Published: July 5, 2025
"I'll introduce myself once more. My name is Dainan."
"Now that you mention it, I hadn't introduced myself. My name is Abel."
Dainan and Abel face off outside the castle gate.
Of course, Ryo, Ange, and Ronja, along with most of the villagers of Farafao, have climbed up the castle walls to watch the two confront each other.
"Ryo-san, do you think Lord Abel will win?"
It’s a direct question, and yet Ronja asks it quietly.
She heard Abel say he would take revenge for Ange.
So, it’s a question she doesn’t want Ange to hear…
"Honestly, I don't know. The demon's kin are incredibly strong."
Ryo answers honestly.
Of course, he wishes for Abel's victory and believes he won't lose.
Even so... battles with non-human beings are unpredictable.
"Back when I was in the kingdom, Abel fought against the demon's kin."
"Eh...?"
Ronja is left speechless by Ryo's words.
"So, what was the outcome?"
"He reportedly severed the kin's head."
"Ohh."
"However, the kin came back to life."
"Wh…?"
Ronja is left speechless again.
It seems that the entire conversation is just barely out of Ange's earshot.
"Unless you defeat the demon itself, it seems they can resurrect no matter how many times they are killed."
"The demon..."
Ronja murmurs as she sits cross-legged on a stone chair, watching the two's battle begin.
She is a beautiful girl with a strong disposition, exuding an overwhelming sense of composure, but… she doesn’t appear to be stronger than the kin they are about to fight.
"It would be bad to attack that girl..."
"Yes, that must never happen."
In response to Ronja’s confirmation, Ryo nods vigorously in agreement.
Under mutual consent, a duel between Abel and Dainan is about to take place.
A duel is a sort of vow.
A commitment that no one else will interfere.
It is a sacred battle held within that vow and commitment.
Anyone who breaks such a thing would be met with furious wrath.
"Right now, all we can do is trust in Abel and watch over him."
When Ryo says this in a louder voice, all the villagers atop the castle walls nod in agreement.
And so, the battle begins.
It’s not like a gong sounded to signal the start.
Both Abel and Dainan suddenly sprang into action, each preparing their beloved swords.
Dainan took the initiative.
Perhaps this was related to how their prior conversation had robbed Abel of his calm.
However, whether that was the case or not, Dainan's initial strike was fierce.
Clang, clang, clang...
As he unleashed a fierce initial attack, Dainan followed it up with consecutive strikes.
With a precise angle on his sword, Abel deflected each and every one.
Dainan, the demon's kin, surpassed him in strength and speed, but Abel countered with his sword technique.
The composition naturally became Dainan's offense and Abel's defense...
In the midst of Dainan's consecutive strikes, a horizontal slash was integrated.
Abel dodged it without taking the hit.
More than any other strike, Dainan’s afterimage shifted.
With a half-step forward into Dainan’s shifted stance, Abel thrust his sword out.
It was a reception at a point different from usual… a point where Dainan's strength wasn't applied.
Even for the demon's kin, who boasted overwhelming physical strength compared to humans, ignoring the principle of things is impossible.
Dainan's sword was deflected widely.
The roles of offense and defense had switched.
Now, it was Abel on the offense and Dainan on the defense.
"Ohh!"
Cheers erupted from the villagers of Farafao watching from the castle wall.
However, Ryo was not among those who cheered.
(As expected of Abel, but Dainan's kin is strong. This is likely to drag on.)
Though Ryo is often perceived as a joker, he takes battles seriously.
That’s because lives are at stake.
Which is only natural.
That’s why he never slacks off in training and approaches it earnestly.
It’s precisely because of this that he highly regards Abel for his continuous efforts to reach his current heights.
No matter how you put it, perhaps Ryo is the one who holds the highest regard for Abel.
Ryo likes physics.