NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55
I made sure to keep as much distance as possible from Verdonna.
When she stopped my sword with her hand earlier, we were quite close. That distance, I suspect, was of utmost importance.
And once I had distanced myself enough – I sprinted towards Verdonna!
Accelerating, I aimed to reach my top speed right before her.
Even colliding with her seemed like an option at that point.
Then, swinging my sword overhead – I brought it down in a sweeping horizontal strike.
Whoosh!
My strike stopped just as it touched Verdonna’s maid outfit.
Not because she blocked it, but because I voluntarily stopped.
“If this were a real fight, you’d be dead by now.”
“Yes, you’re right. I’ve lost,” Verdonna admitted, maintaining her poker face to the end.
“Master, that was amazing!” Misha exclaimed, running up to me and hugging me, then petting my head like I was a good boy.
“Thanks. But you completely forgot about being a referee, didn’t you?”
“Oh, right, I did forget about that.”
Did she really forget?
“No, Master, that was truly impressive. I might just fall for you again.”
“What do you mean ‘fall for you again’?” Misha asked, glaring at Lena.
“Ah, uh, that was just a figure of speech… No deep meaning…”
Lena hurriedly clarified, knowing all too well Misha’s strength and scariness.
“I must say, I didn’t expect you to figure out my tactics so quickly. I’m impressed,” Verdonna acknowledged.
“Yeah, it’s nice to be complimented by a former assassin.”
“Master, did you understand how she stopped the sword with her hand?”
“That’s exactly it,” I nodded.
“Let’s reveal the trick then. Verdonna, is it okay if we compare answers?”
“It’s fine. If I intended to keep it secret, I wouldn’t have performed that technique.”
“Verdonna stopping my sword wasn’t due to incredible brute strength – though I’m sure she’s very strong,” I explained to a puzzled Lena.
“At that moment, Verdonna was right beside me and grabbed the sword just as I started to swing.”
It might be impossible for a regular adventurer, but not for an assassin. That’s what makes a first-class assassin.
“It’s probably impossible for Verdonna to stop a sword swinging at her with full force. But if it’s before the sword moves, there’s a way,” I continued.
Verdonna nodded slowly.
“Mr. Keiji is correct. That technique is essentially about neutralizing the weapon.”
“Probably, the moment an enemy thinks their sword has been stopped by hand, they get confused.”
True, I was also confused.
“So, an assassin already close by would finish the job and complete their mission – something like that?”
“That’s right.”
It seemed my answer was correct.
“Additionally, I used several other tactics. Hinting at the beginning that I wasn’t focused on the fight was to frustrate Mr. Keiji and impair his judgment. I wasn’t actually thinking about dinner.”
“Everything had a purpose, then.”
Indeed, Verdonna was a formidable opponent.
Suddenly, a comical growling sound came from Verdonna’s stomach.
Her cheeks tinged slightly red.
She looked embarrassed, unlike her usual self.
“Even in a mock battle, when you fight seriously, you get hungry…”
“Seems like it. Was that also a technique to create an opening?”
“No, that’s a physiological response… I can’t control my stomach growling…”
Wow, even the cool character gets embarrassed, and that’s kind of cute…
But then, Misha gave me a stern look again.
“Master, you weren’t thinking that Verdonna is cute, were you?”
“Thinking she’s cute is fine… It’s not like it’s cheating…”
“Yes, that’s acceptable.”
Good, I’m off the hook.
“Verdonna, if you ever feel Master’s intense gaze, report to me immediately.”
“Yes, Misha, I understand.”
It seems like a net is closing around me…
“I love only you, Misha.”
At times like this, it’s important to pet Misha’s head properly.
“I, I know that… Ah, pet me more…”
Misha’s expression melted.
I need to keep pampering Misha so she doesn’t worry. That’s a master’s duty.
◇
That evening’s dinner was a calorie-rich gratin, served in rather large plates.
Probably, Verdonna was also hungry.