Jeonjong looked at Cheon Myeong with a blank face.
"Didn't you hear ? I said let's have a duel."
Cheon Myeong, who was saying that to Jeonjong once more.
Then, Jeonjong opened his mouth as if he were a little bewildered.
"M-, a duel with you, Young Master?"
"Yes."
"..."
For what purpose on earth was Cheon Myeong proposing a duel to him?
Jeonjong's mind was now filled with that thought.
'Is he asking to have a reception duel?'
There was no way he could have a duel with Cheon Myeong with all his heart.
If Cheon Myeong's mood were to be upset in the process, wouldn't everything beco a bubble?
Of course, from Cheon Myeong's skills that he had seen at the Heavenly Demon Festival, it seed that there was a high possibility that he would lose, but in the end, it seed that it would be a duel where he would lose even if he won and lose even if he lost, so he could not readily accept that proposal.
'If I lose in the duel, that will also spread as a rumor...'
Even if he lost, he should never lose miserably.
If that happened, wouldn't his status as the leader of the Eighth Grinding Squad fall?
No matter how much the opponent was Cheon Myeong, whose status had recently risen, the blow would be quite big.
"..."
This is why people who have a certain position in the Demonic Cult do not have duels in public places.
Of course, it would be good if they won, but the blow when they lost was too great.
The tag of a loser would constantly follow them until they got their revenge.
'As expected, I should politely refuse here...'
No matter how he thought about it, it was a duel where he had nothing but things to lose.
In the end, Jeonjong tried to carefully refuse the duel so as not to offend Cheon Myeong's mood as much as possible.
However, at that mont.
"Let's have a duel! Let's have a duel with !"
Cheon Myeong began to shout as if to let the whole neighborhood hear.
"Y-Young Master!"
"Duel! Duel! Duel!"
"..."
Is this guy crazy?
Seeing Cheon Myeong, who was shouting as if he had a grudge for not being able to have a duel, Jeonjong was at a loss for words for a mont.
"A duel?"
"What? Don't tell Young Master Cheon Myeong and the leader are going to have a duel?"
For a mont, the sound of people murmuring around him ca to Jeonjong's ears.
'Oh, this is bad!'
Because Cheon Myeong had shouted just now, it seed that everyone around had heard the story.
Even at this mont, the people who were gradually increasing after hearing the rumor.
Seeing that, Jeonjong felt that he had made a mistake.
"Young Master! I'm sorry, but I have no intention of having a duel with you!"
"..."
"So would you please tell the people yourself?"
He had to end this situation before more people gathered.
If the atmosphere were to flow towards having a duel any more, it would be more difficult to refuse.
As Jeonjong said that urgently, Cheon Myeong smiled and said.
"Yes, I understand."
Phew-.
Hearing Cheon Myeong's answer, Jeonjong let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
"Here! Who wants to see the duel between and the leader!"
"...!"
"If you want to see it, shout!"
What...? What sound... shout?
"Waaaaaah-!"
"I want to see it! I want to see it!"
"A duel between Young Master Cheon Myeong and our leader. I can't stand this!"
He had told him to put out the fire, but Cheon Myeong had poured oil on the fire.
As Cheon Myeong and Jeonjong said they would have a duel, a cheer was heard from the surroundings.
For them, it was a chance to see a duel between masters, so of course, there was no reason to refuse.
"Uh..."
At the sight that was like a festival, Jeonjong was at a loss for words.
However, he soon ca to his senses and said to Cheon Myeong as if to argue.
"Young Master! Why on earth are you doing this!"
"What do you an?"
"Didn't I clearly say that I have no intention of having a duel!"
"Didn't you an that you have no intention of doing it because the audience's response is too small?"
"...?"
"So I tried to liven up the atmosphere a bit. How is it? Do you like it?"
Did he really say that for that reason?
For a mont, Jeonjong had that suspicion, but he thought that it was more important to handle this situation first.
"Young Master, wouldn't you please tell the people even now that we are not having a duel?"
"Well, that doesn't really matter."
At that mont, an ominous smile appeared on Cheon Myeong's lips.
"Will it be okay? Those people will be very disappointed."
"...!"
"If they hear that the leader has withdrawn from the duel, where will that disappointnt be directed?"
'This...!'
Hearing Cheon Myeong's words, Jeonjong realized that it was already impossible to call off the duel.
Of course, if he wanted to not do it until the end, he could.
However, if that happened, as Cheon Myeong had just said, the criticism of those gathered here would all be directed at Jeonjong.
From then on, the tag of a fugitive would already be following Jeonjong.
Swish-.
With a darkened complexion, Jeonjong looked around.
The people who were increasing like a snowball even at this mont.
In the end, Jeonjong realized that he could not escape from this duel.
'I can't help it... I have no choice but to end the duel in a way that my evaluation does not fall as much as possible.'
Even if he were to be defeated by Cheon Myeong, he had to avoid being defeated miserably.
"Alright. I will have a duel with you, Young Master."
"Oh, really?"
"However, there is a condition."
"A condition?"
"Let's not draw out our sword ki in the duel."
With this, the possibility of being miserably defeated by Cheon Myeong would be reduced.
Although Cheon Myeong's strength was of course in his swordsmanship, Jeonjong thought that the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was the biggest factor.
So if he sealed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Cheon Myeong's skills would be significantly reduced.
Originally, in a duel in a place like this, there were many cases where they competed with their internal energy sealed, so there would be no particular problem.
"Hmm, alright."
As Cheon Myeong answered as if it didn't matter, Jeonjong's complexion brightened a little.
"Then... I ask for a match."
"I also ask for a good match, Leader."
A duel that was concluded by mutual agreent.
At that mont, the cheers of the Eighth Grinding Training Ground grew louder.
***
Nurous people were standing or sitting in a circle.
And the two people standing in the center.
Cheon Myeong and Jeonjong were preparing for the duel.
'Since it has co to this, I have no choice but to face the duel with my life on the line.'
Even if he couldn't side with Cheon Myeong because of that, he couldn't help it.
And who knows?
Since they were competing with their internal energy sealed, he might be able to win against Cheon Myeong.
If that happened, his reputation within the main headquarters would rise, so that would also be a gain in its own way.
"Are you ready?"
At that mont, Cheon Myeong asked Jeonjong.
"Yes, I can start at any ti."
"Then let's start right away."
Cheon Myeong said, drawing his sword.
And soon, Jeonjong also drew his sword, and a confrontation continued with their swords pointed at each other.
"..."
As the duel began in earnest, the people shut their mouths.
The training ground, which was quiet even though nurous people were watching.
It seed as if everyone was trying not to miss even a single breath that occurred in this duel.
'Is he not going to co first?'
Even though he was watching, it didn't seem like Cheon Myeong had any intention of rushing in first.
If so, he had no choice but to rush in first.
Although there would be differences in opinion depending on the individual, Jeonjong was of the opinion that the first attack was much more advantageous than the second attack.
Thump-.
Jeonjong kicked the ground and shot forward.
At the sa ti, he quickly thrust his sword towards Cheon Myeong's chest.
Swish-.
Jeonjong's swordsmanship was based on fast swordsmanship.
The basis of the swordsmanship was to cut off the opponent's breath at a trendous speed before they could react.
Especially for an opponent who was encountering Jeonjong's swordsmanship for the first ti, the result was usually decided in this first move.
'I got him!'
Although Cheon Myeong might be superior in overall skill, that does not necessarily lead to victory in a duel.
Cheon Myeong would also be encountering this level of fast swordsmanship for the first ti.
From the mont he had taken the first attack, Jeonjong was almost certain of victory.
Clang-!
"...!"
However, Jeonjong's montum was broken too easily.
'H-how...!'
On the outside, it seed that Cheon Myeong had just lightly flicked his sword up.
However, Jeonjong could not believe that his one strike had been so easily blocked by such a light sword strike.
'D-dangerous!'
He was now in a very defenseless state due to Cheon Myeong's sword strike.
If Cheon Myeong were to swing his sword right away in this situation, he would have no choice but to be defeated.
Yes, the duel would end with the miserable defeat he had feared the most.
'That's the only thing that can't happen!'
To think that the duel would end in just two moves, not even a few.
Since there was no defeat more unsightly than that, Jeonjong desperately tried to correct his disheveled posture.
"...?"
However, contrary to Jeonjong's worries, Cheon Myeong did not counterattack at all.
'Why...?'
Jeonjong couldn't help but have that question.
Even if he thought about it, that mont could be said to be a golden opportunity for Cheon Myeong.
To put it bluntly, even if an opponent much weaker than Cheon Myeong had attacked, it would have been difficult to block it perfectly.
"..."
He didn't know what was what.
Even at this mont, Cheon Myeong was just standing still with his sword pointed, just like at the beginning.
'I don't know what it is... but it's a relief.'
He could tell from that one move that Cheon Myeong was a strong opponent even with his internal energy sealed.
From now on, Jeonjong was planning to continue his attacks only in a way that had as little risk as possible.
Swish-.
Jeonjong thrust his sword at Cheon Myeong again.
However, his movent was not as big as the first move, and instead of reducing the power, he focused more on speed and continued his attacks.
Clang, clang, clang, clang-.
An exchange of moves that continued for a long ti.
As the duel grew longer, voices began to co out from here and there.
"A-amazing! This is the leader's fast swordsmanship when he's serious."
"I rather think that Young Master Cheon Myeong, who is blocking all of that fast swordsmanship perfectly, is more amazing."
"They're both just amazing! Look, they're not being pushed back an inch, are they?"
The people could not help but admire the duel between the two, who were evenly matched.
However, in the heart of Jeonjong, who was actually having the duel, it was as chaotic as a raging wave.
'What is going on?'
People think that this duel is evenly matched.
However, there is only one reason why the duel can be this long.
It was because Cheon Myeong was not ending it even though he could.
Clang-!
Look. Even now, in a situation where he could have ended it, Cheon Myeong did not.
He was just swinging his sword to block, as if to tell him to attack more.
'Why... why isn't he ending it?'
At first, he had thought it was a relief, but as it happened not once or twice, it was now to the point of being scary.
When on earth was Cheon Myeong going to counterattack?
But if he were to stop this sword he was swinging now, he felt that he would be defeated by Cheon Myeong's counterattack, so he couldn't do that either.
"Well... is this enough?"
At that mont, Cheon Myeong muttered while blocking Jeonjong's attack.
The mont that mutter was heard, Jeonjong's right arm was raised high.
Cheon Myeong's sword was now pointed at Jeonjong's neck.
"It seems it's over."
"..."
"Do you admit defeat?"
"...I have lost."
Since it was a situation where anyone could see that he had been defeated, Jeonjong obediently answered.
Swish-.
As the match was decided, Cheon Myeong sheathed his sword. And he smiled at Jeonjong and said.
"It was a good duel."
"..."
"I have learned a lot thanks to you."
He learned... a lot?
If he had learned how to toy with an opponent, he would have understood those words, but other than that, he could never accept it.
"Then I will be on my way."
"..."
"See you next ti."
Cheon Myeong left, leaving behind words of unknown aning.
At that mont, cheers erupted from here and there.
"It was an amazing duel!"
"As expected of the leader! Although he was unfortunately defeated in the duel, it is really amazing just to have been evenly matched with that Young Master Cheon Myeong!"
The people said that and were clapping not only for Cheon Myeong but also for Jeonjong.
Of course, although this situation was what Jeonjong had been hoping for, Jeonjong couldn't bring himself to smile.
'See you next ti...?'
The last words Cheon Myeong had left him.
Jeonjong just pondered the aning of that inwardly.
(End of Chapter)
User Comments
0 comments from readers