Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 110: Hearing Archduke Kharon’s Story—Mock Battle (1)
“You’re the alchemist and the bodyguard, correct? We’ve been expecting you.”
Archduke Kharon’s adjutant was waiting at the entrance to Noza Town.
She had visited before with Princess Liana to meet with Princess Sophia.
If I remember correctly, her name was Nona.
“Thank you for coming to greet us.”
“Thank you.”
Agnis and I bowed to Nona.
“We’ve arrived a little earlier than scheduled. Would it be possible to meet the Archduke now?”
“My apologies. Kharon-sama is currently outside the town with Her Highness Princess Liana.”
“Outside the town?”
“At Her Highness’s request, he’s giving her sword lessons.”
I see.
Archduke Kharon was a former Sword Saint and a master swordsman.
Princess Liana appeared to be taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from him.
“If you’d like, shall I take you to them?”
“Would that be alright?”
“Kharon-sama instructed me to do so.”
Adjutant Nona continued.
“During the recent ‘Magical Beast Investigation,’ you aided us greatly, Alchemist-sama. Kharon-sama said that repaying the debt in this way would be no trouble—provided you’re interested.”
“I am. Please, take us there.”
Sword training from a former Sword Saint—I’d like to see it while I have the chance.
Archduke Kharon used a curved, single-edged sword.
I’m planning to model the magic sword for Rukie after a similar design, so seeing how it’s used should be helpful.
“Understood. Then, Alchemist-sama… and the bodyguard as well, please follow me.”
With that, Adjutant Nona guided Agnis and me outside the town.
Archduke Kharon and Princess Liana were in a forest near Noza Town.
“Here I come, Archduke!”
Princess Liana charged at Archduke Kharon, practice sword in hand.
Archduke Kharon remained still.
He held a practice sword in his right hand, simply watching her.
Princess Liana swung her sword downward.
At that moment, Archduke Kharon casually raised his sword—
“Your strike has great force. But, Your Highness, your sword is too straightforward.”
Whoosh.
“Ah—”
Her strike was effortlessly parried, and Princess Liana stumbled.
Watching her, Archduke Kharon said,
“Your Highness, you focus too much on your target. Also, you raise your sword too early—your intent is obvious.”
“Y-yes! Archduke-sama!”
“You should tilt your gaze slightly downward. And delay raising your sword by a few seconds.”
“Understood. So, glance—lift—slash, right?”
“As you prefer, Your Highness.”
“Then, once more!”
Princess Liana charged at Archduke Kharon again.
Whoosh!
“That was better. But you’re using too much force!”
“…Yes!”
Once again, her sword was deflected.
Princess Liana lost her stance and was breathing heavily.
By contrast, Archduke Kharon looked perfectly composed. He hadn’t even broken a sweat.
He hadn’t moved from his spot. From the beginning, he’d stood in the exact same place.
Even so, he deflected every strike coming at him from various angles.
Princess Liana held a blunted practice sword.
Archduke Kharon used a curved, blunted sword as well.
While Princess Liana used both hands, Archduke Kharon only used his right arm.
There should have been a difference in strength, yet it didn’t matter. The instant her sword touched his, all its force vanished—redirected and neutralized. Before she knew it, Archduke Kharon’s blade rested against her neck.
…Incredible.
I have no idea how he’s doing it, but I can recognize the elegance of his technique.
Archduke Kharon responded to Princess Liana’s attacks with the bare minimum of movement.
There was absolutely no waste—this was the epitome of “functional beauty.”
Magic items should be like this too. I should take notes.
“Your Highness. Let’s stop here for now.”
“Pant, pant… No, I—I can still go on!”
“You should rest a bit, Your Highness. Besides, it seems we have visitors.”
Archduke Kharon looked toward us.
So he’d noticed us—even though Agnis, Nona, and I had been hiding behind the trees.
This was a forest near Noza Town.
In it, there was a training ground for soldiers.
It was a clearing in the middle of the forest, hidden from view.
Apparently, it was made so that borderland soldiers could train without worrying about being seen by foreign eyes.
That’s why Archduke Kharon and Princess Liana were using it for secret training.
“Alchemist-sama. You were here…!?”
Princess Liana, who had been sitting down, looked up.
We stepped out from behind the trees and bowed.
“It’s been a while, Princess Liana. Sorry to interrupt your training.”
“N-no, not at all. I’m the one embarrassed to have shown you such an ungraceful sight…”
Princess Liana wiped sweat from her brow with a shy expression.
She was wearing leather training armor, with elbow and knee pads.
Her clothes were dirty—probably from falling down multiple times.
“I asked the Archduke to train me, hoping to make use of the advice you gave me before, Alchemist-sama. But… I’ve been no match for him at all…”
“Well, Archduke Kharon is a former Sword Saint. That can’t be helped.”
No wonder Princess Liana was feeling down.
After all, Archduke Kharon was only using his right arm.
Due to an old injury, his left arm apparently didn’t function properly.
So he was blocking all her strikes with just his right arm—and she had been deliberately attacking his left side. Even then, she couldn’t land a blow.
His strength was in a different league.
I wonder what kind of combat he used to show when both arms were usable.
“Your Highness is quite strong already. There’s no need to feel disheartened.”
In the center of the training ground, Archduke Kharon smiled.
“However, as I mentioned earlier, Princess Liana’s swordsmanship is too straightforward. You should incorporate more feints.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Her Highness, the Holy Sword user, possesses a trump card called the ‘Holy Sword Light Blade.’ Because of that, Her Highness should focus not on the number of strikes, but on landing a sure hit. By mixing in feints, you prevent the opponent from predicting when you’ll use the ‘Light Blade.’ That alone puts considerable pressure on the enemy.”
“I understand! Thank you very much, Archduke-sama!”
“Then, we shall conclude today’s training with Her Highness.”
Archduke Kharon said this and sheathed his practice sword.
He truly hadn’t broken a sweat.
“…Float, slash, slash… then finish with a clean Zubababaan! That’s what you meant, correct, Archduke-sama?”
Meanwhile, Princess Liana was… still sitting on the ground, drenched in sweat, reviewing what she had just learned.
It seemed like she wouldn’t be getting up for a while.
“It seems I kept you waiting, Alchemist Thor-sama.”
“Not at all. I was honored to witness something so valuable.”
“I’m glad to hear that… Oh?”
Archduke Kharon suddenly turned his gaze to the person beside me.
“Is she General Raisenga’s daughter?”
“Yes. This is Agnis Freizad-sama. She has kindly accompanied me to town as my escort.”
“I’m Agnis Freizad.”
Agnis bowed politely.
Both Archduke Kharon and Agnis had participated in the ‘Magical Beast Investigation.’
However, they hadn’t had the chance to meet face-to-face back then. So this was practically their first meeting.
“I’ve heard of the great renown of Your Grace, Duke of the Empire. It’s an honor to meet you. During the ‘Magical Beast Investigation,’ my father was in your care.”
“Such courteous words, I’m humbled.”
Archduke Kharon nodded and said,
“Likewise, General Raisenga of the Demon Lord’s Domain aided me greatly. I’m truly grateful for his charisma and leadership, and for the trust he showed by leaving the culprit’s interrogation to us. Learning that someone of his caliber serves the Demon Lord made me reconsider my view of the Demon Lord’s Domain.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to convey your words to my father.”
“Of course, I’ve also heard about you, Agnis-sama.”
“…Huh?”
Agnis’s face went blank in surprise.
General Raisenga talked to Archduke Kharon about Agnis?
Wait a second… I have a bad feeling about this.
Knowing the General, what he might’ve said is…
“Throughout the ‘Magical Beast Investigation,’ Raisenga-sama repeatedly told me about his daughter’s beauty, devotion, and strength—apparently, she can even overpower him.”
…Yeah. I figured as much.
“F-Father, honestly…”
Agnis’s face turned bright red.
Watching her, Archduke Kharon smiled and said,
“There’s no need for modesty, Agnis-sama. I heard that you overpowered Raisenga-sama and even immobilized him. I wasn’t told how, but such power at your age is truly impressive.”
“……”
“Raisenga-sama also said, ‘Agnis possesses remarkable talent. It’s a parent’s duty to nurture it.’ Alchemist-sama, you’re quite sly. If someone so gifted is at your side, you should have introduced her sooner.”
Archduke Kharon nodded toward me several times as he spoke.
Both Agnis and I, listening to this, were dumbfounded.
General Raisenga… honestly, what kind of person are you?
It’s fine to brag about your daughter, but please consider who you’re saying it to.
Sure, he didn’t lie.
Agnis did seal the General’s movements using the “Health-Boosting Pendant.”
But Archduke Kharon is a warrior himself.
Hearing that story might lead him to conclude that Agnis was a stronger warrior than General Raisenga.
Actually, he’s probably already misunderstood that.
As I was thinking this—
“Agnis-sama, I have a request. Would you honor me with a sparring match?”
Suddenly, Archduke Kharon said something like that.
With an incredibly excited look on his face.
“I was supposed to spar with Raisenga-sama, but it seems we won’t have the opportunity. Would you take his place and face me, Agnis-sama?”
“……Eh?”
“Of course, feel free to use your flames. After all, that’s the fighting style of a descendant of the Flame Giant Ifrit. No need to hold back. If I get burned a little, Nona will heal me. And I can cut through fire, you know. So please, no need to hesitate.”
“…Uh, um…”
“What do you say, Agnis-sama? I won’t force you, but…”
“P-Please excuse me for a moment!”
Agnis grabbed my hand.
She then pulled me along, rushing into the shade of a tree.
“W-What should I do, Thor Canaan-sama?”
“…This is a bit of a problem.”
Knowing General Raisenga, he had probably gone far overboard while boasting about his daughter.
Like how she possesses strong flame magic.
Or how she’s strong enough to lift him and restrict his movements.
That’s not a lie, but… if it comes down to a mock battle—
“Agnis, can you use swordsmanship?”
“I can use it at an average level. I used to train with my father while wearing armor.”
“And after equipping the ‘Health-Boosting Pendant’?”
“Back home, I sparred with my father. My technique remains far from perfect, but the ‘Health-Boosting Pendant’ gives me tremendous speed and strength, so I win approximately sixty percent of the time.”
“…I see.”
“But the Archduke wishes for a mock battle with the descendant of the Flame Giant Ifrit…”
“So using fire is a given, huh.”
At my words, Agnis nodded once.
Let me confirm the current situation.
Agnis and I had come with Demon Lord Rukie’s permission.
This could be called an official meeting.
At this place, Archduke Kharon requested to spar with Agnis.
Moreover, it was out of the Archduke’s own goodwill.
From the perspective of the Demon Lord’s Domain, this was also a valuable opportunity to observe the swordsmanship of a former Sword Saint.
There’s no reason to refuse. On the contrary, refusing might be considered rude.
Fortunately, we haven’t changed clothes yet.
It didn’t matter if our clothes became dirty, and Agnis wore clothing made from ‘Earth-Element Magical Weave Fabric.’
Even if she fails to control the flames, she won’t catch fire.
Also, for controlling fire magic, the item in question can be used.
Agnis has already practiced with it. No problem. If anything happens, I can support her.
Then, the most important thing is—
“What do you want to do, Agnis?”
I asked.
“If you don’t want to fight, I’ll make an excuse and decline. But if you wish to spar with Archduke Kharon, I’ll support you with all my strength. I’ll establish safe conditions and intervene immediately if anything happens. That’s my promise.”
“…Thor Canaan-sama.”
“What do you want to do, Agnis?”
“…I want to try sparring with the Archduke!”
Agnis looked straight at me and answered.
“I came here with the Demon Lord’s permission. I intend to fulfill my duties as a guard and messenger. As my father’s daughter, I’m also interested in the swordsmanship of the former Sword Saint.”
“Okay. I understand.”
“More than anything, Agnis wants to show Thor Canaan-sama her cool side.”
Gripping the ‘Health-Boosting Pendant’ at her chest, Agnis nodded.
“I want to spar with the former Sword Saint and test Thor Canaan-sama’s item… I want to be useful to Thor Canaan-sama. I want to show my cool side. So—”
“Understood. Then, I’ll arrange the situation.”
“Please take care of it!”
After some detailed arrangements, we stepped out from the shade of the trees.
“Thank you for waiting, Archduke-sama.”
“Y-yes.”
“Agnis accepts the spar. However, because her opponent is the former Sword Saint, Archduke Kharon-sama, and this is an unfamiliar training ground, we request a handicap.”
“A handicap, huh? I don’t mind.”
“First, Agnis will approach the Archduke and strike once with her sword.”
“Only once?”
“Yes. It’ll be like striking while releasing flames. Of course, the flames won’t hit the Archduke.”
“Using the flames as a distraction, huh? Interesting.”
“Second, Agnis will use a magic item. It’s to adjust her physical condition. Is that alright?”
“No problem. Rather, it sounds interesting.”
Archduke Kharon smiled wryly.
“In other words, I’ll face both Agnis’s sword and the alchemist’s item—as though fighting two opponents. How amusing.”
“Is that okay?”
“Didn’t I say it’s fine? During the ‘Beast Investigation,’ the alchemist kept surprising me, so it’s only fair I return the favor here!”
“Understood. Then—”
I nodded at Agnis.
At the same time, Archduke Kharon’s adjutant, Nona, ran over and handed Agnis a practice sword and protective gear.
After accepting them and preparing herself, Agnis stepped forward.
She wore a tense expression.
In a small voice, she muttered, “Father… I’ll punish you when I get back.” I understand how she feels.
But well, it’s no wonder a general wants to brag about his daughter.
Agnis is serious, ambitious, and never neglects her efforts.
She accepted Archduke Kharon’s sudden proposal, decided what she needed to do, and acted.
With such an amazing daughter, wanting to brag is natural.
I want to brag too.
Even now, Agnis faces the former Imperial Sword Saint without fear and holds her sword ready.
“Well then… I’m coming!”
“Hmm. Come at me, Agnis Freizad!”
And so, the mock battle between Archduke Kharon and Agnis began.