Chapter 15.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????)
Karamaf drew his weapon, a drab, dark-colored longsword without any decoration. It seemed too in for a knight of Karamaf’s stature.
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━???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ????????’?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????”
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━??????’?? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ???????????? ????????????’?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????
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━. . .?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ????????????? ????????, ????????’?? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?? ????????????.”
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Ordinary swordsmanship didn’t mean instant death for someone unfamiliar with the technique.
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Swordsmanship is ultimately about how one wields the sword inbat. It’s about how to stab, sh, and parry. It’s not about suddenly unleashing an unthinkable move. A master of one technique could somewhat counter an unfamiliar one.
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However, the technique’s vision was different.
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If you don’t know them, you’re at a disadvantage!
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They’re skills that defy conventional wisdom, leaving first-timers vulnerable. Knowing even one or two of these could mean the difference between life and death in a split second.
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━???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????????, ????’?? ???????????????????????? ???? ?? ???????????????????? ????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ??????, ???????? ????????’???? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????????????????. ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????????????.”
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Fitting for an assassin, Kaegal’s swordsmanship specialized in ending the fight with a first strike. This was fortunate for Johan.
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‘?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????.’
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One step further.
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Karamaf raised his longsword, immediately creating an overwhelming pressure. It seemed ready to respond instantly in any direction.
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━?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????? ?????????? ????????. ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????, ?? ????????-?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????????????????.”
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━???????? ???? ?? ??????’?? ?????????? ?????????
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━??????????’?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ????????! ????????????????????, ????????’???? ???????? ???? ??????.”
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‘??????. ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????.’
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Contrary to Kaegal’s words, that’s exactly what he was doing.
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Karamaf’s te armor felt like a fortress. The only seemingly vulnerable spots were the helmet’s slit and the neck, but Karamaf, being no fool, would defend these well.
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????????????━
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Johan gripped the longsword tightly, feeling it scream in his grasp.
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‘???????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????.’
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One step further.
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Johanpleted his calction and his step.
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It was time to strike.
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A technique called <????????????’?? ????????????> from the guild unfolded beneath Johan’s feet. It was a unique gait that seemed to glide over the ground.
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Karamaf’s eyes widened at the sight of a technique usually used by assassins, wondering how a knight’s son could use it.
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But that was all. Karamaf was too experienced to be surprised by this. He immediately prepared to counter Johan as he closed the distance, ready to strike at any moment.
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Then, Johan vanished. He elerated again in an explosive movement that genuinely shocked Karamaf.
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‘?? ????????????!’
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It’s said that a first-ss swordsman senses their defeat before it happens. The trained mind and senses make the judgment before the de even touches the body. That’s what Karamaf was experiencing now.
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For him to lose track of his opponent in a duel between swordsmen was unbelievable.
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‘?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????. . .!’
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Though defeated in the bout, Karamaf did not panic. This wasn’t a duel under equal conditions. It was a fight where lives were at stake.
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From the beginning, Johan couldn’t win against Karamaf, no matter how many times he probed his weaknesses.
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As long as this armor remains intact.
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Karamaf only needed one hit to win, but for Johan, a win was impossible without striking several times to prate vital spots. The fight was so uneven it could hardly be called a fight. Karamaf never thought he would lose.
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‘?? ?????????? ??????’???? ?? ??????????????. ????, ???????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????’?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????.’
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Karamaf guarded his neck and face, waiting for Johan’s attack. It didn’t matter where Johan struck. The moment he did, his feet would be stopped, and Karamaf’s counterattack would begin.
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????????????!
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There was a heavy sound of air being sliced. Johan swung his sword with tremendous force, aiming for the side. He was attempting a horizontal sh. Karamaf scoffed at Johan.
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Trying to cut te armor with a longsword. Such a foolish act, not even a fool would attempt. Hisck of proper knightly training was his downfall here. Once his meaningless sword strike ended, his neck would be severed.
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‘????????????????.’
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Then there was a sound.
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It was the sound of Karamaf’s armor being ripped apart.