Chapter 15.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????)


    Karamaf drew his weapon, a drab, dark-colored longsword without any decoration. It seemed too in for a knight of Karamaf’s stature.


    ?


    ━???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ????????’?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????”


    ?


    ━??????’?? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ???????????? ????????????’?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????


    ?


    ━. . .?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ????????????? ????????, ????????’?? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?? ????????????.”


    ?


    Ordinary swordsmanship didn’t mean instant death for someone unfamiliar with the technique.


    ?


    Swordsmanship is ultimately about how one wields the sword inbat. It’s about how to stab, sh, and parry. It’s not about suddenly unleashing an unthinkable move. A master of one technique could somewhat counter an unfamiliar one.


    ?


    However, the technique’s vision was different.


    ?


    If you don’t know them, you’re at a disadvantage!


    ?


    They’re skills that defy conventional wisdom, leaving first-timers vulnerable. Knowing even one or two of these could mean the difference between life and death in a split second.


    ?


    ━???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????????, ????’?? ???????????????????????? ???? ?? ???????????????????? ????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ??????, ???????? ????????’???? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????????????????. ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????????????.”


    ?


    Fitting for an assassin, Kaegal’s swordsmanship specialized in ending the fight with a first strike. This was fortunate for Johan.


    ?


    ‘?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????.’


    ?


    One step further.


    ?


    Karamaf raised his longsword, immediately creating an overwhelming pressure. It seemed ready to respond instantly in any direction.


    ?


    ━?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????? ?????????? ????????. ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????, ?? ????????-?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????????????????.”


    ?


    ━???????? ???? ?? ??????’?? ?????????? ?????????


    ?


    ━??????????’?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ????????! ????????????????????, ????????’???? ???????? ???? ??????.”


    ?


    ‘??????. ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????.’


    ?


    Contrary to Kaegal’s words, that’s exactly what he was doing.


    ?


    Karamaf’s te armor felt like a fortress. The only seemingly vulnerable spots were the helmet’s slit and the neck, but Karamaf, being no fool, would defend these well.


    ?


    ????????????━


    ?


    Johan gripped the longsword tightly, feeling it scream in his grasp.


    ?


    ‘???????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????.’


    ?


    One step further.


    ?


    Johanpleted his calction and his step.


    ?


    It was time to strike.


    ?


    A technique called <????????????’?? ????????????> from the guild unfolded beneath Johan’s feet. It was a unique gait that seemed to glide over the ground.


    ?


    Karamaf’s eyes widened at the sight of a technique usually used by assassins, wondering how a knight’s son could use it.


    ?


    But that was all. Karamaf was too experienced to be surprised by this. He immediately prepared to counter Johan as he closed the distance, ready to strike at any moment.


    ?


    Then, Johan vanished. He elerated again in an explosive movement that genuinely shocked Karamaf.


    ?


    ‘?? ????????????!’


    ?


    It’s said that a first-ss swordsman senses their defeat before it happens. The trained mind and senses make the judgment before the de even touches the body. That’s what Karamaf was experiencing now.


    ?


    For him to lose track of his opponent in a duel between swordsmen was unbelievable.


    ?


    ‘?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????. . .!’


    ?


    Though defeated in the bout, Karamaf did not panic. This wasn’t a duel under equal conditions. It was a fight where lives were at stake.


    ?


    From the beginning, Johan couldn’t win against Karamaf, no matter how many times he probed his weaknesses.


    ?


    As long as this armor remains intact.


    ?


    Karamaf only needed one hit to win, but for Johan, a win was impossible without striking several times to prate vital spots. The fight was so uneven it could hardly be called a fight. Karamaf never thought he would lose.


    ?


    ‘?? ?????????? ??????’???? ?? ??????????????. ????, ???????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????.’


    ?


    Karamaf guarded his neck and face, waiting for Johan’s attack. It didn’t matter where Johan struck. The moment he did, his feet would be stopped, and Karamaf’s counterattack would begin.


    ?


    ????????????!


    ?


    There was a heavy sound of air being sliced. Johan swung his sword with tremendous force, aiming for the side. He was attempting a horizontal sh. Karamaf scoffed at Johan.


    ?


    Trying to cut te armor with a longsword. Such a foolish act, not even a fool would attempt. Hisck of proper knightly training was his downfall here. Once his meaningless sword strike ended, his neck would be severed.


    ?


    ‘????????????????.’


    ?


    Then there was a sound.


    ?


    It was the sound of Karamaf’s armor being ripped apart.