Volume 6 Chapter 18
Volume 6 Chapter 18: On the Water’s Surface
Axel, having driven in a tackle to match his sword strike, now stood with the armored knight in the shallows of the spring.
About ten meters ahead, the armored knight still stood, seemingly unharmed.
The tackle had blown him away and created some distance, for the moment—but it didn’t seem to have done much damage.
I hadn’t expected much damage from that tackle anyway. That wasn’t the point. The main concern was keeping the knight completely occupied so it wouldn’t target my companions in the back.
「I don’t know if I should call you a god or just a knight—but while my friends are working hard back there, let’s enjoy our little fight, shall we?」
In response, the knight’s helmet twisted into a broad grin.
Next moment—
「—!」
It dashed toward me faster than sound.
The fastest charge yet.
The armored knight’s speed had only been increasing so far.
It was still within the range I could follow, but having him zip around at this pace was getting to be a pain. So,
「I’ll buy some time with some tighter moves from here on… 【Dragon Leg】!」
With those words, I kicked at the ground beneath me.
The force of the kick sent a spray of water from the shallows flying.
It splashed straight toward the knight’s helmet. In that instant,
「……」
The charge wavered just slightly.
Then he reached up to wipe the water away and started scanning the area for me.
…So that glow near the helmet’s eyes is where his vision must be.
The splash slowed him down.
But he still maintained his charging speed.
So, I’d use that speed.
「Even if I can’t take you down—」
I caught the armored knight’s arm, entwining it with mine.
Then, just like that,
「How about this…!」
I flung him over my shoulder.
*—SPLASH!*
With that spray of water, I slammed the armored knight back-first into the water.
It’s a technique meant to deliver shock directly to the body of someone wearing hard armor.
The heavier they are, the more it rattles their body and shakes their head. But,
…This opponent’s empty inside.
I watched the armored knight lying there on the water’s surface, wondering how effective it had been.
「……」
He didn’t get up for a few seconds. But,
「――」
He shot up like something spring-loaded.
And the expression on that helmet almost looked like a grin.
【That move just now… it’s the first time I’ve ever taken something like that. So this is human martial arts?】
「Doesn’t seem like it did much damage… but maybe you’ll be out of action for a bit.」
His response came in the form of another charge.
Just like before, he came barreling toward me.
So I tried to catch his arm and throw him again, same as before. But,
【A move I’ve already seen? That’s not much fun, so I’ll pass】
The moment that text glowed on the knight’s chest—
*—Whap!*
My hand was knocked away from his arm.
「I see…!」
I used the force from my deflected arm to shift my body, and in that motion, I kicked at the knight’s legs.
It was a sidestep with a trip—sweeping the legs of someone charging forward.
Naturally, the knight lost his balance and fell backward.
He toppled over, but was back on his feet in seconds.
And again, that helmet wore a smile.
…He’s having fun.
My arms and legs were tingling with a sharp numbness.
I’d already known from catching his sword earlier—but yeah, the power and weight behind him are serious.
But more troublesome than that—
「Getting bored after just one hit? You’re a spoiled god.」
—was that after taking a technique once, he’d deflect it the next time.
Same thing when I was using sword skills earlier.
Starting with the second time, he’d dodge or knock it away.
Still, after taking a move once, he’d pause for a few seconds—that’s at least something. Might not happen again, but…
…it’s worth a try.
So I rolled my shoulders and took my stance.
「Then let me keep you company with a different move. —Eyes on me, god.」
The armored knight’s helmet curled into a sly grin.
Seeing that, I smiled too, and stepped forward.
To keep him from having any chance to slip away—to reach Daisy and Lorie—I charged toward the god in armor.
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