episode_0098

As the training continued,

the promised time drew nearer.

Now, with only 12 hours left until the duel,

I stayed up all night, pushing my body to the limit, even forcing mana into my stiff magic circuits that I hadn’t used before.

Finally,

a significant change occurred.

“Oh, damn. My wrist popped out.”

Of course, it wasn’t a positive change.

My wrist bone popped out, causing it to dangle.

This was already the third time.

Even if I popped it back in, it would easily pop out again after a few sword swings.

Not only my wrist, but my whole body was screaming in agony.

Even with Mijeong by my side activating the Guardian Knight mode, allowing me to move tirelessly for a week without rest,

my body’s durability couldn’t keep up with my stamina.

So, have I learned anything while my body is in this state?

“What the hell am I doing…”

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

For two days straight, I pondered and analyzed the concept of ‘expanding the range of attack’ tirelessly.

I focused all my nerves on the tip of my sword, exerting all my effort to detect subtle changes.

But in the end, I gained nothing.

My sword still just cut through the air, creating a breeze without any sharpness or power like the blades of Trancilvia.

“What’s different…”

After two days of swinging my sword, there was a slight change in my swordsmanship.

The forms and postures of my swings had subtly, very subtly, changed.

Considering how my body had been completely wrecked, it would be strange if nothing changed.

It was truly a meaningless level of change.

It wasn’t like suddenly feeling strange sensations that weren’t there before or gaining enlightenment like in a martial arts novel.

“Damn. My wrist won’t go back in.”

Twist, twist.

Forcing my wrist joint back in.

I glanced at a corner of the warehouse.

Sure enough, Trancilvia was still sitting there, watching me silently.

Just like the first day, without any movement like a statue.

Just sitting there, doing nothing.

She didn’t comment on my sword swings or point out anything I did well.

If I asked her anything, she would subtly avoid giving a direct answer and just pressure me to continue.

She kept saying she wouldn’t interfere, so I should figure it out on my own…

It’s frustrating.

At least she should give me some direction.

What kind of master is she?

Let’s see what I can learn from Trancilvia again.

“Show me your hand.”

“Ow.”

Mijeong came over and started twisting my wrist in all directions.

I thought he was trying to break my hand, but after a while, I started to feel relief as my wrist began to function properly again.

“Hah.”

Maybe he’s an expert at resetting bones because he’s a corpse monster.

He made a sound like he was asking for praise, tilting his head.

I lightly patted his head and looked back at Trancilvia.

It was obvious.

She would probably tell me to take a break and then continue.

Just like she did for the past two days.

“Take a break now.”

“What?”

“There’s less than 12 hours left until the duel. Shouldn’t you rest, recover, and then enter the duel?”

“But I haven’t learned the lesson yet.”

“That can’t be helped.”

It’s ridiculous.

In truth, the outcome of the duel meant nothing to me.

I just wanted to stay here for the next three days, pushing myself to the limit to train my lesson, even in my current state of exhaustion.

But now, to waste that precious time and just sleep for the next 12 hours?

Slowly, I begin to feel angry.

“Jara. You can’t win against an opponent when you’re mentally and physically exhausted from not eating or sleeping for three days. Especially if you haven’t mastered your inner strength.”

“No need. I can defeat an Elven high warrior without inner strength like that.”

It’s not just boasting, it’s genuine.

This duel is not a simple sparring match with bare hands and swords, but a clash of full power against each other.

In other words, magic can be used.

So, you can use a rare and dirty rare skill in the duel.

Although the power of the skill is not enough to crush and kill the opponent.

It can restrict movement for a short time.

And in a moment of truth in a decisive battle, the effect of the skill is tremendous.

It’s a game that I can’t lose.

I wish Tran Silvia would properly teach me during the remaining 12 hours.

“Jara.”

“Don’t sleep until you teach me properly. It’s not fair. Even if you teach me with all your heart and soul, if I don’t realize it due to lack of talent, then what can I do? If the master sits quietly and performs silent meditation, how can I-”

“Sigh. Mijung. Put him to sleep.”

“Fine.”

“Hey, what are you guys doing right now?”

Tuk.

At that moment, I feel a touch on my back.

Suddenly, my vision blurs, and all the energy drains from my body.

“Hey.”

As I feel a small piece of paper touching my back.

It must be an amulet.

Some kind of sleep spell…

“Let’s sleep and see. You’re already too tired. You need a healthy mind to realize your inner strength.”

“You bastard…”

I had no choice but to close my eyes and succumb to the approaching sleep.

Lying on the ground, Eugene sleeps like a corpse.

Looking down at him, Tran Silvia felt as if his stopped heart was beating again.

“It was really close…”

For three days, Tran Silvia felt suffocated.

Every time she saw Eugene’s sword, it felt like Dakiya’s sword was alive and moving.

As time passed, the accuracy increased to an alarming level.

So she couldn’t say a word about Eugene’s sword.

She was afraid that even a single word might interfere with Eugene, who was reproducing the original.

So she had to watch silently.

But Eugene’s body reached its limit before his sword reached the unfinished inner strength of Dakiya.

That’s why she had no choice but to forcibly stop Eugene.

“I can’t let this precious body get hurt.”

Tran Silvia chuckled and patted Eugene’s cheek.

The swordsmanship she lost long ago.

Eugene had reproduced Dakiya’s sword, which she believed she would never see again.

It was already a huge achievement.

But it seemed like he didn’t realize it.

“Enough, stop touching him. Eugene is mine.”

“Alright, alright. Give him a massage while he sleeps. Let his muscles relax after three days of tension.”

Mijung growled, blocking Eugene’s path.

Tran Silvia sighed deeply, stood up, and turned her back.

“This duel will determine everything.”

Eugene, who reproduced Dakiya’s sword.

If Eugene can create the inner strength that Dakiya couldn’t complete and died for, the result would likely be shown in the duel with the Elf with anger management issues.

***

“No audience. Only one assistant on each side. And regarding the outcome of the duel, it’s okay to disclose it, but the details of the duel must not be leaked? Ridiculous!”

Under the World Tree.

The ruins of the collapsed wall.

In that place where the eye of the World Tree was used, Rex chuckled bitterly.

What is a duel?

It serves to wash away insults and fulfill demands between the parties involved.

The nature of the audience’s gaze cannot be denied.

However, with no audience present, even the parties involved in the duel cannot disclose anything about it.

What kind of duel is this?

At first, I thought they were trying to use some trickery in the duel.

But when the judge mentioned the World Tree’s priestess, that thought vanished.

In reality, isn’t the World Tree’s priestess already here at the scene?

One cannot act unjustly in front of a priestess.

And the priestess would not make an unfair judgment.

But then, why demand these conditions?

‘Ah, it’s because he doesn’t want to face embarrassment.’

After pondering for a while, this conclusion was reached.

He doesn’t want the specifics of his defeat in the duel to be revealed.

Hence, minimizing the audience and prohibiting the disclosure of the duel’s details.

Now I understand the mentality of that individual.

Already looking disheveled, he seemed even more pitiful, and Rex chuckled in disappointment.

He had trained tirelessly for the past three days, thinking it was necessary.

But it seemed unnecessary now.

“Rex, High Warrior.”

“Yes, Priestess. Please speak.”

“Could you please consider giving up this duel?”

“······?”

As Rex tilted his head in response to the priestess’s call, an unexpected request flowed from her lips.

Rex initially doubted his ears and raised his head slightly to study the priestess’s expression.

She was serious.

She was genuinely asking him to give up this duel.

“I understand that this is a difficult request. You were the one who first challenged the duel, and it was not you who accepted the challenge. Stepping back now would greatly damage your honor. Despite that, I am asking you. Please consider giving up this duel. If you do, I promise to provide you with certain advantages regarding your reputation in the future.”

“······.”

And the priestess knew very well what giving up the duel meant.

Despite knowing everything, she was demanding that Rex, a mere worm in her eyes, give up.

A slight increase in the possibility of promotion was the only reward offered in exchange for tarnishing his reputation in an instant?

And that too, just a verbal promise without any specific conditions.

Rex bit his tongue in humiliation, making an effort not to show his discomfort outwardly.

“If I may ask, what is the reason for valuing the lives of that race so much?”

“Um······ It is not because I value the life of Cheon Michael Jackson.”

“Then what is it?”

“I apologize. As a judge, I cannot disclose the reason for fear of undermining the fairness of the duel.”

Oh, come on.

It’s obvious that she is terrified of the race’s death.

Rex bowed his head deeply and spoke again.

“I apologize, Priestess. I cannot give up this duel. I cannot destroy my lifelong quest for revenge and everything I have built.”

“Is that so······.”

The priestess let out a deep sigh.

As Rex stood up again, she couldn’t hear him mutter, ‘But losing honor is better than losing your life…’

“One more question, Priestess.”

“Yes.”

“50 years ago. The day Tran Silvia invaded Elvengard, killed my brothers, and fled. Was there some kind of agreement between you and Tran Silvia before that day?”

“······.”

I had been curious for a long time.

Seeing the priestess let the murderer go, I naturally thought there must have been some kind of deal.

But I had no knowledge of the details of the incident, only suspicions.

Still, the suspicion was so strong that I had lived my whole life without questioning it for 50 years.

Meeting that race, my doubts faded away.

It seemed as if they were showing a reaction as if they were greatly offended by insulting a witch.

“I’m sorry. It’s classified information, so I can’t disclose it.”

“Even to a senior warrior like me?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Information that wasn’t even allowed to be shared with the highest-ranking warrior, a senior warrior.

Rex couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

‘But why is the other party so late…’

There were less than 3 minutes left until the duel began.

Whatever the reason, it was basic courtesy to arrive at least 10 minutes early and wait.

Were they of a race with a short lifespan and therefore had the manners of a child?

Rex sighed deeply and rubbed his chin.

If they didn’t arrive by the start of the duel, it would be considered a forfeit by the opponent.

Did they run away because they didn’t want to face humiliation in front of the members and judges?

Was he someone who didn’t even have the least bit of courage?

Then what about the energy he briefly showed back then…?

“I’m sorry.”

“…?”

A voice coming from the tunnel at that moment.

Thud, thud, the heavy footsteps echoed.

In the dark tunnel, Inyeong began to appear.

For some reason, Rex’s body trembled at the sound of those footsteps.

An unknown pressure enveloped his body.

Just three days ago, he was just a petty thief with nothing special.

But in just three days, something had changed.

“I apologize for being late.”

This was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Swallowing hard.

Rex just realized that fact for the first time.