Chapter 268

Dueling Mare

Translator: SupremeTentacle

Editor: Exkalamity

We followed Mare and Kuina out the Scorpion Lion Forest so Fran could spar with Mare . Our party was so strong we instantly obliterated all the goblins and other weaker creatures we encountered on sight . Mare and Fran would immediately charge at any unfortunate monsters they couldfind . Theycompeted for kills so intensely that I felt not even a manticore could survive a hit from the two combined .

We negotiated to keep all the cores of the monsters defeated along the way and relinquished all the remaining materials to Mare and Kuina . They didn't particularly mind since all they really wanted was money . Kuina was responsible for transporting all the monsters we defeated . She put the materials into an interesting sort of item bag . It had a small opening, but would suck things inside and had no issues storing things larger than it .

The two catkin chattered and debated their favourite foods as they walked . Kuina, on the other hand, mostly stayed silent . She instead focused on examining the surroundings for any potential danger . Her ears would move about and occasionally twitch . It really was hard to read her expressions though . I couldn't tell what she was thinking at all .

We journeyed through the Scorpion Lion Forest effectively unhindered, taking about two hours to pass through it . Exiting the forest, we found ourselves greeted by a wide, open plain .

"Shall we begin!?" Mare suggested .

"Nn!" said Fran as she reached for my hilt .

The two warriors, both exhilarated by the idea of a spar, turned to face each other as they prepared to draw their weapons—only to be interrupted .

"Stop right there," said Kuina as she grabbed onto Mare's head with an iron-claw grip .

"What now!?" shouted Mare .

"You'll bother everyone else that wishes to use this route should you two spar right here" said Kuina, adjusting the rim of her glasses with her free hand . "Please move a bit further into the plains so you won't be in anyone's way . "

I had to admit, she had a point . I highly doubted that the duel would end with just a clash of blades . The two would likely destroy the road if we did not relocate .

And so we continued walking for another ten minutes and stopped once we were sure that there was nothing important nearby .

"Okay, this will suffice," said Kuina . "Remember two things: do not kill each other, and do not awaken . "

"That much is obvious!" Mare complained .

"Nn!"

"But you needn't hold backtoomuch . I can heal both of you even if you bring each other to the verge of death . "

Mare laughed . "I can hardly wait! This will truly be a test of my skill!"

"Same . "

"Will that wolf be joining you in combat? I mind not if it participates . "

"Numerical advantage?"

"That is not a concern . " Mare drew the blade she carried on her back, raised it to the sky, and shouted, "Llinde!"

A red light radiated from its blade and from that light materialized a dragon .

"Kyuooohhh!"

"Cute," was Fran's first response .

It was fairly small, but a dragon nonetheless . If I had to guess, I would assume it to be a child .

"Monster Weapon?"

"Nuhahahaha! Amazing, is it not?" replied Mare . "My sword is none other than Llinde, the Dragonblade!"

Mare's ability to block me from appraising her didn't apply to her sword . I was able to appraise both it and the dragon that had emerged from it .

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General Stats

Name: Dragonblade Llinde

Attack: 963

MP: 669

Durability: 887

Magical Conductivity: B+

Skills

Flame Resistance

Self-Repair

Summon Dragonsoul

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T-The fuck, that thing is strong! Hell, it has even more attack than I do! And it's a Monster Weapon to boot? Shit, I mean it's not as impressive as a Godblade, but it was still without a doubt a high class magic sword .

B-But I'm stilltotallythe better weapon . I-I have skills and stuff . I-I'm definitely not worse j-just because it's got a dragon .

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General Information

Name: Llinde

Species: Dragon (Dragonsoul)

Status:

HP: 887

MP: 669

STR: 120

VIT: 100

AGI: 300

INT: 200

MGC: 400

DEX: 100

Skills

Flame Breath: Lv 6

Fang Techniques: Lv 4

Fang Arts: Lv 5

Presence Detection: Lv 4

Regeneration: Lv 5

Resistance to Abnormal Status: Lv 5

Resistance to Mental Abnormalities: Lv 5

Charge: Lv 6

Heat Detection: Lv 5

Flight: Lv 8

Fire Magic: Lv 5

Roar: Lv 4

Dragon Magic: Lv 5

Reinforced Scales

Flame Nullification

Magic Manipulation

Unique Skills

Principle of Flame: Lv 6 [1]

Description:N/A

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The reason the dragon lacked a description was likely because it was associated with the blade and lived within it . That aside, it was decently strong . It wasn't a match for Urushi, but it was powerful enough to be considered a D ranked threat . Its unique skill apparently allowed it to manipulate any flames in its vicinity .

"Llinde here will take that wolf of yours on . "

"Got it," said Fran . "Urushi, no losing . "

"Woof!"

"The very same applies to you, Llinde! Show them what it means to have a dragon's pride!"

"Kyuooohhh!"

"This is a spar, so no hard feelings from either of you regardless of the outcome," said Kuina . "Do I make myself clear?"

"Naturally," Mare affirmed .

"Nn"

And so, the two began their duel . They did not immediately charge at each other right out of the gate . The match began with neither fighter willing to make the first move .

The two instead stared each other down with their blades raised . They made only the slightest of feints to keep each other in check . The moment I thought the two would be forever stuck in a deadlock, Mare suddenly charged .

"Haaaahhh!"

"Fmph!"

The sharp ring of steel on steel echoed throughout the plains as the two young girls let loose their battlecries .

Mare was quite the swordsman . She was able to cross blades with Fran and hold her ground through a short exchange of blows . But unfortunately for her, Fran held the Sword Lord Arts skill, which gave her the edge and allowed her to gradually overwhelm her foe through sheer technique .

"Hahahah! Impressive, Black Lightning Princess! I expect no less from a tribe whose name has been carved into legend!"

"Also impressed . Not bad . "

"Frustrating as it is, I must admit that my skill fails to surpass your own . I've no choice but to up the ante . "

"Bring it on!"

The two seemed to be getting along; they somehow found the time to trade words despite being engaged in a furious exchange of blows .

Mare attacked Fran with flame magic, but the black catkin managed to ward off her spell through the use of just her sword and a barrier before returning fire with spells of her own . Fran was the more agile type of fighter, so her attacks came in the form of a relentless barrage . On the other hand, Mare was more a strength type . She launched fewer attacks, but each was much more powerful . The two girls smiled as they unhesitantly launched attacks that each carried lethal force . It was clear that both did not want to yield to the other .

Some of Mare's flame-based attacks would come without any chants . I couldn't tell if these attacks were magical spells or if they were instead a trait of her species . I suspected it was the latter, but at the same time I highly doubted it . She was too white to be a Red Catkin, after all .

Thinking about Red Catkin, I remembered that the Beast Lord had once mentioned that he had a daughter, but I highly doubted said daughter would be gallivanting around doing adventurer-like things with a maid by her side...

Wait... that does seem possible seeing as how the Beast Lord is who he is...

I looked towards Urushi and his foe .

"Grrr!"

"Kyuuoooh!"

The wolf and dragon were engaged in a high speed battle . The two were using the wide open space they were given to its fullest, trying to chase each other down without being caught . I couldn't help but be surprised at Llinde's speed . It could generate bursts of speed that exceeded Urushi at his fastest even though the latter had a higher agility stat .

Of course, its ability to fly contributed in part to its speed, but the bigger part seemed to be attributed to the flames that would trail behind it whenever it accelerated . It seemed to be using something similar to the Burnia spell . [2]

That said, speed was the only thing the dragonling had on Urushi . The wolf was superior in every other category . He held the advantage from start to end even though he was holding back . I was pretty sure he'd eventually win if I just left him be, so I turned my attention back over to Fran .

She and Mare were still happily exchanging blows, but the winner was already clear . Mare had substantial wounds all over, but Fran had only suffered a few light scratches . Mare's hands were tied . Fran was both the better swordsman and the better mage of the two . There was simply nothing she could do .

Realizing that, Mare used her flame magic to create an opening and distanced herself from her opponent It seemed that she still had something up her sleeve . Fran defended against the spell, and had more than enough liberty to pursue, but stood her ground . She wanted to see what Mare was planning to do .

Mare's eyes were filled with exhilaration . The battle was giving her an adrenaline rush, one that caused to raise her voice and loose a bestial howl .

"...Coming . "

A massive amount of magical energy began gathering within Mare's body . There was so much of it that it caused the air around her to begin crackling with energy . Was she awakening? Or maybe using some other skill?

I couldn't tell . I only knew that she was trying something big, so I focused my attention on her in hopes of figuring out exactly what it was .

Fran's expression was identical to Mare's . She was excited to see what would happen next, to see the challenge she would have to overcome—but it didn't . Something appeared behind Mare and caused the magical energy she started building up to disperse .

"Ngyaaah!"

"Geez . Were you seriously about to go ahead and dothat, My Lady?"

"K-Kuina..."

Kuina had suddenly appeared behind Mare and dumped a large volume of magically created water over her head . The sudden wetness caused the startled catkin to scream and leap before turning back towards Kuina with a resentful gaze .

Naturally, I had picked up on Kuina's actions ahead of time . I had my guard up against her just in case . She'd suddenly disappeared using what I assumed to be illusion magic, but I did not mind it because she directed her next actions towards Mare and not Fran . Fran had also picked up on the maid's movements . Mare, however, didn't . All her focus had been directed towards Fran .

"And what exactly did I say about attempting to kill your opponent, My Lady?"

"B-But I was going to lose if I did not attempt drastic measures..." whimpered Mare .

"And why exactly are you being so obstinate about winning or losing a spar?"

"Mmph..."

"Well?"

"V-Very well, I apologize!"

And so, that was how the spar ended with the pair apologizing to Fran . She was a bit disappointed with how things ended, but still decently satisfied, so she ended up letting things be . It was a good place to call it quits . Fran was starting to get hot headed as well . We managed to avoid having her and Mare actually try to kill each other, so this was probably as well as things could've possibly ended .

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[1] Lit . Principle of fire manipulation, but that sounds lame af

[2] Recall, this is the spell that Fran uses to accelerate .