The "Master swordsman” who was reincarnated, wants to live freely - Chapter 114

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

As they swords clashed a thunderous roar came about.
The Demon Blade against the Flash of Lightning – The moment they collided was the moment it was over as well.
Ruino, who was descending from the sky, had now hit the ground and was lying there, face down.
The blade that she held in her hand was broken.
On the other hand, Iris who had fully swung with Purple Lightning stood firmly on both her feet.

“Haa…”
As she let out a big sigh, she moved over towards Ruino.
Ruino too had pulled herself up from the ground and moved towards Iris.
With the hilt of her broken blade in hand and with a shaking body, she barely held on to her consciousness. Still,

“…”
she collapsed again.
Iris too was close to her limit. They had both used their magic to the max and put all off their power into one attack.
But to be this exhausted from a single attack was a first for Iris too.
But still, this wasn’t going to make her fall over.
Iris slowly walked up to Ruino.

“This is … my win”
“…Nihi, we can only decide who lost and who had won… once one of us is dead”
Though Ruino could barely move anymore, she still raised her head and looked at Iris.
Her eyes had yet to admit defeat – Even now Ruino is still willing to fight on.
Iris too had this same experience. …She too would fight a fight she is not meant to lose far past her limits. So far past her limits that her body would move with every last fiber of power it has.

“If you want to stop me then—”
“Then I have to kill you? I will tell you this straight up. You lost to me. And losers don’t get to decide whether they die or not. Just like right now”
Iris didn’t think that Ruino would off herself, but even if she wanted to, she wouldn’t have the strength to do so.
She had exhausted all her power in her fight with Iris and had lost as a result.
Ruino wasn’t able to do anything anymore.
Iris continued her talk.

“If you’re still going to go after Mr. Schweiss, then I won’t mind that any longer. However, I will tell you one thing – You lost to me. And Mr. Schweiss is many times stronger than I am. That is the very reason I learn the blade from him… Because he is that much stronger. I am his disciple.
And if you lose against the disciple of the one you wish to challenge, I don’t think you have the right to challenge him”
“I don’t have the right… you say?”
“No, you don’t. Not unless you manage to defeat me – Until then, you don’t. If you wish to fight with Mr. Schweiss, you’d first need the strength to defeat me”
There was barely any difference between the power of Iris and Ruino.
This time Iris just managed to barely get on top of Ruino, nothing more.
Iris knew this well and spoke these words.
She knew she had put herself in great danger – Alta is still her bodyguard, and so it would have been the natural thing to let Alta fight Ruino first instead.
However, Iris not just someone that needs protection.
Though Alta protects Iris, Iris would in return want to be able to protect him as well. – And this was the first step in that direction.
As Ruino heard Iris’ words she had to laugh a bit.

“Nihi, If I can’t win from you, I can’t win from him either, huh. I suppose you’re right. I — I lost to you”
Ruino stopped trying to get up.
She instead lied on her back, looking up at the sky.
After a moment of silence, she pointed the blade she gripped so tightly towards Iris.

“Well, then I will come after you next… You know that right? If you let me live, I will come after you. Will you still not kill me, even after I said this?”
“Yes, even if you’re going to come for me… I won’t kill you. No matter how many times we’d have to fight, I will beat you up. So, please, let me hear your actual reasoning”
“…My actual reasoning?
“The reason why you want to fight stronger opponents so badly”
Iris had yet to hear the actual reason as to why Ruino does what she does.
She didn’t know whether she’d actually answer this, but for Iris, it was something she had to know.
If she really just loves the idea of battle from the bottom of her heart – Then they’d actually have to settle this once and for all.
Ruino sighed as Iris asked this question, and,

“Fuuuu…. It’s the first time anyone is actually interested enough to ask about it, really… I will tell you like this – If I am the strongest, then everything will be over. If I am number one, then no one will be hurt any longer”
As she spoke these words, she had lost all her strength and let her blade fall to the ground.
Perhaps this was also the limit of her consciousness – After all that fighting, Iris was finally able to figure out what Ruino was actually after.
In the end, she’s just like Iris.
Just the process and the way as to how to get to her goal differs from Iris.
Enough to the point as to where you can actually say it differs.

“Ha….”
Iris too was almost at her limit, so she was brought to her knees.
She could no longer stand up – However, there was still something she needed to do.
Alta was still on top of the lighthouse. The Swordsman Gang was still out and about.
Iris has to defeat the Swordsman Gang members that are still coming after him —

“…!”
And as she thought so, she was taken aback.
If Iris, who is almost at her limit, was to go to him right now, she would only be an impediment to him.
Alta might tell her to “do your best” — but she wouldn’t be able to just because he’d tell her to.

— If you can’t do that yet, you can rely on me.
Those were Alta’s words.
Iris had managed to “Win without killing”. However, even though she did, she still doesn’t have the power to protect Alta.
Iris was still in the same position, where she had to rely on Alta.
What’s more, she still believes full heartedly that Alta is the Kingdom’s “Strongest Knight”.
He’s stronger than she is. And stronger than Garlo. She believes that he would win no matter what.

(I am sorry, teach. I’ll leave this – to you)
Iris gripped Purple Lightning firmly and pointed its tip toward the top of the lighthouse.
She had now done whatever she could do. That’s why she will now “Believe in Alta” to do the rest.