“Hmm?”
“…”
“Well, the swordsmanship is fine, but…”
This is not the struggle she desires. It’s not a passionate clash of souls. That’s why it’s boring. Although True is not capable of satisfying her, she had some expectations. But this man…
(“How disappointing… I’ve lost interest. Let’s end this quickly.”)
A faster slash than Fei’s attacks him. He should not be able to handle the sword dance, but it grazes his shoulder, foot, and cheek. Blood stains his clothes and boots, but Fei continues to swing his sword without paying any attention.
Trying to end it quickly like a child discarding a toy she’s tired of, she attempts to cut down Fei. But he resists.
The sword cuts his body, but it’s not a fatal wound. Despite being overwhelmingly faster, the match does not end.
(“What is this? This discomfort… It’s as if he knows what’s coming.”)
As a surprise attack, Modred delivers a kick. Not with the sword, but direct physical force. However, her left foot is stopped by Fei’s right arm before it reaches the breaking point.
A faint sound of bones creaking is heard, but it doesn’t make him fall. Their eyes meet, warning her not to think it will end this way.
This time, Fei switches his sword to his left hand and thrusts it towards her. She evades it with her enhanced body, strengthened by the Star Magic.
It was a strange feeling. She had the overwhelming advantage: mastery of star energy, physical prowess, unmatched sword skills. There was no way she could be outmatched. Yet, he kept up. She loved battle, but her confidence was absolute, grounded in an understanding of all forms of strength.
If asked if Fei was strong, the answer would be no.
Despite her clear superiority, she couldn’t win. This only intensified the odd feeling. She could overpower him with more star energy, but that would be mere brute force, lacking elegance.
If she pushed harder, she wouldn’t be able to discern the true worth of the man before her. She sensed this.
“Can you see the future?” s
“……”
His response was a smooth, flowing slash with his sword. She parried and countered with seven rapid strikes, aiming for his head, both shoulders, both calves, chest, and abdomen.
Part of her thought this would be a fatal blow, but another part hoped he would deflect them.
An expectation of the unknown.
Fei’s eyes widened as he seemed to answer her expectation. Mordred saw it. His eyes tracked every strike.
Both shoulders grazed, both calves grazed, blood flowing from his forehead, chest near the heart, and a slight stab in the abdomen. Yet, he wouldn’t fall.
“I’ve seen that swordplay before. Try something else.”
The weakest of the weak, the one who was not of interest to her, but she was the one who was the target of the attack.Despite being a clear inferior, he had pushed his way into her interest, a first for her.
“Heh…”
She smirked, an unsophisticated grin, her interest deepening as he surpassed her expectations.
“……”
“May I ask again? Can you see the future?”
“……I can’t see anything like that. I just fight in the present.”
“I see… Then, it seems you have someone close to you who uses a similar sword style?”
“……”
“Your silence confirms it. I’ll have to deal with that person eventually. But for now—”
In an instant, she closed the distance to zero. Their swords clashed in a cross. Fei, responding with body enhancement, was pressed by her downward strike. It was so sudden that his reaction lagged slightly. The blade angled towards him, cutting into his shoulder.
“Right now, you are the only one I see.”
She forgot the time, forgot her purpose, focusing solely on the struggle before her.
“At this rate, you’ll cut yourself with your own sword.”
“……”
“Your expression shows no fear, no panic. In a life-or-death situation, people’s true nature emerges. You are quite tough, aren’t you? Ah, this is great.”
The next moment, Fei released his grip on his sword, twisted his body, and aimed a punch at her.
“Haha, I don’t mind rough hand-to-hand combat. But that was a bit sloppy.”
Fei’s punch missed. Mordred smiled and stabbed his abdomen.
A dull sound. His clothes quickly stained red. The sword pierced his abdomen, hitting the wall, sending vibrations through her hand. She realized it then. She hadn’t meant to stab him. She didn’t intend to kill him, but at this rate, Fei would die.
“Oh… I stabbed you by mistake. You were too lively, so I couldn’t help it.”
“……”
“What to do… Killing you here would be such a waste—”
In the next instant, Fei grabbed her head with both hands.
“Huh?”
He headbutted her. She hadn’t strengthened her head, assuming there was no need after stabbing him.
“Eep!”
A cute, girlish squeal escaped her. She released her sword, stepping back four paces, leaning against the wall. Her head spun, vision slightly blurred.
Fei pulled the sword from his abdomen, resting his hands on his knees. He’d never bled so much before.
Fei was in worse shape than her. But he stood again. Despite her mild concussion, she stood too.
“You… you’re laughing… This is… this is exactly the kind of fight I wanted.”
Fei was smiling in front of her. Death was imminent, the Grim Reaper’s scythe at his neck.
“But it’s a shame. I’d love to continue fighting you, but… I can’t go on. It’s a shame to die here. Perhaps after I’ve matured more—”
“I’m not done yet.”
His eyes sparkled, a jewel-like beauty in her gray world.
“Oh, this is wonderful. I could eat you up.”
Seeing him, she sensed something. The clumsy swordsman from earlier had been imitating someone. It was him.
“That awkward style from before… I thought it was someone’s imitation… It was you.”
“……I don’t know. More importantly—”
“No, this ends here. It’s a shame. Killing you now… You’re bleeding so much, your legs are unsteady. How are you still standing?”
Blood poured out, his legs trembling in a pool of it. The fight was over. Mordred smiled as she approached. She brushed aside his desperate punches with an ecstatic grin and applied a healing potion to his wound.
“……”
“It’s not fully healed. Just enough to close the wound slightly. Until we meet again. Oh, I never got your name.”
///
continue
///
“……”
“Don’t be so angry. I’m not sparing you out of pity. It’s an investment in your potential. But for now, I’ve won. As the victor, I have the right to know your name.”
“……Fei.”
Her cheeks once again lift up at the sight of Fei. Ignoring his unhealed wounds, Fei’s eyes shone fiercely, like a beast ready to bite.
“Fei… I’ll remember that, Fei. Until we meet again… Ah, one last thing. Why did you smile during our fight?”
“……I smiled?”
“Oh, you didn’t realize.”
“……I see… I…”
A look of realization dawned on Fei’s puzzled face. As the victor, she awaited his answer. Footsteps approached, silver hair fluttering in the wind.
Yururu finally found Fei. She had met Arthur and Sargento but couldn’t find Fei until now. She felt no joy in finding him.
“Fei-kun!”
“Oh, it’s you again.”
A disciple in a pool of blood, a woman covered in splatters. Anger welled up in Yururu.
“Who are you?”
“I don’t wish to fight you. If we battle here, your friends will get caught in the crossfire.”
“──”
Yururu felt an increasing dislike towards Mordred. She sensed madness in her.
“Answer me. Wasn’t it fun?”
“……Not entirely wrong. At that moment, I was trembling… with joy. I felt I could rise higher.”
“──Fei-kun…”
Yururu’s heart tightened with sadness.
“Heh, as I thought, you’re like me. Would you join me? It would be more fun. I’ll teach you how to fight. I’m sure it will be fun to make your own enemies.”
“Huh…?”
A casual invitation. Yururu’s dry voice trembled at the thought of Fei disappearing. She feared losing him, praying he wouldn’t leave her.
Maybe Fei was similar to that woman. A depth of strength she couldn’t understand. But she didn’t want him to go. If they parted here, their paths would never cross again.
(Fei-kun… Please, don’t leave me…)
Realizing that her wish wouldn’t come true, she sensed that the woman before her was stronger and could understand him better. Gradually, he seemed farther away.
(No, I don’t want to hear what comes next…)
She felt she knew the answer. If he was seeking strength ──
“──I refuse.”
Yururu spent a few seconds understanding that voice. Fei, covered in blood and unable to move. Yet, his fighting spirit wasn’t gone. His eyes met Mordred’s mad gaze.
“There’s nothing I could learn from you. My only mentor is the woman standing there. Yururu-Galestia is the only one I learn from.”
“──”
She couldn’t find words. Her body grew hot, tears welled up. She was happy he called her Yururu-Galestia for the first time.
“Hmm, well, that’s fine. Fei, until we meet again.”
“Wait.”
“What is it?”
“Eventually, I’ll cut you down. I won’t forget today’s humiliation. And you’ll regret not killing me here.”
“I’m looking forward to it♪. Goodbye.”
Laughing happily, Mordred disappeared. Only Fei and Yururu remained. Fei’s consciousness was fading. He was at his limit, his body exhausted, death approaching.
But he didn’t show it. He stood there, seemingly unperturbed. His mind was abnormally calm, but his body couldn’t keep up. Though his spirit was strong, his body had no strength left, and he sank into unconsciousness.
Yururu hugged Fei. He was already unconscious. Blood kept dripping from his abdomen. Yururu quickly poured a potion she had on his wound. There were other injuries, but this was the most serious.
Using up the potion, she managed to stop the bleeding. If Mordred hadn’t leave some potions, Fei would have died.
However, he was still losing blood. Fei was unconscious. Yururu carried him on her back and hurried towards the exit.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
◆
I got lost. Damn it… I gave off the impression that I’m fine alone and don’t need help, but I feel like I’ve been here before…
Huh? Well, life is full of uncertainties, and the protagonist often gets lost…
But what should I do? While exploring, I encountered an unknown woman with blonde hair in a ponytail.
This girl… She doesn’t seem to be an ally. She gives off a suspicious aura. Huh? She defeated the other members earlier?
Wow, she’s definitely an enemy. I’ll take her down now.
Let the battle begin!
She’s fast. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to keep up. Fighting an opponent at this level is a bit tough for me. But I’m the protagonist, I won’t falter here.
Moreover, her swordsmanship is similar to Arthur’s. No, it’s exactly the same. I’ve lost to Arthur two thousand times.
For me, who’s always been defeated easily, this is a piece of cake!
By the way, is she related to Arthur? She seems a bit odd… She’s like a mischievous fox, but she’s quite cute. I heard that dolphins are cute but have a dark side.
They have a cruel habit of killing their offspring, or abusing them. Hmmm… Since Arthur-Giant Panda and her swordsmanship is similar, she might be a Modred Dolphin.
I don’t mind the occasional scratches. For the protagonist, scratches are just damage to my jeans, making me look cooler.
I got stabbed in the stomach, but I’ll head straight for a headbutt. I won’t break from this. In fact, with my stomach pierced, I’ll have less air resistance and move more easily!
Huh? She’s not falling… I had the perfect headbutt ready, and she’s laughing? Is she an Dolphin-type Berserker?
I’m covered in blood and can barely move, but I’ll manage with spirit! The protagonist can move even without blood! The protagonist can somehow manage with spirit!
Huh? She’s letting me go? Is she licking her wounds? No, could it be that she’s sparing me because she foresees my future growth as a protagonist, and now is not the time to defeat me…?
Occasionally, there are enemies who spare you even though they could defeat you. Alright, the next time we meet will be your last!
Then, Master Yururu arrives. Huh? What? Why was I laughing?
Me? I was laughing?
Ah, I see. I’ve always longed for this. In my past life, I was always jealous. But in reality, things like that don’t happen to protagonists. But still, I wished for it.
To give someone a dream and become an existence that never gives up. Becoming such an existence isn’t easy. Even if I hold an umbrella on a rainy day and don’t protect myself from the rain, or even if I swing my umbrella around imagining I’m using the Flying Heaven Dragon technique, the manhole cover won’t turn into a magical summoning array. No matter how hard I clench my fist, veins bulging, or even if I cut a cross on my cheek with a kitchen knife, reality won’t change. Nothing can be changed. But now, it’s different.
I’m the protagonist, with the same genes as my aspirations. That’s why it’s fun. Every time I train, every time I cross the line of death, I become a little stronger.
I can reach for my dreams. Even if I lose something in the process, it’s so fun that I can’t help it. This moment of facing my dreams head-on, this life, is so fun that I can’t help it.
That’s why I was laughing. Even in a pathetic, unsightly, and possibly unwinnable battle where I might die. Because I believe that if I keep running without giving up, I can catch something. I feel like I can catch it.
Well, I won’t die since I’m the protagonist…!! After all, if I die, the story will end, and I have a correction ability, so I won’t die.
So… Since I won’t die, I’ll do my best to survive with the determination to die.
Now, now, my consciousness is gradually fading. Well, losing consciousness from blood loss and waking up in bed is the norm. Huh? You won’t come with me? I won’t go, because I have Master Yururu with me.
Don’t suddenly act like a master. Don’t get carried away. You’re a Dolphin-type Berserker enemy who licks her wounds and lets me go.
Someday, I’ll return this favor. Come to think of it, I said something similar to Arthur. And your swordsmanship is similar to Arthur’s… and Arthur-related stuff is a bonus.
Oh no, I’m about to lose consciousness.
Well then, Master Yururu, let’s meet under an unfamiliar ceiling.
Au revoir.
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