Ch.66EP.18 – Ghoul vs. Ghoul? (4)

Rumble!

The sky was covered with dark clouds, making it seem like rain could pour down at any moment.

However, even if clouds formed and rain fell, it wouldn’t be a problem for the Colosseum.

“We can proceed without issue.”

“With the amount of money invested, a few raindrops won’t matter.”

As long as the holy barrier remained active, no foreign substances could enter its domain.

Unless lightning deliberately struck the Colosseum, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Despite the ominous weather, the battle against the rock troll continued. Though no one showed the same level of miraculous performance as the young lion from the North had earlier, the crowd was still impressed.

“They’re all quite capable.”

“This year has many talented individuals.”

Among the spectators were many retired elderly knights who watched the first-years’ struggles with evident satisfaction.

Although their abilities were still lacking, their potential was undoubtedly as precious as golden eggs.

“Oh, is that the rumored special technique different from the martial arts?”

“It’s a one-time method, but certainly powerful.”

The 18 Bears generally received fresh evaluations.

They demonstrated decent abilities, proving that their victory against the mage in the war game wasn’t just luck.

Some performed better or worse than Barry Cobbs, but they all fought well.

Their unbreakable spirit was admirable.

And after the Bears came the next group.

These were the students whom Ihan had dubbed “Young Masters,” and their evaluation was…

Whoosh!

“Ohhh!”

Admiration mixed with cheers naturally arose.

Of course, those who had learned advanced martial arts would be strong, but they were remarkably skilled for their age.

No, beyond remarkable—they were excellent.

They were already good enough to join a small or medium-sized territory’s knight order, likely securing positions as mid-to-high-ranking knights immediately.

“Impressive. Unlike most youngsters these days, they’ve properly learned the basics.”

“Yes, that’s how it should be done. Taking shortcuts by only training in martial arts isn’t the way. Diligently mastering everything one by one with your best effort is what matters.”

If the 18 Bears were still lacking in many ways and at the level of decent mid-to-high mercenaries with much to learn, these students were like knight apprentices with a purity uncommon among today’s noble youths.

A purity that knew how to work hard straightforwardly without relying on shortcuts.

“Wonderful!”

The elderly knights who had lived during the previous king’s era showed their delight.

They were certain these children would make names for themselves before long.

With such straightforward effort, they would become renowned whether they wanted to or not.

The elderly knights, pleased to see knight trainees demonstrating such honest skills after so long, thought the surprises were over. However, they had to swallow their astonishment at the sight of those who appeared next.

Crack!

Boom!

“…What are those fellows?”

“That’s not first-year level. No, they could already join any knight order of their choosing.”

“So the Lionel young lord wasn’t the only anomaly? Heh…”

The elderly knights expressed both admiration and sighs at the sight of three individuals who were not just overwhelming the rock troll but practically toying with it—three whom they couldn’t confidently say they could defeat even in their prime.

“Kunta, was it? They say the strength of barbarian warriors once scourged the continent, and now I understand why.”

“Is that the grandson of Count Ophen? Heh, as expected of a sword master family. That bloodline remains strong.”

“The Mercenary King, that monster has raised someone exactly like himself in his youth.”

They were far beyond student level.

These were talents who shouldn’t be receiving instruction but should already be knights.

While young people might envy and feel depressed by their brilliant potential, the elderly tend to nod in approval at the vitality of youth.

The old knights had known that the standard of young knights in the royal capital had been declining, but seeing so many excellent seeds among those who would be responsible for the next generation made them feel content.

“Which youngster taught them?”

Yet they were also realistic.

They wondered who among the recent young men could teach children in such a way—thoroughly grounded in basics yet using “un-noble-like methods.”

They couldn’t imagine that a sword instructor from the academy had produced such results, not because they were narrow-minded, but because of the doubt that had formed in a corner of their minds due to the negligence of previous instructors.

As the elderly knights were deep in thought…

“Hmm?”

“…A cute child has appeared?”

“Heh, surely that child isn’t planning to fight now?”

They thought all the first-years had already appeared.

There were female students, but most noble young ladies who earned credits through debate and other subjects usually forfeited the final subject.

But perhaps…

“She’s bold.”

“Heh, she reminds me of Count Ophen in his younger days.”

A female student boldly took the stage.

Levi Pollet drew her sword and stood proudly before the stone monster with her slender body.

* * *

“Whew!”

Levi Pollet’s heart was racing.

At Vulcan, her senior brothers had gained experience hunting wild boars and mutated bears during marches, but as an unskilled and unimpressive Levi, she couldn’t participate in such hunts.

Even in yesterday’s war game, the girl had only given directions, essentially just picking up a fork at a table already set for her.

Yet many people were watching her with strange expectations, making Levi feel perplexed and burdened.

Still.

‘I chose to come here myself.’

So even if she was scared, she couldn’t run away.

Everyone had tried to dissuade her from her choice.

“Aren’t your grades already sufficient from other subjects?” or “There will be other opportunities, so don’t do this.”

There were many who tried to persuade her.

But Levi Pollet humbly accepted all her shortcomings and stood here.

‘I need to prove myself!’

Levi focused only on the cold grip of her rapier, suppressing her trembling.

Wearing light leather armor, the girl gradually brought one hand behind her, slowly extended her front foot, turned her body sideways, and kept her gaze forward.

A sword form that noble children learn as basics.

She took the stance known as the basic posture of fencing or point fencing, firmly gripping her rapier.

[GRR?]

The rock monster lowered its posture, facing an opponent much weaker than expected.

Its presence was so insignificant that it mistook her for a small animal like a rabbit.

But Levi…

“Thanks for underestimating me.”

Whoosh!

She planted her foot in that same stance, and the rapier cut through the air.

A momentary shift in center of gravity using ki and reinforcement of the sword.

And this rapier precisely…

Stab!

[GRR!?]

Stabbed the rock monster’s eye.

She had precisely pierced its tiny pupil.

As the monster writhed in pain and was about to thrash violently, Levi quickly retrieved her rapier and moved to the monster’s left side.

A movement as fluid as flowing water.

It showed how diligently she had practiced basic steps until her feet were raw.

“Huff, huff.”

She bought time to catch her breath.

Fortunately, she had moved to the side where she had stabbed the eye, making it difficult for the monster to spot her.

The rock monster’s only weakness was its narrow field of vision and dim senses.

Levi was precisely targeting the flaws of this artificial monster.

But she couldn’t let her guard down.

Crash!

‘As expected, it’s regenerating.’

The monster, rapidly regenerating with its eye restored to normal, pursued the girl.

Unlike its previous carelessness, it was now filled with rage.

But the girl was clever and knew how to maintain her composure.

As if remembering Arno’s advice.

‘Sir Arno said that if we 108 Arhats maintain a cool perspective and look for opportunities, we can have an excellent match.’

That was right.

Maintaining composure, she could see.

This monster was indeed artificially created.

Compared to wild beasts, it was no different from a model.

However, she wasn’t confident whether she could truly defeat the monster with her weak strength and clumsy swordsmanship.

A small anxiety surged, making her heart tremble again, but…

– Focus!

Flinch!

The instructor’s, her master’s, shout echoing in her mind made her snap to attention.

– The best defense is offense, and the best offense is swinging your sword while looking one step ahead of your opponent. Even that fencing-like swordsmanship that nobles learn as basic etiquette was originally created on the battlefield. So if a swordsman’s capabilities support it, it can be a powerful swordsmanship.

‘Yes, I understand.’

Though it was just a rebuke echoing in her mind, Levi faithfully followed it.

As the instructor said, even if it was clumsy, the swordsmanship she had learned wasn’t entirely weak.

The original name of the fencing source, point fencing, was escrime.

It was a swordsmanship that encompassed both defense and offense, and even now, there were those who were hailed as sword masters by learning only escrime.

– Anyway, the basics of all swordsmanship lie in thrusting, cutting, deflecting, and striking. So remember just one thing: the determination to absolutely pulverize your opponent.

‘Yes, master.’

Whoosh!

Levi was an honor student.

She knew how to remember and practice her master’s teachings.

The girl continued to attack the monster using the same tactics.

Sometimes stabbing the eyes, watching for openings, striking the jaw, neck, and ankles with the blade, then cutting again.

If it seemed dangerous, she would evade and then defend.

The important thing here was to appropriately mix in ki only when executing attacks to amplify their power, but never to use ki for evasion or other movements.

‘I need to conserve my stamina!’

Levi repeatedly responded by observing the monster’s condition and managing her stamina.

After all, it was just an artificial monster with only instincts.

Toying with it was an easy task.

All that was needed was the courage and steadfastness to stand before the monster.

And Levi had…

‘I can do this!’

That courage, steadfastness, and guts.

Although it was merely instilled through her master’s direct instruction, it was a disciple’s duty to practice what was taught, even if it was through rote learning.

So Levi Pollet kept charging in, even when she fell and grew tired, and finally…

Boom…

“Haah, haaah…!”

39 minutes and 59 seconds.

That was the time it took for the girl to be the first, and the only one, to defeat the monster alone.

* * *

“……..”

Silence fell.

Surprise gradually enveloped the surroundings as no one had predicted Levi’s victory.

It wasn’t just her peers; everyone watching the stage had not anticipated this situation.

Although her victory was merely due to the monster’s blood power being exhausted and it collapsing on its own, no one made a biased assessment.

After all, even the most foolish wouldn’t belittle a swordsman who had given their all and was in tatters.

“That kid is amazing, isn’t she, young lord?”

“Y-yes, she’s brave. She definitely has talent.”

“Little bear, weak body but good head. And has a warrior’s heart. That’s why she won.”

“A warrior’s heart?”

“In our tribe, we always respected those with a warrior’s heart, even if they lacked talent. People with warrior’s hearts always became great warriors.”

Physique, talent, ability, and so on.

If one has these, learning will surely be faster, but that doesn’t mean they will become true warriors in the meaningful sense.

Few can actually perform excellent swordsmanship on the stage of real combat.

In that sense, Levi Pollet was admirable.

She undoubtedly had a warrior’s heart, a brave will.

Hence, the praise Kunta just uttered was the highest compliment a barbarian could give to others.

“Little bear will become strong. Maybe even stronger than Kunta.”

“…You mean I shouldn’t be complacent just because I’m stronger than her right now. I understand well.”

The bravery shown by the girl was more valuable than the sword energy Roen had displayed earlier.

Everyone watched the girl with serious expressions, and gradually, cheers poured out for her.

Although it took her longer than anyone else, it was an honorable and excellent—yes, a brave knight’s duel, to say the least.

She deserved the cheers.

“Ah…”

Still panting and with her entire body slumped, Levi’s head involuntarily lifted at the enthusiastic cheers directed at her.

‘What just happened?’

It still didn’t feel real.

She had merely swung her rapier in a trance-like state, repeatedly stabbing and retreating like a coward.

But at some point, the monster stopped moving, and she also collapsed.

So it didn’t feel real.

She couldn’t believe she had truly defeated that monster, or how she had managed to stand against a creature ten times her size.

Her mind felt like a blank sheet.

But the sound of applause, the fervent cheers for her, forcibly brought her back to reality.

“I… I won…”

She had won.

The first victory of her life, achieved entirely on her own.

…Gulp!

Levi Pollet’s eyes welled up with tears.

How could she express this overwhelming emotion?

Achievement and thrill—even these two words would struggle to express all the emotions she was feeling right now.

And she realized.

Here, at this moment. She had truly broken the shell that had encased her.

She had become a swordsman in the truest sense.

“Ahhhhh!”

The girl, overjoyed, spread her arms wide and raised them high to the sky, letting out a howl-like shout.

-Waaaa!!

The spectators watching her thought she was performing a victory celebration and looked on with contentment.

What excellent showmanship.

It was a misunderstanding, and later, when Levi came to her senses, it would become a dark history that would make her kick off her blanket in shame whenever she tried to sleep, but right now, she didn’t care about anything.

She was just expressing her joy with a roar.

As she looked up at the sky, pouring out her joy, Levi—

“—Huh?”

—immediately turned pale.

Whoosh!

……What is that?

Staring blankly at it, Levi Pollet was momentarily dazed, but only briefly.

Shiver!

An inexplicable chill rose, and fear struck the girl.

Rumble-!

Dark clouds.

The dark clouds that had been looking down on the ground suddenly began to rotate dynamically.

The clouds, forming a circle like a whirlwind, gradually widened in the central part.

“What is that…?”

“……”

Starting with Levi’s reaction, more and more people began to discern the ominous movement of the dark clouds. Without anyone taking the lead, everyone who looked up at the sky saw the same sight and felt the same chill.

The center of the dark clouds, resembling pitch-black, instilling deep fear.

And from within that dark space.

Swoosh!!

A [Giant’s Hand] appeared.

“!!!!?”

…People couldn’t even scream.

A mysterious arm that suddenly appeared.

It was too large and too terrifying.

It was frightening and robbed even the will to flee.

The appearance of an entity that was impossible to resist, making even escape impossible, sometimes paralyzes even a person’s survival instinct.

“R-run…”

Levi Pollet, who had urgently risen, wanted to shout for everyone to run away, but her voice wouldn’t come out properly.

She was already in a state where all her stamina was depleted, and now a monster of that size was falling from the sky.

Although it was emerging slowly, the ominousness emanating from the monster’s arm made it impossible for her to move.

Fear.

An aura naturally emitted by large predators and monsters.

It naturally instills fear in living beings and paralyzes their bodies.

As a fragile human, she couldn’t even think of standing against it.

Death is approaching.

That was the only thought people could have right now, and they didn’t even see their lives flashing before their eyes.

Only the darkening shadow, which grew deeper as the arm approached, covered them.

Drip.

“Ah…”

Levi found tears streaming down her face at some point.

In the face of the fear of death, against which one couldn’t even resist, people could only shed tears helplessly, and Levi lowered her head.

The day of victory, which she had considered the best moment of her life.

It took only a moment for that day of victory to be tinged with despair, and she felt emptiness and sadness.

…But why.

Shing.

“Why am I still holding my sword?”

In what might be the last moment of her life, Levi discovered herself still drawing her sword and wanted to find an answer to her question.

Why was she drawing her sword?

……The girl was curious.

“—That’s called struggling, and there’s no reason why people struggle to live, little bear.”

“!!”

An answer to her question was heard, and Levi suddenly widened her eyes and looked in the direction of the voice.

There was…

“Still, I’ll praise you for holding onto your sword until the end. I’ll give you extra points, Student Levi Pollet.”

“Ah!!”

The most reliable master the girl knew in the continent was there, and Levi unconsciously felt relieved and cried again.

Tears of relief, different from the tears of despair just moments ago.

“A grown girl crying like that.”

He scolded the crying girl but still smiled warmly at her.

Feeling proud of the girl who hadn’t given up until the end.

But this was only for a moment.

As he looked up at the sky…

“—Did you make our little bear cry?”

Ihan growled and strongly kicked the 600kg wooden spear that his telekinesis slave had lifted into the air.

Thud-!

With all his might.

-Penetrating Sun Spear.

Though it might not pierce the sun, this ballista, which could easily pierce a castle wall, was shot towards the sky.