EP.71 20-1. To Know Love
[“Match! Begin─!!”]
The horn blared, signaling the start of the battle. Without hesitation, I charged at Mardol with Wolf Fang.
Vacuum Slash was a powerful technique, but if it were reflected, I’d be at a disadvantage. Cutting through the air and kicking off the ground, I aimed to close the gap quickly.
I immediately tried to thrust my sword into the gaps in her armor—those would be the weak points when facing full-plate armor.
Clang!
“Good judgment.”
“…So, you blocked it after all.”
But my blade, instead of finding its mark, struck a transparent barrier like a wall of glass. Moments later, white crystalline copies materialized, crafted from something resembling pure glass. Their transparent helmets made them resemble Mardol more than they did me.
“Ugh…!”
One of the clones mimicked the trajectory of my earlier sword strike perfectly, while the other mirrored it in reverse, forcing me onto the defensive.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal against glass echoed as the glass-like illusions guarded Mardol like loyal knights. Defending against such sudden attacks was incredibly challenging.
‘This is ridiculous.’
It felt like fighting a reflection of myself. A chilling sense of danger crept over me, and I backed off to create some distance. I needed to strategize. How was I supposed to counter this Mirror Mirage spell…?
“…What are you doing?”
Her distinct voice echoed from within the glass helmet, just as the heavily armored knight charged straight at me.
The same Wolf Fang. When faced with it, this was the result. The distance between us vanished in an instant, leaving us close enough for our helmets to almost collide.
“Mardol, it seems you’re intent on not giving me any breathing room.”
“That’s right. You’re intriguing.”
The princess swung her sword. I blocked it with steel, countering her glass blade. Strength against strength. Though Mardol was powerful, this time I wasn’t easily overpowered.
“…Huh? Why aren’t you being pushed back?”
“This much… I can withstand now…!”
My trembling sword barely held its ground. She must’ve been trying to make me lose my grip, but this time was different.
I had my resolve. I wouldn’t lose in strength. Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I absorbed her weight and redirected it. The arena floor cracked under the strain.
「Howling Wind.」
At that moment, her golden wolf-like eyes gleamed. She abandoned the stalemate and launched an immediate offensive. Unlike Kainel, she seemed far more experienced in combat.
Ahhwooo─!
The wolf’s howl rang loudly right in front of me, striking my ears. The sudden burst of sound threw me off balance. As expected of the original technique—it was stronger than Leon’s version.
“You let your guard down, Licht.”
Staggering and creating an opening, I couldn’t avoid her counterattack as Mardol swung her blade at me.
Her sword, seemingly made of the same material as her armor, reflected light and attacked every exposed gap with dazzling precision. How could she possibly pinpoint weaknesses in such a short moment?
“Hah…”
I let out a dry laugh. As expected of the daughter of Emperor Roque. She was strong. If I hadn’t been reincarnated into this world, she might’ve become the strongest in her own right.
“…”
But right now, I had to surpass her. I still had Demon Lords to face—I couldn’t afford to be overwhelmed by a mere protagonist.
“Drake Style, Second Form: Reverse Scale Thrust.”
If you want to beat me, come back in fifteen years. As they say, the best defense is a good offense. I exploited the momentary gap in her attack to thrust my sword forward.
The technique was designed to pierce even the scales of a dragon. Our blades clashed, sparks flying as our skills and experience collided.
“…Ugh.”
This time, it was Mardol who retreated. Reverse Scale Thrust was a technique that linked attacks seamlessly, making it overwhelming for someone encountering it for the first time.
“I even mixed in Shadow Slash, but it didn’t work.”
“That technique needs a clear target to succeed.”
Mardol spoke with a hint of regret. She had tried to exploit the shadows on the ground to make it impossible for me to block, but as they say, the best defense is a good offense.
‘I know Shadow Slash’s weaknesses better than she does.’
A strong counterattack could neutralize it. Had I focused purely on defense, I might’ve fallen for it, but…
The technique lacked inherent power. That’s why I often combined it with Vacuum Slash for greater effectiveness.
No wonder players joked about Shadow Slash being useless without learning the Fourth Form of the Drake Style.
In Mardol’s case, her overwhelming strength helped compensate, but it wasn’t enough.
“Like this.”
Having sorted my thoughts, I planted my feet firmly and channeled the flow of blood throughout my body. Wind pressure gathered in my right hand.
“…So, you’re doing that.”
Through her glass helmet, Mardol murmured softly, imitating my tone.
***
Meanwhile, in the stands, four individuals sat together, watching the battle.
“Hey, Kai.”
“What is it, Ariel?”
“Who… who do you think will win?”
The red-haired mage asked the hero sitting beside her, her gaze fixed on the ongoing battle. Kainel smiled awkwardly before answering.
“Probably Licht.”
“Why? Not Mardol? He’s really strong too…”
“You’d know if you fought him. The scariest thing about that guy is that he always surprises you from angles you don’t expect.”
The two who had been defeated by the finalists exchanged differing opinions, their judgments shaped by firsthand experience.
“You’re right, Kainel junior. At least you get it!”
“No way, Nex. There’s no chance our Mardol will lose.”
Among the second-year seniors familiar with the person inside the glass armor, opinions were split. Nex, having traveled alongside Licht, knew firsthand the peculiar younger knight’s capabilities.
“Do you really think so, Shar?”
“…Yes, because no one is stronger than him.”
Charitines, the saintess known for channeling divine power into her fists, quietly cheered for the sibling she had grown up with, Phine Gransia, now clad in glass armor. She couldn’t let all the effort she had witnessed since childhood go to waste.
“He’s using Vacuum Slash. Why is he opting for such a big move…?”
At that moment, Kainel spoke with a note of discontent as he watched the match unfold. The spell would surely be reflected by Mirror Mirage.
The hero wondered, Why is Licht using something with such an obvious flaw?
Kainel had personally pointed out the Drake Style’s weakness—the large preparatory motions required to execute its techniques. This didn’t match Licht’s meticulous personality. It felt contradictory.
“He’s probably planning something, our dear junior Licht!”
“Huh? Nex, what do you mean by that…?”
The violet-haired man grinned knowingly, confusing those around him. After all, wasn’t the move just going to be reflected back?
Having seen similar situations during Ariel’s matches, and recalling how the battle had started, the audience doubted Licht’s tactics.
CRAAACK!
As expected, Licht’s Vacuum Slash was unleashed, and Mardol instantly erected his glass barrier to reflect it back at him with amplified force. The gusts collided in a chaotic whirlwind.
“See that?”
Emerging from the dust, Licht, still wearing his dark knight helmet, cut through the storm with sharp intent. Nex smirked slyly, watching Licht’s calculated movements.
“Told you. Honestly, I don’t think anyone among the second-years could beat Licht junior.”
It turned out that Licht had anticipated the failure of Vacuum Slash from the start.
“No way…”
By turning the technique’s slow buildup into a deceptive strength, Licht had cleverly baited his opponent. Watching this, Kainel couldn’t help but acknowledge, He really is someone who could surpass me.
***
Drake Style’s flaw lay in its required setup. Without mana infusion, it left numerous openings and placed immense strain on the body.
“A double-edged technique, like most things in this world.”
After using Vacuum Slash, I charged headlong at her. Like any other technique, Mirror Mirage had its vulnerabilities.
From repeated clashes, I had discerned that the duplicates were slightly slower than the original. As the clones wielding Vacuum Slash came for me, I broke through each one with precise strikes.
Because Vacuum Slash was inherently slow, the imitations created even more disparity. I cut through the oncoming wind, slashed past the clones, and leapt forward.
The resulting chaos scattered dirt and debris into the air, obscuring Mardol’s vision. A chance not to be wasted.
“…Huh? How?”
“I combined Reverse Scale Thrust with Vacuum Slash. It’s a technique you don’t have.”
I had closed the distance to her in an instant. With my blade already swinging, I unleashed a relentless series of wind-laden strikes. The rapid execution of Reverse Scale Thrust compensated for Vacuum Slash’s inherent slowness.
Drake Style’s sword forms were all flawed in some way, incomplete techniques painstakingly crafted by my master through sheer effort.
Yet, paradoxically, it was precisely because of these flaws that they could grow stronger—adapted, combined, and honed in real combat. Just like how I had used everything I had to create Demon Lord Slayer against Magic Hat.
If this strike landed, I’d likely win. I could sense Mardol’s mana barrier gradually weakening. Overwhelmed by the sudden acceleration, she was forced back.
“…You’re strong.”
Pushed to the defensive, Mardol finally spoke. Her gleaming golden eyes burned with fierce resolve, unwilling to accept defeat.
「Glass Knight.」
Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over me. From above, a colossal sword came crashing down.
“What…?”
Years of combat instincts kicked in. Using Feather Glide, I narrowly redirected the giant blade. When I looked again, I saw something emerging behind Mardol.
[“A massive glass knight has appeared behind Mardol! It looks like a giant golem! How will Licht respond to this development?”]
The glass knight, a towering figure of shimmering glass, appeared to mirror her movements like a puppet in her control.
What kind of magic was this? Its gleaming, spirit-like presence was majestic, almost otherworldly. Was such a skill even available to a knight class?
“Licht, can you really fight seriously against me now?”
I retreated, realizing that clashing head-on would only crush me under its sheer power. I lowered my steel blade for a moment, catching my breath.
A technique like this couldn’t have been used during her battle against Magic Hat—it would’ve endangered her allies.
“What kind of mastery does it take to twist the concept of steel itself to form something this massive?”
The awe I felt was undeniable. A manifestation of glass and power, she truly proved herself a protagonist in every sense.
“Same to you, Mardol.”
To be honest, I was thrilled. As someone who loved games, could there be anything more exhilarating than this? My blood boiled with the thrill of competition.
“To know love.”
Rain began to fall. A cobalt-hued sword descended from the heavens, embedding itself in the ground before me.
I realized that my current steel sword wouldn’t suffice against her.
“…I’ll fight you with everything I have.”
The difference between a stray dog and a wolf lay in understanding love.
I had to prove I was no mere pup.
Using a blade forged from my convictions, I would shatter her glass knight.