The Deeds Of An Extremely Arrogant Villain Aristocrat

Chapter 10: The Only Way

 

 

 

“… Kaah.”

Worn out, and with his hands on the ground, Abel began to spit up blood.

It was a strange sight.

But this was by no means unusual.

Just an everyday life for him.

It was a normal routine for Abel.

“Let’s stop it here.
Any more of this and you’ll be…”

“Once again… let me…”

“I see.
I should’ve learned by now that you are not going to fall this easily.”

“───Ugh.”

Eruka swung her sword, knocking the light out of Abel’s blood-red eyes.

She sheared off his consciousness more easily than twisting a doll’s hand.

His physical limits had long been exceeded and his magical power was completely depleted.

There was no way Abel would have been able to resist.

“Huh… seriously.
Is this really the right thing to do? I’ve been asking myself that question every day now.
───Jerah.”

“Yes, Eruka-sama.”

─── “Heal”.

The moment the woman called Jerah chanted this, Abel’s body was enveloped in a green light, and his wounds healed as if his near-death experience had been a lie.

“How many times is it today?”

“… Well over 50.”

“What a reckless kid.
I’m sorry for making you troubled.”

“What are you saying? I’m more than happy to repay even a small part of the favor I have received from the Eruka-sama with this power of mine.”

“Still as stubborn as ever, are you? I told you to become a priest, but in the end, you decided to become a knight.”

“Because I don’t really agree with the temple’s idea that healing is only for those who can pay for it.”

“… Huhu, you’re a strange one… Huh.
Well, I can’t speak for others either.”

Eruka suddenly lowered her gaze and looked at Abel.

No physical talent.

He can use magic, but he has no talent for magic.

Even so, the boy pursues “strength” as if possessed by something.

Yet she cannot stop him because she knows the reason why.

“───If there was no such thing as a ‘path’ I could have told him to just give up.”

Abel cannot use attribute magic as a matter of course.

All he can use is one single non-attribute magic.

But─── that single magic connects Abel’s “path” to the heights.

Or should it be said that it has long been connected.

But it is so thin and desolate that it cannot even be called a path.

A path so far off the beaten path that a sane person would unknowingly remove it as an option.

“Thank god… really… All the time I was worried about what if there was nothing.
But now───all I have to do is keep going.”

There is a path that leads to higher ground.

Eruka will never forget that maniacal smile on Abel’s face when he learned of this fact.

Whatever it is, there is certainly a way there.

For Abel, that was enough.

It was also the day that Eruka herself renewed her commitment.

Abel is already broken.
If she doesn’t guide him properly, he will break more.

That’s what she thought.

Eruka was troubled.

She kept thinking, worriedly.

So much so that when she realized it, it was already morning.

She wants Abel to be happy.

Eruka sincerely hoped so.

But she is still wondering whether she should stop him, tell him to give it up.

Strength is not everything.

There are a number of other options in the world.

She wanted to tell him over and over again.

However,

“… I couldn’t tell him.”

Whenever she looks into those eyes filled with madness and determination, the words she forms always go away before they could be released.

Eruka knew “those eyes”.

She knows.

Anything she says will go in wane.

Abel won’t stop, he cannot be stopped.

Hence, Eruka also made up her mind.

With a determination to walk on that hellish path with him───.

＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m coming.”

A moment later, Alfred’s figure disappeared.

With superspeed that no ordinary person can even follow with their eyes.

Then a flash of a diagonal cleave unleashed from there.

　

Luke knows he can’t take that attack head on.

The size of that attack was too much for him to take.

And competing on pure raw strength alone is no way to win.

Therefore, what he requires is an overwhelming skill that surpasses him.

And of course, Luke pulls it off like breathing.

With perfect timing and angle, he hit Alfred’s sword on the ridges.

It’s such a beautiful parry

But for Alfred, as well, the situation was not unexpected.

Against Luke, this extent is a given.

Hence, it is a move that is supposed to be prevented.

So the next moment, Alfred unleashes a relentless kick.

　

Far removed from the noble swordsmanship of the kingdom, it is a blow that is designed solely to strike the opponent in the face.

But Luke dodge it half-heartedly.

Furthermore.

Without a pause, he aimed a sharp thrust at Alfred.

(Great…! Not only minimal evasive action against surprise attacks, but even counterattacks…!)

　

Alfred exclaims in admiration.

However, he erases that distraction in an instant.

The reason is that you have to put your whole heart and soul into it, and you have to be willing to kill to even compete.

He bends his body backward and somersaults to gain distance while avoiding Luke’s thrusts.

In doing so, he attacked Luke from the bottom to the top, but he naturally blocked it.

“Ahahahaha! As I thought, this is fun! Exchanging swords with you!”

　

The offense and defense are reversed.

Luke closed the distance and raised his sword at an angle.

Alfred, who prevented this, immediately counterattacked.

From there it was a furious exchange of sword blows.

Lightning, wind, and flashes.

A series of blows that do not even allow you to make a mistake in timing to catch your breath.

However, the only feeling that these two had in their hearts was “fun”.

　

Horizontal slash, Kicks, Sweeps, Parrying, Fetching, Side cleave, hand thrusting, etc.

An exchange of swords that does not compromise anything for the sake of victory.

Alfred can’t help but feel nostalgic for the tingling exchange of life, and just a little bit unworthy.

(Damn, I hate getting old.)

The sword battle, which seemed to go on forever, comes to an end.

“I guess I won, Alfred.”

“I lost.
As expected of you, Master Luke.”

The tip of Luke’s sword was pointed at Alfred’s throat.

“It’s a shame I can’t fight you in your prime.”

“… Hoho.
I was just thinking that too.
Though from the standpoint of a challenger.”

“Oi-oi, you’re my mentor, right?”

I have nothing to teach you, Alfred thought silently.

Frankly, he should have refrained from having any more mock battles with Alfred.

Because you may develop a strange pattern if you keep fighting the same opponent all the time.

Yet out of selfishness, Alfred still crosses swords with him.

It was due to an irresistible thrill of fighting Luke head on.

(But, well, I’ve got to stop this.
Besides, I’m not strong enough anymore.
───I’m really sorry.)

Alfred thought that Luke’s awakening to attribute magic would cause him to quit swordsmanship.

But it didn’t.

He saw him continuing his swordsmanship as always.

There’s no way to describe the joy he felt at that moment.

However, it is also true that he was unable to find a suitable opponent for Luke.

He was trying to figure out how to.

─── Clap, clap, clap.

Soft applause was heard.

Luke and Alfred both turned to look to see who it came from.

It was Alice who was there.

“So it was true that you have a penchant for swordsmanship.
That was so wonderful.”

Alfred immediately bowed his head.

But when Luke saw her, he made a disgusted face, not even bothering to hide it.

“Alfred, prepare a hot bath for me.”

“Understood.”

As he ignored her and was walking away.

“… Haah, haah.”

He heard her breathing disgustingly.

“I told you to stop doing that, remember?”

Luke could not resist.

“What’s that? Do you plan to violate me next? Using your well-honed swordsmanship, you’re going to tear my clothes to shreds and humiliate me.”

“… Enough.
Go home already.”

It was only yesterday that he had a mock battle with Alice.

But Luke already didn’t like her.

Or it’d be more correct to say that he doesn’t want to go near her because she makes him feel uncomfortable.

It can be described as an aversion to what cannot be understood.

“I think you’d better listen to me first.”

“I don’t think you’re worth listening to.
So just───”

“─── We are now engaged.”

“Leave… Ha?”

He dropped the towel to wipe the sweat off his face.

Those were the words that Luke could not understand.

No, it’s not that he doesn’t understand the language.

His brain refuses to comprehend what he just heard.

“… what did you just say?”

“I am not lying.
My father told me about it this morning and I agreed.
Wholeheartedly.”

“Wait a minute… My head hurts.”

Luke thinks at high speed.

He met Alice at a party two days ago.

So why is this happening?

Too early.

It is too soon.

The only person who could’ve done this is───

(─── It was you, father!!!)

He arrived at the answer instantly.

(Father’s skills have been put to a bad use! How could an engagement be finalized in just two days? If it had been just a marriage proposal, it would have been nothing! But why this girl of all people!? Waaahhyyyy!!)

Yes, it should have been at the matchmaking stage.

It didn’t matter.

But if the engagement has gone through, it is a different story.

If you break off an engagement once it has been established, you will destroy the other party’s reputation.

Of course, such a thing would not hurt the Gilberts.

Still, Luke cannot think himself for becoming a disgrace to his family.

“Why, why did this happen…”

“No way… haah, haah… how painful it is to know that you’re not happy about it.”

“…………”

(Why are your cheeks all red…?)

“I feel like it’s my destiny to be with Luke, you who changed everything for me, but it appears it’s not the same for you, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes, but there are three advantages.”

“Speak…”

Alice’s breathing was heavy and the blush on her cheeks only increased.

Luke didn’t understand it and looked at her with disdain because he was uncomfortable with it.

This made Alice’s breathing even more labored.

So the pattern was repeated.

“First of all, the Lonsdale family has a very high aptitude for magic.
I am almost certain that if you and I were to marry, we would produce excellent offspring.”

“………”

“Secondly, there’s no match for my beauty.”

“………”

“Having a woman like me by your side gives you a higher status as a man.
There is a status that a man can only achieve by having a beautiful woman by his side, right? Well, I guess it’s the same for women.”

“………”

(… What is she saying with a straight face? We’re the same age, right? This is freaking me out seriously…)

“And last, if you marry me, you won’t have to stress anymore.”

“… Why?”

“I’m confident that I can accommodate your every desire, no matter how hard it is, you see.”

“………”

When Luke saw Alice writhing in agony, he lost his strength and sat down on the ground as if he had collapsed.

Why?

How did this happen?

Where did I go wrong?

Even with his brain, he could not find the answer to that question.

He was tired.

So he decided to turn away from reality.

(Amelia-san recommended “Aslan Magic Academy”, right? I heard it’s difficult and I have to work on a lot of things… haha… hahaha… hahahaha…)

“Luke, are you okay?”

Luke took no action to answer Alice’s question.

＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋

In his study, Claude was waiting impatiently for Luke to come running in, his stern face slightly smiling───.