Chapter 118

Usually, after subduing a formidable opponent, one should feel a high sense of accomplishment and mental elevation.

“Heh…hehehe…hehehahaha!!”

Seeing the laughter spilling from the lips of an opponent who should have been dazed and unable to recover from an unexpected blow made me feel that satisfaction was hard to come by.

Still, I was somewhat content that the fight had ended with minimal damage and my opponent subdued.

“Stop laughing and answer my questions.”

“Ha ha ha ha!!”

Attempting to ask why I had been brought to this unknown place and what the purpose was seemed futile at this point.

Psssh—

The unpleasantness rose to a level where it overshadowed any satisfaction I might have felt, as if the veins on my forehead were visibly pulsating.

The discomfort I felt towards the opponent since they first appeared before me, threatening me, only grew stronger.

Unfortunately, there was no way to kill them just because I felt uncomfortable. Watching their feigned madness, I realized they could be playing up the act to take advantage of my guard being down, just as I had tried to do earlier.

Judging by the situation, it would be better to firmly subdue this opponent and detain them here.

Uuung!!

When I pierced through their right hand, I wrapped even more hostility around my right hand than I had held back.

Even though my physical condition hadn’t improved, the density of hostility in my body had risen to a point where I had to question when I last refined my hostility to such a degree.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. I can wait until I put you to sleep to ask.”

After clearly showing my intention not to continue talking with the opponent.

Whoosh!!

I lightly thrust my fist downward, which had been resting above the opponent.

Though lacking the subtlety and speed present when wielding a sword with extreme precision,

“The one who doesn’t answer questions will regret it while sleeping!”

Given how defenseless the opponent had fallen, I could easily have made a wind hole in their abdomen, so I didn’t hesitate to strike.

“…It’s commendable that you tried to fully subdue me without letting your guard down.”

Just as my fist was about to crush into the opponent’s abdomen, their two arms caught my fist.

A wind hole had formed in my right fist, and my face was struck by their knee, leaving me in a position where I couldn’t move effectively.

“Crgh!!”

As soon as I was grabbed, I relaxed the strength in my right arm, struggling to free myself from their grip like a lasso.

“…But the fact that your fist, aimed to catch me off guard, looked so sloppy is the problem. Still, I must admit, such thoroughness is admirable…”

With a mocking tone, the opponent released my arm roughly, causing me to lose balance momentarily.

“You wouldn’t have brought me here if you had planned to lose to someone like you!”

Watching my unsteady body, the opponent’s determination for victory was evident.

Their first step was heavy.

Despite my right hand having a wind hole and my face battered by their knee, the ferocity of their movement was remarkable.

“Fighting is unpredictable! The moment victory seems within reach is often the most dangerous!”

With a hearty shout, the opponent’s right hand, which felt as heavy as a blunt instrument, came crashing down, making me realize that my assumptions had been wrong.

“Gah!!”

I spat out a curse, thrusting my clenched right fist forward.

Though my aim had changed from piercing their abdomen to defending against their attack, the intensity of the hostility in my fist only increased.

Uuung!!

As I thrust my fist, the hostility that had gathered in it reached unprecedented levels, making me unsure of what would happen when it collided with the opponent.

“Hmm…”

Observing the hostility in my fist, I saw a strange smile bloom on the opponent’s face, but I had no time to ask why they were smiling.

Boom!!

Power met power, will met will.

We exchanged nothing but these two elements in this unexpected encounter, but the result was as loud as a battering ram hitting a castle wall, revealing the immense force behind my punch.

Though we did not engage in a frantic sword battle nor exchange insults, the battle was intense.

Oddly enough, my right hand felt a powerful sensation, almost like the ‘taste’ of a sword, stronger than when I had fought countless demons and barbarians.

“…Did I win?”

Due to the clear impact, an unwarranted statement slipped out, one that I shouldn’t have said.

Aaaahhhhh!!

No sooner had the words left my mouth than a deafening scream echoed in my ears.

Trembling—

My body began to shake uncontrollably, as if it would never stop.

Trembling? Was I afraid?

Even though I knew I wasn’t afraid, the trembling didn’t cease.

Could this be because the opponent standing before me was as formidable as any I’ve faced?

“Keh…hehehehe.”

Or perhaps it was because, despite facing such overwhelming power, they could still laugh crazily, shaking their body…

“Trying to subdue me? You couldn’t even do it to your own father! A hundred years won’t be enough!!”

Maybe it was all of these factors combined.

—

With a mad roar, the opponent, who had just moments ago exchanged blows with me, vanished without a trace.

Unfelt, my sharpened senses, both physical and spiritual, failed to detect the opponent’s presence completely.

If I had set my mind to finding them, I could have sensed their presence, however faintly.

“Last test. If you pass this, I’ll give you a gift!”

The opponent’s confident declaration confused my spiritual sense, scattering any attempt to track their location.

I prepared to defend by crossing my arms over my chest, but…

Ssssh!!

A light breeze accompanied a shallow cut on my cheek, staining it with blood.

It was a mere touch, not painful enough to warrant concern.

“Tch.”

Even though I had anticipated their move and reacted accordingly, I couldn’t help but click my tongue at the shallow cut on my cheek.

Ssssh!! Ssssh!!

To avoid leaving countless scars on my face, I swiftly turned away.

Throughout this process, I tried to detect the opponent’s presence with my spiritual sense, but to no avail.

Fortunately, I managed to dodge their relentless attacks focused on my face at the last second.

Avoiding the attack was one thing, but countering was impossible, making the situation less than ideal.

“Man, worrying about a little scar on your face is ridiculous!”

The opponent’s impatience and frustration grew with each dodge.

“Ah! Accept the mark of glory on your face!”

For the first time, the opponent’s frustration became apparent.

“Unacceptable!”

“To think a man would fear a single scar! How can you achieve great things with such cowardice!”

Rarely did the opponent show human emotions, but now, their frustration spilled out.

‘Sensed.’

Their heightened emotions affected my spiritual sense, and I noticed them standing far away.

I wondered how they could inflict such a powerful attack from afar, but my priority was to provoke their emotions.

“It’s not the scar itself I fear!”

“Impudent! If you can’t answer honestly, I’ll rip out your throat right here!”

Their voice seemed to change, becoming more distorted than their physique suggested.

“Being scarred on the face worries me because my wife might not recognize me!”

Putting aside trivial thoughts, I answered sincerely to stir their emotions.

“A scar? What’s the big deal? I’ve been marked by countless battles. It’s just another scar.”

But my reasoning, though logical, was unlikely to convince the opponent.

I expected their anger to escalate, but instead,

“…Really?”

They sighed, then exclaimed,

“Indeed, the son is just like his father!”

Their sigh turned into admiration, and they revealed themselves, abandoning their attempt to hide.

“Passed!”

Despite their sudden change in demeanor, I narrowed my eyes suspiciously as they approached slowly.

“…Huh?”

Their appearance, different from before, emitted a presence that was both familiar and strange.

“Is it a trait of men in this family to say such embarrassing things to the woman they love so casually?”