Chapter 25. Third Match (4)

Ralph slightly showed a surprised expression when he saw his grandson.

'Unchi, that kid...'

The time he spent with Unchi since he was just a newborn was longer than with the kid's parents.

However, this was the first time he had seen such a look in Unchi's eyes.

Even from a distance, the frustration was clearly palpable.

'Could this child... have such a face?'

He was a simple, obedient child who never complained or grumbled when told to do something.

Moreover, he had never shown a strong will for anything.

At first, it seemed like he was learning Machi Art reluctantly, but later it appeared he found it interesting, which made Ralph feel relieved.

However, he was concerned about Unchi's excessive concern for others.

Still, he thought it was enough that Unchi didn't say he didn't want to learn Machi Art.

But now...

"Was I wrong..."

Seeing Ralph's dazed face, Johann chuckled inwardly.

'Even you, who were so strict, couldn't help but dote on your bloodline, huh?'

Ralph's son was born frail, resembling his mother.

Therefore, Ralph took on a disciple to prevent his vision from being lost.

However, no matter how much he treated the disciple like a son, he wasn't really his son.

In the midst of this, how much must Ralph have cherished the bloodline that could fully inherit his vision?

'Too much affection has become a poison.'

A master like Ralph would not have failed to realize what kind of character his grandson had.

But excessive overprotection must have clouded his judgment.

'Juri, who has an objective perspective as an outsider, was the first to notice the true character of Unchi.'

Originally, Unchi was a quick-witted kid, and after spending a few months with Unchi, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed.

'What a cunning kid.'

When Unchi suddenly proposed a real sword sparring, Johann wondered what his intentions were this time...

'So, this was your plan.'

Johann, who was certain of Juri's strategy, clicked his tongue.

'Even if it's the same sparring, the difference between a wooden sword and a real sword is significant.'

The presence or absence of lethal power and the potential for accidents.

In a desperate crisis, the continuous pressure and tension would bring out Unchi's true self.

Johann, seeing Juri grinning, clicked his tongue inwardly.

But he didn't show it on the surface and pretended not to know.

He said to Ralph,

"Your grandson seems to be full of enthusiasm. As Juri said, we can start right away."

"Hmm..."

"Too bad, what's the point of dragging it out if you're going to lose anyway?"

Ralph, who knew that Juri could use Naegeuk, was well aware that this sparring was disadvantageous for Unchi.

But he was strangely confident.

"Whether it's long or short, we have to face it, don't we?"

"Even if you lose, won't you be embarrassed?"

"Hmph!"

Ralph and Johann engaged in a strange psychological battle while watching the sparring ground.

In it, Juri's eyes sparkled when he saw Unchi.

'Oh? Look at this.'

The kid's aura had changed.

Juri chuckled and said,

"Did my beating hurt you that much? You seem to have come to your senses."

"Brother Juri..."

"What is it?"

"I'm going to win this time."

"Yeah, that's just your wishful thinking. Hey, and I told you to call me 'Brother,' right?"

Juri's reprimand left Unchi speechless.

Instead, he gripped the end of his spear and raised it high.

Thus, the final match of the best two out of three began.

Juri didn't rush in this time but observed his opponent.

"Wow, you've grown so much."

Standing at nearly 2 meters tall, Unchi holding a 4-meter spear gave off a towering, oppressive presence.

But what was even more terrifying was the intense aura rising from Unchi's body.

Pitter-patter.

The rain, which had started to fall and was now quite heavy, struck Unchi.

But the raindrops were repelled by the violent mana fluctuations.

This showed how much mana Unchi was pouring into this single strike.

Juri looked at him with a slightly surprised face.

'Creepy!'

The mana and killing intent flowing through the halberd made his skin tingle.

If he were to be hit by that, it wouldn't just be broken bones.

'At the very least, he'd be split in half and die.'

Or, he might turn into a bloody mess on impact.

It was a terrifying attack, but the strategy was too simple.

'The preparation time is too long.'

The more destructive power Unchi aimed to generate, the more time it took.

With such a long preparation time, all Juri had to do was stay out of the attack range.

Or, he could just rush in and beat him up.

'There's no need to use Naegeuk.'

Since there was no need to wait for the attack, Juri was about to rush at Unchi.

But then Unchi shouted,

"Brother Juri! If you can block this, Grandpa will make you a sword out of pure white steel!"

Screech.

Juri, who was about to charge, came to an abrupt stop.

"...What?"

"Eh?!"

Juri was surprised, but Johann was even more so.

Silence fell over the clearing for a moment.

Then, Johann, realizing what he had heard, grabbed Ralph by the collar.

"Hey, you crazy bastard! Using such a despicable trick in a kids' sparring match?! Do you really want to win that badly?!"

"Hehe, my senior taught me that the one who loses to me can't sleep, but the one who wins will laugh and sleep. How about it, my surefire strategy?"

"You, you... despicable..."

It was a shameless statement, but it was all true, so Johann couldn't even retort.

He had said the same thing to Ralph when he was in the cradle, grinning at the defeated Ralph.

'Ugh, getting worked up over something from the past... But still, when did this guy figure out Juri's personality to this extent?'

The time they spent together over the past half-year wasn't wasted, it seemed.

It was a despicable and dirty, but perfect strategy that targeted Juri's personality and weaknesses.

How perfect it was, the effect was immediate.

'Look at him, look!'

Clack-clack.

The sound of the money-obsessed guy's eyes rolling could be heard from here.

In fact, Juri was very seriously considering it.

"...White steel? Really?"

During his travels, there was a mercenary who boasted about a sword made by mixing a tiny bit of white steel with steel.

Because he boasted so much, Juri couldn't forget about white steel.

'That white steel, which is said to be five times stronger and more elastic than regular steel? That white steel, which is three times more expensive than gold of the same weight?!!'

He's offering to make a sword out of pure white steel?

Just by blocking that attack?

'Really? Reallyyyyy?'

When Juri's golden eyes shook as if an earthquake had hit, Ralph's voice added fuel to the fire.

"I'll make you a pure white steel sword! No other metals mixed in!"

That settled Juri's dilemma.

He adjusted his stance to charge.

Swish, thud.

His right leg, which he had extended to move forward, pulled back, and his legs were firmly planted on the ground, immovable even if pushed.

Juri patted his sturdy thighs and shouted loudly,

"Hey! Unchi, you! What are you doing, still not coming in! I'll block that attack no matter what, so come on! Come on!"

Not just a cheap mix of steel and white steel, but a pure white steel sword?!

How could he resist?

Seeing Juri's grin, Johann's face turned red with anger.

"That, that, that crazy guy!"

It was a situation where he could have ended it with a single punch to the chest!

Johann roared,

"Hey, you brat, just lose! I'll hang you upside down and throw you off a cliff!"

At Johann's shout, as if waiting for it, Unchi's entire spear glowed red.

The massive mana contained in the spearhead made it seem like it would explode at any moment.

"Kiaaaaaah!"

With a fierce battle cry, Unchi swung his spear.

It was a simple vertical slash.

But the problem was Unchi's strength.

Creak, creak, creak.

The spearhead couldn't keep up with Unchi's immense power, and the spear shaft bent backward as if it would break.

And at that very moment,

Bang!

An explosion erupted from the tip of Unchi's spear.

The halberd blade, generating a mana explosion, gained powerful thrust.

Whoosh.

It fell with incredible speed.

Schnell Halberd Technique – Cold Wall Splitter

The legendary spear technique that was said to have split part of the Cold Wall Mountains in the past materialized before Juri.

Facing it, Juri felt as if death was approaching.

The surroundings slowed down to the point where the now quite heavy raindrops were clearly visible.

The red trajectory of the halberd, moving at an incredible speed.

Despite the unavoidable crisis, Juri smiled.

'Old man, who said I would lose?'

Although he had fallen for the temptation of the pure white steel sword, Juri had no intention of losing, not even a speck.

'If I can block this and still win, isn't that the goal?'

What's so difficult about that?

As Juri's smile deepened, his sword moved.

Swish.

A silver trajectory began to beautifully follow the lines of the pouring rain.

Just like that day...

Whoosh.

In the rain, Johann had shown him an 'illusion.'