Chapter 121, Don’t Touch (11)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Hina smiled.

 

She smiled brightly while making hand signs she had never shown before. It was probably a curse word.

 

When asked what it meant, Kyrie avoided Kalian’s eyes. So, Kalian just memorized Hina’s hand gestures.

 

[I should ask Dmirea.]

 

Dmirea would tell him what it meant, whether it was a curse or not.

 

Anyway, it definitely was not something good.

 

Even Kalian himself thought that this was not a situation where they should sing praises.

 

He barely survived, then went out on the fifth day with his body not fully healed. He thought it would be fine since Allan was going with him, but they moved separately. So he collapsed again, coughing up blood. While resting briefly after he healed up a bit, he went up to the fourth floor on his own and ate all those sour tangerines with his still unhealed stomach.

 

It would have been fortunate if it had ended there.

 

The Prince’s cat also listens better than the Prince himself.

 

As soon as his conversation with Plants ended, Kalian went to the training ground. Even when he should have been lying down for a full week, he just would not stay still.

 

Eventually, Hina caught him at the training ground and scolded him. Because neither Syspanian’s Blessing nor Hina’s healing could replenish the blood he lacked.

 

‘Brother is bad too. You should have stopped him.’

 

Kyrie also got scolded.

 

Since Ian had temporarily gone back to his family home, Kyrie should have stopped Kalian, but instead he was at the training ground together. Naturally, he too deserved a scolding.

 

“Don’t worry. This time I really won’t overdo it. I’ll just watch Kyrie train a little and go back.”

 

‘Then, if you get hurt again, I won’t heal you. I’ll Just watch.’

 

Hina said this with a stern face that did not suit her.

 

Eventually, Kalian burst into laughter. After getting injured several times, everyone had become like Ian. Not only Rmain, but Allan and Hina too.

 

“Thank you, but Hina. Ian’s worry is enough. So stop worrying and go inside. You’ll catch a cold.”

 

‘Who is worrying about whom now?’

 

Kalian seemed to think Hina would catch a cold just by coming outside.

 

Hina nodded as if she had no choice, then looked at Kalian with distrustful eyes as he worried about her instead, and turned to go back. Watching Hina walk away, Kyrie quietly asked.

 

“Are you really alright? You seem to be in a difficult state to move.”

 

Kalian had told Hina not to worry, but was he someone who would obediently stay still? If he were, he would not have come to the training ground in the first place.

 

As if Kyrie’s thoughts were correct, Kalian, who was smiling at Kyrie, had a sword in his hand.

 

“No matter what, think I can’t handle even one of you?”

 

Then, he provoked Kyrie with these rather painful words.

 

Kyrie smiled slightly and raised his black sword, striking directly at Kalian. Kalian also quickly raised his arm to block it.

 

*Clang!*

 

Even after hearing such condescending words, Kyrie did not feel offended because he knew it was said out of concern that he might not fight properly due to worry about Kalian’s condition. Therefore, Kyrie moved his sword with all his might.

 

Kalian, who was receiving and deflecting the sword with a relaxed face, was careful not to let his surprised expression show.

 

[He’s gotten much stronger than I thought.]

 

Being absorbed in his own swordsmanship, Magic, and surrounding situations, he had not been able to watch over Kyrie for quite some time. Kyrie had grown at an incredible pace during that time.

 

*Clang! Clang! Claaang!*

 

Kalian’s sword, having defended against continuous attacks, shot out toward Kyrie’s heart. Kyrie, who blocked it without difficulty, attacked again.

 

A feeling of joy arose.

 

Kyrie was definitely a hardworking genius.

 

[Maybe I worried for nothing?]

 

On the day of the attack, from Warriors of the Great Dunes, he had intended to look at Kyrie’s progress after meeting Euria and returning to the Palace. It was because he had felt that Kyrie was facing a ‘wall’ on the day he sat in front of the training ground talking with Plants.

 

Just as a Mage gains enlightenment to complete their next Circle, there were times when swordsmen need to overcome their own limits and grow to the next stage. Kyrie was going through exactly that period now.

 

However, if Kyrie had diligently practiced the swordsmanship Kalian taught him until now, this meant that Kalian just had to watch. After all, enlightenment was a path one had to realise on their own.

 

Thinking he should help Kyrie a little, things just got more complicated.

 

*Clang! Claaang!*

 

Sharp metallic sounds continuously shook the entire training ground. Most of the attacks were made by Kyrie, and Kalian occasionally counterattacked while observing Kyrie’s reactions.

 

“Slow.”

 

And he continued to pressure Kyrie with such words to assess his limits.

 

Kyrie’s movements became faster without end.

 

Each time, Kalian received them with a face that seemed to find it nothing special.

 

At this level, even if clashing swords with Sleiman’s Knight, Yuran, the outcome would be uncertain. Just as Kalian was having such thoughts, Kyrie’s sword shot out aiming for Kalian’s brow.

 

It was not an attack method Kalian had taught him.

 

Kalian’s mouth drew a long arc.

 

*Clang!*

 

Kalian, having blocked it, disappeared from Kyrie’s sight. Kyrie immediately withdrew his extended sword and instinctively lowered his upper body.

 

*Swish!*

 

Kalian’s sword passed through where Kyrie’s head had been just moments before. Feeling this, Kyrie turned his body and heard the very faint sound of Kalian’s feet scraping the floor.

 

Kyrie did not hesitate.

 

He immediately thrust his sword toward where the sound came from.

 

“I told you.”

 

And Kalian’s voice flowed from another place.

 

“You’re slow.”

 

A truly tremendous speed.

 

Could this really be the same person who had walked here looking like he was about to collapse?

 

Kyrie, having withdrawn his extended sword once more, kicked off the floor. Along with that, Kyrie’s figure also disappeared.

 

*Claaang! Clang! Clang!*

 

Blurred shadows intertwined and clashed once more. Kyrie, confident that Kalian would never be caught by his attacks, handled his sword with all his strength.

 

After dozens of such exchanges came and went.

 

*Whiiing…*

 

Kyrie’s eyes sank.

 

He felt as if he had entered a space where only Kalian and Kyrie existed, not the training ground. Kyrie fell deeply into that alien feeling he had never experienced before.

 

And at the same time, tremendous change came.

 

Kalian’s movements began to be visible. The sound of his feet touching the ground could be heard clearly. He became able to predict where Kalian would move.

 

He did not know the reason. He just came to know.

 

*Swooosh!*

 

There was no time to hesitate.

 

Since he knew, he would just attack.

 

A sharp sound of cutting air split the atmosphere. Kyrie’s sword shot out with the momentum to pierce Kalian’s heart at any moment.

 

And Kalian,

 

[Shield]

 

was a little mean as always.

 

* * *

 

A shield made of Aura would be threatening in itself.

 

Kalian’s shield seemed ready to shatter Kyrie’s sword at any moment. Of course, since Kalian’s will did not want that to happen, such a thing did not occur.

 

Strangely, it was a shield with the momentum to shatter anything.

 

What a contradictory power, when it should just be used to protect.

 

From within the shield that looked like shattered glass pieces gathered together, Kalian grinned.

 

“Sorry. I thought I was going to die.”

 

Then, he made an excuse.

 

Kyrie, who had been looking at the tip of his sword stopped exactly in front of Kalian’s heart, blocked by the shield, looked bewildered. It was because he could not properly understand what had happened. Seeing this, Kalian smiled like he was looking at a precious grandchild and said.

 

“I lost.”

 

Even after hearing those words, Kyrie stood still for a while.

 

Only after quite some time had passed did he realize.

 

[I won… I won. I beat His Highness!]

 

There was no miracle of suddenly understanding the principles of the sword or manifesting Aura. That would truly be close to a miracle. Kyrie was not someone who believed in such things.

 

Now, Kyrie has learned how to expand his senses.

 

It was different from fighting using excellent hearing. It was the ability to feel and synchronize with others’ energy, exchanging swords in a state where only the opponent and oneself existed.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Though his voice did not show great joy, Kalian smiled while looking at Kyrie’s face. How could he fail to read the hidden ecstatic smile in that face?

 

[Perhaps in this life, Kyrie too might be able to walk the path of the sword.]

 

Such a thought suddenly occurred to him.

 

With such a pleased feeling, Kalian’s step as he took one step forward swayed.

 

Seeing Kyrie rushing to support him in surprise, Kalian smiled.

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

Kyrie let out a low sigh.

 

Since Chase came, while his insides were rotting away, he had been comforting Ian, lightening Plants’ burden, worrying about Hina, and now even caring for Kyrie. Wondering how to overcome that stubbornness, Kyrie had drawn his sword and responded to the sparring. However, seeing the Third Price unable to walk properly right now made him feel resentful.

 

After all, he would not say it hurt even if he was about to die.

 

He did not know the reason, but still, wouldn’t it be okay to say it just once?

 

That he was having too hard a time right now, so postpone all other matters a little.

 

Coming in this state and helping, did he think others would merely be grateful? Wouldn’t they only feel sorry instead?

 

Instead of saying such things, Kyrie just bowed his head. It meant he would be rude for a moment.

 

“I will escort you.”

 

Since asking if he could walk would be useless, Kyrie just said this in a calm tone. And he simply picked up and carried Kalian on his back. It did not look like Kalian could walk on his own anyway.

 

Surprisingly, Kalian obediently let himself be carried on Kyrie’s back. Then, resting his head on that back, he spoke with a voice full of laughter.

 

“Ah, it’s been a long time.”

 

He was definitely smiling, but the end of those words was painful.

 

Kyrie, who understood what those words might be about, briefly asked.

 

“Have I ever carried you before?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian nodded. Words that should not come from a fifteen-year-old’s mouth followed.

 

“When I was drunk, which is a lot.”

 

Kyrie.

 

Was he not the only thread to the past that Kalian could hold onto with peace of mind?

 

“Did you like alcohol?”

 

“You liked it more than I did.”

 

The feeling was quite strange. Even though it was about the past, it was not Kyrie’s past, so how should he accept this?

 

While having such thoughts, Kalian opened his mouth with a drowsy voice.

 

“Actually, I haven’t fully recovered. Moving isn’t going as I want either.”

 

“I know.”

 

“So, work harder. I won’t lose next time.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kyrie, who answered so, chuckled.

 

Whatever happened in the past, Kyrie just needed to listen. Whenever such weak sounds came out like this, he just needed to nod. Was this difficult for him, who could currently only do this much?

 

Thanks to Siegfried, Randel would stay quiet for a while, and since they had warned Tansyll as punishment for Randel, they would not do foolish things such as sending their Holy Knights again. Beurisen was also being blocked, with Plants standing guard. The mysterious attackers had also withdrawn for now.

 

“Don’t worry and rest.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

‘So, for now, Your Highness, just put everything down and rest.’ That was not what Kyrie said, but that was how it was understood.