episode_0008

“Lies.”

“Does it make sense to swing that sword without even drawing mana in the first place?”

“Hey Bren! Throw the sword!”

“Uh, okay.”

“Wait. The moment the sword was cut, the match was already over…”

“Huh. You didn’t mention such rules. I don’t know what tricks the playwright Yeongsik used, but this time, we won’t let our guard down.”

Sabi wielded a thicker and heavier sword than before. He responded to Selina’s words with a face full of determination and rushed forward.

“Haah!!”

Although it seemed like he was swinging carelessly in anger, a standardized swordsmanship was evident.

He tried to dodge the charging bull-like figure coming towards him, but for some reason, something grabbed his ankle.

Turning his head back, one of Sabi’s subordinates was smiling slyly, exhaling mana.

“The empty swordsmanship of your family is now over. If you apologize in front of everyone now, you won’t get hurt.”

“Don’t bring up the family.”

“You’re saying that because you lack confidence in your family! A mere unknown playwright like Yeongsik. It’s clear what level your family is at. Just staying at the level of a mere playwright.”

Aria’s temper flared at the provocation.

“Stop.”

“Isn’t that right? If you have the ability, prove it. Don’t hide forever.”

Hiding forever. Thinking about Aria, who was getting tired from dealing with the constant attacks from the horses and barbarians in the north, made him even angrier.

“You, you know nothing.”

“And you don’t know your own subject either.”

As if signaling the end of the conversation, Sabi swung down his large sword.

Engulfed in anger, the sound of his heartbeat was louder than ever before.

Like a locomotive engine, his heart was heating up intensely.

On the other hand, his mind was unusually cold.

In a state of deep immersion from sword training, everything seemed to move slower than ever before.

Each strand of hair on Sabi’s head as he swung the sword. Selina cheering as if encouraging him. The Crown Prince looking relieved as if clearing away tangled thoughts.

He focused all his attention on the descending sword.

If the opponent strikes with greater force than me, I will just block it.

He lifted it.

Like the fountain he saw on Christmas day. Like the fountain where everyone passing by silently granted wishes.

He placed his wish here.

“What? The flow of the sword is weakening.”

“Hey! Apply more pressure!”

“Continue with your dirty tricks until the end.”

“Hmph. What are you talking about? I’m just releasing my energy.”

“Alright. Keep doing that. So I can strike without any guilt.”

Thud!!

“Uh..?”

“Aaargh!!”

Sabi clutched his arm that held the sword and rolled on the ground.

“Get up. It’s not over yet.”

“W-wait…”

The distorted faces of Sabi and the Crown Prince. With a desire for their expressions to distort even more, he continued to attack, preventing them from surrendering.

“Enough!”

“No, be quiet.”

“We might die at this rate…”

“Stop, please stop!”

Despite Fril Youngae shouting to stop, the rule was to continue the duel until one person faints or surrenders.

“The duel is not over.”

“Right, Princess Fril. Keep watching.”

The Crown Prince looked back with a smile as if asking when her expression broke.

“Aaargh!!”

“Oh no. Sabi Yeongsik seems very angry. Be careful, Kidney Yeongsik.”

He rushed forward like a madman, his body enlarged by 50% more than usual.

“Ugh!”

It felt like facing a giant monster.

“A monster..?”

Looking closely in disbelief, there was something strange attached to Sabi’s neck.

The Crown Prince looked at it with a planned expression.

“Die!!! How dare you disgrace me!!”

With a speed and strength that required urgent defense, my arms were shredded trying to block the attack.

“Wait, at this rate, I’ll really die. Stop everyone!!”

Selina shouted loudly, but Sabi did not seem to hear and continued his attack without stopping. No, it was something beyond the appearance of Sabi.

The face turning redder and the veins thickening gradually

Feeling that something is changing, one must move past personal emotions and finish quickly.

“Wait, you, this is strange!”

“Ha. Are you trying to talk now that you’ve exhausted your moves?”

“No, really! Look at your body!”

“Are you going to attack me while talking? Your effort is imaginary, and your idea is weak.”

Ignoring any words, Sabi continued to run towards them. Meanwhile, their body and strength grew larger, causing the clothes to flutter just from the pressure coming from afar.

If I dodge that rush, many, including Selina behind me, will get hurt.

**

There was a passage I read in Musal. It consisted of a dialogue between the protagonist and the master:

“The most basic thing when cutting something is the step forward. Stepping forward with one foot and extending the sword using that force. That is the basis of cutting.”

“Then strength must be the most important!”

“Wrong. It’s elasticity. The ability to bounce back after receiving something is more important than the force used to receive it.”

“So, how do you increase elasticity?”

“Where do you think the largest muscle in our body is?”

“Um… Back muscles?”

“No. The correct answer is the gluteus maximus, the buttock muscle. That’s why training the lower body is the basis of walking and cutting.”

“Oh! So that’s why you slap my cheeks every time I make a mistake!”

“Is that so?”

**

Focus on the lower body, especially posture.

After assuming the motorcycle stance, bending the lower body and straightening the waist,

They step forward towards the approaching Sabi,

Swinging the left leg widely, cutting through the air.

In the blink of an eye, they imagine cutting down an opponent who has reached as close as the tip of their nose.

Like sweeping away thousands of troops at once.

“Sweeping a thousand troops horizontally.”

**

“Ha… ha… Is this all…”

“Your Highness, the duel seems to be over. If we don’t hurry to clean up, both could be in danger.”

Everyone looks at the prince with expectant eyes, waiting for him to declare the winner.

With Sabi lying on the ground, his sword split in half again, and Kidney breathing heavily, leaning on the sword,

“Yes, the winner of this duel is Kidney Yeongsik!”

Wow!!!

As thunderous cheers erupt, everyone celebrates while Selina rushes towards me.

“You, you!! You were in danger!”

“Ouch, stop it, Selina!”

“Do you have any idea how worried I was? You need to be scolded!”

Selina glares at me with a look of anger, her hair and face flushed with rage.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“You! Well… you didn’t come back unscathed, but I forgive you for winning and coming back.”

“Uh… I’m sorry because of you.”

“It’s not because of you, Regina. Sabi challenged me because of me, and regardless of the outcome, I accepted the challenge. It was my fight.”

“That’s right! You danced with that kid earlier! Without me!! While I was busy introducing David to the girls!”

“Haha…”

“A kid…”

Apple Yeongae, who won a verbal battle against two opponents simultaneously. If she grows a bit more, she might become a skilled orator.

“Selina, I’m starting to feel tired now…”

“Huh? Let’s go back to the carriage quickly!”

“Wait, we should say goodbye before leaving.”

“Yes, let’s greet Frill Yeongae and the prince and then leave quickly.”

“No. Say goodbye here with Regina.”

“Huh?”

***

“It’s been quite a strange day today, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, but… I feel like I’ll never forget today.”

“I said I would make sure you don’t forget earlier.”

“Really. Yes!”

“I’m planning to go to the academy like you said. I felt that I still lack a lot. Like swordsmanship, or politics.”

“I want to go to the academy too!”

“Oh. Then I’ll see you there.”

“Yes! Please wait a little!”

Regina, who now looks significantly different from when they first met, gazes at me with sparkling eyes.

“Okay. I’ll go learn first, you can come slowly.”

“It won’t take long… Just wait a bit. This time, I’ll come pick you up.”

“This time?”

“Yeah. It feels like we’ve just met. The magician who enchanted me.”

“Huh. I may be from a family of magicians, but I can only use basic elemental magic.”

“But you cast the most powerful spell on me.”

“Oh? Seems like I have a talent I didn’t know about.”

“You cast a spell so recklessly… Do you have to take responsibility for it?”

Regina blushes like a child or a girl hiding a bouquet of flowers, smiling shyly. It might change faster and more positively than expected.

“Okay. Let’s see each other in a better light next time.”

***

“Well, I’ll go to the territory first now. I’m truly sorry if I caused any trouble at this gathering.”

“Hey, you! Did you do something weird to Regina?”

Frillyoungae glares suspiciously at me. For a moment, her gaze seemed to hold some concern.

Maybe their relationship isn’t as bad as initially thought.

“I don’t know. Maybe I cast a spell.”

“What are you talking about! Stop!”

As she speaks and turns to leave, Youngae rushes towards me, her long hair fluttering behind her.

“Hey, um… Thanks to you, Regina seems a little brighter. Just a little bit!”

Not sure what she means, I look at her, and she continues speaking.

“So, um… Thank you! It’s easier to ask favors now because of you! If I keep seeing gloomy faces all the time, my mood worsens for no reason! Yeah yeah!”

Her inability to be honest made me burst into laughter as if I were seeing someone’s first appearance.

“Why are you laughing!!”

“Yes. Let’s meet again at the academy.”

“Hmph. Fine then.”

The first social event might not have been as bad as anticipated.