Chapter 75: 75 Establishing the Debauched Hero Corps

I went to the center of the training ground. Facing Kelsas, I regulated my breathing.

The Guard Captain and guards who were watching held their breath, then began to murmur.

"They found the Lord’s body in the basement, didn’t they? Fuck."

"I still feel dizzy..."

"This territory is finished now."

"Still, let’s think of it as the last spectacle."

The solemn atmosphere wasn’t due to any other reason.

A good master whom they had followed so sincerely was found in such a state. Anyone would have a mental breakdown.

Kelsas twitched his ears and then laughed.

"People die someday anyway. They are overly emotional."

"You only say that because you haven’t met a true master. If you meet a leader or superior who treats you truly like a human, you’ll act the same way, won’t you?"

"I have no interest in such things. It looks like your condition isn’t great."

"I don’t think I’m in a position to be pitied. Am I wrong?"

"...You’ve also become an early-stage Expert in that short time. It seems your skill isn’t completely lacking."

It seems this pointy-eared bastard is bored.

I lightly warmed up my body and raised my index finger. I wiggled it left and right.

"Let’s cut the verbal sparring. Can’t you see the audience waiting?"

"That’s true."

Kelsas laughed, then gently shook his dagger. And as if by magic, he returned it to its sheath.

Is he crazy?

Of course, it’s good for me. The after-effects of the previous fight haven’t fully worn off yet. Still, that’s a bit much.

"What are you doing?"

"Whether I win or lose, I have more to lose. If that’s the case, I should at least match your strength."

"I’m really fine. Are you trying to play it safe now?"

"Think of it as a civil servant’s intuition."

I glared at Kelsas for a moment. This bastard, he’s serious.

He probably wants a proper fight because of the last one.

"Intuition, my ass. Fine. Besides, you’ve gained quite a bit from me, haven’t you?"

"What are you trying to say?"

I chuckled. What was I trying to say?

That I’ll go with the flow. It’s exactly as I planned.

"Let’s make a bet. The loser grants the winner’s wish!"

"Ohhh...!"

The onlookers let out low exclamations.

Kelsas tilted his head, seemingly unable to figure it out no matter how much he thought.

"A bet, you say?"

"If you win, do as you please. But if I win, you become my guarantor."

"You want me to vouch for you?"

I shook my head. It’s a little different.

"Not for borrowing money or anything like that. I want to create a foundation, and I heard the quickest way to do that is to get approval from a civil servant, right?"

Only then did Kelsas seem to understand, and he laughed heartily. He seemed to grasp what I was trying to do.

"So, you propose a bet as soon as I sheath my dagger."

"You can take it out again, if you want."

"It’s an intriguing bet. Whether it’s a foundation or a Hero Corps, it’s fine. I’ll stamp my seal on it."

"You definitely said that? Okay, shall we begin?"

Kelsas nodded. I, too, glared at him and stepped back.

My hand holding the sword felt heavy today. Was it still due to the after-effects of the fight? But my body felt light.

"It feels like I can do anything!"

I inhaled and kicked off the ground. Kelsas also pushed off, and we charged towards each other.

Finally, our weapons crossed and clashed!

Tang!

I dual-activated Aura and Lightning Aura. It felt like vitality was returning to my tired body.

I ran quickly in this state. Cracks appeared on the ground as I advanced.

I instantly closed the distance with Kelsas and thrust my sword.

"Hmph."

After moving his upper body to dodge, Kelsas thrust his rapier from a bizarre angle.

I pushed my shield forward. It not only parried Kelsas’s rapier but pushed him back.

The moment he was pushed back, people cheered.

"Woooooah!"

"The Inspector was pushed back by strength...?"

"How could that be...?"

"Is this the battle that will mark the end of this territory?!"

Kelsas chuckled and then twirled his rapier.

"Interesting. Full power deployment."

"Alright, Show and Prove!"

Both Kelsas and I deployed our full power.

I closed the distance and lowered my upper body. The rapier cut through the air like a guillotine.

I subtly swung my sword towards his upper body.

"This is a feint."

I wanted to read Kelsas’s moves. But Kelsas approached with a direct method.

"Faaah!"

The rapier flew at a speed difficult to perceive. Surprised, I instinctively blocked it with my shield.

However, the thrusting rapier didn’t lose power; instead, it gained even more.

"Mezzani!"

With Kelsas’s shout, the rapier followed up with a horizontal slash.

I agilely retreated. The moment I landed, I kicked off the ground and once again closed the distance, thrusting my sword.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - White Lightning] 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Kelsas’s lips curved upwards.

"Quinte!"

Kelsas blocked by holding his sword vertically. Just by that, it was clear his fundamentals were solid.

To block a holy sword with a rapier.

"Pendenti!"

Kelsas struck my sword upwards and then slashed diagonally downwards. I immediately dodged and got to his flank.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Thrust]

Pa-ang! Tae-aeng!

"Sottani!"

Kelsas flicked my sword upwards with his sword tip and entered the opening. Before he could move, I delivered a front kick.

He might not have been stunned last time, but this time is different.

Since I’ve narrowed the gap in our levels, even if only a little.

Finally, Kelsas fell into a daze.

"Ugh!"

I calmly closed the distance.

By the way, an elf fighting while shouting out skill names, that’s quite rare.

I brought my sword forward.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Pruning]

Holding the sword with one hand, I unleashed a furious barrage of consecutive attacks. Kelsas, just recovering from his daze, shouted.

"Lunge."

Kelsas slid forward, lowering his upper body and closing the distance. As my sword cut through the air, he delivered an elbow strike towards my chin.

"Shift!"

And then Kelsas immediately retreated.

People exclaimed. Without delay, I followed him and swung my sword.

Let’s not give him a chance to use his skills.

"Volta!"

Kelsas elegantly spun around like a ballet dancer, dodging my attack. Immediately after, he got behind me and thrust his rapier.

"Tch."

I quickly twisted my body. I felt the rapier graze my arm by a hair’s breadth.

If I had been careless, an arm might have been severed.

"So a true mid-stage Expert is different, huh? Interesting, very interesting!"

It’s always more fun to fight against someone skilled. Just like in a game!

I let out a shout and deliberately swung my sword wildly.

"My opponent possesses both skill and speed. Then I’ll advance with strength, just by hiding one move!"

Gritting my teeth, I launched a continuous offensive. Kelsas dodged or blocked, exchanging sword strikes.

I pushed with strength, but maintained my breathing and posture. This is something Aunt taught me countless times.

This way, I can maintain strength that will never be outmatched by techniques.

I predicted the rapier’s trajectory and twisted to the side. I spun around and attempted a wide horizontal slash.

"Parry!"

Kelsas deflected my sword to the side as if by magic. A new opening was created.

Before he could enter that opening, I also struck his rapier.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Countercurrent]

But Kelsas didn’t falter. He moved elegantly as before, getting to my flank.

"It’s over."

Kelsas stood at my side, aiming his rapier at me. As his eyes changed.

"Attaque Composée!"

A strike unleashed with a full gathering of mana. If so, I must counter it with something equally fitting.

Don’t forget, it’s a counter. To lead into the next move!

Kelsas rushed forward, radiating a terrifying momentum. Towards him, I swung my sword with all my might.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Divine Strike]

"Putting all my ki into it!"

The two people’s weapons clashed, and an enormous shockwave spread in all directions.

"Wuaaaah!"

I saw the watching soldiers all fall backward simultaneously.

In the midst of that, both Kelsas’s and my weapons flew backward. This is what I aimed for!

I instantly seized Kelsas’s lower body and executed a double-leg takedown. He, as expected, immediately fell.

Just as I was about to take the top position, Kelsas grinned.

"Ha, do you think I’d fall for that again?"

I was about to pound him without a word when I was taken aback. Kelsas desperately grabbed my outstretched wrist and countered with a triangle choke.

Even as I was choking, I laughed. Look at this guy.

"Huh, you’ve improved, haven’t you? Inspector!"

"I don’t know about others, but I like to learn."

If I stayed still like this, my carotid artery would slowly be compressed, and I’d pass out.

It was already too deep to escape. Truly surprising.

Gritting my teeth, I squeezed out all the strength in my body. I lifted Kelsas in one swift motion and slammed him down.

It was a powerful slam attack.

Kelsas was flustered.

"What kind of strength...?!"

"This is my will! Haaa!"

I lifted him again and slammed him down.

Aura and Lightning Aura aren’t just for show!

I lifted him again. Slammed him down.

Kelsas’s face contorted, and the choke released. His entire body had been slammed into the ground, so it must have hurt.

I waited for this moment.

"Prepare yourself."

I instantly got behind him and wrapped my arm around his neck.

It was the moment a rear-naked choke was perfectly applied.

"Keok, Ke-eek...!"

Kelsas, who was trying to escape somehow, gradually slowed his movements. It was a technique clean enough to be put in a textbook. Try to break out of this one!

Ta-ta-tat!

Soon, Kelsas tapped. It was a clear sign of surrender.

The watching soldiers cheered.

"Whaaaah! The Hero won!"

"Awesome, totally cool, shit!"

"He tore him up! Both of them are crazy, crazy!"

I released the choke and felt relieved. I finally won.

If we had continued fighting with swords, I don’t know what would have happened, but I dragged him into this and won.

"Haa, I lost."

"Still, you were excellent, Kelsas."

"Tch, follow me. To my temporary quarters."

Is it finally time for my wish to be granted?

"Okay."

I followed Kelsas. He brushed the dirt off his clothes and entered a temporary tent.

He took out official documents from a pile of papers.

"A foundation and a Hero Corps, that’s what I want."

"Hmph, I understand."

Two official documents were drafted in an instant. One was the Debauched Hero Foundation, and the other was the Debauched Hero Corps.

Kelsas frowned as he stamped his seal on the official documents.

"What a shitty name."

"Don’t break your promise just because of that, Inspector."

"I won’t, alright?"

Kelsas, who had glared at me for a moment, made sure to stamp all the seals.

And then he declared:

"From today, I permit the establishment of the Debauched Hero Foundation and the Debauched Hero Corps."

"Okay, thank you!"

Kelsas created one more official document, stamped it, and handed it to me.

My hands trembled as I received it.

"Heeee- hoo-woo-woo-woo-woo!"

I cheered with my whole body. From today, I am the leader of the Hero Corps and the representative of the Foundation!

Girls, I did it. I did it!

A magnificent sense of emotion enveloped my entire body.