Chapter 105

#105 Episode Tin Knight and the Martial Arts Tournament (12)

“What, how can this be? My lord, you lost to such a young girl?”

“Hmm. The Lion Duke’s Bloodline tends to look younger than their actual age, so she might be older than she appears…”

“That’s not the point right now! Hey, what happened to that grand plan you talked about? It clearly didn’t go as expected!!”

“T-This can’t be right.”

While some young men were in shock and exuding a gloomy atmosphere, that was just a fraction of the crowd.

The overall vibe in the audience was closer to cheers and enjoyment.

“It serves you right, you arrogant fool, strutting around the whole time!”

“Hey, be quiet. Don’t let anyone catch wind of this.”

“Damn, am I wrong? And with so many people shouting, what’s the worry? Everyone’s having a blast.”

People love tales where the weak topple the strong.

Especially when the strong is an annoying and arrogant noble young man and the weak is a cute girl.

High looks alone often serve as a status symbol.

“So, does that make it two wins and two losses?”

“Huh? When else have they fought?”

“Remember that time he stormed into the Halder Trading Company and had to run with his tail tucked?”

“Oh, was that it? What was that called again? Some mask?”

“The Lenart Mask.”

“…Hmm, that naming sense gives me the chills. So that girl is the one?”

“Well, you know, that age group always has these sorts of things. We should watch over her with warm eyes.”

People reveled in Maximilian’s defeat and delighted in Adelheid’s victory.

Along the way, the rumor about the ‘Lenart Mask saving the oppressed trading company from unjust oppression’ spread as a bonus.

At least it was fortunate that Adelheid hadn’t fully realized the problematic nature of the Lenart Mask name just yet.

***

Even after the match between Adelheid and Maximilian concluded, the crowd didn’t disperse.

The competition wasn’t over yet.

Especially the next matchup, which was one that all enthusiasts couldn’t help but fixate on.

“Of course, Kalidahs will win. The name of the consecutive champion isn’t just for show.”

“But isn’t the opponent a legendary adventurer?”

“Adventurers tend to be a bit behind in one-on-one combat, right?”

“Well, looking at Kumara’s team in group battles, it doesn’t seem to be that straightforward. Didn’t you see how Peter fought?”

“Tsk, tsk, you really don’t get it, do you? All that doesn’t matter against Kalidah.”

The invincible champion and the legendary adventurer.

A large great sword user versus a petite dagger user.

A heavy and destructive fighting style against a quick and unpredictable one.

There were varying opinions on who would win, but no one doubted this matchup would be a spectacular showdown.

Some even argued this was the true finals.

And then, they faced each other on stage.

“……”

“……”

These two had shared friendly conversations when they met in the audience, but now that they were on stage, neither said a word.

Both understood that even the slightest lapse could lead to defeat.

Before the overpowering aura emanating from the two, even the raucous crowd held its breath.

“…Then, let’s begin.”

As the most tense-faced referee stepped back, the two took their stances.

Peter lightly dangled the dagger in his right hand, adopting a vague stance that felt neither offensive nor defensive.

Kalidahs positioned herself with her left foot forward, gripping the great sword with both hands raised above her head, like she was about to charge at any moment.

And then, as the starting signal rang, both of them sprung into action.

Boom!

With a heavy impact sound, a red trajectory charged toward Peter.

In that moment, when the absurdly large great sword sliced through the air, the ground literally exploded.

Ka-boom!

It was an utterly deafening sound, far more so than just a first step, a sound to match its sheer force.

Part of the rocky arena was shattered by Kalidahs’s strike.

It was an overwhelming power that allowed for no defense.

However, if it didn’t land a hit, it meant nothing.

Whoosh!

The sword energy from Peter’s dagger sliced at the back of Kalidahs’s neck three times in quick succession.

It was a mysterious swordplay that ordinary folk wouldn’t even recognize how it was swung.

Yet despite the sword energy capable of cutting through steel, Kalidahs remained unharmed.

Her armor, a strange blend of metal and leather, perfectly absorbed Peter’s attacks.

Peter frowned but didn’t launch an additional strike.

Because Kalidahs’s fearsome great sword was already incredibly close.

Peter leaped into the air to dodge Kalidahs’s strike, but right after, the great sword screeched to a halt.

It wasn’t some special sword technique or skill.

Kalidahs, using pure strength, halted her attack and swung the great sword back toward Peter.

In midair, Peter had no way to evade the blow.

If he were an ordinary warrior, that would have been the case.

In the small tempest generated by Kalidahs’s great sword, a gentle breeze made itself known.

The soft, free-spirited wind, which had been weaving through the air, gathered at Peter’s feet, forming a foothold for him.

This isn’t even a metaphor; Peter literally springing off the air dodged Kalidahs’s attack once more.

Boom!

For Peter, who could create footholds anywhere in the air, spatial limitations held no meaning.

He darted every which way like a pinball, targeting Kalidahs’s weak points.

In response to his three-dimensional movements, Kalidahs swept her enormous great sword around with the finesse of a twig.

The scene resembled a fierce dance between a whirlwind and falling leaves.

“Wow.”

Adel watched this spectacle while treating her wounds with the medicine she had received from Dorothea.

She thought Maximilian’s skills were impressive, but these two were on an entirely different level.

[‘Tin Knight’ warns you to keep a close eye on both, as you don’t know whom he’ll end up fighting!]

“Oh.”

Adel showed a slightly bewildered expression.

The Tin Knight stared at her as if questioning, “What’s up with that?”

“No, it’s just… It was agreed that the winners from the team battles and the individual battles would face off, right? I thought the knight would definitely fight since he was encouraged to participate by the champion.”

[‘Tin Knight’ insists that this is a separate matter!]

[‘Tin Knight’ argues that while a traditional champion battle is great, a match between master and apprentice is a splendid event in its own right!]

“But…”

Adel trailed off.

To her, the Tin Knight was like the very symbol of strength.

She had faith that no matter what formidable foe came at him, the Tin Knight would surely emerge victorious.

Peter had fought on equal terms even if momentarily with him, and Kalidahs was displaying comparable skill right in front of her.

“…Is it possible for me to win against those who can stand up to the knight?”

After honestly expressing her feelings, the Tin Knight surprisingly remained silent, without an immediate response.

As the silence grew long, Adel began to fidget nervously.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t say it in a self-defeating way—just an objective evaluation, you know?”

The Tin Knight continued to gaze at Adel, who was stammering through her excuses.

Then, suddenly, he grabbed her cheek.

“Y-You big knight?!”

He stretched it out.

“Knight?! Knight?!”

He yanked it further.

“Ah! Ow, no! Knight! Ow!”

After flailing like a baby bird, Adel finally freed herself from the Tin Knight’s grip, clutching her sore cheek and crouching down.

If being pinched by an ordinary flesh-and-blood hand hurt, being pinched by a metallic hand was a whole other level of pain.

Even Adel, typically docile, snapped at this moment.

“Seriously, what’s with you! That hurts! If you have something to say, just say it!”

Adel protested, her cheek still flushed red.

Fortunately, the handprint faded at an impressive speed, highlighting her unique constitution.

[‘Tin Knight’ notes that he realized his hand moved!]

[‘Tin Knight’ marvels at how, despite feeling no sensation, such a soft feeling can be sensed!]

Adel glared at the Tin Knight with cold eyes, but soon decided it was a futile effort and sighed, lowering her head.

[‘Tin Knight’ states that no master ever fails to rejoice in their apprentice’s victory!]

It felt like a passing comment.

Adel’s eyes widened, and she looked up at the Tin Knight.

But the Tin Knight neither met her gaze nor said anything further.

It felt as though he had already said it all, and simply continued to watch the arena.

Adel bit her lip a few times before just as he did, turning her gaze back to the arena.

Her amethyst eyes had transformed from mere spectator’s eyes to those of a warrior filled with competitive spirit.

Boom!

The showdown between the two masters, which seemed like it would never end, neared its climax.

Thanks to Kalidahs’s distressingly heavy attacks, the arena had suffered so greatly that its shape was almost unrecognizable.

As Peter skillfully dodged with agile movements, he slashed at Kalidahs once again.

With a slicing sound, a gap appeared around the neck area of Kalidahs’s armor.

Kalidahs quickly darted aside to counter, but perhaps due to the awkwardness of the move, she ended up losing grip of her great sword.

Peter didn’t let that opportunity slip and charged toward the weakness he had just created.

Snatch.

And as if waiting for this moment, Kalidahs’s hand grabbed Peter’s forearm.

Pulling Peter’s body with a strength that defied belief, Kalidahs slammed him to the ground.

“Cough!”

For the first time, Peter’s voice escaped him.

His title as a legendary adventurer wasn’t just for show; he skillfully rolled with the fall, dissipating most of the impact.

Moreover, he displayed the technique of using Kalidahs’s force against her, freeing his captured arm.

Just as Peter aimed to retaliate again, Kalidahs spoke.

《Truly, skill shines through. But it’s already over.》

At her words, Peter frowned.

He countered, “What nonsense is that?”

The answer didn’t come from Kalidahs, but rather from outside.

“Peter! Your body has made contact with the ground outside the arena, so that’s a disqualification!”

Only then did Peter look down at his feet.

He was indeed standing on a surface that was not part of the arena.

To be more precise, it was the place that Kalidahs had shattered.

Realizing that Kalidahs had purposely placed him here, Peter fumed.

“You, you bastard! I told you to be careful about breaking stuff! Was this your plan all along?! Is this really happening?!!”

《How long do you think I’ve been the champion here? If I were to fall behind a newcomer due to rule exploitation, it would be shameful.》

Peter shot a beseeching glance at the referee, but the referee merely shook his head with an apologetic expression.

Peter found himself short on words, drooping his shoulders in despair.

“Ha, so that’s how it is.”

《Surprisingly gracious in acceptance?》

“In the adventurer’s world, just as there are rules among adventurers, there are rules here too. …It’s a pity I couldn’t see what power was hidden beneath that armor.”

His last remark was almost a whisper, heard only by Kalidahs.

Kalidahs paused briefly, then shrugged, picked up the fallen great sword, and raised it high.

The referee’s declaration of victory rang out, and the audience, who had been taken by surprise at the abrupt turn of events, soon erupted in cheers.

Although the conclusion was somewhat unexpected, the duel between the two had already been dazzling and thrilling enough.

Adel continued to watch Kalidahs, who basked in the audience’s cheers.

She didn’t want to miss a single fine scratch on her armor.

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