NOVEL WEB Chapter 5
“Ronan. Are you really an idiot?”
“I’m bleeding all over the place, and you just have to act like a jerk?”
“Seeing your foolish behavior would make even the kind and noble Yurpia lose her temper.”
“What did I do this time?”
“Your left arm and right leg are cut off! At the very least, you should be careful when I’m not around.”
“Not just my limbs, but my belly is torn open and half my neck is gone. Of course, I hastily reattached your neck.”
“If it weren’t for me, Kaloso, you would be dead, so shut up. And Luna, you reattached my limbs. So what’s the problem?”
“What if I hadn’t been there? If I had been two minutes later, you, Ronan, would have been a half-wit for the rest of your life. Got it?”
“No, then what? Just let Paulo and Kaloso die? Huh?”
“I don’t just die in a place like this. Kaloso was behind me, so he was safe. And Ronan, as Luna said, you’re too reckless. If that’s the case, why were you holding a shield? Shields are meant to block attacks, yet you use it to hit demons. If that’s the case, use swords in both hands.”
“Wow, you’re such a pompous jerk. How did you end up chosen by the Sacred Relic? Did Yurpia go blind or something? And what did you all improperly eat to be like this? It’s not like I get hurt every day. Why is it like this today?”
“Exactly! Don’t say anything bad about Ronan! Look at how hard he’s trying!”
“Chimpanzee, just shut it.”
“Ronan. You’re being a jerk to Arisa, who is helping you.”
“How much can an ugly chimp help anyway?”
“Huh… Did Ronan just call me pretty?”
“Did you get hit by a meteor?”
“Everyone, shut up! Is getting hurt every day supposed to be something to brag about? Know your place and take care of yourself. Even if I’m not around, or if Paulo’s Sacred Sword or Kaloso’s magic isn’t there to heal you, will you keep fighting like this every time?”
“What do you mean they’re not here?”
“You could die!”
“Stop talking nonsense. Even if I die, I’m the vanguard, so I’ll die first. So if you don’t want to see me die, quickly stitch that belly back up.”
“Seeing you skillfully talk nonsense makes you a real jerk. Remember this. If you don’t fix that awful habit of getting hurt first, one day you’ll regret it.”
“Yeah! Ronan, you’re really a dog, a dog… ugh. Just a naughty puppy! But I hope Ronan doesn’t regret it…”
“Did he just say that? Does that jerk look like he’ll regret anything? If we disappear, he’ll just go around playing with every woman he sees.”
“Uh, really, Ronan, are you going to do that?”
“You guys are really crazy. I’m Aida, you lunatics!”
“Aida is not something to be proud of, Ronan.”
“Damn it! Paulo, you’re Aida too!”
“True, with Ronan’s attitude, it seems unlikely he’ll attract women.”
“Kaloso, you’re a madman using magic to get laid!”
“You’re worse because you’re Aida.”
“You’re the biggest problem, Luna. Without us, your future is to sell the Holy Kingdom for gambling, right?”
“Ronan… ah, Aida, huh. Hehe.”
“Chimpanzee, why are you freaking out again?”
*
They all say they are Aida, yet—
You jerks.
But still, it’s a bit uncomfortable.
I might be getting used to the fighting techniques I practiced with them, or maybe it’s just my body that’s lacking, but I feel awkward swinging my weapon.
Wounds that were nothing at the time now feel like fatal injuries, and I feel like the options I can use have drastically decreased.
clang—clash!
Ugh, it’s really annoying.
For now, let’s just call it a day and take a break.
My weapon seems ready to break soon anyway.
whoosh—
As I controlled my breath, I delayed my next attack. At that moment, the wooden sword fell from above. I threw my body into its path.
One step, two steps, I quickly dodged under the knight’s elbow. In that position, I swung the axe, thinly wrapped in mana.
crack—
As the wooden axe shattered and fell over my head, I shook off the remnants and offered a handshake.
“That was a good duel.”
“…Hah, yes! Thank you!”
After finishing our exchanges, I tossed aside the axe handle and plopped down where I was.
Now there are just two left.
Spears, axes, hammers, and so on.
All those have long been broken, leaving only two wooden swords that are barely intact.
I didn’t expect them to break this quickly; perhaps I should have brought more.
But still, this yield isn’t too bad.
Starting from fine-tuning my mana, I learned how far my muscles can exert force.
I understood the flexibility of my muscles, which I never felt in my past life, and the range of motion of my hip joints.
Because of being in a woman’s body, I’m remarkably flexible.
Well, it’s a downside that my strength has diminished, but the advantage is that flexibility creates multiple variables.
However, I have a problem; there’s no sign of growth.
So far, all I’ve done is adapt and adjust, but I haven’t grown at all.
After over 30 duels, I should have gotten something tangible from it, but there’s nothing.
It’s not that I lack the talent to move my body; whenever I pick up a weapon, my body just moves by itself.
Plus, everything imbued with my mana falls apart in less than five minutes.
But strangely—
When I swing my bare hands, I feel a sort of elasticity.
That can’t be, can it?
“Ellie, Young Lady!”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”
While I was lost in that creepy thought, Yurasia, who had run over from a distance, handed me a stamina recovery potion.
“Young Lady, is there any weapon you can’t use?”
“Hmm?”
None.
I can use sticks, stones, and everything else.
Well, I used to. Not so much now.
“Wow… Young Lady, you’re really amazing! So strong! Were you born inheriting everything from Arisa?”
“Don’t say rubbish like that. Being strong is… I’m not so sure.”
“Wha—?! Young Lady, being too humble can sometimes come off as annoying!”
“Do you mean to say I’m annoying?”
“No way!”
Yurasia giggled and plopped down next to me.
“By the way, that technique of yours is so intriguing. Like water flowing, it’s… unpredictable!”
After six more duels with me, Yurasia seemed more comfortable than before and started talking a lot.
Normally, she would just answer what I said and occasionally would speak first, but now she was at it.
“And that parry! How do you do it? Doesn’t Ellie Young Lady have good eyesight? I couldn’t follow it at all!”
She keeps babbling without waiting for me to respond.
“So can you teach me a little more?”
Well, she talks big, but her gaze is sharp.
Sure looks like she has talent and ambition, eager to absorb what I’ve been using.
I have no idea what she plans to do with that strength.
“What about it?”
“The parry! Like this, swing and bang! Bounce it off.”
“I told you that during our previous match.”
“That felt too abstract; it was difficult.”
“There’s no further explanation. I just do it by feel.”
Yurasia’s eyes glimmer with excitement.
“Is it intuition or something? Wow… Ellie Young Lady must be a genius! Were you born inheriting everything from Arisa? Or could you be Arisa’s reincarnation?”
No, what kind of terrible curse is that?
At least curse my mom!
And it’s not Arisa’s reincarnation; it’s Ronan’s reincarnation!
Ronan Luzarack! The founder of the swordsmanship you all practice!
It’s me! Damn it!
I barely held back my urge to curse and spoke as calmly as I could.
“Yurasia, didn’t I tell you not to say those things about me being Arisa’s reincarnation?”
“Ah. Are you perhaps embarrassed?”
Man, what on earth do I do with this kid? Huh? Like, I just want to smack her hard.
“…Uh. I’m embarrassed, so please stop.”
“Ahaha! Then, should I just call you a genius? Ellie Young Lady is a genius!”
Yes. Genius… that sounds much better.
But I’m not a genius.
Genius belongs to Paulo and Kaloso.
What I look like right now is just me utilizing the memories and senses of my past life to the extreme.
If I had to put it another way—
“Ronan, you’re not a genius. But you’re not an idiot either. If you had to label it, you’d be half genius, half idiot.”
—“What’s half genius supposed to mean? Luna, have you lost your intelligence playing with a chimp?”
—“I’m not a chimp! Don’t call me a chimp!”
Half genius.
That seems like the right term to describe it.
“Well, I guess I’m not a genius.”
With a small smirk, I stood up and picked up the wooden sword that had fallen to the ground.
Now, who should I ask to duel with this time?
Should I duel with Yurasia again?
At least she swings her sword somewhat seriously.
While I was contemplating this—
“Impressive, Ellie.”
A voice came from the corner of the training grounds.
A man dressed in faded clothes and carrying an old sword at his waist.
My father, Turius Eustetia’s brother, and also the deputy commander of the Knight Order, known as Muyeong.
Kerian Eustetia approached me.
When did that guy come in?
“Did you get hurt anywhere?”
“Ah, Sir Kerian. Long time no see.”
Normally, I’d refer to him as ‘Uncle,’ but I can’t do that here.
But—
“Huh… Sir Kerian? Did I do something wrong to Ellie?”
What will you do if you say that?
Don’t you care about your authority or dignity?
“…Still, in a gathering like this, it’s better to refer to me as such—”
“No. Our Eustetia family doesn’t need that sort of unnecessary decorum. Right, Knight Order members?”
With a sly shake of his head, Kerian walked closer with a smile.
“So, please act as you usually would?”
This person will definitely keep pestering me until I call him Uncle.
Then that’ll ruin the mood and make it boring.
“Tch.”
“…Fine, Uncle. It’s been a while.”
“Hahaha! Yes, yes. It’s been a while. So, is the duel over?”
Kerian’s eyes scanned the training grounds.
Knights sweating, apprentices sprawled on the floor, wooden fragments scattered around them.
And the two wooden swords I held and the other leaning against the floor.
I don’t know how he figured it out, but I guess he might have noticed something.
But since he asked, I answered.
“Not yet. I still have two rounds left.”
At my reply, the faces of the Knight Order turned gloomy.
After thirty-five duels, I thought the atmosphere had lightened up, but it seems it’s still tough in front of my family.
I felt a bit bad, but what can I do?
I’m not going back until everything I brought breaks.
I brushed my damp hair sticking to my nape due to sweat and looked around.
Just then, I caught Yurasia’s eye at the perfect moment.
Guess it’s good to duel with Yurasia this time.
I smiled at her, and Yurasia shook her head in disgust.
Yeah, I won’t think about it.
Just as I was about to approach Yurasia—
“Uh, Ellie. Since Uncle is here, how about we wrap it up for today and have dinner together?”
Kerian’s voice held me back at the ankle.
“Uncle brought a ton of sweets that can only be found in the North just for you.”
The North?
Oh, then did Kerian also bring the wooden sword mom gifted?
“The delicacies of the North! Sweets said to be made by melting the everlasting snow of the North! These sweets are sold exclusively by reservation and take at least half a year of waiting time. Aren’t you tempted to have some?”
clink-clink— A small jar of sweets inside a glass jar sparkled.
Following him, Yurasia’s eyes sparkled too.
“Young Lady, Young Lady! Those sweets are called Kaiyer candy, and they say it’s incredibly sweet! The surface is soft, so it won’t irritate your tongue, and it’s small enough to eat easily! Yet, it’s so long-lasting you have to save some from breakfast for the evening!”
Other knights nodded vigorously in agreement with Yurasia’s words.
They were smitten.
“…Then, let’s do it.”
I reluctantly nodded and accepted the sweets.
Then, glancing at the wooden sword, I spoke.
“I’ll leave this behind.”
I was going to take it back, but thinking about it, I really don’t need to take it with me.
“I’ll come again tomorrow.”
The faces of the knight order turned pale.
“Still, I’ll come after avoiding group training time. I don’t want to be a hindrance.”
chuckle-chuckle— I laughed while leaving the shocked Knight Order behind and stepped outside the training grounds.
“Oh, right. Yurasia, for every duel we have, I’ll give you one of those—what is it called? The North sweets.”
“It’s called Kaiyer candy!”
“Right, the Kaiyer candy. I’ll give you one for each duel. So, let’s have a good time tomorrow as well.”
“Yes!”
With her fists tightly clenched, Yurasia smiled sweetly as if she had eaten one of those sweets even though she hadn’t yet.
Is it really that delicious?
But I should split it since I treated her fairly well.
As I was about to open the candy jar—
“Oops.”
Kerian’s hand swiftly moved and snatched the candy away.
“Shhh. You can’t have it now. Candies should be eaten after meals.”
“…I wasn’t going to eat it; I was just going to give it to Yurasia.”
“Is that so? Uncle is sorry for misunderstanding.”
chuckle-chuckle— Kerian ruffled my hair.
…What am I, a mere kid?
“Don’t touch me when I’m sweaty.”
I brushed Kerian’s hand off out of annoyance.
Then, Kerian’s surprised expression turned to laughter.
“Huh…? Hahaha! So, Sara’s words were true.”
“Sara? What did Sara say?”
Leaving the still chuckling Kerian behind, I headed straight to the restaurant.
And my mind began to replay today’s duels.
The swordsmanship, body techniques, and footwork of the knight order.
I didn’t move meticulously enough to see properly.
But surely, those were things I enjoyed using in my past life.
Of course, they weren’t precisely the same.
But they were perfect.
The shortcomings I had in the past—
It felt like I had erased all the flaws that my companions had pointed out.
Did the chimp change it?
Did the times change it to adapt?
I can’t know for sure.
But it didn’t feel good.