WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 3: Face Smash

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The unit I belonged to was the Cyrus Empire's 2nd Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 4th Company, 1st Platoon.

2341. Easy to remember.

"That crazy bastard Halibal is training again?"

"He even doubled the weight this time."

"I guess what happened in the dungeon really shook him up..."

It did shake me up. A monster that got the first turn had appeared.

What was even scarier was that it had only been a common monster.

The Human-Faced Spider wasn't the boss of one of the Seven Great Dungeons or anything. If a common monster was that fast, the rest had to be even faster.

In the end, no matter how much weight I carried, I'd still get beaten if I lacked speed.

That was why I had to get faster.

Not just a little faster, but much faster.

After leaving the dungeon, I ran straight to a nearby blacksmith and bought every steel weight I could find.

When I strapped them all over my body and tried moving, the exhaustion was no joke.

Even standing still felt like all the strength was draining from my body, leaving me unwilling to do anything.

Still, maybe because I'd spent so much time carrying weights, it wasn't bad enough that I couldn't endure it.

In that state, I ran every day until I collapsed from exhaustion.

It was hard.

Before I possessed this body, I had been an ordinary person. I'd never struggled this desperately just to stay alive.

But look how much a person changes when a game becomes reality.

The only reason was that I didn't want to die.

No matter what happened, I had no intention of dying.

If I didn't run now, I'd have to run even more later.

It was better to run while I still could of my own free will.

But what truly mattered was actual combat.

Training was only training. No matter how much I improved my speed through it, I couldn't tell how much faster I'd become in a real fight.

'Wait. Monsters respawn.'

Academy of the End's basic farming system revolved around leveling in repeatable dungeons.

That meant some monsters reset after leaving and reentering a dungeon, and the Spider Dungeon was no exception.

If so, fighting that Human-Faced Spider again would show whether I was on the right path.

"You're going in there again?"

"Yes."

"Let it go already. You saved the young lady, and your comrades' deaths weren't your fault."

That wasn't any of my business.

"I'm going to become a knight."

"You stubborn bastard, Halibal...!"

The company commander told me to be careful and tossed me a few potions.

A month passed as I went in and out of the Spider Dungeon, adding more holes to my body.

"Got it."

I cheered when I saw the blue gem floating above my head.

For the first time, I had stolen the Human-Faced Spider's turn.

It couldn't counterattack even once during my barrage of attacks and fell just like that.

"Thank you... Thank you so much..."

"It was something I had to do."

"Thanks to you, Mr. Velder, they can rest in peace now..."

By pure coincidence, the dead soldier's wife had accompanied us into the dungeon that day.

Watching her cry, I became certain.

This was the right path.

'I'm glad I focused on increasing my speed.'

From that day on, I began sparring with the company commander.

"Come at me, Halibal!"

"I won't hold back."

I had expected it, but the company commander was strong.

More than anything, the company commander was fast.

Even with speed greater than the Human-Faced Spider's, it was impossible to steal the company commander's turn.

The moment my turn came around, I thrust my wooden sword into the company commander's torso, but naturally, it didn't take the commander down in one hit.

"...I couldn't dodge that one either."

"It would've been different in a real battle."

My turn wouldn't have come around again.

"I felt it the first time I saw you, but there aren't many people in this world who could land a strike on me at your age."

"Thank you."

I hoped so, too.

⁎⁎⁎

The medal ceremony was held.

"The Cyrus Empire holds the courage and devotion of soldier Halibal Velder in high regard, and hereby awards him the Medal of Merit."

A silver-haired, blue-eyed girl with a gentle air approached, carrying the medal.

The noble young lady I had rescued from the dungeon turned out to be the eldest daughter of the Ren House, a renowned imperial sword family.

Thanks to that, I was receiving a Medal of Merit.

But the Ren young lady in my memories didn't look like that.

The Sword Princess. Cecilia Ren.

She was one of the main heroines in the game, known throughout the academy as a cold, ice-princess type of character.

"Senia Ren, please step forward and present the medal."

But the girl standing before me was named Senia.

Unlike Cecilia from the original story, Senia had a fairly soft, round impression. Her entire demeanor was completely different from Cecilia's.

"You're the one who saved me that day?"

"It was only thanks to the Emperor's grace."

"Thank you so much. You saved my life."

Just as the mysterious young lady smiled and pinned the medal to me, a sharp voice rang out from one side.

"That man saved my sister?"

When I turned, a silver-haired, blue-eyed girl with hair and eye color just like Senia's, but sharp, fierce eyes of her own, stood there.

"Yes, Lady Cecilia. He is Lady Senia's benefactor."

"Really? He looks weak."

Yeah. That was Cecilia.

She looked a little younger, but she was the spitting image of the illustration.

But why was she picking a fight with me?

"Look at him. He's all black and looks filthy."

Those were burns, you bitch. Did she really think that was something to say to the man who had saved her sister and was receiving a medal for it?

"Don't get too full of yourself. Even if you hadn't saved my sister, I would've."

"Cecil! How can you speak to our benefactor like that?!"

Senia hurriedly tried to stop her, but Cecilia paid no attention. She walked over and looked me up and down.

At least the older sister seemed to have some common sense. The younger one was openly rude.

There was a difference in status, so the proper thing would be to bow my head, but it still left a bad taste in my mouth.

Wasn't it basic manners not to act like that toward the person who had saved her sister?

The urge to punch her surged through me.

At that moment, one of the duke's attendants hurried forward.

"Soldier Halibal, state what reward you desire."

An additional reward. This had also been a scene in the game.

The Medal of Merit was the lowest-ranked medal, so it normally came with nothing besides its symbolic meaning.

There was no point asking for gold, jewels, or sacred relics.

But what about this?

"If possible, I would like to witness Lady Cecilia's swordsmanship."

The people around us stirred.

Of course, I hadn't decided that purely out of emotion.

Cecilia was one of the strongest characters who carried the latter half of the original story.

If I could experience her movements in advance, I could firmly establish the direction of my training.

If I went second, I'd prioritize speed. If I went first, I'd prioritize attack power. This spar was only to establish that direction.

It definitely wasn't because I wanted to smash her in the face.

"Hah...?!"

Startled when her name was suddenly called, Cecilia frowned.

But her expression soon changed into a sneer.

"You think that just because you're a little strong among soldiers, you can measure up to my sword?"

She looked around at everyone present and deliberately raised her voice.

"What should I do? He wants it, so can I?"

⁎⁎⁎

The medal ceremony had somehow turned into a sparring match.

Cecilia and I stood facing each other on the sparring grounds with wooden swords in hand.

"I heard you're the strongest in your unit?"

At this point in time, Cecilia was slightly taller than me.

Was that why? She had been looking down at me from the start.

"You didn't think that was enough to surpass me, did you?"

"I sincerely only wish to witness your swordsmanship, my lady."

"You've killed a few monsters and now you think you can challenge me? I think you've forgotten your place."

Yeah. Keep barking.

This wasn't about winning or losing anyway.

For me, it would be enough if I could steal even one turn from her in this spar.

Of course, winning would be nice too.

"The world is vast, kid. Don't underestimate the Ren House's swordsmanship with your pathetic tricks."

"I have never underestimated it."

"Begin!"

The instant the announcer spoke, Cecilia shot forward.

The moment I blinked, she was standing right in front of me.

She was definitely faster than the Human-Faced Spider.

At a glance, it was enough to make her seem like she had blinked through space.

But I wasn't particularly worried.

The blue gem above my head was glowing.

I had the first turn?

Thwack!!

Then die.

"Ugh...!"

Speed really was everything.

When my wooden sword dug deep into Cecilia's side, her body was sent flying backward in an instant.

Still, it was a little disappointing.

Unlike monsters, humans had vital points, making it easier to trigger [Weak!].

But if I only targeted those spots during a spar, everyone would call me a lunatic.

Especially when my opponent was a noble young lady.

Clutching her side, Cecilia shouted.

"You... What was that just now?! How can an ordinary soldier move that fast?!"

Tch. It didn't end in one hit.

I guess playable characters had durability that could rival most monsters.

And so, the time finally came.

Time to get beaten.

"Answer me!!"

Having regained her stance, Cecilia rushed at me like lightning.

Her wooden sword drove toward my solar plexus.

Bang!

[Weak!]

You have no sportsmanship, bitch.

I deliberately avoided your vital points.

Her follow-up barrage sent me soaring into the air. I flew several meters before being slammed into the floor of the sparring grounds.

But I didn't die.

Unlike the Human-Faced Spider, Cecilia wasn't attacking with the emotionless intent to kill her opponent.

Suppressing my scream, I slowly rose to my feet.

My turn again.

You hit my solar plexus too, didn't you?

I'm not going easy on you this time.

I immediately drove my wooden sword into Cecilia's solar plexus.

"Keugh... Ngh...!!"

Her breath burst out in a choked gasp, and her body floated into the air, bent nearly in half.

'It's not over yet.'

[Weak!]

An extra turn. I followed up by striking her side once more.

Thwack!!

Her body staggered, and she collapsed where she stood.

"Is that the famous Ashen Wind?"

"It really looks like he slashed twice. What incredible skill."

I did hit her twice.

Cecilia was gritting her teeth and enduring the pain as she gasped for breath.

Even that wasn't enough to finish her.

Then it was my turn to get beaten again.

There was no reason to run around if I was going to get hit anyway.

"Why...?"

As I slowly walked over and stood before her, I heard her trembling voice.

"Why... aren't you dodging?!"

Because I can't.

Why did she think being able to hit someone naturally meant I could dodge too?

What was a turn-based freak like me, who could only attack and couldn't dodge, supposed to do about that?

But if I said that outright, the duke staring at me with a shocked expression would definitely make me Hal/ibal.

So I dressed it up as a convincing excuse.

"A true knight never dodges an opponent's sword when it is wielded with their full strength."

"W-What...?!"

The crowd stirred.

I knew. It was insane.

What kind of nonsense was that? If it hurt, you were supposed to dodge.

"I have said from the beginning that I wished to witness your swordsmanship, my lady. I meant your sword wielded in earnest."

When I held out my hand and spoke, Cecilia looked at me with confused eyes.

But her gaze soon sharpened again, and she slapped away my outstretched hand.

"...Then I'll show you. You said you wanted to see it!"

She raised her wooden sword high and began gathering energy into its blade.

The air touching my skin crackled as it flowed over me.

What was this? Had I talked too much?

"Cecilia, stop!"

The duke's voice called out from the stands, trying to stop her.

But he didn't seem to have any intention of coming down. If it was dangerous enough that she needed to stop, shouldn't he come restrain her himself?

"Ren Sword Style. First Sword. Shattering Light."

The instant I heard that name, I mentally snapped my fingers.

'Arts.'

Arts were a system unique to Academy of the End, character-specific skills that activated when certain conditions were met.

I had used them countless times in the game. Naturally, they were flashier and more powerful than normal attacks.

The problem was that I was the one getting hit.

'Getting hit by that looks like it'll fuck me up.'

I remembered a scene from the original story where a common monster struck by Shattering Light had its upper and lower halves separated.

Was Hal/ibal inevitable after all?

"Haaaaah...!!"

KABOOM!!

A flash of light erupted from Cecilia's sword and shot straight toward me, pouring over my body.

Crackle!!

With a deafening roar that seemed to tear apart my ears, I felt my breath catch in my throat from the splitting agony.

"Aaargh!!"

It hurt so much that I screamed, but my voice was swallowed by the noise.

So this was the power of Arts? It hurt several times more than the Human-Faced Spider's attack.

It felt as if my entire body were being kneaded like dough.

My insides churned, and everything before my eyes turned white.

When the flash finally disappeared, the wooden sword in my hand had shattered to pieces, and smoke rose from my body.

"Arts in a friendly spar? Has she lost her mind?!"

"Call the physicians! If we don't treat him quickly, his life will be in danger!"

Even so, I didn't fall.

"What?!"

"Even if it was only a wooden sword, a mere commoner withstood Lady Cecilia's Arts?!"

'Right. I’d forgotten about Arts. How could I forget?'

Come to think of it, I had only been using normal attacks every turn until now.

But what if I could use Arts too?

I could hit harder.

Then naturally, there would be fewer chances for me to get hit.

"You... endured Shattering Light...?"

Cecilia looked at me as if she couldn't believe it, but my eyes weren't on her.

Instead, I lifted my head and looked at the sky.

There, a gem even bluer than the sky shone brilliantly.

"It's my turn now."

I slowly walked toward her.

I was slow, but that didn't matter.

It was my turn now.

And once I had closed the distance enough, I put all my strength into my fist and drove it straight into her face.

Thwack!!

Die, bitch.

Footnotes:

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