In a typical battle, no matter how drawn out, it won’t exceed a moment.
Because, as humans, there’s a limit, whether it’s stamina or mana.
However, the fight between Cheon Ha-rang and Camilla has continued for over an hour and shows no signs of stopping.
What does this mean?
One possibility is that their ongoing battle suggests they have transcended the human level.
Another option is that the master is adjusting to the pace of the novice.
In that case, there shouldn’t be any issues regarding physical strength or mana.
The knights pondered.
As strong as their lady, Camilla, is, had she really reached the level achieved by “that hero” renowned throughout history?
Not to look down on their lord, but they swore it wasn’t true.
Then, does it mean that one of them is overwhelming the other with skill?
The knights were none the wiser.
*
Wooden swords and great swords clash.
-Bam! Bam! Bam!
The noise was so loud it could deafen.
The shockwaves created by the clash of ki shook the ground.
Yet, on the faces of the two women creating this spectacle—
“What are you doing? Isn’t your left ankle exposed?”
“…Seriously!”
A rather pleasant smile blossomed on their faces.
The knights could only stare in awe.
“Wow….”
Although it was a sparring session without life and death at stake,
being a martial artist who reveres the sword, they couldn’t help but be amazed by the fight between Camilla and Cheon Ha-rang.
-Bam!
As the impact of their duel grew stronger, fragments began to fly toward the knights.
“…”
Yet they did not move.
They simply couldn’t tear their eyes away from that battle.
“Your Highness, you look delighted…”
Since they had no idea their lord could enjoy herself so much.
It had truly been ages since they saw their lord genuinely wielding a sword.
“Heh, again?”
Feeling their lord’s level rising.
And then.
“…”
Seeing how Cheon Ha-rang matched her rising level made them feel—
*
This is fun.
-Thud!
How long has it been since I’ve taken joy in swinging my sword?
-Screech!
When I was teaching the Nameless?
“Ah! You’re blocking again?!”
“This one was dangerous!”
No.
That was joy from raising a disciple, not from swinging a sword myself.
“Hah-!”
Camilla swings the side of her great sword.
It feels like she’s trying to push me away to create distance.
I sensed it, but—
-Whoosh!
I let it happen.
I was too curious about her next move.
“Hey, old lady! Try blocking this!”
Having pulled back enough that our swords wouldn’t touch, Camilla grips her great sword with both hands and layers her ki on top.
It was slightly different from how I perform the Divine Slaying Sword Technique, but the principle remains the same.
“Ha ha!”
Seeing her do that,
A genuine smile crept onto my face.
Someone of her caliber using a technique similar to mine!
Every action of the one known as the Empire’s strongest Camilla proved that my path and methods were not wrong.
“Alright!”
As Camilla stacks her ki on top of her great sword, making it larger,
I respond by spreading my own ki over my sword.
And then, I compress it.
Compress, compress, compress.
Soon, the dark light drawn on my sword becomes so thin it’s almost invisible,
Too faint for anyone at an intermediate level to even identify.
“Tch.”
But Camilla catches on.
Look, she can sense her attack will be blocked!
-Kuhuhuhuhuh
The ki Camilla raised trembles everything standing on this ground.
Her muscles expand,
Her arms scream for help.
Finally, Camilla’s great sword becomes—
Like a mountain, or rather, it truly has the size of a mountain.
“Hurry! Dodge!”
“Your Highness is definitely trying to obliterate this place!”
The weight that suits its size slams down on the ground.
No matter how strong I am, I wouldn’t survive a direct hit from that.
However, at this moment—
“Hah!”
The corners of my mouth rise uncontrollably.
For the first time since reaching a certain level, I felt the thrill of life-threatening danger.
My pupils constrict,
all my muscles tighten.
No matter how much I tried to hide my strength, showing this level can’t be avoided, can it?
I felt Camilla’s firm resolve to witness at least a part of my power.
Good, if that’s the sincerity you’re showing, then I should reciprocate.
You’ve won this one.
But—
-Thud!
In this sparring match, I must win.
There’s more reason for me not to lose here.
I stomp the ground with my front paw.
Shift my weight onto my back paw.
I aim my left hand at that mountain.
Pull my wooden sword back with my right.
Twist my waist.
I still gaze at Camilla.
“Camilla! Your sword rules over this land!”
Originally, the Divine Slaying Sword Technique was crafted to tear the heavens and kill the gods.
First Technique: Falling from Heaven.
A sword meant to drag down that haughty sky looking down on me.
Second Technique: Breaking the Heavens.
To shatter the fallen sky and pull the cowardly god hiding within it.
The subsequent techniques are all swords aimed at exterminating the ugly creatures exposed on this land.
I raise my sword,
aim the tip at the giant.
“But my sword rules over the heavens!”
Third Technique: Heaven’s Impact
Congratulations on seeing a part of me.
Weaker (Weakening)
But, it’s still not enough to see the whole picture.
A clash of the massive mountain and the well-used wooden sword.
The noise created by the clash of ki and ki doesn’t occur.
Just like a single drop hitting a vast lake.
-Drip
A small, short sound rang out.
Silence fell.
The knights, who were about to flee, were confused by the sudden stillness around them, devoid of any shock.
And when they looked back, they witnessed.
“What the…”
A small ripple formed over the mountain-sized strike of Camilla,
It spread widely, accumulating in rhythmic waves.
-Crunch
As the first wave reached the vast mountain’s end,
“Seriously, this isn’t working either?”
The mountain crumbled.
“Lady, you really are a monster.”
Camilla, looking stunned, collapsed onto the ground.
Seeing her, I couldn’t help but smile broadly.
“This was fun!”
Though I’d love to continue this duel,
to truly enjoy long play with Camilla, I must not overdo it.
I stepped over to Camilla and approached her.
“Catch me.”
“…Hmph.”
Camilla took my outstretched hand, rising to her feet.
Her legs trembled slightly; it must have been quite a strain.
Had this been a real fight, I’d have scolded her for exhausting herself.
But now, within me, Camilla was no longer that wretched boy, but a true warrior.
This means both of us share an equal relationship that we must respect.
And since Camilla is aware of this too, there’s no need to voice it and irritate her unnecessarily.
“Camilla, didn’t you have fun?”
My little wish to give her a playful punch had long disappeared.
In response to my question, Camilla briefly pursed her lips and then said,
“Well, yeah, it was fun.”
With that, she nodded, her ears slightly reddened.
How cute.
Smirking, I turned my head to the sound of applause coming from afar.
“Master, you were truly magnificent.”
As expected, it was the Nameless.
The Nameless seemed proud that I defeated Camilla, constantly glancing at the knights to gauge their reactions.
Seeing that sight was so very Nameless-like. I turned to the knights too.
“Your Highness?”
“No, but what was that sword technique just now…?”
They all stared, mouths wide open, completely in awe.
Feeling a bit proud, I shrugged my shoulders.
It seems my 300 years of living weren’t in vain after all.
Separately,
I cautiously glanced at Camilla, worried this atmosphere wouldn’t spoil her mood.
Since she was my first true friend, I didn’t want her to feel upset.
…Of course, I might be the only one thinking this way, but.
Camilla didn’t seem to mind the situation, as she lifted the corners of her mouth slightly and gazed at the knights.
“Hey, you scrubs saw that? From now on, this is the level you should aim for, not me.”
“““““Yesss!”””””
Her half-moon shaped eyes, adorably curved, looked at me.
“Of course, I’ll be aiming for this old lady too.”
“Ohhh.”
Her knights looked at me with newfound respect.
I enjoy compliments, but—
“Um…”
This atmosphere feels a bit embarrassing.
Out of nowhere, I shyly averted my gaze, and Camilla tapped my shoulder.
“…What is it?”
When I turned my head to her,
She wore that captivating mischievous smile I always saw.
…This feels unstable.
Soon, her mouth slowly opened,
And the wretched boy’s voice reached my ears.
“If I don’t hurry and catch up to the old lady, won’t I save that pervy sword master from being a virgin forever?”
“…”
I take back my statement about her being a friend.
That girl is a total brat.
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