Chapter 50

When he heard that the newcomer Rio was going to challenge a serious match, the adventurers intervened.

"Wait a minute, newcomer. Even with a wooden sword, you can die if you get hit in the wrong spot. Galdrat is serious in a real match, and if you fail to defend, you won't be able to get back up. Give it up."

"―Don't interfere with Rio."

Shiraha quietly warned the adventurers.

The seasoned adventurers tensed up for a moment, probably realizing they were within Shiraha's range, who could use magic.

An old guild staff member clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.

"Everyone, calm down. Newcomer, was your purpose to undergo a warrior's training?"

"Yes."

"If you're after Galdrat's secret techniques, give it up. Your skinny arms won't generate enough power."

"I'm not interested in the techniques themselves. They don't fit my sword style."

The old man furrowed his brow in puzzlement.

"If you want to test your strength, challenge any adventurer around here."

"No, it's not about testing my strength. I just want to figure out the source of the discomfort."

The old man and the adventurers looked perplexed at Rio's response.

Seeing that there was no way to dissuade him, Galdrat turned to Rio and glared sharply.

"I can't hold back."

"That's fine. If you hold back, I won't be able to figure out the source of the discomfort."

Rio calmly met Galdrat's intense gaze and observed him as if studying him.

Galdrat slowly readied his wooden sword at his waist.

Amid the murmurs of the adventurers, Rio mirrored Galdrat's stance, but with the tip of his sword lowered almost to the ground.

The adventurers, who had been wavering about whether to stop them, decided not to intervene once the two took their stances and moved away.

At that moment, Shiraha spoke.

"Move back further. It's dangerous."

"No, this is enough, right?"

"Back up twenty more steps."

The adventurers, deepening their confusion, reluctantly moved back at Shiraha's firm command. Shiraha, nodding in satisfaction, turned to Rio.

Rio smiled and praised him.

"Thank you. You're considerate."

"You're welcome."

Rio called out to Galdrat.

"Then, let's begin."

The moment he spoke, hatred filled Galdrat's eyes, and he bared his teeth like a hungry beast. Despite the overwhelming aura that would make a weak-willed person faint, Rio calmly observed Galdrat's entire body.

Rio didn't move. Galdrat didn't move.

The staring contest continued. It was a simple, unadulterated staring contest.

Indeed, thought Rio, as he lowered his stance.

He cautiously approached Galdrat, sliding his feet.

In an instant, Galdrat was right in front of him.

Rio narrowly avoided the sweeping wooden sword by rapidly retreating.

Before Rio's feet touched the ground, Galdrat lunged forward with a low growl.

Rio thrust his wooden sword into the ground and leaped back further.

Rio's feet touched the ground.

Immediately, Rio lowered his stance almost to his knees, pushed off the ground with his hand, and jumped sideways.

The audience momentarily lost sight of Rio due to his cat-like, unpredictable movement, but Galdrat accurately tracked him and lunged forward.

However, Rio, maintaining his extremely low stance, pushed off the ground with his toes and jumped again.

Even as Galdrat pursued, Rio changed direction by thrusting his wooden sword into the ground and skillfully stayed out of Galdrat's reach.

Just as the audience began to grow frustrated with Rio's evasive tactics, he suddenly returned to his normal stance and swung his leg back as if preparing to kick something on the ground.

Clearly vulnerable. Galdrat wouldn't miss this.

As Galdrat tried to close the distance, he was momentarily taken aback by the sight of Rio's shoe flying out from his swinging leg.

The shoe was heading towards a sword on a shelf behind Galdrat.

"―!"

Even if the shoe hit, it wouldn't mean Rio had taken the sword. Still, Galdrat was shaken... but his body was already swinging the wooden sword at Rio.

The sound of the wooden sword shattering filled the air. However, Rio had jumped back to soften the impact and hardened his body to the limit with his body enhancement.

Despite his light frame, he was blown away by Galdrat's strike but landed on the ground almost unharmed and without losing his balance.

"You were shaken."

Rio pointed out to Galdrat, who was frozen in the stance of swinging his wooden sword.

According to the rules of this serious match, there was no need to be shaken.

Rio had already seen through the reason for Galdrat's disturbance.

The fatal contradiction in Galdrat's sword style. That's why, fundamentally, Galdrat had lost to the much weaker Rio in this serious match.

"―Why do you try to attack with a defensive sword style?"

Galdrat's high skill level had masked it, but his stance was clearly designed to stand in place and defend.

Galdrat understood this, which is why he was shaken when Rio's shoe reached the sword he was supposed to protect.

However, Galdrat didn't let up on his offensive.

In response to Rio's question, Galdrat silently turned his back and walked into the partition behind the wall.

Shiraha picked up Rio's shoe and ran over to him.

"He was really shocked."

"There must be some reason. He said he's never been a knight despite using knight sword techniques, and he tries to attack with a defensive style. His sword and thoughts are reversed."

Looking around at the confused adventurers and guild staff, who couldn't follow the situation, Rio realized they wouldn't get the approval to venture deep into the forest at this rate.

"Let's call it a day. Galdrat needs some time too."

Rio took Shiraha's hand and left the training ground.

Just before they exited, Shiraha glanced back at Galdrat's sword and whispered.

"...Why didn't he get angry?"