MFWSP 47

Chapter 47

“What on earth are you thinking?”
Lissian frowned in disbelief.

“A duel? Why did you call me to the forest instead of the sparring ground?”

“The forest is actually the duke’s private land. No one takes walks there at dawn, so it’s nice and quiet.”

I shrugged and took one of the wooden swords from Lissian’s hand.

He’s surprisingly obedient, he brought it when I asked.

“…Are you really going to duel me? You and me?”

“Yeah. Don’t you want to?”

“…”

Lissian’s eyes scanned me up and down.

“Have you ever held a sword? You don’t even have calluses on your hands.”

“A little bit a long time ago.”

I practiced with you when I tried to get you to read the sword manual. So I know the basics.

“Come on, let’s do it.”

I recalled the memories and held the wooden sword with both hands.

When I swung it clumsily, worry grew on Lissian’s face.

“I’ll take one hit, so just let me lose. I’m busy…”

“I’m starting. Take this!”

Without waiting for his answer, I charged at him.

Clack

He instinctively blocked my sword and deflected it.

“Hey, are you crazy? You’ll get hurt if you fall…”

“Block again!”

“Ugh, damn it.”

Whoosh

When I attacked again, Lissian dodged to the side, startled.

I smiled and took out a sling and some stones from my waist. Then I threw a stone at him.

Thud

“Ah! What are you doing? Stop that!”

Lissian rubbed his red forehead from the stone hit.

I threw a second stone.

This time Lissian ducked to avoid it.

I smiled again, holding the wooden sword in my right hand and the sling in my left.

Then I moved a few steps under a nearby oak tree.

“If you want to stop, you attack first. Until then, this won’t end.”

“…Now I understand why Aken said you’re annoying with your challenges.”

Lissian sighed and finally raised his wooden sword.

“Just once.”

As expected, he held the sword in his right hand and ran toward me.

Swish

His sword aimed at my right hand. He probably thought if he could make me drop the sword, the game would end without me getting hurt.

Alright.

I waited for him to come close and then stepped back at the last moment.

“Too late to step back…”

Snap

Right as Lissian stepped on a branch I left as a marker.

Whoosh

“Ahh!”

A hidden trap caught Lissian’s ankle and flipped him upside down, hanging him in the air.

“What, what is this?!”

Lissian struggled, but the trap tightened around his ankle.

I walked up and tapped his forehead with the wooden sword.

“I win.”

“That’s not the point!”

He twisted his body, yelling.

“What kind of trap is this? Using this during a duel is just… too much.”

“Too much what?”

“Too much…”

“What do you think is too much?”

I asked.

Confusion spread across Lissian’s face while he hung upside down.

“Be honest. What do you really think?”

“…!”

He frowned as if he understood something.

“Clever…?”

“That’s right. It’s dirty, but clever.”

I smiled and nodded.

“As you guessed, Lin made this trap to catch you. I planned where to put it and how to make you step on it with Kyle. He observes and predicts the movement of all living things, including people. So, I used a carefully made trick.”

“…”

“That’s why I won, you see? If we fought fairly, it would never be possible.”

Lissian frowned even more.

It wasn’t anger, but a habit that came when he was thinking deeply.

“Strictly speaking, it’s cheating. That’s your specialty too. You lied the moment you were captured by Jurik.”

“…”

“If you want to beat Aken, use any way you can.”

I continued.

“You are smaller, weaker, and less skilled than Aken. How could you win by just charging at him with your body? Why do you just copy Morbe and Jurik? You can’t be like them.”

“Who doesn’t know that…”

“Then use the dirtiest method you can think of. I mean, if you want to win, use any means and ways your own way.”

“…”

“If you put everything you have into it, maybe you’ll win. There is no honor in defeating a stronger opponent. Do you think the ancient dragon hunters caught dragons by being fair?”

Lissian silently stared at me.

His face looked complicated as many thoughts crossed his mind.

“…I see.”

Finally, he spoke again.

“So, I just have to be dirty.”

A strange light shone in his gray eyes.

“Real battles are always dirty.”

I said, and he nodded.

“I thought so.”

A small smile began on his lips. His eyes moved rapidly as if thinking hard.

That’s the real Lissian.

Even if he had a natural talent, lacking a strong foundation since childhood made it hard for him to become the best swordsman in the empire.

At best, he could be in the top three.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t beat the empire’s best swordsman.

In his past life, although he lost in the sparring ground, he almost never lost in real fights.

Lissian was the sneakiest swordsman in the empire.

Ten days after Lissian, Lin, and Kyle came to the duke’s mansion.

Lissian and Aken stood facing each other again in the middle of the sparring ground.

Jurik and I sat on chairs at the edge.

“Okay, if one hits the other, the kid wins. There are no limits on attack or weapons.”

Morbe declared solemnly as he did ten days ago.

“I’m curious. I don’t know what you want to do with those weapons that don’t even fit you.”

Aken laughed lightly while looking at Lissian’s sword.

Lissian held a shiny sword.

I specially ordered and gave it to him. It was engraved with the Aphelemiion family crest.

A few days ago, Lissian complained, “It’s only fair if I get a heavy sword like Aken.”

Everyone thought it was a stupid idea because the sword’s weight was almost the same as Aken’s, which was too heavy for Lissian.

Lissian said he’d think about it and took the sword.

“Before the duel, I have something to say to the duke.”

Lissian told Morbe. Morbe nodded in surprise.

“My lord.”

He walked steadily to me and kneeled on one knee.

He held the sword with both hands.

“I’ve thought about it a lot. This sword is the sword of Aphelemiion.”

“Why is that?”

“When I’m ready, I will become a knight of Aphelemiion and use this sword. Until then, I leave the sword with you.”

His eyes looked deep and unreadable.

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“…If you lose today, will you leave?”

“…”

“Do as you please.”

I shrugged after a moment of thought.

There was nothing I could do right now. If he wanted to leave after the match, I would think of a way to stop him then.

“So you’re really changing weapons? Whatever, hurry up and fight.”

Aken snapped his fingers and said.

Lissian didn’t answer but picked up another sword lying on the ground.

“Start.”

The two took their places, and Morbe gave a signal.

Swish

Two shadows rushed at each other at incredible speed.