Chapter 7: Prince Kurobuta has a match with his younger brother

"Let's start the match ~ ☆"

　Glace stood between Brad and Alberto and said that in a dumb tone with his usual frivolous smile.

"... Ah ☆ It may not be settled immediately, so for the time being, the time limit is until the morning bell rings! If it is not settled, it will be a draw ~ ☆"

"No the time limit isn’t required, it will end in an instant."

　Alberto affirms and holds his sword with confidence.

" Yes, you may or may not be right. If it looks dangerous, I'll stop you, so don’t go easy and try to kill each other without mercy☆"

　“If I can't stop him, sorry ☆" Glace said something outrageous, and I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious, so I couldn't stop sweating.

(No, I would die if you didn't stop him...)

　Brad's face tensed as he held his sword.

　While at first glance the level system has the advantage of showing you your ability, it’s a cruel index that clearly shows the difference in power. If the levels are different by 5, there will be a clear difference in power, and if the level is different by 10, it will be like the difference in power between adults and children.

　The current level of Brad is estimated to be 15.

　Alberto's level is 35 four years later, so he’s currently estimated to be around 25. In other words, the difference in power between the two should be as much as an adult and a child.

　I think Alberto wants to kill me completely, so if Glace doesn't stop him, Brad will of course die.

"Please do your best, Brad-sama ♡"

　When I was thinking I should run away cause I didn't want to die, I heard the voice of Rosie, my personal maid who had come to watch before I knew it.

　Listening to her cute voice I regain my spirit.

　After all, I was a sad man who didn't have a girlfriend in my previous life. When a cute girl cheers you on like this, you can't help but be motivated.

(I guess there's no point in being weak.)

　I haven't decided to lose.

　There’s an overwhelming difference in status, but the match isn’t determined solely by status alone. Especially in such interpersonal battles, there is a possibility that you can make up for as much as you want depending on your technique, as long as you have the power to do the minimum damage to the opponent.

　The point is that if you can do damage, and not take any damage from your opponent. Then, in theory, you can win eventually.

(Well, in theory ... but)

　Anyway, I have no choice but to pray that Alberto is a little weaker than himself four years later. And just as Brad made up his mind.

"... Begin ☆"

　At Glace’s signal the two brothers, who had overwhelmingly different statuses, faced off.

"...!"

　It was Brad who made the first move.

　When an interpersonal battle begins, it usually starts from gauging each other's situation, so if you charge in without asking questions, it's surprisingly easy to land a surprise attack. I suddenly remembered such shallow knowledge and tried to launch the first strike.

　However--

(... Huh !?)

　Before Brad swung his sword, Alberto's sword was already coming for him from the side.

　There is so much difference in agility stat that even though Brad moved earlier, it seems that the first and second attacks switched place by the time his attack started.

(Ugh, it's too heavy !?)

　And it's not just fast.

　Although he managed to block it, Alberto's attack was heavier than he imagined. His arm was numb from the impact.

　Moreover, his attack didn’t end there.

Alberto immediately pursued and attacked Brad. Alberto relentlessly unleashes a series of sword blows as if he were dealing his parent's revenge.

(This is ... obviously over 25!)

　By comparing the levels of characters that have been met in this world with the characters in the memory of his previous life, Brad can estimate the level of others to some extent, and clearly the Alberto in front of him had strength over level 25.

　Maybe it's near level 30.

　In other words, Alberto now has the same strength as Alberto when the game started four years later. What does this mean?

(No, I see...... maybe it’s cause the level is high)

　Suddenly, I come up with a hole in my reasoning.

　He will be stronger in four years, that's the common sense of my previous life, and it doesn't necessarily apply in the world of this level-based "Final Quest".

　Experience points are required to level up.

　And the higher the level, the more experience points are required to level up. Alberto's level is so high that it’s far above that of the average human being, so a large amount of experience is required to level up.

　There aren't many enemies strong enough to gain such a large amount of experience from. At around 30th level, it's the time you start fighting small dragon-type monsters in the game. If you don't go on a journey, you're unlikely to meet such a monster. It's no wonder that his level hasn't risen at all in four years.

(In reality, your life is at stake when you hunt monsters, and you have no way of knowing how to level efficiently. In that respect, I'm familiar with it, and my advantage is overwhelming.)

　From now on, I'd like to run smoothly up the road to becoming the strongest.

　But first of all, it's the battle in front of me.

(Anyway, it's scary that my little brother is this strong at the age of 14.)

　It's easy to forget when you’re controlling the game, but the main characters are heroes who save the country and the world. It's natural to have such an extraordinary talent, but when you meet it in reality, their strength is unbelievable.

　Indeed, a genius.

　I can only say that.

"Hey hey, why don’t you attack me too!? Aren’t you just defending! Is this all you learned studying under Glace-san?"

　While thinking about such things carefreely, Alberto attacks Brad with his extraordinary sword technique with a smile of leeway.

(This guy ... He knows I can’t do that so he's trying to stir things up.)

　While gritting his teeth, Brad parries Alberto's attacks with the precision of threading a needle.

　Attack is said to be the best defense, but Alberto's attack was exactly that. Due to the fierce attack, there was no chance for Brad to attack. If he tried poorly, on the contrary, he would just get countered and his defeat will be decided at that point.

　If he could wait until Alberto was exhausted, maybe we would have a chance, but that wouldn't be possible either. Like all other stats, Brad's stamina is still several steps worse than Alberto’s. By the time Alberto is exhausted, Brad will be long gone.

 (Crap, can I really win this?)

　Brad who barely manages to keep up with the raging series of attacks, contorts his face into an ugly grin.

　...... No, it's more ugly than usual.

　*

"Yaba(wow) ... Alberto is too cool!?"

　Seeing Alberto's extraordinary swordsmanship, Lina, the maid who had come together with Rosie to watch, shouted in admiration.

"He’s really good-looking and he has a nice face. Anyways I can already guess the outcome. I mean, is this even a match? Alberto-sama's practically won already."

"That's not the case desu! It’s just beginning!"

　Rosie hurriedly defended her Lord, but her words lacked confidence. It was obvious to anyone watching that the battle was going overwhelmingly in Alberto's favor.

"There’s no chance. Brad can't even make a move because he can barely keep up with Alberto-sama's sword. He’s only defending, won’t he lose anyway? If he doesn’t give up quickly, he’ll get hurt. "

"Even so ... maybe not ☆"

　It was Glace who caught Lina's words.

　Glacé suddenly appeared as if he had grown between the two maids.

"Ah, Glace-sama...!?"

　Lina was flustered, partly because she was surprised by his sudden appearance, and partly because she was suddenly being spoken to by one of the strongest heroes on the continent.

"Maybe not? ... what do you mean desu?"

　On the other hand, Rosie asks the true meaning of his words without getting distracted. For Rosie, her Lord was the most important thing.

　Glace urged her to look at the offense and defense going on between Brad and Alberto.

" It’s true that there’s an overwhelming difference in power between those two, like an adult and a child. It's an unbelievable difference, so much so that it's natural for him to have won in an instant☆ But he still hasn't won yet. This is something that’s absolutely impossible in normal circumstances~ ☆. "

"Isn't that just because Brad is lucky ...?"

　Lina, who regained her composure, tilts her head.

"Alberto-kun's attack is not sweet enough to be avoided by just being lucky ☆. Anyway, there is something that even this me can’t figure out about Brad-kun. And I don't think I'll figure it out until the very end of this match~☆"

　The heroic "Demon Slayer" Glace smiled in amusement.

　It was the usual frivolous smile he showed Brad, but his eyes shone wildly like a fierce beast as if he were a warrior who met one of his best rivals.

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