Chapter 4

The red-haired man said,

"I have the 'Intermediate Sword Technique' skill. Even though we're both called 'Swordsman,' I'm in a different league from those two."

Hmm, to get the 'Intermediate Sword Technique' skill after being a 'Swordsman' for just a year...

"Is that impressive?"

"What? Are you making fun of me? It usually takes at least two to three years, you know!"

"Is that so? I didn't know."

The red-haired man glared sharply at me.

"You, the 'Unemployed'...?"

Rather, it's only natural that someone 'Unemployed' wouldn't know much about 'Swordsmen.'

But more importantly, why is he so openly hostile?

We're meeting for the first time, right?

Well, it's a small town, so we might have met somewhere before.

Or maybe he doesn't like the fact that an 'Unemployed' person is wielding a sword.

"Still, that's the case. The captain of the vigilante group..."

"Whoa, really...?"

The curly-haired and chubby guys were whispering to each other.

The captain of the vigilante group, if I remember correctly, is a burly man with red hair.

Is there some connection between him and this guy in front of me?

Now that I think about it, they have the same hair color...

As if sensing my doubts, the red-haired man revealed his identity.

"The captain of the vigilante group, Evans, is my father."

I see, they're father and son.

Apart from the hair color, they don't look much alike.

"My father is taking care of your mother."

"Is that so."

Then why is he angry?

I can't understand it at all.

"...But I'll say this clearly."

"Huh?"

"The best swordsman in this town is my father, not your mother."

The red-haired man clenched his teeth in frustration.

"Why doesn't anyone understand! My father is the strongest! That woman can't even compare to my father!"

Hmm.

I get it now.

"So you have a father complex, huh?"

"N-no! That's not it! I just respect my father as a swordsman!"

He denies it, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.

He seems to be bothered by the fact that my mother, whom he believes to be the strongest, is being recognized as the best in town.

That frustration has now extended to me, his son.

"What a drag. But thanks to you, I get to spar, so I should be grateful."

The red-haired man proposed a condition.

"The match will end when one of us has less than half of their blessing. How about it? I usually fight under these conditions, so it's safe and allows for a good fight."

"Sounds good to me."

I tried it earlier, but a one-hit knockout wasn't quite satisfying.

"Still, with you being 'Unemployed,' it might end quickly!"

We both took up our swords.

"Let's go!"

"Alright."

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

Hmm, as expected of the 'Intermediate Sword Technique' skill.

Compared to the curly-haired and chubby guys, the speed and weight of his sword are in a different league.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

The red-haired man jumped back to create some distance.

"W-What's going on!?"

"..."

"Why are you able to fight me, who has the 'Intermediate Sword Technique' skill, on equal terms!?"

What do you mean, why?

"I can only say that our skills are evenly matched."

"That's what I'm saying is strange! Are you really 'Unemployed'!?"

"Yes."

"There's no way!"

Even if you say that, it's the truth, so there's nothing I can do about it.

"Damn... you're joking..."

"No, I'm not joking."

"Shut up. I absolutely won't lose to you!"

The red-haired man, showing his anger, lunged at me.

What a short fuse he has.

"Take this! 'Dual Blade Slash'!"

"Wh-What!?"

Even I was taken aback.

That's because the red-haired man's sword attacked from both sides simultaneously.

Is this... an illusion?

Clang—Slash!

I could only block one of them.

Moreover, it wasn't a trick where one of the two was an illusion.

The one I blocked had a definite weight, and the other struck my left side with a powerful blow, significantly reducing my blessing.

"My attack skill, 'Dual Blade Slash.'"

With the first hit, he seemed to gain confidence and explained the nature of his attack.

I see, an attack skill.

Skills are generally divided into two major types.

One is the type that is always active.

For example, 'Basic Sword Technique' falls into this category, maintaining a state of proficiency in sword techniques at all times.

The other is the type that is activated at will.

These are skills that the user consciously activates, and attack skills are included in this category.

If they were always active, they would interfere with daily life.

"'Dual Blade Slash' delivers two slashes with one swing, as you can see. It's something an 'Unemployed' person like you could never imitate."

The red-haired man, with a confident smile, closed the distance again.

"Can you defend against this?"

He seemed to have absolute confidence in this skill and began to use 'Dual Blade Slash' repeatedly.

"'Dual Blade Slash'!"

Clang—Slash!

"'Dual Blade Slash'!"

Clang—Slash!

"'Dual Blade Slash'!"

Clang—Slash!

"Haha! Your blessing is almost down to half!"

Hmm.

I can't defend against it with my current skills.

But I really want to be able to use this technique.