Chapter 19. Best of Three (4)

It was around noon.

The place was a spacious open area behind the blacksmith's shop.

"Hmm... So, how old is that guy?"

This was what Yurii blurted out the moment he saw the sparring partner Ralph had brought, that is, the young bear.

His question was filled with bewilderment.

In response to Yurii's dumbfounded question, Ralph replied with a pleased expression.

"He's thirteen this year."

Immediately, a protest sprang out.

"Thirteen? That thing is thirteen? It looks like it's eaten more than thirteen years more than me!"

"Hey, you brat! What kind of foul mouth are you using on my beloved grandson who I wouldn't even mind putting in my eye!"

"Old bear... If you put that thing in your eye, you'd die."

Yurii, who was repulsed, turned his gaze to Johann.

"Old man! Old man, say something! How can that be thirteen? This is clearly a switch-up in the middle!"

Yurii sincerely believed that the old bear had switched the sparring partner in the middle.

After all, look at the kid who's supposed to be thirteen.

He stands at about 185 cm.

His arms are as thick as Yurii's calves.

His thighs are like tree trunks.

His neck is enormous.

And the biggest problem is that all of that is muscle.

A hulking giant with muscles so solid that a knife would bounce off.

How could that be the body of a thirteen-year-old?

Feeling deeply wronged, Yurii's voice rose.

Johann laughed heartily and patted Ralph's waist.

"Hahaha, they say blood doesn't lie, and your grandson is just like you when you were young."

"Tsk, just like me? When I was his age, I was a head taller and had more muscle."

"Hmm... Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case?"

"That kid probably inherited his grandmother's picky eating habits. Tsk, he shouldn't have inherited that."

Listening to the conversation between Johann and Ralph, Yurii resigned himself.

'It's over... It's over.'

Johann already believed without a doubt that the muscular monster in front of him was thirteen.

On the other hand, Yurii also found it somewhat convincing.

'Well, if he's the grandson of that bear-like old man, it could be possible.'

As the saying goes, you get beans from where you plant beans, and peas from where you plant peas.

If he's the grandson of a muscle-bound old bear, it's only natural that he would be a muscle-bound baby bear.

Just as he convinced himself of this, Yurii's face turned dark.

'So, I'm supposed to fight that guy? That hulk, without any divine transformation?'

If he could use divine transformation, he could win, but without it, it seemed like he would have to risk his life.

Moreover...

'What is that? An axe? A spear?'

Look at the weapon of that despicable hulk who claimed to be thirteen.

A spear shaft as thick as an average adult male's arm.

And a massive blade.

Even though it's a wooden spear, the strength with which he holds it is far from ordinary.

'What... is this...'

Best of three or whatever.

It feels like my skull will be cracked in the first round?

Yurii felt the precariousness of his life for the first time in a while.

'Well... there's nothing I can do about it!'

Finally, Yurii made a great decision and raised his hand.

"Wait!"

"......?"

Faced with the questioning gaze, Yurii declared boldly.

"Concede!"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

Confused voices came from all around, but Yurii ignored them and shouted again.

"I concede!"

Since it's best of three, he would give up the first round.

His clean and decisive declaration of concession left everyone momentarily speechless.

After a moment, Johann, who had regained his composure, placed his hand on Yurii's shoulder with a crooked smile.

"Hehe, what kind of nonsense is this brat spouting? Come on, go! Fight and die gloriously!"

"I refuse!"

Faced with Yurii's quick and firm refusal, Johann said with a look of disbelief.

"Where did that kid who was radiating an aura of 'Come at me, world! I'll take you all on!' go? You were saying that even the kids in the nursery could be beaten with your toes?"

"That's an exaggeration? I didn't say that much? How can someone fight with their toes?"

"Anyway! Where did that spirited kid go, and why are you just a coward now?"

"Forget that me. It was just the recklessness of a child."

Yurii rubbed his nose with his index finger, looking embarrassed.

Johann was even more exasperated by his audacity.

"It's only been a few months, you brat!"

"Kids grow quickly in a few days. And I've realized something."

"What?"

"The reality is tougher than I thought!"

"......"

"There are more monsters in this world than I thought. I've managed to survive until now just by luck. Even a predator can be killed by a herbivore's hind leg when it's a cub! So, I'll live quietly until my fangs and claws are fully grown!"

"...You're just trying to save face and avoid trouble, aren't you?"

"Hehe! It's the same thing, but it feels different when you put it that way. What should I say... an injured predator? A master hiding his strength? Oh! That's it. A master hiding his strength!"

"You're just spouting nonsense. Go and fight now!"

"No!"

As Yurii and Johann bickered as if they were pulling each other's hair, Ralph marveled.

"Wow... Where did you find a senior-like guy like that?"

Hearing this, Johann's eyes flared.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting! Am I as spineless as that brat?"

After letting out a screech and calming down, a realization flashed through Johann's mind.

'Wait, why have I been listening to this brat's nonsense all this time?'

Having gained a great insight, Johann suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hehehe."

"Huh?"

The slightly deranged laughter made Yurii's spine chill.

Instinctively, he tried to take a step back, but Johann's hand was faster.

Whoosh.

Johann's hand, like a flash, grabbed Yurii's nape and threw him into the center of the open area.

Yurii flew through the air.

"Eh?"

Thud.

"Wha?!"

Lying sprawled in the center of the open area, Yurii's ears caught Johann's cheerful voice.

"Alright, let's start! Fight!"

At this call, the grandson looked at Ralph.

His eyes seemed to ask if it was really okay to start.

Nod.

With Ralph's nod, the thirteen-year-old sighed and picked up the wooden spear.

For a moment, the boy hesitated, but then determination filled his eyes.

Whoosh!

The boy moved.

With a speed that didn't match his size, as if he had never hesitated.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Seeing the giant charging like a wild boar, shaking the earth, Yurii felt a chill down his spine.

'Ah, damn...'

He had boasted that he would teach the young bear a lesson.

But...

'It seems I'm the one who's going to get taught a lesson.'

Thud! Thud!

Seeing the sparring partner approaching in an instant, Yurii, filled with resentment, shouted.

"Hey, you crazy old man! If you're going to make me fight, at least give me a sword!"

At the same time, the wooden spear aimed for Yurii's head.

Seeing this, Yurii hurriedly stepped back.

Whoosh.

The sharp blade whistled past his face, just missing him.

But perhaps because he moved too hastily, his balance was slightly off.

"Ah!"

Frightened, Yurii leaned back, instinctively shifting his center of gravity and performing two backflips to escape.

His movements were so fast and agile that it was like watching a performance.

Whoosh! Thud!

At the same time, the heavy sound of the wooden spear blade embedding itself in the ground, just missing his crotch.

Having narrowly avoided losing his life and his 'precious part,' Yurii felt between his legs.

'Is it... still there?'

Relieved to find nothing wrong, Yurii, with a pale face, shouted.

"Hey, as a fellow man, this is a bit much, isn't it!"

It was a close call; if the spear had gone in just a finger's width deeper, it would have been squashed.

But despite Yurii's scream, Ralph's grandson continued his relentless attack.

Whoosh.

"Ah?!"

Whoosh.

"Ugh!"

The wooden spear, swung rapidly, created a fierce wind that rustled Yurii's clothes.

A series of attacks that would cause serious injury if even slightly grazed.

Whoosh.

"Ah!"

Yurii's screams were bizarre, but he dodged all the attacks with quick movements.

The most surprised by this was Yurii himself.

'My body... feels light?'

In the past, when fighting the Dutz gang, he had shown similar acrobatic dodging movements.

But the Dutz gang and the opponent in front of him were qualitatively different.

Although the opponent was much younger, his combat power was incomparable