Overpowered Sword Chapter 13

Level up with swords (13)

it is raining.

The sky covered with dark clouds is a gloomy gray-white color, making even the people looking underneath it feel depressed. This was especially true if it was accompanied by heavy rain that made it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

Ryan, who was looking out the window, also had similar feelings.

Shoot ahhh.

Something closer to a storm than a rainstorm is already hitting the windows. The noise resembled the knocking of an uninvited guest. The weather today was so bad that I had to occasionally look at the door even though I knew there were no customers coming.

“… “Are you back?”

Lian put down her cooled coffee cup and turned around.

There was a sound of footsteps getting closer.

In a mansion that didn’t have many people, there was only one person who would come by and show up.

“I’m back, Your Highness.”

“Come on in.”

Sure enough, it was Gilbert who opened the door.

A strong man who was a loyal follower of the Clyde Empire and served as vice-captain as a knight of the royal guard. It was now difficult to count how many crises he had been able to get out of thanks to that.

The old knight, looking neat as always, entered the room.

I must have cleaned it up before coming to visit him, so my shoes and coat, which should have been wet and dirty from the wind and rain, were as clean as new.

“Have you looked into the rumors?”

“yes.”

It is a place with only two people.

Gilbert took the example as a knight of the guard, not as a butler. He politely kneels down on one knee and answers his lord.

Even though he was long past his prime, spying on the academy of a small or medium-sized kingdom while leading the royal guard of a great empire was nothing special. Helmut, who could be said to be the strongest in the Academy, was still a child compared to him.

“First of all, it’s clear that Leon defeated those bastards. “There are those who make excuses, but no one wants to fight again, so the difference in skill can be seen as clear.”

“You’re saying that people with nothing but pride gave in.”

“It is as you said.”

This means that they were defeated so thoroughly that they could not even use force. It was also proof that Leon had overwhelmed their bodies and minds to the point where they recoiled in fear before retaliating.

Lian smiled in satisfaction at those words.

As expected, his insight was accurate. I never thought he would break the noses of nobles without an auror, all I could think was that he was like Leon.

“The others are fine, but what about El Monte?”

“yes.”

“That’s amazing. “The result exceeded my expectations.”

Gilbert also bowed his head as if agreeing with those words.

It wasn’t something I would say proudly, but the nobles who entered the academy were generally half-baked people. This is because if a person is worthy of inheriting a title, they are trained directly by the family.

For nobles, nurturing successors was the most important responsibility.

Even at great costs, they bring in excellent teachers and train them by mobilizing all of the family’s capabilities. To put it bluntly, even a baron in the countryside can rise to the level of a count or higher if he has just one sword master. This is not a problem that should be left to the academy or something like that.

To put this in reverse, attending the academy meant that it wasn’t worth raising that much.

‘Still, it’s a little different if you’re the legitimate son of a count family.’

The earldom can be said to be the border of high-ranking nobles, and if you are a direct descendant of that blood, it is difficult to ignore it like other people.

Even if you are not selected as a successor, you can afford to prepare a spare in case of an unexpected situation. He must have taught at least a little bit of arcane swordsmanship, so he was a person who could not be compared to those who were just left out.

However, Leon defeated Elmont in a head-to-head match.

“finally.”

“hmm? What else is left?”

Gilbert answered softly in his puzzled voice.

“This is a message from Leon. ‘I’m ready.’”

“… … .”

At those words, Lian’s pupils widened for a moment, but then returned to their original state and sank deeply.

Although not as much as Leon, he too felt new.

It was a whopping 3 years.

It was time to break one relationship and form a new one.

“Is it finally… . “It was quite long.”

“It is not a long time if it is spent on suitable talent.”

“Hmm?”

Lian smiled cheerfully after hearing that advice.

“Lord Gilbert also approved it? “I remember the last evaluation being ambiguous.”

“He showed results that were beyond my insight.”

Gilbert obediently retracted what he had previously said.

“He defeated the Count’s second son without having acquired Aurors, so there is no need to doubt his potential.”

Age refers to the depth of life, not vain stubbornness. Gilbert acknowledged Leon without any sign of shame.

That flexible way of thinking is Gilbert’s strength.

There were many knights stronger than him, but the reason he took on the position of vice-captain was the same. Because he was a person who accepted reality faster than anyone else and thought about how to deal with it.

At that time, Lian turned towards the window and opened her mouth.

“Gilbert, please tell me I’m calling an observer.”

“Are you talking about observers?”

Gilbert asked back with a look that he didn’t know what that meant.

He was the one who would serve as a witness for the fight between the two, because there was no need for a separate observer.

But even before hearing the reason, Gilbert realized.

“Your Highness, no way!”

“I know this is cruel treatment.”

Lian continued speaking in a dry voice. It was, in its own way, an implicit expression not to raise objections.

“But it is also necessary. If I don’t cut off all her feelings for her, her resentment will remain even after she becomes my knight. “Isn’t this something that Sir Gilbert was also concerned about?”

“… “I will follow your orders.”

“Go away.”

As Gilbert left the room as instructed, Ryan looked out the window where the wind and rain were still strong.

It was as if the inside of his heart had been cut out.

It’s something that can’t be helped. Even when I thought about it that way, thinking about Leon’s distorted face made me feel uncomfortable. I didn’t want to bring these two people next to me like this.

No matter how much I thought about it, no answer came to mind.

Born into the royal family of the Clyde Empire, it was a problem he could not solve as he had never made a single true friend.

* * *

The day of the decisive battle.

… Rumbling… … Kurung… ·

left the dormitory

Leon looked out into the distant sky.

The dark clouds that had arrived a few days ago covered the entire sky in black, roaring as if a storm was about to vomit at any moment. The sky was as ferocious as an animal about to be cut off its leash.

Anyone could see that the weather was unusual. Even though it was a long-awaited holiday, all the students except him stayed in the dormitory.

“It looks like someone in the sky is laying the boards.”

El Cid responded to Leon’s muttering to himself without realizing it.

[It really might be so. It is said that the hero of the holy sword is having a battle with his future at stake. Isn’t it natural for the sky to be a bit upset?]

“Really?”

[Of course it’s a lie!]

El Cid was giggling and teasing Leon as usual.

[If the sky reacts to every action of a warrior, would this continent have remained when I was alive? Well, there were quite a few times when lightning struck the goddess when she got nervous.]

“Goddess of Mercy… ?”

[Keep in mind that God always has two sides.]

Leon thought about what the opposite of mercy was, and then broke into a cold sweat. I guess if I lose this fight, lightning won’t strike me… ?

There is one more reason why we should never be defeated.

Leon, who was walking down the empty hallway, opened his mouth again. This time, he wasn’t talking to himself, but to El Cid.

“Anyway, who are you as an observer? “It was decided that the old man would be the inductee.”

[huh? Don’t you know?]

El Cid answered as if he had been asked a trivial question.

[Probably Chloe.]

“Chloe? why?”

[Hmm, now that I think about it, there must be some difference in perception.]

For Leon, who was puzzled, El Cid briefly explained.

[Because Rian still thinks you have feelings for her. So, starting from this match, we will try to close that gap. You can find many cases where a king and his subjects fought over a woman.]

“indeed.”

It was an easy reason to understand. It was a thorough method, typical of Rian, to eliminate in advance any potential flaws in the relationship between military and government.

Of course, there is no consideration for Chloe or Leon in that method.

It is a ploy to unilaterally sever the relationship between the two people.

Leon, sensing the cunningness of the tactic, smiled bitterly. I knew it in my head, but it was only now that I could understand that Lian was really a high-ranking noble.

‘I don’t like it either.’

This was the way of the nobility, the rule of royalty.

A political technique that seeks to manipulate people’s emotions and relationships, and does not treat others as equals.

Leon’s fists clenched tightly.

[Are you angry?]

“uh.”

Open the annex door. As he walked at a slightly rougher pace, Leon accepted the anger rising inside him.

I don’t know about anything else, but this wasn’t it.

If Rihanna really cares about Chloe, she shouldn’t try to manipulate them in this way. If the emotions left behind were to rot, the deeply engraved wounds were bound to fester.

“Rian, I’m going to give that smart-ass a good beating.”

Leaving one door open for the last time, Leon took a breath.

Even though your chest is hot, your head should be cool.

This is not an opponent you can beat by being swayed by emotions.

As his superhuman will calmed his body and mind, a soft golden light overflowed in Leon’s eyes.

Sigh.

At the same time, the gazes of the two men crossed.

“You’re a little late.”

“You came quickly.”

Leon shrugged his shoulders and approached Lian.

How much more is there to say after coming this far?

The two of them entered the circle and warmed up without worrying about who went first, but Leon broke the silence first by asking a question.

“Where is the observer? “They said they were calling one person.”

“It’s in a place we can’t see. If you pay too much attention and make a mistake, it’s unfair, right? “It will also be an excuse.”

“Hmm, I guess so.”

It seemed like he had no intention of exposing Chloe.

It was probably in case Leon got agitated when he saw her, or in case the two of them rebelled.

Coincidentally, the two people’s warm-up ended almost at the same time.

Gilbert, seeing this, approached and held out two swords.

“Leon, please choose whichever you want.”

“… All right.”

Although he was taken aback by the unexpected politeness, Leon accepted the sword without showing it. Since Rian had not revealed his identity yet, he seemed to be trying to remain faithful to his role as a butler.

Afterwards, Lian received the remaining sword.

Keying.

When I tapped the blade once, a clear sound came out.

It was not something commonly found rolling around in the training hall.

It may be difficult to cut something by crushing the blade, but at this level, it will not bend easily even if you hit the rock hard. If you don’t use aurors, it’s difficult to destroy even Rian.

While Leon was reviewing some information, Lian swallowed what he had taken out of his pocket.

“What, what did you suddenly eat?”

“Ah, it’s a simple medicine that suppresses aurors. Although I said I don’t use it, it may come out unconsciously. “If that happens, there will be a catastrophe, whether it’s a game or not.”

“Ugh.”

Leon was horrified as he imagined himself being torn in two.

Rian chuckled at the reaction, and soon, as if the medicine had taken effect, he lowered his false sword and straightened his posture.

Unlike usual, there is no sign of being playful.

It was proof that he too was serious about competing.

“Let’s get started quickly.”

“I guess so.”

Leon, holding his sword in a straight posture, faced him at an angle.

Rian’s eyebrows twitched once as he faced him directly. As a genius, his innate sense kept him alert to the enemy in front of him. This was something that had never happened since three years ago until today.

The atmosphere between the two becomes even heavier.

Leon showed more overwhelming concentration than usual, and Lian let go of all his composure and spoke with sincerity.

“then-“

Gilbert, who sensed the tense atmosphere, quickly intervened.

“—Start!”

It was not a human voice that answered the cry.

Wow!

Steel cries as it bites each other’s bodies. With the two swords between them, Leon and Lian’s eyes flashed.

This is the beginning.

This is the last one.

The conflicting resolve of the two people pushed the sword away.