A Challenge, A Revelation

I am Helter, the fallen greatswordsman.

Summoning all my courage, I challenged the Hero. This was the most crucial battle of my life, a chance to prove myself to a true powerhouse.

“I choose you, Heavenly Sword!”

“It’s the Exotic Field Sword!”

‘The Hero’s tone felt strangely familiar, yet it must have been a mere illusion.’

“Are you ready?” I asked the Hero.

“Even if I’m not ready, I still have to fight!”

‘Her hand, clutching the sword, trembled? Impossible. She looked like a complete amateur with a blade. Why was she even using a sword? Was she holding back?’

“Hmph.”

With a single, swift motion, I raised my greatsword, my beloved “Black Lion.” Crafted from dark gold, this formidable weapon was the prized possession bestowed only upon the champion of the Fourth Royal Capital Arena.

Whoosh.

‘To others, this greatsword might appear cumbersome, but to me, it felt as light as a dagger. I could raise and bring it down in under a second. An ordinary person’s reflexes would never allow them to dodge it. The Hero, however, was different; that single second could become my vulnerability, so I had to constantly monitor her movements.’

Thud. “Black Lion” struck the ground.

“Whoa! That was close!”

‘The Hero was mere centimeters from my blade. Did that mean… I almost hit her? Impossible. This had to be an illusion she created to deceive me!’

“Impressive.”

“Impressive, my foot!”

The Hero’s legs trembled, her face pale, conveying an impression of extreme fear.

‘What was she doing? Was this some disruptive tactic, meant to make me believe she was weak?’

“Sword Skill—”

“What are you doing?!” The Hero raised her sword to her chest.

“Frenzied Slash!”

I swung my sword, repeating the motion of raising and slamming it to the ground ten times consecutively, completing the sequence in just two seconds. ‘Due to Black Lion’s lengthy blade, the skill’s execution only took one second. Against lesser swordsmen, this move was virtually unavoidable. Yet, before me stood the Hero, an amateur though she might be.’

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” The Hero scrambled back a few steps, and I… missed entirely.

“Excellent. She swiftly anticipated the reach of my blade and retreated, negating the need to react to my strike! Truly worthy of being called the Hero!”

“Haha, you’ve got me truly excited!” I declared, pulling the flask from my waist, taking a deep swig, and tossing it aside.

“What do you mean, excited?!” The Hero, ever composed, didn’t forget to tease me. ‘Was this the calm demeanor and bearing of a true powerhouse? Compared to her, I had already lost emotionally.’

“Sword Skill—”

“What are you doing now?!”

“Teleportation!”

With superhuman explosive power, I leaped swiftly, appearing to vanish to onlookers! In reality, I had merely sprung about fifteen meters into the air.

“Huh?” The Hero stood rooted, constantly looking around.

‘Was this her way of mocking me? Mocking my skills as not powerful enough? Hah, Hero! Allow me to show you! The world-shattering impact from above!’

“Sword Skill—Meteorite Smash.”

A crimson gleam manifested on my weapon. With this intensity, this speed! I would catch her completely off guard!

In that moment of descent, my past memories flashed before my eyes like a whirlwind.

“Hey, you fallen swordsman, stop always freeloading off my food and drink! Is there no end to it?! Rice costs money, you know!”

This silver-haired youth, frail and seemingly vulnerable, was my childhood companion.

“Oh, I only brought wine, so I had no choice but to come scrounge for food.”

As I spoke, I playfully snatched the braised pork from the youth’s bowl.

“Damn you! Don’t you know I only get meat once a week?! Give it back!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll pay you back later!” I told him offhandedly.

“How many times have you said that now?!”

“Only 342 times! Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back everything I owe before you die!” I said with a laugh.

“You bastard! What if I die early?! Pay me a thousand or two gold right now, or we’re through!”

Though he threatened to cut ties every time, he never actually followed through. All I had to do was draw the sword from my back, and he’d chicken out.

“Alright, alright, my elder brother, I was wrong. You’ll always be my big brother, just like you said—[Brothers for Life].”

Haha, I really liked this little brother of mine, always spouting nonsense.

“I never said that, and I certainly don’t want to share a bed with you.”

“Huh? I said, ‘for life’.”

“Bedding. I didn’t misunderstand.” (Translator’s Note: Pun on “Yibeizi” – Lifetime vs Quilt/Bedding)

“You absolutely misunderstood! You idiot! That’s like confusing Lu Xun with Zhou Xun!”

I paused.

“What are those two things?”

“I don’t know either…”

Whenever I got drunk, I’d often boast to him.

“I’ve decided! The moment I meet the Hero, I’m going to challenge them!”

“Are you drunk-ranting again, Helter? The Hero is so strong, and you’re going to challenge them?”

“Yes! That’s right! If I win, maybe I’ll become a high-ranking military officer!”

“You’ve lost your mind! You’re just a penniless nobody with an empty reputation! You’ll be a ‘salted fish’ your whole life, never able to turn over, you hear?!”

‘What was a “penniless nobody”? What did “salted fish” mean? I completely failed to understand the youth’s words.’

“I’ve decided! After I defeat the Hero, I’ll compensate you for the 354 times I freeloaded off your family’s meals!”

“What the hell have you decided?! Why does your challenge to the Hero involve me?! That means I’ll never get my compensation!”

‘Never getting compensation… The thought brought tears to my eyes. Lu Ren… why did you have to die?’

“Yaaaaaahhhhhh!” I plummeted downwards.

‘Lu Ren’s words still echoed in my mind.’

“Remember, you absolutely must defeat the Hero! And then pay me back.”

I remember! I absolutely, unequivocally will defeat the Hero!

“Yaaaaaahhhhhh!” Tears and snot streaming, I gripped Black Lion’s hilt with both hands.

BOOM——————

The instant I landed, the village ground shook, kicking up a massive cloud of dust. All eyes converged on this spot.

‘Could I win?’

Screech, screech, screech. The sound of blades colliding and grinding!

“Ah! Wonderful! The ‘smoke and no injury’ theorem is correct!”

The Hero actually parried it with her sword! She actually blocked it! Such a powerful impact!

“Ow, that hurts~ My hand feels like it’s going to break.” The Hero gritted her teeth.

‘It seems I still had some effect after all!’

“As expected of the Hero! So strong!”

“You’re strong too…”

Just as we were exchanging compliments…

Crack.

The sword, supposedly the best in the village, developed a crack…

“Huh! Wait, don’t push any harder!”

Snap.

The sword shattered, and my Black Lion swung directly towards the Hero’s face…

In that critical moment, I managed to restrain my strength, the blade merely brushing her forehead.

“Ah…” The Hero froze, gazing into my eyes before letting out a long breath. “Thankfully, it didn’t cut me down…”

The Hero took two steps back, smiling like an angel, bringing a measure of calm to my restless heart.

“Oh… I lost.”

‘I won? How was that possible? Ultimately, it must have been the sword’s poor quality!’

“Blacksmith! The sword you gave her was terrible!” I chastised the bald old man who had been watching from the sidelines.

“It was the best in the whole village! Your sword is just ridiculously strong! Ah, one of my proudest works! Ruined, ruined!” The Blacksmith cried out, rushing over to caress the shattered fragments on the ground.

“Has your wish come true, Helter?”

The Hero suddenly called me by name, and I instinctively thought of that youth.

‘My wish…’

‘It was as if she knew my wish was to defeat the Hero.’

“Is there anything else? If not, I’ll be going.”

“Wait! Hero!”

“How do you know my name?”

The Hero suddenly looked troubled. “Well, uh… I…”

“Don’t tell me…”

The Hero frantically waved her hands. “I’m not…”

“You wouldn’t have heard it from Lu Ren, would you?”

‘That scoundrel Lu Ren. I heard he camped out with the Hero before he died. Did he introduce me to her then? So, the Hero knew my intentions from the start and deliberately played dumb? And then intentionally came unarmed, choosing a poor sword to duel me… ultimately losing to me in front of everyone!’

“Ah, yes! Yes! Lu Ren introduced me to you.” The Hero nodded frantically.

‘Lu Ren, you scoundrel, even in death, you played a brilliant move. Alright then! As per our agreement, I’ll compensate you for the 541 times I freeloaded off your meals. Tonight, I’ll burn the money for you on the other side! Rest assured!’