Northern Assembly (3): The Duel
“Well then... I will respond to the wishes of the family heads, however small my efforts may be.”
With Deri's affirmative words, everyone clapped.
The Imperial Knights, who boast the highest level of skill in the empire.
Those skilled experts who belong there are directly demonstrating their swords.
It will have a positive influence not only on the Lichtenauers but also on other families.
Swish-.
Deri, who had stood up from his seat, advanced to the center.
And just as he was loosening the cloak he was wearing and loosening his body.
“However...”
The old knight suddenly broke the silence.
“It doesn't seem right for just me to swing my sword in the air alone, does it?”
“Eh?”
The family heads didn't understand what his words meant for a moment.
Meanwhile, Sien was the first to understand Deri's words.
“Does this mean you need a sparring partner?”
“As expected, the head of the Lichtenauer family is different. It seems you thought it would be very strange for me to swing the sword alone. Your insight is truly impressive.”
And before Sien or the other heads could open their mouths,
Deri raised his hand and pointed toward Sien, or rather, toward Adel standing beside her.
“It seems you are the attendant of the Lichtenauers. What can I do? I would like to ask if you have any intention of sparring with this old man. It would seem like a good experience.”
“...Me?”
“Deri-nim?”
Unlike Adel, who showed no change in expression,
the others were startled and called out to the old knight.
He had said he had left the Imperial Palace and gone to another region.
That was the reason they hadn't heard about this young man yet.
He is a servant who has a record of defeating even Fiore's knights.
In terms of experience or seniority, Deri is superior to the Fiore side.
But Fiore's knight was a person who had reached the realm of complete mastery.
In contrast, Deri is a person who has come down from his prime.
In such a situation, to request a duel with Adel of all people.
Of course, Sien and the others could not help but be surprised.
“Deri-nim, that is...”
Just as Sien hurriedly tried to stop the old knight,
Adel, who had been standing quietly until then, moved his body.
“I will go.”
“Adel?”
Following Deri, Adel showed a reaction that no one had expected.
Sien, startled, tried to grab him, but she couldn't.
The reason was that she felt some strange aura from Adel's face.
Eventually, Adel headed to the arena installed in the center.
The family heads, watching his figure, showed worried expressions.
“Lord Lichtenauer. Are you really all right?”
“Well, to be honest... I can't give you a definite answer.”
“I don't know which side to worry about. I know that this servant Adel is amazing, but Deri-nim is not someone to be taken lightly either...”
“What if we compare Fiore and the Imperial Knights?”
“What do you mean by that? Of course, the Imperial Knights are one step above!”
“Then does that mean this servant Adel might lose?”
“No. Everyone. We have to consider age. Considering that Deri-nim is sixty right now, we can't casually predict victory just because it's an Imperial Knight.”
As the heads who didn't know Adel's 'true' appearance yet,
They could only see it as a genius servant who defeated Fiore's knight and a duel with the Imperial Knight praised as the best in the empire.
Without knowing the heads' worries,
Deri looked at Adel standing in front of him.
And then he put his hand on his chest and took a bow.
“This old man's name is Deri.”
“Adel, the attendant of the Lichtenauers.”
In his eyes, which looked closely at Adel's face, a gleam appeared.
It felt like he was quietly muttering 'as expected.'
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes. Please take care, Adel.”
***
I still can't forget that moment.
The battle that happened that day was extremely difficult.
The opponent who made even our proud Imperial Knights struggle.
Endless demonic beasts emerging from a 2nd grade Demon Realm Rift.
How many there were, the ground was like black waves crashing.
I wasn't trembling from fear, but I felt burdened.
The number of our side was too small, and conversely, the demonic beasts were endless.
Originally, the Emperor would have said something to boost morale, but currently he was away on another front.
So, the captain took his place to encourage.
But the number of demonic beasts was so great that even the captain seemed at a loss for words.
“It's a perfect day to die!”
“Shut up, old man. You'll hear it even from the knights over there.”
“Whether you hear it or not. After all, if we die, we'll all become corpses covered in shit!”
In such a situation, a group was rather laughing heartily.
Different ages, different origins, even women.
The only common point among those who looked so different was their hatred for the demonic beasts, and nothing else.
“It's coming.”
“Another one who will die today.”
“No one will die. No one.”
“That would be easy to say. Hey, Adel. None of us are like you.”
“Old man, I said shut up. And tell the leader to speak properly.”
“Who's the leader? Are you saying even a gang leader is okay?”
“Really, old man. If you're going to go crazy, go crazy nicely.”
Even though the battle that crosses life and death is right in front of us, there's no change.
Just like usual, laughing and chatting while waiting for orders.
No, no. They are the wolf pack that eats those monsters.
“Let's go.”
The young man standing at the front opened his mouth.
He brandished his extremely sharp sword and signaled the start of the battle.
In response to that signal, the wolves increased their speed.
Against those endless black waves,
Instead of forming a formation like the knights and blocking them,
They became one giant blade of light and rushed in reverse.
“Is, is that okay?”
A new recruit who joined recently asked that.
They had heard explanations about them with eardrums sticking.
Still, this guy seemed hesitant.
I looked at such a new recruit for a moment, then turned my head without a word.
The answer to that question would be solved if I watched.
Boom boom boom!!!-
Finally, the moment of collision began.
The new recruit's eyes widened.
“Th, this...”
Those black waves were never a light opponent.
They are monsters that even our Imperial Knights have to face with a will to fight to the death.
Against such enemies, they pierced the deepest part.
“We’re moving too.”
The captain opened his lips and drew his sword.
They are, after all, those who focus only on offense.
Those who couldn't be pierced by the wolves' fangs.
Themselves, the empire's shields, had to block with all their might.
Dudu dudu!!-
At the moment when they saw the demonic beasts rushing in front of the defense line.
It was the moment they put strong force into their hands holding sword and shield.
Swoosh!!-
Kyah! Kkuek!!-
A stream of blood wind blew, and the demonic beasts were torn apart.
Because of the almost non-existent 1st grade Demon Realm Rift.
Because of that, 2nd grade is actually the highest treatment.
So, the demonic beasts appearing there are also naturally evaluated as the strongest among them.
Those 2nd grade demonic beasts were literally torn to pieces and flew in all directions.
“...”
While their bodies were dyed red with their blood and flesh,
The wolves, eyes flashing as if looking for another prey.
And the young man standing at the very front, Adel.
Yes. I still can't forget that moment.
***
“...”
“...”
The two men with swords raised kept a suitable distance.
After that, the side that started the attack first was the old knight Deri.
Thud! -
“Ooooh!”
Cheers erupted from all sides.
A speed that the criminal's eyes could never chase.
Only the knights could barely read his movements.
Grug-.
From a distance, it looked like they were grappling.
Although he was older, the old knight had overwhelming experience.
In contrast, the servant had less experience but had the advantage of youth.
Of course, everyone gathered here let out cheers.
And thanks to that, the old knight got a chance to talk with Adel.
“I was surprised, you wouldn't know how much.”
“...”
“I didn't think I'd see you here. Long time no see, Adel.”
“...Me too. Long time no see.”
Whoosh! -
Deri forcefully pushed the opponent away.
And rushed in again at an incredible speed.
Now even the knights couldn't chase it.
Adel, the Lichtenauer attendant, easily blocked that attack again.
Thud!! -
“Waaaa!!”
Cheers filled the surroundings again.
And between them, conversations between old comrades came and went.
“I haven't heard the news because I left the palace.”
“What happened?”
“The Emperor allowed it.”
“...You released even the last wolf. Then is the glorious history of Ulfhedinn over? It's truly surprising and truly regrettable.”
“Glorious history, glorious history.”
A bitter expression appeared and disappeared on Adel's face.
Uung! Uung!! -
After that, several exchanges came and went.
Not only the criminals but also soldiers, servants, even knights.
Such a fierce battle that even reading it was difficult.
To others, it was a thrilling duel scene.
But actually, Deri's face was calmer than ever.
'Even if I die and come back to life. Even if I return to the peak of my prime. In any case, that young man can't win.'
There was no possibility of him winning.
He pointed at Adel for nothing.
He wanted to talk.
Because there was a reason why a person who should be at the palace was here.
That was all, and it had nothing to do with anything else.
'I am not an enemy of that young man. I don't have to worry about the future.'
Ulfhedinn clearly distinguished enemies and allies.
The moment they are judged as 'enemy',
Whether human or demonic beast, only the most horrific end remains.
Now, I am not an enemy of that man.
Rather, I am just an old comrade from long ago.
So, I can focus on the duel without worry.
Kak! Kak! -
“I never thought I'd see the Ulfhedinn again in my lifetime. It seems like a final gift.”
“It won't be the last. Now I'm the attendant of the Lichtenauers.”
“...Haha.”
Deri just laughed.
That man is a servant, what nonsense.
But there must have been a reason for that.
The old knight didn't ask about that part.
“If it's boring, you can come find me?”
Puck! -
Instead of saying yes, Adel responded by swinging the sword.
It was the answer meaning it's okay to come anytime.
With that, Deri showed a very bright smile.
“I'm glad to see you again, Adel.”
“...Me too.”
“You look better than before. Truly, truly good.”
The empty eyes had life in them.
I thought it was a monster that would never return to being human.
Now, it was just the appearance of a very ordinary young man.
I don't know what caused such a change.
Just, as the Emperor wished.
The fact that the one who lived as a monster finally became a human.
The old knight smiled with sincere relief.
'Please find a new place and a new life.'
Recalling the boy who wandered alone on the battlefield, that scary yet pitiful boy.
The old knight decided to give the last gift he could give.
Whoosh! -
“Eh!”
“Waaaa!!”