The news that I was going to fight the captain spread in an instant.
"Really? You're going to fight Guston?"
"Big Brother, are you serious?"
I nodded my head with confidence.
"Of course. Now that I'm finally on par with the Eight Sword Masters, what is there to be afraid of?"
"Ooooh!"
"His confidence is amazing!"
"Let's go watch!"
"Didn't you say you were going on a commission?"
"Is a commission the problem right now?"
There were also those who were worried about .
"Captain. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Ashuban... Ah, no matter how much it's you, the captain is..."
"That Guston? The terrifying monster who defeated a legendary S-rank magical beast single-handedly!"
"You, are you confident enough?"
I nodded my head coolly.
"Of course. I'm more than confident. I know full well who I'm up against. I know better than anyone how strong that monster is."
"And you're still going to fight him?"
"Of course. If you want to see a pleasant rebellion, you can follow ."
"Ooooh!"
The guys dropped everything they were doing and followed .
"D-don't get hurt and co back!"
Except for the housekeeper, Mary.
Mary decided to guard the hideout as always.
"Huhu, this will be fun to watch."
Even the lazy Miho, who had been sleeping, ca along, so what more was there to say?
"Hahaha! The Half-Sword Ashuban is coming!"
I led the Sherwood mbers like a vanguard of war and headed to the mountain village on the eastern outskirts, Salos Village.
Ah, the ti has finally co.
The ti to defeat the forr captain of the Sherwood rcenary Corps and proudly inherit the blood-stained succession!
How long have I been waiting for this day!
Starting from the mont I fell from the cliff, the ti I was cutting down the demons who were after the dagger, the ti I was clashing swords with the knights of Blake, the monts I returned to Maia and cut down the magical beasts, all flashed before my eyes.
[Are you confident?]
"It would be a lie to say I'm not."
The Heavenly Demon laughed.
[So you're saying you're confident.]
"Of course."
And so, I led the boisterous and unruly spectators to Salos Village.
The villagers' eyes widened at the sudden arrival of the various guests, but we ignored them and went straight to Guston's restaurant.
And then, I shouted a declaration of war.
"Guston of the Greatsword, who is famous for his dirty beard, co out at once and receive my sword!!!"
A mont later, a window opened on the second floor, and the Red Witch poked her head out.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, Big Sister. Hello. Good morning."
I bowed my head and greeted her politely.
Scarlet looked at and the spectators standing behind blankly.
The guys greeted Scarlet in their own ways, waving their hands or bowing their heads.
"Big Sister! Have you been well!"
"Big Sister, it's been a while!"
"Red Big Sister! Hello, hello!"
Scarlet blinked her slightly widened eyes and then raised her hand to return their greetings.
And then.
"Oh my? Viola is here too?"
Viola, for so reason, hid behind like a shy girl and waved her hand slightly.
Seeing that, Scarlet smiled warmly.
But I didn't have ti to exchange pleasantries.
Because I had built up a lot of fighting spirit on the way here.
It would be a truly boring thing if the fighting spirit I had built up so hard cooled down in this warm atmosphere.
Therefore, I inevitably cut off the conversation with a vigorous voice.
"Big Sister! Is the captain inside!"
Scarlet's gaze, which had been on Viola, turned to .
"He is."
"I'm sure I told him to wait with his neck clean. Was he scrubbing it hard?"
Scarlet looked behind her and then said with a chuckle.
"It seems so."
A mont later.
Thump!
Guston ca out with his trademark black greatsword on his shoulder.
He grinned at .
"Hey, kid. You've got so nerve. You dare to challenge ?"
I also raised the corner of my mouth.
"Why? Are you scared?"
Guston's smile deepened.
"It seems like only yesterday that you were cowering like a loser in a back alley, sniffling. You've grown up."
"Don't ntion it. I ca all this way to kick your ass. If you realize the difference in our strength and obediently kneel and beg for forgiveness, I'll let you off with just one ass cheek."
Guston scratched his butt.
"My ass?"
"That's right. I ca all this way just for your dirty ass."
The Heavenly Demon sighed.
[That damn ass.]
Screech—
I drew the Ash Bud Sword.
The beautiful silver-gray wave pattern glittered in the sunlight.
I pointed the sharp tip of the sword at Guston and challenged him.
"You. Follow to the forest."
—Wooooo!
At the cheers of the spectators, Guston's smile deepened even more.
* * *
In a forest far from the village.
I stopped after getting far enough away from the village.
Here, there was no worry of innocent victims getting caught up.
Because if I went a little further from here, the Misty Cliff where I had fallen would appear.
"Who's going to win?"
"Hmm... no matter how much it's Ashuban, I don't think he can beat the captain."
"Hey, how disrespectful. Our captain is our little brother now. I'll bet 30 silver on our little brother."
"You cheapskate. Just 50 silver? The bet starts at 1 gold! I'll bet 3 gold on Guston!"
"What?"
"Mmm... I'll also bet 2 gold on Guston."
"I'll bet 5 gold. Of course, on Guston."
"I'll bet a thousand gold that the devil wins!"
"You fool, what are you doing when you don't even have a hundred gold."
"Oh, then 10 gold...?"
"I-I'll bet 10 silver that Ashuban wins..."
"Hey, crybaby. The bet starts at 1 gold."
"I don't have any money... can you lend so?"
"I'll lend you! How much do you need?"
"Uh... then just about 1 gold..."
"Hey, what's with the stingy 1 gold? I'll lend you 5 gold, so win and pay back!"
"Ah...!"
No, now that I see it, Boris was running a private loan business.
When did that guy follow us?
Anyway, these spectators, no, gamblers, were guys who could take care of themselves, so there was no need to worry.
I turned around and looked at Guston, who was slouching behind with a huge black greatsword on his shoulder.
"Are you ready to get beaten up?"
"I'm ready to instill so manners into a conceited kid."
Just then, a low voice was heard from among the guys who were betting.
"1 gold that Ashuban wins."
My head and Guston's head turned at the sa ti.
Scarlet was putting a gold coin into the basket where the bets were being placed, with a strange smile.
Clink—
The clear sound of the coin hitting was very pleasant to hear.
But, it seed it wasn't for Guston.
His dumbfounded expression, as if he had been betrayed unexpectedly, was a masterpiece.
I said, with a sneer, to provoke him.
"Look, you beast. Even Big Sister believes in ."
Guston said, trying to act as if nothing was wrong.
"She's just cheering for you so you don't get hurt."
"Is that really so? Only Big Sister knows the truth."
As my gaze and the captain's gaze clashed fiercely, the cheers of the guys poured out.
It seed they were each cheering for the side they had bet on.
"Win, Captain! Show that conceited bastard who the real captain is!"
"Hahaha! Don't go easy on him, break him in the beginning!"
"Show him the power of an old man!"
"I'm sorry for Ashuban, but the result is obvious. He's behind in both strength and experience."
"I wonder if he'll last about 5 minutes."
It seed that most of them had bet on Guston.
I made a ntal note of all the guys who were cheering for Guston.
"Big Brother! Do your best!"
"Devil! I bet 10 gold on you! I did good, right!"
"You, the initial attack is important! Guston has been away from the front line for a long ti, so if you push him in the beginning before he regains his senses, you have a good chance of winning!"
"Ah, Ashuban, fighting...!"
The stage and the cheering squad were ready.
Now, all that was left was to clash with all my might.
No other words were needed.
I raised the Ash Bud Sword and pointed it at Guston.
"Co on, you beast."
The captain grinned.
"Look who's talking."
We grinned from ear to ear and rushed at each other.
* * *
A black greatsword flew at .
It was a crude attack, thrown without any particular skill.
But instead of paying attention to other things, it boasted of its imnse destructive power.
BOOM!!!
The air exploded at the first clash.
The ground around us caved in with a loud roar.
A destructive power that seed it would break my wrist if I wasn't careful.
At that one blow.
I realized that Guston was also swinging with all his might, without going easy on .
'Finally.'
A smile spread across my lips.
My eyes flashed.
A thrill ran through my whole body.
It was irresistible.
'Finally!!!'
Because it ant that I had finally drawn out the true strength of this monstrous man.
Because after all the hardships, I had reached him.
'Then, it's only right that I also go all out.'
Tricks wouldn't work on this man.
I was instantly imrsed.
The sword was , and I was the sword.
The Ash Bud Sword moved as if it were a part of my body.
I forgot that I was holding a sword.
There was no sense of incongruity.
And so, I beca one with the man holding the greatsword.
Sotis sharp, sotis soft.
Sotis rough, sotis even rougher, like a storm raging.
I realized that there was a rhythm to the attack.
I stabbed, cut, dodged, deflected, kicked off the ground, stepped on the air, and brought it down with all my might.
There was no hesitation in that series of movents, and I boldly omitted unnecessary movents as if I were trimming branches.
I raised various auras, combined them, and swung them.
I entrusted my body to my instincts and senses.
I truly exchanged swords in a state of self-forgetfulness.
Battle is an art of a fleeting mont.
I drew the most brilliant picture.
And then, when I ca to my senses, the forest that had been thick with trees had beco a wide clearing.
"..."
A mont of silence passed.
I caught my breath and glared at Guston, and Guston also heaved his shoulders, holding his crude black greatsword.
I opened my mouth and revealed my inner thoughts.
"You beast. I know you won't even bat an eye at sothing clumsy."
Guston looked at without a word.
"I'm going all out. Don't make any excuses about being careless later, and get in your stance."
At that, Guston raised his greatsword diagonally.
A solid, refined black aura filled his greatsword.
"Co."
In that one word, I could read his sincerity.
Thump!
I shot up into the air in an instant with the Black Immortal Steps.
At the sa ti, I scattered a sword energy mixed with moonlight and ice art towards the sky.
Moonflower Sword, Second Form. Moonflower Blizzard.
The sword energy that hit the sky turned into snow and scattered.
While the sharp snow, filled with a cold chill, was falling lightly.
I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them.
A blood-red world unfolded before my eyes.
"Ah..."
A crazy feeling took hold of .
A smile blood on my lips.
Kyaaak! Kuaaak!
The screams of the wind brushed past my ears.
My clothes fluttered wildly.
The snowflakes that were scattering all over the sky were all blood-red, as if they were soaked in blood.
And in the middle of it, I smiled with utmost satisfaction.
"Look at this. The world was originally red."
It was unbearably enjoyable to see the expression of Guston, who was looking up from below with wide eyes, as if he were quite surprised.
I raised the red-dyed sword above my head.
The falling red snowflakes naturally wrapped around the sword, as if they were drawn by a spring breeze.
Not adding things in a complicated way, but taking them away.
Because the most beautiful things are the simplest things.
I kicked off the air.
And with the red snowflakes that were wrapped around the sword.
I fell towards Guston.
The sword that was falling like rain drew the simplest sword path.
"It's a blood-red thunderbolt, you bastard."
KWAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!!
(End of Chapter)
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