Chapter 77 – Swordplay Tournament
When I approached the tournament’s venue, a unique ardour could be felt. Loud cheers were sometimes let out, so it seems it’s the middle of a match.
While pushing my way through the crowd, I moved to a place where the match could be seen.
The sounds of the ground being kicked and metal colliding echoes out.
At the centre of the prepared stage, two knights clashed with swords.
Let’s say the one attacking right now is Knight A, and the other is Knight B.
Knight A’s sword is cutting down onto Knight B, but Knight B jumped backwards and evaded it. However, Knight A pursued in order to strike back, this time the sword slashed upwards from below. Although Knight B’s sword received the strike, perhaps because the strike was promptly received so he couldn’t brace himself, his sword was knocked away by Knight A with a force that could kill.
At the same time, Knight A thrust his sword by Knight B’s neck and ended the match.
Cheers rose after that, and Knight A waved his hands at the crowd.
I somewhat relayed it plainly, but to be honest, I don’t think the level of the tournament was very high.
It wasn’t too surprising when I listened to the surrounding people, it appears the current match was the final match for the rookie knights. So to say, it’s matches between sons of n.o.bles ne. ‘But still, this kind of level, to be honest, wouldn’t Goblins be better?’ Was the only thing I thought. Being like that, would they be okay, I wonder…?
By the way, it seems the main match will be after this.
From a selection among the regular knights, it appears to be a tournament styled semi-finals match where the winners advance.1
It sure seems to be more interesting than the match a short while ago…
The s.p.a.ce was cleared in a short moment, and two knights appeared out of the waiting room.
Their armor has a chest and abdomen section, in addition, it appears there are simple articles covering just their arms and shins. The knights from a little while ago had mail armor? It’s called chainmail, was it? That was what they wore, but it appears the knights this time only had sections covered. Could this also be the difference in ability, I wonder? Their weapon was a one-handed straight-tempered sword.
The two faced each other at the centre of the stage. After they both placed their swords against each other, they separated.
Perhaps the spectators are also nervous, they gave off a tense atmosphere.
「Begin!」
At the signal of the referee, the knight on one side instantly came forwards. For convenience, I’ll treat him as Knight A as well.
giin!
The sound of striking metal echoed through the venue.
He placed his weight into his strike with the momentum of his charge, but Knight B received it with the base of his sword.
As expected, they are different from the knights before, their movements and power are completely different.
They had their swords locked for a short while, but Knight B shifted his body and withdrew his strength. As if pulled in by that, Knight A’s posture, by just a little, collapsed.
As though he was carefully aiming for that, Knight B struck down with an overhead strike.
gagiin!
Somehow, by that method, Knight A’s posture collapsed from defending that slash. At this rate, whether he can endure the next attack or not…
giin! giin!
As if playing around, Knight B attacks a.s.saulted down onto Knight A. But, it’s clear that he held back his strength. Despite that, it’s an attack method which never allows
Knight A to reorganize his posture.
This is… Knight B is playing around ne…
Although I think he has amazing ability to arrive at the semi-finals and have room to play around, I can’t say he has a good hobby.
The audience gets roused up, but perhaps Knight A understands he’s being played around, he somehow reorganized his posture.
If you look closely, Knight B’s mouth is smiling.
……His hobby really is bad…
giin!
The strike, which Knight A struggled to let out, was also easily repelled. Because of that, it created an absolute opening on Knight A.
Knight B’s sword was grandly swung. At this rate, it will result in a considerably injury on Knight A…!
The moment I thought it was a desperate situation.
「Enough!」
The voice of the referee echoed.
Knight B’s sword stopped just before Knight A’s side.
「WAAAAAAA!!」
When it came to an end, the audience’s cheers became huge. But, at that time, if the referee didn’t stop it, I’m sure Knight B’s sword would probably have firmly hit Knight B’s side…
Although it’s a sword for mock battles, no matter how much the edge of the sword has been flattened, it’s still a lump of iron.
Though he seems to have the ability, it appears it can’t be said that he has the personality to be a knight…
Once again, two knights came out after a short interval. Their appearance seemed different from the knights a little while ago.
……Wait, isn’t that the Prince on the other side!? To remain until the semi-finals, he isn’t a mere hetare ne…
「Begin!」
Together with the referee’s signal, both sides stepped forwards this time.
The swords exchanged blows with intense sounds.
Two times, three times, the swords rang out, each time the audience got excited.
Fumu… the Prince is also doing fairly good ne. Despite exchanging blows, it can be seen he is easily handling it. The opposing Knight, shall we call him Knight C? An impatient expression can be seen on Knight C.
The moment of the fifth rally, Knight C staggered and dropped back. There, the Prince immediately pressed forwards.
Unable to withstand the blow which had the Prince’s weight placed in to, the sword separated from Knight C’s hands, and immediately following, the Prince’s sword was placed precisely in front of Knight C.
「Enough!」
The match progressed with a wonderful sense of stability. I may need to look at the Prince a little differently ne…
The final match next is, the Prince and Knight B huh… To be honest, I can’t come to like the way Knight B fights. I might be unwilling, but let’s cheer for the Prince.
Although I think there isn’t much if a difference between their abilities, could he have the advantage in power over Knight B?
After the short break, the Prince and Knight B appeared on stage.
At the centre of the stage, the two people could be seen saying something but… I don’t know what they are talking about.
Both of them eventually separated, and stepped back to the starting positions.
「From here on, the final match will be performed! Well then…… begin!」
Together with the signal, an exchange of blows…… did not happen, both of them did not move.
That situation continued for a little while, when the audience began to get impatient, the Prince made a move.
However, he didn’t instantly cut down the distance, but slowly approached Knight C. While his sword was still lowered moreover. This made the audience dumbfounded as well.
Although Knight B had his sword vigilantly prepared, the Prince approached without even paying attention to it and walked without change,
The moment he entered the sword’s range, perhaps he was impatient, Knight B stepped forwards while firing off a stab.
However, as though the Prince had read that, he struck up his sword from below and repelled Knight B’s sword.
giin! giin!
Knight B stood at a disadvantage. Receiving numerous attacks with his sword, he attempted to desperately reorganize his posture. It was as if looking at the match between Knight A and Knight B, with their positions appearing to have been changed.
The difference was, it could be said the Prince’s attacks weren’t held back, I suppose? Knight B somehow defended, but if he didn’t tightly defend, it would be an attack which cannot be defended.2 If Knight B made a mistake, it would be the kind of attack that decides the match.
Impatience rose on Knight B’s face. Compared to the composed expression of the Prince. Calmly, Knight B gets driven to a corner.
giin! giin!
The sounds of swords exchanging echoed out many times.
Knight B, as anyone could see, was in a disadvantage. There wasn’t any composure like in the beginning.
Eventually, the impatient Knight B swung out for an attack, but as if to match it, the Prince’s attack, without engaging it, repelled it.3 A huge opening appeared on Knight B.
There, the Prince’s attack rushed in.
Knight B desperately pulled back his sword and somehow met that attack with is sword, but with his balance affected, the Prince’s sword went on without stopping, and Knight B’s sword was flicked away from his hands.
At Knight B, who was completely defenseless, the Prince swung an attack.
「Enough!」
Together with the referee’s signal, the Prince’s sword was stopped precisely next to Knight B’s side.
When the Prince withdrew his sword, Knight B sat down on the ground as if he lost all strength.
……Prince, he deliberately aimed at that ne… Was it revenge for Knight A a little while back? I can’t say that’s a good hobby, you know? No, I feel satisfied but…
Nevertheless, that Prince is quite strong ne… How unexpected. That time at yesterday’s parade, and the match right now, it doesn’t seem like the usual Prince. Come to think of it, he looked at me with pa.s.sionate eyes within my dream…
……Wait, I just ended up remembering it, didn’t I!? Aah, geez! Why does my heart pound so much when it comes to the Prince!? Kuu, my face has certainly turned bright red…! Worldly desires begone, worldly desires begone…
It’s that, it’s surely because of the gap! In spite of the usual nonchalant and hetare Prince, his diligence from yesterday and today felt wrong!4 Commonly referred to as, that thing called gap moe or something, you know! It’s a moment of delusion!
In order to persuade myself, I muttered 「My imagination」 many times.
On the stage, the Prince was talking to the King with a smile.
Looking at that, I felt my pulse speed up once again.
Lines1. 正騎士の中からの選抜で、トーナメント形式の試合を勝ち進んでの準決勝だそうです。
2. 騎士Ｂはなんとか防いでいますが、きっちりと防御しないと防ぎきれない攻撃ばかりです。
3. やがて焦ったような騎士Ｂの攻撃が振るわれますが、それに合わせたような王子の一撃であえなく弾かれてしまいます。
4. いつものほほんとしたヘタレ王子のくせに、昨日今日と真面目な事をするからいけないんです！