Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 151 - Kalman III Alexander Raiback
"Remember this well — your target is to defeat Orsted and become a hero, so there's no need to go chasing people with a bit of minor fame. I've gathered plenty of powerful fighters. Chances to kill Orsted don't come around just because you want them to."
Keith was right.
My goal is to surpass my father. To become a hero known to the entire world.
Defeating Orsted, that is my true goal.
Aisha Greyrat is nothing more than a woman I've heard rumors about.
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That's how it should have been.
But the situation is different now.
If she comes to me herself......
A dark grey robe, the sword hidden beneath it, I can't tell if it's on her left side or her right.
"If you want to kill Orsted, don't make a move on her for now. If you can't kill her, your abilities get exposed, and killing Orsted becomes a lot harder."
Keith's words echo in my mind.
Right.
No matter what.
Killing Orsted is the final objective.
I'm not certain of this woman's strength or background, though I'm not afraid of her. Not in the slightest.
It's just that...... if she slips away after we trade blows, that really would be a nuisance.
I have no intention of drawing my sword. I prepare to leave.
"North God Kalman III, Alexander Raiback......"
What I didn't expect,
She's the one who intends to make the first move.
The woman in front of me speaks my name, and slowly walks toward me.
Just walks over. No sword drawn......
She steps into my attack range.
One strike. Just one, and I can kill her.
The power of the King Dragon Sword is something she cannot begin to imagine.
It's just that.......
"Arrogant woman. Do you realize your life is completely within my grasp right now?"
When I finish speaking, the woman in front of me smiles.
She doesn't answer my question. Instead she speaks as if we're having an entirely different conversation.
"I've heard...... you want to kill Orsted?"
"Yes. I will kill him. I'll become a hero, become a legend."
She laughs.
The kind of laugh where she can't even straighten her back. Her whole body shakes with it, like she's lost control of herself entirely.
Completely unconcerned that she is standing inside my attack range.
Arrogant woman....... I'm starting to want to just draw my sword and be done with it.
But before I do that, I want to hear what she has to say.
"Have you laughed enough?"
She finally slows. Wipes the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
When she lifts her head, the smile is still there.
"Sorry...... my brother raised me well, I'm actually quite well-mannered normally...... it's just that...... hahaha......"
She starts laughing again.
This time it goes on for about a minute.
She stops on her own.
Lifts her head and looks at me.
"Uh — sorry about that."
"You think I'm ridiculous?"
"Well, yeah~ After all, you're quite weak. Someone as weak as you — you actually want to kill Orsted?"
"What did you say......?"
"I said, you're weak."
I draw the King Dragon Sword, take my stance, and begin channeling magic into the blade.
The battle is a breath away from starting, and Aisha Greyrat speaks again.
"The pinnacle of the current generation's North God Style, and you have to rely on outside power like that?"
"....... You're right. To kill you, I don't need this sword's full strength."
I stop channeling.
I will make this arrogant woman understand exactly why I have the confidence to hunt Orsted.
Seeing that I've stopped, Aisha Greyrat settles into her own stance.
That stance,
Orthodox North God Style......
How dare she......!
How dare she, in front of me!
How dare she use North God Style techniques in front of me!
"You arrogant woman!"
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I...... lost?
What happened......?
Why......?
The battle lasted less than an hour.
Up until a moment ago the advantage was clearly mine...... so why......
"How did you do that......?"
Both my arms have been severed. Aisha Greyrat is sitting on top of my armless body.
She doesn't answer right away. She's writing a letter.
When she finishes, she sends it off with some magic I don't recognize, then looks down at me with a smile.
"What do you mean, how did I do that?"
"You were being suppressed by me the whole time at the start, why did you suddenly......."
"Hm? I was just playing around with the North God Style at first. The North God Style users I've run into before were all the type who rely on dirty tricks, I rarely get to see the orthodox form. I wanted to give it a try."
"Wha....... what......?"
"Well~ Orsted's intelligence on you was really useful."
"Intelligence......?"
"Mm-hm. I played around with you using the North God Style, and when you were riding high on your advantage, I hit you with a Light Blade out of nowhere. Hehe."
A Light Blade......?
The ultimate technique of the Sword God Style.......
But her North God Style was evenly matched with mine....... how is that possible.......
I let my guard down....... I never came close to showing my real ability.......
If I had used the King Dragon Sword in earnest...... it absolutely wouldn't have ended like this.
I shouldn't have let her words and behavior make me lose my head......
The corner of Aisha Greyrat's mouth twitches upward as she picks up my sword, turning it over in her hands.
"You thought you could beat Orsted with this?"
"My North God Style technique is......!"
Before I can finish, Aisha Greyrat drives the King Dragon Sword into my body.
"AAAAAAH!"
"Alright, stop making noise. Losing to me is nothing to be ashamed of, after all, I'm essentially Orsted's only disciple."
Orsted's only disciple!
Damn it!
Damn it!
Why was I so careless! Did I look down on her just because she's a woman?
I could clearly have done better....... If I could have killed Orsted's disciple....... I would have......
"North God III, do you think you lost to me because you failed to use this sword's full power?"
"Do you know what sword this is?! Do you know what it can do?!"
"I do~ But the King Dragon Sword in your hands still lost to an iron sword my friend gave me as a gift. A sword picked off the rack at a blacksmith's shop."
"Wha....... what......?"
Only now do I shift my gaze to her sword.
A sword that is...
Completely ordinary. An iron sword.
With a sword like that, she touched the pinnacle of both the Sword God Style and the North God Style......
And I lost to it....... I was holding the famous blade my father once wielded, and I lost to...... that.......
"What happens next...... are you going to kill me?"
"Do you want to die?"
"No......"
"Then serve Orsted."
"......."
She pulls the sword free and stands, brushing off her robe.
"I was planning to play with you a bit longer, if only you hadn't nearly slashed my robe."
"........"
"Alright, forget it."
Aisha Greyrat draws a scroll from inside her robe.
She unrolls it, and both my arms are healed on the spot. She doesn't spare a thought for whether I might attack her again.
Truly arrogant.......
Fine.
Regroup.
If I can't even take a setback like this, how can I ever become a hero......
I stand up. Take a slow breath.
"Can I challenge you again someday?"
"Do you want to defeat me, or to sharpen your skills?"
"Both."
"For sharpening your skills, go to Orsted. If you want to defeat me......"
She smiles.
"You can wait fifty years. After all, you're of the Oni clan, and I'm human. Once I've aged, you might just manage it."
"What would be the point of that......."
Aisha Greyrat tosses the King Dragon Sword back into my hands.
No concern whatsoever about a second attack.
I understand now.......
This isn't arrogance.
This is the confidence of the strong.
Drawing out the King Dragon Sword's full power takes time, time to channel magic into the blade.
And she has the confidence to kill me before that time runs out.......
"Didn't you say you want to become a hero? Hold your sword. Let me see what you're worth."
"My enemy....... who is it?"
"I don't know yet. You'll find out when you reach the battlefield."
"Fine."
"This conversation is over. I have another target to get to."
➤ Next: Sword God Gal Farion