Chapter 11

In the training ground where people were still sparsely present, Linne's hired soldiers were likely training even into the late night. They were quite dedicated. Some might have come to exercise after finishing their work.

"Simulated combat... that place over there would be just right."

The man with the spear called out to the soldiers present and borrowed a wooden training spear. I was also lent a wooden sword at the entrance. I had a black sword, but since this was just a simulated battle, I decided to use the wooden sword.

Thus, Gil... no, Al... or whatever, Barte got into position with the wooden training spear.

"This is the man who's known in the capital – let me gauge the hero's strength."

"Sure, I'll do my best."

"Alright, let's go."

Immediately, the training began in a real combat style. The atmosphere around the man with the spear changed instantly. His eyes became sharp, as they were when we first met.

His movements shifted from slow to quick – a beautiful transformation. It was clear he was no ordinary man.

He launched sharp thrusts. The refined techniques were beautiful, and the years of rigorous training were evident.

I was captivated by his movements as I dodged the attacks.

But something felt off.

It was slow...

No, that wasn't it.

He was holding back significantly. He must have already gauged my strength and was moving much slower than usual.

"I can tell you're holding back – you don't need to go that easy on me. I can keep up with that pace."

"Huh? ...Oh, I see. Sorry about that. How about this?"

The man's movements became much faster. They were more fluid, with no wasted motion and no openings.

But... it was still slow.

I could dodge without much concentration. He was still holding back.

"It's still okay. It looks slow to me."

"...Alright."

The man's aura changed again. He exuded a presence that could be interpreted as killing intent. His eyes seemed to pierce through me. The spear moved like a living thing, dancing through the air, and he skillfully used feints to attack my blind spots. It was like the movements of a master.

But...

It still didn't feel like he was giving it his all. It still felt slow. It was faster than before, but not so fast that I couldn't dodge. In fact, it seemed like he was deliberately showing openings to provoke attacks.

When he launched a thrust, I dodged, and he was left unguarded.

His back was open, inviting me to strike.

It seemed like he was telling me to do so.

Was he deliberately doing this?

But... was he really?

If this was his true strength...

Could that be possible?

But if it was, maybe I had actually... improved a little.

Just as I was thinking this...

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

The man's oppressive aura exploded, and his movements wavered for a moment. In that instant, he disappeared from my sight.

I realized the spear's tip was right in front of me.

Damn... I'm going to get hit.

I had let my guard down.

All the slow attacks were feints, leading up to this one strike. The slow movements were just to get me used to them, and I failed to notice the setup.

The spear was heading straight for my throat.

It was moving at an incredible speed.

Even a wooden spear could have the power to pierce rock.

In other words, I had to avoid it...

...or die.

Realizing my mistake, I dodged with all my might. Using my full strength in [Body Reinforcement] and [Stealth Step], I managed to move behind the man just before the spear's tip reached my throat.

"–That was really close–"

Was this man really trying to kill me just now?

–No, that's not it.

From the beginning, the gap in our abilities was clear. He had seen it.

This man must have been careful to ensure I didn't get hurt, gauging the speed at which I could just barely dodge and attacking accordingly. Indeed, I had just barely managed to dodge.

–That's the only way I can think of it.

Now, the man seemed to be standing defenseless in front of me.

But even that was probably just another feint.

In other words, he was saying:

"Don't get cocky just because you've taken down a bull."

–Complacency leads to death.

He was warning me.

"–I understand. I lose."

My complacency had been seen through.

He had even gone out of his way to stop me...

To go to such lengths to point out my flaws.

Ines and this man were such kind people.

"There's no point in continuing. This is enough."

"–What? What do you mean...?"

He was still trying to train me.

But I had learned enough. I had it etched in my heart.

I was still weak.

"–I look forward to seeing you again."

Someday, when the time comes,

I will face him with all my strength.

It was foolish to think I could just take a bath and go to sleep.

I had become complacent.

I needed to train even harder–

With this new resolve, I left the training ground.

◇◇◇

When Gilbert heard the news, his heart leaped.

–The princess had been attacked by the abyssal monster, the Minotaur.

But there was a man who had slain the Minotaur alone.

He was curious about this man.

If he was that strong, he might be an interesting and ambitious character.

He wanted to see what kind of person he was. As he was thinking this, the man approached, led by Princess Linnheburg.

The man was unexpectedly humble.

He didn't desire money, a place to live, honor, or even a mountain of treasure.

He was rough but had a dignified presence and no unpleasant traits.

In terms of age, he was not much different from Gilbert.

In terms of build, he was slightly larger, but he didn't have the kind of presence that suggested he could kill a Minotaur alone.

Is this man really that strong?

He wondered as he saw him in person.

Gilbert himself was incredibly strong.

He was given the title [Spear Saint], on par with the [Sword Saint], and was counted among the strongest in the kingdom.

Because of this, he was bored.

He had no rivals –

No one in the kingdom could match him.

The only one he still considered his equal was the legendary [Sword Saint] Sieg, known as the [Thousand Swords]. Everyone else was no match for him.

–Boring. They're all too weak.

Gilbert was bored.

He wanted a rival.

He wanted someone his age, with equal strength, who could speak to him as an equal.

He knew it was a selfish desire, but he always searched for it in his heart.

This man was said to be strong.

If he had slain the Minotaur, he must be incredibly strong.

This man might have the strength to match Gilbert.

But he didn't seem that strong.

Gilbert decided to test him himself.

So he initiated a simulated battle.

The battle began.

But no matter how much Gilbert attacked, the man didn't counterattack.

Gilbert was puzzled.

"I can tell you're holding back – you don't need to go that easy on me. I can keep up with that pace."

The man in front of him said this.

He seemed to feel that Gilbert was holding back.

This was the first time this had happened.

Most of the time, Gilbert's opponents were defeated before he could fully display his skills.

So, Gilbert might have subconsciously held back.

–I wasn't trying to hold back just now.

"What? ...Oh, I see. Sorry about that. How about this?"

Gilbert discarded all hesitation and attacked with full force.

The spear strikes he launched were so intense that even he was surprised.

This was the first time he had wielded a spear with such fluidity.

He was launching his fastest and most precise attacks.

–But.

What was going on?

There was no sign of the attacks even grazing the man.

Moreover, the man didn't even use the wooden sword in his hand.

Meanwhile, Gilbert was pushing himself to the limit.

No, he was already beyond his limit.

But he still couldn't reach the man.

He couldn't land a single hit.

This was the first time this had happened.

Then the man said:

"It's still okay. It looks slow to me."

"...Alright."

Alright, if that's what you want –

Gilbert laughed to himself.

Something inside him snapped.

–I'll give you what you want, my full power.

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Thrust"

This was Gilbert's strongest attack, capable of stopping a lightning dragon in its tracks.

It was a lethal spear strike that left sound behind.

He had never used it on a person before.

He shouldn't have used it.

–But.

The technique was launched from Gilbert without hesitation.

It wasn't a conscious decision.

His body, honed to the extreme and sharpened through battle, made the decision faster than his mind.

–This is the only way to reach this man with my spear.

By the time Gilbert realized it, the spear's tip was about to reach the man's throat.

A strike so fast that even his own consciousness couldn't keep up.

Ah, my spear is about to reach that man.

That was all Gilbert could think.

–Good, it reached.

Just as he thought this, the man's body vanished like a mirage.

When Gilbert realized it, the man was standing behind him.

He couldn't understand what had happened.

He was just stunned.

But he noticed something before disappointment set in.

Cracks ran through the stone floor, and a large section had caved in.

This was where the man had been standing just moments ago.

Why is this here?

There were no such cracks before.

The floor must have been damaged by something the man did.

Looking around, he saw shattered stones in various places.

There must have been a significant impact.

Yet, there was no sound.

What was this?

"–I give up. I lose."

Gilbert, still confused, heard the man behind him say this.

"There's no point in continuing. This is enough."

"–What? What do you mean...?"

The content was clear – a complete defeat.

For Gilbert, this was his first total and utter defeat in a direct confrontation.

But the man said, "I lose."

The man had deliberately "lost."

The training ground still had some of Gilbert's subordinates training.

This was a consideration for their gaze.

He had lost and was being considerate.

The man then walked towards the exit of the training ground –

And as they passed, he said:

"I look forward to seeing you again."

With that, the man left without looking back.

He had been shown mercy and the match had been abandoned.

For a warrior, this was the ultimate humiliation.

Left in the training ground, Gilbert was shaken by the feeling of his first defeat.

But more than that – he was elated.

He had a new goal to strive for.

Before he knew it, [Spear Saint] Gilbert was grinning ferociously and whispering:

"Ah, yes. From now on, things will be more interesting."