“This is the Ice Cave that will serve as our arena.”
“Wow. It’s beautiful.”
“Right?”
Yerina cheerfully laughs and guides me into the Ice Cave, which glimmers like crystals.
She’s all excited about the idea of bashing me up and sitting on top of me.
Being so straightforward, she doesn’t even seem to want to hide it.
“Can I set two conditions?”
“Huh? Now?”
Yerina suddenly looks sad as she turns to me.
She probably had plans to munch, savor, and enjoy me without any restrictions, but now she seems bothered by being interrupted.
But there’s no need to worry.
I have no intention of changing the duel rules or imposing any penalties on Yerina.
“Well… I can accept them as long as they’re not unreasonable. If there were no conditions, I would have too much of an advantage.”
“First. I need some time. Just five minutes alone, please.”
“Are you planning to dope or something?”
“If you’re suspicious, go ahead and search me. I don’t have any drugs. I just want to read a sentence from a book before we start the duel.”
“What’s this?”
Yerina takes the book I pulled from my bag, glances at it, then quickly loses interest.
Of course, it’s written in Elvish, a language she can’t read.
“Sounds like a religious reason. Alright then, what’s the second condition?”
“This is a condition in case I lose.”
“Goodness… A man proposing such a condition? Are you serious?”
Yerina’s expression scrunches up.
She seems to think I want to get insurance for the possibility of losing.
“Yes. If I lose, I’ll receive 10 gold from the bodyguard knight at your right. Do you agree?”
“10 gold? Did I hear that right?”
“That’s right.”
“Okay. Let’s do it. Bodyguard, can you pay 10 gold?”
“Gladly.”
Yerina looks incredulous as she asks the bodyguard, and he agrees, too.
As if my defeat was a done deal.
Now I got everything I wanted.
As I smile with satisfaction, Yerina tilts her head, utterly confused.
“You set conditions, but why are both pointless?”
“They might not be pointless for me. Now, will you give me five minutes alone?”
“You can use that room.”
To her, I must look like I missed a great opportunity.
If desired, I could have set conditions to seal her slashing skills or piercing techniques.
But using such cowardly tricks wouldn’t significantly increase my chances of winning, and it would lead to the worst outcome by lowering Yerina’s fondness for me.
‘The goal is to impress. I have to leave a deep impression on Yerina.’
Ready with everything, I prepare for the duel, planning to launch a surprise attack that would astonish Yerina.
Since she values strength above all else, I need to show a good performance here.
The conditions I just set are for that purpose.
I enter the cave wall she pointed out, sitting in front of the ice table.
As soon as I open the Elvish book, the system window appears.
[The trait ‘Merida-style (lv.1) has been acquired.]
[Trait: Merida-style (lv.1)]
[You learn the traditional Elf one-handed swordsmanship improved by accepting human swordsmanship. Your understanding of one-handed swords increases.]
After leaving Hameln, I briefly stopped by Petenburg.
I encountered Yulia there and obtained this swordsmanship book.
It’s an item that allows me to learn a swordsmanship trait.
Honestly, I wanted to stay in Petenburg longer, but I had to leave quickly because Jill would surely start searching for me from Petenburg.
‘Now I have two swordsmanship techniques.’
Thus, I’ve learned one technique each from the two main heroines, Jill and Yulia.
Jill’s Dakia-style is an insurance against being defeated later; Yulia’s Merida-style is the most powerful swordsmanship in the mid-game.
Since it’s still level one, I can’t use it as my main technique, but it can be a surprise hit against Yerina.
Then, what about the strong swordsmanship in the early stages?
I’ll have to learn that from Yerina.
But if I don’t impress her this time, I might never get the chance to learn swordsmanship traits or even meet her.
‘It’s about time for it to activate.’
And there’s one more thing.
[The trait ‘Guardian Knight’ has activated.]
[Stats]
[Strength: 13(x5) *Guardian Knight effect applied]
[Stamina: 12(x5) *Guardian Knight effect applied]
[Mana: 12(x5) *Guardian Knight effect applied]
[Agility: 20(x5) *Guardian Knight effect applied]
[Luck: 14(x5) *Guardian Knight effect applied]
Finally, it activated.
What I learned while spending time with Jill wasn’t just how to spoil the childish priestess.
I also explored the conditions for the Guardian Knight activation.
During that, I discovered a trick.
The condition of “when protecting” simply requires the subject to perceive they are being protected.
It can be any form; no matter how trivial, it doesn’t matter.
Whether I stand in front wielding a sword to protect them, or guarding their possessions from afar.
‘In other words, I’m currently protecting the bodyguard’s money.’
If I lose, the bodyguard will lose 10 gold, so he has a stake in my victory.
He likely doesn’t want to see his lord losing face, but somewhere in his heart, he might not want to lose 10 gold either.
No matter how small that feeling is, it’s relevant.
Unless that bodyguard thinks of money like stones on the ground, the Guardian Knight effect will definitely activate.
“Alright. Let’s go in.”
All preparations are complete.
I close the swordsmanship book, limber up, and step outside.
Let’s go protect the poor bodyguard’s precious 10 gold from the wicked Frost Duchess.
*
‘The atmosphere has distinctly changed.’
A man walks out dragging his sword from behind the wall.
Yerina’s gaze twists as she watches it.
It seems like she’s trying hard not to show it, but she can’t hide her eyes from me.
The energy between entering and exiting is palpably different.
At first, he definitely looked clumsy, carrying a sword that didn’t suit him at all.
Now, he’s exuding the aura of a skilled veteran who can deftly handle a simple one-handed sword.
‘Looks like he’s used some trick.’
I did check him for drugs, so that’s out of the question.
I briefly suspected a blood ghoul gaining strength upon awakening, but looking at the color of his pupils, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
To begin with, he doesn’t seem pale enough to be a blood ghoul.
‘He must have been hiding his strength!’
All the better.
I was worried it might turn into a somewhat one-sided fight.
Actually, my initial intention for this duel was to see how shamelessly this man would dodge, but…
How did it come to this? I’m a bit flustered, but it seems it will be an exciting fight, so that works.
Yerina tosses her fur coat aside and takes the rough longsword offered by the bodyguard.
It’s a mess of a sword, with poor weight distribution and dulled edges, but in Yerina’s hands, it becomes a marvelous weapon.
‘Suddenly I recall a past declaration.’
– I, Yerina Frost, will wed a man stronger than me.
Of course, I have no intention of marrying, and I said it in a roundabout way as a dedication to the country.
But why did that declaration suddenly pop back into my head?
It’s not like there’s a possibility of that happening.
“Just a minor injury is acceptable, right? A skilled healer is on standby, so don’t worry too much.”
“Hahaha…”
“Let’s fight with conscience. Exclude mana and use only swordsmanship.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. That’s the entirety of the rules.”
Yerina proclaims the rule of ‘conscience.’
This means there’s nothing other than the basic rules.
The victory goes to the one who first makes the other surrender by pouring in unlimited force.
Whether to stop the sword right in front of the throat hinges on personal choice.
The moment the sword halts at the throat is also up to the individual’s choice whether to continue the fight or concede gracefully.
‘Heh. I’m excited.’
When I stop the sword a couple of times before him, will he cowardly deflect the sword and keep fighting, or will he admit defeat neatly?
If he chooses to continue, how many humiliations will it take for him to concede?
It’s a delightful rule to observe.
“Shall we start?”
“Begin whenever you’re ready.”
“…”
I give him the first move.
However, Yoo Jin simply holds his ground, maintaining his posture despite my remark.
Since I told him to start whenever he wants, no matter how much I want to attack, I can’t move until Yoo Jin makes a move.
Just as I suspect he might be intending to waste my time, I take a deep breath, ready to let out a sigh.
‘Oh?’
I notice Yoo Jin’s foot had already begun to move.
I was slow to catch it.
He slowly, but surely shifts his feet and changes his stance.
The moment his posture shifts ever so slightly, his leg muscles swell, and he launches like a bullet.
“Pierce?!”
Clang!
A flash of a sword lunges toward my chest.
I manage to parry it skillfully, but I can’t help but feel startled.
Originally, piercing attacks inevitably reveal many openings.
There aren’t many swordsmanship techniques that use a stab to open up an opportunity…
“Ugh?! Ugh!”
That thought barely crosses my mind.
In a flurry, I struggle to fend off the onslaught of his attacks from both sides.
He’s fast.
And fierce.
I’ve never seen such aggressive swordsmanship before.
I wonder if ancient swordsmanship might have been like this due to the lack of interaction between techniques.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to counter this swordsmanship.
‘It seems chaotic, but it’s a lot more than that?!’
While I might have the upper hand in reaction speed, I’m barely managing to defend, with no opportunity for a counterattack.
I could counter if I wanted, but I’d be falling into his trap.
If I openly strike during a clear opening, I might end up getting countered and knocked out.
A person as proficient in offense is likely adept at counterattacks, too.
There surely can’t be a swordsmanship purely specialized in offense.
‘It seems he has begun to reveal his powers a bit too early…!’
I can’t help it.
I was trying to play it basic, but now I’m at my limits.
It’s time for me to demonstrate the techniques passed down through the Frost family.
I raise my leg high.
“Ugh!”
Clang!
Yoo Jin’s blade fails to meet its intended path as it produces a clear sound.
Caught off guard by the unexpected pattern, Yoo Jin stops his assault and retreats several steps.
Meanwhile, I still keep my leg lifted, showcasing my iron shoes that shine brightly.
Thud.
As my shoe lands, the ground’s ice cracks and breaks apart.
“Sword and body are one. This means the sword becomes me, and I become the sword. But how can that even be achievable? It’s a concept only in fantasy, but we sought an imperfect method to realize it. The result is a swordsmanship called Frost-style. It weaponizes the entire body.”
“…”
Iron shoes on my feet.
Rings made of steel on my fingers instead of gold.
Steel bracelets on my wrists.
All these items appear as ordinary accessories one might wear daily, but in truth, they are used as weapons and shields in emergencies.
If you disaster-proof every extremity with thick and solid materials capable of withstanding sword impacts, it will severely restrict movement.
Any human would think that way.
However, among beast-folk with superior physical abilities compared to humans, it’s not a big deal.
If one can become a weapon and shield while carrying a bit of sandbags, that’s a hugely beneficial situation.
‘This man has terrible defense, huh?’
With seamless links between kicks, punches, and sword slashes, the glint in Yerina’s eyes narrows.
Yoo Jin keeps retreating without even attempting a counter.
I wonder if he’s pretending as if his defense is terrible, as even when I deliberately throw in counters, he simply keeps running away.
That’s when I finally realize:
Yoo Jin’s attacks might look promising, but his defense is actually terrible.
“How long do you plan to keep running?!”
“Ugh!”
Bang!
I mimic his initial frantic movements and swiftly leap toward him.
He hits a wall of ice behind him.
There’s nowhere left to run.
Dodging my relentless fists and kicks, he’ll soon be left defenseless against my sword.
‘It’s over.’
He might have learned savage sword techniques somewhere, but that’s still far from enough.
I had no fun finding any entertainment in this mediocre man.
As I wondered when he would finally concede, something unexpected occurred.
“What?!”
Clang!
The blade pierces into Yoo Jin’s shoe sole.
In an instant, the blade cuts through the sole, and just as it threatens to split his foot in two, he twists his foot to deflect the sword.
‘Did he just intuitively learn a Frost-style technique?!’
That’s impossible.
That technique is taught as a way to deflect swords using leather shoes when one isn’t equipped with iron shoes.
Is he claiming to have learned it merely by observing a few Frost-style techniques?
That shouldn’t even be possible.
Yerina decides to acknowledge the fact that Yoo Jin isn’t just a boastful brat.
He’s a real threat.
He’s someone skilled enough to be worth officially teaching Frost-style swordsmanship.
‘But I still won!’
Regardless of that, the duel just ended.
Yoo Jin mismanaged the direction of his attack, causing his body to float in the air.
Cutting down an opponent suspended in midair is child’s play.
I can’t just slice him in half, so I’ll need to deal a heavy blow to his waist.
‘His persistence is impressive.’
However, Yoo Jin’s movements while flailing in the air look bizarre.
He appears to be swinging the sword as if trying to behead me.
Of course, given the positioning of his sword, it’s an impossible angle.
I admire his persistence in not giving up until the end.
Just as I was thinking that, I decided it’s time to end this duel.
“Huh?”
Whoosh!
The sharp blade halts just inches from my face.
It nearly grazes my eye.
Hovering in a dangerously close spot.
“What…?”
I couldn’t understand the situation.
There’s absolutely no way he could bend the sword at such a firm angle.
Wondering what kind of sorcery this is, I froze in place, just before Yoo Jin’s body crashes to the ground with a thud.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch…”
After seeing Yoo Jin’s arm lying limply on the ground, I finally grasp the entire situation.
His wrist has swollen and is dangling weakly.
His bone has broken.
When I mention it’s an impossible angle, I’m talking about angles that can’t exist in human anatomy.
He’s changed that angle by breaking his own bone.
He’s utilizing a technique that resembles the swordsmanship of a species entirely different from human flexibility.
“What kind of swordsmanship have you learned?!”
“My victory, right?”
“Huh?”
“Just now, if I hadn’t stopped, you would’ve been dead. Are you planning to continue the duel without conceding here?”
“…”
Yerina’s eyes widen, realizes the gravity of the situation.
She recalls that she was about to ask the outcome of our duel after being too shocked to deal with it earlier.
“I-I lost?”
Her body stiffens as if she just realized she lost for the first time in her life.
Her face turns crimson, reaching up to her ears.
“Ah!”
– I, Yerina Frost, will wed a man stronger than me.
She suddenly recalls her own past declaration.
