Surviving as a Trash Bard in a Game

I held a slightly heavy longsword and roughly took a stance.

I had never formally learned swordsmanship, but I had quickly grasped the concept of fighting from the platinum adventurer Nisha… so I knew how to fight for now.

The usual opening in a battle between a mage and a swordsman.

Yeah. Let’s think of it like chess.

Even if it were Skyler with infinite mana and the heart of a god… the opponent cannot use magic and has a clear ‘pre-delay’ of moving mana after taking out a scroll.

I might be able to win.

If it’s a draw, there’s a possibility.

I learned everything from Nisha. It wasn’t much since it was only a week, but I definitely learned how to fight against mages and warriors. Especially against spearmen, I definitely got the hang of it.

You might suddenly ask why a spearman, but in such a limited space, the tactics a mage can use are limited.

If there were no space restrictions, the mage’s combat power would increase exponentially, and the swordsman would be at a disadvantage. But at this distance… if I avoid a few attacks, I’ll get a chance to attack.

‘The attack magic inscribed on the scroll is non-lethal, but if I get hit even once, I’ll be incapacitated.’

There’s a possibility that Skyler might go easy on me, but the probability is low. That kid, despite how he looks, has a dog-like personality of always keeping his word.

Opening.

A frequently used tactic.

The mage’s first move.

Skyler moves his hand. I immediately dashed straight in. A scroll popped out from his bosom, and mana instantly shined.

“[ Ball ]”

It sparkles.

The activation timing.

3 seconds.

2 seconds.

1 second.

Now.

I hold the training longsword like a spear. From the beginning, I have no intention of defeating Skyler as a ‘swordsman’. What’s most important to me is ‘surviving’.

The tactic for survival starts with using all terrain, environment, and objects.

The blade of the training sword is not sharp. Rather, it’s blunt. Thanks to that, it’s weak enough… that I can grab it with my hand.

Because of that, I can confidently grab the blade with just a thin leather glove and hold it like a spear.

At this moment, I became a spearman.

And, Skyler’s first checking attack comes.

I learned from Nisha.

—A mage first shoots a checking shot at a distant warrior. Usually a mana sphere.

It was accurate.

The probability of my clumsy habit and narcolepsy activating is low. It’s morning now.

I can definitely block it.

Ting.

A clear and refreshing metallic sound.

The tip of the training sword and a bowling ball-sized mana sphere shining with a blue light collide with each other.

And, the mana shatters.

“[ Rejecting Plant ]”

I tried to move my feet as they were.

But, I didn’t move.

‘…Restraint!’

I looked at my feet. Green plant stems… vines were holding my feet and ankles.

If it were a normal binding scroll, I would be immobilized, incapacitated, defeated. But this was a duel. It meant it was a non-lethal spell.

A weakened duel scroll could only bind my shoes.

I wanted to avoid getting my feet injured, but winning now was important.

‘I want to land a hit on that kid somehow.’

…Honestly, Skyler was annoying.

Yeah. Let’s just hit him once. Me too.

I took off my shoes.

The rough soil was mixed with pebbles. My feet got scratched, and it seems like blood is flowing. Something hot is escaping through my feet.

But, it’s okay.

I move forward one step at a time without stopping.

Skyler tried to back away with a flustered expression.

The next scroll comes.

Even while flustered, his hands skillfully prepare the next move. The skill of a seasoned adventurer. As expected, Skyler is not an easy opponent.

However, if I get the upper hand just once, it’s my victory.

What Skyler is preparing next is likely a defense scroll. A protective shield? A barrier? Or he might try to bind me again.

I don’t know the type of scroll, and Skyler has already used two. It was a decent choice to just take the magic until he used up the remaining eight.

If I were aiming for a draw, that is.

But, I was aiming for victory.

Without any time to use another scroll, I immediately move my hand in the slowed-down time. Holding the sword like a spear, in a stabbing stance. I thrust it in as it is.

It will hurt a little even if it’s a blunt sword tip. Skyler.

This annoying brat.

“…[ Flash ]!”

I made a mistake. Skyler chose to attack rather than bind my feet or defend. An attack that is infinitely close to evasion.

I couldn’t see. I must have missed the aim, or Skyler must have twisted his body to evade.

My vision slowly recovered… No, I don’t have time to wait.

‘Move.’

I consciously divert a small amount of mana to my eyes. A week… During that time, I was directly hit by a platinum adventurer, so I was able to use mana, albeit at a basic level.

The pink light in my eyes became stronger.

But, what I’m aiming for is not charm but something else.

The options appeared.

–

1. [ Right ]

2. [ Left ]

3. [ Center ]

-…Status window.

I called it that, but it never helped when I needed it, so why now?

No, let’s just win for now.

Thinking comes later.

–

1. [ Right ]

–

Skyler is left-handed.

It wasn’t something I found out on purpose, but when you travel together, you notice these small things.

What I find out, I use.

That’s how you survive.

The probability is high for the center or the left.

“My eyes hurt!”

“…You recover a bit fast for someone who’s in pain.”

“I won’t give up until I land a hit on you!”

Skyler frowns and prepares the next scroll.

Did the provocation work?

No, he’s a cautious character.

Even if he’s left-handed, he’ll activate the scroll after seeing the direction of my body. So, what’s my choice?

‘A feint for now.’

I shift my center of gravity to the left from Skyler’s perspective. And, when Skyler touches the scroll to prepare the magic.

Immediately? No, not yet. I wait until just before it activates.

Dodging comes after that.

The surrounding time seemed to flow slowly. No, it’s actually flowing slowly. I don’t know the reason, but it works.

My body was still moving slowly, so it wasn’t like I made time slow down. It’s either my dynamic visual acuity exceeded my expectations, or my brain is spinning that fast.

I don’t know.

Anyway, let’s think later.

Skyler’s magic activates.

The name of the scroll is?

“[ Ball ]”

Ball.

When the duel first started, he shot a blue mana sphere. The same magic twice?

A blue mana sphere aims at me and flies. To be precise, it’s to the left from Skyler’s perspective.

I immediately put my right foot on the ground and lifted my left foot.

And, I slide as is.

My thighs and feet were scratched by stones and rough soil. I got scrapes.

…I chose ‘thin skin’.

Why did I remember that now? I’m going crazy.

Anyway, attack.

Holding the longsword, this… I’m late—

“[ Rejecting Plant ]”

Skyler activated the scroll.

Vines grew and grabbed my sword.

I can’t hit Skyler with the training longsword. A normal swordsman would lose to a mage when their sword is taken.

But, I wasn’t a normal swordsman. I was a bard. A damn bard who would do anything to survive.

And, you’re not a normal mage either. You can’t see mana, and you don’t have a heart with mana. You’re just a scroll-user who only uses scrolls.

So… inevitably, there’s a pre-delay.

You used two scrolls in a row, so you have no hands left?

It was clearly Skyler’s mistake not to bind me with vines but to bind my weapon. He probably did it out of consideration that I might get hurt.

But, you’re soft.

Because of that consideration, I win.

This damn brat!

‘Well, it does feel like he went easy on me. He only used two types of scrolls.’

It’s a bit irritating, but the fact that I won doesn’t change.

I’ll tease him about this all day.

Yep.

My fist touched Skyler’s stomach.

And, nothing happened.

I clenched my fist again with all my might and hit his stomach with my other hand.

Yep.

Nothing happened.

Surprisingly, there was no effect.

“Selina, you win by decision. Awarding the silver tag.”

“…Huh.”

“Congratulations.”

“Ah, no, no, wait a minute. No.”

I had no strength in my hands. My arms were also limp.

My legs and feet were all scratched up and a mess.

…Incapacitated.

I was just being stubborn.

In the end, the plan to land a hit on Skyler failed, and I couldn’t even tease him like this.

The receptionist at the guild used a healing scroll on me.

The scratches and blood quickly disappeared.

But, my mood didn’t recover.

“Why did you push yourself so hard…”

“I won.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I won.”

“Yes.”

…It doesn’t feel like I won at all.

I’m the only one who got hurt, and that bastard didn’t even flinch at my punch.

—Come to think of it, it feels like Nisha taught me how to beat Skyler for over a week, not how to beat a mage. He acted exactly as she told me. Could they be in cahoots…?

The guild evaluation ended.

I felt gloomy, and the guild was full of gloomy old men.

Receiving a new tag that read, silver tag, Selina, I, like those gloomy old men, sobbed in a corner of the adventurer’s guild, while also sipping alcohol.

I took out my precious instrument from my bosom.

I borrowed the courage from the alcohol.

I poured a whole glass of beer into my empty stomach.

Since I had a low tolerance, the alcohol was cost-effective. I get tipsy before my intelligence even goes up.

Tipsy.

I climbed onto the table.

—♬