Chapter 295

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A sword path like blossoming petals.

Silver flashes like the wings of a dancing butterfly.

Johan, who had reached the pinnacle as a Supernatural and as a swordsman, briefly marveled at the girl’s swordsmanship. It was truly unique. Unpredictable. A lightning-like sword that even a Sword Saint could not grasp.

Emptiness and substance mixed irregularly.

An honest strike would turn erratic in the blink of an eye, and a messy, rough sword path would suddenly become elaborate.

It felt like facing dozens of swordsmen in turn.

‘No wonder the God of War took her as a disciple.’

He wondered if the God of War had taken Lucia as a disciple because of his personal connection with Lucille. Compared to his other disciples, Eugene and Alice, Lucia didn’t seem to have any particularly outstanding skills. She was good for her age, but not enough for the God of War to take notice.

Alice, who had awakened as ‘one close to God’, and Eugene, who was aiming for captain-level with his unique Supernatural ability.

Compared to them, Lucia was ordinary. She had talent, of course. She was nothing short of a genius. But relative evaluation diminished Lucia’s worth. When there were unparalleled geniuses around, ordinary geniuses paled in comparison.

But facing Lucia with a sword, he realized

Her true worth.

The hidden value that was not visible.

‘An excellent sword. A truly beautiful sword.’

The expressionless swordsmanship was less fitting than sword dance.

Every time the rapier danced splendidly, a moonlight-like flash sparkled.

The golden light clashing and bouncing off the Holy Sword was like a firefly illuminating the darkness.

‘Her skill alone has already surpassed me in those days. I wasn’t even this good in my first year.’

Still immature.

If you looked closely, you could see shortcomings.

But that was a problem that time would solve.

Clang! Boom!

Overwhelming spirit stretched out like a tsunami.

A strong pressure, as if to turn the world upside down, targeted the girl.

Every time he saw Lucia’s face, the strength in his grip loosened, but Johan forcibly steeled his heart and continued to wield the Holy Sword.

“Be careful.”

With a warning, a linear attack fell.

A strike that would shatter even the Death Knight’s solid armor in an instant.

Combining outstanding destructive power and nimble speed, it was truly a sure-kill strike.

He loosened the strength in his wrist so that he could twist the sword path at any time. Thanks to this, the power of the Holy Sword was noticeably weakened, but it was still tremendously powerful. If Lucia’s response was weak, he was planning to immediately change the direction of the strike and destroy the Holy Sword.

“You don’t need to be considerate.”

But all preparations were meaningless.

The slash of light, as if grabbing the sun and pulling it down, was blocked by fluttering silver.

She couldn’t block it with strength. She would be cut in half along with the rapier in one blow. So she swung her sword as if winding around it. Like sheep following a shepherd’s command, the Holy Sword escaped Johan’s control and flowed along Lucia’s touch. Lucia, who lightly nullified Johan’s slash, blinked her eyes.

“You can be a little rougher, you know?”

“…I think I’m already rough enough.”

Not just empty words, Johan was gradually raising the level.

To the level that the girl could barely handle.

He had already finished grasping her skill long ago. He thought that one adjustment would be enough. But strangely, he kept raising the pace. Had he misjudged her skill? Was the girl hiding her true ability?

Of course not.

Johan was the Sword Saint of the era, recognized even by the God of War.

There was no way he could have misjudged the skill of someone far below him.

‘She’s growing. Even at this moment… with every clash of swords, the sword path is becoming more precise.’

He had experienced something similar before.

Johan recalled one woman.

The seventh Demonic Beast to descend in human history.

The Death Knight who called herself Ereshkigal.

Her Demonic Sword was like that. She gained enlightenment in battle and learned from her opponent. The swordsmanship that evolved in seconds was enough to stimulate both competitiveness and fear. A monstrous talent that constantly evolved, taking battle as nourishment and the enemy as a teacher.

Johan chuckled.

A talent that even a Sword Saint would envy.

She was a genius in a different sense from Eugene and Alice.

‘Perhaps the title of the world’s strongest swordsman will be taken away soon.’

He became curious.

How far could the girl who resembled her go?

Johan gripped the Holy Sword even more tightly.

Brilliant radiance flowed through his arm.

Left foot forward, both hands holding the Holy Sword towards the right shoulder.

“Then, from now on, I’ll be a little more serious.”

He took a proper stance for the first time since the sparring began.

No matter how much he suppressed and hid it, he couldn’t hide the aura of a captain-level individual.

Just a part of it leaking through the cracks made the surrounding air fiercely shake.

It was not an intimidation that an academy student could handle, but Lucia, who was facing Johan, had a gentle smile on her face.

The sight was so similar to Lucille in his memory that Johan’s expression faltered. It was only for a moment. A clear mind does not collapse easily. Regaining his composure, Johan swung the Holy Sword at Lucia.

◈

I’m not an idiot either.

When the switch is turned on, my head gets a little dull and I become an idiot, but anyway, I’m not an idiot normally. My grades are pretty good. I do study. Wouldn’t it be too foolish to keep making mistakes and repeating ‘I have to reflect!’?

‘Greed is not good.’

If possible, I’d like the Holy Sword to chop off Lucia’s thin neck. I wouldn’t have any regrets if it sliced her limbs like meat in a butcher shop, and if the body rolling around without a head or limbs was butchered. Ehehe, even a pretty girl like Lucia would just be a disgusting lump of meat if that happened.

But there’s no way Johan would do that, and I have no intention of making him do it.

If Lucille thought of Johan as a son, Lucille was like a mother to Johan. Moreover, after witnessing Lucille sacrificing herself to protect people, he even came to respect her to the point of calling her Lucille ‘nim.’

To harm a girl who looks exactly like a benefactor, a mother, and a respected person.

Lucia’s soft conscience would be bruised to the point of being torn to shreds.

I enjoy pain, but I don’t enjoy the guilt of conscience, you know?

‘Just a little… yes, just a little cut.’

It would be great if it chopped me up to the bone, but I shouldn’t be greedy. Not only is Johan here, but Eugene and Alice are also here. Regina and Seri are watching, so I can’t show them an unsightly sight, right?

‘I endured the damage to get back at Johan… that’s the scenario, right?’

It’s a strategy of yielding my flesh to claim their bones.

I have super regeneration, so yielding bones to claim flesh is also a win.

‘I’ll only get a slight cut on my arm, but Johan might be shocked… I should cross the wall in time.’

In fact, I had already finished preparing to cross the wall.

I could become ‘one close to God’ right now.

The reason I didn’t was to use it properly.

‘If I awaken, Johan’s attention will be focused on my growth, right? Anyway, I’ll regenerate the wound quickly… yes, perfect. The completion of a world where no one is hurt!’

Hehe, it’s a perfect plan even when I look at it again.

Excellent plan, Lucia.

Thank you for the compliment, me.

Okay, the establishment of the plan is over.

From now on, it’s time to lay the groundwork.

“You’re amazing as expected.”

I smiled bitterly as if struggling.

As if it was too much to keep up with Johan’s continuous attacks.

It was actually getting a bit overwhelming, so it wasn’t just acting.

“But I won’t be easily defeated!”

“!”

I reversed the situation, which had been constantly pushed back since Johan revealed a part of his true self. I went forward instead of backward. I pushed my whole body into the rushing golden torrent. Johan, as expected of a Sword Saint, was perfectly controlling his strength. He was suppressing his skill to the level that I could barely endure with a paper-thin difference. Then I can counterattack enough.

Just now, I broke down a part of the wall.

My Supernatural ability broke through its limits, and my physical abilities noticeably increased.

Johan, who was matching my level, momentarily lost his pace due to the sudden growth. But he would regain the initiative in less than a second, but I had enough time. I didn’t avoid the Holy Sword that Johan was stabbing, even while looking at it. Instead, I thrust my body into the golden flash.

‘Sacrificing my left arm.’

The moment Johan’s Holy Sword grazes my left arm, my right hand will stab the holy sword.

Even if I break down the wall, the difference in basic specs is like heaven and earth.

My attack will probably not even reach Johan, and the strategy of yielding flesh and claiming bones will end with just yielding flesh.

‘Ehehe.’

When concentration reaches its limit, reflexes become extremely sensitive. I felt the world moving slowly. Johan, reacting to my strange behavior, hurriedly changed the direction of the Holy Sword. With his quick response, the Holy Sword would not have reached me if it were normal, but right now, I was intentionally shoving my left arm into the trajectory of the Holy Sword. Even with Johan’s quick response, he can’t stop it from grazing me.

Conversely, my rapier can’t even graze him.

Johan’s swordsmanship is offense and defense as one.

He was performing evasion and attack almost simultaneously.

Watching the golden light getting closer to my left arm, I wore a satisfied smile. Ehe, it’s been a while. I’ve been frustrated ever since I was discharged from the hospital. Arin is watching me, so I couldn’t even dream of self-harm. Although it’s a small scratch, it was an opportunity to satisfy my desires. I watched the Holy Sword digging into my skin with shining eyes.

“You’re too excited, Lucia.”

…I couldn’t watch it.

Because the sword that suddenly intervened knocked away the Holy Sword.

“This is a sparring, not a real battle. I know your unique combat method using super regeneration, but there’s no need to try it here.”

I only moved my lips at Eugene’s admonishing tone.

Ah, danger detection.

I forgot that Eugene can use Arin’s Supernatural ability.

Taking the lead as if covering me with his body, Eugene pointed the sword at Johan.

“You must be tired, so rest now. It’s a player change.”

I looked at Eugene’s back with a vain expression.

It was a perfect plan.

…Too much.

Lucia Point -10 points!

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Lucia’s self harm.

Replaced by Eugene’s intrusion.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
He crushed her fun so you should crush his balls next.