Volume 2 Chapter 75 The Sun’s ‘Magic Sword’
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was declared in poetic words, “It is noon,” but the current time had not yet reached noon.
Therefore, Oswald’s magic power should not have peaked, yet even at this stage, but his total magic power seemed to easily surpass Aliona’s.
Now, on a golden solitary shadow stood on the sandy ground of the arena.
Despite the scorching sunlight pouring from the sky, he didn’t break a sweat.
”────”
Kian slowly opened the fingers he had placed on the hilt of the borrowed sword and began to grip it again one by one.
The heated metal clung to the pads of his fingers.
It was as if it reflected the heat of the arena.
The performance of this battle began with the “Knights of the Sun” charging at the “Thorn Demon.”
Oswald raised his sword towards the audience and slowly took a step forward.
One step.
Two steps, three steps.
Four, five, six steps──.
His pace gradually quickened.
Approaching without using “Leap” felt so slow.
Still, Oswald thrust his foot into the ground with vigor, kicking up sand as he swung down for a strike aimed at the neck, just like Renaud once did.
(Dangerous)
Kian parried while retreating.
The Holy Sword of the Sun was light.
It was likely just a test of skills.
There was a rule to fight with full strength, but he wouldn’t execute a wicked act like unleashing his full power on a substitute who hadn’t even practiced.
Normally, he would receive the blow with his shield and retaliate with a thrust, but having used his sword for defense, he was left with no choice but to step back.
”Wooooo!”
Oswald did not pursue; instead, he raised both fists towards the audience.
It was a show of appeal.
The venue erupted in excitement.
”────”
Though he acknowledged the cheers, his killing intent grew stronger.
It seemed he had judged that he could handle a proper exchange after deflecting the initial test strike.
The ensuing performance was likely to become gradually more intense.
Golden eyes caught their target once more.
He positioned the Holy Sword of the Sun high above his head and twisted his body while closing the distance of a few meters.
But they were 3 against one.
”──!”
The Tengu with a shield intervened from Kian’s side, swinging down at his head with the sword raised high.
The shield was not merely for defense.
The rigid shield imbued with magic could also be used for offense.
Starting with a full-body charge, even a horizontal strike with the shield could deliver a fatal blow.
”────, ────!”
At the same time, Natra’s magic unfolded.
It was a silent incantation.
Black magic power oozed from the girl’s body, distorting the laws of nature to create a sand serpent.
The massive projectile, made of sand, could not be cut and posed a threat even to the typical Western knight using body enhancement.
Perhaps due to Natra’s insistence, the sand serpent, opening its maw, lunged at Oswald, greatly exciting the audience.
It felt more exhilarating than Oswald’s own performance.
(I thought she was a serious girl from the monastery, but she can also captivate with such street performance.)
Oswald jumped back to dodge the sand serpent, thinking this while circling to the right.
(By the way, can Natra perform silent incantations? Was the Kitsune’s Night Wraith a powerful magician in life? She certainly had a lot of magic power, but I underestimated her as someone who was merely trapped and killed in a Western mansion’s basement. I should ask later if she can open a teleportation gate. If so, her range of action would expand dramatically.)
”Haha! Not bad! Yes, this is how it should be! Instead of some pathetic attack that drags sand while swinging a sword, if you’re going to use sand, do it like this!”
While glancing at Kian, who was circling around, he sliced through the extended sand serpent with the Holy Sword of the Sun.
The holy sword shattered the serpent’s form with just a touch.
Since the momentum of the sand had weakened, he wouldn’t end up covered in it.
It was truly a demonstration.
The battle prioritized clear, elegant movements to captivate the onlookers.
However, since both Oswald and Kian were using their swords seriously, it remained a genuine duel.
A mistake could lead to serious injury, but compared to the deadly struggle with Natra, this felt mild.
Kian raised his sword as ‘Thorn Demon’ and slashed at Oswald from the side.
(It’s hot)
The area around the sun youth seemed to be ablaze.
The iron armor conducted the heat.
A sizzling sound came from the armor.
Without the magic language enchantment, he would have been burned and unable to fight.
”Hmph”
”Yah!”
A high metallic sound.
When he tried to attack without the ‘impact’ effect, it was completely stopped by the golden gauntlet.
What returned to his arm felt like being struck by a normal sword against a chunk of mithril.
(This is a desperate hardness. They said noon’s blade and poison wouldn’t penetrate, but even now it feels harder than the human form of Renaud. It might even be harder than a mithril golem.)
Now he understood why they wouldn’t seriously fight in an exhibition match.
A challenger would never be able to scratch the ‘Knights of the Sun’──not even once.
The sword provided was a quite excellent weapon engraved with magic language, but ‘quite excellent’ was simply not enough.
(Would the blade have penetrated without the golden gauntlet? If it hadn’t cut, it would truly be an iron wall.)
He must not fight him at noon──now he understood the truth behind everyone’s unanimous warning.
If the attack doesn’t get through, there’s no way to defeat him.
During the day, he is truly invincible.
Just as he thought he heard another high-pitched metallic sound, Natra with a bishop staff was clashing with the Holy Sword of the Sun from the opposite side.
Oswald laughed.
”That big guy over there with the red mask, his movements are pathetic, right? Is he a novice? He’s being left behind even in this slow fight.”
””──────””
”But you all seem to be having fun!”
Oswald’s words were filled with power.
Like a knight from the west, he bulged his muscles, then shrank his body in a leap, simultaneously bouncing Kian and Natra back.
(In the type of Western swordsman technique that relies on physical ability to dominate, it’s unlikely for me to inflict any wounds on Oswald. Even measuring distance and engaging in feints won’t break his stance, so it ultimately becomes a test of strength after receiving his attacks.)
Azrael has a technique in the ‘Wall’ category that overcomes strength with flexibility, but Kian has yet to master it.
Natra’s proficiency is uncertain, but while wielding the bishop staff, she likely won’t have the opportunity to use it.
Kian moved to follow Oswald, who had just knocked aside a Tengu with a backfist and was now attacking Natra.
He swung his sword down at Oswald’s back.
As expected, Oswald dodged and changed his position.
Kian’s sword cut through the air, while Oswald kicked Natra away, escaping a numerically disadvantageous situation.
(I don’t understand why they’re reluctant to take this quest. It’s a perfect opportunity to learn Oswald’s power firsthand. You can’t buy this kind of experience, no matter how much money you spend.)
He twisted his wrist, redirecting the blade of his sword.
The hard armor is thin at the joints.
Moreover, the vital points of the human body are generally on the inside.
Armpits, wrists, inner thighs, and of course, the organs.
He aimed for Oswald’s elbow and organs while deflecting the holy sword he had received.
Oswald evaded the tip of the sword with quick foo2rk.
He reached out with his right hand, sword in hand, towards Kian’s neck.
It’s a common move among knights of the Franz Kingdom.
If a heavily armored magician is attacked with a staff, from a grappling position, they would seize the enemy’s neck with their arm.
They would pull them in as if to embrace, then either throw them or spin to take them down to the ground.
After that, it’s just a matter of delivering the finishing blow to the fallen opponent.
Most magicians have less physical strength than swordsmen specialized in killing magicians, so in a grappling situation, they are almost guaranteed to be thrown down.
In battles against magicians, once this position is achieved, victory is nearly assured, but Kian’s well-trained core is not easily shaken.
Conversely, he also gripped Oswald’s neck and applied pressure.
The Tengu quickly withdrew from the battlefield.
And it was a moment when Natra was violently thrown back.
(But if I keep grappling like this, Natra will come back and strike with the bishop staff.)
They couldn’t use magic due to the grappling, but they could create a 2-on-one situation.
”Oh!”
”Nnngh, nnnnngh!”
Like 2 raging bulls locking horns.
They wrapped their arms around each other’s necks, shoulders raised, moving in a circular dance.
At that moment, the scent of Oswald’s perfume wafted in from close range.
”──This smell, could it be!?”
”────”
”Hah!”
”Tch.”
The pointed end of the bishop staff aimed at his ribs from the side.
The young man with blonde hair and a shaved side took the hit hard, seemingly absorbing the impact by leaping forward.
He placed his right hand on the ground as he landed.
Golden dust rose into the dry air, obscuring his vision.
When his vision cleared again, the young man was staring at him with his sword held horizontally.
”Are you Kian…?”
* * *
”……”
He silently readied his sword again.
The Tengu, having been blown away by Oswald and suffering damage from the sunlight, returned to Kian’s shadow.
Natra, holding the bishop staff, approached Kian slowly without using magic.
”Kian. I can’t believe you were chosen for the role of ‘Thorn Demon.’”
”────”
”I owe Guillaume my thanks. It’s an honor to face you.”
”……”
”What’s wrong? Not going to speak?”
”‘Thorn Demon’ does not speak.”
”Tch, haha! That’s true. In poetry, it’s depicted as just a monster. But still, I’m glad. I was worried about injuring Guillaume’s substitute if I went all out. If it’s you as my opponent──”
Flames danced around Oswald with a flicker.
”I can also go all out without holding back.”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply