-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=====
[Achievement Event: Victory in a Squad Match Against the Guards]
―Reward: Achievement Stat Increase
―Charm +2
―Leadership +2
―Dignity +2
―Luck +1
―Failure: Risk of Serious Injury
―Accept: Y / N
=====
'I wish my Charm would stop increasing...'
Charm.
An unnecessary achievement stat that only causes troublesome situations.
However.
I can't just ignore the other three because of it.
The failure penalty is a serious injury, but it doesn't say anything about becoming crippled.
Davian rolled his eyes to the left and raised his right hand.
Ding.
Event Accepted.
A smile crept onto the face of Guard Captain Zagur.
"Oh, Davian's coming out. Truly the hero of friendly matches."
But Zagur quickly shook his head.
"However, there's a problem. From what I saw last time, both of them are dealers. One can be both a melee and ranged dealer, but still. To form a squad, you need at least one tank."
At the Guard Captain's words, Bonita turned her head.
The person Bonita was looking at.
A person more than a head taller than the other students.
A figure whose massive shoulder muscles seemed about to burst out of his uniform.
Nubes Arbo.
All the other friends turned their heads towards Nubes as well.
"When it comes to tanks, it's Nubes."
"Right. There's no alternative to Nubes."
Bellum nudged Nubes in the side.
"Hey, they're all looking at you."
"Bellum, how's the food distribution in the Guard? Must be excellent, right?"
"What are you talking about? I'm telling you, they're all looking at you right now."
"Is dinner time soon? I guess we can try eating the Guard's food, right?"
"You understand everything, but you're deliberately changing the subject, aren't you?"
Nubes hung his head.
"I... guess I have to raise my hand?"
"Looks like it?"
"Aish."
Having witnessed the A-rank squad match.
Except for Bonita and Davian, no one wanted to step forward.
He was the same.
But.
He couldn't pretend not to notice the continuous gazes forever.
Then.
Davian said loudly.
"Two people are enough. I'll be the tank, Bonita will be the dealer."
There's no need to drag Nubes in.
Check Bonita's practical skills with the trait buff.
Increase Bonita's practical experience in the buffed state.
And to check Davian's recently increased external force, a two-person party is enough.
It would be reassuring if Nubes stepped up as a tank, but.
That would mean one more person from the other side would come out.
Considering the skills of the Guards.
It was more advantageous to have even one less person come out.
Guard Captain Zagur asked back, as if surprised.
"Are you saying you'll take on the role of tank, Davian?"
"Yes."
"I know you can use swordsmanship and magic freely. But you can't cover all of the opponent's attacks in squad-level combat with the ice walls of a mage that appear and disappear in a moment."
"I will use a shield."
"Really? ... Good. Anyway, you two, go over there, put on armor and equipment, and come out to the drill ground."
Guided by a servant, they headed to the equipment room.
From size-specific heavy armor to various weapons.
Everything was ready.
Bonita and Davian wore thick iron armor and each picked up suitable weapons.
Bonita chose a broad, thick bastard sword.
"Bonita. That's so different from the sword you usually use?"
"The opponent is the Guards in heavy armor."
"Impressive."
"Speaking of which, what about you. What's with that huge shield and crude sword? It doesn't suit you."
Davian pushed the shield forward and stretched the sword forward, then firmly fixed his legs.
"Even like this?"
"Yeah. Still."
"Damn it."
"Why didn't you let Nubes step up? He was about to raise his hand. Were you worried he'd get hurt?"
"Hurt? What are you talking about. The infirmary here is so well-equipped. If you're just barely alive, they'll fix almost anything."
"Then why?"
"To practice fighting with you in a 2-person party in advance."
"A 2-person party with me?"
"Yeah."
It was true.
There will be countless events or quests in the future that somehow involve and control situations to challenge with the minimum number of people.
The problem is.
Those words could be interpreted in a completely different way by Bonita, who wouldn't know about such things.
'You want to practice a 2-person party with me? What? Does that mean you like fighting with me? Or... just the two of us? Could it be?'
Bonita's cheeks flushed momentarily, and she shook her head vigorously, then took out a hair tie and roughly tied her red hair back.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Let's go, Davian. Let's have a real fight with the Guards."
"Confident?"
"Of course."
"Do well."
"Just you do well."
Davian chuckled.
"Watch closely. The debut of Tank Davian Naone."
"You'll use magic if necessary, right?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I hate losing."
"Of course."
"Let's go."
Davian and Bonita came out to the drill ground.
The Guards had already selected two people, and they were standing in the center of the drill ground.
Like Davian and Bonita, they were wearing full-body steel armor and no helmets.
They both had short blond hair, and their faces looked somewhat alike.
"Cute kids."
"A pretty girl and a handsome boy... How did those two end up volunteering for training?"
"Are those two the aces, by any chance?"
"No way. I saw earlier that there was even one guy who had already completed his physique. I thought he would come out as a tank."
"Oh, that guy. I saw him too. I was secretly hoping he would come out."
While the two men were talking, Davian and Bonita arrived at the center of the drill ground.
"I'm Arman. Nice to meet you, kids."
"I'm Archen. Nice to meet you. We're brothers who joined the Guards with a two-year difference."
"I'm Davian Naone."
"I'm Bonita Fortis."
The man who introduced himself as Arman was holding a large shield and a thick sword.
Archen was holding a tapered two-handed longsword that gradually thinned towards the end of the blade.
"Come on in."
Although it was only a mock combat training with first-year academy students, Arman and Archen instantly took a proper stance.
Davian and Bonita's eyes narrowed sharply at the same time.
'There's no opening.'
'Impressive.'
The two men stood diagonally.
Arman was on the right front, Archen on the left rear.
The large shield in Arman's left hand occupied the center.
His thick sword in his right hand was on the right.
Archen's long sword sharply filled the left space.
Davian and Bonita also stood in formation, however awkwardly.
"You can't be this clumsy."
Arman and Archen stepped forward with their left feet simultaneously.
Arman stretched his shield straight forward.
Clang.
Davian and Arman's shields collided.
Davian also strained his legs and shoulders to avoid being pushed back.
"Huh?"
Arman was flustered.
Their shoulder widths were almost twice as different.
He thought he would be knocked away like this.
But he wasn't being pushed back at all.
Archen also sensed something was wrong but immediately swung his sword to aim for Davian's lower body.
Since the shields were already touching, he would have to use the sword to block the sword heading for his lower body.
Then Arman's remaining sword would stab through the gap.
That would be the end of this tank.
Then there's no need to talk about the dealer who would be left alone.
He couldn't cut off the legs of an academy freshman who was just starting to blossom.
He didn't pour in aura.
Since he was wearing steel armor, the shin area would be crushed and the leg would break as it was.
Tsk.
Archen clicked his tongue.
This tank.
His reaction is slow.
To block the sword cutting into his leg, he should have pointed his sword downwards by now.
He seems to be focusing all his attention on the shield that is still in a power struggle with Arman.
'He's just a young student. He can learn.'
Then.
Clang!
A sword that suddenly popped out deflected Archen's sword.
It was Bonita's sword, who was standing behind.
'This girl is a bit better.'
Archen's sword now headed for Bonita.
'Then dealer first.'
Davian and Arman were still in a shield-to-shield situation.
That was when.
Davian pulled the shield back a little.
In the gap between the two shields.
He pushed forward again with all his might.
Thud!
Tank Arman's upper body staggered.
A normal swordsman would have completely tumbled backwards.
But Arman had already been a tank in the Guards for five years.
He braced himself by straining his knees and waist.
However.
That brief gap was enough.
Davian's sword was already aimed at Archen, who was mixing swords with Bonita.
A 2-on-1 situation created in an instant.
Tank Arman, who had been pushed back by Davian, quickly turned to join, but.
Bonita's sword was sharp and fast.
Bonita wouldn't be pushed back in a 1-on-1 situation, but Davian even helped in the middle, even if it was just one move.
It only took two movements to cut down Archen.
Clang!
Bonita's bastard sword struck Archen's side hard.
The sound of steel armor and swords colliding echoed across the drill ground.
"Keuk!"
As dealer Archen, who had been hit in the side, faltered.
Tank Arman approached and held out a large shield.
The formation was quickly restored.
Davian and Bonita also realigned.
Guard Captain Zagur Paginus watched the scene.
'Amazing guys.'
Davian's tank role.
He had never even imagined it.
And yet.
He didn't get pushed back by Arman, who had been professionally trained as a tank, and even managed to push him away and interfere in his comrade's battle.
Strength. Speed. The ability to see the situation. Even a fierce swordsmanship.
Everything was perfect.
Then, what about that red-haired girl?
Archen had a gap, but.
It was just a momentary moment.
Even though there was a gap.
Arman also joined soon, and Archen wasn't a swordsman who would be so easily defeated.
And yet, she succeeded in a powerful attack that deeply dented the armor.
'Archen, that guy probably broke his ribs.'
Several exchanges continued again.
The Arman-Archen brothers also calmly faced Davian and Bonita without being careless.
The two teams rarely had openings.
'Amazing.'
Of course, they are not fighting with their lives on the line and giving their all.
They haven't even manifested aura yet.
Without aura, they can't cut through thick heavy armor.
That being said, is it easy to sharply stab the joints of the armor during such fierce exchanges?
Since they are not wearing helmets, attacking above the neck would be the fastest way.
But the four people on the drill ground are not doing that.
They can't cut off the opponent's neck during training.
The movements of Arman and Archen are perfect due to thorough training.
Davian and Bonita's teamwork was clumsy compared to them.
The problem is.
'That's what makes it even more terrifying. Those two monster freshmen.'
They've never even had proper 2-person squad training.
And yet, with such clumsy formations and teamwork, they are not being pushed back significantly by Arman and Archen.
But as the battle continued, gaps continued to appear on Davian and Bonita's side.
Davian and Bonita began to be pushed back.
Clang!
Archen's sword stabbed strongly into Davian's chest.
The heavy armor was deeply dented.
"Davian! Are you okay?"
Davian nodded once and looked at Arman and Archen.
He kept his gaze fixed and only opened his mouth.
"Bonita, it seems like we're getting pushed back more and more, right?"
"Looking at their movements, it seems manageable. We're clearly a step above. But I can't see any openings."
"Because they're real soldiers. And even Guards."
"Damn it. Should we use aura?"
"Those guys seem more familiar with aura too. It might be even more disadvantageous."
"Then what do we do?"
Clatter.
Davian's sword fell to the ground.
"What are you doing? Why are you dropping your sword?"
"Because I only have two hands."
Comments
Post a Comment