After My House Burned Down, My Life Became Meaningless, so I Bought a Dark Elf S*ave With the Little Money I Had Left - Chapter 33

Chapter 33 ― Even I Have My Troubles

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“Now that I think of it, I haven’t even mentioned my title. I am Vallen— the previous Sword Saint… Vallen Myers.”

――Sword Saint.

I don’t really understand what that title means.
That’s because I’m extremely ignorant when it comes to martial affairs.
Now that I think of it, I believe I’ve heard a name like Sword Saint Gurugoo before…
I wonder if there’s any connection?

No, well, anyway.
Even if I don’t know the full story, what one can gather from the title “Sword Saint” is that he must be someone of great renown.
Even with the “former” prefix.

This explains the secret behind Cecil’s strength.
If one had such an individual as an ancestor and received his guidance, even at that young age—which hardly seems different from Ati’s—one could become strong.

“Are you ready, young man?”

Vallen’s steps are slow.
Yet his overwhelming presence throws one’s senses into disarray.
It’s as if the actual flow of time is felt as slower—a situation not unlike that of a revolving lantern.

However, that is merely an illusion.
In reality, time flows normally.
Vallen’s movements are as slow as they appear.

“…What’s the matter? You’re welcome to use my chest if you like.”

“Even if you say so, if I attack immediately, I’m afraid I’ll end up being countered.”

“That is certainly true. If you come at me right away, the fight might already be decided. But even if you try to retreat, I won’t let that chance slip away.”

It seems that neither advancing nor retreating will do.
The disparity in our abilities is evident even without exchanging a single blow.
Hmmm…
I’m in a real bind.
Right now, I want nothing more than to drop this wooden spear and admit, “I yield.”
However, knowing this is Vallen’s goodwill, I cannot accept that option.

“If you won’t come, then I’ll come to you.”

With that one statement, Vallen vanished.
He disappeared from right before my eyes, leaving no trace.

(――Coming.)

I couldn’t tell where he was aiming.
It was clearly quicker than the surprise attack of Cecil—so much so that her strike would seem like child’s play.

Despite not being a surprise attack, such speed…
If it had been Cecil in Vallen’s place at that time, I would have either been hit or taken down without even realizing it.

But this is not a surprise attack.
No matter where it comes from, it is an attack I anticipated.
Therefore, I can take measures beyond just watching.

Because I knew it was coming, I can feel the shifting air currents—as people move—on my skin.
In other words, I’ve got a pretty good idea…
The tip of the blade will likely come from my left flank.

――And then.

There was a solid, thud as wood struck wood.
My prediction was correct.
I managed to parry Vallen’s wooden sword.
The crowd around us let out an “Oh!”

“Hoho, you’ve blocked quite nicely. But I don’t think you can actually see it, do you?”

“I couldn’t see it, as you might have inferred.”

“Hmm. Then… your aura?”

Vallen pinpointed the method I used for my estimation in one go.
At first glance, his insight appears remarkable, but…

“…You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

I said with a wry smile.
Besides his imposing aura, Vallen is likely intentionally giving off a presence.
He adjusts his moves so that if you can’t avoid it by sight, you can react to his aura—either by blocking or evading.
And on top of that, he comes to confirm his prediction.
Perhaps he just enjoys this sort of back-and-forth.

“Indeed. That’s exactly right.”

Vallen appears to be enjoying himself.
He’s taking pleasure in holding back.
Since he’s overwhelmingly stronger than Cecil even now, he can only laugh.

Probably this jolly old man, if he were to fight seriously, could even eliminate all trace of his presence.
And beyond that, he would surely be able to deliver an even heavier and swifter strike…

※※※※

I only lasted a few minutes.
I was battered, lying on my back on the deck.
The onlookers all said, “What a spectacle,” and quickly departed—leaving only Vallen and me here.

“How’s that? Is your head cooled?”

Maybe it’s because I was beaten to a pulp and exhausted, but my thoughts are strangely lucid.
In hindsight, my head was indeed cooled.
I nod slightly.

“Do you think your troubles will soon be resolved?”

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

Perhaps because I cleared my head, I reached a decision about what I should do.

(…I must apologize to Ati for last night.)

There was no sign that she was disgusted, and I thought I had been gentle enough when we got intimate. But there’s no denying that I initially forced her to agree. I ought to apologize.

“Then that’s fine. …But, you know, worrying is human nature. Even I continue to worry and falter.”

Vallen said something unexpected.

With all his strength and that nonchalant air, he seemed like someone without any doubts. But apparently, that’s not the case.

“Worrying and doubting are important. The time I was called the Sword Saint was the result of constant worry, doubt, and struggle. Whatever you do, that’s what matters most. …There are those who shout, ‘Cut through your doubts!’ but it’s nothing more than empty talk.”

It seems Vallen has his own philosophy on life. The depth and weight in his words is probably because this jolly old man was once called the Sword Saint.

“I see… But I’m curious, what is it that troubles someone so strong?”

“If you ask me now… it’s about having run away.”

“Run away?”

From what, exactly? I was left puzzled.

Then Vallen hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

“…Soon, a war will break out on the Northeastern Continent. The empire is about to start a unification war. I fled from the empire. To keep my precious granddaughter safe from the impending flames of battle, I chose to escape across the continent.”

I widened my eyes.

—War.

I had indeed sensed an omen. But I never expected to hear about it here.

“Being the former Sword Saint, I have access to information. And after scrutinizing what’s come in, the recent state of the empire is beyond understanding. …I’ve even heard that, in preparation for war, they are creating enhanced soldiers, using dreadful forbidden techniques, and secretly conducting experiments combining labyrinth monsters with humans.”

The story was so outlandish, I could hardly believe it at first. However, coming from someone with Vallen’s credentials, the credibility increases. Moreover, the idea of combining labyrinth monsters with humans struck a familiar chord.

A female bee-like monster—the boss of the Mansion of Outsiders.

Her appearance, like a blend of monster and human, along with her human-like mannerisms, is still fresh in my memory.

“…I heard from Cecil about a monster that looked almost human—one you fought, perhaps of imperial origin. After managing to escape somehow, it must have turned into something akin to a bandit. There’s also the possibility that a humanoid monster from within the labyrinth ventured out to operate in secret. I’m not entirely ignorant of the labyrinth, but such cases are exceedingly rare. In any event, those monsters are generally vicious, far from being of modest strength.”

From Vallen’s perspective, the fact that Cecil and I could somewhat hold our own in battle makes us seem only moderately challenging.

Well, if Vallen had fought that thing, I have a feeling he would have split it in two in the blink of an eye.

Anyway, the Northeastern Continent has truly become suspicious. My decision to leave early seems to have been the right one.

“…Anyway, because I got wind of these behind-the-scenes details in advance, I chose to abandon friends, acquaintances, and my cherished homeland to protect my precious granddaughter from a war whose outcome is uncertain. It was a decision I agonized over at length. And yet, even now, having boarded this ship and being unable to turn back, I continue to be tormented by indecision.”

Vallen’s sigh echoed. It seems he is still troubled by his own decision. Yet, strangely, contrary to the gravity of the subject, Vallen did not exude any sense of despair.

Perhaps that expression, which bordered on enlightenment, stems from what he just said—that worrying and doubting are paramount. He views worry and doubt in a positive light. He must always be in pursuit of the best.

Seeing Vallen like that, I decided to take a page from his book. Then—strangely enough—I began to feel that sinking into self-loathing and worry wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

If I had chosen not to worry, and instead casually justified it by saying, “Ati is my slave, so I can do as I please. What’s wrong with that?”—that would surely not be the case now.

I wouldn’t have even reached a point where Vallen proposed a fight, nor would I have considered the option of apologizing.

This is the result I achieved precisely because I decided to cool my head by worrying…

The sky is blue.
It’s endlessly blue.
Seabirds soar through the air, calling out.