Chapter 25: Three Cuts (part 4)
Ralph, seeing his grandson, wore a slightly surprised expression.
‘Much, that kid….’
He had spent more time with Much since he was a newborn babe than his own parents.
But this was the first time he'd seen such a look in Much's eyes.
Even from a distance, the resentment was palpable.
‘Can that child… make such a face?’
He had always been a simple child, obedient, never complaining or grumbling.
He had never shown a strong will for anything either.
He thought Much had reluctantly taken up Body Arts at first, but later seemed to enjoy it, so he was relieved.
He only worried about Much's tendency to be overly concerned about others.
But he had thought that him not resisting learning Body Arts was enough.
But then…
"Was I wrong…."
Johan, seeing Ralph's dazed expression, chuckled internally.
‘Even you, a gruff fellow, can’t help but change in front of your bloodline.’
Ralph's son had been born with a frail body, inheriting his mother’s weakness.
That's why Ralph had taken a disciple to prevent his legacy from dying out.
But no matter how much he treated his disciple like a son, it wasn't truly his own blood.
Then, a bloodline appeared, one who could fully inherit his legacy, so how could Ralph not cherish him?
‘Excessive affection has turned into poison.’
As a master, Ralph couldn’t have missed his grandson's growth.
But excessive overprotection had clouded his judgment.
‘Yuri, who holds an objective perspective as an outsider, was the first to realize Much’s true nature.’
He was sharp-witted to begin with, and after spending the last few months with Much, he couldn’t have missed it.
‘That cunning little devil.’
He had suddenly suggested a real sword fight, leaving him wondering what his scheme was…
‘He was aiming for this.’
Johan clicked his tongue, now certain of Yuri's plan.
‘Even though it's the same sparring, the difference between a wooden sword and a real sword is huge.’
The difference in lethality, and the accidents that could happen at any moment as a result.
The constant pressure and tension in a dire situation, a constant threat, would have drawn out the real Much from within.
Johan looked at Yuri, who was grinning, and clicked his tongue internally.
But he didn’t show it, pretending not to know.
He spoke to Ralph.
"Your grandson seems to have a lot of enthusiasm. As Yuri said, we can start right away."
"Huh…."
"Go ahead. We have to finalize our winning strategy."
Johan gave Ralph a push on the back.
Unable to resist, Ralph started walking.
Then, Ralph stood before Much.
"Grandfather…."
Seeing his grandson calling him, Ralph couldn't help but chuckle.
"Phut!"
Much's voice, a bit choked.
His eyes were slightly teary from the resentment.
It was the first time he had seen his grandson like this, but Ralph felt it was a good sight.
He seemed a little more like a child, finally.
Ralph smiled and asked.
"Are you upset about losing?"
"…"
Much didn't answer.
But his snorting breath answered for him.
Ralph's smile deepened.
"Much."
"Yes…."
"Body Arts isn't bad. Whether you use it to harm people, or whether you use it to save someone, it's up to the person to decide the value of Body Arts."
"…"
"Do you think this old man, and Yuri, use Body Arts just to hurt people?"
Much shook his head firmly.
"No."
"Right, it's your will that determines how you use the Body Arts you've learned. But if you wield it without a clear purpose, your Body Arts will have no value."
"…"
"What value do you want to place on your Body Arts?"
At his grandfather's question, Much recalled Yuri's words.
[Because I have a goal.]
[I want to become strong. Strong enough to not lose to anyone. That’s why I’m doing this.]
[I train to become strong. What do I need to think about? Just keep doing it every day.]
[It’s tiring. But I won’t give up.]
[That thing you said you didn't understand… I'll tell you today. Why I learned Body Arts, why I wield this sword to the death!]
Much finally began to understand.
Yuri's value was his desire to become strong, his will to never lose.
He wielded his sword to the death for that reason.
The words and actions he had initially failed to understand were now slowly making sense.
Much gazed at Ralph with steady eyes and answered.
"I don't know yet what value I want to place on my Body Arts. I'll think about it slowly. But…."
"…"
"I don’t want to lose right now. For now, I'll use that as my value."
Ralph grinned at Much's answer.
"Good, that's all that matters."
He placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder and spoke in a low voice.
"Now, this old man will tell you the winning strategy."
"Really?"
At his grandson's expectant gaze, Ralph's eyes gleamed with a cunning glint.
As if worried Johan might hear, Ralph whispered to his grandson, even creating a soundproof barrier with mana.
Seeing this, Johan muttered in disbelief.
"Tsk, do you think I can’t hear?"
He could easily break through a mana soundproof barrier like that.
But he didn't need to.
Johan shifted his gaze to Yuri.
"Looks like you’ll only be able to use Brain Thrust once, right? Your arms and legs are probably shaking right now."
At Johan's observation, Yuri's eyes widened.
"You’re a ghost, how did you know?"
"I was the one who taught you Brain Thrust, you stupid brat!"
Brain Thrust, unlike Windbolt, wasn't a technique that could be recklessly used.
It was a skill that needed to be slowly cultivated.
At Yuri's current level, it could only be used 2-3 times at most.
"Yeah, yeah, you’re right. I think I can somehow manage three times if I really push myself…."
"Don’t overuse Brain Thrust. You don't want to end up bedridden for a week because of the backlash, do you?"
"Does it hurt that much?"
"Why do you think I have constipation?"
"…"
"It hurt so much, I couldn’t even go to the toilet. I used to overuse it in my youth, and it led to chronic constipation."
"…I’ll finish in two, I promise."
Yuri answered with a determined expression, promising he wouldn’t become like the old man.
He shrugged.
"Well, two is enough anyway."
"Right, two is enough."
Johan had no need to eavesdrop on Ralph's plan.
Even if it was a brilliant strategy, at Much's current level, he couldn’t block Yuri's Wind Cloud.
The compatibility between Ralph's Body Arts and Redner's Wind Cloud was simply terrible.
Confidence was evident on Johan and Yuri's faces.
Five minutes later.
As Yuri and Much stood facing each other, ready for their duel, Johan and Ralph exchanged words.
"You’ve got a plan, right?"
"Of course."
"If you're going to lose anyway, why waste time?"
Ralph knew it was a disadvantageous situation for Much, now that he knew Yuri could use Brain Thrust.
But he was still incredibly confident.
"You have to see how it goes, long or short."
"Are you not ashamed to lose?"
"Hmph!"
Ralph and Johan engaged in a subtle clash of nerves, their eyes fixed on the sparring ground.
Among them, Yuri's eyes caught sight of Much, and a spark of interest flashed in his eyes.
‘Oh, look at this?’
There was a change in the boy's atmosphere.
Yuri chuckled and said.
"Did my spanking hurt you? Seems you’ve finally come to your senses."
"Yuri-hyung…."
"Why?"
"I’m going to win this time."
"Yeah, that’s just your wishful thinking. Hey, I told you to call me hyung, right?"
At Yuri’s rebuke, Much didn’t reply.
He simply gripped the end of his spear and lifted it high.
The final match of the best-of-three began.
This time, Yuri didn't rush forward but observed his opponent.
"That’s a hell of a size."
Much, standing nearly 2 meters tall, wielding a 4-meter spear, gave off an imposing presence, like a giant tower.
But what was more intimidating was the intense aura radiating from Much's body.
Thud- thud-.
The rain, which had begun a while ago, had now become quite heavy, and the raindrops lashed against Much.
But the raindrops were simply repelled by the rippling waves of mana.
It was clear how much mana Much was pouring into this strike.
Yuri looked straight ahead with a slightly surprised expression.
‘This is creepy!’
The mana and killing intent flowing along the Halberd Spear made his skin tingle.
If he got hit by that, it wouldn’t simply be a broken bone.
‘At least, he'd be cut in half.’
Or maybe, he'd be a bloody mess the moment he got hit.
It was a terrifying attack, but the solution was simple.
‘His setup takes too long.’
The longer the preparation time for the attack, the more power Much could accumulate.
With such a long setup time, all he had to do was get out of the attack range.
Or charge at him right now and beat the crap out of him.
‘I don’t even need to use Brain Thrust.’
There was no need to wait for the attack, so Yuri was about to charge at Much.
If not for Much's loud shout.
"Yuri-hyung! If I manage to catch you, Grandpa will make me a sword out of white steel!"
Screech-.
Yuri, who was about to charge, slammed on the brakes, his legs coming to an abrupt halt.
"…What?"
"Huh?!"
Yuri was surprised, but Johan was even more surprised.
Silence descended upon the open space.
Then, Johan realized what he had heard and grabbed Ralph by the collar.
"You, you crazy bastard! Using such a dirty trick in a kids’ sparring match? Are you that desperate to win?!"
"Haha, you were the one who taught me that the loser can’t sleep but the winner can laugh and have a good night’s rest! What do you think, my winning strategy?"
"Y-You… you're so cheap…."
It was a shameless statement, but Johan couldn’t reply because it was all true.
He had said that when he was in the Cradle, laughing in Ralph's face while he was crying over his defeat.
‘Ugh, I’m still holding onto that grudge… Anyway, this guy… When did he figure out Yuri’s personality like that?’
It seemed like the time they had spent together in the last six months wasn’t entirely in vain.
It was a cheap, dirty, and hateful tactic, but it was undoubtedly a perfect strategy to exploit Yuri’s personality and weaknesses.
The effect was already evident.
‘Look at him!’
Click-clack- click-clack-.
The sound of that money-crazed fellow's eyes rolling could be heard all the way here.
Yuri was indeed very, very serious, in the middle of a deep crisis.
"…White steel? Really?"
When he was wandering the continent, he had met a mercenary who boasted about a sword made with a tiny bit of white steel mixed into normal steel.
He couldn’t forget about white steel, thanks to that guy's constant bragging.
‘That white steel, five times stronger and more resilient than normal steel? Three times more expensive than gold for the same weight?!’
He would make him a sword out of that?
As long as he blocked the attack?
‘Really? Really?!’
Yuri's golden eyes were shaking as if an earthquake had struck.
Just then, Ralph's voice rang out, hammering the final nail into Yuri's coffin.
"I'll make you a sword made entirely of white steel! Not mixed with any other steel!"
That sealed the deal for Yuri.
He changed his stance, ready to charge.
Swoosh- thud-.
The right leg that had been stretched out to charge quickly retracted back, and his legs were planted firmly on the ground, solid enough to withstand a push from anyone.
Yuri patted his sturdy thighs and roared with a booming voice.
"Oh, Much, you little rascal! What are you waiting for? That attack, I'll take it head-on, so charge at me, full speed! Charge!"
Not a measly sword with white steel mixed in, but a whole sword made of white steel!
How could he resist that?
Johan, seeing Yuri's sly grin, felt his face burn red.
"Th-That crazy bastard!"
He could simply charge, and punch him in the chest, and it would be over!
Johan roared.
"You little shit, if you lose, I'll hang you upside down and throw you off a cliff!"
As if waiting for Johan's shout, Much’s entire spear glowed red.
The barbed spear was brimming with mana, as if about to explode.
"Haaaaaaaaah!"
Much let out a fierce roar and swung his spear.
It was a simple, vertical slash.
But the problem was Much's strength.
Creak- crack- crack- crack-.
Much’s incredible strength caused the spearhead to lag behind, bending the shaft back as if it were about to snap.
And at that moment.
Bang!
An explosion erupted from Much’s spearhead.
The halberd blade, creating a mana explosion, gained powerful propulsion.
Swoosh-bang-bang-.
It fell at an unimaginable speed.
Schnell Halberd Spear Technique – Splitting the Cold Wall
The ultimate spear technique, said to have split a part of the Cold Wall Mountains in the past, descended upon Yuri.
Facing this attack, Yuri felt as if death were approaching.
The surrounding scenery slowed down, so much that he could see the heavy raindrops clearly.
The red trajectory of the barbed spear, coming at him at an impossible speed.
An inescapable crisis was upon him, but Yuri laughed.
‘Old man, who do you think is going to lose?’
He had fallen for the lure of the whole-white-steel sword, but Yuri had no intention of losing.
‘I just have to block that and win.’
What was so hard about that?
As Yuri's smile widened, his sword moved.
Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-.
Following the pattern of the pouring rain, a silver trajectory began to form, beautifully.
Just like that day….
Swish-swish-swish-.
As if mirroring Johan’s “Illusion” in the rain…
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