Sigrid Novel Chapter 146

Clang, clang—

The sound and feeling of swords clashing were completely different from when fighting Beramund. Alkerto watched their duel intently.

"Do you understand?" Beramund asked.

Alkerto replied, "It seems they're mostly deflecting."

"That's Siri's specialty. But Karsus fights in a similar way."

"Why are Siri and that man fighting?" Marie-Chez asked in a hushed voice, her eyes wide as she ca down to the training ground.

Lowengrin tilted her head and said, "I'll bet one gold coin that Siri requested it first."

"Then Lowengrin will win," Alkerto replied, making Lowengrin smile.

In that mont when they got close, Karsus tried to trip Sigrid. Or rather, he would have, if Sigrid hadn't quickly pushed her sword forward. As he attempted to trip her, Karsus's center of gravity beca unstable, and at that mont, Sigrid forcefully pushed forward. Then in the next instant, she suddenly released the pressure, destabilizing her opponent, and stepped away.

She then thrust her blade next to his neck.

It all happened in a single mont.

"Ah," Alkerto gasped.

Karsus raised his hand and said, "I've lost." Sigrid lowered her sword and shook her head.

"No. I've seen it once now. I had the advantage. Next ti, I'll probably lose. And—"

Sigrid smiled.

"It would be different if we used aura."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Karsus replied with a grin as he sheathed his sword. Sigrid nodded in agreent and sheathed her own sword.

Karsus's fighting style was unsuitable for sparring. Using aura would likely lead to serious injuries. It was an unconventional and thoroughly practical combat style.

"To be honest, I'm not sure if it can be called swordsmanship," Sigrid said. Her words could have been taken as an insult, but Karsus understood what she ant.

"I think so too. This isn't swordsmanship, it's just practical killing using a sword."

Sigrid nodded at Karsus's words. He added cheerfully:

"I'm not a knight, after all."

"...I see."

An unaffiliated aura user—isn't that a threatening existence? Sigrid thought as she looked at Karsus. Her gaze was like that of soone looking at an unleashed fierce dog, making Karsus unconsciously explain:

"I don't go around killing people indiscriminately."

"I didn't say you did," Sigrid retorted, then bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you for the duel. I appreciate you accepting despite my rudeness."

"No, not at all," a flustered Karsus bowed in return. As Sigrid raised her head, she continued:

"And I don't want to hear any more talk about my relationship with Beramund. If Beramund isn't happy, then co back and tell

then."

Though her voice was low, Karsus heard it clearly.

Karsus chuckled, seeing Beramund smiling contentedly behind her, and said quietly:

"Understood."

"Yes, but thank you for letting

know."

About what Beramund had given up.

"It's nothing," Karsus replied smoothly as he stepped back. Sigrid quickly approached Beramund and said:

"I can see where Beramund's 'practical swordsmanship' ca from."

"That's what happens when you face opponents like that," Beramund grinned.

'Co to think of it, I was kicked in our first duel,' Sigrid thought.

Her quick response to Karsus was also due to her familiarity with Beramund. If not for that, she would have lost.

Karsus lightly tapped the hilt of his sword and asked:

"Shall we continue? Or is that it?"

"Let's go," Alkerto said, stepping forward. Marie-Chez opened her mouth to say sothing but then firmly closed it. Karsus nodded.

"Alright."

Marie-Chez felt like she wanted to cover her eyes and plug her ears at the sa ti. Just then, Lowengrin quietly took her hand, and Marie-Chez gripped it tightly, as if seeking support.

Alkerto took a deep breath. Sigrid called out to him.

"Alkerto."

"Hm?"

"Use this."

Sigrid unstrapped her Berada steel sword from her waist and tossed it to him. Alkerto caught it with one hand and hesitated.

"Isn't this the one bestowed by His Majesty?"

"It is."

Marie-Chez spoke up without thinking:

"Wouldn't it be better to lend him a different one—"

"No," Sigrid said firmly, gripping the sword hilt tightly, as if soone were trying to take it away. Then she repeated decisively:

"Not this one."

Beramund suppressed a laugh, and Marie-Chez closed her mouth, saying, "If that's the case..." Alkerto drew the sword.

"Berada steel..."

Karsus squinted slightly, and Alkerto swung the sword lightly. It was shorter than what he was used to.

"Thank you."

Alkerto gripped the sword and looked at Karsus, who had a slightly uneasy expression.

"Well, alright then," Alkerto said, lightly raising the sword in greeting.

"Please go easy on ."

Karsus didn't reply, just beckoned with his hand, and Marie-Chez pouted at his rudeness. Then ca the first exchange.

Alkerto swallowed hard.

'It's completely different.'

Was it because of the different sword? Or because he had just watched their duel?

He could feel his own attacks becoming sharper. Karsus felt it too. He clicked his tongue inside his mouth as he responded.

'Maybe—'

This ti, he might actually win a round.

Alkerto's speed increased further. Karsus clashed swords with him and let out a dry laugh. The blade was giving way. Without using aura, fighting purely with the strength of the swords, his own sword couldn't win.

'Now—!'

Alkerto thrust sharply into an opening. Karsus moved reflexively, and with a cracking sound, Marie-Chez scread.

"Alkerto!"

Alkerto gritted his teeth. Karsus said, "Ah, sorry," as he removed his hand from Alkerto's arm. Alkerto suppressed the scream that threatened to escape.

His arm was completely broken. It's not every day you see your own arm bent at an unnatural angle.

"Alkerto," a shocked Sigrid ran over. Karsus sighed and said:

"I'm sorry, your attack ca in so suddenly, I reacted without thinking."

"At least you didn't twist the joint," Beramund said in a low voice. If he had twisted the elbow or wrist, Alkerto might never have been able to hold a sword again.

"What have you done!" Marie-Chez cried out. Lowengrin pulled her arm.

"Marie, don't."

It was an accident during a duel. There was no point in assigning bla.

"But—"

Marie-Chez looked at Lowengrin, then back at Alkerto, then at Karsus. Alkerto said quietly:

"It's alright."

"It's not alright at all!" Marie-Chez shouted, making Alkerto laugh involuntarily.

"You find this funny?"

"No, it's just... Really, I'm fine."

"It's broken inside. Is the bone twisted? Should we set it?" Sigrid asked softly. Alkerto panted.

"I wish I'd just pass out."

"If you faint from this much, you'd die on the battlefield," Beramund said, then stood up and added:

"Let's move him inside. We need to set it and put a splint on."

Alkerto swallowed his groans and stood up. Seeing Marie-Chez's pale face, he was at a loss for words and averted his gaze.

To end up like this after confidently saying he'd win...

Unable to look her in the eye, Alkerto kept his head down.

They entered the mansion and called for a healer. Beramund said:

"Shall I set it?"

Alkerto nodded.

"Please."

"It's going to hurt a bit, just relax. It'll hurt more if you tense up."

Then, without warning, Beramund grabbed the broken arm and set it. Alkerto inhaled sharply and trembled. The healer who had rushed over prescribed an ointnt to reduce swelling and applied a splint to the arm.

"It's a clean break, so it should heal well," the healer said reassuringly, and Alkerto nodded. But now he wouldn't be able to hold a sword for a while, which ant he couldn't win a round against Karsus either.

"But Alkerto," Sigrid asked seriously.

"Why are you so desperate? This is more than just a duel..."

It was the desperation of soone in a promotion test or a tournant match. Alkerto looked up. Marie-Chez and Lowengrin were no longer visible.

"We made a bet."

"A bet?"

Sigrid tilted her head, and Alkerto confessed honestly.

"Karsus said he'd tell

how to beco rich if I could win even one round."

As he said it, it sounded ridiculous. Laughing self-deprecatingly at how desperate he had been over such a thing, Alkerto smiled bitterly. Sigrid turned to Karsus and asked:

"Is this true?"

Karsus nodded with an uncomfortable expression.

"Do you want to be rich?" Sigrid asked Alkerto again, and he laughed.

"No. Well, maybe. I don't know."

"Alkerto?"

"I like Marie."

With that one sentence, everything was explained, and Sigrid closed her mouth with an "Ah." Beramund looked at his arm and said:

"But it seems you can't use that thod now. Don't force yourself to use your arm like this. If it heals crookedly, you really won't be able to use a sword again."

"I know," Alkerto said quietly.

"Then rest. I'll send up the dicine separately," the healer said, standing up and leaving. Karsus sighed and said:

"I should probably... I'll go."

"No, thank you for the duel," Alkerto said with a faint smile, making Karsus look as if he'd been struck. He slumped his shoulders and said:

"No."

He left the room—and ran into Marie-Chez at the entrance. Those tear-stained navy blue eyes held sothing familiar to Karsus.

Anger and hatred.

Finding it much easier to deal with that, Karsus gave her a slight nod and left. Lowengrin glanced at his retreating figure, then placed a hand on Marie-Chez's shoulder. Marie-Chez's lips trembled.

Lowengrin couldn't find the words to say.

She understood why Alkerto had dueled. But what could she say?

So she wisely remained silent. After a while, Marie-Chez said quietly:

"I... I want to go to my room."

"Alright."

Lowengrin kept her arm around Marie-Chez's shoulders as they went up to her room.

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Alkerto sat in the darkness. A single candle burned dimly, casting a faint light in the room.

His mind was in turmoil.

Knock knock knock.

The knocking was soft, but in the silence, it was clearly audible. For so reason, Alkerto felt he knew who it was without opening the door, so he remained silent for a mont.

The knock didn't co a second ti, but both Alkerto and Marie-Chez on the other side of the door knew that they were waiting for each other.

Alkerto slowly opened the door. Taking a deep breath—

"Hello," Alkerto smiled brightly. Marie-Chez looked up at him with a stiff expression.

"Can I co in for a mont?"

"At this late hour?" he joked, but Marie-Chez just nodded without reacting. Alkerto looked at the dark corridor and let her in.

"It's dark because I was about to sleep. I'll light more candles."

Alkerto said as he approached the candlestick. He went to the candlestick, then realized he had nothing to light it with and hurriedly returned to the lit candle.

"I'm a bit flustered."

"Alkerto," Marie-Chez called him softly. Alkerto was afraid of what would co next.

Why did you do such a foolish thing? Or, I already warned you, didn't I? Or maybe, Does it hurt a lot? So words of sympathy?

"I heard the reason for the duel."

But what Marie-Chez said was beyond his imagination. Alkerto's movents froze. Silence settled between them.

Alkerto didn't know what to say. No, more than that, anger welled up inside him. He was embarrassed, and that made him angry.

"I, I—" Marie-Chez continued, stumbling over her words. Alkerto turned to look at her.

The candlelight illuminated only a small part, so Marie-Chez's expression was barely visible.