Swordsmanship Family's Martial Arts Genius - Chapter 38

Plod, plod.

Ethan began walking with light steps.

There were many watching eyes. This time, the test was conducted outdoors on the training field.

“A test on home ground, huh?”

He couldn’t help but smile. Previously, he had gone directly to the academy and was humiliated, but this time the situation was different.

His emotions soared.

Even though it wasn’t like stepping into a ring or octagon, the feeling just before a fight wasn’t much different.

As Ethan looked around, he saw familiar eyes watching him.

Kato, who had helped Ethan yesterday, looked at him with a subtle expression, and in the crowd, he also spotted Charon and Morun.

“So transparent.”

Morun, with his arm and neck wrapped in bandages, glared at Ethan with unfriendly eyes.

He seemed to hope more than anyone else that Ethan would be disgracefully defeated.

“And yet, he would only lose out.”

It would only diminish the family’s prestige.

A defeat of Blante on Blante’s own territory was unthinkable and must not occur.

“But I never intended to lose in the first place.”

Ethan rolled his neck. A cracking sound resonated from his bones.

“You must be Ethan.”

Through the parted crowd, Emilia began to walk out. Her long silver hair down to her waist and her striking appearance reminiscent of ice drew everyone’s attention.

Some even gasped unconsciously.

“As expected, she came out.”

He had roughly anticipated it. There weren’t many professors at the academy who actually taught swordsmanship and were deeply knowledgeable in combat.

That meant he could predict and identify the professor the academy might send.

“But it seems she doesn’t quite like me.”

Emilia’s gaze was as cold as ice.

It wasn’t that she lacked emotions producing such a gaze.

It was just a different way of expressing anger.

“Yes, I’m Ethan. Are we to be colleagues now?”

“…You are indeed freely spoken, as I’ve heard. What arrogance is that?”

“If there’s a valid basis, it’s not arrogance but confidence.”

“Hah, you have a way with words. I heard you were thoroughly beaten at the academy before, don’t you remember?”

Ethan grinned, exposing his teeth to Emilia’s cute provocation.

He rubbed one ear with his hand.

“Well, I’m not the type to dwell on the past, so I don’t remember.”

Emilia’s eyebrows twitched again at Ethan’s attitude.

“Are you denying your past? Let’s see how long you can maintain that attitude.”

“I am looking forward to it. Does Lady Emilia remember her past?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Nothing in particular.”

While a sharp conversation was exchanged, Chen approached. Chen maintained his usual impassive expression.

“Her skills are quite good.”

Chen also did not think highly of the academy. He had a poor perception of the academy as an institution.

“I’ll have to change my thoughts.”

Chen looked at Emilia.

She had a well-trained body. Though she had a slender physique, trained muscles were evident beneath her clothes.

Her footsteps, breathing, gaze, and aura.

Everything attested to Emilia’s skill.

Chen felt a curious competitive spirit, but he also knew how to distinguish between public and private affairs.

“I am looking forward to the result.”

As soon as he saw Emilia, he had a hunch. Emilia was no match to be compared with the likes of Morun.

But Ethan had completely overwhelmed Morun. If what Ethan had shown in his duel with Morun was everything, Ethan would be at a disadvantage.

“But if that’s not the case…”

The result of this duel was unpredictable.

Having finished his thoughts, Chen cast his gaze at the two.

“Are you ready?”

Emilia nodded in agreement.

“I am ready.”

Ethan also lightly nodded his head in affirmation.

Chen then drew his sword.

“I, Chen of Blante, guarantee that this duel will be fair. Engage in the duel so as not to tarnish each of your honors.”

Chen lowered his sword.

Though he thought of it as a test, Chen guaranteed the duel. This hinted at the intentions of both Chen and Vincent.

“A duel, huh.”

A grin spread across Emilia’s lips. Though her lips were smiling, her eyes were colder than frost.

“I will make you regret it.”

She had planned to simply give him a good lesson and leave. She had no intention of causing a scene here and leaving bad feelings with the Vincent family.

“Since he started this.”

Everything was rumored. False, unverifiable claims that anyone could fabricate.

The verified truth was that Ethan had applied for the academy’s test and didn’t even pass the test.

That too with disgraceful scores.

Emilia drew her sword. It was a beautiful, thin-bladed sword.

Once Emilia drew her sword, Ethan also drew his. It was a thick and rough sword.

Emilia frowned. A swordsman of her level could assess the quality of a sword just by its appearance.

“A poorly maintained sword.”

It wasn’t of low quality. But it also couldn’t be considered a good sword.

Judging by its appearance, it was a training iron sword. And a completely neglected one at that.

Grind.

Emilia gritted her teeth quietly. Meanwhile, Ethan swung his sword in the air without losing his composure.

“To use that trick again.”

Charon and Morun, who were conscious of Ethan’s sword, frowned.

Ethan had always used his sword as bait while pretending to wield it.

The unexpectedness could be called cowardly, and they had always lost the first move.

“Is it the same tactic again?”

But Ethan didn’t throw his sword this time.

“Aren’t you coming first?”

At Ethan’s casual words, Emilia’s patience finally snapped.

“A beating might be the medicine for someone like you.”

Emilia leaped lightly. The movement was light and quick, like watching a graceful animal. Ethan concentrated on Emilia’s movements.

“Though I knew.”

He had known in advance from the novel’s description. It was evident just by looking at her appearance.

That sword wasn’t meant for slashing. It was a sword meant for precise thrusts aiming for weak points.

So why did she approach at such high speed?

Swoosh!

Emilia’s sword aimed at Ethan’s forehead. Raising his head back, Ethan dodged it.

“That’s scary.”

Ethan whistled at the swift strike. Had he failed to predict the attack direction from prior shoulder movements, it would have been hard to dodge.

Though not filled with killing intent, it bore enough power to end his life if he couldn’t evade.

“He dodged it.”

Emilia’s eyes narrowed. Though she hadn’t intended to kill, she aimed to inflict at least a shallow wound.

But Ethan dodged it without much concern.

“Let’s see how long you can be this complacent!”

Emilia’s eyes changed. Initially intending to subdue him somewhat with her presence, she changed her mind.

She decided to go all-out from the beginning.

Just as Emilia was about to seize the offensive again, Ethan broke that rhythm.

Whoosh!

A sound as if a club was being swung resonated from Ethan’s sword.

“Should I dodge? No.”

Emilia was an accomplished swordsman. It wasn’t hard for her to determine on first glance that Ethan’s sword strike wasn’t deep.

It wasn’t difficult for Emilia to break such a sword move halfway through.

“If that’s it, then I’ll sever the core.”

The moment she thought that, Ethan responded as if reading her mind.

“Are you sure you’re confident?”

Ethan grinned. A momentary wave of anxiety washed over Emilia. But it was too late to turn back.

Swords clashed.

Emilia’s sword was thin. But it was a high-quality sword. Not only did it not break, but it wasn’t a sword that could be broken easily either.

However, Emilia momentarily felt as if her sword had broken.

“What… strength…!”

Creak!

Veins bulged in Ethan’s muscles. As he exerted strength, Emilia’s grip on her sword began to tremble like a leaf.

In the precarious standoff, Ethan continued the onslaught.

Ethan wasn’t a master of swordsmanship. That much he knew himself. Ethan was a completed martial artist but was just taking baby steps as a swordsman.

But Ethan had something he was confident in.

Basic swordsmanship that didn’t require grand techniques.

Horizontal slashes, vertical slashes, diagonal slashes.

The fundamentals that form the basis of all swordsmanship and martial arts.

It wasn’t difficult to learn.

Stride, timing, direction of applying force.

These were Ethan’s specialities.

Flamboyant connections? Mind games to break the opponent’s flow?

They were a luxury for Ethan.

“Hoo!”

Ethan took a deep breath.

He stepped forward. He planted his foot into the ground and swung his sword.

There was no embellishment in the sword, no gaudiness was visible anywhere.

But that was enough.

Swoosh!

Emilia dodged Ethan’s sword. She instinctively felt that clashing with that sword wouldn’t end well.

“Good choice.”

Ethan smiled. Emilia felt a chill as she tried to create distance.

But Ethan didn’t give her any space. Ethan’s sword connected again.

It wasn’t a smoothly natural connection. The link was awkward. But each strike was very fast, heavy, and strong.

It was like a storm. Ethan swung his sword as if he had no stamina limits. Though Emilia wanted to create distance, it was not easy to shake Ethan off.

“What speed…!”

She had to break the flow.

From her recent experience, she felt she couldn’t match him in a power struggle.

“But that’s all it is!”

Strength alone couldn’t master the sword. A swordsman is not a weightlifter.

“Now!”

Emilia targeted an awkward moment in the chain of attacks and aimed a decisive thrust.

At that moment, Ethan smiled.

“Got you.”

Ethan had talent in swordsmanship but was still an amateur in handling the sword.

In finesse or depth, he couldn’t match Emilia.

But Ethan was not a novice in the act of ‘fighting.’

No, in fact, Ethan was more of a veteran than anyone.

Ryu Taesin was an unbeaten champion, undefeated.

Baiting and striking were his specialties during his professional career.

Just as Emilia’s sword thrust toward Ethan, Ethan’s body spun.

Ethan’s leg struck Emilia’s abdomen.

“Ugh!”

“Feeling good.”

A well-executed back kick.

Back kicks are among the most powerful in any kicking arsenal.

And since Ethan used such a powerful attack, it wouldn’t be surprising if Emilia’s internal organs ruptured on the spot.

“If not for the mana protection, I would have been dead.”

If she hadn’t fortified her abdomen with mana as Ethan turned his body, her internal organs would have burst, and she would have died.

Even though she blocked it, Emilia momentarily felt as if a hole had been punched through her abdomen.

As Emilia began to retreat, Ethan ceased his pursuit.

Ethan’s breathing was calm.

In contrast, Emilia’s face was already contorted in pain.

“What should I do?”

Engaging in a tactical battle while exchanging moves wasn’t bad.

But that was only valid if they were under equal conditions.

Ethan and Emilia were under different initial conditions.

Emilia was a seasoned mana user, and Ethan was a novice just taking his first steps.

But for Ethan, this duel was one he couldn’t afford to lose. Moreover, Ethan hated losing.

“Some might call it cowardly.”

Ethan grinned broadly at Emilia. Emilia looked visibly shaken.

It seemed now was the right moment.

The right moment to shake Emilia.