Gallias expression twisted at the choice Berg had made.
He couldnt understand his foolish decision.
What could be the reason for rushing in, knowing he couldnt win?
...
Well, if it was just about the reason, he could guess.
Just by looking at the person Berg was protecting with his back, he could know the reason.
Arwin was just staring at Bergs retreating figure, even letting go of her cold expression.
Gallias understood it was for Arwin, but that didnt make it acceptable.
Especially since Arwin wouldnt die because of this.
And it was not like Berg had feelings for Arwin.
He could have simply closed his eyes and let this day pass. Risking his life here... No matter how he thought about it, Gallias couldnt accept it.
Especially he, who valued life above all else, felt this even more.
Still, he tried endlessly to understand Bergs decision.
Could it be to prove his bravery to his wife?
... No, Berg wasnt soone who would make such a foolish choice.
Was he hiding his true power?
... No, absolutely not. Gallias could tell that much.
...So, was he really charging in, thinking he could win?
...Ha.
Or perhaps, he was not retreating, knowing full well he couldnt win?
The last hypothesis seed the most credible.
Perhaps he had a similar experience a long ti ago.
Engaged in such speculations, Gallias tried to understand Berg.
anwhile, Berg slowly raised his sword.
His expression showed no hint of hesitation.
The atmosphere was entirely different from their previous duel.
It felt as if the space itself was being sliced open just by the aura he emanated.
....!
The elders took a step back, recoiling from his overwhelming presence.
There was no one who wouldnt fear when faced with the possibility of death.
Especially among the elves.
Gallias also felt his blood boil in response to that daunting energy.
A tingling tension climbed up his arm from the hilt of his sword.
He found himself wondering when he had last engaged in a one-on-one fight with life at stake.
It must have been decades at least.
He had fought boss monsters and participated in wars, but a one-on-one duel had been a long ti coming.
It felt considerably different from their training duel.
Every single sword strike could now be a fatal blow.
Not even a single mistake was permissible.
It wasnt sothing that would just end in a bruise or a broken bone.
It was a gamble with life on the line.
The tension was different in real combat, right from the start.
Gallias felt his palms growing sweaty.
He tried not to acknowledge this feeling.
Losing to a human who had only held a sword for less than a decade was inconceivable.
The difference in skill was overwhelming; what remained was a matter of will.
-Thwack!
At that mont, Berg kicked off the ground and charged.
Gallias could now feel that Berg was serious.
He had hoped, optimistically, that Berg might be bluffing till the end.
However, he too had no choice but to raise his sword in the end.
His eyes were locked onto Bergs blade.
Even as he charged, Berg changed his grip on his sword, concealing his first attack.
Gallias remained focused to the end.
Soon, Berg closed the distance between them.
-Bang!
A sound too imnse to be rely the clash of steel reverberated throughout the cave.
The resonating vibration of the swords reached a peak in killing intent.
Gallias inverted his sword to parry Bergs initial attack and, with fluidity as natural as flowing water, comnced his first counterattack.
Dozens of clashes ensued.
To outsiders, it might have looked like a straightforward fight, but the two were endlessly engaged in a psychological battle.
To disguise his attack, Gallias slightly twisted his waist, and in response, Berg sent his next attack in the opposite direction.
When Gallias tried to lure Berg into a favorable position, Berg sidestepped and vacated the spot.
-Slash!
Yet, the difference in their full strength was clearly revealed.
-Clack!
While the overall battle remained the sa, Gallias began to win the smaller exchanges.
-Thud!
Bergs arm, wrist, face, abdon, chest, and so on...
Galliass sword continued to leave shallow marks.
Despite this, the elven swordsman was still astonished by the humans strength.
How could soone whod only trained with a sword for a re decade possess such skill?
He claid his teacher was Adam, but could that really be all?
Might he have trained sowhere else?
Where was he from?
A myriad of questions arose in Gallias mind.
Above all, the unorthodox nature of his swordsmanship was his greatest advantage.
While the form was beautifully orthodox, the frawork supporting it was odd.
The gaps between each sword strike seed instinctively filled.
While long years of training generally lead one to rely more on that experience than on instinct, Berg appeared to trust his own instincts more than anyone else.
And it was paying off.
Even if Gallias thrust his sword in a direct line, Bergs sword would sohow block it at the last mont.
When Gallias tried to unbalance him by feinting a swing towards his eyes, Berg didnt even react, as if he already knew he wouldnt be hit.
These werent things one could learn.
Who else would refuse to dodge when a misjudgnt could result in blindness from a margin as fine as a single petal?
Most peculiarly, the more they crossed swords, the more awake Bergs instincts seed to beco.
The real battle felt different from the sparring.
Even more so now than before.
A courage, almost like madness, emanated from soone who had crossed the line of life and death countless tis.
That oppressive weight increasingly burdened Gallias shoulders.
Through their earnest swordplay, he learned that Berg had not had an easy ti of it.
...Gallias wondered if, based solely on the experience of crossing the line between life and death, Berg might surpass his own experience.
Of course, he still didnt feel like he was going to lose, but that single grain of unease was growing larger.
-Clang!
Once more, their swords clashed and rebounded, and Gallias shifted his sword to his left hand.
At the sa ti, Bergs left foot slid to the outside of Galliass left foot.
His footing was compromised, and a perfect opportunity opened for Berg.
But Gallias wasnt just going to let it happen.
Swiftly, he thrusted his left-hand-held sword towards Bergs face.
-Whoosh!
But again, Berg turned his head, dismissing the attack.
As if to say that such a blow would not be fatal, and therefore didnt matter.
A deep cut remained on Bergs cheek, but he continued his swing as if unfazed.
Ignoring the pain, Berg pressed forward with such montum that a groan escaped from Gallias.
Guh...!
Bending his knees to buy ti, Gallias barely managed to block Bergs sword.
Maintaining the block, he then pushed up and pushed Bergs chest with his shoulder.
Berg, having lost his balance, staggered.
Gallias attempted another swing in that direction, but Berg swiftly pivoted on his left leg, making a full turn to regain his balance and distance himself.
Another lengthy bout passed by.
The distance between them widened again, affording a brief mont to catch their breath.
Gallias gazed at the battered Berg.
Blood soaked him through and through.
It was unbelievable that he kept coming despite his condition.
Gallias offered counsel once more.
...Lets call it quits. You know you cant win.
...
Youre already a ss. With a lifespan as short as yours, you should be preserving what ti you have. Talent like yours doesnt co around often!
It was sincere.
Although there were monts of crisis, Berg had not yet managed to beat him.
Gallias remained relatively unscathed, while Berg was becoming increasingly ragged.
Then stand aside. I dont want to do this either.
...
Gallias ca to realize he couldnt persuade him.
Bergs refusal to compromise was no lie.
Despite his injuries, there was no change in his eyes.
Gallias glanced at the elders.
They showed no signs of wanting to stop the duel.
The only exception might be Ascal.
Only Ascal looked at Arwin with a pained expression.
Arwin had not seen such an expression on Ascal; she had been focused on Berg.
For a mont, Arwin took a deep, empty breath and closed her eyes tightly.
Looking ahead, Gallias saw that Berg was already charging at him as if it were a matter of course.
-Clang!
Through the clash of their swords, the aura emanating from Berg shifted once again.
It beca more savage, even more barbaric.
There was no retreat.
It seed like Berg had not even considered the risk of rushing in so recklessly.
Yet, at the sa ti, his movents contain a sort of faith that couldnt be rely dismissed as foolish.
Gallias soon spotted an opening in the wildly advancing Berg.
Not in a mont of balanced offense and defense, but in a mutual attack situation.
Drawing from years of experience, Gallias sensed that he could strike Berg faster.
...It was unfortunate, but this ends here.
However, at that mont, Berg spat sothing out.
A spatter of blood-red fluid flies toward Gallias eyes.
Argh!
Caught off guard by such a move for the first ti, Gallias sword speed slowed. In that split second, realizing his own blade would arrive too late, he retracted his sword and bent his neck back.
-Slash!
But it was already too late.
Gallias felt a searing pain on his forehead as he widened the distance between them once more.
Haah...
As he exhaled, he could feel blood streaming down his face.
He knew without even touching it.
His forehead had been deeply cut.
The loose strands of falling hair were proof of that.
It was the first successful attack that Berg had landed.
His vision was obscured by trickling blood.
Taken aback by an attack he had never experienced before, a surge of panic arose within him.
Further amplified by the fear that he could lose his life.
...This is completely unexpec
-Thwack!
But the spilled blood served as a signal for Berg, who charged in even more ferociously, no longer receptive to conversation.
He lunged forward with even more ferocious movents, like a beast that had spotted a vulnerability.
It was the movent of a predator that had claid many lives.
Ugh...!
Struggling to compose himself, Gallias managed to defend against Bergs incessant sword strikes.
In this pressured state, there was no room to counterattack.
He could barely manage to defend himself.
His vision was impaired by the blood flowing from his forehead.
Gallias was using all his strength to keep his composure.
If it were just a matter of swordsmanship, he wouldnt lose.
He hadnt lost up until this point.
His montum had rely wavered montarily due to the unexpected spatter of blood Berg had ejected.
The elders expressions grew increasingly disconcerted, and Gallias continued to be pushed back.
The echoing of sword strikes filled the cave, deafening his ears.
Amidst those emotionally turbulent circumstances, Gallias kept thinking.
...Maybe this mont could be the one where he crossed the line he had always wished to cross.
Again, a leapperhaps the mont had co to catch up to Gales skill level.
The other persons extraordinary talent was not to be taken lightly.
Focusing on that thought, his concentration beca even sharper than the blade of his sword.
Ti seed to slow down, and even details he hadnt noticed before ca into view.
The swirling dust.
Scattered droplets of blood.
The flickering blade of Bergs sword.
The trajectory of each sword strikes.
The expressions of the spectators.
And even the beads of sweat trickled down Bergs forehead.
Because Gallias was experiencing real-ti obstruction of his vision, he focused on that sweat droplet.
Berg charges again, swinging his sword.
The drop of sweat that had ford on his forehead slowly trickled down, reaching his eye.
Simultaneously, his eyelids blink to close.
Gallias seized the mont, dramatically ducking his body.
Bergs sword swished over his head.
Blinking, Berg lost sight of Gallias montarily and hesitated.
Without waiting, Gallias gathered all his strength into his sword and swung it upwards from below.
Just before the sword made contact, Berg again, with his beast-like instinct, lifted his chin to dodge the strike.
-Cling!
But it didnt matter.
The duel was over.
Bergs sword slips from his grip, spinning through the air.
It landed with a loud clang on the distant stone floor.
Whew...
As the fight concludes, Gallias exhaled a long sigh of relief.
Soft exclamations from the elders behind him reached his ears.
Ti, which seed to have slowed, finally resud its normal pace.
Everything speeded up again.
Its over, Berg
-Bang!
At that mont, a horrifying noise accompanied a flicker in Galliass consciousness.
When he ca to his senses, he found himself lying on the cold stone floor, Berg straddling him, a blood-spattered face swinging fists down.
-Thud! Thud!
His sword slipped from his hand amid the assault.
He tried to grip it again but found he couldnt muster the strength.
With his arms limp, Gallias covered his face.
Elders behind him cried out.
This... You coward!
Finally, Bergs clenched lips open.
The composure of the one who seized the victory ca out.
This is all Ive learned...
However, Gallias realized the mistake was his own.
Years of primarily sparring had made him forget.
In a life-or-death fight, it was not the presence or absence of a sword that was important.
He had failed to break Bergs will, which ant he hadnt neutralized him and the fight wasnt over.
His mistake resulted in an endless barrage of fists pumling his face.
Gallias felt his consciousness fading once more.
He may not have lost in a swordfight, but he had been defeated in combat.
That much, Gallias knew for certain.
Stop!!!
*****
Stop!!!
The bloodied fist halts in mid-air.
Enough now...! Do you intend to beat him until hes dead...!
Looking toward the source of the shouting, I saw it was Ascal who was yelling.
Any more fighting in this sacred space is unacceptable...!
Gallias coughed and spat out blood.
Had the situation been different, I wouldnt have wanted to push him this far.
Even the other elders couldnt say a word, overawed by the Ascals montum.
Perhaps they were keeping silent due to the kind of person they had seen to be.
Ascal exhaled a ragged breath, glanced at Arwin, and then spoke to .
...Vice-captain, we got it. Take Arwin and leave.
Finally, the elders drew a sigh of relief and started to protest.
Ascal...!
By trying to preserve our traditions now, we stand to lose even more, Elder...!
For a mont, the eye of the scolding elder ets Gallias.
Seemingly unable to give up, he opened his mouth again.
...What this human has done to us...!
-This human.
Ascal cut off the elder, preemptively covering for my actions.
...Was rely trying to protect my daughter. Though his thods were foolish and disrespectful, he did so based on his own standards.
I locked eyes with the elders.
Only then did they seem to sense my potential danger in the situation, having defeated Gallias.
I had no intention of escalating things further, but if matters did go awry, Id have to make another choice.
Ascal offered a direction.
Vice-captain, if you are to take my daughter to the outside world, I would like you to act just as you did today... Therefore... Therefore, lets consider this matter closed. As of today, its as if nothing happened. Understand, vice-captain?
For so reason, Ascals resonant voice, even in this tense situation, diffused all emotions and eased the stiff atmosphere.
Arwin has paid her dues; the World Tree would understand if we let this one incident slide. Also, although it was short, she had already said goodbye.
At the sa ti, I found it curious how Ascal seed eager to conclude matters abruptly.
Was he doing this because he no longer wanted to see the fight, or because I defeated Gallias?
Would he have said the sa thing had I lost?
Throughout the battle, Ascal had been the only one wearing a pained expression.
I had noticed his eyes drifting toward Arwin a few tis as well.
Perhaps this was an opportunity for him to take Arwins side.
Or maybe there was an entirely different reason.
Perhaps he didnt want rumors about this incident to spread.
...Vice-captain, take Arwin and leave. We will also forget about this.
...Can I trust you?
...I swear on the World Tree.
But whatever the reason, it didnt matter.
There was no need for to refuse when Ascal himself said hed consider this matter closed.
My objective had already been achieved.
Yet, I remained vigilant.
Tossing Gallias sword far away, I picked up my own.
I spoke to Gallias, who lay on the ground.
...Gallias, I have no personal grudge against you.
...I know.
Gallias responded, covering one eye with his arm and spitting out a mixture of blood and saliva.
...You taught a lesson.
I sheathed my sword and approached Arwin.
Her previously cold expression had vanished, replaced by a worried look, as if she couldnt believe she could trust .
...
Neither of us exchanged words.
I simply scooped my hands under her back and legs.
This ti, Arwin offered no resistance.
Lifting her up, I headed for the passage.
My eyes t those of the elders first.
Out of courtesy, I offered a bow.
That was for a clean conclusion...
But they stood frozen in place.
Given their long lives, they must value tradition deeply.
And soone like , who broke that tradition, could hardly be a welco sight.
I passed by Ascal next.
For a mont, Arwin and Ascal exchanged glances.
I also bowed my head to Ascal in greeting...and moved on.
...Thank you.
As I passed by him, Ascal whispered in a barely audible voice.
Perhaps he was thanking for saving Arwin.
Even though Arwin had called his actions hypocritical, they felt sincere in that mont.
What the truth was, I didnt know.
But I wanted to believe it was genuine.
I headed outside with Arwin in my arms.
Every part of my body creaked.
I had survived yet again.
It wasnt as if Id gone in thinking I would defeat Gallias.
But still, I couldnt back down.
My feet wouldnt allow to abandon Arwin and walked away.
Perhaps it was the distant nightmare, where sothing was taken away from , that had spurred my body into action now.
The hand I had so easily let go back then might have been pushing forward now, like lingering regret.
From a distance, I saw the mouth of the cave bathed in bright sunlight.
I felt Arwins ears tremble slightly.
For a mont, I had been so preoccupied with myself that I forgot about her.
...Are you okay?
A little belatedly, I asked her.
Arwin blinked her anxious eyes... and whether she lost strength or not, she rested her head on my chest.
****
Arwin couldnt co to her senses due to the imnse shock.
The image of Berg, who kept charging at Gallias despite his injuries, appeared in her mind.
He did all this for her, a woman he had been married to for barely a day.
It was foolish, no matter how she thought about it.
True to the characteristics of humans shed only read about, he was reckless and wild.
There was no honor in the way he spat blood at Gallias and swung his fists even after losing his sword; it was even cruel.
...
But she couldnt look away from it.
Her heart pounded stronger than ever before.
Berg shook the space she had been unable to escape from for over a hundred years with his willpower alone, all in just a day.
It was as if he had given shape to everything shed ever wanted to do.
Was this how all humans were, or was it just Berg?
As an elf, she couldnt comprehend how hed overco his fear of death. How could he act this way when he was not even going to live a fraction of her lifeti?
After defeating Gallias, Berg approached her.
Despite his extensive injuries, he took care of her before anyone else.
Arwin couldnt do anything in his arms.
The strong sll of blood wafted from him, a scent she had never experienced in her 170 years of existence.
Everything about him was alien to her. The fact that they were different races was painfully apparent.
And so, Berg, who had pulled herself from the clutches of the elders, continued to head outside.
...Are you okay?
...
At so point, Arwin found herself unable to answer him.
She couldnt understand what the hell he was saying, especially since he was the one more grievously injured.
Feeling drained, she rested her head on his chest.
This was the first ti she had ever done such a thing in her long life.
For the first ti, she leaned on soone.
For the first ti, she accepted soones help.
And so, they stepped out of the cave.
...
Bright sunlight poured down, and birds chirped in the distance.
A landscape teeming with green life filled her vision.
It was the mont she had waited for her entire life.
The mont when she was free from all her duties.
There was no longer any reason to be entwined with the World Tree, no reason to feel its pain.
...But what consud her thoughts was not the freedom she had anticipated.
Instead, her curiosity about this human surged.
He was sothing mysterious that she had never encountered before.
He was a person from the outside world.
Only now did he fully enter her sight.
Arwins mind was a whirlpool of complexity.
She took a long ti to sort through her thoughts, all the while standing still in his embrace.
Finally, the most fundantal question was raised in her mind.
...Why... why are you doing this for ?
It made no sense. He had no reason to like her, let alone act like this for her.
There was no reason to spill his blood, to risk his life.
It would be easier to believe if he answered that it was due to his cruel nature.
If he enjoyed fighting, if he enjoyed violence, then she could understand.
If he had no knowledge of death, no fear of it, then she could understand.
From her perspective, it had been a reckless battle with nothing to gain.
However, the answer Berg gave as he turned his head to wipe off the blood trickling down his shoulder was far from what Arwin had expected.
...Were married, arent we?
...What?
At his response, Arwin again found herself at a loss for words.
She was so stunned that she couldnt say anything.
She wanted to understand him.
...Just because...
...
...Just because of that? Because were married?
Was he lying?
But Berg answers with a laugh, as if the question itself was absurd.
Just because?
Cradled in his arms, Arwin looked up at Berg, who was covered in blood.
What better reason could there be?
The End of The Chapter
[ TL: Since I'm getting complaints regarding the term 'Head Hancho Unit', I'll be using 'Head Hunter Unit' from now on - the closest English equivalent to what the author intends to convey.
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