Chapter 32 - Debut Match (2)

By mutual agreement, all the miscellaneous procedures were to be omitted.

The purpose of coming to the Muwon Sword Family was the Bimu, so the plan was to take care of business and leave. Our party headed straight for the training grounds.

“Are you really confident?”

It seemed Seo Ji-won still found me rather unreliable.

“Why? Are you worried I’ll bring shame to the family?”

“In the history of our Haewon Sword Family, not once has someone from the main family lost their debut match. I am merely worried that this tradition will be broken.”

“You really have a knack for worrying about useless things.”

“I admit that your talents are outstanding. It’s also true that you’ve mastered the Haewon Sword Style to an unbelievable degree. But!”

“But what?”

“You’ve neglected your swordsmanship too much recently.”

He was rebuking me for spending too much time at the Spring of Elixir lately.

“I told you. I need to heal my body. Have you forgotten? That until recently, I was a terminally ill patient?”

At that, Seo Ji-won sighed and turned his gaze away.

He must have felt a pang of guilt for pointing out that his younger brother was trying to heal his ailing body.

“In any case, win. Today, you fight with the name of the Haewon Sword Family on the line.”

He was someone with tremendous pride in the family.

Well, having grown up receiving so much from the family, he should have at least this much loyalty.

On the stage of the training grounds, Min Ha-rin was already waiting for me.

I looked at her face as I climbed the stairs.

A youthful girl of twenty.

She had a different feel from when I saw her in the dark labyrinth.

She gave a light nod towards me as I ascended.

Even when our eyes met, and even as I approached her step by step, Min Ha-rin showed no sign of recognizing me.

“I look forward to a good match.”

Even when I greeted her.

“I look forward to a good match.”

Only a formal greeting came back, her gaze directed somewhere other than me.

So I tried talking to her one more time.

“I heard you had a tough time in the Abyss. Is your condition okay?”

At the mention of the Abyss, Min Ha-rin flinched slightly, but soon responded in a composed tone.

“It became a good opportunity for me to grow one step further.”

I didn't think this was how she usually spoke.

In any case, her growth was something I had expected.

It was common for a great experience to be followed by the reward of growth.

But its effect on today’s match would be less than a speck of dust.

Her growth would signify technical advancement from an epiphany, but no matter how high the level of her technique, it posed no threat to me.

The only thing I found burdensome was being crushed by an overwhelming difference in mana, but as seen through the ‘Mana’s Eye,’ she hadn't changed much compared to a fortnight ago.

Therefore, there were no variables I couldn't predict.

“Are you always so expressionless? Why are you so tense?”

Today, Min Ha-rin looked even more serious than when she had faced the Lycanthrope.

“I apologize. I don't want to lose focus before an important match, so I would like to remain silent until the Bimu is over.”

“Alright. Then I won’t speak to you any further.”

My intention was to ease Min Ha-rin's tension, but I thought a moderate amount of tension might be better for this type of person.

I always want my opponent to do their best and show their best self.

Because that was the way to leave no regrets for either of us.

The Bimu will now begin.

We bowed to each other once more and drew our swords.

The blade of the Reapersword reflected the sunlight from the midday sky, emitting a brilliant glow.

It was an excellent day to discuss swords.

As the Bimu began, Min Ha-rin slowly stepped, encroaching upon the stage’s territory.

I stood in place, waiting for her first move.

The battle of wits had now begun.

Swaaaak!

Her sword flew through the air, cutting the wind.

I had felt it then too, but it was the very definition of a swift sword.

I minimized my body’s movements and lightly deflected her attack.

But an immediate counterattack was impossible.

Her balance was barely broken, and it was obvious that a rash move would be met with a counter of her own.

I cautiously extended my sword towards her.

Of course, it was a feint.

For the next move, or the one after that.

Chaeeng!

Chaaaeng!

My sword always had to see two or three moves ahead.

With this body, I could only push in a decisive attack after a decent opening had been made.

Moreover, in front of so many people, I had to use only the Haewon Sword Style.

Not being able to use the swordsmanship of my past life, which was ingrained in my body, was by no means a small restriction.

But since I was facing a mere twenty-year-old prospect, I supposed I should fight with this much of a handicap.

Chaeeng!

Chaaaeng!

Thus, our exchanges continued to accumulate.

Her swordsmanship was exactly as I had grasped in the labyrinth.

A hexagonal swordsman with no particular weakness.

That’s why it was more fun to figure her out.

There was a certain charm in putting the puzzle pieces together one by one to create the picture I wanted.

Kaaang!

Blocking her vertical slash, which she put her all into, made my arm throb.

The Reapersword also trembled from the considerable impact.

But the point was that she had put her all into it. And this situation was created entirely by my calculations.

It meant that a meaningful opening had been created for the first time.

Swaaaaaa!

The Reapersword that had blocked Min Ha-rin’s sword drew a graceful curve, completely deflecting her attack, and my first counterattack shot out fiercely.

An attack executed with perfect intent and calculation had no possibility of failure.

“Hup!!”

A small gasp escaped her lips.

The tip of the sword had slightly grazed her left arm.

It wasn't a big wound, but the reaction from outside the stage was not so.

I could see murmuring sounds and surprised faces in my field of vision.

“Are you going to continue?”

Min Ha-rin nodded at my question.

I thought so.

“Then let’s start again right away.”

I took the center of the stage and leisurely observed her movements.

She was unable to attack rashly, having allowed me to land a blow.

Then, I thought I would try to pressure her now.

Just because offense and defense had switched didn't mean my strategy changed.

What I still had to aim for was to look two or three moves ahead and find an opening.

Chaeng!

Chaaeng!

In terms of compatibility, I was the worst possible opponent for her.

The technical advantages she possessed were rendered useless before me.

On the contrary, I would have had a much harder time if Min Ha-rin had mercilessly poured out her mana and gone on an all-out offensive.

Every time Min Ha-rin showed a minute opening, the trajectory of the Reapersword transformed more and more unpredictably, creating an even bigger opening.

The characteristic of the Haewon Sword Style, which imprints memories onto mana, shone brighter as the exchanges accumulated and the battle of wits lengthened.

In the end, I drove Min Ha-rin into a corner and delivered a decisive blow.

Swaaaaaa!

I glided across the stage and extended my sword, and the tip of the Reapersword soon came to a stop right next to Min Ha-rin’s neck.

As if time had stopped, she didn't move an inch, only staring into the void with unfocused eyes.

A perfect victory for me.

A moment later, Min Ha-rin shut her eyes tightly and bit her lip hard.

“I have lost.”

And then came her clean admission of defeat.

The area around the stage was colored with astonishment.

No way!

To lose so one-sidedly?

How could Ha-rin not land a single successful attack!!

Various shouts overlapped.

The shock must have been even greater because everyone had been certain of Min Ha-rin’s victory.

I patted her on the shoulder.

There was no need to blame herself or suffer at all.

She had lost not to just anyone, but to me, who had been to the pinnacle of the sword, and rather, today’s Bimu should rightly be an honor for her.

“I have learned a lot.”

Min Ha-rin had her eyes closed and looked grieved, but I hoped she had truly learned a lot.

“Losing is not something to be ashamed of. And your swordsmanship wasn't bad either.”

“……”

“And I’ll accept a Bimu again anytime, so don't be too resentful.”

“Really?”

She was finally back to the way she spoke when I saw her in the labyrinth.

Actually, I owed her a debt of sorts.

I had monopolized the quest rewards.

So, I wanted to clear that debt by giving her some serious teaching once or twice.

Before that, I had to clear the debt I owed to Han Byeong-cheol.

I took out a 500-won coin from my pocket.

It was the very same coin that old man had given me at the last family head meeting.

I walked to the edge of the training grounds' stage and stood facing him.

“As I said before, I am here to return it.”

The reason I was staging it like this was that I wanted to repay it exactly as I had received it.

Since he had thrown the coin with the intention of mocking me at that time, I also wanted to return it in the same way.

One could call it petty, but I was the type who couldn't live with debts.

Han Byeong-cheol’s expression was already stiff.

If Min Ha-rin had won the Bimu, he would have accepted such a prank in good spirits, but now he would not be in the mood to receive a mere 500 won.

Since it was already promised, he couldn't just get up and leave, so it must be driving him crazy.

How rude!!

We must make him stop immediately!

We cannot accept such a ridiculous prank!

But this wasn't just a simple prank.

Soon, everyone would know.

I compressed mana and infused it into the coin. And then.

Twuk-

I flicked it lightly.

The mana-infused coin shot forward like an arrow.

What was important from now on was to maintain continuous control over the object that had left my hand.

Since I had been practicing in my spare time, I had no great difficulty controlling that coin.

It was light, and the distance wasn't that far either.

Han Byeong-cheol made a displeased face and reached out his hand towards the flying coin.

But at that moment, something completely unexpected happened.

The coin, which had been moving in a straight line, defied the laws of physics and fell powerlessly in front of Han Byeong-cheol’s outstretched hand.

Shwwoong-

For a split second, Han Byeong-cheol’s eyes wavered.

He hurriedly lowered his hand towards the falling coin.

Taaak!

The coin barely landed in his hand.

But wasn't he just making an endlessly stern and displeased face just a moment ago?

Why go to such lengths just to catch a single coin?

Now, a few people gasped.

Those who remained silent after seeing this must have dead fish eyes.

“Heo!”

Han Byeong-cheol let out a hollow laugh, his mouth agape.

“The Bimu is over, and I've returned the money, so I shall be on my way now.”

I gave a light bow towards where Han Byeong-cheol and the Muwon Sword Family’s Head, Han Jae-gwan, were, and was about to leave the stage. But.

“Wait!”

It seemed that old man still had something to say to me.