TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 182
Rowen looked at me and let out an Empty Laugh.
“What have you raised? You.”
-Ka-ga-ga-gak….!
At the sight of Hanna pouring out Sword Energy without hesitation, Rowen shook his head.
Because the sight of his daughter, who had grown beyond what he had imagined, came as a huge shock.
Rowen thought he knew Hanna’s weaknesses.
Swinging her sword honestly, as if there were a Correct Answer, was one of Hanna’s chronic flaws.
In the past, Rowen had observed Hanna’s Sword. Not as Father’s love, but to measure whether his daughter’s Sword could bring fame to Histania.
The answer to that observation was harsh.
Hanna’s Sword lacked power.
It was honest, devoid of variables, and if someone taught her one thing, she would fit herself into that one thing.
There was no creativity.
Nor did she show persistence.
Because Rowen had spent time observing Hanna, he judged that he knew Hanna’s weaknesses well.
So he shared the strategy he devised with Mikhail. He believed that if Mikhail skillfully exploited Hanna’s weaknesses, the fight, which could be won, would become even easier.
No matter how much Hanna had awakened her Aura, the talent Rowen had seen in Hanna was pathetic. While others might see her as a prodigy, Rowen only saw her as someone slightly better than average, so he hadn’t thought deeply about Hanna’s Swordsmanship.
To be honest, it was true he had underestimated her.
-Ka-ga-ga-ga-gak…!
Rowen clenched his fist and swallowed dryly.
“I can’t understand this.”
Rowen wasn’t the only one surprised.
I was also quite astonished by Mikhail’s Sword.
I thought it would end in one exchange.
If Mikhail’s skill had remained at the level of a Disciple, I believed the duel would end with a single Sword Strike, but Mikhail was holding out better than expected.
I looked at Rowen, who was focused on the duel, and let out an Empty Laugh.
“What on earth have you done?”
“…”
The Martial Arts of the two had grown far beyond the limits they had anticipated.
To others, it might just look like two people swinging their swords, but to us, their growth was clearly visible.
To be honest, I couldn’t determine the Correct Answer regarding the outcome.
I clenched my fist and looked at Hanna.
*
The Blade that sliced through the petals narrowly grazed Mikhail’s shoulder.
In the Silent Flowing Sword Dance, Mikhail parried Hanna’s Sword, and Hanna was already preparing her next attack without pause.
It was a sword without Aura.
As if to confirm her level, Hanna’s Sword approached without carrying Aura.
Mikhail, responding in kind, did not avoid Hanna’s Sword but received it. He needed to gauge the extent of Devotee Hanna’s Martial Arts.
But.
-Ka-ga-ga-ga-gak!
The weight of Hanna’s downward Sword Strike was far heavier than he had anticipated.
It was a hefty Sword.
Unlike what his Mentor had taught, it was heavy, and if he misapplied his strength, he might lose his grip on the Sword in an instant.
“Hold your Sword properly, Senior.”
“…Hoo-up!”
“Get a grip and fight properly.”
Moving her Sword swiftly, Hanna spoke to Mikhail.
“I’ve staked everything on this duel.”
As she muttered calmly and brought her Sword down, Mikhail met it with his own, producing a ‘Kang!’ sound as he was pushed back a step.
Even as Mikhail was driven into a corner, Hanna swung her Sword with nothing but composure.
-Even if you gain momentum, don’t rush in all at once. Leave room for growth. Push them slowly.
Fixating solely on one goal, as if to prove her worth through Victory, she moved her Sword swiftly and concisely.
Hanna took a quick step into Mikhail’s space and raised the Blade.
“That’s why I can’t lose.”
“…Neither can I!”
“No, Senior, you’re different.”
“I have someone cheering for me.”
“So I…”
Hanna took a shallow breath and thrust her Sword.
-Ka-ang…!
“I can’t lose.”
Mikhail had dueled Hanna before. Not enough times to grasp everything about Hanna, but enough to identify her weaknesses.
Before she awakened her Aura, he had always defeated Hanna, but after her Awakening, the results of their duels had always been his loss.
The current Hanna was strong.
And in the past, Hanna’s Sword had been weak.
Though it focused on speed, Hanna’s Sword lacked heft and destructive power compared to other swords.
Rather than aiming to win through fatal injuries, Hanna’s strategy was to achieve Victory through small wounds.
A Sword focused on speed.
This was Mikhail’s assessment of Hanna’s Sword, as well as Rowen’s.
-Overpower her with your weight class.
Rowen had given Mikhail a specific direction.
To leverage the advantage of his weight class.
-No matter how skilled a Swordsman is, differences in weight class are not easily overcome. Your Sword may be slower than Hanna’s, but it has steadfastness.
-I think it would be right for you to choose a Sword focused on speed like Hanna’s, but changing now isn’t easy. And you don’t seem to want that either.
-Let’s go with a classic strategy. A crude but effective method.
Rowen had told Mikhail to receive Hanna’s Sword.
No matter how quick and agile a Sword may be, if it crashes into a massive wall, it will either break or transmit Vibration, causing the wielder to lose their grip. Rowen had instructed him to exploit that Opening.
Rowen had confidently explained his strategy, believing that if Mikhail countered Hanna’s Sword with force, she wouldn’t be able to respond easily. Mikhail had accepted this strategy.
And the strategy broke down.
Rowen’s strategy, which he had claimed would lead to an easy Victory, was falling apart.
The Mentor’s plan to find an Opening by clashing swords had been shredded by Hanna’s heavy Sword.
Mikhail couldn’t understand. How had Hanna, in such a short time, overcome the weaknesses he and Rowen had known?
And from afar, he found the Correct Answer in Ricardo, who was watching him with a Stern Expression.
Mikhail gripped his Sword firmly.
Hanna held her Sword and shouted.
“With just this much…”
-Ka-ang…!
“With just this much, was Father satisfied?”
-Ka-ga ka-ga-ga-gak!
“With just this much, did he kill me?”
Within Hanna’s faintly echoing cry, Mikhail gripped his Sword upright and sought an Opening.
Because he, too, had a reason he absolutely had to win.
Although he knew Hanna had staked much on this duel, Devotee, this time, he had a reason he couldn’t lose.
The Blue Window had promised to show him the past he desperately wanted to know. As unbelievable as it sounded.
Just once.
If he could see it just once, the hope of escaping the long-standing Nightmare carried emotions heavier than Hanna could imagine.
With the Sword pouring down like an arrow, the growing wounds.
If Mikhail continued with this disadvantageous fighting style, he would inevitably lose. The small wounds hindered the smooth movement of his body.
‘I need to make a decision.’
Just because the strategy had broken down didn’t mean he couldn’t win. It only meant the easy path to Victory was gone. The time and effort he had invested still remained. The possibility was sufficient.
There was still much he hadn’t shown.
A Sword Infused with Aura.
There were still Newly Invented Techniques he hadn’t shown.
Mikhail gathered his Aura.
He began to imbue his will into the Aura contained in his Sword.
As Hanna’s heavy Sword approached once more, Mikhail stared at it intently and felt it.
That this was his chance.
Just as Hanna’s Sword was about to graze past his shoulder, Mikhail unleashed a Bright Aura all at once, drawing a massive arc.
-Kwaaak…!
A sharp, foreign sensation was felt.
Mikhail’s Sword left its first wound on Hanna’s body, sweeping across the ground.
A Dust Cloud rose thickly in the Training Grounds.
Mikhail swung his Sword once more, following the Faint Black Silhouette in the Dust Cloud. For a Swordsman who relied on speed, vision was a significant weakness.
-Seogeok…!
At the moment he felt the sensation of cutting something again.
A Blade Glinting with Light Brown Hue sliced through the Dust Cloud, narrowly grazing the tip of Mikhail’s nose.
Hanna’s Sword was now stained with blood.
The blood flowing from her left arm soaked the Blade and dripped onto the floor of the Training Grounds.
Hanna let out a fishy Smile and said.
“Now I understand.”
Hanna reversed her grip on her Sword and lowered her stance.
“The Senior’s Weakness that the Butler mentioned.”
With those short words, Hanna’s Sword began to whirl relentlessly.
Once aiming for his side.
Another time targeting his unguarded chest, swinging her Sword swiftly.
As if her injured arm didn’t matter, Hanna bit her lip and swung her Sword, speaking in a Low Voice.
“From now on, stay alert. I really might kill you.”
Was it because of Hanna’s brief Provocation that he lost focus for a moment?
Hanna, Imbued with Black Aura, quickly slashed at Mikhail’s side.
Drip. Small drops of Fresh Blood fell from Hanna’s Sword. In the brief moment he failed to notice, Hanna had identified his weaknesses and targeted his Opening, causing Cold Sweat to drip down Mikhail’s forehead.
What was the weakness?
In which part did he show an Opening?
Mikhail’s thoughts grew increasingly complicated.
“You know, Senior, I admired you.”
“…”
“The way you swung your Sword for the Weak Person looked admirable and just. I used to wonder why I couldn’t wield my Sword like that. Sometimes, I’d strain myself until veins popped in my neck, trying desperately to swing my Sword like you.”
Hanna’s Sword no longer trembled.
The Sword, which had been trembling slightly from tension, now moved steadily, as if breathing.
Hanna took a shallow breath and raised her Sword.
“But not anymore.”
Mikhail, watching Hanna’s composed demeanor, thought to himself.
‘Don’t get caught up in her pace.’
He couldn’t allow himself to be swept away like this.
Hanna’s Sword was precisely targeting his weaknesses. Her gaze, as if she knew everything, made his shoulders tremble, but Mikhail exhaled deeply and steadied his breathing.
‘Focus.’
Blood was flowing.
Before he realized it, he had lost too much blood.
If this continued, it would truly become dangerous.
He felt as if he would lose miserably without even showing what he had prepared.
He had to take control of the flow of this Duel.
He couldn’t let himself be overwhelmed.
He had to win.
He absolutely had to win.
Because he had a reason he must win, no matter what.
Mikhail gripped his Sword.
Enduring the pain, biting his lip to keep his blurring vision in check, he held his Sword tightly.
Just once.
If he could find just one Opening, Mikhail believed he could turn the tide.
Mikhail gathered Aura into his Sword.
Even if it consumed a significant amount of Mana, he was determined to show the Technique he had created. Gathering Aura, he focused solely on Hanna.
Seeing Mikhail’s Stubbornness, Hanna swallowed her breath and spoke.
“Give Up.”
“…”
“Even standing must be hard for you.”
“I have to win.”
“You’ve lost too much blood.”
“I absolutely must win…”
As Fluttering Petals brushed against her, Hanna raised her Sword and let out a Deep Sigh.
“I don’t know anymore.”
As Mikhail’s Sword flashed in an attempt to regain control of the battle, Hanna closed her eyes and swung her Sword in sync with the slowly passing Time.
And then.
“Stop.”
The Outcome of the Duel was decided.
Mikhail widened his eyes at the Gazing at the Broad Back blocking his path.
It was Red Hair.
Familiar.
Infuriating.
Irritating but comforting, the Red Hair obscured his view.
*
I turned to Rowen, who was staring at Hanna with trembling eyes, and spoke.
“Are you insane?”
I gritted my teeth and glared at Rowen, who stood silently.
And then.
“No…!”
Mikhail grabbed my Collar and wept.
“Please… Please…!”
Desperately, he pleaded.
-You have failed the Quest.