Volume 2 Chapter 10 (2/2)

We heard the rumors float around in the bar yesterday during our dinner It was normal for a national incident such as this to have rumors float around, however it feels too early for the rumors to be spreading. There is the possibility of someone spreading her death deliberately.

[I have heard about that rumor.] (Storekeeper)

[Truth is, we picked up a shield that most likely belongs to her in the forest of God Trees and it would be troubling to use it with the rumors spreading around.] (Youya)

[Well of course you would be.] (Storekeeper)

[Could you apply a coating onto the shield as we can’t use it with the emblem on the shield?] (Youya)

From the storekeeper’s point of view, this excuse would be expected. If we were discovered with the shield, it would be likely that the kingdom would ask us to return the shield, furthermore the store owner would also be deprived of a potential business deal.

[I don’t mind. Show me the shield.] (Storekeeper)

I took out the shield from my magic bag and handed it over to the storekeeper.

[Hmm it’s a good shield. Just wait a moment and the shields will be ready in about two hours.] (Storekeeper)

The storekeeper went to the back and prepared a receipt for us in advance and went to the workshop that was within the store. While we were alone, Selene opened her mouth.

[Uncle Youya.. Why did you do that?] (Selene)

[If there is a magic coating then there is the possibility of using your shield while hiding it’s materials and the crest. Like this, the mythril shield that you chose will be even more important as you’ll have to keep your shield once the coating wears off. No one would suspect anything if you took out a different mythril shield after one becomes worn out.] (Youya)

[But doesn’t this mean that the storekeeper now knows my shield is in your possession?] (Selene)

[Don’t worry. First-rate craftsmen do not talk about personal information of their customers. I can tell that shopkeeper is a top-tier craftsmen.] (Youya)

You can tell a first-rate craftsmen just by looking. It should be safe for us to trust this shopkeeper.

[Ah so thats the case. I’m surprised at the development but I’m also glad I will be able to use a shield i am familiar with. Is it possible to coat the sword as well?] (Selene)

[If you try to coat a sword its sharpness will decrease and it will become blunt.] (Youya)

[Well that would definitely be difficult.] (Selene)

This is precisely the reason why it is a coating technique that can only be done on a shield. It is also possible to do it on an armour however it is much more costly. Plus my spare armour would have a better performance anyway we need not force ourselves to get a new set of armour.

Now I’m looking forward to our completed shields.

.

.

.

After bring the purchased items back to the inn, Me and Selene were completely equipped standing in the courtyard. It was time for our sparring session.

[Are you seriously going to battle me with just a shield?] (Selene)

[Ah. Just like how the legendary battle princess Renoir did, I have shield on my right arm and a free left hand.] (Youya)

For this battle, I am borrowing Selene’s shield which was passed down from the legendary Renoir herself.

It was originally a silver shield made from the “Steel from god” however thanks to the coating it looks much more metallic. Its shape was just slightly larger and thicker than a standard round buckler. However, it’s true potential lies in the holes several centimeters in diameter at the bottom of the shield. Just as I remembered it in the game.

I poured some mana into the shield to test my theory and the shield responded as I imagined. I borrowed the shield from Selene yesterday to practice the shield-style of battle as well as how to channel mana in many different ways.

For equipments that require mana to function, each of them has a unique gimmick which has to be performed properly in order to activate their abilities. As I have encountered several different magic swords, I’ve managed to pick up the correct way to channel mana as well as how to do them appropriately for different magical items.

[I don’t know what or how uncle Youya plans to defeat me using Renoir’s supposedly true battle style, but I will strongly utilize the sword of the Laluzulu kingdom that has been drilled into me since I was a child. This is the true battle style used by the legendary hero.] (Selene)

Selene was holding a shield in her left hand and a wooden sword on her right. After several preparations, the battle has finally begun. The rules for this battle was simple. The first one to land a blow on their opponent is the victor. For me, that would be to pierce her using the buckler, however my buckler has a short range as compared to her sword. I was at an extreme disadvantage.. If the battle princess Renoir’s shield was a normal shield that is.

[Now then, come at me anytime. Or is Selene just all talk and afraid of attacking on her own?] (Youya)

[Your intentions are as clear as day. However I will still bite it nonetheless.] (Selene)

Since my opponent has a wooden sword, I can’t just recklessly charge into her range. I closed the distance slowly while carefully observing her movements to watch for her attack’s preliminary movement and prevent it with my shield. A capable fighter using a sword and a shield will most likely use their shield to create an opening while countering using their sword to attack. A buckler was small for a shield, however in exchange it’s handling and ease of usage increased thanks to it’s small size.

Now then, since the match wouldn’t be exciting if we were just waiting around like this, I increased the pace of the match, rushing and quickly entering within range of Selene, throwing her tempo off. While her stance was thrown off by the sudden change in pace, she slashed with her sword.

Using the buckler and it’s roundness, I passed the blow to the side. Compared to a sword, the buckler was much closer to my body and slightly larger, making it easier for me to deflect her blows. The buckler might unexpectedly suit me.

I properly deflected Selene’s attack using the buckler. The battle princess Renoir used her buckler in her dominant hand, making it easier for her to maneuver and increase her charging power while at the same time increasing her defense by having a shield on her dominant hand.

I carefully observed Selene’s sword.

It appears that she was avoiding releasing a heavy blow in order to preserve her balance and form. As a result it allows her to release strong and accuracy blows, piling up sharp attacks one after another . It was interesting and at the same time a powerful way of utilizing a sword.

[Uncle Youya, your defense is as amazing as usual. However, it isn’t a method of attacking in the slightest.] (Selene)

I replied Selene as I deflected another slash.

[That’s because I haven’t gotten into it yet. I just wanted to understand your fighting style while observing your capabilities. There are still things I have yet to show you. 7 times. Do you know what this number represents?] (Youya)

[What is it?] (Selene)

[The number of times I could have killed you in this round.] (Youya)

Selene took a deep breath as she launched another flurry of attacks. This time, the openings she had were gone and her attacks became much heavier. I knew about it from the start, that her swordsmanship was likely a little below a top-class swordsman. It is easily understood from how she was raised and how long she has been training. However, her spirit was still far from a top-class swordsman. Equally important to your techniques, your spirit was something that hard to be honed as well.

Now then, I’m pretty much done with grasping Selene’s sword style. It’s time to finish this match. Shields were always meant for receiving attacks, however it is also possible to use them for launching attacks.

[Let’s do this!] (Youya)

It was a chance for me to counter by opening a gap with force. I used my buckler in a swift manner and swept her sword with a backfist, knocking it away with the back of the buckler. Selene dug her foot into the ground and launched herself backwards trying to open up a distance between us. However it backfired and instead opened a large opening for me. Utilizing God’s Strength to increase my speed to a godlike level, I lunged towards Selene. Twisting my waist, I transferred the energy to my shoulder then to my arm, aiming to strike Selene’s forehead with my buckler. Before the buckler collided, I immediately activated the hidden function of Renoir’s shield. As my arm stretched towards Selene’s forehead, a roar could be heard from the shield as a thick pile spike made of Steel of God appeared and stuck out from the bottom of the shield at the speed of sound.

This is the special gimmick within the battle princess Renoir’s shield, the shield that was used for both defense and offense. The tip of the spike, with the double acceleration from God’s Speed as well as their release of the spikes close to sound, stopped right before impaling Selene’s forehead, with the tip of the spike slightly splitting the skin on her forehead. A gust of wind blew as blood flowed down her forehead and her beautiful hair danced in the wind.

It was the end of the match.

Selene lost all strength in her legs as she fell to the ground from the shock of the spike.

[Ah.ahh.ahhh. It’s not blown off. My head’s still here. I’m properly alive.] (Selene)

She was in shock to the point that the blood drained from her face and her facial expression was completely frozen. She clearly did not expect that a spike launching at the speed of sound would not strike her between her eyebrows, knowing that if the blow had connected, her head would have been blown off.

[This is Renoir’s original style of battle. Overwhelming her opponents with her speed and power, breaking down their defense before feeding them to her spikes. She also wore a gauntlet on her left hand, however let’s leave that for another day. Having spikes in a shield is quite a convenient thing. Just like this, when receiving a heavy blow, you can pierce the ground with the spikes and firmly root yourself to the ground. Once you learn to place your entire body’s strength into this form, you can stop an opponent several times your own weight. If I were to teach you, Selene you would be able to use this in no time.] (Youya)

The spikes were extremely useful both for offense and defensive. It’s a pity that this gimmick was lost to the kingdom’s history. I will be sure to teach Selene how to utilize her magic power in order to activate the shield of Renoir in its original manner.

Selene seemed to receive a shock far larger than I imagined as she continued to stay on the ground without moving. After a brief moment, the sound of water flowing could be heard as a pool of water formed around Selene who was in a girl’s sitting position. It seems that stopping the spikes right before her forehead was much more frightening that I thought.

[Well, uhm. I was expecting to give you a shock but I didn’t think it would have that much of an effect. Let’s return to the inn. I’ll prepare hot water for you.] (Youya)

Colour returned to Selene’s face as her expression changes and her face became reddish.

[UWAHH I WAS SEEN BY UNCLE YOUYA UWAHHH] (Selene)

Selene began to cry uncontrollably as she was embarrassed from being seen wetting herself. It seems that I overdid it. What should I do? I pinched my cheeks as I was troubled about what to do. Let’s return to the inn for a change of clothes. It’s a good thing that she bought a change of underwear earlier this afternoon.