Volume 3 Chapter 51 Quest： Warrior Monk Performance III
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
With a total length of 170 centimeters, it has become almost like a spear.
Its fighting style also moves like a long weapon.
Unlike spears and halberds, it is quite heavy, so it’s used more in a way that it’s swung around than swinging it around as a weapon.
Also, when delivering a downward slash, raising it again creates a deadly opening, so it’s essential to slice diagonally or to swing horizontally while spinning like a windmill.
’There’s something like a vertical protrusion about 13 centimeters away from the tsuba. It looks like there are 2 sword guards.’
(That protrusion was made with halberd fights in mind. It hooks the axe part of the halberd to prevent the blade from sliding down to his wrist.)
Defending against a halberd is generally similar to when using a longsword against a spear.
By parrying the blade to either side, he can pivot his wrist and slice the enemy’s body upwards along the halberd’s shaft.
Gallows grass has a long reach, so with just a step or 2, he can easily carve into the enemy’s heart from underneath.
Moreover, even against enemies wielding typical longswords or half-swords, he can respond by making fine movements with the blade held in his right hand.
If he sees an opening, he can immediately switch to a 2-handed grip and cleave through with both hands.
For a swordsman skilled in technique and strength, that greatsword is truly a weapon designed to kill nearby swordsmen.
(The wolf-man I encountered in a mountain village before was also using a similar weapon. This must be a trend among mercenaries. Priscilla said that guy was originally part of some mercenary magician escort squad. He uses the sword style of the Mercenary King, particularly the two-handed sword techniques.)
’Let it be known, I will not allow defeat.’
(I have no intention of dying either.)
He has a rough understanding of the enemy’s weapon traits and swordplay.
While he mustn’t be too caught up in preconceived notions, being able to read the enemy’s moves to some extent is a big advantage.
(The magic language etched on it includes ‘Acceleration’, ‘Oil Repellent’, and ‘Hardening’. Well, it’s the fundamentals for close combat.)
As Kian squinted and watched the man, a woman from the black panther tribe quietly approached him from across the way.
”Oh my~, hello, Sir Kian. Have you gotten into debt and fallen into slavery while I wasn’t looking?”
”──Ms. Katyusha.”
Kian pushed himself off the wall and turned to face the woman warrior monk he hadn’t seen in 2 days.
The black panther tribe woman smiled at Kian with her narrow eyes.
”Are you, by any chance, a participant in today’s tournament? I noticed Lady Priscilla was giving off a master vibe earlier.”
”That’s about right, Ms. Katyusha. If we both survive the first round, we’ll meet in the finals.”
”Oh dear~… that’s a problem.”
Katyusha placed her hands on her slim waist and sighed.
By the way, she wore light armor like the western swordsmen often do.
It offered almost no defense, but a warrior monk didn’t need much protection.
They either dodged the enemy’s attacks or killed them before the attack even came.
”You’re here on Sir Abbas’s mission?”
”I can’t say, but I can’t back down either. I really don’t want to fight you here, and it seems a bit impossible to take you down without killing you…”
”────”
”You’ve really become incredibly strong… That strange magic power of yours is the reason, isn’t it? What happened to you?”
”Nothing much. I just trained hard.”
”Hmm… Hey, Sir Kian?”
Katyusha stepped closer to Kian and glanced back briefly.
She seemed to check on the bald man with the greatsword and the dark-skinned gladiator.
After confirming that neither of them was paying attention, she turned to Kian with a serious expression.
”Shall we make a secret pact?”
”What kind of pact? I assume it’s about throwing the finals?”
”Yes, I’ll show the guests a performance they will enjoy. But I won’t show a real fight. ──Later, I’ll do something nice for you, so could you please lose for me~?”
”Sorry, but I can’t do that. If you want me to lose, I wouldn’t mind going along with a fixed match.”
”…Oh my, you’ve really changed from the old days~”
Katyusha opened her eyes wide and stared at Kian with her yellow cat-like gaze.
”The you from back then would have immediately said yes.”
”I have ways to fight now, unlike back then. I have no reason to back down.”
”It’s rare for a kid around here to want a real fight with me… If we battle, one of us might die. If I were to kill you, it could damage the friendship between Sir Abbas and Sir Umar.”
”This might be unnecessary advice, but I think Sir Abbas should cut ties with my father soon.”
When Kian replied that way, Katyusha chuckled with a “Oh my~.”
”What a coincidence~. Actually, I, along with Zayn, have been telling Sir Abbas that he should do just that for a long time~.”
”Is that so?”
”Yes, exactly~.”
After saying that with a smile, Katyusha lowered her eyebrows slightly, looking a bit disappointed.
”If you don’t want to back down, then so be it… My Great Sword, please dodge well. If it just grazes your shoulder, maybe you’ll only lose an arm. I won’t pursue you after that.”
”That’s what I hope for.”
”────”
The female warrior monk from the black panther tribe bowed respectfully, then stepped away from Kian to kneel in the corner of the back room.
She seemed to be meditating until her turn came.
Kian also knelt down to enter meditation, but before closing his eyes, he heard the sound of a gong from the arena.
Followed by the clear, loud voice of the bard acting as the announcer.
It was the declaration for the start of the gladiatorial match.
In that case, very soon, soldiers with spears would come to open the gate separating the waiting room from the arena.
Speaking of the gate,
it was more like a cover made of several sturdy boards blocking the entrance.
”Grrr…”
The big man swinging the greatsword finished his warm-up and walked to the entrance.
The first match was between him and Kian.
In the layout of the underground arena, entering through the same entrance felt a bit anticlimactic, but the big man was letting out white steam from his body.
He looked completely pumped and ready to go.
(A gladiator. A profession that risks life for freedom and money, huh?)
He was not like an easy-going Adventurer.
There was a danger and energy about him, like a hungry wolf.
If he let his guard down, he could get killed.
He had to focus, carefully cornering the enemy with clever tactics.
Kian took a deep breath and stood next to the eager big man, waiting for the board-covered entrance to be smashed open with a hammer.
* * *
Cheers echoed loudly──
As the hatch of the waiting room was broken open and a guard with a spear led him into the arena, Kian felt a light confusion at first.
In the bright, white glare, the roar of the crowd sounded like a wild cacophony.
He calmly thought he felt like a lab rat, and then his vision returned to focus on the sandy floor of the underground arena.
Amidst the cheers, a guard shouted from behind, “Walk faster!” while pushing on his shoulder.
He didn’t feel angry.
Overwhelmed by the strange atmosphere, it felt like he had traveled a long distance.
”────”
The gladiatorial match finally began.
It was a battle between the big gladiator wielding the huge greatsword and Kian.
As his vision cleared, he checked the situation.
The underground arena was round, and even though it was night, the place was as bright as noon.
The ground he walked on was heavy sand.
It was slightly damp, making it a little harder to move quickly.
He heard a growl and the sound of someone thrashing around; it was the big man with the greatsword, raising his fist to the crowd in a showy appeal.
He showed no signs of defiance towards the guards, and the guards didn’t seem in a hurry to rush him either.
”Well then, good luck!”
”────”
The guards holding Kian and the big man let them go as they reached the center of the arena, backing away to the entrance of the waiting room.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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