After Sebas and Ryoma left the inn, Remily turned to Reinbach.
"Reinbach, based on what you’ve seen, just how strong is that boy?"
"To be honest, I don't know. I’ve seen him practice his drills and exercise his magic several times, but I’ve never seen him in a true life-or-death struggle. However, I’m told he was already hunting bandits when he first emerged from the forest. I also heard he recently fought off assassins sent by the Dark Guild. I believe it’s safe to call him a veteran, yet I still can't see the bottom of his potential. That is precisely why I wanted to ask this favor of Siber."
"I see... By the way, Remily."
"What is it?"
"When you were discussing magic earlier, did he notice you because of the conversation? Or did he actually sense you before you intended to be found?"
Remily wore a mysterious smile at the question. "Are you curious?"
"Of course I am. This is coming from the woman who used to slip past castle security as a half-joke back in the day."
"Oh, don't call it a joke. Those were unannounced security drills, weren't they? Elias gave the orders, too."
"That may be so, but it was unbearable for those of us on the receiving end. Myself, the Chief Court Mage, the elite knights, and the guards—you have no idea how much we racked our brains. I admit it led to stronger security, but I still feel like grumbling every time I remember it."
"Now, now, it’s all in the past. But truthfully, even I didn't expect to be noticed so quickly. He found me the moment I tried to sneak up on him, before I could even get close enough to hug him. Between that and his behavior afterward, I’d say he’s a bundle of distrust... or perhaps that’s putting it too harshly? At the very least, when he was with Sebas or talking to you, his expression and atmosphere softened. It suggests that deep in his heart, at his very core, he harbors an intense wariness toward others."
"Your eyes for such things are as sharp as ever. I don't know the full details, but there is no doubt his past environment was traumatic. When we first met, he was living in isolation deep in a forest. His speech and mannerisms often didn't match his age; he gave the impression of someone who was simply exhausted with life. Though, I will say he seems slightly brighter now than he did then."
"Hmm... The boy has clearly seen his share of hardship. We certainly shouldn't treat him like a mere child. Well, I’ll judge the rest for myself during the match."
With those words, Siber returned to his room to prepare.
His equipment consisted of the halberd he had carried since his days on active duty and a set of heavy, high-grade armor. He donned the cumbersome pieces as quickly as if they were everyday clothes, then took up his halberd to check its balance. He muttered to himself in the quiet room.
"I can talk a big game... but the aging of this body is a bitter thing."
The beloved weapon that had once felt like an extension of his arm had grown heavier over the years. Eventually, swinging it with his old speed became impossible without the constant support of Qi, and even then, his techniques lacked their former brilliance.
People had tried to talk him out of retirement, claiming he was as capable as ever, but he could feel the slow, inevitable decline. Even with his sense of duty and the expectations of those around him, he had reached his limit. He had stepped down as Knight Commander only after ensuring a worthy successor had been trained.
He still trained to resist the march of time, but he was constantly reminded that mindset alone could not fix everything. Last night, after a few drinks, he had confessed as much.
Remily, who had been listening to his complaints, had offered the perspective of a long-lived dark elf: "That is just the flow of time. We all have to accept it eventually. But Siber, I think you’re holding up better than most precisely because you struggle against it. If you let your guard down, you’d wither much faster."
Recalling her words, Siber cracked a bitter smile.
"That Remily... She claims dark elves age too and it's just hard to tell, but I have my doubts. I don't know her exact age, but she's likely nearly double mine, yet she looks exactly the same as the day we met. Her movements haven't slowed a bit. I can't accept her 'aging' if that's the case. And when I finally asked if she had a secret, she just said it was because her 'heart was young.' What does that even mean? ...No, enough of that. I need to focus."
Shaking off his distractions, he returned to Reinbach and Remily. Sebas had already returned, and the group used Space Magic to depart.
They bypassed the city gates and arrived at a rocky clearing after a second teleportation. A section of the ground had been neatly leveled. Ryoma, surrounded by a swarm of slimes, ran over to greet them.
"I’m in your care, Siber-san."
"The pleasure is mine. By the way, what’s happened to the ground here?"
"The slimes are my tamed monsters. I had them use magic to level the earth so we’d have a proper place to spar. I thought it would be better if it felt like a training ground."
"I appreciate the thought, but what about your mana?"
"I’m fine. I asked the Earth Slimes to handle it."
Siber nodded, satisfied. "I see. Now, for the rules—shall we use the Knight Order Style?"
"Um, what are the specifics of that style?"
"A one-on-one practical combat format. Magic up to the intermediate level is permitted, and magic weapons are allowed. Until a winner is declared, you are permitted to attack a fallen opponent. Petty tricks aren't exactly encouraged, but you won't last long in a real fight if you don't know how to handle them. Naturally, intentional killing blows are strictly forbidden, but beyond that, anything goes. It’s a dangerous way to train, but fortunately, we have Remily here."
"I can use healing magic up to the advanced level," Remily added. "Even if a limb gets severed, I can reattach it if I get to it quickly, so don't hold back. Oh, and I’ll set up a barrier so we don't accidentally level the landscape."
Ryoma accepted the explanation and asked a follow-up.
"Regarding the weapon..." Ryoma’s katana distorted briefly before snapping back into its blade shape. "My weapon is actually a transformed slime. Does that violate the one-on-one rule?"
"A slime as a weapon? Hmm... Since the goal is to test your personal skill, I’ll declare it a foul if the slime attacks on its own. As long as it functions strictly as a weapon in your hands, I see no problem."
"Thank you."
With the rules settled, they took their stances on the leveled earth. Sebas stepped between them to act as referee.
"Begin!"
"Hah!"
The moment the signal echoed, Siber unleashed a piercing thrust. Ryoma parried and tried to dive into close quarters. Siber swung the butt of his halberd to check the boy's advance, forcing Ryoma to leap back and fire a fire arrow.
Reading the move, Siber avoided the magic with a fluid step and fired a wind blade in return.
They continued to trade magic and clash steel, but it was clear they were merely testing the waters. To an outside observer, however, the intensity would have been terrifying. Scars from magic peppered the ground, and the air rang with the shriek of metal on metal.
Siber’s opening thrust alone would have ended an ordinary soldier or adventurer. As the exchange heated up, Siber decided to push the pace. He swung his halberd toward Ryoma's shoulder, channeling mana through the shaft.
Ryoma dodged, but sensing the surge of power, he immediately jumped to the right. A vortex of wind erupted from the halberd a second later, shredding the air where Ryoma had just been.
"You sensed that, too?"
"If I couldn't feel the mana in the weapon, that would have been the end for me."
Siber’s halberd was a magic weapon infused with Wind Cutter and Tornado Cutter. He was moderating the power, but a direct hit would have been a fight-ender. Siber tightened his focus. The boy’s ability to perceive mana and react instantly was flawless.
Now it was Ryoma’s turn to go on the offensive.
"Fire Arrow!"
As the magic flew, Ryoma charged. But just as he closed the distance, he fired a hidden Earth Needle with chantless magic.
"Ngh!"
Siber was forced to dodge the arrow and Ryoma’s follow-up, only to find a stone needle erupting from the ground beneath him. He evaded by a hair’s breadth, but the maneuver left him momentarily unbalanced. Ryoma closed the gap instantly, forcing Siber to block the katana with the halberd’s shaft, which he wreathed in Qi for protection.
Siber unleashed a burst of Wind Cutters to push the boy back and buy space. As he did, a realization struck him.
Something is off... He blocks my magic perfectly, but his counterattacks have an unnatural hesitation. His swordsmanship is masterful, and his chantless magic is impressive, but there’s a persistent awkwardness in how he connects the two.
Siber tested the opening he’d found, and his suspicion was confirmed.
I see. Most likely, he only recently began using magic for combat. His swordsmanship is a finished product, but his magic is a late addition. For his age, he’s a genius, but he lacks the integrated experience.
From that moment, the tide turned in Siber’s favor.
In this world, combining magic and martial arts was fundamental. However, Ryoma’s training from Earth never accounted for magic. While he had been creative with his spells over the last few years, he had only been focusing on combat-oriented magic for a few months.
Siber, meanwhile, had spent decades refining techniques designed from day one to incorporate magic. The difference in their practical experience was a chasm. Siber began to accurately exploit the tiny openings Ryoma left whenever he switched from a sword strike to a spell.
But the disadvantage didn't last.
Ryoma realized his magic was creating the very openings Siber was exploiting. He made a snap decision.
If using magic creates a gap, I simply won't use it. I’ll face him with the one thing I’ve forged for a lifetime.
Ryoma’s style shifted instantly. He abandoned his spells and focused entirely on his swordsmanship, circulating a torrent of Qi through his body. His speed and precision spiked.
Siber felt the change immediately. The slight leeway he’d enjoyed vanished as Ryoma dived back into his guard with a ferocious thrust.
The match turned into a blur of high-speed violence. Siber swung his halberd in a heavy arc aimed at Ryoma's head; Ryoma stepped into the strike, parrying it with a circular motion while simultaneously attempting a leg sweep.
Siber twisted away and feinted with the halberd’s point, then unleashed his magic weapon’s Tornado Cutter. The earth exploded as the wind gouged the ground, but Ryoma charged through the dust, his blade flashing toward Siber’s neck.
Minutes passed as they traded blows at a level that transcended a mere spar. Siber felt a rush of fulfillment he hadn't known in years. Strength returned to his limbs, and his techniques felt sharper than they had in a decade. He swung his halberd with abandon, lost in the purity of the struggle.
Both reached their limit at the same time. As they broke apart to catch their breath, their eyes met. No words were needed. They both knew the next exchange would be the last.
"Hah!"
With a synchronized shout, they lunged.
Ryoma concentrated every drop of Qi into his legs. He vanished, closing the distance with such explosive speed it looked like a blur.
Siber met him with everything he had, channeling mana into his halberd and unleashing a Tornado Cutter. The vortex of wind blades accompanied a full-powered thrust meant to intercept the boy's charge.
Ryoma dodged the metal point by a fraction of an inch, but he couldn't escape the wind blades. Shallow cuts opened on his cheek and shoulder, and blood sprayed into the air. He didn't slow down. He drove his katana forward with the momentum of his entire body. Siber twisted violently, and while the blade sliced his left flank, it failed to find a vital organ.
Ryoma blew past Siber, stomped his feet into the earth to kill his momentum, and spun around. He shouldered his katana and leaped back in a final, spring-loaded strike. Siber pulled his halberd back into a defensive posture, his focus absolute.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, two blades flashed in the twilight, and a spray of crimson took flight.