< Chapter 47 - Engagement Ceremony #3 >
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Sword and fist.
Although it was possible to use both, I never really learned either one properly.
‘Because I was born with a nine-syllable rhythm.’
‘Juder Bayer’ never had any formal martial arts training until he was 17.
Practicing with a body that can’t even go for a walk every day was like saying I’m going to die.
However, after obtaining the Necklace of the Sun and weakening the symptoms of the Nine-Eyed Mantra, Yuder fought quite well.
He passed the Bayer family’s test and had few technical difficulties in fighting monsters.
And the reason was simple.
‘Because there are things I learned in my past life.’
In any case, as a modern-day person, Yuderin only learned a little bit of knife fighting, which could be called ‘sword fighting’, but in the field of ‘fist fighting’ – or more precisely, ‘bare-handed fighting’ – it was a different story.
This is because Kang Jin-ho had experience learning various martial arts based on kickboxing.
‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m fighting you again.’
The martial arts learned in Pleiades allowed humans to move in superhuman ways, and also allowed them to create destructive power that would be impossible with ordinary fists.
Since the opponents were not human but monsters or mines, they had no choice but to fight in a form different from modern martial arts.
‘But even so.’
‘Kang Jin-ho’ was skilled in bare-handed combat, and naturally, ‘Yuder’ practiced bare-handed combat instead of wielding a sword.
Although he occasionally used a sword, his main weapon was still a fist.
‘So let’s go to Kwon.’
It was also possible to fight with a sword.
There was a huge physical gap between Yuder and Lucas, so it was possible to win by pressing down on him even with a sword.
But I didn’t want to do that.
‘I’m serious.’
Lucas was a genius with the sword.
He had been training with the sword for a long time, so his eyes for judging his opponents were also well developed.
‘Lucas knows too.’
The fact that he was no match for Yuder.
But it was a challenge nonetheless.
Even though I knew it would be broken, even though I knew it would be broken.
‘So let’s go with all our heart.’
I will respond with sincerity.
Of course, that didn’t mean I was going to go all out and destroy Lucas, but I wasn’t going to take him lightly.
“ha!”
Lucas’ shout broke my thoughts.
No, from the beginning, Yuder was already focused on Lucas.
Lucas’s movements.
The trajectory drawn by the sword.
The calculation was made naturally.
Based on information obtained using all five senses, as well as visual information through the eyes, Lucas’ next move and intention were read.
And response.
It was a body that had become so powerful that it could not even be compared to the days when he was Kang Jin-ho.
His strength, agility, endurance, etc. were already at the level of a superhuman, and his reflexes and kinetic vision were also incomparable.
The celestial body added here.
A heaven-sent talent that allows one to analyze an opponent’s swordsmanship simply by looking at it.
Lucas swung his sword.
Uther dodged the sword with minimal movement, thus digging in and swinging his fist.
Kakang!
Lucas’ sword blocked Uther’s fist.
To be exact, it was closer to hastily drawing the sword and half-forcibly interrupting Yuder’s strike.
But defense anyway.
Lucas was pushed out, and Uther chased after him.
Kang! Kang! Kang!
A sharp sound erupted as the sword and the fist clashed.
Lucas, with his sword, had a much greater advantage in reach, but that absolute advantage didn’t work very well.
Yuder’s two arms, imbued with the energy of the black dragon, were able to block Lucas’ sword, and Lucas broke out in a cold sweat at the kick attack, which he rarely encountered normally.
‘I’m barely holding on.’
Cordelia thought, narrowing her eyes.
If Yuder were to shift gears just a little bit here, if Lucas were to lose focus just a little bit······.
‘It’s over in one go.’
Yuder knew it, and Lucas knew it too.
And Count Hresvelg knew too.
‘It’s amazing.’
Count Hresvelg was unmanned.
He was a man of competitive spirit, and was quite interested in Count Bayer, who was considered his rival everywhere.
That’s why I knew a lot about Uder.
A child who, until recently, was unable to even go outside freely due to dyslexia.
However, Yuder was suppressing Lucas, who was now known as a genius with the sword, and who even Count Hresvelg himself acknowledged as having greater talent than he had in his younger days.
A fight between an adult and a child.
Maybe even more than that gap.
‘How strange.’
Is it possible to achieve such explosive growth in just a few months?
Could it be that Count Bayer lied to those around him by saying that his son was sick?
‘No, that doesn’t matter.’
The important thing was that Yuder’s skills were real and that was another thing.
‘I miss you.’
The true power of Uder.
The maximum power that can be exerted at present.
Kang!
Lucas’ posture collapsed with a loud noise.
The sword, unable to withstand Uther’s fierce attack, rolled on the floor, and Uther’s fist stopped in front of Lucas’ chest.
Lucas let out a ragged breath.
Still, he looked at Uther and swallowed dry saliva. He clenched his teeth as if he was holding something back and declared.
“I lost.”
“It was a good match.”
As soon as Yuder took the sword away, Lucas collapsed on the spot.
The moment I declared defeat, the strength in my legs – no, my entire body – gave out.
‘I lost.’
I knew I would lose, but I really lost.
And it was confirmed.
Absolute gap.
‘Just a month or two.’
The time when Lucas himself did not see Uther.
During that time, Uder has grown tremendously.
‘Haha··· hahaha······.’
Is this what frustration is?
Is this what despair is like?
Something I was born a genius and have never felt before.
This feeling of being overwhelmed by the overwhelming gap and not even being able to think about catching up.
“Lucas, wake up.”
Lucas stiffened reflexively at the voice heard from behind him.
I mustered up my strength and stood up from my seat.
“Good job. Your skills have improved.”
Lucas’ face became blank at Count Hresvelg’s words.
But Count Hresvelg was telling the truth. Lucas was clearly more skilled than he had been before.
“Let’s talk about the details later. For now, just rest.”
“Yes, father.”
Lucas, who responded reflexively this time, went down the training ground. And only then, after seeing Cordelia standing alone and fidgeting, did he realize that Juder and Count Hresvelg were left on the training ground, standing facing each other.
‘father?’
Turning around and looking into Count Hresvelg’s eyes, Lucas realized.
My father was sincere.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
Count Hresvelg spoke, and Juder laughed bitterly.
I had expected this kind of flow, but now that it has become reality, I can’t help but feel burdened.
‘Still, this is also an opportunity.’
Count Hresvelg was a powerful man of considerable power even by the standards of the entire Pleiades.
It would be so, since he was one of the most powerful people in a country – the Kingdom of Seilun, one of the two great powers on the continent.
‘The so-called Sword Master.’
Swordsman, swordsman.
How many times will you have the opportunity to cross swords with an inspector of this level?
‘Of course, there may be a lot when you go home.’
Yuder, who had relaxed a little with his pointless thoughts, took a few deep breaths and nodded. He looked back at Cordelia.
‘I’ll do it.’
‘Really?’
A conversation between eyes that now seems like telepathy.
Uther clenched his fists, and Cordelia stamped her feet and sighed. She clenched her fists in the same manner and glared at him.
‘If you’re going to do it, give me a hit! Okay?’
‘If possible.’
‘Not if possible, but absolutely!’
‘okay.’
Cordelia smiled brightly, satisfied with Uther’s answer, and Uther was also satisfied.
He answered, facing Count Hresvelg again.
“Please give me a hand.”
“Let’s get started right away.”
Count Hresvelg raised his wooden sword, and Juder took a deep breath and took up his stance again.
‘It’s the exact opposite.’
Unlike when I sparred with Lucas.
No, it’s more than that.
Finally, Yuder smiled and cleared his mind of useless thoughts. He focused on Count Hresvelg, and at some point, he charged.
bang!
Loud noise.
And then countless other sounds ring out in succession.
Juder launched a fierce attack, but Count Hresvelg was able to repel all of his attacks.
Flowing, blocking, and sometimes avoiding.
‘I’m shifting gears.’
Count Hresvelg took the gear of Juder.
So that you can give it your all.
Kwagagagagagagaga-!
The energy of four black dragons surged from Yuder’s two hands.
A subtle aura was also visible on Count Hresvelg’s sword, and at one moment, a pure white aura blade unfolded.
Lucas watched the two sparring, forgetting even to breathe.
The pattern of Uther attacking and Count Hresvelg defending no longer existed.
The moment Yuder’s gear reached its peak, Count Hresvelg began his attack.
Downward slash.
It’s simple, but it’s impossible to stop or avoid.
Uther looked at the wall from the descending slash that was rushing before his eyes.
I didn’t even have the courage to do anything, so I just moved desperately. I tried to avoid the sword strikes by keeping as much distance as possible. I couldn’t do anything but step back.
But this was just the beginning.
Count Hresvelg took a step forward.
Although Juder himself had tried his best to avoid them, he had not yet managed to get very far, and Count Hresvelg’s single step made the distance he had gained disappear.
And then the sword fight again.
This time, it’s just an ordinary break.
No, it was never ordinary.
At some point, Uder realized.
‘The Cross of the Holy King.’
Count Hresvelg was now unfurling the Holy Cross Sword.
In each of his movements, the Holy King’s Cross Sword was dissolved into the invisible flow of energy.
‘Indeed, a swordsman.’
He was soon to be the Holy King’s Cross Sword. Every little movement of his was filled with the Holy King’s Cross Sword.
A smile spread across Uther’s face.
I had no choice but to do that.
A few more sword strikes came towards Yuder.
With each dodge, block, and spill, Uder’s movements became more and more precarious.
Cordelia felt both wonder and pain.
Although it was a joy to witness Count Hresvelg’s near-magical swordsmanship, it was painful to see Uder being driven into such a mess.
Especially since it was visible to Cordelia.
This is the last one.
With the next blow, Yuder is completely trampled under the Holy King’s Cross Sword.
‘no.’
I knew it was forced, but I didn’t like it.
I didn’t want to see that sight.
Because it was Yuder.
Because it was Outboxer 009.
Because he was the kind of guy who always wanted to be number one.
Cordelia gritted her teeth, clenching her fists, wishing and wishing.
I made a wish to Yuder.
And then at some point.
When Count Hresvelg finally raised his last sword.
“uh?”
Cordelia let out a voice without realizing it.
Because it was visible to her.
Because her talent for transcending the process and seeing the results speaks for itself.
Anomaly.
That which destroys the natural flow.
The corners of Cordelia’s mouth went up.
I looked into Yuder’s eyes and smiled brightly once more. I suppressed my pounding heart and shouted in my heart.
‘Uder!’
bang!
Uther stepped on the ground.
I saw Count Hresvelg’s sword.
Still absolutely.
An insurmountable wall.
But things have changed. No, it was Yuder himself who made it so.
‘The Cross of the Holy King.’
I saw it through Lucas. I felt it through Count Hresvelg.
And I could tell.
That the martial arts and achievements of the Holy Cross Guardians are the same.
At least we are martial artists who once walked the same path.
But that wasn’t the important thing.
Uther could feel it.
I could sense the Holy King’s Cross Sword itself.
The Thousand and One Body.
The incarnation of the heavenly being.
Adding to that.
Nine heavens, nine worlds.
The power of the nine heavenly gates that contains all things in the universe and can flow into all things in the universe.
I wasn’t aware of it.
At some point, my body moved naturally.
Isn’t this the world Cordelia usually sees?
No, that’s wrong.
Because even at this very moment, Uther himself was calculating.
Count Hresvelg’s sword is perfect. So let’s twist it and break it. Let’s twist the path of that sword with a twist.
What is needed for that is strength.
A great power that would bring embarrassment to Count Hresvelg, and that Juder himself had not been able to handle until now.
bang!
What Cordelia saw.
Uder kicked the ground hard. He shifted his center of gravity in an instant and clenched his fist, reproducing what he had seen and felt with the nine-heavenly-nine-meter-long-hole.
The Holy King’s Cross.
The Cross of the Holy King.
The dragon fighters gathered at Uder’s fist.
At that moment, a look of bewilderment spread across Count Hresvelg’s face.
Because I understood it the moment I saw it.
And then Yuder’s power exploded.
I have crushed Count Hresvelg’s sword strike!
Kwahaa-!
The Holy King’s Cross, which is a symbol of the Holy King’s Cross, was drawn in the air.
Count Hresvelg was pushed back, and his attacks were in vain.
But only for a moment.
Count Hresvelg swung his sword again. He cut through Judah’s cross in one stroke, and when Judah looked up, his sword was already at Judah’s neck.
Settlement.
The match is decided.
Uther was defeated.
But Cordelia was jumping up and down in joy, and Lucas couldn’t close his mouth.
Count Hresvelg also let out a slightly ragged breath.
“I lost.”
As Uther spoke, Count Hresvelg put away his sword.
And I swallowed the words that had been rising to the tip of my throat.
‘how.’
I already knew the answer.
It wasn’t that Yuder stole the secret recipe for the Holy King’s Cross Sword, or that Count Bayer spent a long time researching the Holy King’s Cross Sword.
‘Cheonmu···delay.’
The incarnation of the heavenly being.
No, that wasn’t all. There was more to Uther than that.
‘You’re a monster.’
I couldn’t help but laugh.
They say that when you’re faced with a ridiculous situation, you start to laugh, and it seems that saying is true.
‘No, no. That’s not all.’
My heart was pounding.
Because I was looking forward to seeing how much the guy in front of me would grow and how he would compete with me in the future.
“It was fun. Go back and get some rest. I’ll send someone to help you if you need to.”
“It’s okay. Instead… I’ll rest for a bit at the training ground and then go back.”
“Let’s do that.”
Count Hresvelg, who had retrieved the sword, approached Lucas, who was still standing there blankly, instead of saying anything else.
After lightly patting his shoulder to bring him back to his senses, we left the training ground together.
“ha.”
Uther let out a breath and collapsed to the ground.
“Whoa.”
I just lay down and stretched out my whole body.
‘Is this the Ten Swordsman?’
Neither Landius nor Kamael had ever shown a real sword to Uther himself.
The same goes for Count Bayer.
But just now, Count Hresvelg showed us the truth.
‘It’s really heaven.’
There is a reason why they say ‘the sky is beyond the clouds’.
But somehow, a smile kept coming out of my face.
Because you will be able to reach it someday. Because you will be able to reach a higher level.
‘It’s been a while.’
There was a short period of time when Kang Jin-ho devoted himself to training simply because he liked the fact that he was getting stronger.
“What, what? Why are you laughing? Are you crazy?”
“And you’re laughing too?”
“Hehehe.”
Cordelia, who had come over before anyone knew it, squatted down at Uther’s bedside and laughed again.
“Our Yuder has become a lot stronger, hasn’t he?”
“I have to become strong, to protect our princess.”
“Oh my, that’s amazing. I’ll support you as a reward. If you sleep in a place like this, you’ll catch a cold.”
Cordelia, who had become as cheerful as Uther, helped Uther up and supported him.
“Ugh, the smell of sweat.”
“Ahem, sorry.”
“No, it’s okay.”
It’s not as bad as you might think.
Cordelia moved forward, supporting Uther, who had grown to be at least 10cm taller than her, and Uther leaned against Cordelia and lost himself in thought.
Because it was so hard one way or another.
And that’s why Uther didn’t notice Cordelia staring at his side profile.
‘handsome?’
No, is there something cooler than that?
I’m drenched in sweat and my eyes are blurry, and I’m breathing heavily.
‘What, what is it?’
Strangely, I kept wanting to see it.
I kept thinking it was cool.
My heart was pounding.
“Cordelia?”
“Huh? Uh… Yeah. Let’s go quickly.”
Cordelia, who was flustered and laughing, looked straight ahead, and although Yuder tilted his head once, he didn’t really doubt it anymore. He leaned against Cordelia and took a step forward.
&
Two days later.
Led by Count Chase, Uder’s party left Thunderdoom Fortress.
Count Hresvelg and Lucas came out to see off the group, and Juder was able to face Count Hresvelg in two days.
“I hope this helps you on your way.”
It was a story about the Holy King’s Cross Sword that Yuder had become somewhat familiar with.
Yuder responded with a smile, and Lucas stepped forward in front of him.
“Prince Yude.”
“Yes, Prince Lucas.”
“I started learning the Holy King’s Cross Sword from my father yesterday.”
I had already learned it, but the concept was different.
This goes beyond the concept of simply learning the family’s martial arts and begins training to become an official successor.
“congratulations.”
“Yes, it’s a bit off topic, but… I’ll definitely catch up.”
Lucas’ face turned red.
It was because of shame.
Because he knew better than anyone the skill gap between Yuder and Lucas himself.
Uther looked into Lucas’ eyes and smiled.
“I will look forward to it. I need a match for myself.”
It was a sarcastic remark, and it could even be heard as sarcastic, but Yuder did not think so.
Uther was also sincere, and there were no more words to cheer Lucas up.
“I will do my best.”
“I look forward to it again.”
The farewell ceremony concluded with Juder and Lucas shaking hands, and Count Hresvelg looking happily at the two of them.
And how far did it go?
Adelia, who had decided to take a break and sat down under a tree, looked at Cordelia with annoyed eyes.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“Sister, isn’t your reaction too much?”
“Because it interrupts my time with Prince Gale. It’s so hard to have time for just the two of us.”
“We’re always together! What’s so difficult about it?”
“What about him? Don’t you know that I miss him even when I see him? Even though you’re always with Yuder, you kept nagging him to make time for just the two of you.”
“Oh, no. I······.”
“No, that’s not true. You little girl, you’re acting all sloppy.”
Cordelia was speechless at Adelia’s nagging and hit her chest.
No, who is going to make it to Balang?
Isn’t it you, my sister, who really got all worked up? Kissing in front of everyone!
“I’m an adult.”
You are still a minor.
There was something wrong with Adelia, but Cordelia was left speechless by her factual attack anyway.
“Anyway, what’s going on?”
“Well… there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What? Like what it feels like when you kiss?”
“Oh, no?! I’m not curious about that at all?!”
“really?”
“Joe, you might be a little curious······ Ah, anyway! What I’m curious about is something else!”
Adelia smiled inwardly at Cordelia’s blushing protest.
From the way you spoke, it seemed like you had never kissed before.
‘Because he’s still a kid.’
How to have a healthy relationship.
‘I am an adult.’
Adelia, newly satisfied, shrugged her shoulders and asked.
“Okay, so what are you curious about?”
“that······.”
“that?”
“Oh, when did you find out?”
“what?”
“Uncle Gale likes my sister.”
Adelia’s face turned red for a moment at Cordelia’s question.
“Why, why is that?”
“Ah, no··· Just a little······.”
The sisters, who looked alike, blushed and writhed, until Adelia finally spoke first.
“Ahem, well then.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“At that… moment… I realized. That moment when we met each other’s eyes. Ah… I love this person. This person also loves me… I thought.”
“What is that? You just felt it at some point?”
“Oh, just at one point. I can’t express it any other way.”
“Ugh… This is not helpful. If we do this.”
No, since there is no such moment, does that mean that Uther doesn’t like Cordelia herself?
“Is it because of Yuder?”
“Huh? Uh… Yeah.”
“What a mess. We can’t live without each other like that.”
“That’s not it, is it?”
“Make a reasonable excuse. And… isn’t it because you guys have been hanging out for too long?”
“huh?”
“No, something… it’s too natural. For each other.”
“Is that so?”
“maybe?”
Adelia shrugged her shoulders and quickly stood up.
“Anyway, I’ll go see Prince Gale. You too, do your best.”
Adelia, who was happy just to be going to Gale, smiled brightly and hurried her steps, while Cordelia blinked.
‘How can a person change like that?’
Somehow, it seems like Cordelia has been treating herself a bit rudely lately.
‘Anyway. Is this what you felt when you saw the eyes?’
Okay, eyes.
twinkle.
I’m confident about this.
Cordelia clenched her fists and jumped up from her seat.
And five days later.
The party led by Count Chase reached Langest.
&
< Chapter 47 - Engagement Ceremony #3 > End
