𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎: 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬!

“Mommy Nel. I’ll take care of the sheath.”

“Ah, I appreciate it.”

I draw my favorite broadsword and entrust the sheath to Asuka.

Just like in the old knight tales.

According to them, the sword is life, and the sheath is where life returns. So entrusting the sheath means promising to return.

On the other hand, Luke discarding his sheath means he’s discarding his place to return.

It’s a good superstition.

We step in at the same time.

With a high-pitched sound, Luke’s longsword and my broadsword collide.

And we jump back after one round.

I knew it would come to this.

This collision was accidental. We couldn’t see each other’s sword strokes.

It was a feint.

I was planning to intimidate him with this and step in further.

I guess we think alike.

“By the way, Lionel. When you came in, why did you look so surprised?”

While glaring at each other, Luke starts talking as if it’s casual conversation.

“It’s because you didn’t have any followers. I heard you had taken control of a thieves group.”

“They were there at first. But they couldn’t follow my policy and left.”

He chuckles.

Ah, I see.

That’s what it was.

“You set it up well, Luke.”

“It’s nice to have a strategist praise my strategy.”

A slash from the second step in.

While avoiding each other’s attacks, we exchange small techniques to connect to the decisive blow.

It was intentional that I was doing something completely different from the policy of the Thieves Guild.

It’s not a good deed or anything.

I caused a disturbance to cause a disturbance.

“A strategist moves assuming the worst-case scenario, right?”

“That’s right.”

So I thought it would be bad if the situation continued as it was, and decided to go along with Meg’s story.

Just as Luke had drawn it.

To bring it to a one-on-one fight.

“You wanted to see me that badly?”

“Because of love.”

“I’ll pass.”

While making trivial exchanges, we continue the exchange of life.

Slash, dodge.

Thrust, deflect,

Scoop up, strike down.

The sound of the blades resonates in a chain, and the sparks that fly illuminate the faces of the two of us.

It’s been fifty rounds, but there’s still no conclusion.

Same age, same upbringing, same job, same techniques.

We can see what the other is trying to do. Both of us.

That’s the kind of relationship Luke and I have.

I was abandoned in front of the orphanage a day or two earlier than him.

But we’re practically twins.

We were raised with appropriate affection and roughness from the people at the facility.

We learned to read and write together, learned the sword together, and grew up fighting and making up.

And in the year we turned ten, the gifts we received from the Supreme God at the church were “Hero” for Luke and “Strategist” for me.

That’s when he said it.

“Let’s become adventurers.”

And,

“Let’s become top-notch, and show up those who have looked down on us. Let’s help children in trouble all over the world.”

And,

It was dazzling.

The hand he held out was warm.

So I made a vow.

I’ll assist this guy and take over the world someday.

Before I knew it, the sword fight had turned into a close-quarters battle.

It’s a distance where we can feel each other’s breath.

“Ugh!”

“Rah!”

With a shout of spirit, we try to push each other to the limit.

Then, suddenly, Luke collapsed.

Chance!

I step in to press the attack all at once.

That’s when it happened.

“Gu. . .ha. . .”

His kick landed squarely in my stomach.

The sound of my ribs breaking echoed in my ears, and a small amount of blood spilled from my mouth.

“You didn’t expect me to kick, did you!”

Luke, who had inadvertently bent my body, came slashing down from above.

Dangerous!

I force myself to create movement with my braced leg and jump to the right.

The longsword grazed my left arm.

Blood splatters.

I throw myself onto the floor and roll to create distance.

“Hah hah. . . That’s not how a swordsman fights. . . that. . .”

“That’s not what I’d expect from a strategist who uses every means to win, Lionel.”

Luke, grinning, extends his left hand, palm up, and wiggles his fingers in a taunting gesture.

I won’t approach carelessly.

He’s probably on guard for me to use a trick, since he used one first.

I take a slow, deep breath.

My lungs expand, and my ribs stick together with a sharp pain.

I put strength into both legs and stand up, using my broadsword as a cane.

“We won’t settle this by fighting fair. It’s always been that way.”

Every time I speak, pain shoots through me, but I ignore it.

“Yeah, so don’t call me a coward.”

Luke laughs, tapping his shoulder with his longsword.

His actions are full of openings, of course, it’s an invitation.

He’s calculating the time I need to close the distance after taking heavy damage.

Annoyingly so.

“I won’t. After all, I’m much more of a coward.”

I said, without moving from my spot.

The next moment.

“Distant Healing!”

“Magic Enhancement!”

Meisha’s magic heals me, and Miliaria’s magic gives power to my sword.

It’s an interruption to the one-on-one fight.

“If Mama Nel is going to play dirty, we’re more than happy to get our hands dirty too!”

“Because, we’re comrades!”

The blonde priest and the brown-haired wizard declared loudly.

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