Chapter 12: Sparring

‘Did I say something that wrong?’

Just as Muno was feeling bewildered.

“That was too much of you….”

Esna, who I thought had run away, was suddenly behind me, saying something incomprehensible.

“What was?”

I asked, not understanding what she meant.

“Th, that is….”

“Prince, draw your sword. I hear the Drasen Greatswordmanship is quite formidable. I shall teach you a proper lesson today.”

Karina’s sharp voice, cutting off Esna, rang out.

Where had the noble smile she wore just moments ago gone?

With a face as cold as ice and her rapier pointed, Karina’s demeanor seemed less like someone about to spar and more like someone facing a life-or-death battle.

‘Why is she suddenly like that……?’

Is she a madwoman?

Goosebumps rose on my skin from the killing intent, the reason for which I couldn't fathom, and even the budding favor I felt for her began to completely disappear.

But I had no intention of backing down anyway.

However.

“Let’s go to the training ground. As you can see, I’m dressed for etiquette lessons. Unless you really intend to stab me to death, put away that precious sword too.”

The gleaming rapier Karina held was, at a glance, no ordinary sword.

Normally, a rapier’s blade is so thin that it tends to bend flexibly with even the slightest movement.

But that sword was unusually rigid and even glinted with a bluish light, so it seemed to be an Artifact, much like my father’s beloved sword.

A weapon imbued with the power of nature, created by those called Spirit Masters together with master craftsmen.

Even if it was low-grade, it was a treasure that was usually hard to obtain even with money.

And yet.

‘This woman, she didn’t even reveal her family name when she introduced herself…….’

Muno’s gaze on Karina grew a little heavier.

As a commoner, she couldn’t have obtained an Artifact on her own, so it must have been a bestowed item.

But she was a 3-Star at best.

If only one in ten Corporeal Arts trainees could undergo evolution to become a 1-Star knight, then a 2-Star was only one in ten of those knights.

And a 3-Star was a level that only one in ten of those 2-Star knights could reach, so she was undoubtedly a precious superhuman.

But the Trian Knightly Order, renowned even in the kingdom, would have more than ten such talented individuals.

Even for a Margrave, it would be impossible to bestow Artifacts upon all of them.

If that’s the case.

‘Considering her age, which appears to be in her early 20s, this young lady is a candidate for the next commander of the Trian Knightly Order.’

She was probably a genius who had awakened around her coming-of-age ceremony, or perhaps much earlier, just like me.

As I was lost in thought, Karina’s cold voice was heard again.

“How long are you going to keep staring at me like that? Please lead the way to the training ground, now.”

“Ah, no. It’s just that you’re pretty, so I was looking without realizing…….”

It was an excuse I blurted out reflexively.

“Do you intend to continue insulting me?”

Another harsh reaction returned.

‘What’s with her?’

Seeing her hands tremble, I was convinced she was a truly madwoman.

Thump.

This time, even the giant behind her, Rokam, stomped his foot roughly as if in displeasure.

On top of that.

“Stop it! Please! Why are you doing this!?”

Esna even whispered, poking me in the side, making me feel like I had really done something terribly wrong.

Come to think of it, this was the first time in this life I had ever called a woman pretty.

Until now, there hadn't been anyone who particularly looked like a woman to me.

Naturally.

‘Was calling her pretty an insult?’

My understanding of common sense was starting to get muddled.

“There, servant!”

“Ye, yes!?”

“Lead the way to the training ground. It seems the young master is of a very leisurely disposition.”

Karina, who was now practically shooting fire from her eyes, urged Esna on.

“No, I’ll lead the way. Goodness gracious…….”

Only then did Muno come to his senses and hastily stepped forward.

All the way to the training ground, I felt a gaze as hot as a flame on the back of my head.

* * *

There was a small problem.

Among the blunted weapons available at the training ground, there were no rapiers like the one Karina used.

In the end, Karina, who chose a longsword with a reasonably narrow blade, swung it a few times and then stepped into the center of the training ground.

“This is going to leave a rather large hole…….”

A hole? What hole?

Don’t tell me, in my body?

‘Truly mad…….’

A cold sweat trickled down Muno's spine at the chilling murmur of his opponent, who was almost certainly stronger than him.

Even the words that followed were worse.

“The spar will stop when one of us drops our weapon, declares surrender, or becomes incapable of combat.”

Incapable of combat?

‘Do spars normally go until someone is incapable of combat?!’

A chill ran down my spine, but I couldn't show weakness here.

“……Understood.”

“Rokam, be the witness.”

“I will.”

A witness? Not a referee?

‘……Are you really trying to kill me?!’

I wanted to shout, but seeing my opponent still glaring at me with daggers in her eyes, my fighting spirit seemed to burn even brighter.

She might say that, but she wouldn’t really kill me.

‘Hmph, right. Let’s do this.’

Muno grit his teeth, thinking of his last shred of pride.

And slowly walking over, he picked up a large greatsword from among the weapons.

A two-handed sword, as long as he was tall.

Just as its moderate weight made his heavy heart a little lighter.

Karina added a sharp remark.

“I’ll tell you in advance, my specialty is speed.”

“I figured as much.”

Even for a Corporeal Arts user, with that slender frame and using a rapier, she couldn't possibly be a power type.

“And you’re still going to use a greatsword like that?”

“Well, what difference would it make if I used a light weapon I’m not used to? I have to fight with my strengths too.”

“……Your confidence is something else.”

Karina scoffed and pointed the thin longsword at Muno.

‘Let’s see just how talented he is.’

Though he was an irritating opponent, she was also looking forward to it.

Evolution was fundamentally influenced by the Evolution Factor , but it also branched into numerous paths depending on the characteristics of the Corporeal Arts that utilized the factor and the individual’s own will.

There were even cases where the transmitter and the successor underwent completely different evolutions, even if they learned the exact same Corporeal Arts.

Just as the directions of evolution were diverse, compatibilities arose between Corporeal Arts users, but even those compatibilities lost meaning before the Star of evolution harbored in the body.

With each successive evolution, the range of the individual’s capabilities, including their physical abilities, grew exponentially.

Even if one evolved in the same speed or power type, the scope of growth would be incomparably greater than the previous stage, and to handle that evolution, the body was bound to become stronger to some extent even in areas that were not its specialty.

Therefore, no matter how good the compatibility, it was an arduous task for someone of a lower stage to defeat a Corporeal Arts user of a higher stage.

That was what made the Muno Drasen before her so special.

‘They said he defeated a 1-Star knight even before awakening.’

That was enough to be considered a monstrous talent.

So.

“……I hope you don’t die easily.”

The moment Karina showed a chilling smile.

“Don’t die? Hey, this is a spar…….”

Thump.

Rokam slammed his large greatsword onto the training ground floor, signaling the start of the spar.

And just like that, Karina’s body vanished from before Muno’s eyes.

‘Hup!?’

I was prepared for it, but I couldn't help but be startled the moment Karina’s body disappeared from my sight.

At the same time, the moment a chilling sensation was felt near my neck.

Muno reflexively tried to move the chains, then stopped.

- Show your metal manipulation ability and chains to outsiders as little as possible. It is most effective when used as a hidden ace in a life-or-death battle.

My father’s words flashed through my head, and I reflexively tilted my neck back.

‘Kuk!’

The moment I bent my head back with a cracking sound, the cold blade of the longsword passed over my head.

In my collapsed posture, I reflexively swung my sword to use the recoil to fix my stance.

Paaaaang.

“Your senses are top-notch…….”

The spot where the greatsword struck was empty air, and all that remained in its place was Karina’s brief assessment.

‘Fuck.’

And immediately, a sharp presence began to be felt from all directions.

It felt as if attacks were pouring in from all sides—front, back, left, and right—and Muno’s expression hardened fiercely.

A knight whose main strength was speed, was leisurely toying with him without even launching an attack that could cause injury, despite her opponent showing such a huge opening.

‘She’s playing with me?’

The moment anger flared.

Thump.

Pabak.

As Muno took a strong step forward, the greatsword accelerated and drew a circle around him.

Paaaaaaaaang!

‘Got you.’

In the lightning-fast spinning slash that began with a very small movement, Karina’s relentless movements came into his sight for a moment, but.

Kagagagak.

“Kuk!?”

The moment the thin longsword struck the underside of the greatsword several times at an invisible speed, the trajectory of the sword strike went off course and grazed the top of her head.

And as Muno’s posture crumbled once more, a chilling killing intent approached his neck.

‘Heh!’

Sensing the trajectory, Muno twisted his neck with minimal movement.

Swish.

The blade of the sword grazed the skin of his neck ever so slightly.

At the same time, his greatsword was swung horizontally towards the side of Karina, whose form was now revealed.

‘Got……!’

Paaaaaaaaaang!

But in that time, Karina, who had retracted her sword and jumped, once again extended her sword like a ray of light from above his head.

In response, Muno used the recoil from swinging his sword to naturally twist his body and raise his left wrist.

Ta-ang!

Her attack naturally bounced off his bracer.

Karina, who was sent flying back, landed on the ground again and quickly created distance.

“Power, fighting spirit, all top-tier. You certainly have talent…….”

A subtle admiration was mixed in Karina’s resonating voice, but it only served to fuel Muno’s anger.

“Talent, you say…….”

Heh.

Such words could only come from someone looking down on their opponent.

Of course, I knew my opponent was stronger than me, but I couldn't help but get angry even knowing that.

Especially.

“Will you continue? I don’t think there’s any point in this anymore.”

When such a blatant provocation was mixed in.

“No. I’m going to make it meaningful from now on.”

“Yo, Young Master. P, please stop now……!”

Even the voice of Esna, whose complexion had already turned pale while watching the brief exchange, seemed to bolster my fighting spirit.

“Is there more you have to show?”

“Of course. A lot.”

As Karina tilted her head, Muno’s eyes, his pride thoroughly wounded, grew calm instead.

I had expected Karina’s specialty to be speed, but I didn't know it would be to this extent.

‘With such a speed difference, a spar usually can't even be established.’

But there was a way.

The core of the Drasen Greatswordmanship, renowned throughout the kingdom beyond just the county, was not in the technical aspects of swinging a sword.

‘I’ve already succeeded once. So…….’

The moment I made my decision, my entire body’s temperature began to rise rapidly at the same time.

‘I can do it.’

What level would my current martial prowess be if I fought only with the Drasen Greatswordmanship without using my ability?

I would be able to satisfy that curiosity from now on.

“Be careful, Sir Karina. I can’t control this either. So…….”

“Don’t tell me…….”

“……Don’t die.”

Kwang.

Muno, who converted the decomposed calories in his endlessly heating body into a single moment of explosive energy, was shot towards Karina at a tremendous speed.

I could see Karina’s eyes widen at the tremendous movement that had significantly closed the vast gap in speed.

And her movements to counterattack were now fully readable.

‘As expected.’

Acceleration.

The core of the Drasen family’s secret art, which burns the calories in the body to extremely enhance physical abilities.

My father, Ryan Drasen, known as the Knight of Gluttony, had once used a combination of secret techniques based on this acceleration to tear apart and kill a giant monster Snow Troll, which was evaluated as 5-Star class, in a single breath.

Of course, the price was that he was exhausted and couldn't get up for a while.

Swoooosh.

The power now emanating from Muno’s body was not entirely the energy created by consuming the calories in his body.

Kwaduduk.

Along with the steam rising from his evaporating sweat, a strange energy spread from Muno’s entire body.

And finally, as his giant greatsword was swung, a typhoon began to rage towards Karina.

Kwawawawawawawang!!!

An explosive sound, unbelievable to be the sound of a sword being swung, struck the training ground, and at the same time, a gust of wind rose.

“Such a……!?”

The moment Rokam, who was watching, stood up in surprise, and Esna watched the scene with her mouth agape.

The typhoon that had momentarily raged through the training ground subsided as if it were a lie.

And.

“How can this be…….”

When Karina, with a pale complexion and holding a crumbling longsword, was pushed far back and let out a sound of admiration.

“F, Fuck…….”

Muno, who had become gaunt in an instant, having lost all his flesh, confirmed that she was unharmed and, with a single curse, collapsed forward.

Thud.

“Young Master!!!!”

Only after Esna’s scream filled the training ground.

Did the bewildered knights of Trian begin to move towards Muno.

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