The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Strongest in Our Neighborhood (27)
―Father, though Lord Dimitrion has lost, now that this Cain has returned to the forest, couldn’t we pressure Baron Zabedra again to give us a share of the Centron Mine?
“Baron Zabedra said that if I demand a share of the Centron Mine, this Cain will step in on his behalf.”
―Really? But surely we can’t just accept this lying down, can we?
“No. If I bear this in silence, the other nobles will mock me and use me as fodder for their dinner gossip.”
More than just becoming a laughingstock, he would have to surrender all the profits he’d gained by selling the name of Marshal Dimitrion to the neighboring lords—and if that happened, Baron Dapharon would likely face ruin.
―Then what do you intend to do, Father?
“Half the Centron Mine is my land regardless, so I’ve no choice but to appeal to Count Johansen, using that land’s share as leverage.”
―Though Lord Leodson, the captain of Count Johansen’s knights, is indeed one of the Ten Swords, I understand he’s no different from Marshal Dimitrion. Can he defeat this Cain?
“Probably not.”
―Then wouldn’t it be better to seek another nobleman who commands stronger knights?
“Count Johansen is the highest-ranking noble I can reach. How could I find anyone else?”
―But doesn’t this lead to a rather poor outcome?
“I have no choice. And truth be told, though you wouldn’t know it, Count Johansen has a hidden card up his sleeve.”
―A hidden card? Do you mean the mage Lord Layla?
For a moment, Baron Dapharon’s eyes widened as he continued the conversation through the Communication Crystal.
“What? How do you know that Count Johansen’s hidden card is Lord Layla?”
―Isn’t Lord Layla famous enough that even I know of her? If you mean her, that’s hardly a hidden card—it’s an open one.
“Hmph, you know quite a lot. But there’s something about Lord Layla that you don’t know.”
―Something I don’t know? What is it?
“It’s something others mustn’t hear. Is there anyone nearby listening to our conversation?”
―I’m sitting alone inside the carriage, so there’s no one who could overhear our discussion.
“Then I’ll tell you. Lord Layla is skilled not only in Fire Magic, but also in the dark arts—Binding and Curse.”
―What? Lord Layla has learned dark magic too?
“Now you understand why I call her a hidden card. You must never tell another soul.”
―Yes, I understand.
“Count Johansen is a greedy man, so he’ll certainly send both Lord Leodson and Lord Layla. Then this Cain is as good as dead.”
―If she casts Binding on him and Lord Leodson attacks, no matter how high-level Expert this Cain is, he won’t survive.
“Exactly. That’s why the saying goes—no general stands alone. Speaking of which, why are you in a carriage? Were you injured badly enough that you can’t ride?
―I’m not injured, just a bit tired. I’ll rest at an inn tonight and should arrive at the territory by tomorrow.
“Tomorrow? You’re coming to the territory tomorrow?”
Baron Dapharon tilted his head quizzically as he spoke through the crystal.
―Yes. Since Lord Dimitrion has gone off following this Cain, I have no particular reason to stay.
“Didn’t you go all that way to build a bond with Lord Dimitrion and make him yours?”
―I did, but I can’t follow Lord Dimitrion into the mountains just because of that, can I?
“Why not? You infuriating fool!”
Baron Dapharon’s irritation flared suddenly, and he burst into anger.
―What? Why are you suddenly angry with me?
“How much do you think Lord Dimitrion is suffering right now? And people naturally open their hearts to those who stand beside them in such hardship, offering comfort and aid.”
―Ah! I see. But even so, I can’t bring myself to follow the Forest Tribe—beings no better than crude slaves—for the sake of my dignity, can I?
“You foolish wretch! Did I tell you to make the Forest Tribe yours? Look to Lord Dimitrion—why are you fixating on the tribe?”
As Baron Dapharon’s roar erupted, the Communication Crystal fell silent for a moment. Then, after roughly ten seconds, a voice returned.
―I’m—I’m sorry. I see now that my thinking was indeed shortsighted.
“Go after Lord Dimitrion at once and make him yours.”
―I understand, Father. But Lord Dimitrion said he would become a disciple or servant of this Cain. Won’t that complicate our relationship?
“What? What do you mean, complicate?”
―If Lord Dimitrion calls Cain his master or lord, wouldn’t I be unable to oppose him?
“The man is going to die anyway at Count Johansen’s hands—what are you worried about?”
―He will die, but then Lord Dimitrion might end up at odds with Count Johansen.
“That’s precisely why you’re going, isn’t it? Attachment to the dead is always buried beneath the kindness of the living. If your favor opens Lord Dimitrion’s heart to you, he will heed your words and you can even reconcile him with Count Johansen.”
―Ah! Now I see how weighty my mission is, Father!
“Indeed. So go after Lord Dimitrion without delay.”
―I understand.
“Oh, and one more thing—contact me immediately if anything happens.”
―Yes.
After ending the Communication Crystal call, Baron Dapharon let out a long, heavy sigh.
“Sigh! I thought he’d grown a bit wiser, but he’s still as immature as ever. And what’s this about giving Count Johansen a share of the Centron Mine? I’ll get nothing from it—blast it! This is like cooking soup just to give it to the dogs!”
* * *
“Why do you keep lingering around me like this?”
Jang Ga-in, who had been circulating his internal strength to sense the subtle whispers of the wind, narrowed his eyes and gazed at Dimitrion with a frown.
“I hear from Eldom that you’re heading back to Lowta Village tomorrow.”
“So? And why would you go looking for Eldom anyway—you barely know him.”
“I went to ask him if I could go to Lowta Village with you. Of course, he turned me down flat.”
“I told you he’d refuse.”
“I know. But if you leave tomorrow, who knows when I’ll see you again? Please, just one instructional bout before you go.”
“An instructional bout? I already told you I don’t do that sort of thing.”
“I didn’t want to say this, but… I’ve decided to stay here in Houwan Village and help prevent hunters and mercenaries from coming to hunt the Forest Tribe.”
“That’s something I told the chieftain Eggman when you were there. You already know about it—why bring it up again?”
“The reason I’m mentioning it again is that to do such work properly, my skills need to be equal to the task.”
Jang Ga-in chuckled as he listened to Dimitrion, and he had to admit he’d begun to see the man in a new light since overhearing what he’d said to the chieftain Eggman.
“Several mercenaries told me your skill puts you in the top ten of the Smed Kingdom. Surely at that level you can handle common hunters and mercenaries?”
“I used to think the same way. But after meeting you, I realized my skills were inflated with false confidence. And since the forest teems with monsters in addition to hunters and mercenaries, I’m likely to fail at my task if I don’t address these gaps.”
“So, in the end, you’re asking me to give you an instructional bout?”
“Yes. I beg you earnestly.”
“Fine, if you want it that badly, I’ll give you one bout. But I don’t hold back—not in anything. There’s a real chance you could end up crippled or dead by accident.”
“I’ll bear no grudge, even if I die.”
Jang Ga-in saw the resolve in Dimitrion’s eyes and felt a quiet satisfaction.
“Good. With that kind of resolve, let’s begin. Come at me.”
Jang Ga-in drew his blade with a gesture, and Dimitrion unsheathed his sword from his belt, taking a stance.
“Since this is an instructional bout, I’ll attack without using my Aura.”
“You can use it or not—it doesn’t matter. Whatever you throw at me, I can handle it. Give it your all.”
“Then.”
Bang!
In an instant, Dimitrion drove forward off the ground and thrust his blade at Jang Ga-in’s chest.
“Excellent! Good speed and solid form.”
Clang!
Jang Ga-in parried the incoming blade and thrust at his opponent’s chest in the same motion.
Dimitrion immediately stepped back and tried to knock away Jang Ga-in’s blade.
Whoosh!
But Dimitrion’s sword met only air, and Jang Ga-in’s blade pulled back before thrusting again.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
In that split second of opportunity, Dimitrion took the blade to his chest and hastily retreated.
“If I’d driven deeper just now, your lungs would be shattered and you’d be dead.”
Dimitrion saw that his Plate Armor had been pierced and blood was seeping through, and he clenched his teeth.
“Since I’d experienced that technique before, I tried to defend against it—but I was struck again. Thank you for showing restraint.”
“A man dies from being skewered, and he dies from being struck in a vital point. If death is the end either way, there’s no need to waste strength—target the vital spots. Eyes, heart, throat—think of how to distribute your force: strike for a fatal point first, and if it’s blocked, pivot to another. Practice that.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Again.”
“Right.”
When Dimitrion thrust again, Jang Ga-in swung his blade to knock the strike aside.
Whistle!
In that instant, Dimitrion’s blade pulled back and Jang Ga-in’s swing fell through empty air.
“Yes, like that. When you distribute your force that way, your follow-up becomes fluid.”
While Jang Ga-in spoke, Dimitrion continued thrusting.
“I see.”
Jang Ga-in evaded with evident satisfaction, and Dimitrion’s thrusts kept coming.
“Good! Definitely better, but your force control needs work. Hard thrusts, quick thrusts, feints—you need to mix it all together, varying your approach constantly.”
As Jang Ga-in dodged and pointed out his shortcomings, Dimitrion’s thrusting patterns began to shift.
Clang, clang-clang……
As time passed, Jang Ga-in began to either parry the harder strikes or slip them with quick footwork, launching counterattacks of his own.
“This is how you evade and exploit openings. Look—your flank is exposed! If you concentrate only on attacking, you get hit with a counter like that! Good. That last movement was nice. Yes, just like that……”
Each time Jang Ga-in parried and dodged, slipping in a counter, fresh wounds bloomed across Dimitrion’s body.
‘The gap is this wide?’
Dimitrion found himself clenching his teeth as he pressed his attack.
In the clash at Hairong, he’d lost the initiative in a single exchange and been pushed to the defensive with no chance to recover—but now he was nearly always on the attack.
Yet despite employing every method he knew, even following his opponent’s guidance, not a single strike had so much as grazed his opponent’s sleeve.
‘I thought he was at the peak of the Expert level, one rank above me… but perhaps he’s crossed over into the Master realm.’
The Smed Kingdom had no Masters, but the Empire and Allied Kingdoms did, and some of their techniques had become known in wider circles.
Though his opponent hadn’t used any such Master-level techniques, the sheer gulf in skill between them felt like proof enough that he faced a Master.
Crash!
As I blocked the opponent’s wide, sweeping strike, my footing crumbled beneath me and I stumbled backward.
In this position, any counterattack could prove fatal.
I clenched my teeth and raised my blade to block the incoming strike—but the opponent simply stood motionless, making no move to attack.
‘Why?’
“That’s enough. The Thrusting Technique is good for now. If you keep practicing it while reflecting on what I’ve taught you, you’ll eventually be able to overwhelm swordsmen of similar skill—and it’ll become a trump card technique that even works against those a level above you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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