Dragon Ball: Saiyan's Gourmet Journey

Chapter 679 Dungeon Sword Tournament, [Sword Maiden] Ais Wallenstein!

If I were to indirectly remind and direct the white-haired boy, what kind of reminders and directions would I give?

Fiora thought about it and started trying it out.

"Take a two-and-a-half-step leap to the right to dodge the sweeping attack (claw attack), then perform a horizontal slash (side slash)~"

The Minotaur was struck in the abdomen by a sword.

"Jump backward, hold the sword in front of you, block the punch, and deflect the force in mid-air."

Bell was sent flying, but he landed perfectly, dissipating the force.

Taking advantage of a weakness in the Minotaur, he charged forward and thrust, delivering a fatal blow.

Sword Maiden thought to herself, she had thought the supporter boy would share her thoughts, but he gave her a different reminder.

"Don't be reckless, continue to weaken your opponent."

Bell stopped in time, intending to charge forward. He did indeed want to rush towards the Minotaur, who had his goal wide open, and pursue him.

Why not seize the opportunity to launch an attack?

The Fiora was a little confused, but she quickly noticed the wounds on the Minotaur's body and suddenly realized what was going on.

[I was demanding of the boy fighting the Minotaur what I could do, without considering that the white-haired boy might not be able to deliver a fatal blow to the Minotaur. If that happened, the boy would likely be severely injured by the Minotaur's counterattack...]

Realizing this, the Sword Maiden looked at the support boy with a strange expression, realizing that he was giving reminders and commands from the boy's perspective and using the boy's abilities.

Of course, there is also a part where the boy himself can freely express himself in the battle.

Ais thought the boy's swordsmanship wasn't particularly sophisticated, but it had a solid feel to it.

With the help of the boy providing guidance and instructions, they can achieve just the right results at crucial moments.

For example, dodging attacks at just the right moment and counterattacking at just the right moment, every movement is clean and efficient, without any hesitation, so as to inflict the greatest damage on the Minotaur while ensuring one's own safety.

This is a master swordsman!

Just as the swordswoman realized her opponent was a master, her werewolf companion Bert's questioning voice came from behind: "Ais, what are you doing standing at the tunnel entrance? Have you dealt with the escaped Minotaur?"

"No, someone is using it as a whetstone."

The swordswoman didn't turn around, calmly answering her companion.

"So they encountered other adventurers. It looks like the battle is almost over."

Bert the werewolf came to the girl's side and, looking at the battle inside the cave, said...

"Yes, it's almost over."

Ais agreed with her companion, while Bell had already rushed towards the Minotaur whose Achilles tendons had been severed. With a sword thrust into the Minotaur's throat, Bell quickly stepped back and jumped a great distance, dodging the Minotaur's dying counterattack. The battle ended with the image of the Minotaur gradually fading away.

"Now that the Minotaur has been dealt with, let's go back."

Bert the werewolf said that the Minotaur was just a monster he could easily destroy. He didn't care who killed it, as long as someone took care of the Minotaur that was running rampant up to the upper level.

"Wait a moment……"

"What's wrong, Ais?"

The werewolf looked at his companion with a puzzled expression.

"They helped solve the Minotaur problem, we should go and thank them."

"Nothing happened, tsk, this is really troublesome."

"Also, I'd like to get to know that person outside."

"Eh?!"

Upon hearing this, the werewolf Bert's eyes widened instantly. He turned to look at the emotionless girl and asked incredulously, "You've become interested in that white-haired brat outside who defeated the Minotaur?"

"It's not him, it's the one over there."

Ais shook her head, raised her hand and pointed to the cave outside, where she was congratulating Bell on defeating Broly, the Lv.2 Minotaur.

"Uh, Ais, a little human supporter boy, you... you actually like this type of girl?"

Bert the werewolf was even more shocked.

“He is a master, especially in swordsmanship. I can tell. I want to have a deeper exchange with him.”

The swordswoman answered in this way.

"what?!"

Bert the werewolf glanced at the boy who was helping him outside, then at the blonde girl beside him, and his expression suddenly became somewhat strange.

Are there any sword masters among the supporters who can inspire their own companions, who hold the title of Sword Princess, to want to get to know and communicate with them?

The werewolf suspected that this was just a pretext from the swordswoman, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that his companion wasn't that type of person.

"Naturally naive" is no excuse!
. . . .

"Bell, congratulations on defeating the Lv.2 Minotaur."

"Ah, not at all, it's all thanks to your excellent command, Brother Broly. If I were alone, I would definitely be dead."

"Don't be modest. Remember how you felt just now. You'll be able to handle it on your own sooner or later."

"Speaking of which, why are there monsters in the upper level that are usually found in the middle level?"

Lily Luca asked, somewhat puzzled.

Could it be that the dungeon sensed my strong desire to challenge a Level 2 monster, and so...?

As Bell thought this, a voice came from behind.

"Sorry, that Minotaur was scared away by us."

"Ah, you are..."

[New target discovered: Ais Wallenstein, currently happiness level 2 (see Hunter's Delight)]

"The Sword Princess of the Loki Familia, the Sword Maiden."

Lily Luca exclaimed.

“There are also ferocious wolves.”

"Uh, Miss Erd, is he a famous person?"

Bell asked in a low voice.

"Any adventurer who has been in Orario for a long time has heard of them. After all, they are one of the two top factions in Orario, and the first-class adventurers in the Loki Familia."

Lily Luca also quietly explained the science to the ignorant boy.

"Thank you for helping to deal with the Minotaur and preventing it from harming other new adventurers."

The Fiora bowed in thanks.

"Ah, a Level 1 adventurer is thanking us. How polite!"

Lily Luca was somewhat taken aback, not expecting that there would be a high-level adventurer among the adventurers who treated lower-level people so politely.

"You're welcome. We just happened to run into each other."

Broly glanced at the exquisitely beautiful girl, who looked like a doll, and responded to her words of thanks.

Just as he was thinking about how to introduce himself without seeming too abrupt, the blonde girl opposite him spoke first, saying, "I am Ais Wallenstein, the swordswoman of the Loki Familia. May I ask who you are?"

"The Hestia Familia, Broly."

Broly responded directly.

"With the Hestia family, Bell Crane."

When the boy heard his older brother introduce himself, he took the initiative to introduce himself as well.

“Lilyluka Erd, I am from the Soma Familia.”

The little girl followed closely behind.

"I just witnessed your command and I think your swordsmanship must be very impressive. I would like to exchange ideas with you, if that's alright?"

Unlike the werewolf Bert, who was surprised that two of the three people in front of him were members of the kin of a god who was at odds with his own god, Ais Wallenstein directly stated her request.

"Oh, did I hear that right, Bell? Does she mean she wants to fight Broly?"

"I think so."

Bell nodded.

"A Level 5 trying to fight a Level 1? Isn't that a bit too much of a rip-off?!"

Lily Luca immediately started yelling.

"Please rest assured, this is merely an exchange of swordsmanship techniques; I will not use any power beyond your capabilities."

Ais Wallenstein quickly responded.

Is she a girl who enjoys combat, or more specifically, swordsmanship?

Broly thought about it and nodded in agreement.

"Okay, I can talk to you."

"Then, please."

The Fiora drew her sword from her waist and said.

"Eh, are we in the dungeon now?"

"Lily Luca asked."

"Yes, if it's inconvenient, we can go somewhere else."

Ais blinked and then added expressionlessly.

"No need, the dungeon is fine here."

Broly put down the supporter's bag, had Bell collect the Minotaur's loot, and then drew his Fire Joy from his waist, standing opposite the swordswoman.

[A Lv.5 player fighting a Lv.1 player – can they really exchange any skills?]

Bert the werewolf had some reservations, but he still acted as referee, standing between the two and raising his hand.

"A swordsmanship exchange battle, now begins!"

As the words fell and the hand fell, neither of them moved.

"What, aren't you going to attack?"

Broly asked, puzzled.

"I only know that your swordsmanship is excellent, but I don't know your ability level. I need to see your speed and strength first before I can control my own speed and strength."

The swordswoman gave a serious answer.

"I see. Then I'll go first."

Broly nodded and took a step forward.

The next moment, he shot forward like an arrow, lowering his body and lunging towards the blonde girl opposite him.

This is a common starting move of the Sword God style, where the user lunges forward and unleashes an extremely fast horizontal sweeping sword strike.

Those who are not handled well may be cut in half.

The Fiora, with her exquisitely handsome features and slightly widened eyes, reacted promptly.

With a crisp clang, her Sword of Despair intercepted Broly's Joy of Fire. Following the first clash of swords was a cacophony of clanging sounds.

"Hey, hey, hey, is this a Level 1 adventurer?"

Bert, the werewolf, stared wide-eyed at the fierce battle raging on the other side. He then turned to the two men beside him with a hostile expression and questioned them, "You two didn't lie about his actual level, did you?"

"No."

"Brother Broly is indeed Lv.1, but he is an extremely skilled adventurer, just like a hero."

"Cut~"

Werewolf Bert initially wanted to accuse the two of lying through their teeth, but considering that his own Sword Maiden was a Level 5, Level 1 adventurer, while the boy's strength and speed were at most Level 3, he let it go.

Anyway, someone of this caliber wouldn't be a match for Ais...

Ais is currently being pressured, probably because she's testing the strength of her opponent and is deliberately defending so that she doesn't have to use more force than her opponent.

[Such a fast sword?!]

However, the swordswoman who faced Broly's attack head-on was not at all like her werewolf companions had imagined, effortlessly testing the waters.

On the contrary, Ais felt that the boy's sword was too fast, not in a physical sense, but in a speed that she, as his opponent, perceived as fast.

This boy, just like the one who directed the white-haired youth, executed swordsmanship with almost no superfluous movements...

Ais knew why the boy's swordsmanship made her feel so fast, but she didn't know how to deal with it well. The attacks from his sword were so tricky that she had to make a lot of unnecessary movements to block and intercept them.

I can't just defend anymore; I have to break his relentless, storm-like attack rhythm!

As Ais thought this, she let out a delicate shout, and the power she used clearly exceeded Lv.3. She deflected Broly's Fire Joy.

The swordswoman girl began to counterattack, gradually turning the initially suppressed and defensive situation into a back-and-forth battle.

In a battle of swordsmanship, two swords, each possessing indestructible properties, clashed and sparked around the two fighters.

Just when Ais thought she was gradually gaining control of the rhythm of this sword exchange battle, her opponent, the boy, suddenly changed his tactics.

The swordsmanship style, which pursues fierce and rapid attacks, has transformed into the water god style, which has a touch of tenderness. The short sword, like a nimble snake, coils around the girl's sword and comes close, aiming directly at her wrist that is gripping the hilt.

"Wow~"

The swordswoman forcefully drew her sword, producing a piercing friction hum, and thanks to her Lv.5 ability value, she avoided being disarmed by the boy.

However, some of the naive swordswoman girls hadn't realized this (that they were using power beyond their opponent's), and simply began to take the boy who was supporting them seriously as an opponent of equal strength.

After creating distance and regrouping, Ais took the initiative to attack Broly, and her Lv.5 ability value directly put the Saiyan, who currently only has a 3S ability value, at a disadvantage.

Just as the werewolf Bert showed a "I knew it" expression, and Ais also thought she was about to win the swordsmanship contest.

"Bell, throw your sword over here."

Broly, however, spoke up.

"Okay, Broly, catch!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the white-haired youth threw his longsword over.

"This is……"

Ais Wallenstein stopped her pursuit and did not stop the boy from catching the longsword thrown by the teenager.

"Using dual swords?!"

Bert the werewolf looked at Broly with a longsword slung over his shoulder and a short sword held upright in front of him, somewhat surprised.

"Hmph, just making a fuss over nothing."

But he quickly snorted, not believing that the boy could defeat his companion even with two swords.

Fiora agrees; it's not that having an extra weapon doubles your combat power.

In fact, unless one has specifically trained with two swords, most people are actually better with a single sword than with two.

However, when the swordswoman rushed forward again, she found that the situation was completely wrong; the boy's swordsmanship had become even more bizarre and unpredictable.

What appears to be a flawed move is, once the attacker has launched their attack, the opponent seizes the opportunity to counterattack.

The seemingly flawless moves made him mistakenly believe that they were a carefully laid trap. However, after the boy withdrew from his attack range, he realized that the boy was bluffing. But it was too late; the boy had already retreated from his attack range, leaving him with no chance to pursue.

Long sword and short sword, one fast and one slow, what appears to be a flaw is actually a trap, and what appears to be a trap may just be a bluff by the opponent who cannot defend against it. But when you think that, the situation may be the opposite.

Ais Wallenstein's fighting rhythm was immediately disrupted by Broly's use of the dual-sword style of fast and slow swords. This move was the signature sword technique of Randolph, one of the Seven Great Powers and an old friend of Broly's in the Six Faces of the World—the Illusion Sword.

Of course, it's a Plus version that Broly learned and modified into his own style.

Ais Wallenstein felt extremely uncomfortable because her opponent's swordsmanship had become full of temptations and traps, with various situations that countered the instincts of a master's attack. Attacking was not an option, nor was not attacking.

[What disgusting swordsmanship...]

After rushing forward to strike with her sword, only to almost have her face slashed by a counterattack, the swordswoman had this feeling.

This feeling was also what Broly felt when he first faced Randolph's Illusion Sword; the Grim Reaper's sword is specifically designed to counter skilled fighters who think too much during battle.

The correct approach is to act recklessly, each doing their own thing, and not be led by the nose.

Unfortunately, Ais didn't realize the correct solution at all. After several strands of her hair were cut off, she chanted her own short spell: "Tempest (Awaken)!"

A magical wind surrounded the swordswoman, enhancing her attack, defense, speed, and granting her the ability to glide short distances.

"Ais, stop!"

After noticing the girl using magic, the werewolf Bert realized that his companion wasn't controlling the water temperature; on the contrary, she had been forced to use her magic to counter the boy's swordsmanship.

However, it is very difficult for a girl who uses this magic to control her sword. If she is unable to stop in time, what is just a sword sparring session may turn into a serious situation that could result in death.

However, as she uttered those words, the swordswoman, swept up by the wind, rushed toward the boy opposite her at an extremely fast speed.

Just as Bert was about to step forward to stop the battle from spiraling out of control, flames erupted from Broly's hand.

No, that's not flame, but the light of fire's joy. The short sword, forged from red mist crystal, only reveals its true form beneath its black surface when it encounters magic or is enveloped by energy.

With a backhand slash, the wind around the girl was shattered. With a swing of the longsword, the charging girl only had time to raise her sword to block before she was sent flying.

"An equipment that absorbs magic like me?"

Bert, the werewolf, exclaimed in surprise.

"It doesn't absorb magic, it shatters magic. That sword was forged from the red mist crystal that Amphispina dropped."

Ais denied her companion's claim.

"You held back at the end?!"

Broly brandished his longsword, uttering the question with certainty.

"I lost. We agreed it was just an exchange of swordsmanship skills, but I used my full strength."

The swordswoman readily admitted defeat. She had already realized what was happening when the werewolf Bert shouted "Stop!" but she couldn't stop her sprint.

"Actually, I don't mind if you go all out."

Broly shrugged. He actually wanted to raise his hand while fighting this new girl he was trying to win over.

Of course, raising his hands wasn't a sign of surrender; it was simply a way of saying to the girl in front of him: You still need to practice your swordsmanship!
Overall, the girl in front of him had higher stats than he did now, but not high enough to overpower him with brute force.

In terms of swordsmanship, Broly could give this girl the level of a saint, that is, one of the top levels among saint-level swordsmen.

"But this is something we agreed on beforehand, and I'm very sorry."

Ais Wallenstein apologized in a very formal and serious manner.

"Bell, did I hear that right? The Sword Maiden of the Loki Familia has surrendered to Broly?"

Lily Luca could hardly believe it.

“Miss Erd, you heard right, Broly won.”

Bell nodded.

"A Lv.1 player beats a Lv.5 player. Do you think that's reasonable?"

Lily Luca only knew that Broly was strong before, but she had never witnessed firsthand just how strong he was. But now she has.

“What others say makes no sense, but what Brother Broly says makes sense.”

Bell, on the other hand, seemed to take it all for granted.

As for why, it's naturally because the Lv.1 player is Broly.

For Bale, a big fan, it's normal for Broly to defeat any kind of opponent.

"Tch, it wasn't a victory, it was just that my partner stopped in time."

Bert the werewolf was furious. Didn't the two kids realize that Ais had backed down?

"Bert, I have lost in swordsmanship."

However, the swordswoman corrected him.

"Ah, Ais, I'm speaking up for you!"

The werewolf looked over.

"I lost, that's it. I'm not going to deny it."

Ais shook her head; she was completely convinced of her defeat this time.

Perhaps if we go all out, we can win in the end.

But if it's a contest of swordsmanship skills, then she was completely defeated.

“Mr. Broly…”

"Ok?"

"May I ask you for guidance on swordsmanship in the future?"

The swordswoman girl asked the question.

"My guidance is not free."

“I understand, and I’m willing to pay the price for it.”

Ais thought it was about tuition fees, but she said it was no problem.

"No matter the cost?"

Broly asked.

"As long as it doesn't require me to do anything immoral or immoral, I'm willing to pay any price."

The expressionless girl nodded very seriously and answered.

“That’s fine, I would very much welcome you to come and learn swordsmanship.”

Answering his wife's request shouldn't be considered a heinous crime, so Broly agreed without hesitation.

"Well then, we've disturbed you. We'll take our leave now. We need to go back to our clan members, otherwise our leader will worry about us."

Ais bowed and then turned to leave.

"No, don't you think it's a bit late to bring this up now?"

Bert the werewolf muttered a complaint and quickly followed, the two soon disappearing at the bend in the five-layered maze tunnel.

"Ais Wallenstein, huh? She seems to be someone who really loves swordsmanship!"

Broly looked at the Crystal Palace panel, where the Sword Maiden's happiness level had risen to 10 after their fight, and muttered to himself.

(End of this chapter)