Volume 2 Chapter 39 (1/2)
Chapter 2 Episode 39
Editor: SniperIRL
Day 182 after being summoned to another world: (Decisive battle 11)
There are only two people stand on the battlefield.
The noise of the surrounding gradually disappears, and silence dominates the place.
Mercenaries who previously hunted the knights gradually gathered together and form a circle where Ryouma and Kyle stand in the middle.
”Nee-san... What do you think?”
Toward Lione who is not responding to him at all, Bolts gives up.
Since he was a longtime acquaintance of hers.
He would naturally know what was inside Lione's mind.
Toward Bolts, Lione suddenly speaks without turning her face.
Before her, Kyle and Ryouma confronted each other.
Her eyes were staring at both of them, observing every movement.
”Since the enemies are mostly taken care of, there's no need for us to take command anymore... And then asking us to let him do this battle. It can't be helped if my warriors blood boils, don't you think so?”
Toward Lione's words, Bolts can't help but show a bitter smile.
He also a man who has crossed many battlefields as a warrior.
Although he has begun avoiding melee fighting after he lost his left arm, his warrior soul has not yet rusted.
Just like Lione, Bolts is also an outstanding fighter.
Witnessing something such as two people dueling to the death.
As a warrior they both respect and support such battle.
Everyone present in that place understands that feeling.
Not even one of the mercenaries wants to stab Kyle from the back after seeing the current situation.
Although it might sound embarra.s.sing, some might actually want to do something but don't know what to do.
”Still... I did hear something about Kyle's ability... But to think that he can go this far...”
”Indeed. It would be a suicidal act for you who lost your arm to fight against him.... Even for me, if I were to fight him one-on-one, I think I have no chance...”
Lione regrettably voiced her opinion.
The reason for her for feeling regretful is because she realizes that Kyle's sword art is better than herself.
One of the most important abilities for someone who fights on the battlefield is the capability to judge others ability.
Is the enemy’s skill better than my own or not?.
Is the enemy's equipment quality better than mine?
Is the enemy a strong person who can fight well in a rough battlefield?
To survive on the battlefield, the ability to judge for such things is necessary. <tln: the=”” famous=”” principles=”” 'know=”” your=”” enemy,=”” know=”” yourself'.=””>
No matter how strong you are, if the enemy is far stronger than you, then your own power means nothing.
Naturally, Lione and Bolts who have survived through battlefields for many years have such quality in them.
They understood Ryouma and Kyle's ability as they watched them.
”Well it can't be helped then? For nee-san and I, we never learned formal swordsmans.h.i.+p... Our sword is a sword tempered by the battlefield. If it was a battlefield then I think our ability is enough already, you know?”
A mercenaryies sword art is a sword art that has been polished in harsh fighting where enemies always surrounded them.
It is not to say such sword art weak.
What that means is that some sword arts are only applicable in a certain situation.
While mercenaries sword art is more specialized to fight on a crowded battlefield, Kyle's sword art is more centered around a duel one-on-one sword style.
Lione lightly nods her head in agreement.
She understands about what Bolts had said.
”The young master also does not seems to lose compared to him... He's not even one step behind of Kyle... d.a.m.n, what a vigor! I even feel overpowered by them while standing here...”
Even without them clas.h.i.+ng their swords, their competence can be seen.
The air released by them is different.
A cold, sharp, and intimidating air is discharged into the environment by them.
”Does the boy not intend to move?”
”Well, they both tried to see each other... And Kyle also wears an armor and also a small buckler... He cannot move however he like when the enemy has such defense...”
Kyle is wearing his armor along with his helmet, sword in the right hand and a small s.h.i.+eld buckler on the left hand.
He's fully equipped as a knight.
On the other hand, Ryouma’s weapon is the sword presented by Genou held by both hands, while his armor is the thing called leather armor.
It was a lightweight armor which has a high mobility, but in term of defense power, it was overwhelmingly inferior compared to what Kyle's wear.
”Kyle has a heavy equipment with him... If I were to confront him as it is, I would try to fight him by shaving his physical strength bit by bit...”
”Indeed, but usually we will strengthen our body with magic in that fight, that's why I think we can't compare it to them...”
”I agree... Although he was wearing such heavy armor, Kyle's agility did not get dampened at all. That's why the boy who can not use magic arts is without a doubt at a disadvantage... Yet, why is that child showing such confidence?”
Toward Lione's words, Bolts has no words to return.
Kyle who uses magic art to strengthen his body. Resulting in his agility not being dampened by the heavy armor.
Having Kyle use such ability while wearing armor with strong defense.
Ryouma is in a disadvantageous situation.
However, Ryouma did not show that he's in trouble at all.
In fact, he looks confident
As if he has nothing to fear.
One can say that he has an absolute confidence.
Or he actually a fool who can't judge the situation.
*Clank*
Spark scattered between the two.
The two of them move at the same time and crashes their swords.
*Clank, clank*
Sword rub against another sword in high speed, creating a high pitched sounds.
At first, their strength is equal, but gradually the sword starts to approach Kyle.
After all Ryouma using his sword with both hands, while Kyle only uses one of his hand.
Between both hand and one hand.
It would be obvious that holding the sword with both hands would generate more power.
However, the battle cannot be decided with just that.
*Doga*
A dull sound can be heard.
Kyle quickly uses his s.h.i.+eld and throws his body forward pus.h.i.+ng Ryouma back.
After that, both of them jumped back to create a s.p.a.ce between them once again.
(d.a.m.n it! What's wrong with this guy?... Is he trying to say that he's equal to me? Me? Who is one of the best magic and sword art users within Rozeria kingdom? Furthermore, his weapon... He seems to use a single edged sword... What kind of a sword is that? Is it a weapon specialized in killing?)
While Kyle had such thought, he postured his s.h.i.+eld in front of him to harden his defense.
(No wait... Let's calm down first. My opponent only wears a light armor. For having such sword and a light armor... His defense can be said as thin as paper... If I manage to prevent his attack with the s.h.i.+eld then push him down at the same time, everything would then be over... I who has a better defense than him without a doubt holds the advantage... There's no need for me to rush, I just have to harden my defense and wait for an opening... I can do this...)
His sword is his family heirloom.
His armor and s.h.i.+eld are said to be pa.s.sed down generation after generation by his ancestors who served the Rozeria Kingdom.
He places more strength in his hand, and fixes his stance.
”Oryaaaaaaa!!
A sudden loud voice comes out from Ryouma, a strong shock struck Kyle's left hand.
The left hand which is holding the s.h.i.+eld feels numb and get pushed to the side.
(d.a.m.n it, what a blow! My arm went numb... How come his slash is heavier than before?! Like this, I can't move my sword and can only concentrate on defense! d.a.m.n it, you monster!)
Ryouma uses all his body weight to swing his sword.
Such slash where he uses all of his muscle power can be said to be a death blow.
The evidence for that can be seen on Kyle's s.h.i.+eld, which ends up with a deep mark from the slash.
A s.h.i.+eld buckler is made with wood and leather material on the inside, while the surface is covered with thin iron. Such s.h.i.+eld had its iron torn off, and the wood part is peeking out from inside.
Ryouma’s eyes saw that.
(Did I manage to cut the surface? As expected, it was not made purely out of steel huh?)
Even for Ryouma, it would be impossible to cut a s.h.i.+eld made out of pure steel.
However, looking at the damaged steel, Ryouma feel rea.s.sured.
If this were Ryouma's previous world, it would be common sense to ditch such damaged s.h.i.+eld, but here is another world.
Since there's a magic to strengthen the body, such common sense can't be relied upon.
(Certainly, it was unbelievable for him to move that freely despite wearing such thick armor.)
Ryouma calmly observed his opponent.
Usually, such heavy armors would limit your body movement.
It would be more so if iron is used as the base material.
Yet Ryouma's opponent was still able to match his speed.
The fact that his opponent was able to block most of his attacks is a proof of that.
Indeed the knight would be able to boast as a person who has an overwhelming power in battlefield if they can move with such armor and s.h.i.+eld that easily.
(Magic art which can complement one own martial art huh? Not only that it also did not need chanting too... Indeed, such thing is much more annoying than magic art that requires a long chant...)
Such magic art can only be applied toward one's own body, but with the benefits of eliminating the need to chant, having the prana consumption much lower than normal magic, not to mention the effect.
Having such magic art no wonder that this world people called it a trump card in warfare.
Whether or not you're able to use magic art, that would determine between being a human who dominates others or being dominated.
(However... There's no such thing as absolute...)
Ryouma's eyes gaze over Kyle's weakness.
(Kyle... I will kill you b.a.s.t.a.r.d here without fail! I will show you! The technique that my grandfather had teach me!)
Cold air wrapped around Ryouma.
[Ryouma Listen... Katana is part of your body. Instead of swinging a sword, think of it as moving your arm... When you take out your katana, never hesitate. Hesitation will only distract your mind and consciousness, such hesitation would then be transmitted to your katana. Focus and don't hesitate! Believe in the technique that I've taught you! And your katana would never be broken...]
In Ryouma's mind, his grandfather's words emerge.
(Focus and don't hesitate... What I have to do is only one thing, and that is to kill my opponent!)
”Kyleeeeeeeeeee!”
Ryouma shouted his opponent name.