WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 241: How Dare You (3)
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“Heh heh.”
Hall Master Joseph smiled in delight at Joshua Lindsay’s appearance.
His original plan had been to provoke Bill Staunton so that Airen would draw his sword, then step in himself while pretending to mediate once more.
No matter how promising the Staunton Troublemaker might be, Joseph had not expected Bill to draw out a Sword Master’s true skill.
But Joshua Lindsay, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen, was another matter.
‘I don’t know what their relationship is, but I hope he pushes Airen to his limit.’
Joseph had sensed it in that brief moment when Airen drew his Aura Sword.
Airen Farreira’s skill had improved by leaps and bounds over the past year.
His Aura control, including Concentration and Manifestation, was incomparably smoother than before.
As he was thinking that, Bill Staunton approached him with a displeased look on his face.
“Elder.”
“What is it?”
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“Knew what?”
“You knew that man was a Sword Master when you egged me on, didn’t you?”
“Did I force you? Do it if you want to, don’t if you don’t. You made the choice yourself, so why are you blaming someone else?”
“Isn’t that why they call you a troublemaker? Because you go around causing trouble and blaming everyone else?”
“That’s true.”
Anton, one of the swordsmen from Joseph Fencing Hall, shook his head.
Bill Staunton, who called himself a troublemaker, and Hall Master Joseph, who had tried to teach him a lesson, seemed much the same to Anton.
‘It feels like Hall Master Joseph has become childlike in his old age.’
Of course, hardly anyone paid attention to them.
Every eye in the area was fixed on Joshua Lindsay and the blond young man who had displayed an Aura Sword.
“What are you waiting for? Draw your sword.”
“Um, wait. Please, let me say something first.”
“Last words?”
“No, what do you mean, last words? I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?”
“You lied. You came to see Illia, yet you used my birthday as an excuse.”
“No, I did come to see Illia, but... it’s true that I came to celebrate your birthday as well.”
“Is that so? Then you must have brought a gift.”
“...”
Airen fell silent.
Lying to save his life had been one thing, but with Joshua responding like this, he could no longer think of an excuse.
Sweat streamed down his back and forehead.
The one who saved him was his sister.
“Of course we did. Here, this is the gift we prepared for the family head.”
Whoosh.
Kiril Farreira pulled a bottle from her Sorcery Pouch.
It was an expensive wine.
She had bought it to drink with Lance Patterson someday when the mood was right, but she had no choice but to sacrifice it to save her brother from danger.
Joshua accepted the item from a servant and inspected the bottle.
‘...It’s one I like.’
This time, Joshua was the one left speechless.
Everything he had said until now had been nothing but unreasonable nitpicking.
Airen had arrived far earlier than the one-year deadline. Worse, that brat had monopolized his daughter’s attention, so Joshua had picked a nonsensical fight with him.
That was right.
Since he had already started an unreasonable fight, he might as well see it through without worrying about what others thought.
His expression hardened as he looked at the blond young man.
“Airen.”
“Yes.”
“Do you still remember the assignment I gave you?”
“...Yes.”
Airen nodded.
Do not be swept up by Ignet’s flames. Escape your impatience and maintain your own pace.
He still carried those words in his heart.
He had wandered a little, but all of his current growth had begun with Joshua Lindsay’s advice.
Joshua looked slightly surprised when he saw the seriousness in Airen’s eyes.
The advice he had given was something easy to understand with one’s head, yet difficult to accept in one’s heart.
In other words, he had deliberately asked because he assumed Airen still had not found an answer.
Yet despite his stiff expression, Airen looked back at him with considerable confidence.
That naturally piqued Joshua’s interest.
He was the father who dearly loved his daughter, but he was also a swordsman who loved the sword more than anyone.
“...It seems you’ve made some progress.”
“I’m still lacking, but I believe I’ve grown compared to before.”
“Can you prove it?”
“I can.”
“Good. Let’s change locations. Come inside.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The atmosphere changed.
The young man with a timid air, who had been trying to wriggle out of danger however he could, was nowhere to be seen.
In his place stood a young hero with unshakable resolve.
Joshua Lindsay’s demeanor changed completely as well.
The man who loved and doted on his daughter so much that he could not complain even if people called him a fool for his daughter instantly began to exude the air of a great master.
It was an incredibly serious situation.
Hall Master Joseph and the swordsmen of his fencing hall followed the two with keen interest. Kiril and Lulu came to their senses a moment later and entered House Lindsay as well.
“This is going to be incredibly fun.”
Bill Staunton felt the same.
He had already erased the fact that Hall Master Joseph had nearly made a fool of him from his mind.
He had not suffered any real loss, and now he had the chance to watch the swordsmanship of Joshua Lindsay, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen. There could be no greater gain.
Besides, wasn’t Airen a genius who stood shoulder to shoulder with Ignet Crescentia and Illia Lindsay?
The immature nobleman hurried along with an excited expression.
But someone stopped him.
“Why are you following us?”
It was Kiril Farreira.
“What do you mean, why? Is it wrong for a guest of House Lindsay to visit House Lindsay?”
“I know that, but then you should be shown to your lodgings. You have nothing to do with the sparring match, so why are you following them?”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“No.”
“Even if one of those involved gives me permission?”
“You’re going to ask the family head?”
“I was planning to ask Lord Airen Farreira.”
“He says no.”
“I apologize for what happened earlier. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“I dislike you even more now that you’re changing your mind so easily.”
“No. I still think it was rude to appear at a celebration in clothing that did not suit the occasion. Of course, I was rude as well in the process, so I will apologize for that. If you wish, I’ll bow my head and make a sincere gesture. Is that still not enough?”
“No.”
“Phew. Then it can’t be helped. Don’t blame me if you regret this.”
“...No matter what you do, I have no intention of watching the sparring match in the same place as you.”
Kiril narrowed her eyes and glared at Bill Staunton.
It was an air she had felt several times in the Cesar Duchy.
After arguing with her, certain arrogant nobles would always make threats like this when things did not go their way.
But she was not someone who would yield to that.
‘Whatever he tries, I’ll pay him back double.’
Steeling herself, Kiril sharpened her senses so she could respond to any trick Bill Staunton might attempt.
But the words that came from his mouth were completely different from what she expected.
“If you intend to exclude me from watching the swordsmanship, then I... will confess to you on the day of the birthday banquet.”
“What?”
“In front of a very large crowd.”
“Huh?”
“In a loud voice. I’ll praise you with every embarrassingly flowery phrase I can think of, so everyone will look at us.”
“...”
“I’ll sing you a love serenade in a sweet voice.”
“What kind of insane...”
“I call this a Confession Attack.”
“Kiril, this person is strange...”
Lulu muttered in a frightened voice.
Kiril thought the same.
She stared at Bill Staunton in disgust.
He was saying he would embarrass her with a confession. Attack her with a confession.
What kind of absurd attack was that?
But it was certainly effective.
The moment she imagined Bill Staunton singing a serenade before countless people, she felt as if dozens of bugs were crawling all over her body.
She could not think of a proper way to deal with it, either.
Thoroughly disgusted, she had no choice but to speak.
“I’m sorry. Please don’t do that.”
“What about watching the sparring match?”
“I’ll allow it.”
“Thank you.”
Bill Staunton grinned and whistled.
The swordsmen of Joseph Fencing Hall, who had overheard their conversation, stared at him as if he were insane.
“Are you ready?”
“I am.”
Regardless, Joshua Lindsay and Airen Farreira were already completely focused on each other.
Having arrived at the training grounds, Joshua drew his sword, while Airen summoned the Sorcery Greatsword.
The swordsmen gasped in admiration once again at the sight of the brilliant golden blade. It looked more elegant, sharper, and sturdier than any famed sword in the world.
But those impressions were utterly overturned when Joshua Lindsay created his Aura Sword.
Vwoooooom!
A blade wrapped in silver radiance.
Everyone stared blankly at the Aura Sword, more beautiful even than those wielded by the knights of holy Abilius. Airen also raised his power.
The two pillars of light soared high into the sky, then stopped growing.
Tap!
Tap!
The sparring match began.
Kraaaash!
The two clashed in the very center of the training ground and tested each other’s strength.
Crack!
Fissures spread across the ground. Unable to endure the tremendous force, the stone floor shattered like a cookie.
Airen lost his balance slightly because of it. Joshua did not miss the opening, and his sword came flying in like a gale.
Kraaaash!
Another thunderous impact rang out.
Airen did not resist the force.
He slipped away from the attack as if gliding across the ground, then regained his stance. Joshua rode the flow and continued his offensive.
His Sword Strikes came from every direction as he changed angles in a dizzying blur, like a raging storm.
“...”
Bill Staunton watched without even swallowing.
It was exactly as expected of the renowned swordsman.
The swordsmanship of the head of House Lindsay, descended from a hero’s bloodline, was overpowering and tyrannical enough to seem capable of ruling the heavens.
What surprised him even more was that Airen showed no sign of being overwhelmed despite that savage barrage.
Bang!
Clang!
Clang, clang!
The deafening sound of metal echoed without pause.
It was a terrifying storm of swords.
Yet Airen, standing at its center, still had room to spare.
He established his center through the power of Steel.
Then he swept away the attacks with the smoothly flowing power of water.
Facing the wind head-on would mean certain defeat, but as long as he focused solely on yielding to its flow and deflecting it, there was no problem.
Deflecting it, deflecting it, deflecting it.
When he could no longer deflect an attack, he endured it with power as solid as iron.
His opponent also needed time to recover from the numbing impact, and Airen quickly regained his balance in that gap.
One minute passed. Then two.
Before long, five minutes had gone by.
“...”
Bill Staunton.
The swordsmen of the fencing hall.
Even Hall Master Joseph.
They all continued watching in silence.
No one dared to speak. It was not that kind of atmosphere.
Then, in that moment when everyone’s heart pounded as if it might burst, a fierce gust began to rise from Joshua Lindsay’s sword as he stepped back two paces.
‘That is!’
Hall Master Joseph’s eyes widened.
It was not simply an Aura Sword. It was an attack that manifested the power of wind, the same power said to have inflicted immense damage upon the Dragon King.
It did not only increase its destructive power. Anyone caught in its rotational force could not even hold their sword properly.
How many swordsmen had been left clutching their shredded palms as they watched their swords fly far away, reduced to such miserable states?
But Airen had no intention of giving up.
Flash!
Airen opened his eyes wide and fixed his gaze on Joshua.
His senses, sharpened to the utmost in actual combat, maximized the power of Sorcery.
He could feel the flow of Aura through the family head’s body as if it were within reach.
He reached a decision. He could not stop a completed Sky Sword. He had to stop it before that.
Airen began controlling his Aura.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He did not simply draw it up faster.
Using the power of Fire, he detonated the Aura flowing through his body, then detonated it again.
He layered acceleration upon acceleration, pursuing speed beyond the limit he could normally draw out.
It was a dangerous technique that would ordinarily leave his body in ruins, but he was fine.
Thanks to his careful use of the power of water, he could strike once without suffering any side effects.
That was enough.
He could manage that much with ease.
Airen Farreira’s sword shot forward in an instant and slammed into the incomplete Sky Sword.
Kraaaaaaaaaash!
A thunderous roar.
Then silence.
Airen was forced back twenty steps after the clash, while the family head had retreated only three.
Yet no one mocked the young man for being at a disadvantage.
A cry of astonishment escaped Hall Master Joseph.
“Good heavens...”
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