My duel with Luci didn’t happen.
Rubia was extremely… ridiculously angry… and we couldn’t continue.
So unfortunate!
I could have won!
Not scared at all!
“Hah, hahahaha… It’s funny… men are originally…”
“What did you say?”
“Ahem! Ah, never mind. Hahaha!”
Heinzel awkwardly scratched his scalp.
“Ugh… keheheh… spit…! Uhuuh…”
Luci was nearly a corpse.
Her belly was split open…!
I could even see her ribs, you know?!
“Hah, this is truly ridiculous. If Noah had gone first, would you have tried to make him end up like Luci? Huh?”
“Ah, no. If the kiddo had come out, it wouldn’t have gone this far…”
“If Noah had come out, cough… I would have gone easy on him…”
No need to go easy…
Anyway, I would win anyway.
Uh… probably?
Feeling the awkward atmosphere, I quickly ran over to Rubia’s side and started to massage her shoulder.
“Ah, Aileen… It’s tough, right…?”
“Noah. Isn’t it the same for you? You’re trying to duel with these crazy people? Besides, with Luci like this? A real man doesn’t care about that? Just use potions to heal, right? What even is that?!”
“Heh, hehe…”
But… Luci agreed with that…
“Hehe? What are you talking about? Get lost.”
Rubia shrugged and continued her healing.
“Oh, and by the way. Everyone here knows I’m a shaman. So you can call me Rubia instead of Aileen. Of course, only when there’s no one else around.”
“Yes. Yes…?”
What?
I wasn’t the first one…?
“I-I wasn’t the first…?”
“It just happened that way…”
“O-Okay…”
Feeling unnecessarily sad, I went back to the corner and sat down.
Should I review the duel…?
I recalled the battle between Heinzel and Luci in my mind.
The information I had received began to settle in.
I calculated the differences between Luci and me.
I had more strength.
In speed, I was at a disadvantage.
So did I discover the secret earlier than him…?
“Ugh… no. Focus…”
In techniques, I wasn’t lacking.
But in practical experience, I was behind.
If the duel went on for too long, it would be bad for me.
It had to end quickly.
My sword’s reach was longer, but physically I was much shorter.
The stride difference mattered.
Therefore, our breath differed.
There was no hesitation in cutting people.
In the end, I fell behind in momentum.
If I had pressed hard, would I have discovered the secret first…?
“Ugh…! No!”
I focused again, drawing various images based on my calculations.
First one, lost.
Second one too, lost.
Third one, lost as well.
Fourth one, also lost.
Lost.
Lost, lost, lost.
I kept losing.
And then.
On the 38th time, just once.
My sword touched Luci.
It wasn’t a fatal wound.
But my body received a fatal wound.
Remembering the previous routine, I sketched it out again.
On the 29th try, I inflicted a deep wound on Luci.
Not enough.
Again.
Again.
Again.
After going through several times, only one image remained.
In hundreds of possibilities, just one.
An absurd, slim chance of success.
But… if I attempt this…
I’d get in serious trouble with Rubia…?
But to showcase the greatness of the Great Sword, there’s no choice…
As I sighed inwardly, a huge shadow loomed over me.
“Kiddo.”
It was Heinzel.
“Yes?”
“Did you watch the duel carefully?”
Nod-
“Did you see what was the problem at the end?”
At the end, hmm…
“If only Heinzel Uncle had swung from the right instead of the left… I wonder what would have happened… Luci Uncle’s right side was vulnerable… right?”
“That’s true.”
Heinzel nodded while stroking his chin.
“But… it wouldn’t be cool. I have no weaknesses, so using Luci’s weakness… that’s just embarrassing.”
“Then, does that mean you’re confident that using a weakness guarantees a win?”
“Well… that’s true. It might have been easier than this duel.”
I replayed the duel scenes I had just thought of.
Hmm…
“No, Heinzel Uncle… it just doesn’t match. Because…”
Then I explained Heinzel’s weaknesses and strengths, and Luci’s weaknesses and strengths.
That was advice from someone ranked 2nd in PVP!
Just memorize it!
If you can’t memorize it, write it down!
If I laid it all out, it gets confusing, so to summarize in one sentence…
“Luci Uncle is strong in one-on-one combat… um, he’s overly specialized. Meanwhile, Heinzel Uncle fights well against multiple monsters, right?”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
“Yes. That’s how it is.”
Luci had never studied how to deal with multiple enemies.
His goal was singular.
Carpen subjugation.
That’s how he developed his swordsmanship.
Evading incoming attacks, countering, draining stamina.
Contrarily, Heinzel just… mindlessly defeated monsters, so… well, there’s nothing to say.
His weapon is a halberd, after all.
“So, um… I think a halberd is better than a one-handed sword.”
You have two hands, why wield with one hand?
I just can’t understand.
Plus, Luci doesn’t even use a shield!
Extremely inefficient!
And most importantly, there’s no feel!
“Ughhahaha! Is that so? You have a keen eye, kiddo! Hahahaha!”
Heinzel laughed heartily, slapping my back.
Each time he did so, my head shook violently.
“Ugh, ugh…! D-Don’t hit me…!”
I struggled to block Heinzel’s arm.
What a dense, stupid guy…
“Kiddo!”
“Yes…?”
Heinzel pointed at Luci and said.
“That skinny one-eyed freak is in this state, so I’m considering stepping in as your duel partner. What do you think?”
“No thanks.”
“Huh…? Why not…?”
I also pointed at Luci with my short fingers.
“Because if I end up like that… ah, Uncle, no thanks.”
“Um… well… ah… if you don’t want it, I can’t force it…”
Heinzel’s voice trembled slightly.
What’s wrong?
Is he crying?
“Hmph- huhuh… then I’ll… head back to the inn.”
He was oddly sniffly, and his shoulders were shaking…
Is he really crying…?
I said I didn’t want to, and he’s crying over it?!
Heinzel rubbed his face with his hands and headed to the inn.
Seeing that stupid guy’s back looking so pitiful, I couldn’t just leave it like that.
I felt a bit of empathy…
“Uh, Uncle…!”
“Why are you calling me?”
Heinzel didn’t even look back to answer.
“Um, um… how about arm wrestling instead of a duel?”
“Arm wrestling?”
Heinzel turned around and said.
“Yes! Arm wrestling! That way, you won’t end up as a half-body, and it can be fun… right?”
“Forget it… you don’t have to force it…”
He turned back around, looking pitiful, and started walking to the inn.
Sigh… that guy is so pathetic.
Such jokes should be brushed off coolly, tsk.
I had no choice but to get up from my spot and follow Heinzel.
“Ah, Uncle…! Then let’s make a bet. A wager…”
“What wager are you talking about?”
“Uh… if you win, I’ll buy you a steak. But if I win… um… you will buy me jelly.”
Heinzel’s steps halted.
“A wager… Do you really think a kid like you can beat me?”
Heinzel flexed his muscles for show.
Those arms had muscles as big as my head.
Ugh… I can’t lose.
I’ll show my max power…!
I also raised my left arm like Heinzel, flexing my nonexistent muscles.
“Hah! Hahaha! Hahaha!”
Heinzel glanced at my arm and burst into wild laughter.
“What’s so funny…?”
I couldn’t understand his laughter, so I touched my arm.
I felt squishy, soft flesh.
Umm… well…
I’m still strong!
I’m max strong!!
“Then let’s see it… if I win, I’ll buy jelly for a month.”
“Hah…!”
I pictured the mountain of jelly I had seen at the shop earlier.
That’s enough jelly for a bath…!
“But… I’ll only buy just one serving for me, okay?”
“Let’s make it two servings.”
Two servings means… 60 silver…?!
Ugh… my hands are already trembling.
“Ughh… ah, fine… then let’s get a fair judge. Let’s have Rubia referee…!”
I’m gonna win.
Absolutely gonna win…!
I’ll bribe Rubia if necessary to win!
Rubia and I are secret friends who share secrets, so…
She’ll probably take my side, right?
“Alright! Let’s go!”
Heinzel laughed heartily and ran toward Rubia and Luci.
I ran vigorously after Heinzel.
“Rub, Rubia…!”
“Yes?”
Maybe Luci’s healing was almost complete since no more divine power was flowing from Rubia.
“So… um, I’m going to have an arm wrestling match with this Uncle. Can you referee, Rubia… please…!”
“Hmm! Seems like it’s decided! I’ll help!”
“Hey, you, are you really thinking of beating a little one like that…?”
“Little…?!”
I shot a glare at Luci.
“Ahem. Just looking at it, Heinzel looks way stronger. What do you…”
“I’m stronger!”
Pfft-
I heard laughter behind me.
There’s only Rubia behind me, right?
“Rub, Rubia…? Did you just laugh at me?”
“Ahahaha… Oh, no? I… when?”
Her shoulders were shaking.
Her body was trembling too…
“Fine, fine… I have no allies now… I won’t sleep with you later.”
I don’t need jelly.
I’ll win against Heinzel and take it through my strength.
I quickly turned my head away from Rubia.
But…
What came from Rubia’s mouth was shocking.
“Noah. What are you saying? You already ate all the jelly.”
Ah… right.
“Um… I-I’ll refund… I’ll return enough for what I ate.”
“You can’t.”
Rubia’s firm declaration.
“Ugh… fine. You… you’re so mean… calling me a friend… not backing me up…”
Hearing my mumbling, Rubia reached out.
I swiftly pulled my hand away.
“I won’t hold hands.”
“Oh dear? What if you get kidnapped?”
“I-I’ll just let myself get kidnapped…”
I was scared, but I tried to push her away.
Now she’ll come to comfort me, right?
Then, I’ll just push her away one more time—
“Hmm, do as you wish.”
Uh…? Wha…?
Why… why didn’t she grab me…?
“So, I’ll referee, right?”
That was how businesslike it went.
Whoa… I’m genuinely shocked…
“Rubia…?”
“Yes?”
“Um, well… er, never mind.”
“Yes.”
Rubia, who answered stiffly, quickly turned her back and began to look for a place to arm wrestle.
Traitor…
She was so nice earlier…!
Why, why is she suddenly like this?!
At least grab my hand once!
“Ah, this spot looks good. Come over here.”
There was a flat rock where Rubia stood.
She efficiently handled the situation, but I didn’t want to agree so easily.
“Not… really…”
“Hmm! Good! Come on, kiddo!”
But… my voice was swept away by Heinzel’s overwhelmingly loud voice.
So annoying.
Annoying, annoying, annoying.
Grumbling, I walked over to the rock.
On both ends, a handkerchief was already neatly laid out.
I hated how annoyingly efficient Rubia was.
I really hated it.
“Now, come stand on either side. You’ll use your right hand, right?”
“Hmm! Doesn’t matter!”
“Me too…”
Heinzel and I spread out on either side.
“Now… grab hands.”
It was just right for me, but it didn’t seem so for Heinzel.
He knelt down to adjust his position.
And then he spread his arms wide.
I mirrored him, spreading my arms.
“Ugh… think of this as a handicap I’m giving you, alright?”
“Hmm! Doesn’t matter!”
What does that mean? I looked over to find Heinzel’s arms wide open, not matched in height at all.
Hah, is he really going to win like this?
I’m honestly frustrated.
I won’t go easy on you.
If Heinzel breaks his hand from this, I wouldn’t care.
“Don’t regret it…”
“Hah, bring it on, kiddo!”
I gripped Heinzel’s hand as tightly as I could.
Well… it was vague to say I grabbed, but whatever.
“I’ll count down.”
3.
2.
1.
As the countdown ended, I exerted all my strength to push left.
Then.
CRASH—!
Heinzel’s hand slammed into the rock, and the rock that held our arms cracked into pieces.
“Uh…?”
Heinzel’s bewildered voice and
“W-What…? How could this…”
Ailyn’s shocked voice
Quickly lifted me out of my gloom.
“See? I won, right…?”
I said that as I turned my back.
Ah, wait.
I turned back to Heinzel and Rubia.
Trying to be as cool as possible, I said.
“Just buy me one month’s worth of jelly.”
“Uh…?”
“I-I’ll only take half of the money…”
And I turned my back and resumedmy walk.
Wow.
I was truly cool just now.
As I swaggered toward Luci, suddenly…
“Uhh…?”
I felt a sharp gaze stabbing into my back.
Was it Rubia and Heinzel?
No, they were looking at each other, talking.
Luci… direction was different.
Then, who was it…?
As I expanded my perception.
That gaze disappeared completely.
Like a teleport had been used.
Leaving only a trace of faint magical power behind.
