Chapter 320: Reorganization (5)

Chapter
320: Reorganization (5)

Kaaaaang—!

The
gauntlet and giant axe collided, creating a sharp explosive sound.

Small
sparks and a gust of wind rushed through the eye holes of the helmet.

From
that first clash, I couldn’t hide the corners of my mouth turning up.

‘Idelbert
is wearing gauntlets.’

Until
now, Idelbert hadn’t used her weaponry in our sparring matches.

Her
body, trained like steel, was a weapon in itself, but she hadn’t
wielded the actual weapons she used against “real enemies”
against me.

But
now, she was facing me wearing the gauntlets she had used to hunt
Jealousy Worshipers.

This
was proof that I had surpassed the level where she could face me
barehanded.

Feeling
a small joy at having drawn out Idelbert’s true strength, I tilted my
head to the right.

Whoosh!

A
fierce gust of wind tore through where my face had just been.

I
wished she would go a little easier, but that wouldn’t make for
proper sparring.

I
too had to face her seriously.

Whoom!
Whooom!

At
a glance, it looked like light jabs being thrown, but the power
contained within was extraordinary.

The
wind pressure following each strike felt like being cut by a blade
just from grazing the skin.

Once
a close-quarters fighter was allowed to approach, the long reach of
the giant axe became a weakness.

The
basics of combat are minimizing your weaknesses and maximizing your
strengths.

Fwap!

I
pulled my body back to widen the distance from Idelbert, but…

“Where
do you think you’re running off to?”

Idelbert
wasn’t one to just stand by and watch.

As
Idelbert closed the distance between our bodies with the force of
someone about to ravish their disciple, about to throw another punch,
I raised my foot towards her fist.

I
stared intently at the fist coming towards my solar plexus.

‘My
condition is good.’

Even
without using [Blessing of Judgment Time], everything around me
seemed to move slowly.

The
conversations, breaths, and atmosphere of the people who couldn’t
take their eyes off our battle despite being startled by the sudden
sparring match.

The
killing intent flowing from Idelbert’s fist as it dug deep into my
solar plexus.

My
right foot, extended to block her strike.

Flinch.

Even
Idelbert’s slight hesitation at that move.

All
of it flowed leisurely in a single breath.

Just
before Idelbert’s gauntlet and the sole of my foot made contact.

Wooong—

Mana
drawn from my heart enveloped my flat shoe, transforming into mana
armor.

My
Technique stat, currently the highest of my abilities, helped me
utilize not only my body and mana, but even reverse the opponent’s
strength.

Idelbert’s
fist was blocked by my kick before reaching its impact point, but its
momentum remained.

The
impact, neither too strong nor too weak, was neutralized by the mana
armor and pushed my body further away.

The
distance created was about 2 meters.

This
gap, this moment, was exactly the timing I had been waiting for.

Swoosh!

The
giant axe I swung in a semicircle from behind my back fell instantly
towards Idelbert’s crown.

Idelbert
grinned as she faced the sword energy sharply raised on that axe
blade.

Fwoop!

Whether
it should be called fortunate, regrettable… or shocking.

Idelbert
raised her gauntlet above her head, grabbing the axe blade with her
muscles and stopping its advance.

Red
blood trickled down from the edge of the severed gauntlet.

Idelbert
had defended against my strike at the cost of her own arm, even when
I had aimed for the optimal timing.

The
sword energy had cut through Idelbert’s gauntlet and half-embedded
itself in the smooth arm beneath, but failed to behead her.

The
grip of the muscles holding the axe blade was so strong that no
matter how much force I applied, the axe wouldn’t budge.

‘Where
does such monstrous strength come from in that slender body?’

Shaking
my head, I released the axe handle.

“Today
is also my defeat—”

“Today,
I lost.”

Interrupting
my words, Idelbert nodded with eyes full of satisfaction and
excitement.

I
tilted my head in confusion at that sight.

“Pardon?”

“Why
do you look like that?”

“You’re
saying it’s my victory?”

“…Are
you trying to properly deceive me by claiming this is your first win?
Look at my current state.”

I
examined Idelbert’s appearance once again.

One
gauntlet had been cut off by the sword energy, and her arm had nearly
been severed in half… but Idelbert still had strength left.

‘If
this had been a real battle?’

Idelbert
would have sacrificed her arm, pulled me in while I helplessly
gripped the axe having lost control of my weapon, and pierced my
heart with her fist.

And
then she would have calmly poured a potion on her severed arm and
waited for it to heal.

Only
after running the simulation in my head did I realize.

That
what I had thought of was the most ideal move for Idelbert.

‘Just
as Idelbert had strength left, I too had strength remaining.’

If
this battle had continued to the end, who would have been standing at
that end?

“My
praiseworthy disciple.”

Pat
pat. Rub rub.

Idelbert
rubbed my cheeks with her cat tail.

“This
victory is worth a hundred cat tail praise stamps.”

***

Those
who witnessed Balkan and Idelbert’s sparring match spoke about what
they had seen with their mouths agape.

“What
exactly did we just see?”

“Honestly,
I couldn’t see it properly. It was over in the blink of an eye…”

“…Did
the Union Leader really lose? For real?”

Within
their common sense, the battle just now was truly unbelievable.

Despite
the presence of many royal knights and even guards, few had properly
captured that high-speed battle with their eyes.

It
was proof that each of their exchanges was powerful enough to
slaughter even fairly skilled knights before they could even perceive
it.

“…How
is something like that even possible?”

“That
person is the rumored Knight of Light, right? I think I saw light
armor appear and disappear for a moment when blocking the gauntlet

earlier…”

“I
guess that’s the skill befitting a knight who protected the
princess?”

“I
thought it was just luck when they said he blocked the Wrath Demon
Worshiper’s strike, but it seems his fame isn’t just for show…”

Those
who witnessed the rumored figure who had protected the princess
expressed their amazement at skills surpassing the spread rumors.

“It’s
just sparring after all. Why make such a fuss?”

“Right.
And they’re in a master-disciple relationship. A vulgar adventurer
who makes a living in the Labyrinth. They might be trying to
establish dominance over us royal knights by showing off their
strength…”

Some
sent envy and jealousy towards martial prowess far beyond their
expectations, but…

“So,
can any of you withstand even one exchange of those blows you just
saw, even in a formal sparring match?”

“…W-well,
that’s…”

“We
are knights who serve the king and are the face of the royal family.

Swallow
your ugly emotions and look only at reality. There’s nothing good
that will come from badmouthing the Union Leader, her disciple, or
the Adventurers’ Union.”

“……”

Their
mouths were shut by their own comrades.

Balkan
looked down at that noisy scene from the temporary infirmary building
attached to the Outlaw Zone camp.

And
while drawing up divine power, he asked Idelbert:

“It
seems to have gotten too rowdy.”

Idelbert,
who could now skillfully handle the received miracle of healing,
smirked.

“If
you’re jealous, come at me.”

“What
if I don’t heal your arm? How will you face me then?”

“If
my foolish disciple commits the unfilial act of cutting his master’s
arm and coldly leaves, wouldn’t I close off my heart and commit
suicide in the Labyrinth?”

“…Why
are you saying such chilling things?”

“It
means never betray me in the future.”

Thud.

Idelbert,
leaning her soft body against him as if tired, muttered quietly.

“…How
did things go with that succubus?”

“Were
you curious about that?”

“…Hmph.
No matter how I think about it, the reason I lost this time is
because I couldn’t sleep.”

Only
then did Idelbert’s eyes, which looked more languid than usual, come
into view as she clicked her tongue.

The
faint dark circles under eyes that seemed more drowsy than usual.

‘Idelbert
went up to the surface without even seeing me rescued.’

Though
she said this and that, was she so worried inside that she couldn’t
sleep?

“You
already know everything from the smell, even if I don’t say
anything.”

“…Still,
I want to hear the result from my disciple’s own mouth.”

Idelbert
muttered in an anxious voice, perhaps worried that the male she
cherished might have received a harsh lesson from another female.

Seeing
Idelbert like that, something ticklish welled up inside.

“…Master,
you really do have cute sides too.”

Bang!

Unable
to hold back and speaking his true feelings, Idelbert’s cat tail
slapped the floor hard.

As
he silently looked down at Idelbert, her reddened earlobes caught his
eye.

“…You
crazy disciple. Don’t get arrogant just because you finally won once
in a sparring match with your master. Keep striving forward.”

Idelbert,
who had hurriedly muttered, absolutely refused to show her face.

…Though
he could roughly guess what kind of expression she was making right
now.

As
he smiled slightly while imagining that sight…

“Master!
Master!”

Denshi,
who had been standing guard outside the door, called out urgently.

“What’s
the matter?”

“Well,
some kid keeps saying nonsense about being a princess—”

“Nngh—!
Mmph!”

“Tsk.
Stop struggling, kid. This isn’t a place for children.”

“Nngh,
mmph!”

At
the faint groans heard from outside, Balkan, who had been sitting on
the bed, jumped up and ran out the door.

Bang!

And
there…

“Nngh,
mmph!”

Was
a blonde, green-eyed girl struggling with her mouth covered by
Denshi.

“…Uh…”

Seeing
Balkan’s face frozen in shock, Denshi blankly looked down at the girl
whose mouth was covered by his hand.

Pwaah!!!

“I
told you! Huff… already!”

The
girl… the 2nd princess Celsia, who had finally regained her freedom
after being released, shouted with her cheeks puffed up.

“I’m
not a kid!”