"Master Yupa, are you really sure you won't reconsider?"
Unaware that Yupa had already made up his mind to refuse, Nausicaä stepped forward and tried to persuade him to stay.
"No. You should know I'm used to traveling, and I don't want to be tied down," Yupa said by way of excuse.
But that halfhearted excuse couldn't fool Nausicaä, who knew his character well.
Her teacher didn't have her ability to hear what was in people's hearts, so it was only natural that he had doubts about the Erdtree.
The girl pondered for a moment, a hint of mischief flashing in her golden eyes.
"Then let me put it another way. Would you like to experience the Erdtree's power for yourself?"
"Oh?" Nausicaä had piqued Yupa's curiosity, and he immediately grew interested. "How would I do that? As long as I'm not forced to do anything."
Though he had declined the Erdtree's invitation, his curiosity about this "divine tree" hadn't diminished in the slightest.
He had traveled through many countries and heard countless legends about people who truly wielded extraordinary powers, but he had rarely had a chance to witness them firsthand.
"As one of the Golden Folk, I'm naturally a part of the Erdtree's power too."
"Why don't you test how much I've improved lately? If I win, you'll reconsider Mr. Tree's proposal. How about it?" Nausicaä suggested.
"Trying to goad me into it?" Yupa stroked his thick beard and agreed. "Very well. Let's see if you've been slacking off these past few years."
In his eyes, Nausicaä's body had yet to fully mature, and her combat skills hadn't been sufficiently honed in real battles.
Even if she had received a so-called blessing, she was no match for him.
Nausicaä wasn't just asking Yupa; she was also asking for Mu En's opinion.
Mu En hadn't expected Nausicaä to break the deadlock with a wagered duel. He hadn't even had time to teach her any combat incantations.
Still... this seemed like a good idea too.
In the Lands Between, those who received blessings honed themselves through battle in the first place, as evidenced by the colosseums scattered everywhere.
Besides, Mu En himself was curious: who was stronger, Nausicaä, who had already taken half a step into the "Knight Level," or Yupa, the swordmaster who could be considered the pinnacle of humanity?
And could she cross that threshold through this battle?
Whatever the outcome, it would be a valuable observation.
"I'll make sure neither of you is seriously injured. Fight without holding back." His thoughts rang out in Nausicaä's mind.
Beneath the Erdtree was Mu En's absolute domain.
Even if someone's head were cut off, he could instantly heal the severed place within a ten-thousandth of a second, ensuring that the person wouldn't feel it.
"Thank you for your protection," Nausicaä said to Mu En.
The girl whistled, and soon another patrol arrived from nearby.
The longswords carried by the Valley of the Wind's militia were all ground from a substance known as "ceramic steel."
At ordinary temperatures, ceramic steel possessed both the toughness of metal and the hardness of ceramic. It was difficult to work or damage by conventional means; only sustained high temperatures and acidic conditions could deform it.
The blades, ground over a long period, had a bright silver finish. Though light, they were indestructible; even a direct hit from a bullet wouldn't leave a scratch.
Once, a fellow who had just received his weapon couldn't contain his curiosity and secretly used it to chop at various things around his home, including but not limited to a kitchen knife, tables and chairs, and the stone used to weigh down pickled vegetables.
The result was that the ceramic steel sword remained sharp, while the reckless fellow could only clutch his sword and spend the night outside amid his wife's angry cursing...
Since there was no need to worry about injuries, they would naturally use real weapons.
Yupa took a ceramic steel sword and gave his wrist a slight flick. The tip cut through the air with a hum.
"What a fine sword... Is this Gol's handiwork too?"
"Mm. Grandpa Gol will be delighted to hear you say that."
Gol was the elder craftsman in charge of the weapons workshop and the blacksmiths, and a blacksmith himself.
He had been close to retiring because of illness, but after receiving a blessing, he had returned to work and put his talents to use again, so full of energy that he had nearly frightened the craftsmen under him.
Yupa held the sword in one hand, pointing it diagonally at the ground. From that ready stance alone, a fierce aura burst forth, forcing the three soldiers watching to retreat several steps.
"Come, Nausicaä. Show me how much you've grown."
Nausicaä felt as though the teacher before her had become one with his sword.
But she felt no fear. She even offered a "kind" reminder:
"I've gotten quite a bit stronger lately. Why don't you make the first move, Master?"
At that, Yupa laughed heartily.
"Haha, you said it. Watch out!"
Before the words had finished leaving his mouth, Yupa darted up to Nausicaä, his sword thrusting straight at the wrist of her sword hand.
By convention, knocking away an opponent's weapon or landing a valid hit on a vital point counted as victory.
Though he wasn't holding a wooden practice sword, master and student had fought this kind of battle countless times, and he was fully confident he could stop before actually hurting the girl.
Seeing him attack, Nausicaä immediately lowered both hands and used the blade to block.
Clang!
As their blades met, the two locked in a contest of strength.
So far, everything was as Yupa had expected.
But what happened next upended his understanding of combat.
Nausicaä, who had been holding her sword with both hands, actually let go with her right hand while keeping up the contest of strength.
Then, with her slender fingers, she lightly pinched the tip of Yupa's sword.
A triumphant smile immediately appeared on the girl's face.
Yupa sensed trouble and pulled on his sword, but it was as though the longsword had been welded between her fingers. Even when the hilt groaned under the strain, the blade still didn't budge.
"What?!"
The startled thought flashed through his mind, and Yupa immediately swept out his left leg, intending to force her to let go.
But Nausicaä remained unruffled in the face of the sweep, which came like an iron whip. She simply turned and met it head-on with her shin.
His lower leg, thick as a tree stump, collided with the girl's slender ankle with a dull boom.
Yet it was Yupa, broad and powerfully built and two heads taller than Nausicaä, who grimaced and bared his teeth.
He was confident he could shatter even a rock with a kick, but now it felt as though he had kicked a solid steel pillar with all his might!
Then Nausicaä moved.
Without a single unnecessary motion, she kept hold of the sword tip and stomped forward.
A tremendous force traveled down the blade. Yupa felt the bones in both arms groan, and he couldn't help letting out a muffled grunt.
As Nausicaä continued to exert force, the soft forest floor beneath Yupa's feet couldn't provide nearly enough support, and both feet sank deep into the soil.
Only now did Yupa truly understand what Nausicaä's earlier smile had meant.
In this situation, he couldn't use the sword techniques he was best at, and could only match her with brute force.
What he found hardest to accept was that, in a contest of strength, he had actually lost to his student, who had only just come of age.
"Very good!" Yupa growled, the fighting spirit in his eyes growing stronger. "But it's not over yet! Hyah!"
He unleashed all his strength and twisted the blade.
Creak-crack!
The ceramic steel sword, whose edge wouldn't roll even in a head-on collision with steel, first warped violently as though melting, then shattered!