Chapter 8 – Narrow-eyed man’s favorite

April 7th, 2023

As I approach the first district, even the back alleyways become clean. Drin and I have positioned ourselves in a suitable, spacious and uninhabited area in the back alley for the purpose of a duel, standing facing each other.

-Shiiing

-Tak

Drin drew the sword hanging from her left hip with her left hand, and then lightly threw it and caught it with her right hand.

Then, with her right hand holding the sword, she aimed it at me while keeping her left hand in the back.

“You can come at me anytime, when you’re ready.”

She had a face that was more like a noble lady who had never experienced a sword fight before, rather than a seasoned veteran trying to teach a novice.

The scene of her wielding my sword in a fit of emotion and striking me came to mind all too easily.

Can I really trust Drin that her swormanship isn’t so crude as to hurt me, even if unintentionally?

‘Well, even if I get hit by a few blows from Drin, this duel will still be beneficial for me.’

As far as I know, there aren’t many swordsmen in Tose who are better than Drin.

‘No, it’s not just a few’

Drin is on par with the best in the world in terms of swordsmanship, as she is included in the lineup of the world’s strongest in the game.

For me, a duel with Drin was an opportunity that I could not afford to miss. Especially since I was already worried about whether my skills were good enough to pass the Academy exam.

My level.

This is not about black magic and assassination techniques. Black magic users and assassins are trash in both worlds, and they are people who should be dealt with appropriately.

Bragging about black magic and assassination techniques during the Academy exam is the same as saying “I am going to destroy the Academy from now on.” instead of “I want to attend this place.”

In other words, the skills that I had to show during the Academy exam were swordsmanship or magic. However, I only knew how to handle assassination techniques and black magic due to my skill adjustments, and I was ignorant of swordsmanship and magic that had not received any skill adjustments.

‘Why isn’t swordsmanship and magic taught in South Korea?‘

However, fortunately, both assassination techniques and swordsmanship are techniques that use the body the same. 

Black magic and magic are also techniques that use mana the same way. 

Even if I completely turned off black magic and assassination techniques, the technique of manipulating the body and mana remained within me.

<Ceylon(???)> 

Level: 14(???) 

Skills: Lost Swordsmanship Lv.1(Heroic), Ashen Magic Lv.1(Heroic)

This ambiguous level and the two newly acquired skills proved it. The admission requirement for the Academy in the game is level 10. At the time I arrived in Arien, my level was 13. Currently, after completing one quest, it is 14.

I judged that the Academy entrance exam itself would not be difficult to pass as long as I satisfied the level requirements. The bet with Drin was a great opportunity to confirm my judgment. 

If Drin, whose talent is highly regarded even at the Academy, approves of me, it’s as good as passing the Academy exam. 

Moreover, there’s an additional benefit in this competition. 

-the winner gets to ask the loser to do anything. 

Normally, if you ask for more than just a meal, it would make the other person upset, but I felt like Drin would fulfill any request I made, no matter how big. Do I get to ask Drin Lebringer for anything?

It was practically like having a small dragon ball. When I find myself in difficult situations while adapting to this world, Drin will undoubtedly be a huge help. And most importantly, my primal instincts as a prankster were going crazy.

I was so curious and excited about what kind of reaction Drin, who is so confident that he doesn’t even consider the possibility of losing, would show if he lost. 

-Shiiing.

As I drew my sword, Drin clicked her tongue. I slowly narrowed the distance between us.

“You seem to know how to provoke people.”

“Isn’t this just a light-hearted game? Why are you acting so serious?”

“I hear that it’s something that shouldn’t be done in the first place?”

“Losing composure when handling a sword is the same as losing oneself.”

“Provoking to make someone lose their composure is a cowardly way and should be avoided. Am I right?”

I snapped my fingers in response to Drin’s words.

“Provocation that can make the opponent lose their composure is a meaningful strategy. There’s no need to limit ourselves.”

“Oh, an unexpected answer?”

“Regardless, it’s not my preferred method.”

“Oh, I see. Then what method do you prefer?”

“A straightforward power that doesn’t rely on tricks or cheating.”

“Is that the beauty of honesty?”

“…That was quite good.”

Drin exclaimed innocently.

“I wish I had someone like you to talk to.”

“Haha, even if you flatter me, I won’t look your way.”

Drin and I burst into laughter simultaneously.

That signaled the start of the showdown.

I decided to take advantage of Drin’s inability to move and the difficulty of changing positions using only one hand.

After attacking in a direction that is difficult for Drin to cope with, I continued the offensive.

-Clang!

-Clang!

-Clang!

Whoa-“

“… ”

However, as I repeated the moves, it was me who was getting tired. When I threw a swing with all my might, it felt like Drin was lightly pushing it away with her sword. It was like hitting a still rock with a cotton swab.

“Ouch!”

-Clang!

It wasn’t long before my sword tumbled and landed on Drin’s.

“You lasted seven moves.”

“Phew… Phew… I lasted…? I remember attacking from my side.”

“Taking control of the situation is not about swinging your sword wildly. It’s about reading your opponent’s sword and taking the flow.”

“Since when did I lose the flow?”

“From the beginning. You seem to have taken the optimal move to perfectly dig into my weaknesses, but that optimal move felt excessive to me. If I felt the gap, I could have caught you twice as fast.”

“Haha, although it may seem so, it was actually a move of my utmost sincerity.”

At this point, I remembered that Drin’s level was in the 30s and her skill level was 4.

It was a level where we could discuss graduation rather than admission to the academy.

Compared to me now, who is at a level where I have to worry about passing the academy entrance exam, the difference was too great, so it was a natural result that I was completely defeated.

“So, what is your overall evaluation of my swordsmanship?”

“…There is a freedom that is not bound by formality.”

“Did you secretly think it was fundamentally lacking?”

A guilty expression.

“Such a pessimistic view is not good. The attitude of the one who walks the path of the sword should adopt is not denial, but composure. Do not confuse the two.”

“To be honest, it’s true that I thought it was fundamentally lacking.”

“…Honestly, that’s true.”

“Then honestly, do you think I can pass the exam?”

At that, Drin fell into deep thought.

“There are a few areas that need attention in your swordsmanship. To clarify that-“

“To clarify that?”

Instead of continuing her words, Drin adjusted her posture and gestured to me.

“Come. Pour everything you have into this, as if this is the last chance.”

It seemed like Drin intended to end the competition with this match.

Already? I want to, but after sharing this duel against Drin, who is more energetic than the first time, I will be exhausted and will not be able to do it even if I want to do more.

‘If this continues…’

If I put all my effort into this duel, I might barely pass the threshold and succeed against Drin. 

Drin encouraged me, who had collapsed on the ground, and extended her hand to me. 

It was a pretty good picture.  However, I’m still going to lose in the duel. 

Will I be unable to ask Drin for a favor? I will have to instead listen to Drin’s request? 

Actually, it’s okay. I had a different purpose.

 It was to see Drin, who lost to me, struggling with humiliation and teasing Drin. 

Or earning Drin’s recognition. 

Which one should I choose? 

‘This is what a true assassin would do.‘

The decision wasn’t difficult for my sharp, trained eyes. I prepared to use my abilities as an assassin at a level that Drin wouldn’t notice.

If I were to use my assassin skills in my current state, I might reveal my true identity as an assassin to Drin. So all I have to do is to surprise Drin with an unexpected move.

 -Tak!

I rushed towards Drin in an instant. Just as Drin was about to react, I unleashed my assassin skills that I had prepared in advance.

<Ceylon>

Level: 14>34(???)

Skills: Assassination Lv.5 (Legendary), Lost Sword Lv.1 (Heroic), Ashen Magic Lv.1 (Heroic)

“Oops!”

“Haa.”

Drin sighed softly as she saw me stumble and lose my balance. But in fact, I intended to appear that way, and what I actually did was to use “False Step,” one of the assassin’s techniques designed to cause confusion.

Just as Drin was making a pitiful face, she was about to mercilessly strike my sword. Then she realized that something was wrong.

“Huh?”

It was too late for her to change the trajectory and her stance.

I parried the Drin’s sword , who swung it haphazardly, and leaned forward

 -Thud.

I fell over with Drin.

“Oh no, why did my foot have to trip at a time like this?”

Muttering in frustration, I pretended to check on Drin lying beneath me only now.

“Hello?”

I blinked at Drin’s eyes that met mine and then got up.

“What do you mean by ‘hello’? Get up quickly!”

Drin seemed really angry and I was scared.

“Uh, sorry. Here–“

I got up and offered my hand to Drin.

Drin hesitated, looking at my hand as if reluctant to take it, but eventually took it and stood up.

“Wait a minute.”

Before Drin, with a discontented face, could say anything, I spoke first.

“Hmm?”

I looked back and forth between where Drin was standing now and where Drin had been standing just a moment ago.

Then Drin also looked back and forth between where they were standing now and where she had been standing just a moment ago.

“You moved! Clearly, you were just standing here a moment ago, and now–if it’s like this, then I won the bet, right?”

Drin was startled.

“Where would that pass?!”

“Right here.”

“Invalid, invalid! This isn’t your skill, is it?”

“Haha, you can’t always achieve everything with just your skills. Sometimes, you need the help of luck and miracles. Do you think I’m wrong?”

“…”

Drin opened her mouth to refute but then closed it abruptly.

“Then let’s do it again.”

“Hmm?”

“Once more, with the same rules.”

“Ugh…! How can you be so petty?”

Whooosh~

Drin’s face turned red, as if smoke was rising from her forehead, when she heard the word “petty.”

“P-petty?! How can you say such a cruel thing…! And if you look at it that way, you’re even more petty for declaring victory in this manner!”

“Hehe, since I’ve already secured my victory. Is there any reason why I should give up on that and accept it?”

“I will let you make one more request!”

“But I haven’t even decided what to ask for yet?”

Drin’s body trembled with shame.

If it were someone else, she would have exploded like a volcano a long time ago, but she was holding it in, true to her character.

“Oh, are you scared?”

Then, suddenly changing her attitude, she taunted me as if nothing had happened.

“Well, I suppose so. You know that you barely won by a stroke of luck.”

Taunting was not Drin’s preferred method, and her taunts were indeed pathetic, as she spoke with a pronunciation reminiscent of reading a Korean textbook, continuing to watch my reactions and be wary.

I decided to play along.

“What did you say!?”

“Well…if you’re angry, prove it with your actions.”

“You’re provoking my self-esteem. Okay!”

“Oh, really?”

“…But come to think of it, I don’t really have anything to be proud of, so it doesn’t matter. I’ll be satisfied with my one lucky win.”

“Argh!”

Finally, Drin couldn’t take it anymore and fell to the ground.

A moan escaped from the flipped over Drin. 

“Ugh…”

Ah.

It’s sweet.

Extremely sweet.

I could feel it from Drin’s reaction.

Right now, my soul was healing.

Although I’ve never been hurt enough to need healing, it felt like I was healing anyway.

This healing feeling surpassed the feeling of hugging a cat or a puppy and inhaling their scent.

What overwhelming taste of ridicule.

Really, there’s no way this person could not be a gem.

Right here and now, I swore.

Drin.

I’m willing to do anything to help this person.

And, as an excuse, I’ll tease this person to my heart’s content.

Translators note:

I messed up a chapter title for the last one but it’s now fixed.