Chapter 48: Volume 3 - CH 11

On the second day of the Martial Arts Festival held the other matches of the first round. As both Kyle and Seran had no match that day, they instead planned on watching the matches for reference, but the only opponent really being somewhat of a match for them was Darius. Angela informed them that Darius wouldn’t be appearing until the final match of the day, so Kyle and his group took their time heading to the arena.

“Still, having to look at this statue every single time…”

In front of the arena, Seran looked up at the statue of his foster mother, showing nothing but displeasure. The statue of Leyla, who was seen as the undefeated ruler ten years ago, was watched in disgust by her son. It truly was a sad sight.

“Why did she suddenly retire after becoming a living legend?” Urza asked, while looking at the statue.

Many speculations went around, with many of them remaining even to this day. Even Urza, who only stayed here for a few days, heard about these.

“It’s not that big of a reason. She just got tired of it despite the honor and money.” Seran said it was nothing special.

“I heard she got fired for dealing with people. Being too popular, the ties of obligation were too big. She simply swung her sword for the sake of her freedom…In that case, you really are similar.” Kyle looked at Seran, grinning.

“Like hell that hag and I are similar! The reason I swing my sword is…” Seran screamed, but went silent mid-way.

Urza thought of this as odd, and asked him.

“Then for what reason…”

Did you try to become stronger—she probably wanted to ask, but the loud cheers from the arena silenced her. Seemingly, the match had started.

“Let’s go check it out. Endlessly talking here won’t do us any good!” Lieze pushed everyone’s backs, entering the arena.

The matches of that day were moving along smoothly. While there were matches that finished immediately, you also had matches that lasted much longer, with all fighters being fairly strong overall, making them exciting. However, from Kyle’s point of view, no participant was dangerous enough for Kyle to keep his eyes on the lookout, except Darius, which he would probably meet in the final match.

So, he started thinking about something else. Namely, the previous incident with Minagi, and the Galgan Empire.

I guess I was lucky to end up in such a fortunate relationship with Minagi. I can’t fully say it for certain, but there’s a huge chance that Eldorand’s death was caused by Minagi’s assassination. Thus, the chaos would not happen, and they could prepare for the Great Invasion…

However, there’s another problem.

If Eldorand is alive, then Maizar most likely won’t become the Emperor. Personally, I’d prefer Maizar, but…Maybe I should pay Minagi to assassinate Eldorand? No, that’s too much. Are there any other ways of making Maizar the emperor? A peaceful one that would let the Empire keep its military power…

“Kyle! Kyle!” Lieze shook his shoulders, pulling him back to reality.

“Y-Yeah, what’s up?”

“Why were you spacing out like that?”

“I was just thinking…Oh, is it already the final match…Wait?” There, Kyle realized something.

“Yeah, something’s off.”

The final match of the first round was about to begin, and yet Darius was the first to appear.

‘In this final match of our first round, we have the popular surprise match, which deserves everyone’s attention. First, from the East gate, we have the previous winner of the festival, Fighter Darius!’

Summoned by the announcer, a large and sturdy man appeared, claiming to be the strongest of the Empire. At first, roars of excitement filled the arena, but they soon drowned out in doubts. Normally, you would announce the most exciting participant last to keep the tension up. In other words, Darius’ opponent must be an even bigger fish than him. Darius himself seemed to know who he was about to fight, as he looked at the West Gate with a bitter gaze. His expression was riddled with tension.

‘T-Then, let me announce the final participant left to appear in the arena!’ Even the announcer’s voice was shaking. ‘For five years, she was undefeated, crowned as the invincible ruler, leaving her name behind in the legends told even to this day, until a sudden retreat! Ever since then, she has yet to show herself!’

From the West Gate, the large stone door opened, and the participant appeared. They possessed tanned skin with red hair, a greatsword about the same size as them on their back, flashing a smile that would make even the strongest predator in this world cower in fear, as they slowly walked to the center of the arena.

‘However, she has now made a return after ten years…Known as the ‘Crimson Ogre’, Fighter Leyla makes a turbulent return!’

Undoubtedly, it was Seran’s foster mother, and Kyle’s former teacher, Leyla. The moment the announcement ended, roaring cheers like thunder had struck ground rang out, enveloping the entire arena.

“What is that wench doing…” Seran’s mouth opened wide in shock to the point he might dislocate his jaw.

“W-Why is Teacher here…” Kyle tilted his head in disbelief, looking at his teacher of the sword.

“Oh, she does look exactly like the statue.”

“It really is her, right?”

“Yeah…that’s Leyla-san…But, why is she here?”

At the same time as Shildonia admired this sudden appearance, Urza was still a bit dubious, only for Lieze to answer that question.

‘As a five-time consecutive winner of the festival, and last time’s winner, this is an unparalleled match-up. However, as the acclaimed strongest of the Empire, Darius, he must be feeling a bit worried now!’

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As the announcer’s voice went all around the arena, Darius raised his sword high, pointing the tip of the blade at Leyla. She responded with a swing of her greatsword, and swung it down like she was planning on splitting Darius in half.

‘Darius versus Leyla! He challenges the living legend!’

The audience once again cheered in excitement, but the two people fighting couldn’t be calmer. The two faced each other from a certain distance, not moving an inch. Leyla’s greatsword reached a size that almost seemed unbelievable in size for a normal weapon, and its destructive power was the greatest of all weapons, able to incapacitate you with a single hit. That being the case, a consecutive attack was always delayed, creating an opening. If Darius attacked first, or even managed to counter it, he had the overwhelming advantage.

As both fully understood that fact, Darius judged his timing for the attack, and Leyla took a posture ready to intercept it, neither of them moving. Even the audience went silent so that every breath could be heard.

“This is bad, he’ll get sucked in.”

“Yeah…I’ve experienced it myself, and that is a pain.”

Seran muttered, and Kyle agreed.

“What are you talking about?” Urza asked, answered by Kyle as he thought about the past.

“Teacher is exceptionally good when it comes to bargaining and reading the other’s moves. When you attempt to move for an attack, she’ll read your gaze or faint movement, and seal it off. Just by facing her, you’ll end up playing at her pace.”

“Yeah. It’s like she’s reading your own thoughts, seeing the future…She makes you think that. And then, she already has the upper hand.” Seran said with a bitter smile, having experienced something similar.

Just as Kyle stated, even though they were simply facing each other, Darius started to sweat aggressively, his breathing slowly getting out of rhythm. He probably saw a hallucination of attacking, and getting split in half in return. At the same time, Leyla flashed an arrogant smile, calm as always. When fighting Leyla, you would need an iron mentality to even keep standing.

“That’s just the difference in real battle experience. That old hag’s been fighting even way before we were born.”

“A surprise attack right after the beginning may have been his best bet…although it would be reckless.”

“Yeah. Probably wouldn’t work against an enemy whose strength you don’t know, but with her…However, this is just the first round, with more matches tomorrow. If Darius’ goal is to win the festival as a whole, he can’t take any risks.”

“Yeah, that’s true…I know it can’t be helped, but that’s a nasty development.” Kyle explained, to which Urza joined in.

“…Why are you two cheering for Darius?”

From the way they made it sound like, they wished for their foster mother, or teacher, to lose.

“Of course? We both can’t help but sympathize with Darius in this case.”

Kyle and Seran knew all too well what Darius felt like right now.

“On top of that…pity, I guess.”

Envisioning what was about to unfold, Kyle sent Darius a complicated gaze.

Darius seemingly finally made up his mind and moved. He put all his strength into his leg, taking a step forward, closing the distance between him and Leyla. His sword aimed at the centerline of Leyla, right where her heart was. As Leyla was previously waiting, she now swung her sword down with all her might, going in for the charge as well. That swing of her sword landed on the ground, and exploded before Darius’ sword could reach her. An impact strong enough to simulate the shaking of the arena rang out, with the ground breaking and denting like it was the epicenter of an earthquake.

Such an impact that would leave no remains of any normal human being, Darius barely managed to avoid it with severe deceleration, barely making it out of that attack unscathed, now attempting to swing his sword down at Leyla to finish her—However, he couldn’t do that. Leyla’s attack, which resembled the explosion of a bomb, greatly influenced his surroundings even if it wasn’t a direct impact. Vibration, sound, dust blew up into the air, like a second calamity, the explosive wind covered him, damaging him all over. His attempt of going for a counterattack now fired back at him.

“Urk!”

Even so, Darius wanted to attempt an attack, swinging his sword, but Leyla had her second attack ready, and Darius was forced to intercept it. As the greatsword was pushed up, Darius blocked it with his sword. That single swing possessed enough destructive force to most likely break Darius’ sword completely, and since he would have no chance of winning without his trusty partner, he deflected a bit of the impact with a twist of his body, and somehow managed to block off the attack—However the second he thought that, Leyla continued.

“Off you go!”

She put all her might into a kick, which she rammed into her own sword, kicking up Darius in the process. With the attack of the greatsword, Darius’ balance was already off-center, and his own sword couldn’t bear the incoming damage, breaking in the process as he was kicked up into the air. Reaching a height comparable to a three-floor building, Darius seemingly had passed out at that point, and simply soared down onto the ground, not moving anymore.

Witnessing a shocking conclusion you wouldn’t expect to see from a sword match, the entire arena was wrapped up in silence. However, Darius ended up unable to fight, and Leyla stood tall. Once the audience realized that the winner had been decided, an explosive roar rang out.

“Darius really is strong. He made the old hag go all out…”

As the audience was roaring in excitement to the point that it made your ears hurt, Seran showed a completely different reaction compared to everyone else. That last kick of Leyla was actually from a rather unpleasant position, with all her might put into it, not considering the aftermath. She seemingly managed to keep standing despite everything, but her posture was broken for sure.

“That was all her strength, for sure. Not to mention so close to her…If Darius managed to keep standing after that, she would have gotten hit by a counterattack for sure.”

“Yeah, she probably guessed that he wouldn’t go down without going the extra mile…He really is no joke, making Teacher go all out.”

As the majority of the audience sent Leyla a round of applause, Seran and Kyle instead complimented Darius for his valiant efforts. Said Darius was still out cold, but most likely alive at least.

“…I doubt he’d be happy to hear that praise after ending up that way.”

Lieze muttered, while listening to the comments of Seran and Kyle.

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