The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 21

The Earl’s Bastard is a Genius – Episode 21 (21/200)

Chapter 3: The North: The Bastard Grasps

“Campbell is dueling with a noble recruit!”

The barren North offers little in the way of entertainment.

For the soldiers, perhaps the greatest joy in life is sipping beer while watching Erica at Black Honey, the most popular tavern in Black Castle?

To those soldiers, a duel was the ultimate entertainment.

And not just any match.

It was a duel with a juicy story attached: Ranger Vice-Captain Campbell and a noble recruit fighting for the vice-captain position.

News spread like wildfire, and a crowd gathered, encircling Campbell and me in a large ring.

“Campbell’s size is always impressive.”

“The recruit is quite sturdy too, but he’s just a kid compared to Campbell.”

“More than that, look at his face. It’s a face for making ladies swoon, not for catching monsters.”

“He has the kind of face Campbell hates most. That pretty face is about to get smashed.”

As expected, most spectators predicted Ranger Vice-Captain Campbell’s victory.

However, I wasn’t particularly interested in their chatter.

Instead, I listened to only one opinion.

-That guy is strong too. If we classify him by the standards here, he’s at least a top-tier Sword User. More than anything, his natural physical strength seems considerable.

The ragged mercenary leader Gavin, whom I fought before, was a high-ranking Sword User, so Campbell was even stronger than him.

‘Can I win?’

I had also improved far beyond my fight with Gavin.

My swordsmanship had reached a level where I wouldn’t easily lose even compared to Sion, a high-ranking Sword User.

Moreover, if I used my Druid abilities, I was confident I could surpass her.

‘Yeah, no need to be scared. I’ve grown a lot in the meantime.’

Since being possessed into the Arnia Continent, I had consistently put myself in desperate situations, walking across precarious tightropes.

There were constant dangerous moments where one misstep would send me plunging into an eternal abyss.

Despite that, I fearlessly moved forward.

I believed in my abilities and potential, and I took each step.

This was another one of those times.

“Hmm. You have a basic stance. Looks like you’ve learned some swordsmanship somewhere?”

“Enough to catch you.”

“I’ve said it countless times, but I’ve seen nobles like you often. Guys who received formal education under sword masters are just as arrogant as you.”

“Is that so?”

“They’re all hothouse flowers. They can’t do anything when even a small variable comes into play, and their minds go blank. What kind of fighting are they even talking about?”

Because I’m a noble who doesn’t know hunger, my mindset must be weak?

It’s definitely different.

They don’t know that the Arnia Continent is heading towards its end, but I do.

In the face of a massive tsunami, seedlings and giant trees are all swept away equally.

Every step forward is a matter of life and death, so I’m more desperate than anyone else here.

“I didn’t know Northmen had a hobby of fighting with their mouths.”

After one last jab, Campbell chuckled.

“You have guts. Let’s see how long that confidence lasts!”

Thud!

Campbell kicked off the ground.

His figure shot forward.

I tried to parry the sword,

-You’ll be defeated if you clash head-on.

On the advice of the Heavenly Demon [a powerful entity guiding the protagonist], my body stood firm.

Certainly, Campbell’s brute strength was extraordinary.

He could send me flying into a wall with pure physical strength alone, so what if he infused it with mana [magical energy]?

Even if the Heavenly Demon Sword could withstand it, I couldn’t.

‘What should I do?’

Suddenly, my fight with Gavin came to mind.

At that time, the situation was completely reversed.

I was strong, and Gavin was weak.

What did Gavin do in this kind of situation?

‘Gentle (柔).’

He used the Gentle Sword.

I stretched out my sword, imagining the image in my head.

Then, I blocked Campbell’s attack.

Clang!!

There was no loud noise that everyone expected.

I simply took three steps back.

The sword hilt vibrated, and my wrist felt stiff.

Indeed, Campbell’s attack was tremendous.

It was a short moment, but I made the right decision.

If I had blocked that massive blow head-on, I wouldn’t have been able to withstand the impact and would have been sent flying into the air, rolling across the floor.

If Campbell had rushed in to follow up with another attack in that state, it would have been game over.

Campbell also showed a glint in his eyes when I easily deflected his blow.

“Looks like you’re not just a loudmouth. Take this!”

The giant Campbell charged.

Soon, a merciless barrage unfolded.

My hands and feet were a blur.

Nevertheless, I didn’t lose focus and calmly deflected the attacks and absorbed the impact.

Bang! Clash! Boom!

One exchange became ten, and ten became a hundred.

As time passed, sweat poured down my body like rain.

But I wasn’t the only one.

Campbell’s breathing was also gradually becoming rough.

The eyes of the spectators grew increasingly interested.

“The recruit is fighting quite well?”

“Has there ever been a recruit who fought this well against Campbell?”

“No. They were all intimidated and lowered their heads or rushed in haphazardly and got beaten up.”

Let’s say this was an ordinary marketplace in a continent with mostly civilians.

Those who didn’t know how to watch a fight might have jeered at me for constantly evading.

However, this was the North.

A place overflowing with active-duty soldiers.

They knew how to read the flow.

Everyone felt my intention to not just be pushed back but to sharply aim for openings while retreating.

So, the atmosphere became even more intense.

“You slippery bastard!”

Eventually, an insult came from Campbell’s mouth.

An insult written, but a green light read [meaning the insult revealed his frustration and a potential opening].

I’ve said it countless times, but in this kind of situation, the opponent’s insults and personal attacks are praise.

“What kind of strange swordsmanship are you using? Fight fair and square.”

“Didn’t you just say that orthodox swordsmanship is weak against variables? Now that I see it, you resemble an Orc not only in appearance but also in memory.”

“Ughaaaa!!”

Campbell charged with a roar.

The first weakness shown since the start of the duel.

I could have gone in right away, but there was a possibility that the opponent intentionally exposed it, so I aimed carefully and surely.

[Activating Skill: Wood Control.]

[The surrounding environment becomes an ally.]

I used the newly acquired active skill, Wood Control, which I had shown to the Heavenly Demon before.

A tree root that pierced through the ground and poked its head out subtly restrained Campbell’s ankle.

It happened in an instant, so unless you were a highly skilled expert with good eyes, you wouldn’t even know what happened.

“Huh?”

Campbell staggered.

I had been waiting for this moment.

I released my defense-oriented stance and switched to offense.

Was it called the unity of sword and spirit?

I became one with the sword and shot forward.

I was confident of victory in my mind.

‘This is game over.’

Unbalancing the opponent with Wood Control and then launching a surprise attack.

Phillip was caught, and Gavin was caught.

Campbell would probably be caught the same way.

I took it lightly and extended my sword towards his vitals.

And then I discovered it.

His sword filled my vision.

“Crazy! Did he just throw his sword?”

For a swordsman to throw his sword, which is like his other self.

The opponent’s response was data I had never seen from anyone before.

What if that blow missed, what would he do next?

It was truly a choice with no turning back.

But Campbell showed me the answer himself.

“Heup!”

I tilted my head back to avoid the sword flying like an arrow, so my attack was somewhat delayed.

Campbell thoroughly exploited that gap.

He avoided my strike with a handstand.

Then, he launched an attack while evading.

Like breakdancing, he put his hand on the ground and swung his feet like a windmill.

The giant’s kick itself had a long range and was powerful, and I, who hadn’t expected the unconventional attack, was hit in the side.

Crack!

I felt a strong impact on my ribs.

My vision shook.

Cold snow entered my mouth.

My head was dizzy.

The balance of my breathing was broken.

“Ptooey!”

I spat out blood-mixed snow.

I lay prostrate on the ground in an OTL position [a kneeling and bowing posture], struggling to regain my senses.

I didn’t know if I had dropped the Heavenly Demon Sword the moment I was kicked, but my hand felt empty.

Campbell approached me triumphantly and started talking trash.

“Didn’t know a swordsman could throw his sword? I told you. Guys like you are frogs in a well. Hahaha!”

The opponent is rushing to finish me off.

Since it has come to this, it’s all or nothing.

I clenched the clod of dirt under my eyes tightly in my hand.

I showed a figure falling away from a single kick to induce carelessness.

The guy is out of his mind right now.

The timing is now!

Whoosh!!

The moment Campbell came within range, I turned my body back and scattered the sand I was holding in my hand.

The widely dispersed dirt poured onto Campbell’s face.

The foreign substance went straight into his eyeballs.

He screamed.

“Kuaaaak! You dirty bastard!”

“You started this brawl first!”

Campbell hesitated.

I grabbed Campbell’s waist and dove.

Using my full weight of 90kg, Campbell’s feet eventually left the ground.

The two men rolled around in the snowfield.

Both had dropped their swords, so it was a ground fight in terms of martial arts.

“You stupid bastard! You dare to fight me with grappling? I’ll beat you until you’re a pancake!”

I also know that I can’t beat that Orc-like guy with strength.

But there is an important fact.

I made the first move, so I had the first attack.

Only one chance to attack.

I clenched my fist tightly and flew it at Campbell’s jaw with all my might.

Pow!

A right hook that landed perfectly.

If he had a human body structure, he wouldn’t be able to function properly after being hit in this spot.

I was confident of victory.

Until something flew into my jaw.

Daeeng!!

My head shook, and a bell rang.

My body staggered.

That monstrous guy inflicted a critical hit on me even after being hit head-on.

My vision spun, but I forced myself to endure.

It’s over if I lose consciousness.

Pow!

I punched him again.

Then, another shock came flying.

It felt like I was being hit by the fist I swung.

I reflexively swung my fist.

It looked like his eyes were glazed over too.

We threw punches at each other indiscriminately.

“You son of a bitch!”

“Dirty bastard! You threw sand?”

“Better than throwing a sword.”

“Petty bastard.”

“Orc-like bastard.”

Naturally, the number of words increased.

I keep getting shocked, but now I don’t know what will happen.

Both of us were half groggy from the moment we took the first blow.

That’s why we couldn’t land a fatal blow and were just flailing.

Was it because he thought it wouldn’t work this way?

Campbell, who was staggering, suddenly stopped attacking and pounced on me.

His intention was to finish me off with a choke since his punches weren’t hitting the desired spot.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.

His headlock started to go on me.

“Kuaaaak! Please just die!”

“Cough! Keuheok!”

Clear saliva dripped down.

I felt like I was about to faint.

At this moment, there were no grand intentions to save the continent, prevent the end, or escape the world in the game.

I just wanted to beat that man named Campbell.

Now it was a matter of pride.

My consciousness faded.

Even while being strangled, I desperately groped the ground with my hands.

It was to hit the guy’s head with a rock if I could grab one.

Then, something was caught in my hand.

Something soft for a rock, but a little harder than sand?

I didn’t know what it was, but I had to do something with this instead of a pheasant [meaning ‘anything is better than nothing’].

I grabbed it as it was.

“Kuaaaaaaaak!!!!!”

A faint scream was heard.

It was like an echo heard from afar because I was about to faint.

Anyway, I grabbed it again and tried to hit the guy’s head.

“Ughak! Stop! Stopppp!”

Why won’t this come out?

It must be a rock deeply embedded in the ground.

I did my best to pull it out.

“Ughaaaa!!!”

I truly did my best.

The opponent was screaming too, so he must be in the same situation as me.

The blow I took from Campbell must have been big.

Eventually, I couldn’t pull the unidentified rock out of the ground.

It just automatically released the headlock.

My breath returned.

“Heok! Heok! Heo-eok!”

I glanced over and saw Campbell foaming at the mouth and passed out.

I put strength in my legs and barely stood up.

It felt like I had drunk ten bottles of soju [Korean distilled beverage] at once.

I can’t control my body.

Still, I have to enjoy the joy of victory.

I raised my hand high.

“I…won…”

Huh?

It’s quiet around.

I thought everyone would cheer.

Is it because I’m not a Northman?

Even Sion’s expression is somehow subtle.

Commander Karina, who had arrived sometime, was also looking at Campbell with a serious expression.

“I won…”

Those were my last words.

My consciousness disappeared into the encroaching darkness.