episode_0019

Time flowed on and on…

Not much time had passed.

Since I secured my first victory, the match was over in an instant.

Thud! Clang-

“Argh…!”

A swift kick from Kyle aimed at exploiting a gap struck my wrist, causing me to lose grip of my sword.

121 matches, 18 wins, 103 losses.

Whoosh- Thud!

“Another win.”

After deflecting Kyle’s arm and pointing my sword at his throat,

150 matches, 45 wins, 105 losses.

186 matches, 76 wins, 110 losses.

200 matches, 80 wins, 120 losses.

·

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Winning, losing, then winning again. I continued sparring with Kyle to uphold my words.

One might call it stubbornness, but he started it first.

“Huuh… Haa!! Let’s go again.”

No stray thoughts crossed my mind.

Now, all I focused on was how to approach the figure in front of me to land effective strikes while conserving energy.

Slashing, thrusting, blocking, dodging, counterattacking, striking techniques, grappling.

I employed every means possible.

As I adapted to his sword, he, too, adapted to the persona that is ‘me.’

The more we sparred, the harder it became to win.

Fortunately, each time I lost in our bouts, he exhibited unfamiliar actions, which served as feedback.

When his sword grazed my leg,

He pushed away my arm with his free hand instead of the one holding the sword.

He deflected my sword with his shoulder guard and then struck my head.

In this stance, I should bend my leg a bit more.

Here, I must extend my arm straight.

Always keep your head defensively positioned.

Kyle provided feedback on why I lost each time we dueled.

Couldn’t he explain a bit more easily? Instead, I pondered over what I did wrong and luckily stumbled upon it.

Regardless, thanks to this, my swordsmanship proficiency skyrocketed compared to before arriving here.

I could guarantee a 100% win rate against my past self from just a day ago.

Whack! Swish!

“Ugh…!”

Wait, hold on, that hit the bone.

He immediately struck me, barely allowing any thoughts about the ruthless boss.

Focus again.

Observations about each other were done.

Now, it’s not about finding gaps but creating them.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Swish. Avoid what can be avoided and block what must be blocked.

Half-hearted attempts will all get thwarted, leading to being countered.

That won’t do. How did I recover my win rate?

I need to create openings.

How?

If I can’t create openings myself, I must make him create them.

One move to dismantle the moves he has built up.

Boom!

Dodging the diagonal slash coming down from above, I shift towards his side.

As if it were obvious, he swings his sword in a crescent motion towards me.

Should I block? If I do, he might grab me with his free hand.

Should I dodge? If I do, he’ll abandon his sword and grapple me.

I parry.

Drawing a crescent, I lean into the direction of his approaching sword.

Simultaneously rotating my body, I raise my foot and deliver a spinning kick to his torso.

Crash!

Kyle steps back, distancing himself, his armor showing signs of wear from our repeated sparring, no longer functioning at its peak.

Find another way.

How can I break through his defense here?

Non-Sword – Dragon’s Fall

Dragon’s Fall, now quite easy to handle. As I unleash the strike towards him, Kyle counters with a matching technique.

Roar!!

The clash and explosion of strikes.

“····!!”

Through a brief distraction, I reach Kyle’s side.

He may have anticipated my move, but I hold the initiative on when to strike.

Switching to a stance for interception is the only path to victory I desired.

I appear from Kyle’s side and swing my sword.

[Middle Sword – Splitting Mount Tai]

Kwaaang! Kyle quickly turns around, blocking the sword aimed at him with the blade.

If Kyle had retaliated, it would have been a strategy where I, with low defense, would have been the one to suffer.

Focusing on defense allowed me to make this choice.

“Well, block it… and show yourself!!!”

At that moment, I released the grip on the sword in my hand.

Swinging – as I let go of the sword, Kyle’s hand also descends smoothly.

Crunch – Clang.

Stepping on his right foot, grabbing his shoulder with my left hand. Balancing my weight on his shoulder and elbow, I hold his right hand.

With only my right arm able to move.

It’s enough.

Grrrk –

Squeezing my right hand, I pull my arm back as if drawing a bowstring.

“Checkmate.”

Kyle Style Martial Arts –

[Crush]

Kwaaaang!!!!

A clean hit.

A fist-shaped mark is visible on his armor.

After taking the blow, Kyle is pushed back for a while, barely managing to stand up.

Clang, clang. Clatter –

“Phew… haa… ha… It’s really tough… Ha!! With this, it’s 279 matches, 139 wins, 139 losses, 1 draw. Barely caught up!!! Uwaaaaa!!!!!!!!”

I pick up Kyle’s sword and throw it back to him, shouting.

The draw occurred when, after about 240 rounds of sparring, we pointed our swords at each other’s necks.

“Phew! Now, whether it’s you or me, it seems like we’re nearing the end. How about this for the final round?”

“… .”

Yes, we’re reaching our limits now.

Both me and Kyle.

Physically exhausted, hands trembling so much that it’s difficult to hold the sword.

His armor is so damaged that it’s almost beyond recognition as armor.

Even now, fragments are falling from his armor.

“Without holding back, let’s deliver our strongest blows to each other. Let’s settle this with that.”

The end of this fight –

Clack –

Whether it’s a positive response or a signal to start quickly, it’s clear that it’s preparing for the end.

From a distance of 30 steps, we both assume our stances.

Swoosh – Clack –

And then, we prepare our strongest attacks against each other.

A sword without form.

The shape of the sword is not fixed.

Just as the heart desires.

A sword that cuts along the intention from where it touches to the direction it aims.

Kyle Style Swordsmanship –

[Dragon Hunt]

Kwaang!!!

Advancing so strongly that the ground shatters.

Kyle, too, does not just stand by and watch.

[Dragon Hunt]

Kwaang!!!

Same swordsmanship, same technique as the opponent.

Kyle has the advantage in skill.

In terms of skill alone, it’s clear that Kyle has the upper hand.

If it continues like this, it’s certain that I will be defeated.

…Really?

Naturally, in identical swords and techniques, the difference in skill determines the outcome.

So, am I really lagging behind Kyle in mana manipulation?

Apart from Kyle, known as the strongest swordsman of the empire,

There was one man who had reached the pinnacle of an era, perhaps even until now, excluding Kyle, who was called the strongest swordsman of the empire.

A sword that reaches out as the heart desires, cutting even dragons.

In it lies Kyle’s determination to protect the empire by toppling dragons.

Protection.

Unbeknownst to Kyle, there was a single will embedded in his sword.

A power that unconsciously manifests strongly while handling mana.

There is a significant difference in power between knowing and unknowingly wielding it.

Kyle’s sword reveals the form of the sun, protecting the empire.

To the empire, like a warm sunshine; to enemies, like a merciless sun that burns everything.

It clearly contained the protection of the empire.

‘Protector of the empire, Kyle, you truly deserve to be respected as a knight.’

But I need that power too.

Not for the empire, but for the world I must protect.

Roar!!!

“…!!”

The mana of Kyle, resembling a sun that could burn anything, is devoured.

A more massive, white mana envelops the room they are in.

If your sword exists to protect the empire,

My sword exists to protect the world I live in.

If you are called a hero in your world,

It must be you, Kyle.

And now,

Kyle, I think I understand why you are doing this.

Kyle’s Swordsmanship―

Dragon Hunting Revised―

[Hero]

“It’s over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

In a ruin located somewhere, there lies a hidden dungeon.

This dungeon is a cave separated from another dimension of a different world.

One might say the owner of the cave, at its deepest point, is the commander of the empire’s knights and his lord.

However, his lord has passed away, and as his lord’s knight, he dedicated himself to keeping even his soul restless.

Such days made him reflect on his past, allowing feelings of regret to seep little by little into his heart.

The self-blame for not protecting his lord remains, but now directed towards his comrades in the new knighthood he belongs to.

Despite always saying unpleasant things, his fellow knights would approach him.

They never asked for anything in return, nor did they seek praise, yet they always smiled.

Being with them was always an honor.

Every time he heard those words, a corner of his heart pricked.

What is this feeling, he wondered.

Realizing these emotions only came when they all died, including himself becoming a spirit, he understood.

But perhaps it was too late to realize, unable to convey his thoughts to anyone, even if he wanted to.

Thus, his emotions dried up again, endlessly guarding his lord’s tomb…

Clank-!! Clunk clunk.

“·····Vazes Kyle.”

Someone opened the door to the room where his lord slept.

An intruder? If it was an intruder, they would be eliminated.

A boy who had just finished growing up, yet still carried a hint of youthfulness, stood before him without fear, readying his sword against Kyle’s.

Clang-

A salute ritual showing respect to the opponent before starting a duel, something taught in the knighthood training.

The boy followed suit.

Then he stepped back, mimicking the formal stance taught in the knighthood.

Ah, found it.

You know about that, are you a newcomer?

Our sword, has it been passed down continuously?

If you are a newcomer, I am truly sorry.

I couldn’t say anything due to my current state.

I wanted to say something to you, to everyone, to my lord.

I’m sorry, forgive me.

Thank you all. I am truly grateful.

Being with you was an honor.

Though silent, maybe a cry can be conveyed, but one thing can be done.

Raise your sword, for that’s all your present self can do.

·····

Thud- thud thud-

His armor was slashed diagonally.

Inside the cut armor, there was nothing.

The driving force behind the moving armor could be considered his soul.

Click… Click… Clang.

With weary steps, he walked up to the grave where his lord lay asleep.

Then, as if collapsing in front of the grave, he knelt down.

“····.”

Thud thud. Plop.

I also approached him and sat down beside him.

“You, you never intended to kill me from the start, did you?”

“····.”

“You decided to finish it with all your might, releasing your power recklessly.”

“···.”

“I’m sorry. Even if I apologize, you won’t accept it. It doesn’t seem like winning this way.”

That’s right. In the end, Kyle released his grip on the sword.

He was conceding the final victory to me.

“I, I didn’t grow up in your world. Just a regular person who watched over your sword.”

“I’m sorry for learning from you without permission. But I have to become strong.”

“To you who sacrificed your life to protect the empire, just like that, I also have something to protect.”

What am I doing right now, talking to myself alongside the dungeon boss?

Still, for some reason, even though it was a short time, I wanted to confide everything in him, who became my swordsmanship mentor.

Slightly altering the part where I was transmigrated into the game world, I explained our world to him as if looking towards the future.

For a while, I rambled on alone.

“Hmm… I feel somewhat relieved. It’s like a burden has been lifted off me.”

Kyle still gazing at the tombstone.

I, too, raised my head to look at the gravestone.

“This tomb is Kyle’s, my lord’s tomb, isn’t it?”

Clang-

Did he hear me? I felt a slight movement in his helmet.

“The dedication to protect my lord, even binding one’s own soul to this world, is truly admirable.”

“But now, you can stop. You know that.”

This place is no longer the world he lived in.

A dungeon where the world and dimensions are separated.

Here, there is no one present who opposes the empire.

“Your lord wouldn’t want you to stay here forever.”

“So…, you can sheathe your sword.”

“…”

Thunk. Clatter.

“If the enemies who threatened you appear here, I will protect you then.”

If by chance, those who attacked the empire appear here.

I conveyed to him with determination.

Thunk-

The rigid sensation of gloves coming over my head.

The boss, Kyle, placed his hand on my head.

In less than a second, removing his hand from my head, he gradually began to fade away.

Along with the armor, his figure vanished.

“Though it was a short time…, thank you.”

Farewell, Vazes Kyle.

Farewell, Master.

Swoosh-

280 battles.

139 losses.

139 wins.

2 draws.

Dungeon cleared.