Chapter 21

There’s a famous saying known by every swordsman in the Ardina Continent:

“By crossing swords, one can understand that person’s life.”

I think this saying isn’t completely true, but it’s not entirely false either.

In reality, when you cross swords, you can feel certain things.

If the movements are hasty, it means the person has a hasty personality; if they focus on evasion, it indicates they are passive.

It’s not just limited to personality insights.

You can tell whether they learned swordsmanship through proper training or practical experience, what movements they prefer, and even which country they might hail from.

Swordsmanship encapsulates more than one might think.

Whoosh!

I lightly bowed my head to evade the momentum of the great sword that charged at me with the intent to tear my neck.

Swordsmanship that relies more on technique and strength than psychological warfare. Oddly enough, the points of impact were slightly misaligned. My eyes were on guard for attacks that could come from anywhere.

It seems I often find myself fighting against beings rather than people.

I can’t shake the feeling that while this person doesn’t seem to lack experience facing humans, they haven’t had many encounters using a great sword.

As I dodged and blocked incoming attacks, I pondered repeatedly.

“Should I let this go or not…?”

That chick, who thrust her sword without hesitation even after seeing the previous attack, doesn’t seem like someone I need to let off the hook.

Besides, since she’s an apostle, She’ll simply return from the dead.

But I think letting her go would just provoke her to charge in more.

Hmmm….

“Alright, I’ve made my decision.”

I’ll just show a glimpse of my skills.

If she doesn’t gain any insight from this, that’s all there is to it, and if she does, she won’t be a nuisance any longer.

As I made that decision, I completely cut off the mana that was lightly wrapped around my sword.

Perhaps sensing something unusual, the great sword user halted her swings and stepped back.

-“…What’s going on? Why the sudden change? You’re not saying it’s over already, are you?”

People often refer to those who have reached a master level as having attained enlightenment.

Enlightenment. It’s just a two-character word, yet the weight it carries is beyond description.

If that weight were light, there wouldn’t be so many who have failed to surpass the wall of a master.

Being a master isn’t just about handling mana well; it’s a level that requires mastering mana as well.

Hmm… What would be a good analogy?

Right, let’s put it in modern terms.

Even if you have the best bullets, they’re useless if you don’t have a matching gun.

In other words, the bullets are mana, and the gun represents the abilities that person possesses.

Here, the abilities refer to skills, physique, soul, and so on, but let’s skip over that… Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

In short, one can say that those who wear the master label are adept at handling at least one weapon like a ghost.

I’m one of those guys too.

One Step Forward

Peep, holding the great sword tightly, took a step forward.

-“I was surprised thinking it was the end.”

Her tone, seemingly light, carried a hint of pouting.

However, her eyes were meticulously scanning my movements.

She could have been angry for underestimating her since I had withdrawn my mana.

Despite her passionate first impression, there was a cool-headed side to her.

It made sense that she was the strongest among the Apostles I had encountered.

As I slightly flicked my sword to signal her to come in, she understood my intention and firmly planted her feet on the ground.

Perhaps she had felt something during our fight, as the great sword now targeted precisely at my head.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit unjust, pouting my lips in a slight sulk.

‘I’m the one struggling to face her like this.’

While she effortlessly swung her great sword around.

If our skills were equal, such attacks would have been risky for her to execute without hesitation.

“Ugh.”

Would she even understand my predicament?

With a sigh, I placed the tip of my sword against her great sword.

“…Huh?”

In the next moment, Chick, with her great sword embedded in the ground, let out a bewildered sound.

***

It’s fun. It’s enjoyable.

It’s not my moment of glory… is it?

Yuki cooled her heated head.

Since starting Silia Online… no, even throughout her entire memory, there had never been a moment this enjoyable.

Anyone who had seen Yuki would inevitably say, “A genius.”

Whether it was soccer, basketball, or kendo.

Yuki had an innate talent for physical activities.

After a day, she would catch up to what others took half a year to achieve; after a week, she would surpass what took a year; and after half a year, she would find herself looking down at those desperately climbing up from a lofty height.

What was a towering mountain to others was merely a hill behind the neighborhood to her, so nothing could pique her interest.

Conquest had to hold some value to be worthwhile.

If she set her mind to it, there was nothing she couldn’t achieve, and if she wanted something, there was nothing she couldn’t obtain, making feelings like fulfillment, competitiveness, and passion emotions Yuki could never comprehend even if she lived a lifetime.

If Silia Online hadn’t been released, that would have certainly been the case.

With every swing of the sword, the joy she felt, the struggle of life and death.

Unlike the past when she could achieve anything easily, she was deeply captivated by a world where she had to pour in all her strength to realize her desires.

Thus, Yuki found joy in her battle with Canaria.

No matter how hard she swung, her strikes barely grazed her opponent, and when it seemed like she might land a hit, Canaria effortlessly blocked them with an expression that didn’t change at all.

A formidable opponent with no chance of being knocked down.

A colossal wall she faced for the first time in her life.

Looking at a wall so high that she couldn’t even fathom climbing it, she felt a sense of competitive spirit for the first time.

When Canaria used her mana, Yuki was initially disappointed, thinking their fun was over. But soon she realized her thoughts were mistaken, and she became filled with delight.

Though the sword, dyed pink like Canaria’s hair, regained its original silver color, Yuki remained vigilant.

If she could have defeated her opponent merely because she hadn’t wrapped her sword in an aura, her blade would have already touched Canaria several times.

“Be quick but don’t rush; be strong but be precise.”

With all her might, she brought down the weight of her great sword.

Suddenly, a smile appeared on Yuki’s lips.

It was the most perfect sword path she had ever wielded.

Despite her satisfaction, from a distance, it was a horrifying scene as a slender girl perpetrated a gruesome act.

As she struck down with the great sword, imbued with mana, aiming for Canaria’s head, Yuki was confident that this time, Canaria would not easily block it.

“…Huh?”

The world flipped in an instant.

No, it wasn’t the world that flipped; it was Yuki herself.

Her eyes, which had been focused ahead, were now gazing at the distant sky, and the great sword she had firmly grasped lay discarded a little way off.

“Uh?”

Once again, a dazed sound escaped Yuki’s lips.

She remembered Canaria bringing her sword close.

And the next moment, she found herself sprawled on the ground.

Yuki couldn’t grasp what correlation existed between the two events.

She had thought for sure that she would block it, but she never imagined it would happen this way.

“What the hell happened…?”

Yuki wasn’t the only one who was confused.

Those watching their battle also had no idea what had just occurred.

“…What is that? What’s going on?”

“I can’t answer that…”

“Still, you’re the only one who learned swordsmanship from Canaria… how should I address her? Anyway, you are the only one who learned from her.”

“If you’ve watched my streams, you’d know I haven’t learned anything like that. Besides, I didn’t even know Canaria was that strong.”

“Oh… true.”

“…What?”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

“You were going to say something, right?”

“I didn’t say anything! But Joanie, you call Kana so casually?”

Pine’s attempt to change the subject was successful.

“Ah….”

Joanie scratched her cheek.

“At first, I was scared, but as I got to know her, she started to feel like a little sister… So it’s hard to speak formally to her.”

“You have a younger sister?”

“No?”

“…?”

“Besides, Pine, you also called me casually when you were talking about the Gravekeeper and all. Why are you suddenly acting all formal now?”

“Seeing you in person makes it hard to call you casually. You know how when you call a celebrity’s name casually, but when you meet them, you can’t do that?”

“Aha, I get that feeling.”

Understanding that sentiment, Joanie nodded.

Pine cautiously asked, “But what if she’s actually much older than you, Joanie?”

“What?”

“I mean… think about it.”

Pine glanced briefly at Kana.

Even upon a second look, her appearance could only be described as breathtaking. The cape that concealed such beauty felt like an act of great injustice.

Right now, she looked merely cute due to her baby fat and petite frame, but the hint of elegance she exuded suggested that if she grew up safely, she would undoubtedly be a beauty capable of turning nations upside down.

“You know it’s impossible to have that kind of strength at her age, Joanie.”

Those who ranked among the strong in the Silia world were all somewhat aged individuals.

This had been the discussion ever since the rumors about the Gravekeeper began circulating.

They dismissed claims that it was just a child as mere otaku delusions, saying it was silly to think that way.

‘Back then, I didn’t know. They were right all along.’

Pine thought it was a ridiculous notion, reflecting back.

“Are you saying she might have done some kind of reverse-aging trick like in martial arts novels?”

“Well, I was just wondering if it’s possible…”

“Honestly, it sounds more convincing if a dragon polymorphed instead.”

Joanie dismissed Pine’s nonsensical thought, but she wasn’t completely unaware of what Pine was saying.

She too felt that Kana’s strength was extraordinarily unreasonable.

‘If she really is older than me…’

In that moment, Joanie felt a wave of unease wash over her as she reflected on Kana’s actions. The overwhelming desire to pet her and shower her with affection was palpable, but thankfully, she hadn’t committed any faux pas yet.

If she had done something inappropriate to an elder, especially someone significant enough to be associated with a country’s name, even if they weren’t royalty…

Just thinking about it sent chills down Joanie’s spine, and she let out a sigh of relief, burying her unspoken desires.