Hero’s Downfall Report

78 – Knight’s Haven (5)

The skill level is also low. My posture is a mess. Technology is nothing more than repetition of basic techniques. Nevertheless, he easily blocked the attacks of the skilled knights and even attacked them in reverse.

‘So, are you receiving help from witchcraft or magic?’

A person who shows hallucinations that cause fear and turns living people into monsters. If so, Cain suspected that some kind of magic might be used in swordsmanship as well.

But that also didn’t make sense. If he really had that kind of power, why did he just get hit by Cain’s attack?

“If you think about it, that guy rarely attacked first. He was almost always on the defensive, and when his knights charged, he would counterattack and strike them down.”

“Was it like that in the confrontation with Cain?”

“No. It was the opposite when he fought with me. He actively swung the sword, or rather the scabbard. “It was slow, but its momentum was great, so I chose to avoid it rather than block it.”

Lily sighed and took a slow breath. It seems like there’s something to it.

“By any chance, did you fight like usual when you fought him?”

“Relying on trickery and trapping, that method? It did.”

“Then he must have attacked like this.”

Lily held his training sword long and swung it. Rather than feeling like she was going to cut something, it was more like a threat threatening to tell people not to come closer.

“I did. “What does that mean?”

“It means that since you don’t know much about the other person, you will observe and wait from a distance. Taking a wait-and-see approach during a fight also means that you have no confidence in winning the match.

Isn’t it strange? “When a properly trained knight attacked, the person who was able to respond well even in a broken posture, actively swung his sword to chase away Cain’s attack and entered a wait-and-see attitude.”

Cain’s head became clear. She felt a tingling sensation as if cold water was splashing down her back.

It was like that. She was different. She thought something was strange, a question that lingered uneasily in her mind.

The person who had responded so passively to others began to actively attack and then suddenly retreated.

“That too can be explained by saying he is an inexperienced prosecutor.”

Lily calmly explained the reason.

No prosecutor likes to have the initiative taken away. Losing the initiative means getting caught up in the other person, and when you get caught up, what you can do becomes less and less, and you end up in a situation where you have no choice but to suffer damage.

That is why imperial swordsmanship teaches, ‘Suppress strength with greater strength.’ This is because the greatest value is placed on taking away the initiative by pushing harder than the opponent.

“A prosecutor who has completed training must be confident. I am confident that no matter what my opponent does, I have no choice but to win. It was because of that confidence that the members of the Holy Grail Knights rushed forward.

On the other hand, a properly trained swordsman must be able to maintain the initiative no matter what the opponent’s ever-changing sword skills are. He deals with what he does not know by means of what he knows well, by the defense techniques he knows, by the techniques at his disposal.

But he didn’t do that.

You must have been well aware of the Holy Grail Knights’ attack methods. So, he must have defended and then counterattacked. Counterattacking after defending is also the main training for trainee knights.

However, if he was truly skilled, that is, if he was skilled enough to become an official knight, he would have moved actively and blocked Cain’s movements.

Or he would have blocked whatever attack Cain threw at him, or he would have landed a valid blow.

It was neither. “The reason Cain got hurt was because of the monsters next to him, not because of him.”

That was true. The reason Cain’s movement was blocked was because he was avoiding monsters, not because of the fight with the Black Knight.

“It is clear. He received only standard training. I received standard, repetitive, and customary training, but I only received it, but I couldn’t complete it, and I couldn’t make it my own.

They know how to use stereotypical attacks and defend themselves, but they are completely unable to deal with ever-changing techniques, and even stand back and wait and see.

If you say you are an inexperienced practitioner, everything will be explained. Because they are unable to take the initiative in resolving the situation, they are good at taking advantage of their opponent’s attacks.

So, I couldn’t even deal with Cain’s unusual attacks.”

Cain was lost in thought again.

From Noble mtl dot com

It brings out the fear deep in the heart of those who look at it, and summons a shadow that turns those seeking revenge into monsters.

It can withstand most attacks with its body, and if it feels pushed back, it turns into a shadow and runs away.

Although she knows how to counter standard attacks with clumsy movements, she is completely defenseless against attacks outside of her range.

Is that why it attracts monsters?

Cain thought it was a very likely story. In the Arius Gun of Temperance, a ghost ship floats in the sky, connecting ships and people… Or, he created a monster ship.

In Purity, William Gunn created monsters that flew through the sky, like giant dragons, and in Humility, Arianne Gunn, created monsters with their skin peeled off and loaded them on a ship.

Preparation for war.

While preparing for war, a declaration of war is also carried out. He appears in front of those who want revenge and those who want the world to be destroyed, grants their wishes, and instead takes their bodies and souls and uses them as his army.

But the thing inside that armor is clearly a human. He was once a man who believed in promises and trust. However, he is now a crazy person who does strange things for some reason.

“Me. “Is it okay if I tell you something?”

“Of course. What?”

“I don’t know much about witchcraft or magic. Maria would know. And he is a person who uses swordsmanship and magic or witchcraft together. However, if you look purely at swordsmanship, I think Cain’s technique could be a clue.”

Cain laughed.

“Sorry. I’m not making fun of what you say. Just… It’s just absurd. He heard that it was a swordsmanship that had no basis, and because there was no basis, all attacks worked. However, my attack did not cause much damage.”

“I don’t think so.” Lily shook her head.

“If there had been no real hit, I would have just gotten hit and run over. But he backed off. It’s because I got hit. He must have been hurt, just because it wasn’t visible on the outside.

So… Although this is presumptuous. At least… Speaking from the perspective of someone who has become a knight, you need to further refine your skills. More destructive, more powerful, more flexible. So.”

Lily smiled and raised her training sword straight up. I lightly kissed his sword body and aimed it at Cain’s solar plexus.

“I would like to apply for sparring.”

Cain did not lift his sword.

“Isn’t it a bit sudden?”

“I don’t think it’s a bad opportunity. “Cain can further strengthen his skills through sparring with me, and I can learn Cain’s skills.”

Lily tickled Cain’s lower abdomen with the tip of her knife, as if telling him to hurry up and attack him.

“You have no idea how much I admire that swordsmanship. No swordsman has combined the imperial swordsmanship that prioritizes killing with the eastern wandcraft that neutralizes the opponent and ensures the safety of both himself and his opponent.

There is no one who has melted it through practical experience. In White Blood Valhalla, I learned all kinds of sword skills that I didn’t want to. “The only thing I thought I wanted was that sword technique.”

Cain looked down at the training knife going down his stomach.

“I didn’t know it would be that bad. I didn’t even know she was worth that much. “I thought she was special, but I didn’t believe she was special.”

“You don’t know. How elegant and refined that sword technique was. How flexible and soft the lines and movements of the body are. Every time I see it… “

Lily’s breathing became a little rough. Her cheeks turned slightly red.

“… “She’s going crazy because she wants it.”

“Could you please stop talking loudly?”

Cain looked around her. Fortunately, the only people are leisurely fishermen on the other side of the lake. All around her are reeds that grow as high as her chest and shoulders.

“I don’t know. Because you can’t see my sword skills. But… If this is the way. Okay. Let’s do it.”

Cain took three steps back and raised her sword.

“Isn’t it a little disappointing to lose one game?”

“How about 3 wins and 2 wins?”

“What are the rules, the imperial duel style?”

You win if you break through the opponent’s guard and hit a vital spot. Head, neck, wrist, abdominal organs, etc. If both valid hits are made at the same time, it is a draw.

A proper training sword uses a heavy iron sword similar to a real sword. Of course, there is no border at all, so it is more similar to an elongated iron ruler.

But now, Lily and Cain’s sword is covered with leather on the outside of the tree. It is closer to teaching skills or playing light fun.

Well, if reenactment isn’t enough and you have to spar frequently, this is better than a heavy piece of metal. You can swing it at will, you won’t get tired easily, and most of all, you won’t get hurt that badly.

Lily bought not only her training sword, but also a thick, rough pressed vest and a leather hat. She not only blocks critical points but also reduces blows, preventing accidents.

Of course, according to the imperial duel method, if the sword touches a vital point, you are defeated, so it is foolish to rely on armor and attack it ignorantly.

“It’s our first time, so let’s do it without a cane, just with a sword and a sword.”

“Good.”

“Three.”

“Two.”

“One.”

“Start!” Lily rushed over. It was much faster than Cain expected.

At the last moment, Lily jumped forward. Because his legs were longer than Cain’s and the inertia of running was added, the distance shortened in an instant.

A vertical cut aimed at the forehead. It was too late to avoid it. If you block it with one hand, it will be pushed back. Cain grabbed her handle with both hands and lifted it sideways to block it.

“Tsk.”

Her wrist felt as if it would break, but she somehow held on. Lily, whose attack was blocked, raised her sword high. She took a step to the left, aiming for Cain’s waist and slashing diagonally with her.

An awkward angle to block or avoid. There is only one way. Cutting off Lily’s neck or chest. Since it’s blocked horizontally, all you have to do is swing it.

But Cain hesitated. Lily struck Cain’s side with the side of her sword.

I couldn’t feel it because I was wearing thick training cloth armor outside of my leather clothes, but there was a loud sound as if I was hitting the blanket with a club.

“It’s 1 to 0. Aren’t you fully healed yet? You look dull.”

Lily’s voice was full of disappointment. Her fully pulled chin is defiant, and her eyes look sharper than an angry Mary.

“No. It’s not like that.”

“So, did you let your guard down? If not, did you…Watch?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Then why didn’t you aim for my head? There’s no way you didn’t know that this was the most effective method in that situation. “It would have been quicker for you to hit my neck than for me to cut off my back.”

Cain looked away from her slightly.

“When I fought the Knight of the Sheath, I aimed for the neck. It’s just that I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I see you are watching.”

Lily didn’t seem very happy. No, on the contrary, she was breathing heavily. She swung her sword menacingly. Her eyes are burning, her tongue flicking between her lips.

“Thank you for your consideration, but this kind of consideration is not necessary. You probably don’t believe that you can really hurt me. That kind of consideration is only done when your skills are far superior to the other person’s. This kind of consideration is …I’m a little angry.”

“Aren’t you being too confident? They say you won’t know until you try it.”

“I deliberately didn’t tell you before the fight because I was afraid it would be burdensome… I was originally supposed to tell you what I wanted before the fight. Do you remember? A bet.”

“I remember.”

“If I lose, I will absolutely obey, at least in this city.”

That’s what she said, she didn’t have to do it. Because I knew Lily was incredibly stubborn when it came to her own work. So Cain chuckled.

“What if you win?”

“I’m going to ‘visit’ you in bed tonight. You know what I mean, right?”

“…Wait a minute. That…”

But Lily was not embarrassed at all.

“According to an old custom, I hereby declare on my honor as a knight that I will visit fully clothed, and that I will only converse. I will not touch any part of the body except that exposed by my clothes, and no matter what, Even though it is sacred, I will not do anything obscene.”

“I was really surprised…”

Whether or not to wear clothes was not the problem. The ‘visiting night’ custom is about more than just spending time together. It is a matter of common sense that does not necessarily require the honor of a knight.

‘Visiting Night’ can only have conversations. Also, you have to leave the room after three or four hours. We must not be together until we see the sunrise together.

Of course, Cain and Lily share a four-person room with Maria, so this may not be a meaningful story. Since Mary will be sleeping next to her, she cannot do anything lewd, and Cain has no intention of doing it.

Rather, the real problem is that if the night of visiting continues, it is interpreted as a signal that it is okay to mix bodies, which then naturally leads to engagement and marriage.

So, Lily openly declared that if she won this match, she would propose to Cain, and Cain, who she lost, would never be able to reject.

Cain held her sword firmly.