Chapter 15. It touches your pride. (3)
Leah was a girl who was happier when slaying monsters than when she danced, and when she chose a weapon rather than when she chose a dress.
‘So I guess I finally got Aria in my hands.’
Even as I endured the pain of my whole body freezing.
“Anyway, I don’t know. I don’t know if it would be okay if I listened to Prince Abel’s request.”
Mikel cupped his chin and drew a smile on his lips.
“I am afraid of hurting another family’s children.”
“…….”
“Isn’t there a difference between what a father teaches his children and what others do? I’m worried that it could easily turn into a fight between the two families.”
Aha, it will come out like this. Who would have listened to her except for her request for her daughter earlier?
“I didn’t know that Lord Mikel would care about me this much.”
I slowly lifted the empty glass.
“By the way.”
He added while looking at Mikel.
“Hasn’t the fight between the two families been going on for several years already?”
“…….”
The smile disappeared from Mikel’s face.
“Well, that was controversial a few years ago.”
“Have you not been able to win so far?”
“Is there any chance of winning? We haven’t competed in years.”
The nobles around him looked at Mikel and whispered.
If Obest swordsmanship and Nord swordsmanship compete, who will win?
This was a hot topic of debate not only among those who walked the path of the sword, but throughout the entire empire.
First of all, Ovest swordsmanship is the ultimate swordsmanship used when you must cut down the opponent, even if it means giving up your bones.
The key is that it is agile, sharp, and lethal.
‘Because there is no harm in killing the monsters in the western mountains.’
On the other hand, node swordsmanship is a swordsmanship specialized for leisurely gaining the upper hand, widening the gap, and subduing the opponent.
Therefore, although it is slow, each blow is heavy and powerful.
‘Just making the opponent immobile will be enough.’
This is because the cold of the northern snowy mountains suffocates monsters anyway.
As the two swordsmanship were considered strong in their respective fields, people always wondered which of the two swordsmanship was superior.
‘It’s similar to asking who would win if X-Man and I-X-Man fight.’
But Diego and Mikel never crossed swords. As Diego became secluded in Ovest’s territory, there was even less time to see him.
But now I have brought up that old debate again.
“I understand that the results of that fight have not been announced yet.”
“…Yes, I did.”
Mikel raised the corners of his mouth with difficulty.
“I didn’t know you would be interested in such old arguments.”
I suppressed a bitter laugh.
‘It’s an old debate.’
His tone seemed to indicate that he was not at all concerned about this wasteful controversy.
Is that really true?
“Oh, wouldn’t that be a topic that any young man in the empire would be interested in?”
I put a sweet smile on my face. Unlike Mikel’s, which seemed to have faint fragments embedded in it.
“Of course, it’s not just young people’s curiosity.”
“…….”
“Honestly, Lord Mikel, aren’t you curious too?”
“Hmm.”
Mikel didn’t answer but just stroked his beard. He seemed completely unfazed by my words.
Of course, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
‘I’m just curious. I’m sure my hands are itching to death.’
In the original, after Diego is killed by Abel, who holds the Requiem, Mikel is deeply saddened to hear the news.
‘The great star of the empire has fallen. ‘I lost.’
And I wonder about the outcome of the match that was not finished.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have tried again for the match I couldn’t finish!’
Yes.
It is known in the world that Mikel and Diego have never competed, but that was not true.
The two had already clashed fiercely. Diego had just established himself as the lord of the family.
Mikel was very curious about Diego’s skills, who were renowned as the strongest. It was he who first started a fight with Diego, who was trying to avoid him.
‘The result was a draw.’
Diego, who was in his prime, was strong, and Mikel, who had been on the front line for a long time, also had a tough time.
The two felt that this fight would end only if they risked each other’s lives. So, as if they had made a promise, they lifted their swords at the same time.
The bloodless period that lasted like that has already exceeded 10 years.
“I don’t take out my sword easily.”
Mikel opened his mouth with a mechanical smile.
“Especially if you take out a sword in a place where there is so much attention, it is likely to become a spectacle.”
His shoulders were extremely stiff. Contrary to what he said, this was proof that he was very distressed.
Mikel was struggling to suppress his fluctuating desires.
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“I don’t want to do something that would be talked about by luxury people.”
Now he doesn’t rush in like he used to. He moved, looking around and considering the consequences of his actions.
‘Because people who have a lot to protect tend to be very cautious.’
However, that doesn’t mean his blood has completely disappeared.
“It’s a sight to behold….”
I had a crooked smile that anyone could say was unlucky.
“Well, the sight of a white tiger’s blunt claws would be a rare sight.”
“…….”
“Even more so if it’s because of the wolf’s teeth.”
Mikel’s face became expressionless. Even the formal smile he had on disappeared completely.
“I failed to consider your age, my lord.”
I spoke in a calm tone, as if I hadn’t noticed the change in his complexion.
“It’s time to think about a successor.”
He very graciously told me that he was now old and that it was time to put down the sword and go into the back room.
Of course, Mikel wasn’t so tactless that he couldn’t understand my aristocratic speaking style.
Mikel’s beard trembled.
“Do you think I refused Confucius’ request for that reason?”
“It was Lord Mikel who spoke as if he would grant everything except your request for Miss Leia.”
A venom more severe than that of a poisonous snake and a foreboding sharper than a blade seeped into my tone of voice.
“For someone like that to talk about rejection, I can’t help but think that there are unavoidable circumstances.”
Finally, he slowly stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
“I understand. Who wants to show their moment of defeat in front of everyone?”
Are you afraid you’ll lose to me?
When the word was given a euphemism, Mikel’s eyes twisted fiercely.
“…….”
A harsh look was exchanged between me, who was still smiling, and him, who had a bloody face.
It looks like the provocation was too strong.
“Hehehehe…….”
“Well, what should I say….”
“I heard you don’t know how to be scared of a one-day puppy tiger.”
The nobles around him could not bear to intervene and just whispered among themselves. They astutely sensed that if they made a mistake, sparks could fly.
“……Whew.”
Eventually, Mikel slowly closed his eyes and opened them.
“This is it. I forgot for a moment that Confucius had a free tongue.”
His blue-gray eyes were calm and sunken.
“When such a confident young man asks me to teach him, it would be unfair to refuse.”
However, his voice was a little lower, perhaps due to the fragments of his emotions that he had not yet been able to sort out.
“It doesn’t matter what the public says. Let’s spar as a prosecutor against a prosecutor.”
The surrounding lords widened their eyes in surprise.
“Huh, are you serious?”
“Prosecutor vs. prosecutor, something like that….”
They expressed concern, but I did not. Rather, since it was something I had been waiting for, I smiled brightly and stepped forward.
“Thank you, Lord Mikel.”
Mikel snorted when he saw my reaction.
“You may have mercy in my hands, but I cannot say you are completely safe. Do you mind?”
“Of course. You have to keep in mind that you may get injured during sparring.”
“……Hmm. If it’s still okay, then let’s set up a place now so we can take the boat out.”
“great.”
After answering willingly, he added:
“How about the location: the Imperial Palace Knights’ Training Hall?”
“Are we getting into full swing?”
Mikel laughed out loud.
“Can you handle it? What are you going to do if you lose?”
A lively smile was already spreading across his face.
He was hesitant at first, but when he finally made the decision, his body seemed to be itching already.
“There is no shame in losing. Is your opponent Mikel Nord Concellare?”
The corner of Mikel’s mouth moved sharply at my flattering remark. There was no way he wouldn’t be satisfied with Diego’s son praising him.
“Shouldn’t you be more happy about it? It’s like being given teachings.”
“Hmm, hmm. As Confucius knows, the family’s unique swordsmanship is not taught that easily. Please refrain from making hasty remarks.”
“Oh, of course. Of course I know.”
A snake-like smile flashed across my eyes as I quickly agreed. It was such a fleeting moment that no one noticed.
It didn’t matter to me whether the other person was willing to teach or not. Liam and Diego were probably well aware of that fact.
“Besides, shouldn’t we try to guess the long and the short?”
Mikel’s face slightly stiffened at my defiant remark, but then straightened up.
“Hahaha, Confucius too. That sounds interesting. Do you think I will lose to a young man who is only 20 years old?”
“Isn’t that something you don’t know? Talent is always in a relative realm.”
“well.”
Mikel laughed leisurely, as if it was absurd.
“I have high regard for my Confucius spirit. Then, let’s go to the training hall right now.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Renting the Imperial Palace Knights’ training hall was very easy.
First, Mikel went to Emperor Theodore and spoke. The emperor who heard the story,
“Hoo? Together?”
He was impressed, and without asking twice, he called Joshua, the commander of the Imperial Palace Knights.
“It is said that Lord Mikel and Prince Abel will spar, so please leave the training hall empty.”
Joshua bowed his back, trying hard to hide his surprise at the emperor’s command.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
This incident spread among the nobles in the banquet hall at the speed of the wind.
“What? Abel Kindreal and Mikel Concellarega?”
“Are we finally going to decide the winner between the two sword techniques?”
“Let’s go now!”
In an instant, all the nobles left the banquet hall like a low tide and headed to the dance hall.
Thanks to this, the servants had to carry all the food prepared in the banquet hall. In any case, popcorn is necessary for rare sights.
Originally, the training ground was scheduled for official training, but it was canceled with a gesture from the emperor.
In other words, the knights of the imperial palace also joined this group of onlookers. The crowded gazes gathered in this way crossed over the training ground.
After changing into comfortable clothes, I stood there facing Mikel.
‘This is just like when I first crossed swords with Diego.’
Even back then, we clashed our swords as if we were digesting food after a meal. Of course, things were very different then and now.
“According to imperial palace rules, neither of them possessed weapons….”
Mikel stretched out his finger and pointed to one side of the training hall.
“Let’s use that today. Is that okay?”
There, the wooden swords used by the Imperial Palace Knights were neatly placed.
I shrugged and pointed to the side.
“Shouldn’t sparring be conducted like a real fight?”
Swords of various sizes, widths, and lengths were sparkling there.
“Please take the real sword.”
fantasy,
