Chapter 19: Witch Hunt – (2)

The beginning was a probing battle.

We were both swinging our swords, but it was nothing more than a half-hearted attack to gauge each other’s strength.

‘Because of Rex’s words, she’s wary of me.’

Her sword swung with room to retreat.

Her stance was designed to fall back, and I knew it well.

‘But I have no intention of testing her.’

Although it was before the regression, I had sparred with Ilia dozens, if not hundreds of times.

Even though neither Ilia nor I were Sword Masters anymore, and our bodies were not fully grown, Ilia’s swordsmanship was almost the same as before the regression, excluding its completeness.

‘I’ve seen it so many times that I could dodge it with my eyes closed.’

Of course, I had no intention of doing so.

That would be disrespectful to Ilia.

Naturally, I had no intention of losing.

‘Is she going all out now?’

Ilia’s stance changed drastically.

The sword that had been passive was now right in front of me.

‘Is it because of the difference in our levels? She’s definitely fast.’

But it wasn’t fast enough that I couldn’t block it.

I quickly retracted my sword and blocked Ilia’s strike.

Clang!

The metallic sound echoed once more.

At the same time, Ilia’s barrage of attacks began.

Even when our strength and speed were similar, her barrage was hard to block.

And now, with Ilia surpassing me in both strength and speed, it should have been even harder to defend against.

‘This is manageable.’

But I easily blocked Ilia’s barrage.

I had seen Ilia’s barrage countless times.

Compared to her past barrage, the current one was less refined and couldn’t touch me.

Clang!

As our swords clashed, the unpleasant sound echoed through the air, and the sparring reached a lull.

“…Are you really an Expert Beginner?”

Ilia frowned and asked me.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much I could tell her.

“Yes, I am. It’s just that my swordsmanship is a bit exceptional.”

“…A bit…?”

Ilia muttered in disbelief.

It was only natural for her to feel that way.

‘Being a Sword Master isn’t just some random title.’

Even before learning from my brother, my swordsmanship was excellent.

In the Obsidian Knights, there were only a handful of people who could surpass me, so it wasn’t a level to be underestimated.

Moreover, having learned from those few and from my brother, I was now at a level that Ilia, who was still an Intermediate Expert, couldn’t even dream of reaching.

From the way I held my sword to the way I swung it, the distribution of strength, and even the part of the sword I used to block, there was a difference.

Each of these small actions combined to form an impenetrable shield and a fang that could tear through anything.

I wanted Ilia to feel that difference.

‘Ilia needs to get stronger too.’

I can’t kill the Emperor by myself.

Even if we had more than 10 years, we would have to kill the Emperor within 4 years at most.

‘Because war must not break out.’

In the past, Ilia seemed strong, but I knew she was tormented by guilt.

She spent more nights awake than asleep and often gagged while eating.

Having seen and experienced all that, I wanted to prevent war at all costs.

That’s why not only I, but Ilia also needed to grow stronger.

With that thought in mind, I decided to push harder.

“Aren’t you going to use your Aura?”

At my words, Ilia hesitated.

From her perspective, it was only natural.

No matter how much of a difference there was in our swordsmanship, Aura was something she couldn’t overcome.

The difference between a Lower and Intermediate Expert was enormous.

The absolute amount of Aura alone made a huge difference, and this affected the reach, power, and speed of the sword.

In a fight where a single handful could decide the outcome, the difference of a single level was insurmountable.

That difference couldn’t be bridged by swordsmanship.

‘It’s no wonder the Empire’s knights are obsessed with their training methods.’

No matter how skilled you are, it won’t work against someone with greater strength and speed.

The advantage of swordsmanship only holds when both parties have similar levels of strength.

That’s why in the Empire, Aura and training methods are more important than swordsmanship.

I didn’t deny that.

‘But that’s only true in general situations.’

I had already experienced the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

I had seen the Emperor, who moved at the same speed as me, dodging my sword with ease.

I had also seen my brother’s sword, which was so awe-inspiring just to look at.

Their swords were something that defied common sense, and now I could barely mimic a fraction of their skill.

“Don’t underestimate me.”

With those words, I released my Aura before Ilia did.

The Aura that spread from my dantian covered my body and even enveloped my sword in a brilliant light.

A technique only possible after becoming a Sword Expert.

Although the amount of Aura was lacking, making the mirage very faint, its completeness was exceptional.

Seeing this, Ilia also infused her sword with Aura.

“…”

We stared at each other in silence.

Who would make the first move?

Who would attack first?

‘The amount of Aura is much less on my side.’

Naturally, my duration would also be shorter.

Ilia knew this and took a defensive stance rather than advancing.

And even though I knew it was a trap, I had no choice but to charge at Ilia.

The sound of metal clashing… didn’t reach my ears.

Because the moment I swung my sword, Ilia had already closed in on me.

My thoughts accelerated.

Ilia’s sword was already at my throat.

Even if she didn’t intend to cut me, it was close enough to do so in less than a tenth of a second.

But I had anticipated this.

When I swung my sword, I deliberately held back, allowing me to retract it quickly.

Clang!

I stepped back and blocked Ilia’s sword with my retracted blade.

For a moment, Ilia’s eyes widened, but she immediately swung her sword again.

‘Blocking is tough.’

Speed was an issue, but strength was the bigger problem.

Even though I anticipated and blocked, I could feel myself being pushed back.

If I kept blocking, my arms would tire out first.

‘Then I’ll definitely lose.’

As Ilia thought, swordsmanship could be overcome with superior Aura.

If I blocked, the difference in strength would push me back, and if I didn’t, her sword would reach me first.

It was a hellish dilemma.

But there was a way.

The damn Emperor had toyed with me without even drawing his sword.

I could do the same.

The moment Ilia retracted her sword to strike again, I closed the distance between us.

It was a brief opening created by the significant difference in our swordsmanship skills.

Of course, Ilia swung her sword at my movement.

‘If this continues, her sword will reach me first.’

Even though Ilia had shown an opening and her stance was unsteady, the difference in physical ability and Aura was in her favor.

And I knew this.

That’s why I lowered my head.

The awkward movement from not fully retracting her sword, the distance between us.

Considering all that, the area Ilia could strike was limited.

‘Human joints can only move in certain directions.’

So Ilia couldn’t target my lower body.

Knowing this, I lowered my head, and as expected, Ilia’s sword cut through the air.

“I win.”

With those words, I placed my sword at Ilia’s throat.

“…I lose.”

Ilia said as she sheathed her sword, and I followed suit.

“Aren.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Ilia seemed to have something to say but ultimately didn’t say anything.

Just as I was about to question her, an unexpected figure appeared in the training ground.

“…Brother?”

Blake Serigard.

For some reason, my brother had come looking for me and Ilia.

‘At this time, he should be guarding the Emperor…’

As if reading my thoughts, my brother spoke.

“It’s the Emperor’s orders.”

With those words, my brother handed Ilia a parchment.

“This is…”

Ilia took the parchment from my brother, unfolded it, and her face hardened.

“What’s going on?”

At my question, Ilia answered in a flat voice.

“…I have to go see the Emperor tomorrow.”

It had been nearly two weeks since Ilia had started staying in the capital.

After all this time, the Emperor, who hadn’t met her once, suddenly sent my brother to summon her.

“…This is ominous.”

At my words, Ilia slowly nodded.

“Brother, do you know anything?”

At my question, my brother shook his head.

“I don’t know the details either. I just saw the Emperor smiling…”

“He smiles all day long.”

That unsettling smile was still vividly etched in my memory.

“…Ilia.”

“It’ll be fine. The Emperor isn’t a fool.”

Ilia spoke calmly, but there was a faint unease in her eyes.

“I’ll go with you.”

At my words, Ilia shook her head.

“It’ll just draw the Emperor’s attention to you.”

Ilia’s words made sense.

If the Emperor saw us together, he might become suspicious of me.

So I bit my lip and muttered.

“…Be careful.”