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Chapter 165
Duel with the Sword Saint 3
Translated by AmaLynne
He channeled all his magical power into his body-enhancing magic.
There’s no opening to cast spells.
This isn’t an opponent who would fall for grand techniques.
In that case, he had no choice but to surpass the Sword Saint in physical combat.
“Oh, you’re much faster than earlier. It seems handling you is going to be quite a challenge.”
(――This guy)
Upon hearing the still-composed Sword Saint’s voice, Sam felt infuriated and, at the same time, his lips curled into a grin.
Despite struggling so much, enduring pain, and worrying his fiancĂ©e, he couldn’t stop the smile. This exchange of blows brought him joy in being alive.
Unlike his sparring matches with Lise and the others, this was truly a fight to the death.
――It was enjoyable.
“You’re smiling, Samuel.”
“You’re the one who’s smiling.”
“Hehehehe.”
“Hahaha.”
“Hehehehe.”
“Ahahahaha!”
Sam, enveloped in the Water God Fist, and Kurando, wielding his sword, continued their battle while laughing.
Even when cut, Sam never backed down and kept launching attacks.
Even the Sword Saint, far superior in skill, couldn’t seem to deliver a lethal blow to the abnormally powerful, enhanced body.
Kurando continued his relentless assault, never ceasing his attacks.
He used his sword and sometimes his arm to deflect Sam’s strikes, and whenever there was an opening, he sent slashes.
He was on edge, not allowing a single one of Sam’s attacks to hit him. This was due to Sam’s strength being far too high.
Though Kurando excelled in swordsmanship and was leading the battle, when it came to magic, he was only capable of using body-enhancing magic to a small extent.
In terms of defense and offense, he was greatly inferior to Sam.
He knew that just one effective strike could reverse the situation and lead to his defeat.
Thus, he never stopped moving his feet and continued swinging his sword.
(――This is bad. I don’t have a winning strategy. My attacks aren’t hitting, they’re not reaching. This opponent is much more troublesome than I anticipated!)
Sam grumbled inwardly as he clashed with Kurando.
He couldn’t even use his favored flight magic.
Powerful techniques were futile.
Though he knew it was naive, he still didn’t want to use his skill.
(Continuing like this is not good.)
He was already covered in lacerations all over his body, and his clothes were soaked in blood.
Blood dripped onto the ground, staining the gravel red.
Kurando’s body had patches of red as well. All of it was Sam’s blood splatter.
“Ah, damn it!”
Swinging his arm widely to distance himself from Kurando, Sam made a low leap to create space.
Kurando didn’t pursue it.
Feeling he had been given a pass, Sam felt resentful.
“Your momentum is waning. I understand that you’re still not giving your all.”
“Then what do you want me to say?”
Kurando relaxed his stance and addressed Sam.
“Let me say it one last time. Fight me with the intent to kill.”
“That’s my decision.”
“Perhaps you’re concerned about Mizuki and Kotomi, but that’s unnecessary. To avoid turning this into a meaningless fight, I intentionally refrained from saying this, but I’ll tell you now to see your true intentions.”
“What?”
“After killing you, I’ll confess everything and die.”
(――!)
“Father!”
Shocked by the Sword Saint’s words, Sam was taken aback, and Mizuki’s voice trembled.
Lise and Hanae were left speechless by Kurando’s sentiments.
Only GĂŒnther let out an uninterested snort.
“That’s my apology to you, Samuel, and Lise. It’s recompense for being ungrateful to His Majesty.”
“Doing something like that is more unnecessary than fighting!”
It was too absurd, too nonsensical.
If he was willing to fight to the point of self-sacrifice, he might as well not fight at all.
Sam’s words perplexed Kurando.
“Perhaps. However, the battle has already begun. Besides, I cannot stop the fight.”
“What do you mean?”
Before Sam could voice his question, Kurando kicked the ground once more.
(――I can’t react!)
His movements were incomparable to anything before. Sam couldn’t react.
“I’m serious now. I’m going to kill you for real. Endure it.”
With a deadly intent in his words, Kurando unleashed a strike.
(――This isn’t good)
Before he could even process his thoughts, the sword was swung down straight.
In an instant, the Sword Saint’s slash deeply tore through Sam’s shoulder, chest, and leg.
“Sam!”
Even more blood than before sprayed out, Sam collapsed, and Lise screamed.
“Is it over? Then I’ll finish it.”
Without a sound, Kurando stood beside him, his blade pointed down, and Sam resisted.
“――No, not yet.”
Sam heightened his magical power, using his hand to deflect the pointed blade, and stood up.
He pressed his shoulder, taking deep breaths as he channeled magic into recovery.
(Oh, the bleeding won’t stop. Even though I poured all my magic into defense for an instant, damn it. So, this is the Sword Saint.)
Managing to staunch the bleeding somehow, he focused on recovering until he could ignore the pain.
(He’s really a troublesome opponent. Besides Ur, he’s the first person to corner me to this extent.)
Grinning, Sam let out a chuckle.
“――Hoh.”
Sam looked straight at the Sword Saint.
Facing him, it was clear he was strong even without fighting.
His accumulated sword techniques, experience, and everything surpassed Sam’s current abilities.
However, it couldn’t end here.
“It’s regrettable. Truly regrettable. I liked you. You were a good person, so I didn’t want to kill you. But, it’s regrettable.”
The Sword Saint didn’t move.
He watched with eyes full of anticipation, wondering what Sam would do.
“Mizuki-sama, I apologize.”
“
Sam.”
Apologizing to Kiyomi, who was watching the duel, Sam pointed at Kurando.
“Sword Saint Kurando Amemiya, you are my enemy.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I can’t die here. I can’t die for petty reasons like gratitude. I have someone I love, I want to make her happy. If I die here, Lise-sama will be sad. I can’t let that happen.”
“Then, what will you do?”
“I’ll kill you.”
With clear hostility and intent to kill, Sam locked eyes with Kurando, who smiled delightedly.
“I’m glad you’ve finally resolved yourself. Now, let’s have the ultimate battle. A fight befitting the strongest swordsman and wizard of this country!”
“Very well.”
Sam heightened his magical power.
The strength of his magical power was so immense that Lise and the others watching could perceive it.
“――This is
”
Crimson magic began enveloping Sam.
His magical power expanded, growing to an almost explosive scale.
“To this extent
 what magnificent magical power.”
A change was happening to Sam.
The first to notice was Lise.
“Sam, your hair, it’s
”
Just as his fiancĂ©e mentioned it, Sam’s hair had turned crimson.
It resembled the hair color of his beloved master.
“Rejoice, Amemiya Kurando. You’re the first to witness me using this. You can brag about it to Ur in the afterlife.”
The crimson magical power spread around Sam as if embracing him.
“What’s
”
Starting to question, Kurando and the onlookers were left in disbelief by Sam’s next words.
“Magical Formula—Ulrike Scheidt Walker Liberation.”