Swordsmanship Match

Years later, with one lame leg and one blind eye, Lord Wells told new adventurers at the Giant's Slumber Inn about Will. Even those clouded eyes could still burst forth with dazzling light, as though that bright young man were still standing not far away, grinning as he told him:

"Uncle Wells! You're too slow!"

Everyone turned toward the entrance. A young man dressed in simple swordsman's attire stood in the doorway, his expression solemn as he coolly looked over the group.

Wells, captain of the Gale Mercenary Group, looked at Havent, who was posing smugly at the door, then turned to his subordinate Baki.

"Who's this kid?"

Squad leader Baki was a little dumbfounded as well. He turned to look at the others, only to find equally confused expressions on their faces.

"Boss, no idea. But he just asked whether we were recruiting. He's probably here to apply."

Wells looked Havent up and down.

"Kid, what's your name? Are you here to apply?"

"Yes. My name is Will. Are you still looking for people?"

Looking at Havent's slender frame, Wells shook his head. Though he wore a sword at his waist, he did not look like he had much fighting ability.

"Yes, but you don't look very suitable."

"Huh? You can tell that just by looking?"

Having been rejected, Havent froze on the spot. He had even prepared a whole speech. I'm willing to work hard, and I learn quickly.

After turning Havent down, Wells turned back, intending to continue discussing the details and procedures of their upcoming mission with his men.

With a sharp whoosh through the air, Wells tilted his head and caught the thrown object. Opening his palm, he found a money pouch resting in it.

"Let's make a bet. If I win, you let me join. If I lose, the thirty Silver Grol in that pouch are yours."

Wells squeezed the pouch, and the silver coins rubbed together with a crisp clink. He turned back to Havent at the entrance.

"Interesting little fellow. Why do you insist on joining us? You should know that the money you threw over would be enough to cover your travel expenses to the Imperial Capital."

But Havent merely smiled and did not answer Wells's question. Instead, he asked,

"So that means you agree. What should we compete in, then?"

Wells stood and walked over to Havent, tossing the money pouch up and down in his hand. He revealed an ugly grin.

"Since you provided the wager, I won't take advantage of you. Go ahead, what do you want to compete in? There are only a few of us here. You can choose anyone."

Havent looked up at Wells's impressive height, an envious expression appearing on his face.

"How about a swordsmanship duel? It's very popular in the Northern Frontier. You can do that, right?"

Upon hearing Havent's choice, Wells let out a hearty laugh.

"Sure, kid. Looks like you don't like taking advantage of others. Come on, which one of us do you want to fight? Pick whoever you like. Since you were so straightforward just now, I'll make sure we stop short of injury. I won't let you get hurt."

After hearing Wells's words, Havent had originally picked a mercenary about his own size. But he felt as though he was being underestimated and immediately changed his choice.

"I choose you. Is that okay?"

When Havent chose him, Wells's smile faded. He scratched his messy, shoulder-length hair.

"Hey, kid, listen. You're quite likable, but choosing me isn't a very good choice. Are you sure?"

Seeing Havent nod, Wells stopped trying to persuade him and turned to his subordinate.

"Baki! Go get two wooden swords. And bring him a set of protective gear too. I don't want to see him crying later."

Baki nodded and headed to the tents behind the inn to fetch the items, while Wells led Havent to an open patch beside the inn's stable.

Before long, Baki brought the equipment over. Each of them received a practice sword made of hard pine, and Baki additionally gave Havent a set of hardened leather armor.

Havent did not stand on ceremony. After putting on the protective gear, he walked to the center of the clearing.

"Will Hill. Please instruct me." With that, he gave Wells a swordsman's salute.

Wells wore a sleeveless linen shirt and stood on the other side of the clearing with a sword in one hand, still smiling as he spoke.

"Wells Hayacri. Kid, your courage is commendable. I'll go easy on you."

Havent smiled at Wells, who was waiting for him to attack. He raised his left hand and slowly placed it over his cheek, peering at Wells through the gaps between his fingers.

"Uncle! Carelessness can lead to defeat, you know. Scuyumi!"

Under Wells's astonished gaze, Havent suddenly launched an attack. Holding his sword in a reverse grip, he lowered himself halfway, then his body tensed like a fully compressed spring as he charged straight at Wells.

Thud!

Wells held his wooden sword across his chest and blocked Havent's thrust.

Feeling the force transmitted through the blade, Wells looked in surprise at Havent, who was right before him, and could not help praising him.

"Not bad, kid."

When his surprise attack failed, Havent leaped back several steps to widen the distance. Looking at Wells, who still stood in place without attacking, he revealed a sly smile.

"Uncle, you'd better be careful."

With that, Havent, having completed his buildup of force, charged Wells again and lunged forward, stabbing toward the latter's chest.

Wells watched Havent's approaching figure, shook his head, and swung his wooden sword toward Havent's back.

"Kid, the same move won't... Huh? What?"

The wooden sword that had been stabbing toward Wells's chest shifted from a thrust to an upward sweep under Havent's control. In an instant, its tip slashed toward Wells's neck.

Facing the fierce strike, Wells leaned backward and barely avoided Havent's sword tip. His own strike at Havent missed as well because he had lost his balance.

Before Wells could readjust his posture, Havent's next wave of attacks had already begun.

He raised his right leg and lashed out with a high whip kick at Wells's sword hand. Using the recoil, he twisted his body and swung his wooden sword in a horizontal slash at Wells's head.

Left with no choice, Wells could only keep retreating to evade the assault. Havent pressed his advantage, gripping his sword with both hands. After sprinting two steps, he leaped high into the air.

He brought down a powerful overhead cleave on the off-balance Wells.

However, Wells's many years of adventuring experience meant he was no pushover. Facing Havent's descending wooden sword, he remained completely calm and fell backward with the motion.

That also bought Wells the time to swing his sword.

After a dull impact, Havent flew off at an angle. The watching members of the Gale Mercenary Group were all dumbfounded.

"Hey! Where did this kid come from? He's way too strong! He actually suppressed the boss!"