Chapter 36

I was frantically deflecting the sword in front of me, running continuously – and before I knew it, I had broken through that large group.

──Damn, I've gone too far.

Realizing this, I stopped and turned around – and saw an old man wearing a gaudy golden armor, mounted on a horse with a similar golden harness.

Involuntarily, my eyes were drawn to his bizarre appearance.

What is that old man –?

"Who are you?"

When our eyes met, the old man looked at me and asked this question.

However, there was no time to chat and rest.

Immediately, the sword I had deflected fell.

If the soldiers picked up their weapons and attacked me all at once, I would be in serious trouble.

– Hurry.

It's not time to rest yet.

Deflect as many weapons as possible.

I dove back into the crowd, running around desperately, deflecting weapons non-stop.

The opponents not only had swords but also strange 'shields'.

They were using these to deflect the falling swords, so I made sure to deflect those as well.

On the way, I saw a large black cylinder emitting a red light and a white cross-like object that also emitted a red light, so I forcefully deflected all of them.

I knew that what I was doing was just buying time – but it was much better than doing nothing.

Thinking this, I deflected all the objects in front of me and found myself back at the end of the formation – where the gaudy old man was.

"…You… m… a…"

The old man was staring straight at me, muttering something.

To be honest, I was so busy deflecting weapons that I barely had time to breathe, so I couldn't hear him clearly.

The old man, with a frightened expression, drew his sword from his waist and took a stance on his horse, aiming at me.

However – the old man clearly had a weak, non-combatant build. His arms were thin, and even his hand holding the thin sword was trembling.

He was probably not a combatant.

That sword was probably just for self-defense.

He must have been afraid, thinking I was a dangerous person who had come to take his life.

Given the situation, it was understandable.

There was no need to deflect the old man's sword.

No matter how you looked at it, he wasn't even in a position to swing a sword.

He was just showing a sign of resistance.

So, I ignored the old man on the horse and ran to where the soldiers were picking up their fallen weapons.

After deflecting all the weapons, I found myself back at the end of the formation – where the old man had been.

There, I stopped for a moment and took a deep breath.

While running around and deflecting weapons, I didn't even have time to breathe.

If I didn't take a breath now and then, I would collapse.

As I was desperately trying to fill my lungs with air, I met the old man's eyes again.

However, the old man had fallen off his horse, his face covered in dirt, and was sitting on the ground.

What happened –?

Is the old man okay?

I was a bit worried about him, but some of the soldiers had started picking up their swords again.

This was bad.

I couldn't let them get their weapons.

Thinking this, I dove back into the formation, running around and deflecting swords and shields one by one –

When I returned to the same spot to take another breath, the old man looked at me with a terrified expression.

– What's wrong?

What happened?

Perhaps to him, I looked like a very frightening person.

After standing still for a while, the old man's face gradually distorted, and he looked like he was about to cry.

– Wait, it's not like that.

I didn't want to be here either.

I wanted to escape just as much as they did.

The old man was so frightened that he looked like he might die of fear, and it was a pitiful sight.

Even though he was on the attacking side – I was a bit worried about the trembling old man.

I tried to show him that I had no intention of attacking, and I made the best smile I could.

"– Ni –"

– It might have been a bit stiff.

After intense exercise, I was out of breath and my face was tense.

But if he could understand my feelings, even a little, that would be enough.

I tried to lift the corners of my mouth as much as I could.

The old man's face froze.

It seemed that his body's trembling had stopped.

– I wonder.

Did he understand?

I was a bit worried if my feelings had really gotten across, but I could see soldiers picking up their swords in the distance again.

No, I can't let them get their weapons.

Thinking this, I ran to the soldiers with all my strength.

I intended to keep going at this pace as far as I could.

But gradually, my legs wouldn't listen to me anymore.

Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten much since a light breakfast in the early morning.

Also, I had vomited a lot of blood when I fought the poison frog.

I thought it would be fine, but after that, I received a powerful blow from Lean and continued to be attacked by the large dragon.

On top of that, this crazy exercise.

It was no wonder I was reaching my limit.

I have to end this and escape soon –

Just as I was thinking this, my knees gave out.

"– ! –"

Damn –!

I had misjudged my physical limits.

But I couldn't stop here.

If I stopped, I would be beaten to death.

If my legs failed, I wouldn't be able to escape.

Even [Low Heel] has its limits.

It can heal wounds, but it can't heal fatigue or hunger.

This is bad – my legs won't move.

I had pushed myself beyond my limits and moved too intensely.

I was having trouble breathing.

I couldn't get enough air.

"– Hah –"

I must have pushed my lungs too hard.

I spat out a little blood.

My movements slowed down.

Finally, my legs stopped.

My head felt dizzy, and the scenery around me blurred.

For a moment, I felt dizzy and lost consciousness.

When I came to, I was surrounded by several soldiers with swords.

I can't escape now.

I can't raise my arms to hold a sword.

My legs won't move –!

The soldiers who had picked up their swords attacked me all at once.

This is it.

I'm going to be killed here.

But I had bought as much time as I could.

I hope Lean, Ines, and Lolo managed to escape.

At least, I hope those kids survive –

Thinking this, I looked up at the sky, ready to die.

"– ? –"

But then, I saw something like stars twinkling in the sky.

The countless lights filling the sky were approaching like meteors, trailing tails –

"Star Sky Bow Shock"

A rain of glowing arrows fell all around.

Strangely, they changed their trajectory in mid-air, accurately striking the soldiers' arms and legs, rendering them combat ineffective.

That is –

I had seen this once before.

It was definitely the technique of the [Hunter] instructor.

He showed it to me as a last gift, saying it was for the stubborn me who wouldn't give up.

The ultimate bow skill that accurately shoots all targets on the ground from the sky.

The soldiers who had their limbs shot were groaning and falling to the ground one by one.

But some were still picking up their swords and coming at me with terrifying expressions.

No, my body won't move – I'm going to be killed.

"Dragon Extermination Extreme Flash Shock"

But the soldiers around me were suddenly blown away by a sudden gust of wind.

Looking around, I saw a familiar man standing there, holding a golden spear.

That is –

The man with the spear.

"Did you come, Al… no, Hal… Lambert"

"Gilbert"

The man with the spear, Gilbert, looked around quietly.

"What the hell is going on here…?

…No, it was probably you, wasn't it?

When I heard that there was a fool who had rushed into the army alone, I wondered who it could be – but now I understand."

He laughed and put the spear on his shoulder.

But I could see multiple soldiers trying to attack him from behind.

He didn't seem to notice them.

– Dangerous.

I tried to shout a warning, but blood filled my throat and I couldn't make a sound.

"Thousand Blades"

But the soldiers were instantly cut down, bleeding from all over their bodies and falling to the ground.

I recognized this technique.

It was definitely –

"You're late, Master. I got here first"

"– Sorry… others are on their way"

There he was – I would never forget.

He was a bit older, but I recognized his face.

The man with a long sword at his waist was the [Swordsman] instructor.

He was the instructor at the training ground for the [Swordsman] profession I had always admired.

He turned to me and said this.

"I don't know who you are – but I'm really grateful.

But I'm sorry, but please leave the rest to us.

It wouldn't do for the [Capital Six Armies] to be useless here.

At least let us take care of the cleanup."

Saying this, the instructor placed his hand on the sword at his waist and drew it in one swift horizontal motion.

"Thousand Killing Sword"

Then, a thousand blades, almost invisible to the eye, raced across the battlefield – and blood splattered everywhere.

– Ah, this is it.

This is the very image of the [Swordsman] I had always admired.

The technique I had always aimed for.

I had been captivated by this technique, which I had seen only once, and started deflecting wooden swords.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't acquire any [Skills].

– But I wanted to get close to it, no matter what.

So, I tried to mimic it in form, deflecting a thousand wooden swords.

If I couldn't get the real thing – even a fake would do.

As a result of this twisted effort – I really could do it.

A technique to forcefully deflect a thousand wooden swords.

But my technique was just a mimicry.

Of course, I couldn't cut like the real thing.

For these past dozen years, how much I had wanted to see the real thing again.

– Now, the real thing is right in front of me