Are you ready, Master Julia?
Yes, sir. That's fine. The rules are in effect, right?
Hmm. We're all set up with a referee. Let's go as fast as we can.


　They were going to have a match, so we came to a place called the training ground outside. I heard that the ogre people are practicing here. And when we looked around, we saw a circle of onlookers. They were all looking at us happily. It's true that this is what passes for warrior spirit.

"Chief, please don't lose to the humans!
Good luck, chief!
Humans need to struggle.


　Such a wildfire flew in, and then the mouth of the ogre who was the judge announced the start of the game.


''Then let's begin!


　A moment later, I heard a heavy kick on the ground with a thump. Right in front of me. Edgar's sharp blade was aimed at me. From his stance, he might be trying to do a kesa-slash from his shoulder. Yes, when I calmly analyzed it, I backstepped and ducked the attack for now.

　A fairly fast attack with a high degree of skill. It's probably one of the best demons I've encountered in the twilight. But I can keep up with them. My eyes were definitely catching the opponent's movements, and my brain was able to firmly predict the next attack from those movements.

　The past year. Without this skill, I would be dead. Knowing what's going on, and what to do next, is what this simple thinking is all about. That simple thought was the most important thing in this twilight. An inch away was death. Those who can do it will live and those who can't will die.

　And I am still alive. I've been alive for a year in the twilight, where humanity's survival is considered impossible. But I am no longer conceited. No, I won't be arrogant in the future. I am a dwarf compared to this twilight. There are many stronger people in the world. And I will be stronger from now on to bring the world back to a brighter light for humanity.



That's tremendous technology. Now, here's the other one...


　I pull out a knife from inside the raggedy homemade coat I'm wearing.


'You got a knife?　Are you sure?　The reach differential is overwhelming, though?
Don't worry about it. Come on in.
Huh....


　With a grin, Edgar-san smiles and approaches again. However, unlike before, he unleashes a sword strike at the very edge of the sword's reach. This person will take any opponent seriously. Just knowing that, I understood that he's a really good person. At the same time, I can't afford to cut corners either. I'm going to give everything I've got......................and I'm going to repay him in the form of a victory.


Wha........?


　The voice was Edgar-san's.

　Yes, I was catching Edgar-san's sword. However, from a physical point of view, the knife was not within reach. As usual, I activated the Invisible Blade and extended its blade to the same length as Edgar-san's sword. Probably, it's possible to extend it further than this, but I don't have that skill yet. So I have no choice but to fight with this.


'An invisible ... sword. Oh, what a monster. I've never seen a spell like that before but it's fascinating. And the inertial control is also very impressive the Twilight Man is very interesting. It's really interesting.

　Edgar-san dropped backwards and grinned wryly again with a grin. At the present moment, I didn't let his slight carelessness go unnoticed and immediately used inertial control to launch my next attack without pause. Nevertheless, Edgar-san not only grasped the length of my sword blade immediately, but also predicted my next attack based on the return of my wrist and my entire body's movement. The continuous attacks by inertial control only cut the sky in vain.


''........Strong.''
It's the same for you now let's enjoy ourselves.


　Then 30 minutes. The duration of that sword fight seemed like an eternity. All of our hands were exposed to each other. Edgar-san was confronting me with his sword skills alone, without using magic in particular. I, on the other hand, was in a completely even battle, even though I was using magic to strengthen my body and the Invisible Blade, the Invisible Blade.


　And as if my concentration was broken, my knife flies in the air. As expected, the physical specs of the demon race are superior to those of humans. The difference was not in skill, but in pure physical strength. But........this was also within the calculation. The moment you let your guard down is to think inwardly that you've won. I've savored it badly. And I could see the slightest hint of color in Edgar-san's calm eyes. That was the color of being sure of victory and letting my guard down.


''Whoa!!!!


　With the last of his strength, Edgar-san swings his sword. There's no way to prevent it from happening to me now that I'm defenseless. But there was no need to prevent it. I just need to hit the attack before he does.

　In the next moment, the referee calls for victory.


"We have a winner, Lord Yulia.


　A small amount of blood was flowing from Mr. Edgar's neck. And his sword was still in the process of being swung. Yes, my certain attack hit him first, and the judges decided that it could be a fatal wound. As a matter of fact, I could have killed him with my current attack.......but I'm sure Edgar-san knows that.


''Lord Yulia,''
Yes, sir.
'I admire it. Twilight people are special I'm tempted to say that, but that's what you've built up more than anyone else in this harsh world of twilight, alone. Let's honestly admire and respect you.
Thank you very much.


　I felt like I was going to cry a little bit. I had never been praised like this before. Genuinely acknowledging the power of the other person. And then he would ask for a handshake and bow to such a child. It's no ordinary personality.


'But you didn't mean it, Mr. Edgar, did you?
'It's the same for you. No, if you were serious about it, my head would have been flying off first. I didn't think about that earlier technique at all. Oh no, the world is a big place. So, fun.....
Thanks for your help.


　A grand banquet was held that night. All the Ogre people were friendly and very good to me. It must have been a great thing to have fought the chief and won. Then, after a night's sleep, the next morning. I was already ready to leave.


　The new clothes I received. I had my raggedy coat repaired in one night to the point where it was almost new. I also received a map, compass, books, food and water, and some armor. I also got some armor. I was given 20 knives, which are apparently just disposable knives. I tucked them away in my coat and bowed my head.


Thank you very much, everyone.
Juliar, come back to me!
That's a tough one, Julia!　See you later!
Julia, you were awesome!
Ha, ha, hi.


　Everyone calls out to each of us. Finally, Mr. Edgar comes forward to shake my hand.


'Yulia-dono. I'm sure we can return to the Boundary City. If you're good enough. You will be able to cross this continent in a year again.
''........Thank you. From everything.....really.....
'Good. I will show courtesy to a human being but that is only for good people, but you were a person. You've lived for a long time in this world of twilight, and even though you knew the despair, you never stopped walking forward and arrived here. There's no way you can do that for nothing. It's not just a matter of time before you're in a fight with the dusk people. My heart was racing.
"...also here. I had a great time.
"There are too many strings attached to our side to cooperate fully with humanity. But I am confident that Lord Julia will be able to carve out a little light for us. This may sound like a cliché, but I wish you the best of luck.
Yes.


　I was crying. And this time I couldn't stop it.

　It had been hard so far. No matter how strong I got, there were more days when I felt like my heart would break. Tomorrow would be the day I would die.　If you fall asleep, you won't be able to get up again.　I was bound by these fears, but I went on, and on, and on, and onward. I didn't give up, for one day I would return to the Boundary City, to my hometown. Then I met all of the ogres and I knew that there were times when I would be rewarded. I'm sure this is just good luck. I know that, but I couldn't help but cry.

　Then I rubbed the tears away with my right arm and looked forward with a bang and said, "Thank you for your help.


Thank you for your help!　I will return to the World City of Wonders!　I will never forget this favor!


　I didn't look back anymore.