Episode 181 Finals (1)
The day of the Seungmu festival dawned.
A large number of people visited the Lessian Empire to enjoy the festival.
The pleasantly lively market was not lacking in exuding the feeling of a festival.
Besides, today was the day the Seungmu Festival was held, and at the same time, it was also the day that Ray went to the finals for the first time.
In this Seungmu system, the winner was not determined only by one-on-one fighting, but before each won three victories, one-on-one sparring was held, and during the later four games, a five-on-five team match was held with the assigned team.
That’s why it’s a competition that you can’t win just because you have good skills.
Judging from what Princess Celia said about the importance of linkage and communication with the team, it seems like she was right.
Ray smiled as he looked at the crowd of people entering the stage and the cheering audience.
Slowly the time has come.
Now, not a single one of those without skills was left here.
Only those who have passed the preliminaries.
That’s why there was a heart that was looking forward to what kind of fight will happen.
I remember competing against Duke Zahard during the war in the Holy Land, but I was trying to use it as a stepping stone for growth, and I had no desire to enjoy it anywhere.
Unlike then, now it is a competition and a festival, so even if you enjoy the dance, no one will say anything.
Ray came out of the small dome and walked towards the empty stage.
The emperor was also sitting in the VIP seat and watching the participation of the saint from the first round.
To others, it seemed odd.
“To hear that His Majesty is watching the match…”
“Isn’t it the first time you’ve watched the first round?”
Every time a buzz was heard from the spectator seats, tension increased among those on the non-stage.
It is a place where the emperor watches over.
It was not to appear ugly.
Contrary to their thoughts, however, the emperor has no interest in whether they look ugly or flashy.
His gaze did not leave, as if a nail had been driven into Ray alone.
Judges from each non-stage raised their hands.
“Every stage, prepare a dance!”
With that said, several participants checked their weapons and warmed up lightly to prepare for the fight.
Ray, of course, stood crookedly and just watched it.
The other person frowned slightly and said.
“You’re not even preparing properly while dealing with me… are you looking down on me?”
“Ah, it’s just that I loosened my body in the morning and didn’t have to loosen it again. Never mind.”
He was surrounded by strong excuses.
The opponent also nodded obediently.
“Right. I guess I was sensitive. I hope it will be a good dance for each other today.”
“It is the same.”
After a brief conversation, the referee raised his hand again.
“If I see a fatal blow or a blow intended to kill the opponent, I will immediately disqualify!”
Everyone nodded and he looked at the chief for a moment.
When the referee gave the sign to start the tournament, the judges from each non-stage gave the sign again.
“I will start the swordsmanship finals of the Seungmu Festival!”
At the same time as the referee’s words were heard, the sound of weapons began to echo around.
Caan-! Chaeeng-!
Using that as a signal, the other side hit first and came in.
Ray currently has no sword.
So, the only thing he had in his hand was the dryad’s dark red twig.
Of course, this branch is as hard as a mad dryad’s head.
If it was a normal aura, it was possible to endure it.
As I lightly deflected the opponent’s horizontal slash with a branch, the opponent’s eyes narrowed again.
“Twigs… You’re looking at me funny!”
It would be misleading in many ways to say that he was using a tree branch because he didn’t have a sword.
Ray didn’t even feel the need to explain.
The sword tax became more and more fierce.
He probably received it firmly even when he was hot.
Ray smiled happily.
How long has it been since such a leisurely dance? It was a truly secluded and enjoyable moment for Ray, who had only memories of running around to deal with wars like crazy all the time.
However, the opponent did not think so.
Although it wasn’t his full strength, he thought he was attacking, but the opponent was so strong that he let go of all the attacks as if it were not a big deal and blocked them, and cold sweat dripped down his back.
‘Where did this monster…!’
It’s too early to take out the aura yet.
Besides, if you look good, the opponent was on the defensive.
If it seems difficult to turn into an offensive, if it continues to run like this and lures it into a wasteland, it will surely be caught.
That’s how I’ve been winning so far.
The idea was obvious to Ray.
‘He’s acting too revealing.’
Ray, who had penetrated the opponent’s intentions, naturally switched to the offensive like water flowing in an instant.
When the sword and the twig collided and bounced off, the twig stabbed with amazing timing, and the opponent gasped and turned around.
“Huh!”
Thanks to that, I was able to barely avoid the branches.
He is visibly taken aback by the sudden attack.
To put it mildly, it is only a branch.
Even if you were stabbed by it, if you were protecting your body with mana, it wouldn’t tickle you.
However, the tree branch that had just stabbed him was extraordinary in its power.
Does it feel like the air is rotating and flowing around the branches?
It was fast and filthy fast, but the power itself was so enormous that I wondered if it was a tree branch.
Ray grinned as he retrieved the branch.
“Aren’t you the one who laughed at me rather?”
“…”
That was right.
Deeply on the defensive, I concluded that with that skill, I would never be able to switch to the offensive.
It’s all their own mistakes.
He said, raising his sweaty hair for an instant.
“…admit it. From now on, I will go with my own power, so be prepared.”
“I will expect.”
At the end of the conversation, the new model of the man was thrown out like a bow.
Ray, who saw this, let out a small admiration.
‘I don’t know who the teacher is, but he learned it very well.’
If you watch how your feet move, you can really feel it.
A haze roared from the opponent’s sword for an instant.
It must have been pulled out of the aura.
With that acceleration, the man immediately lowered Ray’s side.
He’s not the kind of person who would allow one blow easily.
As I put my strength into the tree branch and struck the man’s sword as it came in, a loud roar filled the unarmed area.
Kwaaaang-!
An explosion sounded as if unarmed had just exploded.
Then all the eyes of the spectators were focused on their unarmed.
Surprisingly, the man did not let go of the sword.
Ray was convinced when he saw it.
After all, he must have learned systematic swordsmanship.
In the case of wandering swordsmen and mercenaries, it is common for them to let go of their swords after receiving such a strong blow, as they learn swordsmanship that has been strengthened through actual combat experience.
However, the man only added strength to the hand holding the handle, as if the sword was tied to his hand.
Of course, it wasn’t without damage.
He hurriedly raised his mana to protect himself, but his hand was still tingling after being bounced off by the anti-elastic force.
Without losing his momentum, the man again aimed at Ray’s wrist.
The figure of stabbing with one hand behind and holding the sword with the other hand was somewhat similar to that of fencing.
Thanks to that, it was possible to attack with sufficient acceleration and specialized in stabbing.
Ray also slashed that stab by lowering his sword.
Kwaaaang-!
The same explosion as before erupted.
The man swallowed his saliva at the tremendous rebound that he felt in his hand again.
“Geuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…!”
He glared at Ray.
What kind of swordsmanship is it that I can’t even see the way?
Besides, what kind of madman would block a sword with an aura on it with a single twig!
Seeing that absurd appearance, other judges on the stage also glanced at Lay and the man’s sword.
All the auras are blocked by a single tree branch that looks ugly.
That is not enough, the branches are intact, not broken or cut.
‘I’ll have to finish it soon. It seems that the others are also finished.’
At the same time as that thought, Ray’s new form was scattered.
When he learned by watching Hongyoung and avoided the elves in the Grencia Mountains, his skill in stealth was revealed.
Even though it’s right in front of you, you can’t feel any presence at all, so it can be said to be bizarre enough.
The man looked around and tried to catch his figure, but soon surrendered when a tree branch that was more dangerous than a hideous weapon touched his neck.
“…I lost.”
Can not help it.
The skill gap is too great.
I am very curious about what kind of qualities he had that allowed him to acquire this level of skill at such a young age.
‘You must have been able to reach that level because of the bloody effort and repeated training… I admit it.’
He smiled and watched the young man as he removed the branch from his neck.
Of course, if he knew how strong Ray became, the man would spit out the swear words to the sky.
He made Mana Road according to his own theory, sparred with Ale whenever he had time when he was young, and took Duke Zahard’s swordsmanship as a base and improved it into his own.
To others, making the Mana Road according to the theory was crazy, but the man who had no way to know it smiled on his face and asked for a handshake.
“It was a good dance. It gives me an opportunity to look back on myself.”
“I’m so glad you did.”
“If there is a chance next time, I hope we can meet again.”
“If fate touches, we will meet someday.”
I don’t need a man’s attention.
The answer came naturally to him.
The spectators couldn’t even cheer for the match, which had no way to express it.
In particular, the stealth at the end was astonishing.
Just as it is natural to see stones rolling on the road, his presence itself has faded, and I did not recognize him even though he was in front of me.
Will your main job be an Assassin? All the eyes of the spectators were fixed on Ray.
Soyoung watched it from afar and smiled.
She conveyed her intention to Heukyoung with a hand signal.
– Hongyoung will like it when she sees it. Didn’t you take away Hongyoung’s stealth technique?
– …For a moment, I felt like I was looking at Hongyoung.
– No wonder. Because that’s just copying.
– He is indeed a saint. To be able to use it just by looking at it…
– Originally, you shouldn’t see a saint the same as other people. It’s just that our heads hurt.
– …understood.
The two looked at Ray standing on the non-stage while exchanging hand signals quietly.
