Chapter 264 – 26. Only the Strong Survive (4)
Northern loyalty is originally like that.
The knights of the frozen land are hard to win, and they are a tribe that never betrays the person they trusted once. Isn’t it true just by looking at the fact that he has the skills to be treated wherever he goes and serves for the barren, frozen land?
‘Are you saying I’m going to declare defeat on purpose?’
Fabian laughed, saying that he was a really troublesome person. Watching the bewildered spectators and the bewildered courtiers added to the fun. He took his handkerchief out of his uniform pocket and turned around, wiping the bloody blade away.
‘If Lord Dupuy is willing to follow me.’
‘I’m sorry, Baron, but I think I need more explanation.’
‘Looking at the duel between the two men in front, I can see what Dongbu is aiming for. They’re not just trying to win a dueling trial. Whether I win or lose, I’m trying to find a cause that will help me in my future steps.’
At first, I thought he was a young and unlucky writer, but the more I looked at him, the more he was genuine. The baron, whom I thought was only a pawn of the central high family. There was no sense of privilege, perhaps because he was discriminated against as a born-in-law and an illegitimate child.
‘Isn’t it very reprehensible that knights are taking care of other scheming right before the match?’
‘Surely…’
‘As you already know, that Chester is no match for Sir Dupuy. Still, seeing that he maintained such a resolute attitude, he must have been prepared for death. Let’s fight for a moment, but if you don’t show any sign of surrender, declare defeat.’
Fabian returned to the northern camp, tucking his polished armed sword into the scabbard of his waistband. As promised in advance, the opponent showed firm determination and offered to fight until death. Even though I clearly feel the gap between them.
‘In short, you are saying that they are inducing us to kill. For the purpose of instilling in the public the perception that the knights of the north are cruel, and at the same time highlighting their heroic self and presenting them as if they had some justification.’
‘Very accurate.’
‘I guess I need to show that the level is different.’
I don’t know what context Rom or Fabien or they made to adopt such a strategy. In an era overflowing with swordsmen blinded by materialistic desires and committing all kinds of evil, they just thought that a knight who devoted his life to his loyalty was worthy of respect.
‘All right. After winning the game, I declare defeat so that anyone can see that it is a landslide victory.’
‘Well, it must be well worth it.’
‘It must feel like I’m stepping down because I don’t want to take the life of the other person in the spirit of chivalry, keuk keuk…’
This is a duel, not a war. Moreover, the opponent is not a tyrannical or greedy villain, but a strong-willed and courageous figure. Wouldn’t it be clumsy to just kill a gemstone that still has room for further growth?
‘But then, am I giving up on the trial completely?’
‘It can’t be. I hope Madame LeBlanc is waiting for us with such a pitiful appearance.’
‘Because of Guillaume and Hugo’s defeat, we must have fewer players left.’
No matter how determined Dongbu was, there was no way they could send back a knight who was so injured that he could not stand properly. In the same vein, even if Mathieu Peltier deliberately declares defeat after overpowering an opponent from Chester onwards, Rome must handle the enemy’s captain and vice-captain alone.
‘This operation must involve two or more people. If you do it alone, there is plenty of room for it to be misinterpreted as the nobility or coincidence of Lord Dupuy. However, if Sir Peltier, who follows, shows the same chivalrous spirit, people will praise the character of the northern tundra.’
And here’s the key.
‘Unfortunately, I’m a man from a central high school. Although nominally Romuald Ardennes, Baron of the Winterlands, his roots are still considered to be the Dior family. So, unlike you, if I kill the remaining two, there will be no fear of criticism.’
‘There’s no disagreement, but you haven’t forgotten where the people who have appeared so far belong.’
‘You mean the Somerset Swordsman’s Guild.’
‘I could feel the quick sword that I had only heard about from the swords of the enemies that Guillaume and Hugo were fighting. In other words, their leader is the famous Kenneth Somerset. He is one of the strongest on the continent, equal in strength to the baron.’
Why don’t you know?
‘Well, I don’t think I’m going to lose.’
‘Um, well…’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the later.’
The ties between Romuald Ardennes and the Somerset Swordsman Guild are surprisingly deep. The only ones who knew that fact were Oliver the sword and himself, but that’s the case. It was difficult to imagine that even Fabian, who did not know the inside story between the two, would lose the hero who led the great offensive in Limousin.
“You worked hard, Sir Dupuy.”
“It was as the baron said. The expressions of the people sitting in the eastern camp were so good to see.”
“It was no less than a court bag.”
The two men, who smiled at each other with a short talk, raised their hands and met as if they had made a promise. Nogisa, who had been watching from a place one step away from him with a happy expression, finally took his step, rejoicing that it was her turn.
“My back has been sore lately, but it’s okay. Shall I relax my body properly after a long time?”
“Welcome, Sir Peltier.”
“Leave it to me.”
As expected, the East declared Chester’s withdrawal from the 5th term. The naturally established sixth line was Mathieu Peltier versus Oscar Somerset.
“This old man is still useful.”
And Nogisa made the opponent a mess in just seven moves and declared defeat.
It was an Eastern humiliation.
* * *
Knight Commander Kenneth’s plan went awry. It wasn’t just a level that didn’t hit, but it was used in reverse by the opponent. Rather than taking care of the cause of the East, it became like promoting how holy the Knights of the North were.
“Game.”
“Yes, Kenneth.”
“Tell the referee that you are giving up participating in the 8th line.”
Nogisa, who was scattering her phantom sword, severely injured Oscar’s limbs with it. Even after winning the victory of the 6th line, he pretended to be contemplating whether to kill him or not, and even showed off his performance of admitting defeat. In this way, he clearly imprinted on tens of thousands of spectators and many more spectators.
What is the loyalty of the north and the honor of the frozen land?
From the East side’s point of view, it was as if a fire had fallen on his feet. Unable to move, Oscar, like Chester, withdrew from the 7th line, leaving the 8th line to face Romuald Ardenne and Gail Somerset.
“Do you want to go out yourself?”
“I will.”
It was a time when special measures were needed.
“There will be Oliver Somerset in the crowd.”
“Does not matter. Protecting Kena comes first.”
“So is he. If you do, I will follow.”
Gail Somerset’s intention to abstain, who will soon start a duel in the 8th line, was delivered to the courtier standing on the podium. The purpose was to show that they, like their opponents, were great men who knew how to give up and balance the advantage so that the Eastern knights would no longer be ridiculed.
Even that was just an afterthought, so the effect wouldn’t be great.
‘Anyway, I can’t just watch.’
The giant moved. Clad in plate armor that glistened in the sunlight, he marched forward with a long sword and a dagger in both hands. As if her witch’s worried eyes were treading on her heart, she quietly left a word.
“Even if I die, there is no time for you.”
“… Kenneth.”
“Please watch.”
It was the ninth line that everyone had been waiting for. The Court Baek, who raised his voice, introduced the slow-moving quicksword of the east. She displayed her skill as if to heighten the excitement amidst the majestic drumming and trumpet playing.
“People of Gaul, are you all watching!”
“Ohhh!”
“Then can you hear the cry of the soul in this formidable battle!”
“Wow!”
“The duel trial seen as the 8th withdrawal of the eastern side entered the final decision! Accordingly, the main building introduces the two players! First of all, the great warrior of bravery! A fast sword that has a reputation as the strongest of the Britannia Somerset swordsmen’s guild! Those who have been involved in this karma must have heard the name!”
A bigger business than Hugo stood tall in the bloody arena. I didn’t blink an eye despite the cheers around me and waited for someone to come up against me.
“Kenneth Somerset!”
So it was time for the players from the northern side to participate.
“That opponent!”
A man with a straight face and impressive scars appeared. With a well-trained body and overflowing spirit, a man who could tell at a glance that he was a strong man stepped forward.
“The one who conquered the Continental Swordsmanship Tournament held in Lumiere! The one who single-handedly fought against the mad king of Aragorn and won! The protagonist of the Great Offensive of Limousin! Gaul’s current generation war hero! The knight who conquered the riots in the eastern Fontainebleau!”
Amid the drums and trumpets that sound louder than ever.
“The one who stopped the invasion of the western Grande Mande! Repulse of Nasr Sultan! Regardless of land or sea, the name of incomparable is not a waste! We have put an end to the rebellion of the Marquis of Lemoang in the northern east, and we have made peace with the Camag tribe who were raging in the far north!”
Carrying the love of the courtier who cries out that his throat will be torn, on his back.
“The Seongwoong who defeated the 50,000 army led by Ruth beyond the limit of the Far North! A strong man that even the great general of the empire, spearman Viktor Chernikov could not overcome! Gaul’s supreme loyalist! A descendant of a central noble family and a Holy Ghost who concurrently holds the title of Count of Dijon! A close friend of this courtier, Vincent Renoir, and a genius whom the heavens can look down upon!”
I went into a fight to save my woman.
“His Majesty Alphonse de Gallia’s sword, beyond the continent, will never be found again! The one who has no opponent under the sky! He goes to war and does not back down! A higher level cannot exist!”
I felt ashamed because I was a little shy.
‘Crazy courtier, please stop because you’re embarrassing…’
Little by little.
“As! Radish! Egg! De! Ah! Le! Den!”
No, actually a lot.
