Chapter 8: Roy vs. Hajrudin!
In the heart of Elbaf Village, Hajrudin stood tall and focused.
An iron helmet rested on his head, his forearms wrapped tightly in white bandages, and a long sword gripped firmly in both hands.
He raised the blade in front of him, its gleaming edge pointed directly at his opponent.
His gaze locked on Roy, and following Redding's stern command, Hajrudin readied himself—taking this match very seriously.
Around them, giants paused their work or sat nearby, turning their attention toward the unusual duel between a human and a giant cub.
The sea breeze swept through the village's wide streets.
Whoosh~
Dust and leaves spiraled in the air, scattering as the breeze passed.
When the haze settled, the crowd caught sight of Roy—his long, wine-red hair tied loosely behind him, a braid brushing his shoulder as it fluttered in the wind.
He held his sword casually in one hand, the silver blade angled before him, its surface glinting like ice and reflecting his calm, handsome face.
Even though he was still young, his composure carried an almost regal confidence.
The sea breeze lifted strands of his burgundy hair, and with a light step, Roy charged forward—his hair flaring behind him like a crimson flame.
"So handsome!"
At the corner of the street, a little girl from the Sheep's House came running, stopping in awe at the sight.
"This guy…" Hajrudin muttered, glaring at the approaching Roy. Glancing briefly toward Redding, who was watching with eager eyes, he gritted his teeth and roared, raising his sword high.
"Come on, then!"
Clang!
Their blades collided—the sharp sound of steel clashing echoed through the street. Sparks flew as the two opponents, one massive and one small, exchanged a single powerful strike before leaping apart.
Hajrudin stumbled back two steps, his arms trembling. The force of the impact left his hands numb, and he struggled to steady his grip.
"What insane strength… Are he and Linlin really not related!?" Hajrudin muttered, gritting his teeth. His palms ached from the blow, and his sword arm tingled painfully.
Roy, however, showed no sign of slowing down. As soon as their blades separated, his white shirt rippled with movement. He stepped forward, accelerating in a smooth, practiced motion.
His crimson hair danced across his face as he gripped the sword in reverse and slashed upward.
Clang!
The blade shimmered like a streak of cold moonlight, striking against Hajrudin's hurried guard. Sparks burst in every direction, and the sheer impact sent the young giant tumbling backward.
With a heavy thud, Hajrudin rolled across the dirt, raising a long trail of dust before he came to a stop.
Roy glanced toward Redding in the distance. The giant swordsman said nothing—his silence was permission to continue.
Roy understood.
Whoosh!
Before Hajrudin could even rise, Roy dashed forward again. The blade gleamed silver under the sunlight as he swung with fluid precision.
Hajrudin's eyes widened. His heartbeat quickened. Instinct screamed at him to move—he dove sideways just in time.
Slash!
The blade struck the ground, carving a deep gash through the soil and scattering fragments of rock.
"Come on, fight me properly—as a swordsman," Roy said, his voice calm but sharp.
His red hair whipped across his eyes, and for a brief second, the intensity behind his gaze resembled that of a hawk.
He lunged again, white clothes billowing, the sword flashing through the air like a streak of light.
"So cool!" Gerth gasped from the edge of the crowd, gripping her twin yellow braids with both hands.
Even though Roy still carried the youthful face of a boy, there was a certain charm in his confidence—an effortless magnetism that drew attention.
He had a knack for winning hearts.
"Huh?" Linlin finally caught up, panting as she slowed down, confusion clouding her face.
All she could think about now was food—delicious food. Especially Roy's cooking, and the sweet treats the nuns sometimes made.
Linlin wasn't thinking about anything complicated.
She simply didn't understand why Gerth and the others were reacting so strangely.
Scratching her pink hair in confusion, she looked toward the field—where Roy was currently swinging his sword and thrashing Hajrudin with ease.
What's the big deal?
Linlin tilted her head, puzzled.
To her, chasing Hajrudin or fighting him wasn't special at all. Even the adult giants in the village weren't as strong as she was.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Roy's sword moved like a streak of silver light, each swing ringing through the air. The rhythm of steel against steel echoed across the training field. Hajrudin was driven back again and again, his stance broken, his massive body knocked to the ground by Roy's precise and powerful strikes.
Roy had endured enough of those beatings in the past—his defense made Hajrudin's blows feel like tickles.
Now it was payback time.
This pretentious giant… Fine, even if I have to act cool, I'll enjoy this payback properly.
Today, it was Roy's turn to dominate the match—and he was savoring every moment.
"Stand up, Hajrudin! Like a swordsman—like a man!"
Redding's voice boomed from the distance, echoing through the village.
Hajrudin's limbs trembled as he tried to push himself up. The sound of steel rang out again as his sword, flung from his hands, landed blade-first in the dirt. His shield rolled to the side, clattering uselessly away.
Panting heavily, Hajrudin forced himself upright, wiping the sweat from his face before gripping the hilt again.
All around, the giants watched in stunned silence. Hajrudin had been struck down dozens of times already—each blow sending him flying, tumbling, and crashing into the ground.
Swish, swish, swish~
Roy spun his blade gracefully, the steel flashing as he performed several flawless sword flourishes.
"Stand up like a man," he said quietly, his tone steady but commanding.
"A swordsman never dies on his knees."
"Because kneeling insults the dignity of the sword."
The sea breeze brushed through his wine-red hair as he stood tall, his sharp eyes fixed firmly on Hajrudin.
"Ha… ahhh!"
With a roar, Hajrudin drove his sword out of the ground and charged, swinging upward with all his might.
Clang!
Roy met the strike with one hand, parrying cleanly. Sparks exploded from the impact. Hajrudin growled and pushed harder, veins bulging in his arms—yet the smaller boy didn't budge an inch.
Roy calmly placed his other hand on the hilt, twisted, and lifted slightly—
Clang!
Hajrudin's sword flew from his grasp.
A flash of silver crossed the air.
The cold edge of Roy's blade stopped right at Hajrudin's throat.
"You lose."
With a flick of his wrist, Roy spun the sword once and slid it neatly into its scabbard. His movements were fluid, effortless—almost showy.
"Huff… huff…" Hajrudin exhaled deeply, too exhausted to stand straight. His knees nearly gave out, and he glared at Roy with a mixture of frustration and disbelief.
He was almost certain this bastard had let him off easy—just because he'd already beaten him to satisfaction.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Well done, Roy! Excellent fight!"
From the distance, a tall figure approached—the sunlight gleaming off his waterfall-like white beard as his voice rumbled warmly across the field.
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