Chapter 251: 133. An Extra Priest -2 (Part One)

Translated by A Passing Wanderer

Edited by RED

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In the training hall of the Count’s residence…

There was no roof here, allowing the snow to cover the floor in pure white .

Charlotte was currently covering her mouth, while wobbling unsteadily on her feet on top of this lightly-packed layer of snow .

She usually sported a taciturn, expressionless face, but at this very moment, a heavy frown filled her face, while tears were forming on the edges of her eyes .

In the end, she couldn’t endure and leaned against the training hall’s wall, before sinking to the floor powerlessly .

I muttered quietly, “…I guess the drug really is pretty nasty . ”

This would be my first time seeing her this out of sorts .

She didn’t have to force herself and drink the dang potion, but when I told her about its effects, she just chugged the whole bottle down without any hesitation whatsoever .

I felt sorry about that, so I walked over to her and squatted down to match her eye level . While lightly waving my hand in front of her face, I asked, “Are you alright? You want me to give you some holy water? It can clear out even the most potent of hangovers, you see . ”

“N-no, I’ll be alright, Your Highness . ”

Charlotte held her head as if it was hurting to the point of shattering like glass, then began forcing herself back to her feet . She used her sword like a crutch to balance herself, then shot a resentful glare in my direction .

“Fine, fine . At least drink this first . ” I summoned some holy water in my hands and pushed it towards her so that she could at least wash the inside of her mouth out or something .

Charlotte took a gulp of the holy water cupped in my hands, and her complexion immediately improved to some degree .

Just as I bent down a little to gently pat her on her back, Hans walked up to us while holding a parchment and a pen .

“Are we going to test the medicine’s effects from now on, sir?” Hans asked, looking quite excited at the idea .

I figured that he just couldn’t wait to record how incredible his own concoction was . I replied, “Let’s do that a bit later, after Charlotte recovers a bit more . ”

“I’m feeling fine, Your Highness . Although I do feel a little lightheaded, it’s on a level that I can manage without any issues,” Charlotte replied, wiping her lips with the back of her hand . She glanced at me, and I noticed the fire burning in her eyes . She seemed to have regained some of her vigour now .

If what Hans said was true, then the effects of the medicine would be only minor when used on someone already boasting a great deal of strength .

We had to pay close attention to Charlotte, and see how much of an effect the medicine had on her . There was only one sure-fire way to confirm that .

I walked to the centre of the training hall, then stood on the side opposite Charlotte . After summoning the greatsword, I gripped it loosely and rested it against the snow-covered floor . “Okay, now, Charlotte, how about we spar for a little while?”

She flinched noticeably, then with a complicated yet weird expression on her face, began staring at me intently . “Did you say ‘spar’, Your Highness?” She seemed quite surprised by my suggestion .

But that was probably down to us never having sparred before . Back during my banishment period, I was what you’d call ‘blessed with two left feet’, and had no talent in wielding swords, so I was understandably reluctant to spar with her .

But now that Kasim was with me, even someone like me could now more or less fight in close-quarter battles . That’s why I wanted to have a spar with Charlotte at least once .

“How about it?”

“Very well . I accept, Your Highness!”

The tone of her voice grew higher . I wasn’t sure why, but the corners of her lips were curling up ever so slightly . I could only guess that she was happy about something here .

Well, my opponent gave her consent, so… “Kasim!” …I might as well get started properly, then .

Kasim’s soul was summoned and entered the greatsword .

Not just my physical abilities, but even the necessary skill in battle entered my mind through the large weapon gripped in my hands .

I sucked in a deep breath, raised the greatsword, and leveled it at Charlotte .

As if to reply to that, a smooth grin floated up on her lips and she bowed her head a little, as per the established etiquette . She then stood opposite me and unsheathed her sword from its scabbard .

Her refined posture, her precise movements as she drew her sword out while kitted out in that figure-hugging white-coloured armour… Seriously now, it was like I was staring at a gorgeous portrait or something .

2

White snowflakes quietly piled up on her silver hair . Her crimson irises were reflecting my image .

After pulling out her sword, she lowered her stance and began glaring at me . The surrounding atmosphere seemed to suddenly transform .

This still silence flowed all around us, and I even fell into an illusion of the air getting progressively heavier .

I ended up blurting out something at the sheer pressure she emitted . “Please go easy on me, will ya?”

“I’ll give it all my all, Your Highness . ”

…Huh . Maybe she wanted payback for the medicine?

I glanced at Hans, urging him with my eyes to give us the signal for the spar’s start . He seemed to have understood the meaning behind my gaze, because he nodded and raised his hand up .

He slowly lowered his hand and shouted out, “Begin!”

Charlotte’s slender, frail-looking foot stepped on the ground lightly .

She lowered her posture even further and just as the light burning in her eyes sharpened considerably, her figure vanished from my sight .

“…?” For a moment there, I thought I had lost her .

By the time I picked up on her movement, she was already right in front of my nose .

What followed after that was a delayed sonic boom . A snowstorm exploded right behind her .

My panicking face was now reflected in her irises . I cried out, “What the heck?!”

Charlotte planted her foot on the ground, and with her foot as the pivot, she spun around 360 degrees while raising her sword .

I desperately raised the greatsword and barely managed to block her blade .

CLANG-!

A loud, violent metallic clangour rang out as sparks danced in the air .

My muscles and even the bones in my joints were screaming in shock .

She hadn’t even used any divine power yet . Her current strength was purely a result of just her physical stats alone .

Just her physical strength alone was enough to numb my arms and make them feel like they would burst apart at any moment now .

“…What’s up with this ogre-like strength?!” I muttered without even realising it, but that only made her glare sharper than before . Her sword lowered, then slashed upwards .

Clang-!

That metallic clang was only the beginning; dozens upon scores of the sharp notes of metal colliding exploded out afterwards .

Charlotte wielded her sword from all sorts of angles at a genuinely frightening rate of speed .

I managed somehow to hold on, and retreated from her .

Even though I was relying on Kasim’s reflexes and his understanding of sword techniques, as well as his combat experience, I was still being overwhelmingly pummelled by her attacks .

Was it due to the effects of the wonder drug?

‘No, hang on . She hasn’t even used her divinity yet, has she?’

Which meant that this development was solely due to her hard work and nothing else .

“Okay, fine . Let’s get serious . ”

I got some distance from her before rousing up my divinity . The divine energy coursed through my veins and spread throughout my body .

The Aztal Rune began emitting its beautiful golden light, and exhibited its power to greatly boost my physical prowess and reflexes .

All of my senses were greatly heightened; I could now follow Charlotte’s movements . Even the powerful blizzard slowed down to gently drifting snowflakes at this point . Hans’s movements became oh-so slow, as well .

In the midst of time slowing down to a crawl, only Charlotte remained agile and nimble .

Her movements were as smooth and refined as if she were dancing right now . The blade of her divine sword came flying in towards my waist .

I injected divine energy into the greatsword and deflected her blade away .

I wasn’t going to sit back and obediently take her beating, however!

[Divine Aura of Wind!]

Winds began compressing about my greatsword .

I created more distance before drawing the big sword back . If it was this attack, even Charlotte would have trouble defending against it .

“Here we go!” I slashed with the compressed air gathered about the greatsword .

The snowstorm exploded apart and the formless blade flew straight toward Charlotte .

“…” Only then did she utilise her divinity .

Faint but still pure-white aura oozed from her . Particles of light rapidly gathered to the sword tightly gripped in her hand before wrapping around the blade and becoming one with it .

She held the hilt with both hands and raised the weapon up high .

She sucked in a deep breath as her eyes lit up . ”Fuu-heuph!”

Her crimson irises locked on the incoming wind blade, then she hacked down with all of her strength .

The formless greatsword made out of wind collided with her divine sword and got cut in two . It split apart left and right, brushed past her, and crashed into the wall of the training hall behind her, promptly exploding in a spectacular fashion .

Her figure dashed out from the blizzard and the blinding snow scattered in the air . She dug in with a lowered posture while a bright smile meant for me was etched on her face .

She said, “This time…”

The moment I heard her voice, my view flipped upside down .

Before I realised how, I was staring at the sky above . After turning my head to look below, I noticed that Charlotte used her leg to trip me up and destroy my balance .

Not content with that, she was even pressing me down to the ground with her left hand on my chest .

Once I was completely flat on the ground, she subdued both of my hands with her knees, then pressed her left hand firmly down on my chest .

As for her right hand, it held the sword which was now clearly pointing toward my throat . ”…It’s my win . Isn’t it, Your Highness?”

For a fleeting moment there, her gentle voice tickled my eardrums . I could only dazedly stare at her on top of me, still pointing her sword .

Her expression had already stiffened up by then, as if she was trying to imitate a sheet of ice or something . Even I could tell that she was trying hard to suppress her emotions, but the corners of her lips were still quivering away .

She was genuinely pleased about defeating me today, it seemed .