The "Master swordsman” who was reincarnated, wants to live freely - Chapter 73

Translator: Darling | Editor: Nebosuke

I took out my blade and stood before Iris.

Two behind me, one in front of me, and then one more over in the distance – As I looked over at Alia, I could see she wasn’t going to participate.

(Either Iris managed to convince her, or perhaps…)

I quickly looked over at Iris behind me.

She stood up and faced the two in the rear.

“Mr Schweiss, that child is Qufirio Notoria”

“! Not that man in the white clothes then?”

“Well, nice to meet you, Alta Schweiss”

The one who made a casual greeting was that very boy, Qufirio.

Seems like he has quite some power – Even though you can see that he has quite a lot of experience, he still came out on top after a full-on fight with Iris.

“You know who I am, huh?”

“I did a lot of research. I didn’t expect someone so dextrous to be living in this country…

Truth be told, it’s beyond what I expected. That is because we never thought of the Kingdom as our enemy. But you really make our assassination of Eina Bodel a lot more difficult.

She even invited us herself, didn’t she?”

Qufirio then looked over in the distance.

That’s where Eina and Mersche were standing by – Eina also planned to have come here, but I stopped her from doing so.

There is no need to throw her into a fight with the people that want her head.

“Honestly, I am grateful that you took our invitation to come here”

“Ahaha, so you say. I might actually like you”

“How about that. I don’t see myself getting close with you anytime soon – Iris duck down please”

“…!”

Alta made the first move. 

He swung his sword against the two in his rear – He swung Invisibly.

Though you can’t see the blade and its attacks with the naked eye, the two assassins jumped backwards, as if they could see it.

Them barely dodging this attack resembled the way Alia moved.

And Qufirio who stood in front of Alta also had Alia’s face.

(Seems that what Mersche told us was correct)

–From what I heard, the Shadow Apostles all share the same blood bond.

It’s no exaggeration to say that they are family.

…Even if it was forged to be.

“So quick. Almost like a swordmaster”

Qufirio said as he came at me.

Even after seeing my sword technique, he came at me straight ahead, full of confidence as well.

He had shortblades. His expertise is short blades, able to be swung fast.

My blade and his two shortblades clashed – If he imbues them with magic, then I have to take out my Blue Shell Blade.

We struck one another. The sound of our blades doing so was heard throughout. 

I moved back in order to cover Iris.

“Eh… M-Mister Schweiss….?! I’m fine! I’m not even hurt”

“Ooh, really? I didn’t really have the time to inspect you that well”

“!”

Iris seemed surprised.

Qufirio didn’t seem like he was going to use a dirty trick. – He just attacked me straight out, just like I did to him.

“Hm, I think we really could be friends. Your sword truly looks like that of a Swordmaster”

“You talk as if you already know”

“Ooh, I am quite aware. I even know the man called Raul Izalf”

— That didn’t sound as if he picked up some rumor.

His use of words instigated that he had met him before.

Of course, in my memory I can find no one like Qufirio .. I don’t remember all the people that I fight.

But at least a technique like his I would remember.

Even though his appearance has changed.

(The way he uses his shortblade is just like Alia uses it. I really have very little idea of the Shadow Apostles and have never fought with them before.

Perhaps we have fought on the battlefield. Perhaps Qufirio is….)

I came up to Iris and then kicked the ground to close my distance with Qufirio. Once more we started clashing our blades.

First a flurry of three attacks. I came at Qufurio.

The first attack he dodged. The second he parries, and the third one he meets head-on with a counter.

I dodged it by moving my body away. Then I swung Invisible, which I held in my right hand.

With a speed, unable to be perceived by the eye, Quferio blocked it with his short blade.

Then again a flurry of attacks. As we lashed out at each other, Qufirio let out a laugh.

(I see now. He’s quite strong. Still – I won’t lose)

While we fought I understood. He too must’ve known.

His high level of physical skill and reactions are sure something, but he is only able to dodge my blade techniques.

Qufirio’s attacks sure are quick, but never enough to take my life.

We both attack one another while passing each other – He managed to scratch my cheek, while I managed to bring a blow to his shoulder.

Fresh blood was spilled.

“Father!”

With a shaking voice, the other two who stood on stand by called out. They wanted to move out but,

“Don’t move. I will fight Alta” – Qufirio said, to stop them from coming closer.

“Sure you won’t come with the three of you?”

“They are to hold Iris in check”

And just as he said so, Iris had picked herself up and moved toward the other two.

I was to fight Qufirio – But there was one more figure left. The man in white clothes.

I glimpsed at him, but he was calmly looking at the situation before him.

(…-Based on what I see from him, he doesn’t seem to house more power than the other three.

He’s also the only one that doesn’t look like Alia)

Though he moves with the Shadow Apostles, he’s truly the one that stands out from the group.

According to the information Mersche gave, Qufirio would be the boss of the group, and that would mean the boy that stands before me now is the absolute top of the group.

…Still, it’s quite weird that he is a child.

I can understand that he has been reincarnated, just like me, but that shouldn’t mean that he looks exactly like a Notoria.

“Ooh, are you interested in him? So you don’t know everything yet then?”

“Everything?”

“Aa, my origin, that is. Seems that most of our information was leaked by another Notoria. She really is just a broken tool though”

“Another Notoria… I see. Those words made me realize quite a lot”

“Quite funny, isn’t it?”

“Do you see me laughing?”

Now that it has come to this, Alia will be in trouble.

For her, these people are really like her family. I can understand why Alia chose to go over to the enemy’s side, 

but if it comes to this, then Alia has to move, or nothing will be resolved.

At this time, the man spectating opened his mouth,

“Hmmm, seems like you’re having trouble Qufirio”

“I don’t need any help”

“Of course. Unlike you I am weak. However, I understand the situation you’re in. We are going to lose like this. 

We will change our strategy. Leave the other two Notoria, and we will leave – How about that?”

“….Perhaps we should”

They casually discussed their strategy right in front of me.

Leave the other two behind – As these words were spoken the other two assassins moved towards Iris. 

Iris too started to face them, in order to stop them.

However, she was stopped, for Alia had thrown a knife in her direction.

“…Alia?!”

This sudden action from Alia lured in Iris’ attention. 

The two assassins tried to sandwich me, throwing knives from left and right.

“[Four Sided Barrier]”

With these words, the barrier was thrown over me.

Qufirio and the man – And Alia too left as they watched the barrier pull over me.

“Alia!”

“…I am sorry, Iris. Mr. Schweiss…, please don’t kill those two”

With a very proper voice, Alia left the scene.

Iris looked at me for a quick second, 

“—I am sorry, Mr Schweiss”

As she murmured these words, she too left the scene.

It was an apology for following Alia, not for leaving me here.

“You don’t need to apologize”

“… Whatever. You will eventually prevent us from realizing our goal. Just stay in there for a while”

“And in the meantime, you will go and fight with Eina?”

“If she is to come to us, sure. However, our duty is to stop you. As long as we can do that, it doesn’t really matter what happens after”

So spoke the young boy and girl. 

They both took off their masks, and they both looked just like Alia.

“–I would prevent you from doing what you must? I suppose that I only need a few seconds for that”

“Wh-What did you say?!”

The boy looked surprised.

With two attacks I managed to destroy the barrier.

It was sturdily built. But then again, nothing is unbreakable.

By hitting the exact same spot with the exact same attack twice I managed to break the barrier in seconds.

The very first change I had I used to swing Invisible.

The two of them fell over.

“…Don’t kill them, huh. So Alia’s goal is those two after all then”

The two had fallen over, and I looked at them. I finally felt confident.

Only two more enemies remaining — Iris was already following them. Qufirio and the man.