Chapter 17

"Hey, that guy is really a 《Jobless》, right...?"

"Yeah, right? Normally, there's no way someone would fake their job in a tournament like this..."

"If that's the case—"

"Why the hell is he overwhelming an A-rank swordsman!?"

"Wh-What!?"

My sword avoided the opponent's shield and slashed his thigh, stripping away his blessing.

"Damn you!"

The opponent retaliated in a fit of rage, but his slash missed as I quickly stepped back.

"Don't kid me! There's no way you're 《Jobless》!?"

The one who shouted in anger was a 《Shield Swordsman》. Equipped with a shield in one hand, this job allows for a well-balanced offensive and defensive style of combat. As befitting an A-rank swordsman, it's quite difficult to penetrate the defense of that shield and deal damage.

"Thanks to that, I'm not exactly overwhelming him. I can only gradually chip away at his blessing because I'm not hitting vital points."

"That's already weird! To get this far without a single scratch, even if you weren't 《Jobless》, it's impossible!"

As he shouted, I had defeated six B-rank swordsmen in a row and was now facing my seventh opponent. Fortunately, I hadn't been hit even once, so my blessing remained at its maximum.

"I'm at a loss to hear that. I am a genuine 《Jobless》."

"Then why can you fight on par with me, who has the 《Advanced Sword Skills》 skill!?"

"That's obvious. I trained with a sword. You could say it's due to effort."

"But that's exactly what jobs and skills are for! They can't be overcome by effort alone!"

He attacked with a look of rage. But it was just a feint,

"I've got you! 《Shield Bash》!"

He tried to bash me with his shield.

But I could read his move.

"Premonition."

By intuitively predicting the next move, I can act faster than the opponent's initial action. It's one of the most difficult skills to master among the 《Sword Maiden》 skills.

I stepped back to avoid the shield attack and kicked the edge of the shield.

"What!?"

The shield, which is the lifeline of a 《Shield Swordsman》, flew out of his hand.

"Hmm, I managed to get rid of that troublesome shield."

"You, that kick just now...?"

"It's a copycat move from the 《Sword Fist》 I fought earlier?"

It was still clumsy due to lack of practice.

I should have raised my leg higher.

The angle needs adjustment.

Hmm, like this?

"Wh-What!?"

My foot pierced the opponent's side. Having lost his shield and his fighting spirit, he stood there in a daze, serving as a practice dummy. It hit the mark, and a significant amount of his blessing was reduced.

"Copycat...! How can you do that!?"

"True, some skills require practice, but I think you can mimic things to some extent even on your first try?"

I picked up the shield he dropped and held it.

"Like this?"

"Wh-What..."

I closed the distance.

"Don't think I can handle a shield so easily...!"

The 《Shield Swordsman》, having lost his shield, attacked.

"Deflection"

"Wh-What!?"

I tried the skill I saw the 《Shield Swordsman》 use several times. The sword slid off the surface of the shield. This technique also has the effect of disrupting the opponent's stance, and I didn't miss the opening it created, retaliating immediately.

"Wh-What...?"

His blessing was reduced again, and he tried to create distance. But I wouldn't let him.

I closed the gap with "Teleport" and charged forward, bashing him with the shield.

"Shield Bash"

"Wh-What!?"

He was hit by the powerful shield and flew back.

Hmm.

As expected, this technique works well with "Teleport." You can charge directly from a full sprint.

"...You even used my skill...?"

With his own technique, he was finished, and his blessing was completely depleted.

"Winner, Arrel...!"

The winner's name echoed in the now silent arena.

"That guy even took down an A-rank swordsman...?"

"And he hasn't been hit even once..."

"Is he really 《Jobless》...?"

Voices of disbelief could be heard from all around.

"No way, 《Jobless》 is a total lie! He's definitely faking it!"

"Can they just let that slide!? What are the organizers doing!?"

"Right, right! Disqualify him!"

Angry shouts began to cut through the silence.

"But if he's not 《Jobless**... then what is his job...?**"

"..."

That's why I said I'm 《Jobless**.** I just had a 《Appraiser》 check me right before the tournament.

Sensing the atmosphere in the arena, the organizers also took action,

"Uh? Ah, yes! ...Well, at the judgment of the tournament organizers, we will now publicly display Arrel's appraisal certificate from just before the match! Is that okay, Arrel?"

"I don't mind."

The host held up my appraisal certificate. It might be hard to see from the audience, but with decent eyesight, they should be able to read the job listed.

"《Jobless**... He's really jobless...?**"

"No way..."

Of course.

Anyone who thinks about it a little should realize there's no reason to fake being 《Jobless**.**