## Chapter 790 – Kingdom Martial Arts Tournament

He looks to be in his late twenties.

His hair is light brown.

His bangs are cut straight across, and the long strands of hair cascading down the sides end in voluminous waves, giving him a very polished look.

“…”

But his eyes are as sharp as those of a beast.

Even in his current, almost expressionless state, a violence that never quite disappears hangs about his face. Would I have thought this if I hadn’t known he was a Swordmaster?

Undoubtedly.

Even his aura is different.

Looking at the face of someone with such an aura, the only professions that come to mind are serial killer or pleasure killer. A killer can only have the face of a killer.

The art of physiognomy is truly fascinating.
Kim Kat’s ability to read faces is top-notch.

And I’ll say this: there is no serial killer more insane than this woman in the world. The Swordmaster is the worst serial killer in history. That has been proven.

ㅡ…

Above all, I don’t usually get this kind of feeling… She’s strong. Fucking strong. Definitely stronger than me. I’m judging that I wouldn’t last long if we fought seriously.

Is this just from her contained energy?
I’m getting a rough estimate.

A ridiculously powerful strong person.
An opponent I can’t beat.

ㅡThump, thump.

I can feel my heart pounding.

The desire for battle, which had burned fiercely throughout the tournament before fading into emptiness, begins to blaze again as I stand before a strong opponent. If I fought someone like this with the determination to kill, wouldn’t I be able to see my shortcomings?

The thought crosses my mind, and my hands begin to tremble. Yes, I do want to fight a warrior this strong at least once.

Of course, that won’t happen.
It would be a surefire way to die.

It’s just a fantasyㅡ

“Is the assessment over?”
“…!”

The time it took to subtly analyze her while standing at attention was about four seconds.

The Swordmaster said that as soon as she walked towards me.

Oh, shit!
I got caught so quickly!

“…I didn’t mean to look at you with such intentions. I was merely doing so to focus, so please have mercy.”
“It’s fine. It’s not rude. It’s actually a good habit.”

She said something unexpectedly human as she stood in front of me.
I’m taller than her.

She’s about the same height as Claudia.

“There is nothing more important than trying to gauge your opponent’s skill. Of course, gauging it accurately is the most important thing. You need to know the difference in skill to survive. Isn’t swordsmanship about acknowledging the gap?”

With that, the Swordmaster extended her hand to me, as if to shake hands. Is she bestowing the honor of shaking hands with the victor?

I bowed my head in respect and slowly took her hand.

ㅡSqueeze.

A powerful energy is transmitted.
My hand is bigger, but her grip strength is no joke.

“I enjoyed your energetic victory speech.”

She slowly shook my hand as she spoke.

“And your roar after the victory was also excellent. Yes, I like it. A warrior should have such spirit. I don’t dislike warriors with loud voices.”
“Thank you for the compliment, the greatest Swordmaster in the world, respected by all warriors!”
“Too long. Can you make it shorter?”
“Understood!”

She doesn’t seem to like adding flowery language or flattering. She certainly has the attitude of a martial artist.

Anyway, I finished the handshake and let go.

“Hmm…”

Standing in front of me, she stroked her chin and slowly looked me up and down, rolling her eyes.

“Indeed. It’s really amazing to see it like this.”

What’s so amazing?
She continued.

“A Mirkesha nomad winning the martial arts tournament. It’s a truly amazing thing. This is the first time this has happened.”
“…”

What the fuck is this bitch suddenly saying this in front of a Mirkesha winner?

Does she hate nomads?

In fact, Karin is from the Royal Knights, the group this woman leads.

Karin was an inhumanly strong person from those days.

Nevertheless, she was subjected to all sorts of disregard and promotion omissions because she was a mixed-blood nomad, and eventually packed her bags and left on her own. In the end, it’s a group that reveres martial arts, but they care `a lot` about background.

If that’s the case, there must be a reason why they care about background… Maybe this woman’s tendencies are reflected in the formation of such a trend. The organizational culture of any group is determined by the leader’s tendencies.

Is this bitch unhappy that I’m a barbarian?

“Ah, of course. It’s not that I dislike nomads or anything.”

She explained as if adding something.

“It was quite a while ago, but I even fought a war with them.”
“…?”

What?

What does it mean to say that she doesn’t hate them and then immediately say that she fought a war with them? Is she a crazy killer who talks a little strangely?

Maybe she just looks young, but she’s actually very old and her mind is a little erratic.

“They’re opponents I can’t hate.”

She folded her arms and continued with a satisfied smile.

“It was a boringly long war, but it was so much fun. How could it not be good to share blood and swords with brave warriors every day? Unlike now, when I’ve become dull, I was very devoted to life back then.”

The Swordmaster began to explain with the bizarre atmosphere unique to completely insane madmen, as if the events of the past were as vivid and tangible as yesterday’s events.

“I killed so many.”
“…”
“The situation on the border was terrible back then.”

Oh, fuck, this is really scary for a barbarian to hear.

“The Mirkesha nomads were all brave warriors, and as such, they plundered whatever they needed and slaughtered the kingdom’s people as if they were catching and killing bugs. It was a real headache. They were worse than monsters.”

I quietly listened to her words.

“In that situation, King Karga at the time directly ordered me to wage war. It was a very good order. It drastically reduced the power of the nomads.”

The war between the Karga Kingdom and the Mirkesha nomads… I’ll have to find out when it happened separately. Just listening to the story, the nomads at the time must have been so terrible that monsters couldn’t compare.

“Knowing that the nomads would never be able to recover, I fought them harder than ever before. Isn’t it going to be the first and last war? I should do that. I really miss those days.”

Having said that, she looked straight into my eyes.

“So.”
“…”
“Seeing their descendant standing proudly in front of me like this after so much time has passed makes me feel strange.”

Seeing this woman standing in front of me like this makes me feel like she’s crazy.

“So I think I’ve been talking a little too long. Anyway, I was very pleased with the amazing martial prowess you showed, and my eyes and ears were very happy. I sincerely congratulate you on winning overwhelmingly in the most honorable position.”

Still, she’s congratulating me like this.

“Thank you, Swordmaster!!”

I expressed my restrained gratitude in a loud voice.

“Even your voice is as brave as theirs back then. Is that strength and bravery thanks to your background after all?”
“The souls of my ancestors may be contained in my flowing blood and pulsating heart, but I would say that the strength I have gained is due to the inhuman experiences I have accumulated, rather than my background.”
“Inhuman experiences? You use interesting vocabulary. Ah, but I may have upset you by talking about killing your ancestors just now. I apologize.”

They’re just assholes who have nothing to do with me, so it doesn’t matter much.

After all, just listening to the story, it’s just a story of plundering people being massacred by kingdom soldiers. Judging roughly, it’s a very old story, and there’s no need to worry about it at all.

“I am not them from the past, so there is nothing to be upset about. In the first place, our tribes are not that friendly with each other, are they? There are more fights and killings. Rather, I was interested to hear the stories of the past.”
“Ahahaha, how magnanimous.”

She smiled as she laughed at my answer.

“Your skill was as amazing as your magnanimity. To be honest, I’ve been admiring you since earlier. I was sure Harun would win.”

So she was thinking that after all.

“He was a strong warrior.”
“But the Paladin was stronger. It’s an amazing and shocking thing. As that brat already told you, I personally mentored him.”
“Yes?”

The Swordmaster personally mentored him?

That bastard was pretty strong, but he wasn’t that transcendent, was he?

“What would I be if you made such a surprised expression? I personally mentored that brat whenever I had time. Of course, I didn’t spend that much time… But to play with him so easily.”
“…”

I closed my mouth, unable to say anything.

“His talent was also at a genius level, but is it a matter of practical experience after all? No. Even so, there shouldn’t be that much difference in age itself.”

She looked over my whole body as she spoke.

“Well, anyway, I can’t use that Harun brat anymore. I don’t think he’ll catch my eye anymore. Even though I raised him as a half-hobby, he lost even though he was mentored by me. It stings a little. He’s definitely a genius, but it’s a strange thing.”

The Swordmaster was a great chatterbox.

“Is it difficult for talents to shine because the times are peaceful after all? If it weren’t for the Paladin, I would have specially hired him into the Royal Knights. It’s a shame.”
“It’s a great honor for me just to hear you say that, Swordmaster.”
“Ahahaha, yes. I guess so.”

With that, she moved back a little and picked up a silver victory trophy about 1m in size and handed it to me. But rather than a trophy, it was closer to a pillar.

The warriors fighting were very intricately embossed on the silver pillar. I hugged it in my arms.

“But it’s a shame that I didn’t see your real skills after all.”
“…Real skills, you say?”
“Isn’t that right? It seemed like the difference in skill was too great, so you couldn’t fight properly.”
“You flatter me. I also gave it my all when I fought Harun for the last time.”

Humility here.

“Hmm, if you say so, then that’s probably it. Still… I’d like to have a chance to see your real skills properly someday.”
“If you just say the word, I’ll be happy to.”

Did I catch the Swordmaster’s eye? But somehow it doesn’t seem very good. It’s too obvious that this person is a psycho.

“Ah. But who did the Paladin learn swordsmanship from?”

I thought it was about to end, but she brought up such a thing.

“The completeness of his swordsmanship was surprisingly high. Considering his age, it’s more likely that he was given the basic framework by some excellent swordsman rather than learning it on his own. And he gained skills by fighting in real battles with that. Is that right?”
“…”

Karin taught me how to use a sword.

Should I say that?
I thought about it for a moment.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I put too much pressure on you. The Paladin won the tournament. Let’s honor it. Then let’s stop here.”

ㅡTap tap.

Finally, the Swordmaster tapped me on the shoulder, turned around, and approached the princess. With that, her entourage flocked to her, and they immediately left somewhere.

“Then now, the winner!!!!!!!!!! We will award the prize to Paladin Kim Kat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

As if waiting, the host jumped up and down and shouted.

ㅡCreak.

Then, the arena door on the other side opened, and several members of the honor guard wearing inhuman hats and uniforms began to pull a luxurious cart.

There’s a lot of stuff on top.

“…Am I getting all of that?”
“Yes!!!! Ah! But don’t worry!! The staff will deliver it to the place you want!!”
“That’s a relief.”

ㅡHoo.

I took a breath.

The Swordmaster… is a very scary woman.
Knowing this can be said to be a great gain.

“I won.”

Kim Kat wins.

It’s an extremely refreshing day.

In a good mood, I immediately did some simple stretching, then windmilled and flew towards the cart.