The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 26

4. Discovery: The Acquired Wastrel

After dealing with the insane Owl Bear, Zion and I met the rest of the Rangers at the rendezvous point.

After patrol, we usually have a simple roll call, where we tally casualties and report any special occurrences.

Zion and I were the first to arrive, and the other Rangers arrived soon after.

Campbell, who had survived again today, saw us and waved cheerfully.

“Yo! Deputy Commander! Did your patrol go well? Good to see you both back. And Zion, too.”

“It’s Zion, how many times do I have to say it? Is your head made of stone?”

“Kyahahaha! Still a prickly one.”

Campbell’s friendly attitude was understandable.

Recently, the number of deaths and desertions in the Ranger Corps had increased sharply, making it difficult for even the veteran members to guarantee their survival.

Looking at the turning point, it seemed to be after the Owl Bears moved their habitat.

A colleague who had been drinking with me at the Black Honey [a local tavern] yesterday was now dead, and a suffocating sense of fear that they themselves might meet the same fate permeated the unit.

“Still, it’s a relief. Looks like there weren’t any casualties today.”

Everyone except one team had returned safely.

Campbell nodded, his face brightening.

The only team that hadn’t returned was the one led by Commander Victor himself.

Victor was the best of the Rangers and an Expert [a high-ranking warrior], so there was no need to worry about that team.

However, that expectation was brutally shattered.

Victor, who had gone with a two-man team, returned alone.

Feeling an ominous premonition, I asked Victor,

“Commander, where are the others?”

Victor simply shook his head.

That was answer enough.

Campbell, who was next to me, burst into anger.

“Damn Owl Bear bastards! They’re shaking the foundations of Black Castle. Someday, I’m going to make up my mind and raid their base!”

“Raid where, when you don’t even know where their base is?”

“But we can’t just sit still like this! We’re all going to die!”

Campbell’s anger represented the feelings of all the Rangers present.

In the midst of this, I was concerned about something else.

The fact that Victor had returned alone.

‘Could it be that he really couldn’t protect his team?’

With that question in my heart, I returned to Black Castle.

The shoulders of the Rangers entering through the north gate seemed heavier than ever.

* * *

What would have happened if I didn’t have the Druid’s healing and recovery abilities?

I would have collapsed a long time ago.

That’s how murderous my schedule was.

Zion was constantly worried about me overdoing it, but I had never shown any signs of fatigue or exhaustion, so she let it go for now.

While everyone else was at the Black Honey, having a beer to commemorate the dead and find the motivation to go on patrol tomorrow,

I was in the training grounds, holding the Heavenly Demon Sword, deep in thought.

-What are you so worried about? Are you perhaps concerned about the bet with Karina?

Hundred days.

Three months and ten days is a very short time.

The fast-approaching D-day was tomorrow.

“Of course, that’s also a concern, but recently, I feel like my personal growth has stagnated a bit.”

For some reason, I felt like I was hitting an invisible wall even when I swung my sword.

Clearly, the sparring with Karina had been a huge help, but the heavy feeling in my chest wouldn’t go away.

I wondered what it was, so I stopped going to the Black Honey and couldn’t sleep at night.

To be honest, I thought the Heavenly Demon would get angry if I told him about this.

But instead, he chuckled.

-Kekekeke… It seems the chick has finally gotten a chance to break out of its shell. Congratulations. How does it feel to face the wall of an Expert?

“Is the frustration I’m feeling because I’m about to become an Expert?”

-That’s my judgment. So it must be accurate.

When did I become a top-tier Sword User?

The Heavenly Demon’s one-on-one guidance.

Sparring with Karina.

Patrols that flirt with death.

Various factors combined, and I seemed to have grown rapidly without even realizing it.

Come to think of it, I’ve become much more accustomed to sparring with Karina recently.

In the past, I was helplessly beaten, but these days, I can roughly sense where the attack is coming from.

The problem is that by the time I figure it out, it’s already too late to dodge.

As the damage from her fist, which is right in front of my face, accumulates, I become preoccupied with defense rather than attack.

“I’ve definitely grown, but the chances of winning the bet are virtually non-existent. In the end, I’ll have to reveal my secret. I’ll consider it a great gain to have sparred with a Sword Master and be satisfied.”

The Heavenly Demon, who had heard everything I said, replied.

-Kid, you may have forgotten, but I was the one who told you to proceed with the bet with her.

“I know.”

-Yes. Do you think I would have said that for no reason? I said it because I had a plan.

For the past ninety days, the Heavenly Demon had only pointed out my shortcomings and refrained from further intervention.

Was there something else he had arranged?

-Kid, have you gotten dumber from being beaten so much? You’re missing one important fact right now. If I had told you the direction of Karina’s attacks in advance, you wouldn’t have been beaten to a pulp like this for a hundred days.

Come to think of it, that was true.

I couldn’t see it, but the Heavenly Demon could.

No matter how fast Karina was, her attacks wouldn’t have been able to escape the sight of the absolute master, the Heavenly Demon.

But why didn’t the Heavenly Demon suggest this easy method even though he knew it?

-The reason I didn’t tell you the method was to get you to learn the minimum body movements to react to a master’s sword. And you succeeded in growing to that point by encountering the wall.

“Is that so?”

-There’s another reason. Anyway, that woman is a master. If you had blocked her properly even once, your last chance of winning would have disappeared.

In short, the Heavenly Demon had deceived even me in order to induce Karina’s carelessness.

-On the day of the bet, I will tell you all the directions of her attacks. You just have to put your sword there. Then, at least you won’t be pushed back in terms of defense.

“That’s a clever idea, but what about attacking?”

-You little brat! Do I have to spoon-feed you everything? You figure out the rest. You have that Druid or whatever ability, don’t you! The woman doesn’t know anything about you. She’s in a state of complete carelessness. If you can’t win with this, just give up on the Golden Branch or whatever.

The Heavenly Demon was right.

I was underestimating my abilities too much.

If I used all my abilities to the extreme, I might be able to create an opening, even if it’s just for a moment, an instant.

No.

I must create it.

I pictured the battlefield in my head.

I kept running simulations of how to win.

I repeatedly reminded myself of my strengths and the weapons I had, and matched them with the battlefield.

Finally, I came to a conclusion.

“I will create one opportunity.”

-Good. Tell me what it is.

“It’s a secret.”

-What?

“It’s a secret. Didn’t you hide things too, Heavenly Demon? I’m going to do the same.”

Instead of a sword, I picked up a shovel and suddenly started digging a hole.

The Heavenly Demon was curious about my sudden bizarre behavior and made a lot of noise in my head, but I ignored him.

Would my plan work?

Only the heavens knew.

* * *

The crescent moon was waning at dawn.

The three distant, twinkling moons were setting.

Soon, the frozen earth would be illuminated by the rising sun.

Unlike other times, I was sitting cross-legged without swinging my sword.

Even though my butt was getting cold because of the snow, I didn’t change my posture.

Like a student preparing for an exam, I calmly observed my inner self and maintained my composure.

“Time flies.”

Karina appeared from behind.

I hadn’t even noticed her presence.

Her purpose was clearly to intimidate me before the bet.

“Have you come?”

“You’re calm. Today’s the day. Have you prepared well?”

“I’m just doing what I usually do.”

“Really? Then you have no hope.”

“We’ll have to see who comes out on top.”

“Hmph, I like your spirit.”

Karina, with a faint smile, scanned me up and down with her bewitching eyes.

“Tell me when you’re ready.”

“Is there any point in dragging it out? Let’s start.”

I took a stance and pointed my sword.

She looked at me for a moment and then nodded.

“Then, here I come. The time limit is until you pass out or give up.”

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure became blurred.

Her movements were truly admirable.

At the same time, a voice rang in my head.

-Left thigh!

I could have blocked it if I wanted to.

But I didn’t.

As the Heavenly Demon said, a fierce impact landed on my left thigh.

“Keuhk!”

A groan escaped involuntarily.

My legs gave way, and I collapsed.

The Heavenly Demon’s angry voice could be heard.

-You! I clearly told you! Why didn’t you block it!

Then behind, right, front.

Karina beat me at the speed of light.

It was no different from usual.

I was being beaten like an idiot.

As I was being beaten even more helplessly than usual, Karina’s eyes, which were fixed on me as she struck, were filled with disappointment.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s any point in continuing. Should we finish here?”

“It’s okay. Please continue until the end.”

“Hmm, can I give you a piece of advice?”

“Yes.”

“It’s good to be full of fighting spirit. But shouting about fighting spirit without any plan is arrogance and recklessness.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“If you understand, then that’s enough. Then I’ll end it with the next attack.”

Her figure becomes blurred again.

The intention to end it with this attack.

In other words… the moment she’s most careless.

It was now.

-Behind you. She’s aiming for the back of your neck.

As soon as I heard the Heavenly Demon’s words, I turned my body and put my sword where the back of my neck was located.

It’s not that I recognized the attack.

It’s an attack that I can’t see anyway.

I just swing my sword with the feeling of slashing at the air according to the Heavenly Demon’s guidance.

Then I hear a collision sound.

Chaeaeaeeng!

Something hit the sword.

I can tell without looking.

It’s Karina’s hand.

“What?”

She shouted in surprise.

Of course, she would be surprised.

She predicted and blocked the attack before it even came.

To her, it would seem as if I had the ability to foresee the future.

“Haaaat!”

You can’t miss the moment of panic.

The stage starts now.

I swung my sword and charged at her.

Even if she’s a Sword Master, I thought she would give me an opening if she was ambushed at close range in a completely careless state.

“You little rascal! You were hiding your skills? You should have done this sooner!”

Karina’s excited voice grew louder.

Yes, she’s still relaxed.

From the beginning, I didn’t think that this kind of trick would work on a Sword Master.

She tries to distance herself from my charge.

No way.

[Skill Wood Control is activated.]

[Restrains the opponent.]

The second move was activated.

The moment when the Druid’s skill, which I had been constantly training during patrols, shone.

The tree trunks that sprang from the ground bound her tightly.

Even so, the smile didn’t leave Karina’s face.

“So, you were the one who did that with the tree trunks back then!”

Even the time to answer is a waste.

I split the 0.1 second unit and thrust my sword at her.

I desperately hoped that it would touch her by even 1cm. No, even 1mm.

However, she only paused for a moment and then broke the shackles of the tree trunks too easily with her tremendous strength.

“That’s quite fun. What should I do? This kind of thing doesn’t work on me.”

Then she steps back.

A trick to create distance.

I chase, and she runs away.

From the moment I showed my teeth, she had been retreating in a straight line.

Then she stepped on a spot where white snow was piled up.

Jeojeojeojeok!!!!

Hairline cracks like spider webs spread rapidly around the spot where she stepped, and the ground suddenly sank.

The real aim was this.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day digging a hole in the ground with a shovel to make a trap.

Karina only told me to succeed in attacking her body, but she didn’t put any restrictions on how.

So I changed the terrain itself.

The sudden ambush and the surprise reveal of the binding skill were all designed to guide her escape route to the trap.

“Huh?”

Finally, a panicked voice came out of her mouth.

Since the ground has collapsed, even the most skilled master needs time to regain their balance for a moment.

And that short time was more than enough for me.

“Euryaaaaa!!!”

With a shout, I rushed towards her.

How are you going to avoid this?

The tip of the sword gets closer and closer to her.

3cm, 2cm, 1cm, 0.5cm…

I thought I was going to win like this,

Paang!

It was a twist.

She kicked off the air and did a backflip!

It wasn’t the ground, it was the air.

Her mind was full of not wanting to lose.

“Isn’t that too unfair?”

There is no answer coming back.

The relaxed attitude she had been showing all along had disappeared.

Anyway, due to Karina’s superhuman feat, the situation was reversed.

I was in the same situation as her, having jumped into the trap, so we were both floating in the air.

However, she was doing a backflip, so she was farther away from me.

In a short moment, countless options flashed through my head.

Should I throw my sword?

No.

If it’s Karina, she’ll twist her body in the air and avoid it.

If I miss, it’s game over.

Should I land on the ground and look for an opportunity?

Impossible again.

Losing balance now means losing my last chance.

If we land at the same time, her movements will be faster.

In the end, there is only one situation that leads to victory.

‘I have to re-jump the same way!’

I can’t kick off the air like Karina.

I need to do a double jump in my own way.

Fortunately, I had a good way.

[Activate Skill Wood Control.]

[The surrounding environment becomes your ally.]

As I maximized my Druid power, the tree trunks that I had only used for binding recently rose from the pit.

And that was a great stepping stone for me.

“No way!”

Karina’s astonished voice was heard for a moment,

I, who made a stepping stone in the air, stepped on the end of the tree trunk and jumped up again.

Her face came right up to my nose.

“Heuryaaaaa!!”

Seogeok!

The sword drew a line in the air.

There was nothing in the way.

This was my last resort.

After that, I was led by the force of gravity and plunged straight to the floor.

Thump!

My mouth was full of snow.

It was because I was so focused on attacking that I didn’t have time to break my fall.

I spat out the snow and staggered to my feet.

“You are amazing. I lost.”

I squeezed out the last move and really did my best.

I thought I had won when I succeeded in the double jump.

But she bent her waist like a shrimp to avoid it.

I want to experiment with what kind of body structure allows that.

Anyway, defeat was defeat.

I cleanly accepted the defeat and bowed my head.

“I admit my defeat. You said you were curious about the secret I was hiding? Ask me anything you want. I will answer you with all my heart. I think I showed almost everything in today’s sparring.”

There was no answer for a long time.

I wondered what was happening and raised my head.

Her gaze was not directed at me.

She was looking at her shoulder with a complicated look.

I wondered what it was and focused on where she was looking.

“!!!”

And I finally discovered it.

The epaulet [a decorative shoulder piece] part of the neat uniform that Karina always wore was cut in half and fluttering.

She sighed.

“Henon… you win. The tip of the sword touched me. I admit defeat.”