Chapter 23: CH 23

“Hey, everyone! It seems like Ms. Lysendera’s going to duel!”

“Seriously? What even is with that old man? Who is he?”

“Come on… I don’t even think he’s an Adventurer.”

The place is abuzz.

No guesses as to why, it’s no exaggeration to say that the Black Ranks are the envy of all other Adventurers. If one makes arrangements for a duel, you could expect that a lot of people wanted to come to see.

If the opponent wasn’t an old man like myself, it would have looked better, though.

“This is the Guild’s training grounds,” Nidas said. “I don’t believe its size will be an issue.”

“… Yeah, I think this is fine,” I said, nodding.

“Hee-hehe, this is going to be fun, this is going to be fun!” Lucy cackled.

And, this one right here clearly thinks it’s someone else’s problem.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go off on Lucy once, right?

After that, the noise ended in a hurry, and I finalized the arrangements with Selena.

""

The training grounds are attached to the Adventurer’s Guild. Unlike the Knight’s training grounds, it was both outdoors and reasonably large.

As I look around, there were wooden dummies that stood all over the place, and it seems there’s quite a few Adventurers.

However, most of them seem to be newcomers because this place is for training. Specifically, most of the rank plates I saw were White and Bronze.

Well, if you got to Gold or higher, you won’t bother to swing your sword around at the training ground. Perhaps they train themselves through quests and live battle.

“Hmph.”

Selena is as usual.

I’m definitely used to the intensity of her gaze.

Speaking of which, although I had these duels a few times at the dojo, I’m not used to fighting with a large audience.

Instructing the Knights of Revelio was also a terribly fresh experience for me. And of course, being surrounded by Adventurers is a first, too. This old man is a little nervous.

“Well then, Master,” Selena said. “It’s a pleasure to be fighting you.”

“Yeah, go easy on me,” I said.

In the center of the grounds, I and Selena face each other.

No, seriously, please go easy on me. Honestly.

Selena said that formal greeting then gave a neat bow.

It’s a sign of gratitude at the dojo, I taught it to her when she was young.

That she still remembers it makes me feel a little warm.

In both of our hands are wooden swords. However, while mine is similar to the size of a longsword, Selena has a pair of slightly shorter, thinner ones.

This is because she uses a dual-wielding style. The difference in movements and tactics is quite different from my usual way of fighting. And on that note, how can I stand against a dual-wielding opponent?

No, this is just an exhibition match. There’s no need for competition or for worrying about victory or defeat.

Besides, it would be disrespectful to Selena if I let my mind wander here and there.

Alright, let’s concentrate. Focus!

“–Here I go!” Selena cried.

“…!”

She had signaled the start of the battle.

And at the same time, she gave off a short roar. The woman before me disappeared from sight.

–Did she drop low?

Run up, dash, from the right, it’s a slash, both hands now, something’s different, one’s a fake-out, to the torso, a stop, a vertical cut, deflection, kick, hold down, jump away, follow-up, stab, hesitation, open slash, block, stab again, turn, disengaged, block!

“HaaaaAAAAHHHHHH…!” Selena roars.

“Mu….! Guh…!” I groan.

UUUUOOOOOHHH, SO FAST! My mind can’t keep up!

It’s like the barrage of lightning, wind, and thunder. It’s an onslaught that barely gives me time to breathe.

There was no gap that let me think of a counter-attack. I can’t even predict her next move. It’s taking almost all of my reflexes just to dodge.

No, Selena is insanely strong!

That’s the best of the Adventurers for you, they can’t be weak!

Wielding two swords simply means that the number of moves is doubled. Of course, how to properly handle them will change accordingly, so if it’s just an amateur with two swords, they won’t be that much of a threat.

However, Selena is different. Her movements are properly optimized for wielding twin blades.

Sometimes delicate, sometimes bold. The two swords cross and dance wildly in every direction.

This is dangerous, I can’t do anything as it is and I’ll be crushed.

I don’t think it’ll be easy to win, but I’m teaching swordsmanship. It’s a little shameful to be defeated without giving it every last effort I could.

No, this isn’t the time to be talking about appearances, though!

Oooohh, crap, it’s a blur!

“Kuh-hahahaha! As expected of Beryl!”

“No way, he didn’t even get hit once…? I can’t believe it…”

“He’s handling everything thrown at him…?! Who is that old man?!”

Shit, I can hear the audience’s voices. That’s proof I haven’t completely concentrated.

Focus, focus, damn it! If you get don’t get rid of distractions, you’ll be hit in an instant and ended!

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—Upward slash, vertical slice, bounce, foot sweep, angled cut, thrust, preventative cut, kick, jump off, foot sweep, spin slice, various thrust to the hand—!

Time marches on as I hold out against the furious assault.

How many seconds have passed now? The scene moving before my eyes is too fast and I can’t get a good sense of it.

However, there is only one thing that I’ve learned in this short time of dueling.

So far as I can see, Selena is dexterously manipulating both hands, but the number of moves on the left is slightly less. She’s probably not perfectly ambidextrous.

She was right-handed, even back when she was a child being taught swordsmanship.

Of course, that was no issue fighting normally. Rather, you could say that she had already reached the top at this point.

It’s a gap you could hardly call a gap. A vulnerability that’s smaller than the eye of a needle.

—If I’m going to attack her, it would only be through there.

I focus all my nerves to handle the assault and wait for an attack coming from her left hand.

“HAH…!” Selena roared.

“–Shi…!” I hissed.

Our battle cries overlap.

I slash her left hand. This is it.

It’s the only way to hit both swords simultaneously.

I catch the wooden sword approaching at an angle from above, and twist it with my fingertips.

It’s a trick that also got Henblitz, Vice-Captain of the Knights. A forcible shifting of force to the side causes the wielder’s posture to collapse.

Selena’s movement is too fast, it’s best to concentrate completely on deflecting one hand.

Of course, I don’t think I can control a swordsman like Selena with such a trick.

Her skill couldn’t be overwhelmed as simply as adjusting her center of gravity to match my “Nothing”.

But only the fraction of a second.

That’s all the time I need.

“… Kuh…!”

Selena’s eyes open for a moment after my move, but she immediately switches her footing to regain her posture.

It’s a great move but only for this moment.

Only for this moment, I’M FASTER!

""

“——!”

“… Point, match,” I said.

At that moment.

Selena’s twin swords came to a halt in mid-air.

My wooden sword was approaching her throat.

“–Thank you, very much,” Selena said.

“Yeah,” I said. “Thank you very much.”

Although it was short, my slash was the decisive factor, the duel was completed.

We bowed to each other and turned to Nidas and the others.

“WOOAAAAHHHH! AMMAAAZZZIINNNNGGG!”

“What was that? What was that?! WHAT WAS THAT?!”

“I can’t believe what I saw! I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!”

Suddenly, the already noisy training ground exploded to unmatched volume than before.

Well, the audience would of course be surprised.

Selena’s rapid, continuous assault was tremendous. If you become a top-ranked Adventurer, your skills would be different. I’m sure the new Adventurers here got a good show.

I only managed to get in one shot after experiencing hell.

I was just holding on for dear life, so it must have looked lame.

I mean, I’m already sweating from that momentary exchange.

On the other hand, Selena is sweating but she doesn’t feel tired.

Even though her opponent was crap.

If we continued like this, I would have been overwhelmed. I think it’s probably impossible for ordinary people to think of surpassing that.

“Phew…” I sighed. “Well done, Selena.”

“No, so, you were amazing, Master,” Selena said. “I couldn’t believe you handled all that…”

We walk forward while exchanging compliments.

“But your skill with the left hand isn’t perfect just yet, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Did you see that?” Selena asked. “… I still haven’t had enough training to treat it like my dominant hand.”

While on the subject, I wanted to add some points that Selena would be interested in.

I’m no longer her mentor, but if I can help Selena rise even higher, I would be happy to.

“Hehehe, schooling the Black Ranks now?” Lucy asked. “Now you’ve done it.”

We reach the end of our walk, Lucy gives a massive smile.

Though surprised, Nidas welcomes us back with a smile.

And there was Meigen, standing with his mouth open.

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