Chapter 152 – 43. Lucia and the Underground Arena (4)
The hand holding the sword trembled.
In front of Lucia’s eyes, a man with a blurry expression stood.
A man named George. But in fact, that person is Count Julian. He was the heir to the famous grand duke.
‘Bet…’
The moment I thought about the contents of that bet, my hands stopped shaking a little.
Before coming to the entertainment district. In the carriage, Count Julian made a bet with Lucia.
‘Underground arena. The two of them decided to participate as players there. It would be fun to place a bet if possible. A bet that if one of the two wins, the loser will get what he wants. How about Lucia?’
Count Julian was always gentle and serious to himself. So it was unexpected. Betting is also a kind of gamble. But he soon came to terms with it.
‘Thinking back, the day I became a little closer to Count Julian. We met at a secret gambling den.’
Having said that, the Count asked Lucia what she wanted.
After thinking about it for a long time in the wagon. Lucia spoke to the count with a feeling of shame.
‘Okay, if it’s okay. I want to go to the restaurant where Tricia works with the Count.’
Cecilia’s older sister, Tricia. Tricia, a demon and an elf, hid her identity and worked at a restaurant in the wealthy village of the imperial capital.
Although the price is high, it is a popular spot among the aristocratic cadets of the Pantheon. I heard that this is a place to go when you want to have a meal with your loved ones in an atmosphere.
In a way, Lucia’s side is asking for a date first. She said that and her face flushed and she lowered her head for a moment.
Julian already had a fiancée of noble status, Princess Lilia.
However messy, the Count was the one who took away his virginity.
And although he couldn’t reveal his inner feelings, he was also the opponent he was already infatuated with.
‘Although I can’t carelessly covet…’
I couldn’t stop it from going. So when Yulian first hired himself as an opponent for Dalian. Back then, he was even happier than when he was accepted into the Pantheon.
And what a bet. That, too, is what the price wants.
If that’s the case, I wonder if the food will be okay…
He couldn’t hide his selfishness and finally said it. Surprisingly, the Count readily replied.
‘Rye… It doesn’t mean much. Tricia often said that the restaurant was very good… So I was curious about the taste…’
‘Restaurant? It’s not difficult. Don’t let that happen Then, if I win…’
The moment she was lost in thought for a moment.
“Let’s strike each other’s swords together!”
I heard the staff of the arena shouting.
‘Wake. You can’t be careless. Lucia.’
And he told Yulian, who had come close to him, about his impressions of the confrontation earlier.
“Just now. It was an amazing showdown.”
“No. Lucia, you were great too.”
Although the Count spoke very calmly. The truth was surprising. He had already been frequently mingling swords with him at Roi Agwan’s parade ground.
So he thought he knew his skills well. However, the skills he showed today have advanced one step further.
‘Fabian. Even though he is a frivolous bastard. Still, in our group, he’s second only to Leaf in terms of skill.’
Fabian’s sword attack, which had been raging without rest. That sword attack was shattered by the count’s counterattack.
Pretending to be on the defensive, he knocked Fabian down with a single blow. The moment I saw Yulian’s sword attack. Lucia felt something vibrate loudly in her chest.
It was beautiful.
Count Julian is a person who deserves the word that he is beautiful beyond handsome. But now he’s changed his appearance with his magic so he can focus his attention on the sword.
The line drawn by the tip of the longsword. The end of the line was sharp and steep, like the peak of a snowy mountain in the northern country. However, the power contained at the tip was ferocious, like a landslide that the snowy mountain was furious with.
A state of true genius that could not be seen in the swords of his peers.
With such an opponent, a battle with a winner is now in front of you. And to the Count, who mentions the content of the bet once again. He said quietly.
“If I lose… The bet I was supposed to use my body to help the Count.”
What Julian wants. Upon hearing the details of the bet, Lucia was taken aback. The Count wanted Lucia’s body in return for winning the bet.
To be precise, it is time to use Lucia’s body, so ask for help. Its meaning was subtle.
Simply sparring is using the opponent’s body. Isn’t Count Julian a Parakho like Fabian? Rather, he might have been closer to that meaning.
‘But I’m already the Count’s sparring opponent. As expected… If you’re betting, Count Julian is also a man… He might have thought that way.’
The noble children of the imperial capital are accustomed to the nightlife. It was said in a roundabout way, but it seemed to be close to the meaning.
‘You mean to be my partner for the night again, like at the secret salon…?’
It was too blatant for words to come out of the mouth of a gentle count.
Lucia was not disappointed. It is natural for young men to have sexual desires.
Rather… It was what I wished for if I could get close to Yulian even like that. He was the one who took his virginity anyway. There was no reluctance at all.
‘Because the Count is different from trash men like Duke Pedro and Fabian!’
Still, if at all. Even if he becomes his hidden lover. It’s not like the last time, it’s not a messy atmosphere. I wanted a relationship to develop like that on a proper date.
Although he is a swordsman who learns the sword at the end of the battle. Because Lucia was a woman too.
‘It’s because they can’t use mana anyway. After all, I have to win this bet.’
And it was different from my usual self. Somehow, my senses were on edge. This place excluded the use of mana. Rather, she no longer had to be conscious of the awkward flow of mana that had been bothering her recently.
‘Could it be that the count brought me here with that in mind?’
I thought so for a moment, but denied it. There was no way he would have been so considerate of himself, who only slept once.
If that kind of consideration is true. It seems that she is so happy that she can’t calm her own heart.
“Then go back to your seat!”
The two men who clashed swords stood in their respective places. Both took the first stance of swordsmanship.
“Start the game!”
The arena staff shouted loudly. Lucia squeezed the handle of her one-handed sword.
And she put her body ahead of her thoughts. The tip of the sword came close to Yulian.
***
The final match of the tournament has begun.
Both of them are excluded from using mana. However, a special mana heart. And, of course, I had bigger shackles on my side, which was restricted in the midnight sun.
And the very moment the match started. Lucia’s eyes changed completely.
It was a simple request to go to a restaurant together. Lucia seems to be sincere because of the terms of the bet.
‘It’s good that I placed a bet.’
Can’t be careless Lucia has already beaten all of her opponents in tournaments here.
And sincere Lucia was a difficult opponent that couldn’t even be compared to Fabian. The match could have been decided in a single match.
‘That’s why I must stop Lucia’s first sword attack.’
The moment the posture of the body was changed due to the blow. Because Lucia’s onslaught will pour continuously.
However, Lucia’s sword attack was much faster than I expected.
‘Already!’
The tip of Lucia’s sword is already close to me without even feeling the sword’s path. As expected, even I, a third-tier person, could not keep up with the speed of that sword.
Caang-
In an instant, sparks flew with a metallic sound. I barely blocked Lucia’s quick attack.
‘No. I didn’t block it, I predicted it.’
My body couldn’t react. However, he and Lucia often sparred. I moved my sword in advance to block it.
‘As expected, they aimed first at the wrist.’
With her habit, she was already anticipating which area she was going to aim for.
Taking a step backwards in advance, I pulled out the handle of the sword I was holding with both hands at a distance about the size of a fist. Lucia’s sword tip hit my crossguard and bounced back. Lucia’s eyes twitched.
There is no room for leisure.
Immediately, he swung his sword horizontally and aimed at Lucia’s open side. An onslaught so intense that you can hear the sound of a rupture tearing through the air even without mana.
However, if the opponent was Lucia, it was rather a mistake. Powerful but obvious attack. If it’s an attack like that, the counter will fly right away.
Fastest first attack and counter. Duke Pedro’s main weapon. Lucia also inherited that talent and knows how to use it instinctively.
As expected, I use my sword strikes in reverse to draw a sword path.
Before my sword rotation was complete, Lucia’s inner sword touched my side first.
No. I was about to reach
“Chit.”
Lucia unknowingly made a sound of regret. The counter this time was also expected. So, my attack a while ago was a waste of money.
So, anticipating Lucia’s next counter, I pulled my body back beforehand without swinging it until the end. Lucia’s sword cut through the air.
‘This is enough.’
Lucia’s expression hardened. Lineman and counter. Today’s Lucia made it to the finals with just those two perfect skills.
But I was different from the opponent she defeated in the tournament. You must have just realized that those two weapons don’t work on me.
If only Lucia had realized her own talents earlier than she does today. She must have put variations on her first move and counter. Not now.
Anyway, my goal went well. The killer has already been blocked.
More than drawn. Lucia was no different from being caught in a psychological snare I had thrown.
Although she didn’t stop, she continued to blow her inner sword with a mixture of rubbish.
‘The pattern is too simple.’
Each time I dodged or bounced. He calmly dealt with the ensuing sword attacks. And one moment when her breathing was disturbed.
My sword was already right next to Lucia’s neck.
“… I lost.”
Cheers rang out from the underground arena. In George’s name, not mine, of course.
And the eyes of the two met. Lucia’s eyes had a look of resentment that she had never seen before.
***
Next day.
Lunchtime at the Pantheon. I left the Pantheon for a while and visited a new place. It was right next to the Pantheon, so we arrived quickly.
Imperial Central Library. It was on the 23rd floor right there.
The 22nd floor is only open to high-ranking nobles. Beyond that, it was a special area that only the imperial family could enter.
She was there with Lilia. Unlike the other floors, which are organized in a modern feel. The 23rd floor was full of an antique atmosphere.
I found one of the collections I wanted on the bookshelf there.
‘Is this the origin of Orhaiga’s mana training method?’
I stood in front of the bookshelf for a while and looked at the secret level. And I was convinced that the correct answer was to get permission to enter the library here as a reward.
‘Orhain’s mana practice method… It looks dangerous, but it’s still worth trying to apply properly.’
Numerous mana training methods that exist in the empire. The techniques of practice unique to renowned swordsman families such as the Reinhardt family and the Orha family have also undergone numerous improvements.
Originally, its source was a special skill that only a few geniuses of that famous family could learn.
So, a few hundred years ago this secret class was created. At that time, the practice of seniority was operated in a dangerous way that is unimaginable in this era.
The mana inside the body was rapidly accelerating to the dangerous extent, and mana was rushing in and out in a dangerous way that could destroy the mana heart.
In particular, the seniority law of Orhaga was severe.
‘It makes me feel evil.’
I read the source of Orhein and its secret level carefully.
If we compare it with the currently known seniority method of the Sentiac Knights. Myo-ryi is overly frenzied, and he only pursues growth.
Although the pace of learning is much faster. It felt like a dangerous technique that would make you stronger by guaranteeing the user’s life.
‘To take a simple analogy. It feels like Safari’s Magician.’
So it was more suitable for me and Lucia. Island, soon to be destroyed. It was because I didn’t have time to learn the pure mana technique for a long time.
Still, some improvement was needed. Mana seniority also affects the user’s mind.
To get rid of the toxicity of this practice. It would be better to mix the source of Reinhardt, whose chastity has reached its peak.
‘If it goes according to plan. I’m on the 4th level. And Lucia will be able to achieve high grades in the midterm exams.’
Unlike other heroines, Lucia is assigned to silver wings, not gold ones. Those with excellent grades in the midterm exam are specially reassigned to the reserve platoon.
So I had to grow Lucia fast within a few weeks.
When I sat down next to Lilia with the secret money like that. Suddenly, Lillia spoke in a sticky voice.
“Here…It’s just the two of us. Whoops.”
Lillia put her hand on top of my large one.
