small frame.

“What are you so surprised about? We’re just getting started.”

Maxim launched his next attack. Bethel, with no intention of being hit again, raised his sword. Two clashes occurred. A sharp sound, hard to believe it was from wood, erupted.

Bethel’s heart rate quickened. Maxim’s sword was sharper than he had imagined.

‘This bastard, what is he?’

Bethel dodged Maxim’s attack and created distance. Due to the height difference, Maxim couldn’t follow quickly.

“You’ve learned properly.”

Bethel said, composing his surprised heart. At this, Maxim let out a snort.

“Do you need time? How much should I give you?”

“Hey, kid. Watch your mouth. The easy part is over.”

“Why? Are you going to use mana now?”

“……”

“What are you thinking about. Just use it.”

Bethel ground his teeth. He raised his sword with both hands and exploded the aura he had been suppressing until now.

“Mana is too good for you. You little brat!”

Roaring! Bethel shouted and launched himself at Maxim.

“Well, that’s not very nice for the kid who’s listening. He’s putting his heart into getting angry.”

Maxim watched Bethel’s movements and gripped his sword.

* * *

Rodrigo looked at Maxim, biting his lip. Bethel was cornering Maxim with a fierce momentum.

“Breathe while you watch.”

Chris said to Rodrigo in a calm voice. Rodrigo looked at Chris with anxious eyes.

“Count Dorléans. Is this really the right thing to do?”

“In what sense?”

“His Highness has only just woken up. He has held a sword again for an even shorter time.

Is a duel like this really the right thing to do? What if he gets hurt?”

“Didn't you exchange swords with him yourself? I remember you being quite surprised, am I wrong?”

“That… there was a part of it that I couldn't help.”

“Really? Are you saying it would have been very different if you had attacked with intent?”

At Chris' question, Rodrigo stopped talking. He recalled the moment he had exchanged swords with Maxim.

An unfamiliar sword path, bull-like movements, a chilling tenacity.

A question filled his mind: would he have survived if they had fought to the death without using mana?

“Wow!”

Suddenly, a cheer erupted. Rodrigo stopped thinking and looked at the duel situation.

“No!”

Bethel was cornering Maxim. The audience was in a frenzy watching this.

“Keep pushing him! Smash the kid’s head in!”

“Crush that little rat!”

“Hit him! Hit him hard!”

The rough cheering continued. In response, Maxim lost his balance. Bethel’s sword danced wildly.

Rodrigo’s expression darkened. He found and picked up a sword. He was ready to jump in immediately if Maxim became even slightly more endangered.

“Stop.”

Chris said, looking at Rodrigo.

“His Highness is in danger.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Aren’t you watching?”

“Look again.”

Rodrigo took a rough breath and looked at Maxim.

‘Huh?’

He was smiling. And it was a rotten smile. He had his lips pressed firmly together, but it wasn't a face of hardship. In fact, the one who looked to be having a hard time was Bethel.

He was glaring with his eyes wide open and swinging his sword with all his might.

“It's close, but he's blocking properly. Let's watch until he uses mana.”

“No, how…”

Rodrigo, having confirmed Maxim's good fight, put down his sword with his mouth agape. On the other hand, Chris let out a heavy sigh. The Bethel he had chosen was a knight known for his swordsmanship. Although he was stuck at 1-circle. That’s why he had sought him out and entrusted him with this task.

“Was it an undeserved reputation?”

“What do you mean?”

“The opponent.”

“Did you know him before?”

At Rodrigo's question, Chris nodded.

“That guy doesn't seem to know my face, but I knew him.”

* * *

Kang! Kaang!

The angry attacks rained down without a moment's rest. My hands went numb. With each clash of swords, the impact grew stronger. The will to crush my head was transmitted through the sword.

‘If this were a week ago, I would have collapsed.’

The results of my insane training were visible. My whole body’s muscles were numb, but they weren't convulsing. That wasn’t all. I could even twist the opponent’s attack and break his rhythm. That’s why Bethel’s face was so contorted.

“No, why! Why this bastard!”

The guy who thought he was one-sidedly cornering me burst out in frustration. He seemed to have used a lot of strength, as his breathing was also a mess. I could see his bulging muscles trembling slightly. Everything was just as I had intended.

“Shoulder.”

I said where I would attack.

“?”

Thwack!

Even if I tell him, he can’t block it.

“Chest.”

“What are you talking about?”

Thwack!

“Keuk!”

He seems to be slow-witted. If you get hit once, you should avoid it the second time. Tsk, tsk.

“Side.”

As soon as I said it, Bethel raised his sword and covered his right side.

Thwack!

There are two sides.

“You son of a bitch!”

The guy let out a roar mixed with pain and anger. In that case, I should cool his head.

“You'll calm down if you get beaten to a pulp. Right?”

I took half a step back and corrected my sword. I began the first form of Philip III’s swordsmanship, Poinus 1st Form. I aimed for the shoulder, cut the side, and stabbed the chest. There was a dull sensation at my fingertips from time to time, but the flow of the sword was not broken. Bethel’s clothes were torn in several places.

Bang!

Just as the sword cut through the air and was about to tear at his neck, a strong impact shook both my arms along with a cloud of dust.

“Haak! Haak! Damn it!”

Bethel, panting heavily, ground his teeth. His sword was stuck in the ground. And from where it was stuck, a stone pillar had risen up, covering Bethel’s body.

I raised the corners of my mouth. Bethel had used mana.

“You swore an oath to Terion, the God of the Earth? You're a knight, after all.”

“……”

Bethel glared at me and trembled, as if it were a disgrace to have used mana against me.

He was pathetic. The way he carelessly judged his opponent without looking at him properly and swung his sword was unsightly.

“Scallop Bethel.”

“My name is Gavis Bethel!”

He expressed his anger with a loud voice. I'm a little sorry about this.

“Ri-right. Gavis Bethel.”

“You! From now on, I will defeat you with all my might. I will defeat you even if I have to use all my mana!”

“I told you to do that from the start.”

“Shut up!”

Bethel pulled the sword stuck in the ground and raised it. The ground cracked and shook violently.

“A real magic swordsman.”

It was just as it was written in the history of knights.

I jumped to the side to avoid the cracking ground. At that moment, Bethel’s sword aimed for my neck. I felt a chill run down my spine as I felt his killing intent.

Kaang!

The swords clashed. Even though they were wooden swords, a metallic sound was made.

Looking closely, Bethel’s sword had changed its shape. It seemed he had changed its hardness and sharpness through mana.

Grrrk.

My relatively weaker sword developed a crack. Bethel’s mana passed through my sword and pierced me. I felt a sharp pain.

Paat!

Suddenly, Bethel’s sword turned to dust. My balance collapsed. I stumbled forward greatly.

In that moment, Bethel’s sword pierced my shoulder. Intense pain was transmitted. At the same time, my Mana Heart began to beat rapidly.

“You’re smiling?”

Bethel growled. So I smiled even brighter. My right chest felt terribly tight. It was a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. The sensation I had been waiting for.