Sword Whisperer - Chapter 15

Chapter 15.  It’s Demeaning to be Even Subjected to a Test (3)

[You’re holding a sword without a master.]

Material:  Metal

Quality:  Regular

Master:  None

Memory Retention Rate:  Low

Note:  It is a regular sword crafted by an ordinary blacksmith in the capitol.  It could break if used improperly.

‘It’s a shabby sword.’

It appeared the sword has not been used very long by any one person, although it wasn’t certain who used it before.  As it was a sword which was free to be chosen by every participant, perhaps, that was expected.

However, it didn’t matter.  The same sword’s utilization and effectiveness would change, depending on the user.  Van looked around the area.  At least over 100 people were making postures as they were holding their own respective weapons.

They all belonged to one group.  Only 8 of them will survive.

‘….There should be a few other bastards.’

However, he couldn’t fight thinking about such a thing.  That wasn’t appropriate from the competition’s objectives, and he didn’t want to fight lightly, either.

“Hmm, you’ve got a girly sword.  Are you a country boy from the East?”

It was then.  Holding on to an axe a size of an ordinary person, a man spoke in condescending manner.  Van silently stared at the man, and turned his head.  The man raised his voice louder, feeling more confident.

“Take it easy.  You’ll just get embarrassed in front of all these people.  So, why don’t you just pack your things and go home?  Such a weak sword like that will not survive a single strike from my axe.”

“If you just want to bluff cuz you’re scared then go find someone else.  I don’t have time to play with you.”

“What?”

“If not then you might as well try it to see.  If it’s okay for you to even fail to fight inside the coliseum by daring to try it right now, that is.”

Van stood up as he said that.  His opponent was a behemoth, who could easily invoke fears in others, but being big did not always meant being strong.  That was because before the edge of a sword, all humans’ hides were equally weak.

‘…..He doesn’t look like he had trained very hard, either.’

His body was awkwardly covered with fat and muscles.  Based on the number of scars, he most likely had gone through quite a number of battles, but…. His physique was optimized more in line with drinking than battling.

Well, in fact, such things didn’t even need to be considered.

The way he was holding the axe.  Van was certain….just from the direction of the tip of his foot, in his stance.  That, that big axe would never even scratch a flap of his clothes.  That, the man was not a worthy opponent, at all.

The opponent stood up.  Although he had only intended to bluff, he couldn’t just stay back when he was provoked in this way.

And right at that moment, the trumpet sounded.

“Group 1!  Every one, enter the coliseum!”

At the guidance officer’s announcement, the man said invidiously.

“You’re lucky.  Will see you in the ring.  I’ll make a soup out of you.”

“Whatever.”

Van snickered as he replied.  He was just a big, baby without any guts.  Van didn’t even want to waste his time, beyond this point.

The pressure was already felt while in the waiting area, but now that he stood before the crowd, the pressure was mounting so much greater.  That was natural because there were over tens of thousands people.  The coliseum could fill at most 100,000 people, it was said.

‘Not even an empty seat.’

Even the spectator’s whispering sounds pounded his body and heart like a thunderous waterfall.  He thought it was fortunate that he was wearing a facemask.  Otherwise, the anxiousness would be clearly visible in his facial expression.

Despite over one hundred warriors were standing in the coliseum, the field was still expansive.  That was relieving as it was difficult to show all his skills in a limited space.

‘I couldn’t show everything which I have… here.’

It was then.  Van felt his heart stop when he saw a corner of the spectator’s section.  It was the most extravagant section.  He could tell that the section must be designated for the people of very high stature even from a glimpse….as the seats, including the columns were laid with gold.

‘Perhaps, the people there are….’

-Hear me.

Even before he could completely formulate his own curiosity, a voice was heard.

It was a quiet whispering voice, coming from next to him.  However, somehow, that voice has caused everyone to stay silent by somehow penetrating through the nearly 100,000 spectators’ voices.

-Many warriors are standing inside this coliseum.  They are the warriors competing only for your approval and adoration.  With the royal permission, whether you’re a baker, or a money handler, you will be allowed to watch their bravery for today.  O, the citizens of Citadel.

-Now, warriors.

-Fight!

There was no time to find out whose voice that was.  In the midst of the 100,000 spectators’ thundering cheers, every warrior grasped their weapon and stared at each other.

However, there wasn’t any one who dared to be the first to engage.  They knew it unless they were dummies.  The fact that even if one man was to make 80 participants to fall, it would be all in vain if they did not make one of the eight warriors.

However, in every place in this world, there was sure to be a dummy.

“Hahaha!  Only the scary rabbits are gathered here!  Krrrrraah!”

It was the same behemoth that picked a fight with Van.  He appeared to have made a roaring noise, and soon he began to spin his axe.  Van clicked his tongue as he looked at the man.

‘Ignorant bastard.’

He thought of the saying that one acted as one looked.   However….

“Yeeyaap!”

Van dodged the man’s axe by simply lowering his head.  It was a clean attack.  He probably trained quite a bit for it.  It was likely that his hand was never in one piece as he trained hard to attain the most effective piercing skill.

However, that was not enough.

Van closed the distance to his opponent, and delivered a knee strike to his abdomen.  Using his sword wasn’t even needed.  The man plopped to the ground, grasping for his breath, then soon he fell through and was absorbed by the ground.

‘Hm, is that how it is.’

Before the competition started, the test proctor had said.  There was no guarantee that you will not get killed, but you won’t be killed that easily.  So, give all you’ve got in your battles.

Perhaps, a bunch of healers were at the ready, just below the ground.  That meant…..

‘Is it OK to go berserk and not worry about anything.’

After the gigantic man went crazy, every warrior began to fight in earnest.  Seeing the warrior who sometimes swung their weapons inside their space of battles, sometimes because they were either scared, or sometimes because they were drunk with excitement….it appeared to be mimicking a real battle field.  In fact, since there wasn’t anyone on my side, or on their sides, it was even crazier that the real war.

And, it did not take much time before the strong one emerged.

“Damn, what is that guy?”

“…..Powerful.”

It started immediately with Van.  When a number of warriors attacked Van and fell through the ground without launching any kind of effective attacks, the others around Van subtly began to encircle him.

They realized it, too.  That, as long as someone like Van remained, they would not have any chances of advancing.

It was a cowardly choice.  However, it was that much prudent.

‘However, it cannot be termed as a prudent choice.’

As if they had made a pact in advance, all sorts of weapons were visible to Van.  A sword, a staff, an axe, mace, and even an iron club.

It would undoubtedly be a disconcerting moment for anyone else in such a situation.  That was because there was no one who would know how to react to getting attacked by multiple people at once, let alone how to work against so many different types of weapons.

However, Van knew.

“Crazy…..!”

“Does it make sense?”

After all, he had more sparring sessions at the Cho Family than the number of meals he had there.  So many different types of warriors asked to spar, and so naturally, he learned to pass the test.

Compared to the sophisticated way in which he had passed the Cho Family’s test, this passing which he had acutely achieved…..

‘Even if I want to get struck, it’s something I cannot do.’

The crowd’s booing noise was heard.  Of course, it wasn’t directed at him.  The booing was meant to say that how could they all get subdued when they were all going against a single person.

They probably wanted to change that booing into cheering….However, that won’t happen.

‘I’m done playing.’

Van’s eyes changed.  Even if his face was covered with a mask, the sword skill still remained in memory.  However, just in any remote chance that there might be a potential opponent in the midst of the spectators, he could not show all of his skills.

So, he has decided to show only one skill.

Piercing.

He did not overlay the internal energy though.  Invoking internal energy against this group of ragged opponents would mean that his training was not good enough.  Just by piercing the sword to the appropriate area at the right time would be sufficient to generate the necessary power.

The first piercing would be directed at the abdomen of the man who was trying to punch him.

The second piercing was against the man who was trying to strike him with a spear, from behind.

The third piercing was directed at the wrist of the man who dared to go head to head with his own piercing skill.

The fourth.

The fifth.

The sixth.

And the seventh.

The cheering echoed in his ears.  Van looked at the man who were groaning and moaning as they placed their hands on their wounds before they were sucked down below the ground.  In no time, the space around him was empty, like a desolate wasteland.

Van looked up halfway.  He saw the same behemoth man, who picked a fight with him, staring at him from a distance.  Right.  That dummy was there, too.  Seeing the bastard still alive, Van thought that maybe a man’s weight was an important factor.

Van moved towards the man.  Each time Van took a step towards him, the man reflexively took a step backwards.  He has never felt any type of fear or oppression from a man smaller than him, but Van’s walk made him feel an enormous fear and oppression, even greater than the time when he ran into a tiger in a mountain, sometime ago.

However, he did not have the chance to find out what was behind that fear.

There was a blasting of the trumpet.  It was the sound, signaling the end of the competition.  Only then, Van realized that there remained only eight people, including the gigantic man.

“You.  You’re lucky.”

He returned the favor by saying the same phrase to the behemoth, but he could not provide a response.  Turning his back on the behemoth, Van took off the mask.  There was no longer a need to hide his identity, now that he had made it though the preliminary round.  The spectators deserved to know who they were cheering for, as well.

Breathing in slowly, Van smiled as a shiver ran down his spine.

He was finally here.

That was, at the place where he was destined to be.