Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The One Who Bestowed Teachings (1)
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Chapter 32
Chapter 8
The One Who Bestowed Teachings (1)
1
Arieta's group made smooth progress on their journey. Even after leaving the territory of the Western Border Guard, four days passed without any dangerous incidents.
But that didn't mean there were no troubles. Internally, the atmosphere was growing worse by the day.
The cause was Azel and Boer.
Crash!
During their encampment, after finishing their meal, the empty bowls were noisily knocked over. Boer exuded killing intent.
"Don't crawl over here."
"Is it 'crawling' for a fellow traveler like me to suggest we share the dishwashing duties? You have some fresh ideas."
"Such tasks suit lowly scum like you. How dare you demand such filth from someone of noble blood like me."
"Oh dear, how scary. I didn't realize you were a lord and treated you poorly as a mere knight. May I ask where you're the lord who commands the loyalty of so many knights?"
Azel sneered. Enora, standing far away, felt suffocated by Boer's killing intent, but Azel showed no sign of intimidation.
Boer growled.
"The princess looks upon you with favor, and you've grown arrogant! A baseborn mutt with no idea of your origins, daring to speak of knighthood with your filthy mind that knows no honor!"
"I didn't realize knighthood was so grandiose since Emperor Haven of the Nadik Empire. Truth be told, it wasn't that impressive before either. More than anything..."
Azel chuckled right in front of him.
"It's revolting to see a guy with no ability and a trash mind applying 'nobility' to himself, you know."
"What did you say? You have no sense of your place! I've endured in silence for the princess's sake, but I can't hold back anymore!"
Shing!
Boer drew his sword in fury.
Azel looked at him with eyes full of pity. Boer appealed to Arieta.
"Princess! This man has insulted my honor! Please permit a duel!"
"Um..."
Arieta wore a troubled expression.
The circumstances leading to this were simple.
The group prioritized speed, so they couldn't always stay in villages. They had to camp occasionally, and Enora handled meal preparations. Azel casually helped with chores, and Zail, with his military experience, shared the workload.
Arieta couldn't do much due to her position. She didn't mind rough work, but her status generally forbade it. Moreover, Enora firmly blocked her, so Arieta only contributed her share when magical power was needed.
In the midst of this, Boer did nothing.
He didn't help with camping preparations, including gathering firewood or leaves. He didn't assist with meals. He didn't wash dishes. He didn't clean up when leaving.
Considering his background, it was a natural attitude. Born into a noble family, he had risen steadily to become a member of the royal knights. He likely had little experience traveling outside, and underlings would have handled all the tedious tasks anyway.
But understanding his circumstances gave Azel no reason to tolerate his attitude. In the end, Azel had pointed out that he was doing less work than even the princess and suggested sharing the dishwashing. Boer had exploded, as if outraged that anyone would say such a thing to him.
'How much does he hate washing dishes to throw such a tantrum? He's like a portrait of every annoying noble stereotype.'
There were plenty of nobles like that. They insisted that 'menial tasks' were beneath them in any situation, claiming such work tarnished their honor.
The Dragon Emperor War had been such a harsh trial for humanity that such mindsets had faded. But now that the world had become livable again, those filthy natures seemed to spread like a plague.
Azel glanced at Arieta. Without moving his lips, he conveyed his intent via Whispering.
*Permit it, Princess.*
A moment later, Arieta replied via Whispering. Whispering was a technique common not only to Spirit Order but also to Dragon Spirit Arts and magic.
*Hm? But...*
*It's hard for you to order him to wash dishes given your position, right?*
*I would if necessary.*
*Enora would stop you. It's time to put him in his place. I want to, too.*
*Hm. Feels like joining a naughty prank.*
*It bothers you too, Princess.*
*I won't deny it.*
Arieta gave a wry smile.
Though Arieta possessed far nobler blood and status than Boer, her mind was remarkably clear. This was because her educators had free-spirited minds. It was also the influence of growing up instilled with the ideal that 'this power is for protecting the people.'
Arieta spoke.
"Very well. I permit it."
"Princess?"
Enora turned to her in surprise. But Arieta continued with a composed demeanor.
"However, do not forget the mission you have been assigned. I command you to do your utmost not to take each other's lives."
Boer replied.
"Understood. Even a lowly thing without sense values life. I only intended to correct your manners from the start, not take your life."
Azel's eyebrow arched at those words.
'Hoo?'
The arrogant words grated, but separately, it was unexpected. He wasn't the type to treat human lives like fly lives when his pride was involved?
Arieta said.
"The loser shall respect the winner's will. Dragon Princess Arieta Bail Lurein shall be the witness to the duel between Knight Boer Ziled and Knight Azel Zestringer."
Azel and Boer stopped a short distance from the campfire. Azel drew his sword, and they pointed their blades at each other, lightly touching in the middle.
Arieta declared.
"Let the duel begin!"
2
Azel and Boer faced off.
Their stances were in stark contrast. The sword Azel received as Arieta's guard could be wielded with one hand or two. He held it loosely with both hands, pointed downward. At a glance, it looked like he had no intention of fighting.
In comparison, Boer held a longsword in his right hand and a shield in his left—a classic knight's posture. Shield forward, ready to swing his sword at any moment.
Boer taunted.
"Your frame is so frail, I don't know where to strike."
Azel's eyebrow arched.
For reference, Azel's body had noticeably improved in the past few days. Training sporadically during travel had started to shape him. But even so, it was still frail compared to a fully trained muscular knight.
'This guy really knows how to get under people's skin.'
Azel glared at Boer, not considering his own provocations.
Though he lacked muscle, Azel's body was rapidly growing stronger. Due to the dragon's power from the Dragon Slaying Ritual. Visually unchanged, but a human who took a dragon's power became tougher. Like how some are naturally sturdier despite the same build—separate from training, it granted inherent toughness.
'Still, purely in physical ability, he's much superior.'
Azel readily admitted that. Boer was slightly shorter by a finger's width but had a thoroughly trained physique.
Regardless of emotions, Azel's ability to coldly assess opponents was something his mentors—whom he revered—had praised. Observing Boer, he instantly analyzed his full power.
"Unlike you, raised pampered, I can think rationally. So I'll tell you this: you're going to hurt—a lot, mortally so. But I promise no injuries will diminish your strength."
Azel had completed up to the third Life Ring in the past few days. He had been wanting to test his power, so this was perfect.
'Yeah. I knew beating this guy would feel good.'
At Azel's taunt, Boer said.
"Hmph! That's my line. As a knight who knows honor, I yield the first move! Come at me!"
"Oh?"
Azel decided not to refuse. He stepped forward boldly.
Boer was suddenly startled.
'What?'
Azel had simply taken one casual step. Yet that single step erased the five meters between them.
Clang!
"Guh!"
A sword strike landed on the shield, shaking Boer's body.
'What is this impact?'
Strange. It wasn't particularly powerful, but the moment he blocked, the shock pierced through his body, aching to the bone.
Staggering back, Azel took another step. A light step like strolling, yet it closed the perfect distance for a downward strike.
Clang!
Another blow landed, and Boer stumbled back.
Arieta, watching, let out an exclamation.
"Interesting technique."
From the side, it was clear. Azel appeared to take a normal step, but he glided across the ground like on ice, closing the gap.
From the opponent's frontal view, it was nearly impossible to grasp the movement. Timing and distance sense collapsed, preventing proper response.
No sliding sound or traces meant it was a Spirit Order technique. Yet Azel concealed his mana flow so masterfully that no such aura was detectable.
Zail said.
"That sword strike is impressive too."
"Rather than impressive, it's malicious."
"..."
Zail gave a wry smile at Arieta's assessment. He fully agreed.
Azel disrupted Boer's timing and distance sense with loose attacks—perfect for shielding, bait-like. For Boer, it was a chance to block, expose an opening, and counter.
But Azel anticipated this, deploying the Spirit Order technique. The shock penetrated the shield, spreading through Boer's body.
After three repetitions of the pattern, Boer seemed to grasp Azel's trick. On the fourth identical strike, he dodged instead of blocking and countered.
Azel easily deflected it. Boer stumbled several steps forward before regaining balance.
"Ugh, remarkable technique!"
"Your nobility's praise leaves me at a loss."
"I'm honestly impressed. Recognizing an opponent's skill is also a knight's duty! I acknowledge your high-level technique."
Boer glared at Azel, burning with fighting spirit.
He had grasped the intent of Azel's strikes from the first blow. Yet even knowing, he couldn't block the second or third. It was tossed to be blocked easily, but the penetrating shock couldn't be defended.
At Quadra Master level, striking through walls or transmitting impact past thick armor was easy.
Conversely, one could also neutralize such techniques. But Azel's was obvious yet unblockable.