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Ku-ung.

Lucius’s Holy Sword digs firmly inward.

Even if I try not to be aware of it, the stabbing sensation is unavoidable.

It’s so solid that if I ignore it, it might pierce through to my belly.

So, I’ll accept it.

Instead of deflecting the spear with my shield, I extend my scabbard towards his sword and catch it inside.

“?!”

“You didn’t know this, did you?”

Lucius twisted his body in surprise.

But my scabbard firmly grasped Lucius’s Holy Sword, locking it in place so it couldn’t escape.

“Don’t forget, I can handle your Holy Sword as I please.”

“Grrk, Master, that’s cheating…!!”

“Cheating? This isn’t even a technique. It’s just… as natural as breathing.”

Kwadeuk.

I twisted my body.

The scabbard that held Lucius’s Holy Sword twisted and turned, while Lucius, flustered, strained to pull his Holy Sword out from my scabbard.

“Grrr!!”

Slap, slap.

Even as Lucius worked hard to pull out the Holy Sword, all I could hear were slapping sounds.

“Ugh…!”

Flustered, Lucius lit up with determination and swung the Holy Sword downward.

He even lowered his stance, as if he would leap up at me, bending his knees.

“Ha—ap!”

“!!”

In an instant, he spread his stance and leapt up.

Since I was gripping the Holy Sword tightly, he lifted me entirely along with the sword after bringing it down.

“With this…!!”

“Too late.”

I twisted my body to the side, stretching my legs to grasp Lucius’s head.

“Grrk…?!”

I made Lucius’s neck fit between my ankles.

Though my posture was somewhat awkward due to my scabbard holding the Holy Sword, it wasn’t impossible when I stretched my legs down as much as I could.

“Whew.”

A light deep breath.

You might wonder why an Undead needs to take a deep breath, but it’s a kind of ritual.

Like taking a short breath before lifting weights, I visualize the ensuing move in my head as I move my body.

I twisted and tightened my ankles.

“Guh…?!”

For a brief moment, Lucius frowned.

Though it was just a fleeting moment, I certainly stole his breath for a moment, and I used that gap to lower my body.

Slick.

As I pulled my ankles down, Lucius’s body tilted forward slightly, and I smoothly slid out from under his pressure.

My ankles were still locked around him, and the Holy Sword stretched right above me.

If I just stayed still, the Holy Sword would try to stab me again, but I could easily overcome this level of danger.

Ta—at.

I pushed down with my hands on the floor and opened my ankles side to side.

At the same time, I twisted my legs and bent my body like a whirlwind.

I rolled my body sideways, quickly scuttling along the floor, aiming to topple Lucius’s posture by kicking the hand holding his Holy Sword.

“Grrk…?!”

My bare foot collided with his wrist, but on my side, I was using my foot to kick with mana.

“How about that?”

Even with Lucius’s hand kicked away, he managed to maintain his stance.

He had a decent level of resolve, but it was about time to end this duel.

I pressed down on one foot on the floor, bent the leg I used to kick Lucius’s wrist, and then quickly extended it.

Snaaaaap—!

“End.”

My toes were aimed directly at Lucius’s face.

If I had just stretched a little further, Lucius would have gotten my foot right in the face and toppled over backward.

“How about that?”

“……I lost.”

Lucius closed his eyes tightly.

He fought hard, but once again, Lucius faced defeat.

And this time, he endured the humiliation of having my foot in his face!

‘Was that too much?’

I could’ve toned it down a bit, but I got carried away and let a little sincerity slip out.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

“Good to hear.”

I folded my legs and corrected my posture.

Lucius had no choice but to lie still with his Holy Sword extended beside him.

“Isn’t it quite unnerving to have your Holy Sword immobilized?”

“…Yes.”

Lucius’s Holy Sword was firmly held by my strength.

“This is the kind of power it is. Hehe.”

I lightly snapped at the mass of liquid firmly holding Lucius’s Holy Sword.

Splash.

The water quickly fell from the sword, soaking the floor, and I flicked my fingers to transfer all the water below into the shaft of my staff.

Saaa.

The blue gem in the middle of the staff emitted a brilliant blue light as it absorbed the water.

Only then did Lucius—

“Gasp!”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

He suddenly swung his Holy Sword at me, and I bent back to dodge Lucius’s strike.

“Good job. You should always strike when your opponent is off guard. 10 points for Bel.”

Compliments are compliments.

“But you missed, didn’t you?”

Training is training.

“Shouldn’t you get hit?”

Thwack!

I kicked Lucius in the solar plexus.

“…….”

Lucius paused for a moment.

“…….”

He made no effort to resist my strength and simply toppled backward.

Splash.

While he wouldn’t die from hitting his head on the ground due to the Holy Sword, I had already placed a mattress made of water beneath where Lucius was about to fall.

“…I lost.”

Lucius sprawled on the water bed.

“Your last counter was good.”

“…If I had resisted, you would’ve kept kicking me.”

“That’s true.”

I pulled back my legs and straightened my posture again.

“When your Holy Sword is subdued, do you get a sense of how to deal with your opponent?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“That’s okay. You’ll understand as you go along.”

In fights, it’s expected that your skills will grow the more you engage in sparring.

“Is it already been two hours?”

It had already been two hours since we started sparring.

Currently.

I am directly sparring against Lucius.

After handing him the Holy Sword Ascalon, I faced him with a magic spear of my own.

Of course, in the end, I stuck to him in a almost acrobatic manner, evading his stab, but someone out there surely fights in a similar way.

My hand-to-hand combat style is based on a lot of observation of others’ fights.

“In our previous battle, there are three things you should reflect on. First, you tried too hard to stab with your Holy Sword. Second, you didn’t protect your hand holding the sword with mana. And third, you allowed me to make physical contact.”

“…I’ll reflect on that.”

“Good. You should reflect. It’s to prepare for unexpected situations.”

The reason I’m directly sparring against Lucius, using the ‘power to subdue the Holy Sword’—that is, wielding the staff I received from Celcius.

“Remember, the Hero of the Holy Sword can become your enemy.”

It’s exactly as it sounds.

“Remember that there may be Demon Kings who can nullify the Holy Sword among those who seek power.”

Just like me.

“If there is something that can nullify the power of the Holy Sword, even if it’s just a little, like this artifact imbued with the power of Celcius, then you must find a way to counter it. Lucius, always ponder and think harder. The Holy Sword is not invincible.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good attitude. Sigh, I was worried you might start thinking ‘the Holy Sword is invincible!’ just because you defeated Leviathan.”

“You’ve always said that the Holy Sword is not always omnipotent.”

“Exactly. Well done.”

“…….”

He looks like he wants something, but Bel points aren’t easily earned.

“But Master, are you planning to keep using that spear in the future?”

“This?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“…I was thinking that if you take it out like that, people might ask where it came from.”

“That’s true.”

The spearhead of Celcius’s staff, the Triana, is curved like a crescent moon, with a blue gem floating on the back of the blade. It’s something I asked Celcius to make for me.

“How does it feel?”

“It’s strong and cool… although I don’t think it suits you, Master.”

“What? Why?”

“It seems like red would suit you better.”

“What? Hmph, you little brat.”

I pressed Lucius’s waist down with my foot while he lay there.

“I definitely do look good in red. But this? I won’t be taking it out. This item is solely for your training.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s a weapon made to simulate a battle between Holy Swords. Considering your growth rate… in about three months, it’ll probably break. But by then, you’ll have more than enough growth, right? You’ll be able to survive in a battle among Holy Sword users.”

“…….”

As you know, Holy Sword users aren’t necessarily heroes. The only one who can truly be called a Real Hero is you right now. Most others are either believers of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess or belong to some group.

Currently.

All Holy Swords, except for the Holy Sword of Light, which is nowhere to be found, are awake.

“Dragon Lift. And Sky Island. Though nothing will probably happen on the way, remember that both Demon Kings and Heroes can become enemies, especially the Holy Sword users.”

They may be called companions, but they also might become Lucius’s enemies.

“Holy Sword users who target the women around you may emerge. So remember. To protect what’s yours, you need to grow stronger.”

“I’ll engrave that deep into my bones.”

“Good attitude. Now… go meet the kids waiting outside.”

I had known for quite some time.

Outside this gym-cum-practice arena, the three of them were huddled together waiting.

“Understood. …Phew.”

“Hang in there. As a man, it’s a reward for you.”

“…I don’t quite understand.”

“Really? Are you scared of being eaten? Hehe, alright, alright. Just go.”

After Lucius got up, I pointed towards the captain’s room.

“Right now, you’ve let them take the initiative, but I assure you, I’ll help you sneak attack.”

Of course.

“You have to win 3:1 without using the power of the Holy Sword.”

“Master.”

Lucius just gave me a thumbs up.

“I’ll win convincingly.”

 

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