[Author's note]
Sorry for being late guys.
I got busy today.
Here's the chapter!
Chapter 07: My life as a bystander
(Subaru Natsuki's point of view)
This is awkward...
Currently, I'm sitting in front on a counter.
What's so awkward about it?
Well...
"Yo, Nii-chan...! Why are you so tense?" A burly man asks me.
...
"Maybe he's holding 'it' in." A midget snickers.
"Huh...? If you gotta' go, there's a place over there." A bluish, pinkish haired man says while pointing at somewhere with his thumb.
...
That's right.
It's the same trio that tried to mug me in the first three walkthroughs!
"Order up...!"
Old Man Rom enters the scene with a large platter.
He serves us with seemingly carrot soup.
"Oh, we're having carrot soup today." Robin nonchalantly sits beside me.
"Yep...! Just harvested them this evening...!" The old man declares while pounding his chest.
[Door slam, Bell ringing]
"Sorry for being late! What did I miss?"
The familiar sounding voice...
"Yo, Felt! How are you doing?"
I turn around and greet her casually.
"Subaru, what are you doing here?"
The blond girl heedlessly walks to the next seat.
"I found this guy sleeping under the starry night." Robin tells the newcomer.
"He did what...?"
"I was fainted, okay? I wasn't that desperate to sleep." I retort.
"Forget about his problem. Let's eat!"
The tanned man pronounces to the rest.
The occupants of the loot house begin eating.
...
"Hey, guys... Is it okay if I say that some crazy bunch of people is out there to kill us?"
"BUH...!"
At my remark, Robin spits out his soup.
"Dammit Robin...!"
Old Man Rom is covered in his sputter.
"Sorry, sorry..." He apologizes to the old man.
Then, he turns to me.
"Subaru-kun, what are you talking about...?"
...
"Well... Remember that white haired girl from earlier? She got friends."
The brunette man starts pondering.
"Oi, Subaru... Don't you ever come with good news? The last time you came here was to tell us about Elsa." Felt says while playing with her soup.
"Can't help with that..."
"In that case..."
Old Man Rom takes out his giant wooden club.
...
Robin told me once that those 'guys' are stronger than Elsa and Sasaki.
There's no way Old Man Rom could win against Lu Bu or Li Shuwen.
Those Chinese men were monsters.
"We got no choice but to defend the port, right boss?"
The midget eagerly pulls out his dagger.
His fellow thugs also brandish their weapons.
...
They killed me once before...
But I don't think they can handle a monster like Lu Bu...
That bastard literally crushed my skull with his bare hand.
That burly guy over there can't even stand my iron grip.
"Hmm...? You got a problem with me?" He asks me with threatening eyes.
...
Actually, it's not threatening at all.
[Bell ringing]
!
All of us become alerted.
Robin is already pointing his arrow at the door.
"Good eve—"
The newcomers become baffled by our 'welcoming'.
"Are you kidding me...!? The 'Reinhard' is out to kill us!?"
The midget screams to the top of his lungs.
"And Sasaki too...!? What crime did we ever do...!?"
The bluish, pinkish thug whimpers.
...
How about attempted robbery and murder?
"Oya...? What kind of welcoming is this? I haven't returned for quite awhile." Sasaki comments nonchalantly.
Robin puts down his bow and arrow.
"Oh... It's just you. I thought it was someone else."
The Prince of Thieves let out a sigh.
...
"Speaking of which, what are you doing here?"
I ask the red haired guest.
He was a bit startled by my remark but he recomposes himself after that.
"Ah... I was on a patrol with my fellow guard, Kojirou. He decides to revisit his old home. So, I decide to accompany him."
...
I'm glad I choose not to kill you.
Your 'good guy' level is totally off chart!
"You have strange looking apparel. You are not from around here, are you?"
?
"Subaru-dono is indeed a stranger to this country. I can vouch for that." Sasaki answers the question for me.
...
I realized that Sasaki never looked at me in the eye.
"So, we are not in trouble with the knights?"
The midget interjects.
"You are not in any trouble." Reinhard reassures them.
The trio start to relax.
"I thought I was going to die for a sec..." The burly man sighs.
"Big deal..." Felt snorts.
The two men approach the counter.
"So your name is Subaru? Please to meet you." The red haired young man says to me.
?
Why is he acting like this is the first time we met?
...
Oh...
This is the first time we 'met'.
"Hahaha...! It's nice to finally meet you in person, Reinhard-san!"
I offer him my hand.
He receives it with a smile.
"Just Reinhard would be nice, Subaru."
...
Like our previous meeting...
He closes the gap between us like nothing.
"How's the training, Sasaki?"
"It was quite intense! Fencing and kenjutsu are very different. I learn something new every day!"
The two legendary figures start chatting.
"Oh, I'm glad you're enjoying it. Because I'm totally not..."
"Your passion lies in the bow."
Meanwhile, the largest man in the room is scratching his head.
"Aren't we expecting people? You said a crazy bunch is out there to kill us."
!
"I totally forgot about that!"
[THUD]
?
What was that?
"What was that?" The midget repeats what in my mind.
Old Man Rom brandishes his club.
"That sounds like a large foot."
"Who's there...!?"
Sasaki suddenly pulls out his blade.
?
What is he talking about?
There's no one—
"How interesting..."
!
That voice...!
The air ripples and a man comes out from the thin air.
"Li Shuwen...!"
He... he's here!
"You can sense me in matter of seconds. Not many can do that even with a Divine Protection."
Sasaki steps forward.
"Let's just say, I can sense any disturbance in the environment."
The Chinese man smirks.
Then, he turns toward Reinhard.
"So, you're the heroic Reinhard van Astrea."
The red haired young man reaches for his sword.
"I heard you lost your Blessings. Did you know where they went?"
?
What is he talking about?
All of a sudden, Reinhard becomes startled.
"That power... The Divine Protection of Martial Arts...!"
!
In a split second, Li Shuwen is in front of him.
[CLANK]
Sasaki forces the Chinese martial artist to retreat.
"Hmm... You can bypass my world interference. A Divine Blessing...?"
The samurai in knight robe smirks.
"You can say, it's the only thing given to me by this world."
"Divine Protection of Tranquillity... It provides the user with immunity to first strikes and making his attacks unreadable."
...
"Reinhard, you are giving us commentaries...?"
The red haired knight scratches his cheek.
"I still have the Divine Protection of Divining. I can't help but to say it aloud."
He let out a chuckle.
...
What are you talking about...?
"HAHAHA...!"
!
Abruptly, the Chinese martial artist laughs.
"A worthy opponent... I shall comply with all my might."
A spear appears beside him.
...
That's right!
Li Shuwen was a master with halberd in his youth.
Sasaki flicks his western blade.
"Everybody look out...!"
?
!
Robin suddenly pushes me down to the floor.
[CRASH]
!
The top of the building is blown off!
"Geh... What the heck is wrong with their power level...!?" Robin yells.
!
What about the others...!?
I glance around frantically.
"Are you okay, young lady?"
Reinhard is cradling Felt in his arms like a charming prince carrying his princess.
"Oi, oi...! Put me down...!"
The blond girl struggles to be let go.
"MY SHOP...!"
Meanwhile, Old Man Rom is lamenting the fate of his pawnshop.
...
And it appears the thugs' trio are safe too.
[Clang, clang, clang, clang]
?
Sasaki and Li Shuwen are having their fight.
[Horse neighing]
"Hoh... So, you survived my God's Force."
...
I recognize that voice anywhere...
"Lu Bu."
I glance upward from my crouching position.
The Chinese general is riding his fabled red steed.
He points his halberd at me.
"The moment is here. Now die, Satella's beloved!"
I close my eyes to accept my fate.
[CLANG]
?
I slowly open my eyes to see what's going on.
...
!
Reinhard is stopping Lu Bu's halberd with his sword!
"Get out of my way, useless knight. You are not worthy to be my opponent."
"I'm afraid I can't accept your statement." The knight says with a smile.
[CLANG]
The red horse was forced to retreat.
"You dare to challenge me...? You... a worthless man without his Blessings...?"
Reinhard simply points his sword at the Chinese general.
"I may not as strong as my previous self. However, I can still fight."
...
What am I?
The damsel in distress...?
And Reinhard is the protagonist for saving me...?
...
"GUOH...!"
All parties were shocked by my outburst.
"This isn't right...! I am supposed to be the protagonist. Why am I given the role of a damsel instead...!?"
"Oi Subaru-kun... This isn't the time for jokes like that." Robin deadpans.
"Give me one reason why I should not run you down in this instance." Lu Bu points his weapon at me.
...
"Simple. I am here to protect him."
The knight steps forward.
"Subaru may not a citizen of Lugnica. But he is a citizen in need of help. I shall answer his call of distress."
Reinhard flicks his sword.
...
"I want to spout heroic lines like that...!"
"Oi, oi..." Robin massages his head.
The infamous Chinese general climbs down from his steed.
[Horse neighing]
"I see... Prepare to meet your doom, Reinhard van Astrea."
The noble steed runs to... wherever that direction is...
The Chinese warrior takes his stance.
The red haired knight responds with similar nature.
"Subaru, you should run." He suddenly says.
?
"Our fight may get a bit rough. So, it's better if you get some distance." Reinhard says to me.
...
"But, where should I go?"
!
Abruptly, Robin pulls my arm.
"Follow us."
The Prince of Thieves gestures toward Felt, Old Man Rom and the trio.
"You are not getting out alive, Satella's Beloved...! Medea has commanded her armies to surround this place...!" Lu Bu claims.
...
"Don't listen to that guy. We can protect you." Robin gives me an assuring smile.
...
Can I survive this?
"Go with them, Subaru-kun."
?
Emilia-tan...?
...
If Emilia-tan's voice comes out of nowhere just to tell me to go... that means, there's a good ending lies ahead!
At least, it's not Kirei's voice.
That voice is a death flag...
"Come on...! We can't waste much time."
The brunette man urges me to move.
I follow them without hesitation.
/***scene break***/
The red haired knight watches the Japanese boy escapes with his party.
A smile is apparent on his face.
For the first time in his life, he is going to face an opponent so strong... that it makes his heart races.
Truthfully, he had faced worst.
However, this time around, he lost most of his Blessings.
The only Blessings he had left are the Divine Protection of Sword Saint and the Divine Protection of Divining.
In the past, he asked for the gods' help whenever he faces trouble.
They granted him with so many boons.
Now, for unknown reasons, his boons were retracted.
And those boons were given to his enemies...
He knew they were his Blessings.
They were the same Divine Protections that always protected him since he was little.
They were part of him.
"Divine Protection of Warlord..." The young man mutters.
"So, you can divine my Blessing. Of course... it was your Blessing in the first place."
The Chinese general attempts to strike a conversation.
"I don't understand... Why the gods would favour people such as you with their blessings?" The young man questions the world.
"Perhaps the gods find that we are worthy." Lu Bu simply replies.
Reinhard raises his eyebrow.
"This world... this heaven... labelled you as the protector. You were the champion of this world."
"..."
The Sword Saint remains quiet.
He would like to hear his opponent's point of view.
"That is right! You were the chosen one! You were the sole being chosen by the gods to challenge the Jealous Witch, Satella!"
The young man continues to listen.
"But that is no more... We are the new order. We are the new chosen ones."
Lu Bu spins his halberd.
"We were heroes. We were champions of our original world. Even in a new world, we shall be glorious! The world itself acknowledges our grandeur! That is why your gods have forsaken you."
He points his weapon at Reinhard.
"They have chosen to give us their boons instead of a single naive boy."
"..."
The Sword Saint grips his sword handle tighter.
"I may am naive. Nonetheless, my sole wish to serve my country. Nothing more, nothing less..."
"HAHAHAHA...!"
Lu Bu let out a thunderous laugh.
"How naive can you be...? Serve your kingdom? Isn't you kingdom is governed by the Dragon? If that's the case, you have no reason to fight me."
The van Astrea noble becomes startled once again.
"It can't be..."
"As you feared... We serve the Great Dragon. This purging is part of its wish."
/***scene break***/
(Subaru Natsuki's point of view)
"What are they?"
Currently, we are surrounded by skeleton warriors.
...
COOL!
This is just like those other games I used to play!
These are the mob soldiers.
So, it's time to for us to shine!
"GET OUT OF OUR WAY!"
[CRASH]
...
"OLD MAN ROM OBLITERATED THEM IN ONE SMASH!"
"Oi, oi..." Robin palms his face.
[Creak]
?
"More skeletons...!?" Felt says in shocked tone.
All of us (except me) had our weapons drawn.
The trio are smashing every skeleton that tries to come close.
...
Those guys were pretty skilled.
Despite being mob characters...
[Swoosh]
[Crack]
The blond girl skilfully takes down a skeleton soldier by cutting its legs.
[Swoosh]
In the mean time, Robin snipes down several skeleton soldiers from far.
"Keep moving...! We don't want to get surrounded!" Old Man Rom declares.
[CRASH]
And he crushes another team of skeleton.
...
Wait a sec...
I'm the only guy who's not doing anything...!?
"Move, Subaru-kun...!"
Robin pushes me to walk.
"I know, I know...! I can walk by myself!"
"You're not walking!"
Gritting my teeth, I walk faster behind Old Man Rom.
The trio and Felt are behind me.
The Prince of Thieves suddenly stops.
"You guys go ahead...! I got an idea to distract them."
"You better come back alive, asshole!" The blond girl yells at him.
From far, I could see his smirk.
...
"URYAAA...!"
[CRASH]
"ANOTHER HOMERUN FOR OLD MAN ROM...!"
"COULD YOU STOP MAKING WEIRD COMMENTARIES...!?" Felt retorts to my reaction.
...
WHAT AM I DOING...!?
Am I a commenter for a TV showing...!?
"Look at that...!"
The midget suddenly yells.
?
!
A huge shadow floats over us.
"A winged dragon..." The tanned man comments on the bizarre sight.
Even for these guys, such sight is intimidating.
[Heart thumping]
It slowly circles us.
...
Dammit...!
Is there anything I can do...?
[Roar]
The flying reptile let out a roar.
!
"Get out of the way...!"
[AIR DRAFTING]
All of us take refuge behind a building.
The air feels a bit chilly...
?
Ice-breath...?
"A Frost Wyrm...?"
The others glance at me.
"You know what that thing is...?" The midget asks.
?
"Wait... I thought those things are normal in this world."
"Normal my ass... No dragons breathe ice and look so... skeletal." The bluish, pinkish haired thug claims.
"Skeletal...?"
[Roar]
I try peeking outside.
...
The flying creature continues to circle airborne.
It does look skeletal...
[Creak]
?
"They're in here...!" The burly man freaks out.
A number of skeleton warriors surround us.
"URYAAA...!"
[CRASH]
"ONCE AGAIN, OLD MAN ROM STRIKES A HOMERUN...!"
"WHAT'S A 'HOMERUN' IN THE FIRST PLACE!?" The old man finally had enough with my antics.
Lucky for us, the skeleton mobs aren't really a threat.
The real threat is—
[THUD]
!
An earthquake...!?
...
No.
That's not it...
It's—
!
[Air draft]
All of a sudden, Old Man Rom flings me and Felt to another room.
[ROAR]
[Indistinct whimpering]
"GORYAAA...!"
The huge man let out a battle cry.
"Old Man Rom...!"
The blond girl calls out for the old man as soon as she recovers from the impact.
The large man is nowhere to be seen from inside the room.
The red eyed girl runs outside, leaving me alone.
...
I slap my own face.
I need to do something...!
I can't be the burden of this party.
Is there anything I can use as a weapon...?
...
A pitchfork...!
I grab the object.
I exit the building.
"URYAAA...!"
That's Old Man Rom's voice!
[ROAR]
I see the tanned man is riding the dragon by its neck.
The creature attempts to shake him off.
Without even giving an inch, the old man continues to smack its head.
"Th-this damn... thing... don't seem... to bleed...!"
His voice is audible as he struggles.
"We're coming, boss! Let it loose, Chin!" The midget shows up along with his two companions.
"Ur— GOA...!"
"Eh...?"
[EXPLOSION]
A fireball flies out from the thug's palm and bombards the dragon's forelimb.
[ROAR]
"Not... helping!"
Old Man Rom yells as the dragon moves its neck more erratically.
"Sorry boss... I wasn't trying to aggravate it." The thug apologizes for the unforeseen circumstances.
...
"Wait... You can use fire spell...?"
The thug glances at me sideways.
"Got a problem with that...?"
...
"EVEN MOB CHARACTERS ARE MORE USEFUL THAN ME...!?"
""WHO ARE YOU CALLING MOB CHARACTERS...!?"" The trio respond to my remark.
"Hang on, Old Man Rom...!"
!
"Stop that girl...!"
[SWOOSH]
The girl charges with her wind-like movement.
"Felt-dono...!" One of the thugs yells.
The girl climbs the creature's limb and stabs it with her dagger.
...
Dammit...!
"UUUOOHHHHH...!"
I decide to charge in with my pitchfork.
[Splat]
I plunge its blades at the dragon's forelimb.
[ROAR]
!
[Air draft]
I find myself flying.
[THUD]
"Kuh..."
I spit out some blood.
I think... I broke something...
But it's not fatal...
"UUOHHH...!"
Old Man Rom is sent flying...!
[Crash]
[ROAR]
?
Wait a sec...
That thing is coming my way...!
I quickly make an attempt to escape.
[ROAR]
"Dammit...!"
I make a run for it.
[Impeding stomping]
Its footsteps are very audible in my ears.
[ROAR]
!
"Why is it following me...!?"
[Plunge, plunge, plunge]
?
All of a sudden, the stomping comes to a pause.
I quietly turn around.
The creature lies lifelessly where it used to stand.
"Fancy seeing you here, Natsuki..."
...
Out of all people, why is it you...?
"Kotomine Kirei..."
The man in white robe walks gracefully from his prey.
He quietly pulls out his weapons from the dead dragon.
"You... you killed it."
The man presents me with a smirk.
"No, I didn't. What I did is exorcising it. This creature was never living."
He clutches his blades on his fingers.
"Stand behind me, Natsuki. Enemies are approaching."
!
A large number of skeleton warriors surround us!
The Japanese knight flips his robe.
In his hands, six blades were carefully wielded.
[Rattle, rattle]
Suddenly, two skeleton warriors broke.
"His timing couldn't be better." Kirei forms a new smirk.
[Air draft]
[Rattle, clatter, clatter]
[Clang, clatter, clang, clatter]
[Air draft]
[Clatter]
...
I am speechless...
The man I loathed is currently moving faster than I can hope, taking down every single one of the skeleton mobs.
From time to time, someone snipes the skeletons, making it easier for Kirei to fight.
...
It's Robin.
I only knew one archer, and that's the guy who's providing cover fire for us.
I could imagine his smirk.
/***scene break***/
[CLANG]
Two men of different descents are having a bout.
[Clang, clang, clang]
A sword is drawn against a pole arm.
The two men gracefully 'dance' with their weapons.
The sword wielder, a man in white robe, is enjoying every moment of their exchange.
Meanwhile, the pole arm user, a man in orange garb, is a bit troubled.
He wishes to enjoy this rare encounter.
Not many can see through his Sphere Boundary, much less survives his fist.
Now, even with a spear, he can barely keep up with his opponent.
Nevertheless, his master wishes for the destruction of one Natsuki Subaru.
[CLANG]
Their weapons interlock again.
"What an amazing opponent you are... I've never met anyone capable of forcing me this far."
The former samurai replies with a smirk.
"Is that so...? I am honoured."
[CLANG]
Both of them backpedal.
The infamous Chinese martial artist spins his halberd and plants it to the ground.
"Shall we exchange names...? We never had any chance to do it earlier." He says to his foe.
The former samurai flicks his sword.
"Very well... I am known by the name Sasaki Kojirou. However, that is only an alias."
The martial artist raises his eyebrow.
"An alias...?"
Sasaki presents him with another smirk.
"I am not the original Sasaki Kojirou. I was summoned as a Servant due to my similarity with the original man. Formerly, I am nothing but a wraith."
The Chinese man nods.
"I see... Nevertheless, Sasaki Kojirou, you are the one I'm facing! Even if you were a nameless man, now, that name is yours! You have earned your name through your skills. I, a Master Martial Artist, declare as such!"
The former samurai was a bit shocked by his foe's reaction.
"Are you saying that I should claim this name as mine...?"
"Sasaki Kojirou is not the man in front of me. Sasaki Kojirou is not the one facing me. The one that faces me is you! A nameless man...! I simply can't accept that! Therefore, I shall declare! I am facing Sasaki Kojirou, and the one in front of me is you!"
The formerly nameless man blinks his eyes in disbelieve.
"I... I don't know what to say..."
"You need not to say anything...! I, Li Shuwen, recognize you as Sasaki Kojirou!"
Slowly, a smile forms on Sasaki's face.
For the first time, someone recognizes him as himself instead of 'Sasaki Kojirou'.
He was a nameless man.
He was just a farmer with fixation to swordsmanship.
No one knows him.
His technique, Tsubame Gaeshi, has similar name to the skill of the legendary 'Sasaki Kojirou'.
Therefore, every feat, every achievement...
All goes to the famous swordsman.
Now, someone just distinguished him from the celebrated figure.
'Sasaki Kojirou' is not a nameless man.
'Sasaki Kojirou' is him.
He is Sasaki Kojirou.
No longer is he the wraith summoned by a witch.
"I... I thank you."
The tears of joy flow down from his eyes.
The Chinese man responds with a smirk.
"I don't mean to interrupt. Aren't you forgetting something, Li Shuwen?"
A manly voice interjects their meaningful conversation.
He makes his appearance before them.
"Stay out of this, Emiya. This is my bout." The martial artist hisses at him.
The tanned man simply gives him a smirk.
"You are..."
The former samurai recognizes the newcomer.
"Fancy seeing you here, Assassin... Or should I call you, Sasaki Kojirou?"
It was a taunting tone.
The squire flicks his sword in annoyance.
Sasaki Kojirou, the Assassin of fifth Fuyuki Grail War, was always a composed person.
Not a single thing can faze him.
However, this one man irks him.
He met this man once.
He came from the same continuity where the Archer class Servant tried to kill Emiya Shirou, his younger counterpart.
This man has no honour.
He literally attacked a helpless fighter in the back.
"Finish this fight, Li Shuwen. Jeanne is not pleased with your... senseless ranting." The man in red says.
He vanishes from their sight.
"I'm afraid we have to conclude this bout, Sasaki Kojirou." Li Shuwen let out a sigh.
The Chinese man readies his weapon.
Smirking to his opponent, the Japanese man did the same.
It was the same stance he used to execute his secret technique.
"I am aware of your circumstances. Shall we end it with our mightiest blow?"
"HAHAHAHA...!"
A thunderous laughter comes from Li Shuwen.
And they move.
"Hiken—"
The sword and spear are swung.
"Shen Qiang...!"
"Tsubame Gaeshi...!"
[SPLAT]
/***scene break***/
[CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG]
"You fool...! You dare to deny the wish of the great dragon...!?"
"Your claim has no credibility. I have no need to believe in such sham."
It's another battle between a sword and a pole arm.
The combatants are evenly matched.
A red haired young man with blue eyes is opposing a red haired huge man.
The first combatant only wears thin robe.
The second combatant, a behemoth, wears full armour.
It is a wonder how he moves so fluidly in that heavy getup.
Not only that, his body stature is that of a giant.
Nevertheless, his agility is breathtaking.
[CLANG, CLANG, CLANG]
The two men exchange blows.
It appears the younger man has no problem to keep up with his opponent.
In fact, he is enjoying it.
It's in his blood.
[CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG]
However, his weapon says otherwise.
The young man was using a high quality steel blade.
Nevertheless, it is not durable enough to match the Houtengeki.
"?" The man in white robe finally realizes his weapon's condition.
"This is the end!"
[Metal snaps]
The red haired young man performs a back flip to escape his opponent's attack.
Once he lands safely, he inspects his broken weapon.
"You are a fool to challenge me with such mundane weapon, Reinhard van Astrea." The Chinese man chuckles heartily.
"I'm sorry I put forced you too much..." Reinhard whispers to the broken sword.
Nodding solemnly to himself, the young man discards the useless weapon.
With that, he finally reaches for his last resort.
The weapon he was reluctant to use, the fabled sword of Sword Saints, Dragon Reid.
"Hoh... So, you're finally going all out. Without your other Blessings, you might as well prepare yourself a grave."
The former Chinese general ridicules the young nobleman.
When he first heard of the young man, he was baffled.
Reinhard's abilities were completely ridiculous.
The Chinese man laughs at the sheer nonsensicality.
The world favours the young man.
Therefore, they grant him all the Blessings they could garner, making him a broken fighter.
The former general believes that Reinhard relies completely on his Blessings.
In other words, without his Blessings, Reinhard is no different than an average man that can barely swing a sword.
Even now, Reinhard only manages to survive this far against the Chinese general due to his Divine Protection of Sword Saint.
"I see that you look down on me." The young nobleman seems a bit annoyed by his opponent's taunting.
"How can I not...? I have met and fought countless warriors in my whole life. Never once have I heard of such biasness. Your power lies in those Blessings. Without them, you're pretty much dead meat." His opponent replies with haughty tone.
With his hand on the sword handle, Reinhard forms a smirk.
"I see... In warriors' eyes, I am nothing but a jester, relying on my Blessings."
The Chinese man snorts.
"If you still have your Blessings, our bout is not between you and me. It will be me against the world."
There is some truth in those words.
Fighting the former Reinhard is like opposing the world itself.
"Now, I know..." The young man whispers to himself.
[Wind blows]
The Chinese man becomes alerted.
The mana surrounding them is being sucked in.
"HAHAHAHA...! So that is Reid...! How amusing! To think it will exert such an aura!"
He gleefully enters his stance.
"My role has changed. I am no longer a tool. I am a man. I will determine my own fate!" He smirks to himself.
Yes.
Reinhard was a tool.
He was a tool to protect the world.
He doesn't understand why the world suddenly turns against him.
But, he believes it's for the greater good.
He was always alone.
His grandfather, Wilhelm, never took a shine on him.
It's probably the same reason why the old man refused to acknowledge his wife in the first place.
The Divine Protection of Sword Saint
It's an ability granted to those of van Astrea bloodline.
It provides full mastery of swordsmanship without the need to train.
In commoners' eyes, this is nothing but biasness.
Others struggled and fought to reach greatness.
But he, Reinhard, never once struggled for what he wants.
Now, he is given a chance.
He is given a chance to be a human instead of a tool.
No longer is he Reinhard, the world's protector.
He is now Reinhard, a human who strives to save people.
"Lu Bu, that is your name, is it not?"
"That is my name." The former general replies assertively.
[AIR DRAFT]
At last, the blade is fully drawn.
"My name is Reinhard van Astrea. And I will prove to you that I am not as weak as you assumed."
With both hands clenching the sword handle, he raises it near his face.
"HAHAHAHA...!"
A thunderous laughter once again escapes from Lu Bu's throat.
"And I, Lu Bu, shall demonstrate to you the strength of a war god."
#Chapter End#
[Author's note]
Thanks for reading!