Chapter 219

Chapter 219

***

Was it a foolish thing to die because of pride. Because pride doesn't feed you.

But isn't it too miserable to live laying down all your pride. Because a human without a single ounce of pride doesn't receive respect, nor were they attractive.

Furthermore, a human with excessively no pride was bound to receive disgust and contempt from people. Who would want to make them a friend, and also love them?

If so, was it correct to live being appropriately mindful of others, acting proud when to act proud, and bending when to bend? But aren't these words synonymous with saying you were strong against the weak and weak in front of the strong.

So there was no need to necessarily point at such people and criticize them calling them despicable. Because excluding only those who reached the pinnacle, I did so and you did so, and all people live like that.

However sometimes, there were times when the distinction between strong and weak was ambiguous. That was, when the feeling of 'I think I'm stronger than them for both of us' occurs.

Pride. It's truly nothing, but sometimes there were times one wanted to protect it even risking their life wondering what it was.

Lena's justification was stepping up because they insulted Mister, that was, Rickart. However, her deep inner heart might just be because of competitive spirit.

I think I can beat that person, then why must I deliberately endure the insult?

Conversely, the swordsman from the Viola Clan and the Master's Federation wanted to show an example to the weak. Because their pride would be hurt if they overlooked it.

Spectators flocked around the inn, and because most were people belonging to the Master's Federation, they didn't make a fuss even though it seemed sword fighting would break out.

Everyone carried exactly one sword each at their waist, and there were also people who were still in student status or trainee status.

Even if the level dropped, a life-and-death true sword match was a rare spectacle to see, a good reference point, and also a material for studying.

Everyone looked at the red short-haired female swordsman and the blonde man with shining eyes.

The blonde man drew his sword first. Whether he diligently maintained it well usually, the blade intensely reflected the sunlight. That intense light brushed Lena's eyes but she didn't bat an eyelash.

"Think of it as losing about one arm or leg. There's a potion shop nearby so if you have money you'll live, and if you don't early on get stuck in the gutter. That way it'll be comfortable to clean up the corpse."

It was a remark crushing the opponent. If he lost by any chance, it would be because of carelessness.

Lena also drew her sword. It was what Rickart gave her instead of the broken sword, and it was one of the treasured swords presented to the Emperor, a sword mixed with True Silver like the masterpiece sword Ricky.

However because her sword also intensely reflected the sunlight, no one recognized its true value. Excluding Rickart.

Lena said.

"I am Lena from Kalitz Academy. Are you not going to reveal your name?"

"Don't misunderstand. This is not a duel."

"If it's not a duel what is it?"

"A lesson for your foolishness."

"The result will tell who is foolish."

Saying, Lena took a deep breath. Deeply inhaling, exhaling, inhaling, exhaling.

But such deep breathing made her look like a beginner to the opponent. That was, a beginner quite nervous ahead of a true sword match.

Of course there was deep breathing to relieve tension, but it was closer to excitement than that. The feeling she felt when crossing swords with Marie, and the sensation of being about to reach but not quite reaching she felt while practicing.

Lena wanted to feel that one more time in this duel right now. That's right. She didn't step up on behalf of Rickart, but it was largely due to her own greed.

Even so, what about it. These words were written in the Codex.

Lena had read the Codex so much that rather than the words coming to mind, the parchment and faded phrases, and smell came to mind as a single image (像).

It's a thought coming now, but the reason the Codex was thinner than expected might be because there isn't a single sentence written in vain, and no meaningless words.

Rickart's words saying she should chew over each and every sentence also came to mind. Lena slightly looked back at Rickart among the spectators. It was an indifferent expression exactly as usual. Was he not expecting anything?

There, something like a competitive desire arose. That she wanted to surprise Rickart. You say I can't understand words? Your thoughts will change seeing me now.

"Are you not attacking?"

The opponent said. Because both were in a posture naturally drooping their swords it wasn't a proper dueling posture.

"Hoo......"

Lena exhaled her last deep breath and took a posture. Gripping the longsword with both hands, making the hilt come next to her face, the tip of the sword aimed at the opponent.

Bending her knees slightly and the center of gravity of her body leaning a little backward, it was a posture exactly like she would bounce forward and stab. However this posture wasn't that, but a basic posture for various attacks and defenses.

"Elementary...... Tell you it's elementary...... Excessively. You guys provoked first. Beringen."

The opponent muttered exactly as if feeling pity.

And after bowing his head once, he suddenly lifted it flashingly and took a large step forward. The sword he was holding in one hand was already gripped with two hands and raised above his head.

That figure entered Lena's eyes. But the scene of striking down was hard to pursue with the eyes. Lena reflexively slipped to the side, and slashed down diagonally with the sword she raised next to her face.

However what happened, a metallic sound was heard.

CHAEAENG!

The opponent's sword that was striking down changed paths at some point and hit pushing Lena's sword using the guard.

So Lena almost had her posture collapse. An exceedingly stronger force than the opponent acted on it, so if she did wrong her sword almost bent in a strange direction.

As if to decide the match in that brief faltering, the opponent swiftly crossed his arms exactly as if he anticipated it in advance and aimed for Lena's head from the opposite direction.

In a split second, Lena felt it. He can't kill me with this. Also he's not attacking the head in the first place either.

Because it was too short a moment it wasn't at the level to pierce through the next move, and the move after next, but at least she could know that this was fake.

And the fact that it was fake was even more so when compared to Marie. There was no such peculiar momentum that piled up crossing life and death countlessly. The opponent might also have some degree of experience, but its thickness was thin.

The phrase of the Codex exactly came to Lena's mind once again. An extension of limbs, that meant swinging the sword to the point of not even being conscious of it as soon as the mind arises, none other than that. Exactly like arms and legs.

Even if you handle the sword proficiently with unceasing effort, if it doesn't become one body with the mind it's merely an iron rod.

Enlightenment struck Lena exactly like lightning. And simultaneously Lena didn't block the opponent's sword but thrust conversely.

Because there was not an inch of hesitation, it was faster by a paper's difference, and that single sheet of paper was a difference that couldn't be narrowed to an unenlightened person.

CHAEAENG!

Once again a metallic sound was heard. It was a short moment enough to sound exactly like a continuous clang, clang sound to those watching.

Bloodwater sprayed. That blood was the blood Lena's opponent shed. The muscles of the forearm were cut deeply and blood was spraying from there. Then his gripping strength weakened and he ended up dropping the sword without realizing it himself.

The sword that flew among the spectators could have hurt someone if things went wrong. However someone of unknown name snatched the hilt of the sword with amazing skill.

Lena was in a state of having passed crossing the opponent, and quickly turned back and aimed her sword. When the opponent looked back the tip of the sword was already touching his adam's apple.

The moment of the match felt long, and now time seemed to have stopped.

"Schweiger!"

Someone shouted. It seemed the name of Lena's opponent was Schweiger after all. The swordsman named Schweiger had a blank expression. He seemed to have a hard time comprehending the current situation no matter what.

Lena, who was aiming the sword at his neck, suddenly smiled grin, then lowered the sword and lifting her shoulders chuckled sneaking alone, then later threw her head back and laughed loudly.

"Ahahahahahahahaha!"

To the spectators' eyes it looked like the ecstasy of victory. However it wasn't that, Lena laughing was the joy of gaining enlightenment. The result of the match and such was completely unimportant.

However because she was also at a prime young age and didn't entirely lack ambition, she crossed the line somewhat.

"The Master's Federation wasn't much either! Viola Clan? Hmph! Even if you give me billions I won't enter there!"

It was a tremendous insult. When there were many people from the Viola Clan besides Schweiger who just competed in the match at the scene.

And among them there were also those who almost approached the territory of a master according to the Viola Clan's classification method.

No matter if she gained enlightenment, Lena's current level was only the initial stage of a high expert. The stage of only now swinging the sword as the mind gwent.

Surpassing that stage was called a master, and surpassing that again was a Sword Master. According to the formalized classification method it was so.

"Look here, young female swordswoman. We watched your match well. Congratulations on winning. But enjoying the victory is enough, you had better refrain from speaking further."

A person whose skills looked quite outstanding among the spectators said. Sure enough in his hand the sword Schweiger used was held. The one who snatched the flying sword earlier was exactly him.

Seeing that sword Lena suddenly came to her senses. If she won she won, there was no need to deliberately make this place an enemy camp.

"Sorry. Because I felt too good I inadvertently."

The excitement hadn't completely subsided but she quickly put the sword in the scabbard, and Lena immediately ran to Rickart and said. Schweiger was surrounded by friends receiving first aid.

"How was I?"

"Even if you ask how you were, well......"

Because the kids Rickart grew up closely with were ones like Marie, Ice, and Bori, honestly he was not particularly moved. Because they achieved Sword Master when they were similar to Lena's current age or younger.

"It's the beginning now. You shouldn't be conceited."

"Of course. Don't be careless, don't be conceited. It's the basics among basics right. I'll keep it in mind. I absolutely won't forget."

Lena looked extremely excited. If things went wrong she might even hug him, but perhaps because the fear Marie engraved was so big she didn't make physical contact.

"Anyway shouldn't we leave this spot?"

Graf said. Indeed because stinging glares along with curious gazes were felt from here and there.

Anyway a person from the Viola Clan lost to a person from Kalitz Academy. There was no way they'd view it kindly.

The mastery of the sword also was just beginning now, but proving also was just beginning now. Proving of a swordsman that was.

"Shall we go to the outskirts?"

Ravenna pulled Rickart's hem and asked quietly.

"No. If we go there it'll be more bothersome. Let's take this opportunity and go to the Beringen Academy district. If there's a Viola Clan district there must be something like a district there too."

Since they were rivals to each other, he judged that they couldn't come to the opponent's district and act recklessly.

Rickart and the three people didn't delay and intended to leave the place first. Then the person who told Lena to watch her words earlier called them to a stop and said.

"Hey, look here. You seem to have some age. A sponsor? I am Federation Investigation Bureau Investigator Crech. You are?"

Rickart blankly looked back at him. And then taking off all the cumbersome things attached in front of his name, he said. Augustus, Emperor's Consort, King of Adelorn, Commander of the Steel Knights, Hero of Siegfinger, Tiger of Kaits, Heart of the Storm, El Cid, and the Genius Swordsman of Beringen, etc.

"Ricky."

"......No affiliation? Well, we'll know if we shake you out. We'll have business again sooner or later. Please be fully prepared."

"I understand kids getting into a quarrel and sword fighting among themselves, but don't tell me you aren't going to abuse your power right?"

"Well."

"Choose well. Before you regret. Since nowadays there are people moving deviating from my will. There's a chance it won't go as I wish even if I want to let you off."

He meant the Inner Circle. The higher organization of the Master's Federation while being an auxiliary apparatus of the Council of Six.

When access to information about the Emperor, Crown Prince, or Rickart occurred, they often regarded it as a hostile act. Whether there was an intention or not.

What Rickart was warning about was that.

"According to customs continuously passed down from ancient times, letting off is the right of the victor. Since your disciple bestowed tolerance, we will do so too. However, we'll have to pay back equally. So she can't lift a sword again."

"......I usually don't say things multiple times, but I will speak exactly with the feeling of requesting it earnestly. Do not dig behind me."

Rickart spoke sincerely. A junior of the same clan lost in a true sword match with everyone watching, and furthermore because even the clan was humiliated, he could understand being angry.

However if they crossed the line he couldn't let it slide. No, as he said, even if I want to let it slide, structurally according to the rules it couldn't be done.

Maybe because he hated such things he pushed it onto Roy and left. Because he wanted to escape from that stuffiness.

Rickart hoped that the Investigator named Crech would please keep the line. Since a kids' fight spreading to an adults' fight was a bit unsightly.

No matter how important pride was, rather than dying a dog's death bending seems better though.