Chapter 146, Where One Belongs (5)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

A sword made by a melting down meteorite.

 

A dark-colored sword that reflects no light at all due to the uniqueness of its material.

 

*Kwang! Kagagang! *

 

And a silver sword that sparkled so brightly it could reflect every strand of hair of the one facing it.

 

If Plants’ sword contained the night, then Dmirea’s sword seemed to contain the midday sun.

 

If one were to find a commonality between these two completely different swords, it would have to be their weight. Both were heavy swords completely different from Kalian’s.

 

So Kalian was thinking that Count Aizen Aprin, who would be diligently training Knights at this very moment, would probably also use heavy-weight swordsmanship.

 

[Since the origin of Cyries swordsmanship is Siegfried…]

 

Among the few Knight Families in Cyries with deep-rooted histories, their distinct styles of swordsmanship could ultimately be identified by whether their technique leaned slightly heavier or lighter than Sleiman’s.

 

*Kagagagang! Kaaang!*

 

That was why the sound of the swords of Siegfried and Beurisen, referred to as Cyries’ Two Knight Order Families, clashing was so clamorous.

 

Sparks flew from Plants’ sword as it parried Dmirea’s blade.

 

This was not a figurative expression meaning that the two were putting their full effort into the sparring match. Sparks literally flew. Since blades of comparable strength kept clashing, sparks scattered in all directions every time the swords met.

 

*Kaaaang! Kaang!*

 

As the swords that had collided head-on bounced apart, Dmirea used the recoil to change her body’s rotation direction and brought down her sword once more. However, it was blocked by Plants’ sword as if he had already anticipated Dmirea’s movement.

 

Thus, an exchange continued with Dmirea mainly attacking and Plants mainly defending.

 

Though the fight had not been going on for very long, Kalian could tell that Plants was currently ‘analyzing’ Dmirea’s sword.

 

Kalian shook his head disapprovingly while watching Plants use his head even while exchanging swords.

 

“I’ll have to tell him that using your head during a fight isn’t a great habit.”

 

“Prince Plants?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I don’t know about such things, but Rea seems to have improved a lot. I actually thought she’d lose right away.”

 

He had forcibly disbanded the Mages who were dawdling around Wilhelm Hall debating about some useless statue.

 

Arsene had not arrived yet, and Plants, who had been next to Kalian, was now sparring with Dmirea in the training ground.

 

Thanks to this, Ian approached and sat next to the now-alone Kalian, speaking like this. Rather than appearing as a Prince’s attendant or the eldest son of Siegfried, he looked just like any ordinary older brother talking about his younger sibling.

 

“You thought Dmirea would lose immediately to my older brother?”

 

“She’s still young, and there’s bound to be a difference in strength.”

 

Naturally, Ian also knew how to hold a sword.

 

He literally only knew how to hold one, but he knew nonetheless.

 

Therefore, Ian also understood that ‘strength’ was necessary when wielding the swords of Siegfried and Beurisen.

 

“Difference in strength… Well, I wonder about that.”

 

Kalian, who muttered this, showed a slightly smiling face.

 

It was not because he was mocking Ian’s eyes that could not properly gauge their abilities, but because Ian seemed to think of Dmirea as just his little sister, just as he saw Kalian only as the flower-like Prince.

 

Yes. Ian’s words were not wrong.

 

Kalian, who wielded Aura, was an exception, but in any case, Dmirea could be at a disadvantage compared to Plants in terms of ‘strength.’ After all, there were physical differences based on gender.

 

But so what. What does that matter here? This was Dmirea. Not just some fifteen-year-old girl who knew how to handle a sword somewhat, but Dmirea of Siegfried.

 

As if to tell such differences to go to hell, each of Dmirea’s sword strikes was fierce and heavy. If Kalian had focused his light body and sword on achieving near-extreme speed, Dmirea converted the power generated from speed made faster by lightness back into weight.

 

Therefore, Dmirea’s sword was sufficiently strong.

 

*Kwang! Kaaang!*

 

The two swords collided head-on once more in what could be called a crash. Dmirea gripped her sword tighter, trying to control the blade that had bounced back.

 

In that moment, Plants’ sword delivered a quite decent strike. After extending with a sound of tearing air, it precisely penetrated the gap while Dmirea was returning her sword.

 

“Ah.”

 

Ian made a short sound upon seeing this.

 

As if to confirm he was indeed of the Elephant bloodline, Ian also saw the moment when an attack was delivered to Dmirea. Because of this, Kalian looked at Ian for a very brief moment with a rather surprised face. It meant Ian had eyes good enough to follow the moment when Dmirea showed an opening and Plants’ sword struck.

 

Yet he was treating Kalian like a freshly baked porcelain doll, so Kalian had an expression that said, ‘You can see such things but you worry about me?’

 

*Kagang!*

 

Seeing the sword tip rushing toward the space between her arm and neck, Dmirea twisted her sword handle to block Plants’ strike. And then,

 

*Kaaang! Kaang! Kang!*

 

She poured out three consecutive attacks like flowing water.

 

A completely different direction from the attack pattern she had shown Plants until just before, completely different rotational force, completely different power.

 

Though this attack was also blocked, Kalian clearly saw Plants’ brow furrow. It seemed he had noticed that Dmirea had changed her attack method after realizing he was examining her sword.

 

It conveyed the meaning not to judge Siegfried’s sword with one’s head.

 

“Do you still look like she’ll lose?”

 

Kalian asked with a satisfied smile.

 

Dmirea was a beast of prey.

 

Dmirea with a sword was a beast of prey that moved meticulously and bit throats mercilessly, standing in absolute superiority of strength.

 

Plants, who had withstood the fierce onslaught of attacks from such a Dmirea, also changed his attitude.

 

Like that time when he had faced Kalian, like a wolf facing a beast of prey that was suffocating him.

 

Plants, with eyes containing both fierceness and composure, gripped his sword tighter. An exchange continued of blocking, striking down, and turning to thrust back at the sword extending from Dmirea.

 

“Now, it looks like Rea will win.”

 

At Ian’s answer, Kalian, who had been watching their fight with interested eyes, smiled. If Plants had just eaten a little better, Kalian probably would have had similar thoughts. That Dmirea ‘looked like she would’ win.

 

Wasn’t Kalian the one who had correctly predicted all outcomes at the gambling house where he went to save Kyrie? This time was no different. When the two first crossed swords, the outcome was already decided in Kalian’s mind. He had seen Plants’ sword tip being pushed back minutely.

 

“Dmirea will definitely win. My older brother isn’t a match for Dmirea yet.”

 

Dmirea might not know, but Plants himself would have felt that he could not win. That was probably why he tried to use his head more.

 

*Kaaang!*

 

With a heavy yet sharp roar, the two swords collided head-on for the third time. Since strength met strength, the sound was like thunder splitting the clear sky.

 

“I should have called Kyrie. He’d be very disappointed to know he missed such a good show.”

 

Before coming here, Kalian had found Kyrie first and told him to just focus on training without worrying, as he would be doing something at Wilhelm Hall. Knowing it was not related to Kalian’s safety, the straightforward Kyrie would be doing his own work regardless of whether killing intent was emanating or not.

 

“By the way, Rea said she wanted to spar with Your Highness.”

 

Like this, Ian, who had arrived at Wilhelm later than Dmirea, asked a question that was not quite a question. It was Ian who had informed her that Kalian would be here since she said she wanted to try sparring with Kalian.

 

Kalian shook his head.

 

“I can’t today.”

 

Since it was difficult to give other explanations, Kalian just said this and smiled.

 

No matter who the opponent was, he had no intention of drawing his sword today.

 

This was because he had gotten angry enough to almost become ‘Bern’ just a little while ago, so he was worried he might cause the same incident as with Kyrie. He was concerned that he might not be able to distinguish between sparring and real combat, even if only by the slightest chance.

 

“Then shall I bring you some warm tea? It would help you feel a bit more settled.”

 

Ian asked this with a worried face. Did he understand what it meant?

 

Ian was truly mysterious.

 

While being as oblivious as anyone in the world, he read Kalian’s moods almost perfectly.

 

It was the same when he learned about Kalian’s dislike of coffee. Though Kalian had not shown anything, after bringing coffee just once, Ian never brought coffee again.

 

Kalian, who had been looking at such an Ian for a moment, nodded.

 

“I want honey tea with lemon.”

 

“Yes, I’ll bring it right away.”

 

Though Dmirea and Plants’ exchange was continuing, what needed more immediate concern was not their sparring. It seemed like Dmirea would not get hurt or lose.

 

Because of this, Ian stood up without regret and entered Wilhelm Hall’s building to prepare tea.

 

Kalian, who had been staring blankly at Ian’s retreating figure, turned his head toward the training ground again.

 

*Kagagagang! Kaang!*

 

Plants’ breathing could be seen becoming somewhat labored.

 

Dmirea’s face, who had entered the sparring match still wearing her black jacket that might be uncomfortable, had not changed much.

 

Soon Dmirea raised her sword and struck down vertically. The sunlight reflected on the mirror-like blade was dazzling. As if rejecting that glitter, Plants raised his sword. The blade that contained the dark night sky blocked Dmirea’s attack.

 

*Kaaang! Kagang! Kagang! Kang!*

 

And Plants’ counterattack followed.

 

After parrying as if pushing away the sword tip, he rotated his body in the direction the force extended. Rapid consecutive attacks targeting vital points. Watching this display that made it seem as if the sword was splitting into multiple branches, Kalian showed a surprised face once more.

 

This time it was because of Plants, not Ian.

 

“That… is mine.”

 

That was definitely an attack Kalian had shown just once when facing Plants before.

 

“Older brother learned more than I expected.”

 

Kalian chuckled, muttering toward his clever older brother who had learned even things he had not been taught. He had a feeling that teaching Plants would not take as long as he had thought.

 

Dmirea, who could not know of Kalian’s reaction, deployed wide sword strikes to block Plants’ attack.

 

*Shiiik!*

 

Soon Dmirea’s sword made its final air-cutting sound. Plants’ sword blocked its path, and the silver sword, carrying an attack with all its strength and weight, sent the dark sword flying far away.

 

*Kaaang!*

 

*Chaenggang!*

 

The sword that flew several meters clattered to the training ground floor, making the training ground ring once more. Plants did not look toward where the sword had flown. He looked in turn at the tip of Dmirea’s sword that had stopped precisely in front of his heart, the steady hand that supported the heavy sword despite having sparred with it, and the equally firm bluish gray eyes.

 

“I lost.”

 

And like this, he acknowledged his defeat.

 

Dmirea sheathed her sword. With skillful hand movements, Dmirea put away her sword and bowed her head slightly.

 

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness.”

 

Then she picked up the fallen sword and offered the handle to Plants. Plants, who chuckled at the winner’s kindness, accepted it. Plants, who lightly examined the blade that remained undamaged despite being handled so roughly, put the sword in its sheath.

 

Dmirea, who had been watching this, spoke.

 

“It’s a very good sword.”

 

If Kalian had heard this, he probably would have made an apologetic face. Another sword made of the same material that he had given to Kyrie. In the past, it seemed that sword’s original owner had been Dmirea.

 

Plants nodded slightly and replied.

 

“As good as it is heavy.”

 

It was a sword Kalian had given as payment for keeping his secrets.

 

Was this not ultimately what was binding Plants’ feet, who had no attachment to life, to the ground? So, it was also a sword that felt heavier to Plants than anything else.

 

Dmirea, who had taken off her jacket and draped it over her arm due to the heat, answered.

 

“It’s an object that divides the path between life and death. How could it not be heavy?”

 

They were different reasons.

 

But they ultimately reached the same conclusion. Plants, and Dmirea too. There would be no one who did not find the sword in their hand heavy.

 

Of course, the same would be true for Kalian, who was sitting far from them sipping honey tea.

 

“Ah, it’s tangerine.”

 

“It seems you’ve come to prefer tangerine over lemon.”

 

“Yeah. I like it.”

 

[How does Ian know this!?]

 

The scent of honey tea filled with tangerines instead of lemon was sweet. In that fragrance, Kalian, who lived holding the heaviest sword, smiled together with Ian as they faced each other.