Chapter 15: Auditore da Sicilia (4)

15 minutes remained until the duel.

I thought the process would be complicated, but it turned out to be easier than expected. Media asked me once more if it really had to be in the isolated space, but seeing my determination, she agreed to allow the duel there, adding a word of caution.

Although the isolated space is outside the realm of reality and doesn’t cause direct physical injuries, her words were a gesture of concern. Sometimes she seems like a child, but she also has that dual charm that shows maturity.

The rules of the duel in the isolated space are simple. Just like in the class assignment exam: kill or be killed.

The isolated space is protected by the academy’s blessing, so it’s beyond the reach of reality. No matter what happens inside, there will be no direct physical injuries.

Even if flesh tears and bones break, you won’t die. Of course, the psychological damage is another matter. Even if it’s virtual, experiencing death is tied to the most primal fear.

‘Well, winning is enough.’

I decided to take it easy. Worrying wouldn’t change the outcome. Besides, Chloe lent me a weapon. A sashimi knife with a rose pattern engraved on it.

‘At least it’s a brand name, so it should be better than the ones from Daiso.’

Still, in my other hand, I continued to hold the sashimi knife from Daiso.

The murmurs of the students in the waiting room of the training field could be heard clearly. As entertaining as fights may be, I didn’t expect such an explosive reaction.

All the effort I had put into not standing out until now seemed to be in vain.

I sighed, scratching my head. Chloe looked at me with a visibly apologetic expression.

It seemed she thought I was involved in this because of her. To comfort the distressed Chloe next to me, I forced a smile.

“Chloe, this isn’t because of you, so don’t make that face.”

“…Even so.”

“If you feel that bad, treat me to a nice dinner afterward.”

Chloe nodded slightly, her expression still gloomy. The waiting room fell silent again, so I asked a question to fill the void.

“You seemed really scared earlier.”

“…My brother is strong.”

“Chloe, you’re pretty strong too.”

She shook her head. Her red lips trembled.

“My brother is a genius with exceptional talent in the history of the Auditore family, especially in assassination techniques. By the age of 14, the adults were already calling him the ‘peak of nocturnal technique.’ Of course, you’re strong too, Geom-Ma, but my brother has a lot of real combat experience…”

“…‘The peak of nocturnal technique,’ huh?”

I understood what it meant, but hearing a young girl say something like that felt strange and uncomfortable.

I ran a hand over my face to clear my thoughts and then looked at the sashimi knife.

It was always the same.

No matter how much I tried to avoid it, in the end, I could only make this decision, and I realized I was muttering to myself with a resigned tone.

I recalled what my first master had told me in my past life: ‘You’re destined to wield the sword your entire life.’ Probably, even he wouldn’t have imagined that in my second life, I’d still be playing around with sashimi knives.

[We will proceed with the pairing in the isolated space. Involved students, please proceed to the training field.]

A monotonous announcement, much like the one on the day of the opening ceremony, signaled the duel. Since it was an unusual fight in the isolated space between students, it seemed like they were taking it seriously.

“I’ll be back.”

“…Yes.”

Chloe, her head lowered, barely responded. Even though I was the one about to fight, she seemed more nervous than I was.

“Chloe.”

“Yes?”

When I called her name with energy, Chloe automatically looked up at me.

“There are many geniuses in the world.”

“…”

“But in the end, I win.” (Nah I’d Win)

***

I entered the training field and scanned my surroundings. The stands were packed. The number of people was almost in the four digits, which left me impressed.**

It was annoying, but the atmosphere was reminiscent of a Roman coliseum.

It felt like at any moment, they would give a thumbs-down and start booing if they didn’t like the show.

‘Oh, wait. They’re here too?’

Among the crowd, I spotted some members of the Star Class. Rachel from the Changseong family and Saki Ryozo from the Jeolgung family.

To my surprise, Abel von Nibelung and Leon van Reinhardt were also present.

‘This adds a bit more pressure.’

With the weapon in my hand, I walked to the center of the training field, where I met Nox. He held two sharp katanas, one in each hand. When he saw the sashimi knife I was holding, he scowled.

“Do you intend to mock me? It seems that nobodies can’t tell the difference between courage and arrogance.”

He openly showed his disdain, spreading an intense killing aura throughout the place.

‘Damn lunatic.’

Scratching my neck, I responded casually:

“True masters don’t blame their tools.”

“I’ll cut that insolent tongue of yours first.”

Nox’s threat was so intense that the murmuring in the training field immediately ceased.

I took a deep breath. From the moment I first saw Nox, I knew he was a formidable opponent.

But now, seeing the venom in his eyes, a chill ran down my spine.

The special blessing of the Auditore, the “Blessing of the Crow,” was one of the most powerful for concealing presence in history.

And as an assassin, he surely had a few tricks up his sleeve. Furthermore, the reddish katanas he wielded were undoubtedly the S-rank armament, the “Red Swords.”

As I observed him, analyzing, the broadcast echoed once more.

[The isolated space will now be deployed.]

[May the hero’s blessing be with you.]

The purple barrier of the isolated space began to unfold.

I drew my sword.

[The Blessing of the God of the Sword manifests.]

++++++++++++++++++++++

《May the blessing of the gods be with you》

++++++++++++++++++++++

* * *

The duel began, and during the first few seconds, both of us observed each other, assessing.

Nox, without changing his expression, tilted his neck slightly and, with light steps, rushed toward me. The shadow he cast as he moved stretched into a red line and vanished from my sight.

“What was that?”

“Did you see that?”

“Damn, and he’s supposed to be from the Normal Class?”

The students watching reacted with surprise at Nox’s movements. Most of them were unaware of the true nature of the Auditore family, so they assumed it would be a duel between lower-level students.

But very few in the Star Class could follow Nox’s speed with their eyes. Most didn’t know what was happening. You could hear the sound of throats swallowing nervously among the crowd.

A blurry figure moved in a red arc, aiming for my back. Detecting the murderous intent behind me, I quickly leaped upward.

A whistling sound filled the air as it was cut.

Immediately, the red light followed me.

Clang!

The repeated sound of metal clashing echoed.

Every time the swords collided, sparks flew as if they were flames.

Both figures attacked at incredible speed.

Even watching closely, they would suddenly disappear from my field of vision.

The sharp sound of metal rebounding filled the ears of the audience.

Clang! Clang!

The brutal clash of swords continued for several moments.

Then, Nox and I separated, about 8 to 10 meters apart.

Nox seemed perplexed. As Chloe had said, he wasn’t an ordinary opponent.

He had tried to erase his presence using the “Blessing of the Crow” to take me down, but I had reacted as if it was the most natural thing.

‘That bastard….’

I needed to be more cautious. I had been too focused on speed.

At first, I thought I could shred him to pieces, but seeing his skill, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

‘I’ll cut his neck in a single strike.’

Nox brought the red swords to his lips and stained them with blood.

The swords turned an even deeper red. The “Red Swords,” S-rank armaments and treasures of the Auditore, enhanced their cutting power the more blood they absorbed, slicing through metal as easily as tofu.

The cold, hard grip of the swords gave him overwhelming confidence. Nox smiled as he gripped them tightly. He felt like he could cut through anything.

In comparison, Geom-Ma’s weapon was just a simple kitchen knife. Yet, even though it was a cheap blade, the one he held seemed to emit an unsettling sound.

The chilling aura made Nox raise his eyes to look at me. My dark, somber eyes were fixed on him.

I had my arms relaxed and my body leaned forward. It was an unbalanced posture, with my center of gravity forward. The tip of the sword, like the barrel of a gun, was aimed at Nox.

Nox froze when he saw my face. He felt the blood in his veins turn cold. For the first time in his life, he felt fear.

Crack⎯

The veins in my forearm bulged as I gripped the sashimi knife tightly.

My breathing was light and frequent. A slight cold sweat trickled down my back.

Bang⎯!

Using compressed air as propulsion, I launched forward like a bullet.

A streak of lightning marked the ground beneath my feet.

“““Huh?”””

A loud boom, the sound of a compressed explosion, resounded throughout the training field. At the same time, Nox felt a sudden heat in his left shoulder.

One of the katanas fell to the ground, rolling. His arm had been severed, and his red pupils dilated completely.

The movements he could follow just moments ago were now imperceptible.

All the students filling the stands felt their skin crawl.

Their screams got caught in their throats, unable to comprehend the situation.

Tap, tap

The sound of quick footsteps continued. Nox turned his head toward the sound, but all he could see were blurry shadows.

“Damn it!”

The shadows, holding sashimi knives, surrounded him like a whirlwind.

Then, a bolt of light, swift as thunder, aimed at a single point. Someone in the audience let out a gasp.

Something was happening, but no one could see it. It wasn’t a speed a human could reach.

All the observing students were left speechless. There were no murmurs or whispers.

The slashes in the air stirred up dust. As the dust thickened, the scent of blood wafted through the air.

Some students began to groan and stagger, their temples throbbing under the intensity of the attacks.

Swish-

A series of sounds that sliced through life.

Swish-

The blood that had been spilled pooled into a puddle.

Swish-

A scream filled with terror echoed across the training field.