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TL: ALT
Chapter 8 – Cloche’s Resolve
Even within the royal capital’s city walls, there were open spaces, such as parks and training grounds.
Although it was a walled city, it was still very large.
The citizens needed places to relax, and the adventurers, soldiers, and aspiring soldiers needed places to train.
As expected, although Wataru and his companions attracted attention in the large square, almost no one followed them.
Only a few followed along, curious to see what was going on.
There are always people who like a commotion.
The training ground, covered with hard-packed soil, was quite lively.
Some were practicing their swings and forms, while others were sparring.
Since the training methods differed, the locations did too.
When Aire and Cloche entered the practical training area, they started with light warm-ups.
Wataru and Mariel waited at a slight distance.
Getting too close risked getting injured in the aftermath of the fight.
Even before the two began fighting, Wataru was feeling tense.
His hands were cold, and his throat was dry.
If Aire lost, Wataru would have to let her go.
Would Aire choose to live with Wataru if she were freed from slavery?
He believed they had built a trusting relationship, but a voice of doubt whispered that it was only because she was a slave.
Winning would mean gaining Cloche, yet he couldn’t stop thinking about the consequences of losing.
“Hey, Mariel, you know about the Black Wolf Clan, right? Tell me about them.”
“I understand. The Black Wolf Clan is a well-known mercenary group that operates mainly in the Western countries.”
“I’ve heard that before. Is there anything else?”
“There are various types of mercenaries, each with their own strengths and characteristics. The Golden Tiger Clan, to which Aire belongs, is known for its one-on-one combat skills. They sign contracts in small groups and target the enemy commander directly using a tactic known as ‘headhunting.’”
“Well, seeing how Aire fights, I can understand that. It seems like no one could stop her if she fought seriously.”
Mariel’s explanation was easy to understand.
Are nobles knowledgeable about mercenaries, or are mercenaries just so famous that even ordinary people know about them?
At least Aire was famous as an undefeated gladiator, Wataru recalled.
“On the other hand, the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps only contracts as a unit. They fight as one, moving freely across the battlefield like a single entity. They excel as highly trained guerrilla fighters.”
“So their true strength lies in group action, and they’re not that strong individually?”
“Not exactly. No matter how many weak soldiers gather, they’re still just a mob to them. It’s their individual combat prowess that has made them famous in other countries, too. The Black Wolf tribe has unlimited stamina, extremely agile movements, and sharp intuition derived from their keen senses, making them excellent soldiers.
“Maybe I was too hasty…”
He wished he hadn’t asked.
The more he learned about the Black Wolf Clan, the stronger his uneasy feeling grew.
“Aire will definitely do it. I don’t think she would slack off. How can you not trust her as her master?”
“At this point, all we can do is trust Aire… Aire, do your best! Win!”
〇〇〇
Cloche de Brad.
She is the eldest daughter of the Brad family, who have long served as mercenaries in Western countries.
As the “de” in her name suggests, Cloche is not of common birth.
Despite not having a lord to serve, her family earned the honorary title of knight through their heroic deeds in a great war.
Cloche was born to the family head.
From a young age, she was gifted with exceptional talent and was praised as one in a generation. She had a promising future ahead of her.
It was only natural that she became conceited.
It was Aire, someone of the same generation, who knocked Cloche down a peg.
The Golden Tiger Clan and the Black Wolf Clan were enemies on the battlefield, fighting fiercely to take each other’s lives. In peacetime, however, they had a close relationship.
When employed by a wealthy nation, it was not uncommon for one clan to invite the other to fight on the same side.
Although Aire was one year older, she easily defeated the arrogant Cloche.
Initially, Cloche was filled with resentment and hostility, but she came to rejoice at having found a worthy opponent who could fight on her level.
By teaching each other techniques and serving as training partners, Aire and Cloche steadily improved their skills.
They even stood side by side on the battlefield, protecting each other’s backs.
That’s why Cloche was saddened to hear that Aire was leaving suddenly on a journey and why she was happier than anyone else to hear of Aire’s subsequent exploits and undefeated legend.
But it’s absurd to think that she was reduced to slavery!
No matter how you look at it, there’s no way Aire, just an employee, could have fallen into slavery.
The promoter must be responsible for the business failure.
(A warrior who kept winning couldn’t possibly become a slave.)
For some reason, however, Aire was also held partially responsible and fell into slavery.
Cloche was convinced that there must have been a plot.
(That man must be the mastermind behind it all. I can smell the truth!)
The most suspicious person as the mastermind of the plot is Wataru, the current slave owner.
Was he captivated by Aire’s appearance, or was he seeking power?
He must have tried to capture Aire by any means necessary and trapped her.
(How dare he indulge himself in that beautiful body!)
(I will definitely rescue her!)
“I, Mariel, will decide who the winner is. If either side admits defeat or if it becomes too difficult to continue the battle, I will make a decision.”
“Is it appropriate for the judge to be the opponent’s slave?”
“Cloche-san, I am a former noblewoman. Although I have fallen and lost my status, I will conduct a fair trial with pride.”
“Yes, you too…”
(Has she fallen from nobility, too? If so, does that mean the man uses the same tactics? They’re both so beautiful. Maybe he picks them based on their looks and then plots against them… I can’t forgive him!)
Cloche stood just in front of the starting line and lowered her center of gravity slightly.
Then, she glared at her opponent.
“Onee-sama, it’s been a long time. Are you ready? I’ll give it my all.”
“I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Ara, you seem quite calm. Have you forgotten our win-loss record? It’s three to seven so far, but this time, I’m going to win for real.”
“Say that when it’s even.”
“I’m going to win today and crush your confidence.”
Aire smiled smugly. Once she switched gears, however, she transformed into a fearsome warrior who was calm, collected, and cold-hearted.
She couldn’t lose, no matter what.
Cloche devoted her entire being to defeating Aire and saving her life.
Cloche steeled her resolve.
“Then… let’s begin!”
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Can’t wait to read how the duel ended. 😀 Thanks for the treat.
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