The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 38: Killing Intent and Killing Intent

Tiberios-nii-san made a proposal different from what I had expected.

That was sparring with me. In other words, he wanted to fight holding swords, right? I grinned inwardly. Somewhere in my heart, I had been waiting for this development.

While desperately suppressing my loosening mouth with my muscles, I somehow maintained my composure and replied.

“You mean you and I would fight, Tiberios-nii-san?”

“That’s right. You see, I also want to know how strong Luka, who was called a prodigy, has become~ Of course, we won’t use real swords. I’ll hold back too.”

Tiberios-nii-san laughed cheerfully with a smile.

Though he was putting on a front on the surface, he couldn’t hide his hostility toward me. The proof was that his eyes weren’t smiling. He was carefully probing my inner thoughts to the very end.

However, this was convenient. While the opponent was looking down on me, I could do the same thing as Tiberios-nii-san.

—Enemy reconnaissance.

Just as Tiberios-nii-san wanted to measure my abilities through fighting me, I also wanted to measure his abilities, who would likely become my enemy in the future.

Probably, I still couldn’t win with my current strength. That’s precisely why I wanted to establish countermeasures.

After showing a slightly troubled gesture, I answered.

“…I understand. If that’s what you wish, Nii-san, I’ll show you the culmination of everything I’ve learned so far.”

“Ooh! As expected of Luka! Your quick judgment is also that of a genius! Hahaha!”

Tiberios-nii-san cheerfully slapped my back repeatedly. It was interesting since we were both trying to probe each other’s true intentions. Lilith, who had been listening to our conversation from behind, muttered:

[What a disgusting pair of brothers. There’s no sincerity anywhere.]

That was exactly right.

I disliked Tiberios-nii-san, and Tiberios-nii-san didn’t like me either.

His recognition was just that I was better than the weak. In the end, he was also aiming for the position of Salvatore ducal family head.

If he had time to worry about someone like me, I thought he should spend even one second trying to catch up to Norn-nee-san.

At least I intended to surpass Norn-nee-san and the current head, Lucius. I hoped it would be me who would place a sword at their necks.

“Well then, let’s go to the training ground right away! Since I was a student, I don’t need a guide around the academy!”

Declaring this loudly, Tiberios-nii-san started walking. Left behind, I also chased after his back.

Ah… if only I could pierce through that back right now. It would reduce the troublesome enemies and let me feel my own strength.

You say surprise attacks have nothing to do with strength?

There were no weaklings in the Salvatore ducal family who would fall to surprise attacks. Even Kamren and Ilario would notice attacks from behind.

In short, I wanted to fight to the death.

A battle staking everything, something I couldn’t experience against Cornelia Zehabaruto. That was also my desire.

Though I thought it was still too early.

Putting a lid on my seething inner feelings, we headed to the training ground.

☆

After walking for ten minutes.

Having arrived at the training ground, Tiberios-nii-san and I both took stances with wooden swords in hand. The distance between us was just under three meters.

From here, our all-out battle would begin.

“Are you ready, Luka? I’ll hold back, but if you hold back too—you’ll die?”

“Tch!”

I sensed an intense aura.

Tiberios-nii-san, who had appeared to be a handsome young man, released a storm-like aura.

No.

Nii-san was merely clad in aura. The fact that it felt like it was being slammed against me was purely due to Tiberios-nii-san’s skill.

Even just the total amount seemed greater than mine. I unconsciously raised the corners of my mouth and answered.

“No problem. I’ll desperately cling on.”

“Ha! Well said! That’s what makes you a Salvatore!”

The battle had begun. The first attack came from Tiberios-nii-san.

Kicking off the ground while clad in aura, he instantly closed the distance between us.

Befitting a master of heavy swords, Tiberios-nii-san’s attack was a large swing. However, it was far too fast for me to have the leisure to dodge.

I hastily clad myself in aura and received his attack with my own wooden sword. Immediately after, my body was easily blown backward.

“Tch!”

The power exceeded my imagination. Despite saying he’d hold back, he was putting a considerable amount of aura into his wooden sword.

I reduced my momentum while scraping the ground and braced myself to avoid losing my stance. Eventually, the impact completely disappeared.

“Oho. You shouldn’t have been able to stop my strike before, but you’ve grown considerably.”

“What story from how many years ago are you talking about, Nii-san?”

“Right, right. People change dramatically in just one year. All the more so if that increases to two or three years.”

Tiberios-nii-san repositioned his sword once again.

He erased his smile and continued with a serious gaze.

“—But you’re still naive, Luka. If you think you’ve seen my bottom with that one strike.”

His aura amount increased further.

“Just as you’ve grown these past few years, don’t forget that I’ve also grown. This time I’ll hit much harder.”

Without waiting for my response, he kicked off the ground.

This time he had gotten behind me. Too fast.

I hurriedly took a defensive stance, but my instincts sounded an alarm. My body moved due to past experience.

I lowered my waist slightly and leaned my upper body backward as if falling behind. Nii-san’s wooden sword barely passed over my body. The sound of wind was heavy and dull.

“What?”

He probably never thought I would evade. Tiberios-nii-san’s eyebrows dropped slightly. I retreated backward during that time.

“You even ward that off. If you had received it, I could have shattered your wooden sword to pieces.”

“I thought so.”

Somehow, I had felt that my aura amount wouldn’t be sufficient. I needed to refine it more.

Until now, I had never refined aura to Tiberios-nii-san’s level. Since I was constantly increasing the total amount, I could release it, but I had never tried it.

The reason?

That was because there hadn’t been enemies as strong as Tiberios-nii-san. I inevitably never had to go all out, and if I went all out, I would display excessive power.

What I aimed for was overwhelming strength, not overwhelming violence. True supremacy lay in efficiently controlling abilities like a machine with precision according to the enemy.

Even if you beat down a level 1 enemy with level 100 firepower, it’s natural to win. Adjusting that and overwhelming them with about level 5—that’s cool.

Well, coolness aside, I’d never liked heavy swords from long ago.

If they were as transcendent as Norn-nee-san, that would be one thing, but Tiberios-nii-san’s level wasn’t enough.

“I’m happy, Tiberios-nii-san. That you’re getting this serious against me.”

I laughed as if to provoke him. In response, Nii-san pointed his sharp gaze at me and raised his sword.

With aura, even wooden swords could kill people. It was clear he was trying to kill me in the confusion.

But things wouldn’t go according to Nii-san’s plan.

I wonder if he knew anything about my other abilities? Along with refined aura, I gathered magic power in my left hand.