Hard Work Will Never Betray Me - CH 109

“Then both of you, take your positions.”

Following Marie’s instructions, we stand facing each other at a distance of about five meters. Both of us use swords – or in my case, katana – so we keep the distance we would normally keep at the start of a duel. If I am facing a mage who is not good at close combat, he may choose to fight at a longer distance, say seven meters or so. If it is a fight between long-distance type mages, the distance is 15 meters ……. It seems that there are various types of duel.

Johan has not yet pulled out the magic sword at his waist, but his commanding presence is that of a swordsman who has fought many battles in his life. At least, I have never felt such pressure from a person of my generation.

Well, the world is a small place, but the imperial city is bigger than I expected. Heidburg is also quite a big city, but it is no match for the capital, where amazing people gather from all over the empire. In Heidburg, the local capital, there were no chances at all to meet strong youth. Johann is probably the up-and-coming magic swordsman of the capital. It was a stroke of luck that I had the opportunity to cross swords with someone like him.

“…… Are you really a boy ?”

“Huh?”

While I was thinking this, Johan looked at me with a wary eye and asked, “Do I look that old? Do I look that old?”

I’m just a sprightly 12 years old, How old are you?

“You think I’m younger than you?　I’m 13.”

“One year younger?”

“I’m 12, by the way. I’m the same age as you!”

Emilia is smiling and waving at me. I feel like I’m going crazy.

Although at thirteen, the way he talks like that is quite an old man.”

“What!””

He is rather sound like uncle then old man,

“I’m just 13 years old.”

‘That’ s exactly what I’m saying.”

It seemed we both looked older than we were. I don’t understand.

“By the way, why do I look older?”

I don’t mind, but if there’s something that makes me look older, I have to fix it or Lily and the others won’t like me. I don’t really care about it. It’s just that it bothers me a little bit.

“It’s the appearance.”

“Appearance?”

“Yeah.”

Oh, he’ s talking in the abstract again. I wonder why old-fashioned characters like Johan and Marie don’t express themselves in a straightforward and concrete manner. I’m only 12 years old, so I can’t keep up with his style.

“I can’t believe you’ re a 12 year old boy. What are you …… really?”

“My name is Eberhard.”

I’ve been training since I was born!　Johann, as a family member who specializes in the martial arts, has probably trained to a certain degree, but I don’t think he has beaten me when it comes to the level of training. I don’t think there are many people in the Empire who have more training than me.

I’m not going to tell anyone about it. …… That’ s okay. Let me know when you’ve decided.”

“Well, I wonder if the purpose of the fight has somehow been switched.

“I dunno.”

What a man to make a move on his own. I’m going to kill him.

“Eberhard. Your eyes are getting a little scary. I say again, it is wrong to kil”l.

“I understand.”

“You don’t understand.”

Well, let’s just joke about killing him. Johann, I think you can be pretty serious with . When you get to be my age, you don’t have many opportunities to give it your all against people. I will make the most of this valuable opportunity to train.

–Shan!

I pull out my magic sword, Raikiri, ……………………

–Ston.

Then, after taking the sword from the waist, I take off the raikiri from its scabbard and put it in my inventory. Then, as if in a flowing motion, I took out another short sword (made of mithril-containing magical steel, made by Mail) and put it on my waist.

“….. I’m a mage myself. I will not be underestimated!　I’m going to fight like a man!”

It is still somewhat old-fashioned. The reason why I put away my magic sword Raikiri is because it is too powerful for me to show off my own abilities, not that I’m taking pity on Johan, but I don’t think he’d understand.

“Are you two ready?’

“Yes.”

“All good.”

“Let’s start ……!’

At the same time as Marie shouted, Johann pulled out the magic sword from his waist. The slightly blackened blade of the sword is double-edged and emits a suspicious light.

But if you don’t hit it, it’s useless!　Ha-ha-ha!”

I close the distance between us in an instant using “Shrinkage” that I just learned. Although I haven’t done anything to strengthen my body, I seem to be able to exert considerable power even in the raw, probably thanks to my training in the Demon Forest.

‘Ugh!”

The moment he realized it, I was right in front of him. Johan’s eyes widened in surprise and he froze.

（I got him )

I thought so, but Johan was not a member of the reinforcement program for nothing . In a split-second, Johan raised his magic sword to catch my blade and then brought it into a swordfight.

“Heh, you’re good, aren’t you?”

Y”ou too, ……, but I won’t lose!”

“Only because of the magic sword.”

“Hmmm.”

Johan pushes me away and the clash between us is broken. The distance between us widens again, but I know what’s going on. Johann, you were laughing at that chilly crap you just said. You seemed to be putting on a poker face, but your lips were twitching and contorting. I’ ve discovered an unexpected side of you.

“Oh, come on, you little punk!　It’s an ordinary match, don’t mess with me!”

No, I’m sorry. It’s in my nature.

I didn’t mean to catch him off guard by saying a cold joke. I just said it. It seems that I have the potential to become a cold man in the future.

But that’s beside the point.

“You’re pretty strong.”

Schneider’s school of magic swordsmanship, huh? That’s pretty strong. I’d say it’s completely on par with the “front” of Hokusho Bujin-ryu. —- but there is a “back” to the Hokusho Bujinryu.

“Well, let’s see. …… then, I’m about to get serious.”

“What, you wasn’t serious yet?”

Emilia, the outsider, said as if she was surprised.

I’m embarrassed when she looks at me like that,…….

One heartbeat. Two. With each beat of the heart, I feel my vision gradually become clearer. My five senses become sharp, and I feel a sense of complete control over my body. A thin layer of magical power that has been bubbling up from the core of my body covers the surface of my body, and my limbs gradually become full of strength. It was the first time in a long time that I had felt this sensation, which I had kept hidden for the past week or so due to my training.

Keep your eyes open. This is my fighting technique, “Robe”

“Hal, you’ll will be blind if you close your eyes!”

The air in the place softens a bit when Lily butt in. That’s right. It would probably hurt like hell if I pulled out my eyes.

“Oh, you know what? Rinse yr eyes “.

I think everyone would at least rinse their eyes. Fortunately, this world has water magic, so there is no of water.

“What are you really?”

Johan, a battle junkie who was breaking out in a cold sweat but still could not hide his smirk, was looking at me. The second round of the deadly match was about to begin.