Chapter 16 Loop 6＋α
Yo it's been like ages ahahahha did y'all miss me? :>
While I have no way of knowing what exactly happened at that time, I imagine it must have been terribly awkward.
(lilies: I bet, especially since this scary enemy general was killed by a bunch of nobodies lol)
Whether it was out of trust in my ancestors to protect the borders, or to keep as much distance as possible from the scary foreign mercenaries, either way, the King of the time granted my ancestors a title and a fief near the border as a reward. That was the beginning of the current Baltic family.
Since then, the Baltic family has produced many warriors. Or rather, it was customary for children born in the Baltic family to receive special combat training, regardless of gender.
My family probably thought that since they were not very good at managing the territory and the income was little, they should contribute to the country through their military prowess instead. My family is quite short-sighted.
Apparently, both my aunt[1] and grandmother had been trained in swordsmanship since childhood. Despite being a woman, Grandmother became a high-ranking knight in the royal capital. And after leaving behind many legends, she took a soldier she met on the battlefield back to her hometown as a husband, gave birth to three children and personally trained them.
So naturally, I believed that I would be able to practice the sword with my brothers. I thought that I could become a respectable female knight like my grandmother, whom I adored.
However… Neither Father nor Grandmother allowed me to hold the sword.
「Katrea. Sometimes there are things that some people are not cut out for.」
Was what Grandmother said to me when I was bawling my eyes out because my dreams were dashed.
「Indeed, it is an age-old practice for us Baltics to be trained in martial arts. However, the times have changed, and now many talents other than the sword are required. Even if you don't have swordsmanship, you must have many talents. You should devote yourself to developing them.」
「Many talents… What talents do I have?」
「…It is to figure that out that you should devote yourself to learning. Do your best to follow what everyone says.」
(lilies: ahahahah granny only saying pretty words to reduce the damage
caused by Katrea)
Thinking back now, I feel that I was deceived by placating words.
Why was I not allowed to learn the sword?
However, Grandmother passed away two years ago so I can't ask her what she actually meant by those words now.
Anyway, because of that, I became a rare case of a Baltic who has no knowledge of martial arts at all.
However, since I was not particularly forbidden from observing the training, I would pester my brothers every day to let me watch them swing their swords.
I also made sure not to miss a single word of what Father would say to my brothers about how to be prepared for battle.
So, even though I could not fight, I could analyse the strength of my opponents and their fighting habits (although my brothers would get angry when I told them this, telling me not to get carried away). Even in the face of a warrior, I have the courage not to be intimidated by them. In addition, I also have strong legs and physical strength, nurtured in the harsh rural environment.
◇
Right! Left! Left! Up! Right!
One after the other, I dodged the blows dealt at me.
There was no doubt that the assassin who suddenly appeared—the man in the black cloth—was a master swordsman.
His swordsmanship is unpredictable. The skill to aim mercilessly and accurately at vital points. Eve the way he moved his body was inhuman.
It was a completely different style of fighting from the Baltisian style, which focusses on cutting down enemies through sheer guts and power.
If it were normal circumstances, I would have been pierced by the first blow of his sharp attacks.
But this was not the first time I had to bear the attacks by this man's sword.
Since I made up my mind in the fifth loop, I have visited the master bedroom and faced that man multiple times.
I get killed by him, a new loop begins, and he kills me again.
No matter how hard I think about it, I can't figure out who this killer is. I don't even know where to begin to make my deductions.
But I have the power of loops.
Fortunately, it is very easy to meet the killer in person. All I had to do was to go to the master bedroom without making any detours.
Then I observe and memorise the assassin's fighting style, habits and the order of his attacks. If I get killed, I enter a new loop, rinse and repeat.
Through this gruelling process, even a poor fighter like me, was gradually able to avoid the man's attacks.
I didn't care if the number of loops I had was limited. If the loop ends and I die before I uncover the culprit, then that's my loss. But as long as the loop continues, I will challenge the killer as many times as I can.
Whether the loop runs out first or I uncover the culprit first. It's a game of chicken.
「Ah」
While I was deep in thought, I ducked in the wrong direction. With nowhere to escape, the slash came at me head-on.
◇
「Owowow…」
And so, the same pillar and maids appear before once again. I died again and entered a new loop.
I've gotten used to it now that I've come this far. I moved away from the pillar, sat down in front of the dresser, and got the maids to quickly help me get ready.
It hurts and I am scared. I am a maiden, too. I too wish that the pain that burns my chest was only limited to that of bittersweet love. However, I was driven by a strong will not to lose.
Let's see… I think it's about a little more than 10 times since I started my direct confrontation with the assassin. I can't remember how many times exactly, but my senses have definitely been sharpened through the repeated death matches. I can feel the blood of Baltic inside me stirring.
One thing I've learned for sure is that this assassin definitely wants to kill me; he only targets my vital parts with swift attacks. He's not trying to toy with me by giving me shallow wounds here and there.
Even if I avoid every attack from him that I've learnt thus far, he does not change his stance of wanting to finished off his prey with a single blow; and that was a little strange.
However, having grasped this trend, it became much easier to read my opponent's attacks.
As I repeat the man's swordsmanship, his attack patterns, and habits over and over again in my mind, I pushed open the door and enter the master bedroom once more.
And with my life on the line, we dance.
…That description was a little to nice for what's to come.
「Up, up, down!!」
I got a little overzealous and started yelling out the directions to duck in. I could tell the assassin was a bit startled by my actions as his movements became a little shaky. Sorry to surprise you.
Regardless, I thought that if I continued to avoid his attacks, I'd find an opening someday, but no matter how many times we did this, I haven't been able to even get close to him. I just wanted to pull off the black cloth covering his face and reveal his true identity.
Speaking of which, this guy appeared surprised by the sound of my voice. I might as well give it a try.
「Why are you trying to kill me?」
I rolled over backwards to put some distance between me and the man to try and communicate with him.
Thinking back now, I feel that I was deceived by placating words.
Why was I not allowed to learn the sword?
However, Grandmother passed away two years ago so I can't ask her what she actually meant by those words now.
Anyway, because of that, I became a rare case of a Baltic who has no knowledge of martial arts at all.
However, since I was not particularly forbidden from observing the training, I would pester my brothers every day to let me watch them swing their swords.
I also made sure not to miss a single word of what Father would say to my brothers about how to be prepared for battle.
So, even though I could not fight, I could analyse the strength of my opponents and their fighting habits (although my brothers would get angry when I told them this, telling me not to get carried away). Even in the face of a warrior, I have the courage not to be intimidated by them. In addition, I also have strong legs and physical strength, nurtured in the harsh rural environment.
◇
Right! Left! Left! Up! Right!
One after the other, I dodged the blows dealt at me.
There was no doubt that the assassin who suddenly appeared—the man in the black cloth—was a master swordsman.
His swordsmanship is unpredictable. The skill to aim mercilessly and accurately at vital points. Eve the way he moved his body was inhuman.
It was a completely different style of fighting from the Baltisian style, which focusses on cutting down enemies through sheer guts and power.
If it were normal circumstances, I would have been pierced by the first blow of his sharp attacks.
But this was not the first time I had to bear the attacks by this man's sword.
Since I made up my mind in the fifth loop, I have visited the master bedroom and faced that man multiple times.
I get killed by him, a new loop begins, and he kills me again.
No matter how hard I think about it, I can't figure out who this killer is. I don't even know where to begin to make my deductions.
But I have the power of loops.
Fortunately, it is very easy to meet the killer in person. All I had to do was to go to the master bedroom without making any detours.
Then I observe and memorise the assassin's fighting style, habits and the order of his attacks. If I get killed, I enter a new loop, rinse and repeat.
Through this gruelling process, even a poor fighter like me, was gradually able to avoid the man's attacks.
I didn't care if the number of loops I had was limited. If the loop ends and I die before I uncover the culprit, then that's my loss. But as long as the loop continues, I will challenge the killer as many times as I can.
Whether the loop runs out first or I uncover the culprit first. It's a game of chicken.
「Ah」
While I was deep in thought, I ducked in the wrong direction. With nowhere to escape, the slash came at me head-on.
◇
「Owowow…」
And so, the same pillar and maids appear before once again. I died again and entered a new loop.
I've gotten used to it now that I've come this far. I moved away from the pillar, sat down in front of the dresser, and got the maids to quickly help me get ready.
It hurts and I am scared. I am a maiden, too. I too wish that the pain that burns my chest was only limited to that of bittersweet love. However, I was driven by a strong will not to lose.
Let's see… I think it's about a little more than 10 times since I started my direct confrontation with the assassin. I can't remember how many times exactly, but my senses have definitely been sharpened through the repeated death matches. I can feel the blood of Baltic inside me stirring.
One thing I've learned for sure is that this assassin definitely wants to kill me; he only targets my vital parts with swift attacks. He's not trying to toy with me by giving me shallow wounds here and there.
Even if I avoid every attack from him that I've learnt thus far, he does not change his stance of wanting to finished off his prey with a single blow; and that was a little strange.
However, having grasped this trend, it became much easier to read my opponent's attacks.
As I repeat the man's swordsmanship, his attack patterns, and habits over and over again in my mind, I pushed open the door and enter the master bedroom once more.
And with my life on the line, we dance.
…That description was a little to nice for what's to come.
「Up, up, down!!」
I got a little overzealous and started yelling out the directions to duck in. I could tell the assassin was a bit startled by my actions as his movements became a little shaky. Sorry to surprise you.
Regardless, I thought that if I continued to avoid his attacks, I'd find an opening someday, but no matter how many times we did this, I haven't been able to even get close to him. I just wanted to pull off the black cloth covering his face and reveal his true identity.
Speaking of which, this guy appeared surprised by the sound of my voice. I might as well give it a try.
「Why are you trying to kill me?」
I rolled over backwards to put some distance between me and the man to try and communicate with him.
(lilies: yes I checked the dictionary and she did a somersault
lol)
Naturally, I didn't get an answer from him. Rather, the distance between us
was instantly closed again.
「Who sent you—uwah!」
I narrowly dodged the oncoming blade and continued trying to talk to him. However, this strategy of calling out to him and trying to provoke him did not seem to have much effect.
I supposed such petty tricks don't work on a master swordsman. It's a shame his sword is wielded to slay a rascal[2] like me, despite having such great skills. I think he should go and slay a dragon or something instead of being in a place like this.
The man in black paid no regard to my indignation as he continued to unleash his fierce yet ever-so-beautiful swordsmanship at me without reserve.
Not good!
I could see the man's sword aim for my heart. In this moment, it was like the world had gone into slow motion as the tip of his sword inch towards my chest. There's no way to avoid it. And so, a new loop will start.
——But just then.
Was it an act of desperation? Or perhaps it was a revelation from the heavens? Or did my hidden talent fully activate and lead me to the optimal solution?
Before I could think of anything else, I found myself pointing behind the man and shouting at the top of my lungs, as if surprised.
「Ah, Serrie! Why are you here!」
There was no way a proper lady like Serrie would sneak into her brother and sister-in-law's bedroom this late at night. There shouldn't be anyone foolish enough to fall for such a childish lie.
In the seconds before death, even I was regretting this tomfoolery.
However…
The man in black was certainly shaken, as he turned his attention behind him for a moment.
I couldn't care less about the reason it worked. I put all my strength into my legs and pounced forward.
「—!」
The man let out a slight gasp and thrust out his sword at me. But was I someone who would be scared off by him?
Just like that, I reached for the man's face.
Because of his moment of hesitation, the man's sword ripped not into my chest but into my shoulder. A burning pang shot through my shoulder. But still, my hands grab at the face of this blasted assassin.
「I got it!」
The cloth covering the man's face was ripped off to reveal gorgeous locks of blonde hair.
What emerged from beneath the cloth was a handsome beauty.
The knight with the beautiful voice who was laughing happily with my brother.
「Lord… Rhysel?」
I was so surprised that I forgot to run and instead stared blankly at Lord Rhysel.
Lord Rhysel looked down hurriedly to hide his face, but then immediately looked up and glared at me.
「I have nothing against you but… Forgive me!」
I was in a daze when a sudden pain shot through my chest. It all happened in an instant.
I screamed in my mind as I approached death for the umpteenth time (I've forgotten how many times).
How could I forgive you!!
1. Written as "叔母". Not too sure if there is a
distinction in Japanese since the dictionary just say that it. refers to an
aunt younger than one's parent, but in Chinese, it is a term used to refer to
the wife of the younger brother of your father.↩
「Who sent you—uwah!」
I narrowly dodged the oncoming blade and continued trying to talk to him. However, this strategy of calling out to him and trying to provoke him did not seem to have much effect.
I supposed such petty tricks don't work on a master swordsman. It's a shame his sword is wielded to slay a rascal[2] like me, despite having such great skills. I think he should go and slay a dragon or something instead of being in a place like this.
The man in black paid no regard to my indignation as he continued to unleash his fierce yet ever-so-beautiful swordsmanship at me without reserve.
Not good!
I could see the man's sword aim for my heart. In this moment, it was like the world had gone into slow motion as the tip of his sword inch towards my chest. There's no way to avoid it. And so, a new loop will start.
——But just then.
Was it an act of desperation? Or perhaps it was a revelation from the heavens? Or did my hidden talent fully activate and lead me to the optimal solution?
Before I could think of anything else, I found myself pointing behind the man and shouting at the top of my lungs, as if surprised.
「Ah, Serrie! Why are you here!」
There was no way a proper lady like Serrie would sneak into her brother and sister-in-law's bedroom this late at night. There shouldn't be anyone foolish enough to fall for such a childish lie.
In the seconds before death, even I was regretting this tomfoolery.
However…
The man in black was certainly shaken, as he turned his attention behind him for a moment.
I couldn't care less about the reason it worked. I put all my strength into my legs and pounced forward.
「—!」
The man let out a slight gasp and thrust out his sword at me. But was I someone who would be scared off by him?
Just like that, I reached for the man's face.
Because of his moment of hesitation, the man's sword ripped not into my chest but into my shoulder. A burning pang shot through my shoulder. But still, my hands grab at the face of this blasted assassin.
「I got it!」
The cloth covering the man's face was ripped off to reveal gorgeous locks of blonde hair.
What emerged from beneath the cloth was a handsome beauty.
The knight with the beautiful voice who was laughing happily with my brother.
「Lord… Rhysel?」
I was so surprised that I forgot to run and instead stared blankly at Lord Rhysel.
Lord Rhysel looked down hurriedly to hide his face, but then immediately looked up and glared at me.
「I have nothing against you but… Forgive me!」
I was in a daze when a sudden pain shot through my chest. It all happened in an instant.
I screamed in my mind as I approached death for the umpteenth time (I've forgotten how many times).
How could I forgive you!!
2. I think the term "ちくりん" means like short or
small. I think the author used it to describe Katrea as a nobody, hence why
it's a shame↩
Please feedback to me in the comments below if you find any typos or
terrible grammar, etc that you think I should change. Or maybe you think my
interpretation is completely off lol Help me help you have a better reading
experience ahahah what a tongue twister XD
Thank yous!! (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a great day!!
You can support me by sending some love in the comments or through the button below
Thank yous!! (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and have a great day!!
You can support me by sending some love in the comments or through the button below
peace lilies~
Thank u so much for this chap
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