Tale of the Fake Hero - Chapter 221



Only Noblemtl

Season 3: Episode 29

Earth Sword Festival, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (13)

The fifth form of the ten-letter alphabet, sudden attack.

The flesh rushes like a bullet right in front of the target.

The inertia that is inevitably carried by the body is sublimated into rotational force with the scabbard as the axis.

‘Are you avoiding it after all?’

But he didn’t miss. He put the scabbard into Sharon’s spleen, a target that was just a hair’s breadth from the blade’s trajectory.

That one bit… … !

The extreme swordplay that rushed in through the gap created by that one point of difference left a bloody line on his side.

Choaaaak–!

The two girls, who were being pushed back by each other’s attacks, simultaneously felt soot. They had to apply the brakes to their bodies and find their positions!

“Wow, woah, waaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“This is crazy! The finals are just crazy! Just how many valid hits are you putting in against that Sharon!”

“Now the right to attack is not with the Extreme Sword Technique! It belongs to the Ten Characters Sword Technique! The one who has to react and respond is the Extreme Sword Technique!”

Camilla breathed a sigh of relief as she checked her physical condition.

“It’s so gruesome. If I had been just a little bit late in sheathing the sword, how many of my internal organs would have gone out?”

Sharon also stroked her forehead and took a deep breath.

“You, of course. Hehe, if you hadn’t pulled on my side and relieved my strength, my mind would have been shattered.”

Ah, you are so much fun. Even the moments when we cross swords are fun when I’m with you.

If only this time could last forever.

But that can’t be the case. The outcome of this match depends on something that absolutely cannot be compromised.

‘Master.’

Sharon glanced at Florette, who was watching her from the waiting room.

A brief moment of silence.

After a brief moment of deliberation, Floret nodded in approval of ‘it’.

Sharon immediately placed her left hand, which had been supporting her side, on the back of the knife that had been covering her face.

“… … ?!”

Since it was her first time seeing a rider being released from a pole, Camilla naturally went into a state of alert.

But… …what is it?

No attack came. Instead, Sharon began to chant to the sword in a reverent voice, as if she were praying, with her hands clasped together.

“I am Sharon Alter Tasalfo.”

What is that…?

Why the sudden announcement…?

“I will become a grain of wheat.”

Tremors… … Without even knowing why, Camilla felt the hairs on her body stand on end.

What’s the mood?

No, the whole atmosphere around that guy changed. But what is he using that for?

“… …Magic power is surging over the blade!”

“… … They twinkle so brightly, they look just like stars!”

“… … Increasing power? What does that mean?”

Tars Alter Surpin held his breath as if he found it interesting.

“The prayer of the sword… … Have you already started teaching it?”

The origin of the sword is communication with the Holy Sword.

As a warrior, the process of putting that courage into your sword.

In order to succeed, you must first become one with the sword… … that is, you must first reach the state of unity between the sword and the spirit.

“Hiya, that guy’s got it. It looks like he can temporarily achieve divine union. For a thirteen-year-old kid.”

Linoya Dune Jerayedo also looked genuinely impressed. Laminea was also lost in bewildered thoughts.

‘The ultimate goal of the Extreme Sword Technique is to freely increase the sword strength and manipulate the gap… ‘

If you can’t use the sword, the ultimate sword technique is ultimately less practical in a match between masters of the same level.

‘Just like Kami just pushed Sharon… … .’

That’s why health check-up is absolutely necessary.

Even in one-on-many fights, it is said that a swordsman using the extreme sword technique that actively utilizes the sword can pierce the vital points of dozens of enemies at the same time.

‘But no matter how talented you are, you’re still only thirteen years old, and it’s nearly impossible to reach the level of Geumgang.’

The sword is a symbol of the highest rank of inspectors, so it’s only natural that it can’t be used at that age.

But what if you could achieve the state of Shingeom Il-il and make the blade flow with the same magical power as your body?

It becomes possible to mimic the sword by expanding the magical power.

‘Its power is much lower than that of the Sword, but what’s important is that it can be used.’

It is now possible to freely control the spacing between kills, which is the strength of the extreme swordsmanship.

“So… … with that magic power, you can significantly increase the length of the blade?”

Radis asked Guardian Knight Bimonte in a worried tone. Bimonte nodded.

“Yes. It would be quite bad news for Camilla, who was getting used to Princess Sharon’s range.”

Huh… … Floret snorted in satisfaction.

And that’s not all.

Just through that origin, Sharon essentially freed herself from the chains she had been putting on herself.

‘The will to defeat the opponent with all your heart, the practice of resonating the sword and the mind, the origin of the sword.’

In fact, Camilla began to feel overwhelmed by Sharon.

‘Fast, why is it so fast?’

It was as if the advantage he had just had was a lie, as he barely managed to avoid a fatal wound.

One room, two rooms, three rooms.

I barely managed to avoid the vital spot, and desperately held on to consciousness as the pain turned my vision white.

‘No, it’s not that it’s faster. It just feels faster because the sword can reach from further away.’

If we continue like this, we will be eaten away at and eventually defeated, just like Olier did.

Think, think, think.

What is needed here and now, to overcome this crisis? What is the best we can come up with?

‘If that guy took away my advantage by increasing the length of his sword with magic power, then what should I do?’

A stance where you pull the sword back while keeping your feet shoulder-width apart and contracting all the muscles in the back, starting with the abs and the front muscles and the latissimus dorsi.

Up to here it’s the same.

But here, a new twist is added. By lifting the left foot that was on the ground and moving it forward. It looks funny because it moves in a stilted manner, but it is not.

“……hmm?!”

“… … Going forward?!”

“… … Forward movement from a kicking position?!”

Ah… … Right now, how many people in this place really know the meaning behind that gesture? Laminea’s pupils shook.

‘The biggest drawback of the fourth form of kicking is the static posture.’

Although it is said to increase the power of the following herbivore, its practicality is bound to be lacking.

Because the moment you take the stance, you are just a fixed target to the enemy. Just like Sharon gained the upper hand with the expansion of her magical power.

But to think of moving in that state? Going beyond the idea, to putting the theory into practice.

“Are you saying it’s not just about moving forward?”

Olier Vladipayre shook his head at his master’s question.

“Bal (?) is a posture that focuses all of the body’s strength, concentration, and magical power on the scabbard. If you move, you will break all of that flow.”

“Then how… … ?”

“So, you could say that it’s a mixture of the two sword techniques, the Brain Sword and the Shipmunjado.”

On the other side of the waiting room, Balkan Belchester was also lost in thought.

‘The Brain Sword is a training tool that maintains the magical power contained in the sword for a long period of time.’

Because you can only use the power of mixed current by maintaining the magnetic field of the two forces, the current flowing into the opponent and the current of your own sword.

“Each time you step forward, your footing will change, so the power will be reduced somewhat, but it won’t be a big problem.”

Renoya Dune Jerayedo couldn’t help but be impressed. Tars agreed.

“Ronins, especially those of the Ramgakpa school that use their feet intensively, switch stances depending on whether they use their left or right foot.”

Experts could explain it, but to the crowd it was a feast of incomprehensible events.

“… … What are you talking about? What is that thing doing?”

“… … I don’t know! The experts say it’s a mixture of vegetarian and vegan?!”

“… … So you’re saying you took away the right to attack again?”

Camilla was focused solely on the sword.

When you feel like the magical power accumulated inside the scabbard is reaching its limit, slightly open the blade to release the power! However, this must also look like an attacking stance so as not to be caught off guard.

One step, one step. Be careful not to break your footing as much as possible when taking steps!

“No, is that possible?”

Sharon’s eyebrows wavered.

“If you do it like that, won’t you be able to utilize the strengths of both swordsmanship styles?”

It may look threatening as it gradually closes the gap, but if you think about it, it’s actually full of vulnerabilities.

“The two swordsmanship methods are not in harmony, and it is just an impromptu self-inflicted wound.”

All swordsmanship is slowly and carefully developed in the hands of swordsmen, numbered and established as regular beginner’s skills.

“There’s no danger in improvising it here! That’s just giving up!”

It’s no use!

It’s no use, Camilla!

But why, why do I keep breaking out in a cold sweat? If I just find a loophole in that movement, it’ll be over, so why?

“Don’t feel bad, Sharon. This isn’t improvisation.”

I think I’ve been looking at this and writing about it for years.

This is a technique that the previous ten-letter successors said they would not use unless absolutely necessary. I know better than anyone else the shortcomings of this movement.

That’s why I’ve always, always, thought about how to supplement it over and over again.

“Go.”

Once again, a fierce struggle begins over the right to preemption!

Cross cut!

Endgame!

A dynamic first round!

The sparks from the clash of iron and the drops of blood from the iron cutting through flesh spread their light and heat into the twilight.

‘Wow… … .’

‘By combining the Belchester Brain Sword and the Ship Character Sword, you can move in a firing position and pressure your opponent.’

‘The fourth form of the ten-letter alphabet, the solution to the shortcoming of the foot (?) may be revealed right here and now.’

Patisserie Dune Jeraye watched Camilla’s profile while exhaling smoke from her cigarette.

‘That guy is not a genius at swordsmanship. Rather, he has a talent that fades when placed among geniuses.’

But I can say for sure.

That guy is a genius in two ways: he’s a genius of failure, and he’s a genius of imagination.

‘The talent to reassemble all the failures you’ve experienced so far into a new path in your head.’

If a person is a lump of iron that is polished into a weapon, then a genius can be seen as lumber that is polished into a spear.

While others twist and turn in all directions, run straight and faster than anyone else to reach the end.

All technological transformations are made only in that linear set, that is, in the ‘best result’ and the ‘best state’.

‘But among those who work hard, the genius of hard work is like a trident, if I had to make a comparison.’

Because the blade is divided into three parts, it takes a long time to reach the extreme point compared to the spear, or it may not reach the extreme point because it is not long enough… … .

It’s not all downsides though.

Because with the other two blades, it can respond to variables that a long spear cannot.

‘I’m not afraid of failure. I was either born that way or someone made me that way.’

Don’t despair because you can’t go in a straight line.

Rather, it is an effort to constantly talk to one’s own sword and seek a new path.

It is precisely this kind of effort that opens up new horizons in the long history of swordsmanship, and is the path of a swordsman.

‘Like the two swordsmanship styles that he’s building now, mixed together with similar results.’

The ultimate swordsmanship that I can show now, combining the strengths and complementing the weaknesses of the two swordsmanship styles.

“With this, the swan-like, graceful flying sword has been brought down to the ground. Now, it’s just a fight.”

As Patissier smiled, Floret smiled back.

“I’m sorry, but mixing swordsmanship isn’t that brat’s specialty.”

Sharon also learned royal swordsmanship from a young age. I also learned the basics harshly first.

The swordsmanship of a regular swordsman is extremely disadvantageous in a melee fight, but… …the ultimate swordsmanship is different.

Because the ultimate sword uses a longsword as its weapon, close combat is possible!

“… … I’m in a fight!”

Cut it, cut it.

Stabbing, stabbing.

Cut, stab, cut, stab.

“… … Neither of you are taking the swan or the stepping stone stance anymore! Do you think that is meaningless now?”

As they swing their swords, the wills of each other embedded in the blade, and the time built up on the sword, endlessly collide.

The twilight hours are over.

Fireflies on the iron fence that light up the twilight for a moment and then disappear.

“… …Who the hell wins?”

He straightened his bent knees and forcibly raised his body by hitting the floor with his fist, which was rolling around awkwardly.

“Haaaaa …

Destruction.

Pride.

Death power.

“—–AAAAAHHH!”

Between the clashing sounds of swords, their wills are embodied in a shout and intersect.

‘Sharon, that guy… … .’

Floret looked at her disciple with a sad yet proud smile, anticipating the day of separation that would surely come someday.

‘Your honest personality, where your emotions are clearly shown on your face, has come out. Then why did you teach me how to smile?’

To others, it might have just looked like a blood feud, but at that time, the two girls were glaring at each other but also smiling at each other.

Have fun.

It can be this much fun.

But behind that smile, there was a hope that neither of them could ever, ever, ever give in to, no matter what.

‘But I absolutely cannot give in.’

Bego.

Stab.

‘Because I won the prosecutor’s competition.’

Falling and rolling around.

‘It’s about making the teacher happy.’

Stand up.

Running, swinging.

‘Always being by his side.’

Stab.

Colliding.

‘It’s about being able to proudly call the teacher ‘teacher.’

A momentary gap opens.

The moment when they open up a gap for each other to strike back.

“It’s me—-!”

“It’s me—-!”

A display of will… …That is, the magical power that had been surging from each of their blades collided, and a fierce explosion occurred.

—-Pfft!

As if cut with a knife, the rising cheers turned into silence. The referee hurriedly dispelled the explosion of magical power with magic.

There was no one on the square.

Both girls were just squirming, trying to get up, each in their own direction.

“Okay, outside?”

“Both?”

“Judgment, judgment!”

The clairvoyance magic that was being used to judge replayed the situation that had just occurred.

It was simultaneous.

It was almost miraculous that the two girls ended up rolling around on the floor at the same time.

“In this case… … .”

It is for such occasions, which only occur once every few years, that the Round Table appoints a panel of judges, even though it is a tournament.

The judges held up the scoreboard.

The commotion suddenly died down, then grew louder. Greater confusion reigned in the stands.

“The judges’ evaluation scores were… … ?”

“It may be different for each person, but the total score is the same… … !”

“Wow, crazy, does this make sense! Even if you really wanted to fix the match, this would be impossible… …?”

The referee looked at the judges with a dumbfounded face. This was a first for them as well.

“Should we have a rematch?”

“It’s already late at night, and the opponents’ physical strength and magical power are at their limits. There’s a public sword ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.”

“Then, let’s have one more match on the last day of the ‘Sword Festival’.”

At that moment, the moderator, who could be said to be the final decision maker, descended dazzlingly onto the square.

Five Pillars, Inrahit.

The golden light that spread from the flapping of their wings brought life back to the bodies of the girls who were writhing in pain in the arms of each teacher.

“Since their wills have brightened even the darkness, it would be inappropriate to discuss the highs and lows of their wills any further.”

“Your Majesty, then what?”

“I have seen a vision of two slender lights illuminating the world side by side, so I will not judge which is better. I will make both Laminea’s disciple Camilla and Floret’s disciple Sharon the winners of this sword festival.”

Everyone was speechless for a moment.

I had to think for a moment about the answer the cardinal gave. This was an unprecedented, unprecedented situation.

But the moment the meaning of those words was understood, there was a wave of cheering and applause that shook the sky and seemed to collapse the square.

“Wow, wooooow!”

“Oh, a joint winner?!”

“That’s right! It was such a huge match!”

Reporters from each newspaper also couldn’t hide their excitement and played around with their fountain pens.

“The birth of the first-ever joint first place winner in a swordsmanship competition officially recognized by the Holy See, and both of them are disciples of Payquerier? This is a total mess!”

The awards ceremony venue is originally arranged in steps in the center of the square.

The center is first.

2nd place on the left, 3rd place on the right.

However, in this 1599th District Prosecutors’ Office, two girls will be in the center.

There was just one problem.

The only thing is that only one badge was prepared. The second and third place winners could wear a silver badge and a bronze badge on their chests, respectively… … .

“Give it here.”

But as Inrahit breathed life into the gold medal, a long golden chain was woven across the veil.

“Put your heads close together.”

Camilla looked embarrassed and bashful, but Sharon hugged her and held her close.

Inrahit placed the chains side by side around the necks of the two girls.

The left side of the chain flowed down Sharon’s shoulder, the right side down Camilla’s shoulder, and the symbol of victory glittered at the center of both of them.

“Hey, what, what! Get off!”

“Hehehe, no. I have to take a picture.”

“Camilla, you may be in third place now, but you must not forget that I am your rival!”

The third-ranked Olier said, feeling uncomfortable with this situation. The second-ranked Vulcan sighed, feeling uncomfortable in another sense.

“Can you be quiet and finish this quickly?”

As Inracht stepped back with a dignified smile, reporters thrust their cameras into the air.

“With this, everyone who made it to the semifinals has seen the light.”

“Honestly, I think all four of them deserved the award, so I think it turned out well.”

The judges each gave their opinions. No one disagreed with the results.

“It’s much better for Kami and Ron.”

Lamine said, wiping away tears of emotion.

Can I ever forget this moment?

Perhaps, in the days ahead, as they walk the path of mission together… … Will the two of them be able to forget this moment of wearing a gold medal around their necks with their friend?

I will never forget it.

I will never forget.

Kami, you’ve probably made some of the best memories here.

“Do you think both of them know that?”

Floret smiled brightly.

“You must know. You two are both smiling so brightly.”

Patisserie Dune Jeraye took a moment to light a cigarette and travel to a distant place in her memory… … .

Quietly, covering… … .

Now here, the three white-haired women… … Returning to being girls with their own hair colors… … Covering the appearances of those disciples… … Into those memories… … .

“In the past, I used to blame the gods for not being able to become a payquerier, but now I think becoming a dune isn’t a bad thing.”

Senior Instructor, Renoya Dune Jeraye, applauded and spoke to Tars.

“It’s really amazing. Even though the disciples have different personalities, seeing that their inner beliefs are exactly the same as their teacher’s… … It’s also fun.”

“Renoya.”

“And there’s something else that’s funny. Later, I can tell you guys. What kind of pay querier your disciple became.”

Then, Rinoya placed her hand on Roberis’s head, who was hugging the teddy bear.

“Work hard and come show me what you’ve got. I can tell this guy later.”

November 21, 1670 AD.

Camilla Alter Aradmantel, the hero of ‘Red Summer’, leaves her mark on history for the first time.

At the age of 13, he became the joint winner of the 1599th Prosecutor’s Examination…