The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 18

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(I never imagined it would be like this.)

Esmeralda was inwardly astonished.
Azel stood before her, holding a practice sword but barely assuming a proper stance. The way he gripped the blade and let it dangle loosely seemed utterly defenseless.
Yet Esmeralda couldn’t bring herself to attack.
An overwhelming presence loomed before her, like an impenetrable wall blocking her path.

“Swords, you know…”

Azel began, approaching Esmeralda with disarming ease. His steps were casual, almost like a stroll, but still, Esmeralda couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
He appeared utterly vulnerable, yet every movement seemed like a carefully laid trap.

“It’s not just about swinging with brute force.”

A slow, deliberate sword strike.
Esmeralda didn’t block; she evaded.
Though Esmeralda possessed a sadistic streak, her defensive fighting style made her acutely aware of which attacks could be safely parried and which must be avoided at all costs.
This time, her instincts screamed, “Never, ever block that.”

“Huh.”

Azel marveled, delivering a series of slow, deliberate strikes against Esmeralda.

“You… you’re getting cocky!”

Esmeralda retreated slightly, creating some distance to prepare her attack.
She aimed for a thrust. While the opening afterward would be significant, the speed of the initial strike, the difficulty in judging the distance, and the sheer power behind it made it a formidable technique.
Then—

“Alright, it’s no fun if I’m the only one attacking. Come at me. You can even use magic if you want—I won’t.”

(Then I won’t hold back.)

Despite her excessive pride, Esmeralda wasn’t one to act tyrannically toward others. Having sensed something indefinable about Azel, she didn’t take offense at his rude tone. She acknowledged his strength and decided to use magic as well.
However—

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–

Esmeralda enveloped the tip of her sword with invisible magical energy, forming a barrier that she extended outward. At the same time, she quietly and precisely erected another barrier beneath her feet, just behind her heels.
Silently, and precisely.
It was a frighteningly precise manipulation of magical power.
Ordinary barriers could only be deployed around the user, but those of Duke Sarion’s House could detach them and manipulate them freely.
This was simple yet terrifying.
If an opponent remained completely still, they could even create a solid barrier inside their body, leading to their death.

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Esmeralda leaped forward without a word.
The barrier beneath her feet served as an acceleration platform.
Her beautiful silver hair streamed in the wind as she closed the distance to Azel with the grace of a white lightning bolt.
Maintaining her momentum, she unleashed a thrust—
Only for it to halt mid-air.
Esmeralda hadn’t stopped it.
Azel had extended the tip of his sword, meeting Esmeralda’s blade head-on.

“What?”

“Emi’s thrusts are fast, precise, and merciless. But that kind of straightforwardness makes them easy to read. Even extending your range with a barrier won’t help against a counter like this.”

Stunned by the unexpected turn of events, Esmeralda froze momentarily.

“Alright, my turn. Brace yourself—it might hurt if you let your guard down.”

With that, Azel swung his sword horizontally with the same deceptively relaxed motion as before.
This distance…
Esmeralda reluctantly blocked the strike with her sword.
But.
The impact felt like being struck by a massive hammer—a force that shattered her blunted metal sword and still sent her flying.

“Whoa. Did I overdo it?”

Esmeralda barely registered Azel’s voice, too stunned to take offense.
Blown backward, she tumbled across the ground, covered in dirt.
She lay motionless, unable to rise.

“U-um… Azel-kun wins…?”

Serena, who had been forgotten until now, announced the outcome.
Esmeralda had lost.

・
・

“C’mon, don’t be mad. You were trying to catch me off guard, too, weren’t you?”

Azel helped Esmeralda up, trying to soothe her sulking mood.

“Lord Azel said I could use magic. Besides, I’m not Emi.”

Esmeralda pursed her lips, barely maintaining a neutral expression.
But deep inside, her heart was filled with a thick, muddy resentment.
If she let her guard down, that resentment might spill out, leading her to lash out unfairly.

“Aren’t we friends after crossing swords? Emi’s fine.”

“Who said we’re friends?! But fine. Since Lord Azel won, I’ll allow you to call me Emi. Still, what was that? How can sword strikes at that speed generate such force? It’s absurd!”

“Absurd? It makes perfect sense. Uh… well, it’s about relaxation and tension. You only need to put power into the strike at the moment of impact.”

“That’s a rather haphazard explanation… No, wait…”

Azel relied on instinct, making it difficult for him to articulate his technique.
Esmeralda seemed to have sensed something.
“Perhaps the House of Orléans would understand… Not that I’m making excuses, but my true nature is that of a magician, so I’m not well-versed in swordsmanship.”

The House of Orléans was another of the Twelve Ducal Houses.
Their heads had traditionally been called Sword Saints, and true to their title, they wielded swords with unparalleled skill.
However, they were not a family of magicians.
Their extraordinary techniques were often mistaken for magic, leading to frequent misunderstandings.

“You’re totally making excuses…”

“Huh? I’m just explaining. Anyway, fine. I admit defeat. Lord Azel, please team up with Lord Hein. I’ll hold a grudge against you for this!”

As Azel and Serena watched Esmeralda’s retreating figure, they found themselves alone in the training ground.

“Azel-kun, since when did you become so close to Lady Esmeralda?”

Serena asked with a puzzled look. Azel just grinned.

“We’ve known each other since… our past lives?”