I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 54

Of course! Here’s the translated text in comedic anime style:

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Of course, there’s practical training in Swordsmanship!

But I had never once sparred with the Crown Prince.

I always had a different partner.

When Helen and I trained together, she sometimes nudged him to join us, but he always laughed it off.

I didn’t know why.

He didn’t seem to be losing his edge.

The movements I’d seen during swordsmanship practice were quite impressive.

In this Martial Arts Tournament, his record was 2 wins and 0 losses.

In other words, if I won, I’d be the one to break his perfect streak.

And it’s well known that men find a thrill in toppling records!

I was one of those men, and I had no intention of losing.

So I wanted to analyze him thoroughly.

But there was a major problem.

I had no clue about his combat power.

As mentioned, I had never faced him even once.

From the duels I watched, he didn’t seem to be going all out either in practice or this Martial Arts Tournament.

Considering that the Crown Prince had been watching my spar with Helen, the gap in our information was massive.

“Blessed by the god Eos!”

The announcement signaling the start of the duel echoed, but I didn’t even take a step.

With little information, I intended to adopt a defensive strategy against the Crown Prince’s attacks.

“Aike.”

Seeing me stand still, the Crown Prince also remained in place and spoke to me.

What was he thinking?

I couldn’t read him at all.

“I didn’t plan it, but I know this situation is fundamentally much more advantageous for me.”

However, he continued, “I have no intention of holding back. Since that day, defeating you has been one of my goals.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward.

The distance between us vanished in an instant.

The first strike he chose was a sharp thrust aimed at my side.

But it was fast enough for me to react.

I twisted my body lightly and used the force to swing Neia.

The Crown Prince’s response was quick as well.

As the thrust missed, he immediately raised his left arm to block my attack with his guard.

And then he promptly tried to counter with his sword.

“Ugh!”

I intended to carry on with our strength contest, but the force he pressed forward with was stronger than I expected.

Realizing this, I quickly retreated.

Neia was a two-handed sword, but the Crown Prince wielded a one-handed sword, which only exposed my openings in the previous stance.

“You’re quick on the draw, as expected.”

Yet it was as if the Crown Prince anticipated my retreat, as he immediately pivoted and swung his sword.

“Ugh.”

Just as I predicted.

The moment I loosened my grip to back off, my balance tipped ever so slightly.

The Crown Prince wasn’t foolish enough to miss such a small opening.

He created an unreasonable binary choice with a single strike by utilizing the difference in our weapons.

His relentless attacks didn’t cease.

He showed no signs of even the slightest opening.

Gradually, shallow wounds began to accumulate on my body.

They were light enough not to feel at the moment, but I knew too well that such wounds wouldn’t lead to anything good in the long run.

… I guess I have to force my way through.

Swish.

An unpleasant sensation spread as the blade dug into my flesh.

Amidst the rising pain, I slammed my shoulder into the Crown Prince’s solar plexus.

“Gah!”

The Crown Prince seemed to have not expected that up to this point, as he let out a pained groan and flew back.

Yet, even then, his judgment was swift.

He immediately drew his arm back to recover his sword.

As a result, my pain also multiplied.

Still, the injury wasn’t severe.

It was just slightly deeper than the wounds I had sustained so far.

“Ha.”

I took a breath and readied myself again.

He’s really strong.

Even though I hadn’t made a single mistake on my part, events unfolded just as they had before.

But I could say for sure.

I could do this.

If my opponent in this Martial Arts Tournament had been Arvain, I would’ve been cornered and never would have seized even a single chance.

The duel I experienced at the Magic Tower was still aiding me now.

“Of course, it won’t be easy.”

The Crown Prince had already trained his sword back on me.

“Here I go.”

This time I was the one to step forward first.

Certainly, giving the initiative to the Crown Prince was not a good idea.

As I got closer, I laid Neia down and swung it wide horizontally.

The Crown Prince immediately leaned back to evade.

Using the momentum from my wide swing, I turned and kicked at his abdomen.

With a “thwack,” I felt a solid hit!

“Ugh?!”

But it was I who lost my balance and fell to the ground.

My right lower leg throbbed painfully.

“How’s that? It was a strategy of giving flesh to take a bone.”

“… Impressive.”

That was an honest remark.

He probably hit my leg as I struck his abdomen with his elbow and knee.

His reaction speed was astonishingly quick—so much that it felt unreal.

But it seemed the Crown Prince wasn’t entirely unscathed, as he was breathing heavily.

Well, after being hit in the gut, it must be quite a painful experience; if he seemed fine, that would be even weirder.

“…”

I took a breath and lightly bounced my right foot off the ground.

Whether there was a fracture in my lower leg, it throbbed painfully with the slightest vibration.

It was at a level I could deem a critical injury.

Still, I had no plans of giving up.

“Ha.”

A sudden chuckle escaped me.

Why was that?

I absolutely didn’t want to lose to the Crown Prince.

Of course, when I sparred with Reina or Helen, I felt okay with losing, but this felt a bit different.

“I like that expression.”

The Crown Prince said as he smiled.

One corner of his mouth lifted, radiating a sense of fighting spirit.

I probably had a similar expression on my face.

I couldn’t see my own face, but I knew that much.

“Ugh!”

I swung my sword.

I redirected my attack to block his.

I stepped out and engaged.

The thought of never giving up.

The determination to win at all costs filled my mind.

My breathing turned ragged.

Before I knew it, I had numerous shallow wounds across my body.

There was no denying the Crown Prince had the advantage.

But that didn’t mean I was going to concede.

It was a disgrace to think I could easily defeat a genius like him.

Didn’t I have to aim for a turnaround even in the unfavorable situation of the Martial Arts Tournament in Heros?

“Too slow!”

If there was a problem, it was definitely the pain in my right leg.

Whenever I tried to time a counterattack, the pain dulled my movements.

On top of that, the Crown Prince relentlessly targeted that side, forcing my strategy.

“Ugh!”

The Crown Prince’s sword grazed my side.

If I had reacted just a moment slower, I would’ve been pierced through.

Damn it!

The Crown Prince seemed to be winded, his breath slightly rougher.

But conversely, that was all there was to it.

The pain in his abdomen from being kicked had seemingly faded, and he had no trouble moving.

If I was going to look for openings, that was unquestionably the right side.

Would there be any chance for me?

The fact that I lacked information hit me hard.

Had I known even a little about his habits, I might’ve been able to seize a clue.

For example, right now, when he stepped forward, his left shoulder was just slightly exposed.

“… Huh?”

I found an opening.

But I couldn’t get too excited.

If I charged in recklessly, I’d end up being targeted in return.

Just like when Arvain had got me at the Magic Tower.

But my time was running low.

The accumulated wounds left me in a slightly dazed state.

I had to make a move, and quickly, but also carefully.

“Let’s wrap this up, Aike.”

The Crown Prince said, pulling back the distance.

Then he stretched his right arm back, readying for the thrust that started the duel.

… This reminded me of the Martial Arts Tournament in Heros.

Well, if I was going to do it, it had to be now.

“Ha.”

I took a deep breath and readied myself.

“Here I come.”

In an instant, the Crown Prince closed the gap.

The moment I needed to target was brief.

It was the moment just before he aimed to stab me.

“Huff!”

Right, now!

The Crown Prince aimed for my right side.

With the pain in my leg, I couldn’t easily block or evade—it was a perfect setup!

But just before colliding with the Crown Prince, I released Neia from my grip.

With my body feeling lighter, I bore through the pain and avoided the thrust.

As quickly as I could, I pulled out Diana and aimed for his left shoulder.

A perfect counter.

I had turned the tables.

I thought to myself.

“… I lost.”

Moments later, a quiet declaration of defeat echoed.

★

“That makes it 1 win and 1 loss for you, Aike.”

The Crown Prince said after the duel ended and then left.

“What a shame.”

Now, here I was, alone in my favorite café sipping on iced chocolate.

My plan had been spot on.

Since the Crown Prince himself had said he hadn’t realized that opening existed.

But there was something I overlooked.

Specifically, I had forgotten that he fought by mixing in magic.

In the end, just before I stabbed him with Diana, my body had stiffened from the magic he had chanted, and I eventually fell.

“I could’ve won.”

“True.”

As I turned my head at the naturally flowed conversation, there sat Reina.

She held a teacup in her right hand.

“Hey, Aike.”

“Hello.”

Reina seemed to be just there to lend an ear, sipping her black tea while gazing out the window.

“You did well.”

Was she trying to comfort me?

In any case, I genuinely wanted to win, and the fact that I lost frustrated me greatly.

I was just masking it.

Reina might have sensed my inner turmoil and stopped by.

“…”

Thinking that way made my previously weighed-down feelings lighten a bit.

We silently gazed out the window together.

Trees and flowers intertwined to create a beautiful landscape.

I may have lost, but this wasn’t so bad after all.

Feeling the tranquil atmosphere, I silently swallowed those words.

Hoping this moment would pass by just a little slower.

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