Copy Skills with Affinity! - Chapter 22

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

◈ Copy Skills with Affinity! ◈

Chapter 22: Quarrel

──────

In truth, when he thought about it, this was not such a bad situation.

Both Noel and Katia had reached lofty heights in their respective fields. Since they openly wielded their own abilities, they were also the two great pillars responsible for the efficiency of Aiden's Skill copying.

If he could receive proper instruction from both of them, his combat ability was bound to improve at an incredible pace.

-Skill Info

◈ Weaver of Fate

⎨ Meyer Belford ⎬

- Bond: Level 1

- You can copy 1 Skill.

Especially when he had recently received something like this.

[ You copy “Skill: Analysis.” ]

And could acquire a Skill like this.

◆ Analysis

[ There are things visible only to the eyes of one who has traversed countless battlefields and built up experience. The analysis and acquisition of martial styles become vastly faster. ]

Just reading the Skill description made it clear that this was an excellent opportunity. All that remained was for him to gain as much as he could.

Which was why Aiden was now painfully reflecting on an important lesson.

... Being skilled at something and being skilled at teaching it were completely different things.

“Why are you setting up a defensive spell there? Did you really survive the Coalition War fighting like that? Was it a war, or did you come back from playing children’s games?”

“I have no idea where you learned your combat principles. Are you proud of being stupid? Have people praised you so much that you actually started believing you were good?”

“...”

Watching the two of them exchange such vicious barbs gave him a headache.

More precisely, they were passionately discussing Aiden’s “curriculum.”

They were so passionate that everyone in the training grounds had turned to look, wondering what was going on.

The discussion had begun with at least a minimum of mutual respect and courtesy. Now, it had fallen to the level of personal attacks.

‘... Come to think of it.’

Had they always been like this in the Scenario?

These two were simply...

Incompatible by nature.

They had recently had a huge fight, but they had still seemed to avoid obvious friction by considering each other’s positions and circumstances.

It seemed differences in personality were hard to overcome after all.

‘I'll need both of them more and more as things progress, though.’

Considering how increasingly warped the Scenario became, bringing forth every sort of danger, these two were at least the allies Aiden could trust right now.

Their help would also be essential for the upcoming first chapter of the Scenario. It would be a problem if they kept fighting like this.

Then, before Aiden’s eyes as he dwelled on that fact, a window suddenly popped up.

!! Sub Quest !!

▶ A fierce conflict involving two important figures is about to occur.

▶ Resolve the situation as peacefully as possible.

▶ If you handle the current situation smoothly, you will receive an advantage in the following Main Quest!

▶ Failure will result in a penalty!

“...”

No.

There was no need to turn this into a Quest and drop it on him.

“Ah, seriously! Rather than this, why don't we just show him ourselves? Hey!”

As he was thinking that, Katia’s angry voice rang out beside him.

“... Pardon?”

After speaking in that furious tone, Katia immediately summoned Divine Power around herself.

Achromatic flames poured forth with searing heat in every direction. Everyone in the training grounds stepped back.

“Try following that!”

Then Her Highness the Princess immediately began commanding the fireballs around her. She fought an imaginary opponent, using her ability to balance attack and defense.

Her movements were free-spirited, practical, light, and nimble. Yet every actual attack woven between them was keen and vicious.

At a glance, it looked like a collection of roughly stitched-together movements. But flashes of brilliant reflexes bound them into one, making even the knights focused on their own training stare wide-eyed.

‘... Once again.’

She really had been holding back when she fought Lady Noel.

It was a demonstration at such a terrifying level that it made him think so.

“See?”

Once the demonstration was over, Katia wiped away her sweat and grinned at Aiden.

“Now try it!”

“...”

Was she kidding?

The thought came to him naturally.

“... I thought you were going to teach me.”

When Aiden blankly asked that, Katia tilted her head instead.

“I showed you.”

“...”

“Can't you just do it right away?”

He looked at her, wondering if it was a joke, but she looked completely serious. She truly seemed convinced that anyone could imitate it after seeing it once.

“Your confidence is so absurd that I am speechless.”

Noel, who had been watching, scolded Katia with a sigh.

Then she drew her sword and took a stance before Aiden.

“I will begin with the most important basic stance. Would you observe carefully?”

With that, Noel demonstrated several simple movements in front of him.

The placement of the stepping foot, shifts in center of gravity, precise direction of the gaze, and the positioning of the upper body. She taught him all of it with detailed explanations.

‘... Oh.’

She was definitely better than Katia had been.

At least Noel seemed to understand how to teach someone who knew nothing.

Aiden followed her explanation all the way through. Once Noel had finished speaking slowly and logically, she nodded and opened her mouth.

“Good. Then, if you carry out exactly what I explained...”

As she spoke, Noel swung her wooden sword at the practice dummy before her.

And then.

BOOM!

A deafening roar, like a bomb going off.

The wooden dummy shattered nearly into dust. A crater opened in the floor as though a meteor had struck it, and cracks spread across the wall from the aftermath.

“... This is what happens.”

After creating that scene, Noel turned toward Aiden without even blinking.

“Would you like to try?”

“...”

Noticing the silence around her, Noel quickly looked around.

“... It is not that difficult, is it?”

“...”

“Mr. Aiden can use Pure White Ki like I can, so he should be able to do at least this much... I would think...”

Seeing the expressions around her become increasingly baffled, Noel’s voice gradually trailed off.

Judging by her expression, she had truly assumed that if she explained that much, he would naturally be able to do something like this.

“... You know.”

Katia put a hand to her forehead and sighed.

“You aren't any different from me.”

“... Please take back that terrible insult.”

And the moment they concluded that neither of them was any different, the two immediately began bickering again. Aiden’s temples started throbbing.

‘How am I supposed to learn anything from this?’

Even if he had copied the Dawn Knight’s Skill, there was no way he could learn anything with instruction this terrible...

-System Message

▶ The effect of “Skill: Analysis” activates.

▶ Your proficiency in “Style: One Sword, One Arrival” increases.

▶ Your proficiency in “Style: Sacred Flame Art” increases.

▶ You have accumulated proficiency in two or more styles.

▶ The “Combat Path” category is unlocked. You can now learn related Skills!

“...”

The moment he saw the window appear before him, Aiden fell silent.

‘I built up knowledge of those styles just from watching that...?’

The Dawn Knight was amazing.

No, truly amazing...!

It was such a terrifying talent that he could sincerely admire the Dawn Knight even setting aside the fact that she had killed him dozens of times the night before...!

As he readily marveled at that fact, he noticed Noel, who had been bickering with Katia for some time, open her mouth as though suppressing something within herself.

“... Then let us stop here.”

“What?”

“It is obvious that neither you nor I can properly serve as a teacher. So how about we both stop trying to teach Mr. Aiden?”

“...”

“I will not say another word about Mr. Aiden, so let us end this with Your Highness no longer interfering.”

“... What?”

“I am saying we should end this peacefully. There is no need to fight any further.”

... Huh.

Aiden turned to Noel in surprise.

They had been going at each other so fiercely that he had not expected her to back down so easily.

But the moment he saw Katia’s expression after hearing those words, Aiden abandoned any hopeful expectation that this would end peacefully.

“... So.”

Katia gave a short laugh.

“You picked a fight with me, and now that you've found a convenient excuse, you want to back out. You want me to back out too while you're at it?”

“What is the problem with that?”

The Princess’s face was covered in the same unreadable smile as always.

But Aiden had watched her from nearby for long enough now to understand.

She was angry.

“Coward.”

Her next action was just as outrageous as that impression suggested.

Flames burst from Katia and enveloped her body. The fire coiled around her arm like a snake, then exploded toward Noel.

Of course, Noel was not someone who would be easily struck by that. She instantly drew her sword and deflected it, glaring furiously at Katia.

“What do you think you are doing...!”

Before she could finish, Katia had already reached Noel and grabbed her by the collar.

“You.”

Before the flames rising around them had even fully cleared, Katia’s voice dropped.

Hostility glittered in her blue eyes as it stabbed toward Noel.

“Could you stop acting like that man’s guardian all the time?”

“... Is that not natural? Mr. Aiden and I are to become husband and wife...”

“I heard that, but after watching you two for so long, it feels strange. Especially your attitude.”

Katia’s growling voice cut Noel off.

“You don't know how you should treat that man, so you're floundering around, aren't you?”

“...”

“You're afraid of getting any closer, but you can't completely push him away either. It is pitiful to watch from the side.”

“...”

“And yet, whenever I spend time with him, you keep making it obvious that you don't like it. If you have no intention of claiming him, stop interfering and get lost. It is irritating.”

A twisted smile formed on Katia’s lips as Noel stayed silent.

“To begin with, I don't understand why you're trying so hard to protect that man. Hm? You were never this kind of person.”

“...”

“Anyone who took part in the Coalition War would know. Not that flashy nickname the Empire gave you, Lionheart, but the much more fitting name of Butcher, for someone who slaughtered enemy and ally alike...”

The next moment.

Every expression vanished from Noel’s face.

The change was so abrupt that even Aiden, quietly watching beside them, felt a momentary sense of danger.

Beneath the slightly relaxed smile she always wore was killing intent fierce enough to tear skin apart.

“Wait, Lady Noel...!”

Before Aiden could stop her, Ki exploded from Noel’s body.

People nearby screamed and were thrown back. The ground shook, and the entire building trembled.

Like a storm had struck, the surrounding area was turned upside down.

This was the result of merely unleashing her ability.

It was an attitude Aiden had never seen before, one she took when she truly meant to harm someone.

“You.”

A voice colder than anger, one that could almost be called ghastly, flowed from her lips.

Then, in that state, Noel grabbed Katia by the nape and slammed her into the ground.

The floor collapsed as though a bomb had gone off. Noel drove Katia into the ground hard enough to create a small crater, and her eyes were full of savagery.

“If you are such a selfish person who lives however you please, would it not be better for you to keep living that way alone instead of dragging others into it? You should know your place.”

Katia, buried in the floor, giggled in reply to Noel’s frosty voice.

“Right, your real personality is finally coming out...”

“You do not care in the slightest whether Mr. Aiden himself wants to be with you.”

“... What?”

“I am saying that you are just as pitiful. You cannot even properly understand what others think of you.”

“...”

“People would be better off without someone irresponsible and selfish, who throws everyone around at will without a shred of consideration. Is that not obvious?”

“What are you talking...”

“You are a nuisance to Mr. Aiden. Do you understand?”

Katia’s mouth snapped shut. Her face went blank.

As Noel said, it seemed Katia had never considered things from that perspective.

“So.”

Noel growled at Katia once more.

“Do not approach Mr. Aiden for no reason.”

Before Noel could drive Katia’s head into the ground again.

“Stop!”

Aiden somehow forced his way through the force Noel was giving off and grabbed her.

“Both of you, stop!”

“...”

The instant his hand touched her, Noel flinched and opened her eyes wide.

As if she had only then come back to her senses, the Ki spilling out of her body was instantly drawn back in.

“...”

She hurriedly looked around.

Noel looked in turn at the wrecked training grounds, the people staring at her in shock, and Aiden, who was breathing hard after pulling her away. Then she clenched her teeth until they bled.

“... I apologize for making such a spectacle of myself.”

With that, she quickly picked up her uniform cap from where it had fallen.

Aiden stood there, still unable to catch his breath, watching Noel leave the training grounds as though fleeing.

Then his gaze fell on Katia, who remained buried in the floor and still looked dazed.

She must have been deeply shocked, because she did not move at all.

Before him, as if reminding him, the window appeared once more.

!! Sub Quest !!

▶ A fierce conflict involving two important figures is about to occur.

▶ Resolve the situation as peacefully as possible.

▶ If you handle the current situation smoothly, you will receive an advantage in the following Main Quest!

▶ Failure will result in a penalty!

... This.