Advance Guard (3)
By now, Ashu had already drilled me plenty on all the knight division commanders.
Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll win a hundred battles without fail.
I've been hearing about and studying the foes I'd face for a long time.
The commander of the 3rd Knight Division, Freji, was infamous as a tax pirate.
On top of tolls, guard fees, beautification taxes, and road maintenance levies, he'd invented all sorts of creative ones—like wheel taxes and horse-head taxes based on the number of horses pulling a carriage.
Western region folk even joked that bribing Freji was cheaper than paying his taxes.
With that kind of notoriety, he'd never become the 1st Knight Division commander of Darania.
Meaning, he'd never be supreme commander.
But he was prime for removal or downfall.
If those malicious, inventive taxes of his worked well in the west, other divisions would start copying them one by one in their territories.
On the flip side, if they flopped or sparked too much backlash, they'd cut Freji loose or punish him.
He was Darania's knight orders' ready-made scapegoat for quelling public discontent and pretending to be clean.
Ashu's words: the advance guard raiding villagers' and merchants' pockets.
In a way, it was just like my situation.
Poking at the dragon here and there—if it proved effective, the follow-up squad would exploit those attacks.
So his whispers made sense to me, but I wondered why he was telling me this.
Still, he was flattering me, so I'd return the favor lightly.
"As long as you're around, the Darania knight orders will never go bankrupt."
"...Well, now."
Huh. I'd meant it lightly, but he looked thrilled.
"You're a hero worth cooperating with."
His mouth had just been smiling before; now his whole face was grinning.
Felt like staring at a rotten hahoe mask.
"Lord Kirgil, do you have time? I'd like to discuss future support and sponsorship in depth."
The royals' backing would be solid, but taking his wouldn't hurt.
Who knew? Might get a shot at shaking up the knight orders from the inside.
"Thanks for the invitation. I have attendants who follow me—mind if they join?"
"Of course. We're your collaborators in the Darania knight orders. No need to be wary."
Playing nice, or maybe he had an excuse to split us up.
Anyway, I was heading to his carriage under Freji's guidance when—
"Where is he?!"
A massive shout boomed from afar.
Freji beside me yelped in fright.
"I heard some punk named Kirgil showed up! Where's that bastard?!"
There, in the distance—a hulking figure calling my name.
Ah, so that guy... no, that monster was Darania's 4th Knight Division commander.
Whether ogre-troll hybrid or just born that way, he towered over two meters.
He wore Darania knight armor, but his arms were bare save for bracelets and gloves—maybe due to his bulk, or taste.
Those bulging muscles might serve as armor instead.
Though I wouldn't rule out enchanted gear.
Anyway, muscles and face aside, he looked human enough.
Red broom-bristle hair, solid build. Manners? Not a shred.
He hadn't been at the secret council.
With behavior like that, probably uninvited—or he just didn't wanna show.
Now he strode toward me gripping a man-sized battle axe.
Weapons sheathed or slung on the back don't alarm folks much.
Drawn and brandished? That's different.
Like wandering with a loaded gun aimed in our world—people scream and scatter.
And sure enough, folks ahead of him shrieked and fled.
Ashu's intel checked out: the knight commander embodying barbarism.
No wonder Inario was the top pick for 1st Division.
Even I'd have no better option.
Word of me leaving the palace must've hit the Darania knights fast.
They were all watching me.
No other way Freji and this brute showed up so perfectly timed.
The giant glanced at Freji, then me, and grinned.
"Found you! Hanging with the piglet, huh."
He stomped straight over.
Freji scurried back as he approached.
"I'm Garrlia, north gate warden."
Wow, zero sense of affiliation or duty for a 4th Knight Division commander.
The northern Artriana Mountains, recently home to a spotted dragon.
That brutal range—dungeons, dragons, swarming monsters—was the capital's demon realm and frontier wilds.
The kingdom started there as an adventurer camp and military outpost to check monster incursions.
Hence the largest adventurer guild sat north.
Powerful beasts invaded from the north constantly, so northern knights were all aggressive, battle-focused.
Put simply: strongest guy gets commander.
Side note: Agnes nearly snagged 4th Division once.
What the hell did that village chief get up to in her youth?
He introduced first, so I would too.
"Kirgil, hero of Prosek."
"Heard you wanna be friends, not subordinates. That true? You that strong?"
"No idea what you're on about, but I said I want cooperation."
"Punk, don't play games. Just stick your neck out and obey. Not hitting the Artriana Mountains?"
"Planning to, once I gather companions—through the north gate."
"You know it. But what if I don't open the gate? Gonna climb over?"
Ah, so even opening the gate counted as "cooperation."
I wasn't royalty like Ashu—no easy pass.
Naturally, curses bubbled up.
"Hah, seriously petty."
"This punk. You picking a fight?"
"No. Just sharing my impression of you."
THUD!!
The man-sized axe blade slammed the ground, cratering it.
"Draw your sword, punk! Hey, Freji! You saw? Heard?"
"Y-yes?! What do you—?"
"Piglet! That guy's challenging me to a duel. Saw it? Or not?"
"...I—"
"You saw!!"
I'd never said that, but denying it? He'd flatten Freji on the spot too.
"Yes!! Yes!! I saw!! A fair duel between you two!!"
Whoa... this barbarian clinging to bare-minimum duel formalities.
Might be the only "law" he knew.
"You asking to kill?"
"Punk scared?"
"Guess we'll need a new 4th Division commander today."
"You mad bastard!!"
BOOM!!!
Magic axe confirmed.
Not just weight—shockwave roar.
I dodged axe and flying debris.
Tried for every shard, but gave up—wastes Happy Moment efficiency.
Secret council drained a third of my mana; had to conserve.
Let a bit graze me on purpose.
Dodged sideways, pulled a bolt from my pouch, hurled at his armor and bare flesh.
"Ha! Punk! Joking?"
I knew. No ninja shuriken skill here.
Just light probing.
Bolt hit muscle and armor—deflected by some force.
Knight commander level: magic gear standard.
Garrlia laid the axe horizontal, swung wide.
Slam to sweep, seamless as one motion. Huge frame, but blinding speed.
Froze time a tick to check blade path.
SHHHIIING!!
Axe grazed my scalp.
Normal guy? Wouldn't block.
WHOOOOM!!
Normal guy? Magic shockwave follows—fatal.
I dove inside to evade, stabbed his chest.
CLANG!!
Thrust deflected.
Like piercing that dungeon core—magic shield.
"Huh! Punk's got moves? Blipping out of sight sometimes!"
Plain magic sword won't cut it.
"Try dodging this!!"
Headbutt? Easier.
Inadia too—Darania knights' basic move?
Leaped back for distance; he raised axe, charged.
Should catch breath, but Garrlia stormed relentlessly.
Couldn't keep getting swept.
I drew sword back, charged.
And chanted inwardly.
"I place a portion of my mana on one scale."
"I pray his magic ward scatters, if only for a moment."
⟨ Killgent's Oath ⟩
Hit Garrlia's side before axe hit dirt.
Swinging Killgent's Oath.
Man's voice echoed in my head.
"This feat proves your worth."
Followed by woman's voice.
"Your worth is proven by your feats."
Blue flash from my blade.
Garrlia's axe slammed ground.
No shockwave this time.
I sheathed briefly, walked past dazed Garrlia casually.
"Fight's over. Call it."
His massive two-handed axe stuck far off.
He stared dumbly at his severed wrists.
Killgent's Oath: inflexible sword.
Two quick slashes pierced magic shield, then wrists.
Sheathed fully. Walked to shivering guards and aides afar.
Mana low now.
Better not fight more today.
Work over.
"Not done!! Punk!!"
I'd sheathed completely. Seeing chance, Garrlia swung severed hand like club, charging.
Ah... yeah. Katona pulled this too.
Big guys overconfident sans weapons against smaller foes.
Honestly...
I'd baited this reaction.
"Three, return."
"Gahk!!"
Bolt flew from behind, stabbed his back.
Confirmed armor ward still down.
Closed in closer.
"Four, return."
Incoming bolt speared his left side.
"Gaaah... guhk! You little..."
Blood spewing from mouth, he raised gushing stump to smash down.
Dodged desperate swing easily.
"One, return."
Final bolt pierced his temple.