505
Chapter 505
"Using martial arts in an honorable knight's duel!"
"How utterly cowardly!"
Amidst the knights' uproar, Zeke turned to Aslan and asked.
"Is it not allowed to use fists or feet in Solma's duels?"
Aslan shook his head with a pathetic expression.
"That's nonsense. It's not like you'd just offer your neck and die quietly if you lose your sword on the battlefield."
It was the result of being trapped by the notion of chivalry and focusing too much on formality.
'Thebea hasn't been exposed to battlefield situations for a long time. Their knights must not have had many opportunities for real combat.'
Knights who didn't know real combat couldn't demonstrate their true abilities on the actual battlefield.
In his previous life, the knights of the Central Continent easily fell to the Imperial Army ultimately due to their lack of real combat experience.
To prepare for future wars, their empty formalities needed to be broken.
Just then, Aslan who was watching the duel widened his eyes in surprise.
"Oh, that's...?"
Turning his head at that reaction, he saw Jonathan taking the stance of the Five Light Sword technique.
Seeing this, Zeke realized that Jonathan had acknowledged Jeffrik's skills to some extent.
As Jonathan's atmosphere changed, Jeffrik also corrected his posture and displayed the Five Light Sword stance.
Jonathan and Jeffrik stared at each other while holding their swords, entering a battle of pressure.
KUGUGUGU!
Invisible formless energy clashed fiercely between the two.
Even the Solma knights who had been jeering until now were watching in silence, tensed.
The two Solmas who were battling with pressure suddenly lunged forward simultaneously.
KWADEUDEUDUK!
Jonathan swung his sword upward from below, while Jeffrik swung downward from above, clashing in the middle.
The sword movements were so fast that only flashes of light could be seen, the swords themselves barely visible.
KWANG! KWANG! KWANG!
Although the sword strikes were fast enough to be called swift swordsmanship, the collision sounds were no less powerful than heavy swords.
However, while Jonathan was faster, Jeffrik seemed to have more power behind his strikes.
As sword lights illuminated their surroundings in an instant exchange of blades, the Solma knights watching from behind gaped.
"H-how?"
"He's not backing down from the Young Lord's strikes?"
"I-impossible!"
The knights who had personally experienced Jonathan Solma's swordplay couldn't believe that Jeffrik was matching him evenly.
No, it even seemed like Jonathan was being pushed back by the powerful strikes.
KUUNG!
Jonathan put strength into his back foot and blocked Jeffrik's sword strike.
Fighting with swordplay alone without aura seemed to greatly favor Jeffrik with his higher physical strength.
Then Jeffrik spoke to Jonathan.
"Brother, show me the true Five Light Sword technique."
Jonathan's eyebrows twitched at Jeffrik's words.
The Five Light Sword technique, a swift sword technique, shows its true value when using aura.
Previously, he would have roared at such a statement from Jeffrik, but seeing his growth now gave him different expectations.
'Has Jeffrik truly changed from before?'
He was a brother who had always been intimidated and unable to properly display his innate talents since childhood.
Such a weak and timid personality couldn't withstand the strictness of the Solma family.
That's why both Jonathan and the head of the family tried to push Jeffrik to break through his limits.
But Jeffrik ultimately couldn't overcome it and fled, tarnishing the family's honor.
Though he had returned showing a different side now, Jonathan hesitated to show his expectations, partly fearing another disappointment from his brother.
That's when Zeke shouted from behind.
"Young Lord! Don't worry and test him yourself!"
The voice of the Knight of Salvation carried trust in Jeffrik.
Jonathan raised his head and looked at Jeffrik.
UUUUNG!
Aura energy surged from his body.
At the same time, Jeffrik also raised his aura.
KUGUGUGUGU!
The aura from their swords rippled and clashed fiercely.
PAJIJIJIK!
Aura waves scattered in all directions.
Simultaneously, Jonathan first deflected Jeffrik's sword to the side and changed his sword's direction.
HWIIIIIK!
Once they started using aura, the movements became much more natural than before.
It was a quick movement that showed no hint of Hercian's heaviness.
Jonathan's sword flashed with light.
PACHING!
The sword strike instantly pierced toward Jeffrik.
KWACHING!
Jeffrik also raised his sword to block Jonathan's strike.
The true form of the Five Light Sword technique, a swift sword art, unfolded in the hands of the two Solmas.
CHARARARAK!
The swords became invisible, only flashes of light sparking in the air.
The exchanges were so fast that ordinary people couldn't even follow with their eyes.
From behind, Zeke carefully observed Jonathan's sword.
'His balance between offense and defense is well-maintained. Skills and talent worthy of being called a genius.'
What was surprising was that Jeffrik was matching Jonathan's sword without missing a beat, displaying equal offensive and defensive exchanges.
However, unlike Jonathan who maintained good balance between offense and defense, Jeffrik was wielding his sword more aggressively.
Jonathan was shocked to see Jeffrik, who used to show defensive swordsmanship due to his timid personality, now facing him with an aggressive style.
'Jeffrik performing such attacks?'
Under Jeffrik's relentless attacks, Jonathan found himself taking a defensive stance.
The Five Light Sword technique, while showing fast and powerful might, was a technique that consumed lots of aura and stamina.
So if too much power was consumed too quickly in the beginning, it had the weakness of being vulnerable to counterattacks.
To overcome this, Jonathan adopted a strategy of harmonizing attack and defense, focusing on power distribution by mastering footwork.
Jonathan waited for Jeffrik to tire and show an opening.
However, no matter how long he waited, Jeffrik's sword showed no signs of fatigue.
'How is this possible...?'
It was then that Jonathan started to grow suspicious.
KIIIIIING!
A sharp sword cry rang from Jeffrik's sword as an even faster attack than before pierced through.
Jonathan was flustered receiving Jeffrik's sword, not expecting the sword could get any faster.
KAGAGAGAK!
Jeffrik's sword grazed Jonathan's Hersion, delivering a strike.
Jonathan tried to avoid Jeffrik's sword strike using footwork.
But Jeffrik's Five Light Sword technique was faster.
HWIIIIIK―
In an instant, four sword strikes targeted Jonathan's vital points simultaneously.
'Head, shoulders, chest, stomach.'
Jonathan unconsciously raised the Blue Knight's Aura Blade to block the attacks.
UUUUNG―
In the moment he tried to block Jeffrik's sword strikes coming from four directions simultaneously with his Aura Blade.
Jeffrik's sword became blurry before suddenly dropping down to target his legs.
UUUUNG!
Jonathan flinched seeing the clear Aura Blade rising from Jeffrik's sword, and hurriedly turned his sword to try to block Jeffrik's.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWANG!
The collision of Aura Blades created powerful aura waves that swept across the entire training ground.
"COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!"
Dust clouds rose, making the watching Solma knights all cough.
They observed the situation before them with disbelieving expressions.
After a moment, when the dust completely settled, Joren shouted in surprise.
"Th-there!"
Jonathan, who reappeared, was blocking Jeffrik's sword while kneeling on one knee with his sword raised.
'UGH.'
His wrists and ankles were stinging, likely from the strain of hurriedly turning his sword to block the low attack.
Since he hadn't properly faced him seriously from the start, he was caught up in Jeffrik's skill that exceeded expectations. Because of that, he wasn't in a position to comfortably withstand Jeffrik's physically stronger sword.
As he pondered his next move, Jeffrik withdrew his sword and stepped back.
After sheathing his sword, he bowed his head to Jonathan.
"Thank you for receiving my inadequate sword, brother."
Jonathan slowly stood up and sheathed his sword.
Then he looked at Jeffrik with fresh eyes.
The weak brother who he thought had abandoned the family and ran away now stood before him as a Blue Knight seeking recognition.
Jonathan looked at his grown brother with new eyes, then turned his head to glance at Zeke Draker.
It was Zeke Draker who had developed the slow learner who had been quick to run away from the Solma family into a Blue Knight.
'...Were father and I wrong?'
Jonathan thought that Zeke Draker might have brought Jeffrik directly to make him realize this fact.
KUGUGUGUGU!
Jonathan deactivated Hersion and looked at Jeffrik.
He slowly turned his head and said.
"...You'll be able to hold your own wherever you go."
Jeffrik, who had deactivated Hersion, broke into a big smile at Jonathan's words.
"Brother!"
At Jeffrik's instantly relaxed attitude, Jonathan frowned and said.
"That doesn't mean I've acknowledged you. Don't think you can easily regain the family honor you gave up."
Though his words were cold, Jeffrik felt that Jonathan's attitude had softened considerably compared to before.
He shuddered and nodded his head.
"I understand, brother. Though it won't be easy, I'll surely work to regain our honor."
Jonathan, who had been looking at Jeffrik, quickly turned his head.
Then he slowly approached where Zeke was.
"Sir Zeke, could we talk for a moment?"
"Very well."
As Jonathan was about to go inside with Zeke, he turned his head to glance at Arin who was behind them.
He spoke to a guard warrior nearby.
"Make sure the Lady has no discomfort during her stay at the castle."
"Understood, Young Lord."
Arin was startled by Jonathan's words.
It meant he was acknowledging Arin, whom he had been treating as invisible, as a guest of the Solma family.
Though the engagement itself wasn't yet acknowledged, it was a much better situation compared to when she was treated as completely invisible.
Jeffrik approached Arin's side and firmly held her hand.
* * *
Jonathan entered the head's office with Zeke.
He offered Zeke a seat and ordered the servant to bring fine tea.
Shortly after, Zeke smiled satisfactorily while savoring the fragrant tea's aroma.
'As expected of a traditional family, even the tea is proper.'
Looking at Zeke, Jonathan spoke.
"Sir Zeke."
He asked with sharp eyes.
"What is your real reason for coming here?"
Jonathan wasn't naive enough to believe that the renowned Knight of Salvation came here simply to act as Jeffrik and Arin's guardian.
Zeke put down his teacup and said.
"I wish to enter the palace and meet the Royal Guard."
The current Royal Guard of the Thebean Kingdom was none other than the head of the Solma family, Herman Solma.
Jonathan shook his head as if not understanding Zeke's words.
"If you wish to meet the head, couldn't you request it as Draker's guardian knight? Though it might take longer, it shouldn't be difficult. Why choose such a troublesome process?"
To those words, Zeke met Jonathan's eyes and answered.
"Would it suffice to say that there will be many more troublesome matters ahead?"
"What do you mean?"
Zeke straightened his back and continued.
"War will soon break out on the continent."
"War?"
Jonathan Solma's expression hardened at the word war.
Zeke nodded and spoke.
"Abel Draker harbors ambitions to devour the entire continent by reviving the Demon King's army."
Jonathan couldn't process Zeke's sudden words.
"Demon King's army... What do you mean?"
"The abnormal signs appearing across the continent are evidence. Large-scale magical beast legions, ancient monster armies thought to have disappeared long ago, and demons summoned from the demon realm. All these can be seen as actions to revive the Demon King."
Jonathan's eyes shook greatly upon hearing these unexpected words.
Zeke continued.
"At the center of all this stands Abel Draker. I almost caught him, but lost him at the crucial moment. And the traces of the one who helped him escape lead to the Thebean royal palace."
Jonathan realized why Zeke had come to the Solma family.
"You mean to enter the Thebean palace to find those traces?"
Zeke nodded.
"That's right. For that, I need the Royal Guard's help. If we don't find him quickly..."
Zeke looked at Jonathan and said.
"Thebea is in danger."