Chapter 41
In the center of the Adventurers Guild, Malice and I stood facing each other with our swords at the ready.
Though this was supposed to be a mock battle—a light test of our abilities—I knew it wouldn't be anything so mild.
It wouldn't end with a few exchanges of blows.
This was a duel to prove my innocence... No, to sever my ties with House Edvaughn.
"You know this, Malice, but don't kill him. We can't have a corpse here."
Malice didn't react to Aizasu's words.
"...That's a fine single-edged sword, Malice."
I turned my gaze to Malice's sword.
A single-edged sword—in other words, a katana.
That's what it was usually called in 〈Magic World〉 and in this world.
〈Demon Blade: Mizugarasu〉... Recommended Equipment Lv: 40.
Its slender, beautiful blade had a distinctive blue sheen.
It had a high Attack Power bonus, and a single stroke from a Sword Saint with her high stats, combined with its reach, could unleash tremendous force.
Two direct hits could kill even me, a Heavy Knight.
To be blunt, even if she just swung it around carelessly, it would be a serious threat.
"Heh. I hear Father was secretly keeping it ready to give to you."
Malice twisted her lips into a smile.
"We haven't sparred since we were children. But... honestly, I didn't think you hated me this much."
Malice's figure wavered faintly.
The next instant, she was right in front of me.
The Demon Blade's edge came rushing toward me.
It was as fast as I'd expected.
But what I hadn't expected was the pressure coming from the blade.
Even if I blocked it with my shield, it would take a huge chunk out of my HP.
"〈Parry〉!"
I deflected Malice's strike with my sword, stepped into my range, and swept my blade back at her.
But my sword didn't even graze her.
No, by the time I raised my sword to strike, she'd already moved out of my reach.
"I'm relieved to see you can at least make this fun, Elymas. After all, this is the last time I'll get to play with you while you're still in one piece."
Even when 〈Parry〉 threw her off balance, my blade couldn't reach her.
I knew there was a wide gap between us in reach and speed, but I hadn't expected to miss her so completely.
Malice swung her blade.
I blocked with my shield while already moving back to absorb the impact.
Her reach was a threat, but her long blade made it hard to maneuver and limited how she could move.
If I could predict her next move, I could evade her without taking damage.
But I couldn't launch a proper counterattack.
If I approached while Malice was ready, I couldn't react to the slash her speed let her unleash.
Even if I closed in while she was recovering from a swing, I couldn't attack in time.
"Hey, what's wrong? Come on, come on, come on!"
Malice attacked me relentlessly.
I could keep up with her, but I couldn't find an opening to counterattack.
Whenever my defense slipped, I couldn't fully absorb the impact, and she chipped away at my HP through my shield.
"What a pointless display of stubbornness... Malice is just playing with him."
I heard Aizasu's voice.
But this was fine for now.
At this stage, what I needed was to learn Malice's movements.
But I wasn't interested in the openings she left while playing around.
I wanted to know where Malice was vulnerable when she got serious.
I deliberately let the impact through and blocked Malice's attack head-on with my shield.
A dull impact shuddered through it.
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【Elymas Edvaughn】
Class: Heavy Knight
Lv: 41
HP: 61/100
MP: 41/41
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...She'd already taken forty percent of my HP.
I quickly lowered my shield and raised my sword to strike at Malice.
"Too slow... There's no way you'd make it in time with a move like that."
Malice leaped far backward... and then her body suddenly lurched to one side.
Looking startled, she glanced down at her feet.
A Heavy Knight skill... 〈Shadow Treading〉.
When I blocked her attack with my shield, I'd stepped on her shadow.
If she tried to create distance and reset the fight, the shadow would pull her back and throw her badly off balance.
I closed in on her while she was exposed.
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〈Frenzied Ogre Shield〉【Recommended Equipment Lv: 40】
【Defense: +25】
【Market Value: 3,000,000 Gordo】
A fearsome shield carved with the face of an ogre.
When you block an opponent's attack with this shield, your next attack against that same opponent gains 【Attack Power: +8】.
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The 〈Frenzied Ogre Shield〉's effect had boosted my Attack Power.
"〈Counter Slash〉!"
From point-blank range, I swung my sword like a punch, striking at the center of her body.
I felt a dull impact.
"Guh...!"
Heavy Knights have low Attack Power.
But that blow should have hurt her at least a little.
It should have been enough to make the overconfident Malice think twice.
Malice unleashed a wide swing, taking advantage of her reach.
Fearing I'd follow up, she seemed intent on putting distance between us and recovering her stance.
I simply deflected the blow with 〈Parry〉, released 〈Shadow Treading〉, and retreated behind her.
Malice held her chest where I'd struck her, eyes wide.
She seemed shocked that she'd been hit.
"Y-You did it...! Elymas-san landed a direct hit!"
"Impossible... It can't be. The difference in stats between a Sword Saint and a Heavy Knight is like heaven and earth, even in the same level range..."
Aizasu's face had gone pale.
In truth, a trick like that would only work once.
Even 〈Shadow Treading〉 wouldn't have worked so well if Malice hadn't been teasing me and leaped farther back than she needed to.
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〈Upset〉【Title】
Proof that you defeated a 〈Dream Lord〉 with a party of two or fewer and at a level no higher than 70% of the recommended level.
When fighting an opponent of a higher level, your Attack Power and Speed increase by 15%.
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Without 〈Upset〉's speed bonus, I wouldn't have been able to counterattack in time.
Malice's carelessness, combined with my greater experience in real combat using Skills, had finally let me land a single hit.
"Come at me for real, Malice. You weren't planning to back down after that, were you?"
Malice's lips curled upward.
"I'm glad you're still you, Elymas. Ah, it wouldn't mean anything if you weren't. Sorry—I was afraid this would be over too soon."
Malice changed her stance.
"I'll show you the Sword Saint's Skills."
I'd managed to provoke Malice.
The real fight started here.