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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 341: Victory’s Worth Lies in Being Recognized by the Opponent as the Winner.
Chapter 341: Victory’s Worth Lies in Being Recognized by the Opponent as the Winner.
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
“Tia, bottom right, third somewhat larger piece of debris. I’ll hold this side, so please take care of it.”“Understood… There.”
“Great.”
We carefully avoided or disarmed the numerous traps that were set up, moving forward. The configuration, taking full advantage of the underwater environment, was different from what we were used to on the surface, so we had to remain vigilant and watch our surroundings.
“Phew, we made it through… but, aren’t there too many traps? Is this supposed to be a beginner’s training?”
“Even if you say that, how was it before?”
“… …”
As I involuntarily voiced my complaint, Tia responded with a question. This made me dig up the fading memories of the past. In those memories, Ginta and I were exploring ruins together with trepidation…
“No, it wasn’t this challenging. Well, it could be just a coincidence since I haven’t done this specific training before.”
Back then, Ginta and I were both young and not particularly skilled treasure hunters. The ruins accessible to us had already been explored by many people, and any really dangerous traps would have been disarmed. What remained were inconsequential traps that occasionally caught us due to carelessness or oversight. I hadn’t seen such an abundance of traps that were as blatantly designed to deter intruders as this.
“So, maybe they made it tougher because it’s a training exercise?”
“…Possibly. Well, with this, we’ve mostly disarmed the traps in this room. It’s time to search for our objective.”
With the assurance that our safety was guaranteed in this training, it made sense to make it more challenging. Satisfied with my own reasoning, we meticulously moved the debris in the room and began searching for the target artifact.
However, there was still a possibility of remaining traps, and the fake artifact we were looking for was only about the size of the palm of our hand, easily hidden in the gaps between debris. So, we couldn’t afford to let our guard down on multiple levels.
“If only I could use my left hand, it would be more efficient…”
“Shouldn’t you have opted for treatment after all? Even assuming it was a real trap, there was room for that. If the injury had been severe enough to render your arm unusable, I would have turned back to the town without entering the ruins, at least, that’s what I would have done.”
“Haha, I agree, but… well, it’s a matter of pride for a man.”
“Hmm, you’re quite stubborn, aren’t you?”
Tia responded with a sigh, and I expressed my gratitude to her for putting up with me. Nevertheless, it wasn’t just about the training; I couldn’t accept being defeated right at the start. Oh well, no use dwelling on it.
“Tia.”
“Yes.”
Upon my brief warning, Tia quickly hid behind some debris. Naturally, I also concealed myself behind nearby rubble as Ginta’s figure appeared from the depths of the passage.
“Gyo-gyo-gyo. I’m going to attack, gyo. A powerful and scary monster, gyo!”
Ginta sang this silly tune as he passed through the room. During such moments, if he noticed our tracks, Ginta would meticulously start searching the room. However, it seems he was going to let it slide this time.
“…That was close. Alright, Tia, let’s move to the next room.”
“Got it. I don’t want to fail at this point, so let’s be careful.”
While continuing to disarm and bypass traps as needed, we searched for our goal throughout the ruins. It took about three hours.
“I found it!”
In the corner of the ruins, on a sturdy shelf that still had a recognizable shape. There, I found the imitation artifact we were looking for. I couldn’t help but voice my excitement and clenched my fist as I held onto the tiny fragment of success. At that moment, Ginta’s voice echoed from behind.
“Gyo Gyo Gyo. Finally found the artifact, huh? In that case, from here…. Straight ahead and chase them, Gyo!”
“Damn! Tia!”
“Understood!”
Ginta appeared, and we quickly fled in the opposite direction. Since combat was prohibited, sticking together would only make us a larger target.
Ginta started chasing me directly, so I kicked the floor hard, contorting my body to dodge him.
“Just to make it clear, it’s forbidden to go out through the windows, gyo! The training is about escaping through the narrow interior of the ruins to the entrance, gyo!”
“I know!”
Ginta’s movements, while not necessarily sharp, had a certain degree of momentum and, above all, were graceful. Having lived in the water since birth, he took for granted the characteristics of the underwater environment where the constraints of gravity were different and utilized them to his advantage.
However, it wasn’t as easy for me. In moments of quick judgment, I couldn’t help but think of “common ground” from the surface world, and, above all, my body, which lived on land, moved slower in the water than Ginta’s adapted body. Nonetheless, the room was filled with walls, floors, and ceilings, which allowed me to avoid him successfully, but how long would that last…!?
“Oh, what’s wrong, gyo? You’re not giving up, are you, gyo?”
“…”
I stopped suddenly, and Ginta, with a sly smile, asked. However, I didn’t respond and slowly gripped the hilt of the sword hanging at my waist.
“What’s wrong, gyo? Wait a minute. Using a weapon is not allowed, gyo!? If you were to cut me, that would hurt, wouldn’t it, gyo!?”
“Ginta, don’t move from there.”
“No, no, no, no!? What are you talking about, gyo!? This is just training, gyo! It’s not a situation where you should injure me to win, gyo!”
Flustered, Ginta waved his hands dramatically in front of his face and raised his voice. Nevertheless, I didn’t pay any attention and clearly envisioned my next move.
This is underwater. Swinging a sword in the usual way would kill its momentum. What’s needed is not strength but smoothness. Instead of cutting through the water, it’s more like passing through the gaps in the water…
“Eh, eh!? Really, gyo!? I’m sorry, gyo! I didn’t think you would get this angry, gyo! Uh, here, I’ll kneel! I’m going to kneel, gyo!”
“…Bow your head!”
“Gyohii!? I’m sorry, gyo!”
In response to my shout, Ginta immediately performed a perfect bow. So I swung my arm gracefully towards the depths…
“Gishaaaaa!?”
“Gyooh!? Wh-what’s happening, gyo!? What…!?”
Water is different from air. When you swing your arm vigorously on the surface, you’ll only create a breeze. But underwater, if you swing your arm in the same way, the force will be conveyed over a considerable distance. That’s why my blade, designed to cut through water, sliced the approaching fish-shaped monster from behind into two pieces.
A fish-shaped demonic beast with a hammerhead-like form sank while scattering red mist. Witnessing this, Ginta opened his mouth wide in astonishment.
“Wait, when did the demonic beast get here, gyo!?”
“Hey, Ginta, just because it rarely happens doesn’t mean it never does. Maybe we got too absorbed in our training and let our guard down?”
“Yeah, it seems so, gyo…”
Ginta showed a strained smile with his sharp fangs clenching together. There must be various emotions swirling within him, but I just grinned and spoke to him.
“So, what now? Do we start over from here and continue the chase, or…?”
“It’s already decided, gyo!”
Ginta approached me in a hurry, and I continued standing without any concern. Then Ginta took my hand and showed a sly smile.
“Thank you for helping me, gyo! This training was a great success… Ed’s win, gyo!”
“Yeah!”
We shook hands firmly, and I accepted those words. We then walked out of the ruins with our arms around each other. Tia, who had apparently already escaped, stared at us with wide eyes.
“Wait, what? Did Ed get caught? I can’t believe it!”
“Huh? Oh, now that you mention it, is that the case?”
“Gyo-gyo-gyo. Rather, I was caught by Ed, gyo?”
“Ahahaha!”
“Gyo-gyo-gyo-gyo!”
“Huh? Why are you both laughing…?”
Leaving Tia confused, Ginta and I exchanged glances and burst into loud laughter.
