Sparrow Hunting

The same familiar battlefield as before.

The faint breeze blowing from all directions carried a faint metallic scent, as if preparing for the battle that was about to unfold.

Behind the NPC soldiers, blocked by a transparent wall and unable to move, the team members stood in a line, each checking their equipment.

Just then, Snow Mage approached with a heavy thud, opening his mouth.

“Blood Demon King-nim!”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you going to use the sword and shield?”

“Ah.”

It seemed he was bringing it up because of the way I looked in the previous match.

Sword and shield. It’s a good combination. But it wasn’t a good weapon for me to use right now.

Being able to withstand the assassins’ attacks by using a shield was only possible because their strength stats were low.

Assassins basically don’t allocate high points to strength stats.

They choose agility to move quickly, and stamina to run away further.

“It’s not a good idea. My body won’t be able to handle it and I’ll go flying.”

There’s only one assassin on the opposing team.

The rest had chosen two knights, a Viking, and a Paladin each.

Everyone except the assassin was a character who invested a considerable amount of points in strength stats, so pulling out a character who uses a one-handed sword and shield in this state was close to suicide.

I would definitely not be able to withstand it and roll around on the floor.

“I’m going as is.”

So I’m going as is.

I stroked the Nodachi on my back and opened my mouth.

Now I have to distribute the personnel.

I looked at the two knights standing nervously.

Since there was no Butcher on the opposing team, their weapons had returned to Longswords.

“You two, please take the side path.”

“W-we are?”

“Yes, go to the side path and block the enemy assassin coming that way. If you think you can handle it alone, the other person runs straight to the enemy camp.”

“Won’t the central power struggle become very disadvantageous? What if the assassin doesn’t come to the side path?”

Heading to the center are me, Snow Mage, and Biseuzu player.

That’s enough. If we just endure without dying, we can buy time until our team’s knights arrive at the enemy camp.

“It’s okay. Let’s go as is.”

The hesitating knight eventually nodded.

It seemed he remembered what he said before starting the game, that he would adjust to me.

At that moment, the countdown announcing the start of the game began.

5

I take a breath as I look at the message floating in front of me.

The moment the low breath slowly dissipated, the transparent wall disappeared and a huge shout erupted.

Waaaaaaaah!

The shouts of over a hundred soldiers shake my ears.

Immediately after, I ran forward.

“Start!”

The game has started. Now I can’t stop.

Whatever the result, I have to run towards the end.

“Please take care of us!”

Before the two knights left for the side path, I waved my hand and greeted them.

The small and cute girl’s greeting had the effect of boosting the morale of the team members.

It was one of the skills I naturally learned while leading the raid.

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

The two knights, who were running with a very nervous look, let out a huge shout as soon as they received my greeting and ran into the side path that stretched into the forest.

Since communication with teammates who are far away is impossible, there was nothing more I could do.

After running for a while following the NPC soldiers, I was finally able to reach the front of the central occupied area.

The soldiers who arrived first were mixed with the enemy soldiers and began to wield their weapons.

Clang! Chaeng!

Kwaang!

Dieeeee!

Leaving the noisy sounds behind, I look around where the enemy came from.

At that moment, I was able to spot a girl with white hair fluttering as she slowly walked over.

The only means of protecting her body was a thin gambeson armor.

The weapon she held in her hand was a long, slender longsword.

Jupiter, she has arrived here.

A confident smile was on her lips as she approached with a dignified appearance.

But, why is she alone?

Where are the others?

While I was diligently looking around and falling into doubt, Jupiter, who had arrived behind the enemy soldiers, pointed her sword.

And then she shouted loudly.

“Blood Demon King, listen!”

“What a crazy bitch…”

“I demand that you come forward and compete fairly!”

It was truly a spirited appearance.

However, I didn’t fall for that provocation.

My gaze moves incessantly. It might be a strategy to induce carelessness by putting such a brazen person forward.

I couldn’t let my guard down.

“Ha! Blood Demon King! Don’t hide!”

I’m not hiding.

It’s just that I’m short, so I’m not visible when I’m among the soldiers.

I bit my lip and slowly retreated.

Jupiter seemed to have finally found me, smiling and waving her sword.

“Blood Demon King~!”

Looking at that appearance, I was convinced.

The enemies had sent only Jupiter to the central line and all of them had gone to the side path.

“Everyone. Retreat to our occupied area.”

I don’t explain the reason. Even that time was too precious.

“Ugh…!”

Biseuzu player turned around and started running without hesitation at my words.

Snow Mage also mumbled as if he was disappointed, but eventually had to follow my orders.

As the two of them left, only Jupiter and I remained on the central line.

Jupiter stared blankly at the scene and slowly opened her mouth.

“Blood Demon King-isiyeo, is it alright to send your subordinates away like that?”

“Shut up, Sparrow.”

“S-Sparrow…?”

“Cheep-cheep.”

“Cheep-cheep…”

I slowly take a breath and think.

The fact that all the enemies except Jupiter ran to the side path meant that they had given up on the early power struggle.

Abandon the center and attack the enemy camp. By messing up the respawn time and taking the enemy’s occupied area, they would likely attack the central line.

I miscalculated the personnel distribution.

It was my mistake.

“Sparrow. Why did you come alone?”

“T-the team members told me to go here…!”

“Alone?”

“That’s right. I was given a very important mission.”

Jupiter said that and subtly placed her foot on the occupied area.

She’s thinking of distracting me with conversation and secretly recapturing the occupied area, but I absolutely couldn’t let that happen.

I also put my foot forward and entered the occupied area.

The surroundings are all corpses.

I frowned and drew my Nodachi.

For some reason, my mouth felt bitter.

“Jupiter. Let’s settle our unfinished match.”

“Unfinished match…?”

Jupiter tilted her head at my words.

As her small and cute face tilted slightly, her snow-white hair cascaded down.

“Strange words. Blood Demon King. Is your memory not good?”

“…”

“I remember it clearly. The moment you lost to me.”

She’s unnecessarily long-winded.

I frowned and ran forward.

There’s not even a signal for attack. A sudden charge. A normal person wouldn’t even be able to react.

Swish-!

The moment the blade of the Nodachi, swung greatly, swept across the front, there was something blocking it.

A long, silver sword.

Jupiter’s longsword.

Clang-!

The sword and the blade collide, creating a clear spark.

The vision is briefly brightened by the light scattering in all directions.

By the time the gazes that met in the air scattered, Jupiter’s attack had begun.

An attack that slides up the sword’s blade.

If I don’t move my body, I’ll be able to see the sword piercing my shoulder.

I quickly twisted my body and deflected the attack.

Seugageuk-!

The sword that was riding up the sword’s blade sweeps through the air.

I’ve blocked her attack once, so now it’s my turn.

Since the Nodachi has a large preparatory motion for attack, all situations must be taken into account.

At the same time as recovering the Nodachi in my hand, I step back.

Jupiter, who had come right in front of me, suddenly stopped as if she had sensed something.

But it’s too late.

It’s not an attack stance for swinging.

A simple stab.

The minimal preparation stance quickly succeeded in an attack towards the straight line.

Swish-!

Watching the blade stretching out, I feel time slowing down.

Such a normal attack won’t work on Jupiter.

In a short moment, I had to make a change at the end of the blade.

At the strike aimed at my neck, Jupiter’s sword slowly rises, blocking the path.

A movement to protect her body.

Now is the time.

I shook the Nodachi in my hand greatly and twisted my body.

Keugagak-!

The blade of the katana and the blade of the sword interlock, creating a rough sound.

At that moment, the blade of the katana, which was moving along the sword’s blade, bent greatly and cut Jupiter’s nape.

Seogeok-!

The wound wasn’t deep because only the slightly bent blade touched it.

But it was enough of a strike to surprise Jupiter.

“Heuat…!”

At that moment, Jupiter’s pupils began to shrink.

Her quickly moving gaze scans my entire body.

At that moment, Jupiter’s atmosphere changed.

The flustered expression disappeared, and calmness settled on her face.

The moment I recognized that fact, a silver slash flew in from outside my field of vision.

The reaction was slightly delayed. I quickly dodged, but the slash grazed the end of my cheek.

Swish-!

Along with a stinging sensation, red blood droplets slowly fly before my eyes.

How long have I waited to meet again?

I’ve been waiting for this moment. You who reached a different time.

You who overwhelmed me even for a moment.

I had been waiting for this situation to come again.

1 second.

That short time is split.

In that time that has been torn to shreds, I meet Jupiter’s gaze.

Gazes entangled in the air.

Beyond that, the mental battle with Jupiter begins.

In the slowed time, we predict and block each other’s attacks.

During that fleeting time, we exchange meaningless moves.

The body still doesn’t move.

Only the thought is accelerating, adding a transparent afterimage.

Even the sound has disappeared. A realm of nothingness where nothing is felt.

Only Jupiter’s mind and my mind are moving.

The sensation was so faint that I even forgot that I had a weapon in my hand.

At that moment, the mental battle ended.

Both sides have decided on the next move to make.

The slowed time begins to return to normal.

The disappeared sensation returns.

Feeling that, I swung the Nodachi in my hand.

Seugageuk-!

As if we had practiced it beforehand, Jupiter’s sword and my katana moved towards each other like magnets attached together.

Tang-! Taang-!

Kaang-!

Taang-!

Kaaang-!

It was when we had exchanged a total of 7 attacks like that.

The vision gradually became tinged with red, and the body began to feel heavy.

Stamina depletion.

If I try to move forcibly, it will come back with a greater reaction and I won’t be able to move for a long time.

“Haa… Haa…”

I catch my breath and support myself on my knees.

The Nodachi in my hand has fallen to the ground and is being dragged along.

Like me, Jupiter was also panting.

“Hik… Hik… H-how…”

Jupiter, panting, looked at me with an unbelievable expression.

“N-no way… You too, have unblockable attacks…”