Chapter 132
Chapter 132
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: A Moment in History (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bella, who had unwittingly taken the soup bowl, was dumbfounded.
To finish before the soup got cold?
Did he have any idea who he was up against?
A veteran renowned for fighting recklessly on the battlefield.
Even within the 21st Century, known as the most aggressive unit in the entire cohort, this man was called the Mad Dog. And he was the new Decurion’s opponent.
“Finish before the soup gets cold? Hah. Unbelievable.”
“Aren’t you in the same boat? It’s better for both of us if we end it early. Why the long face?”
“It’s wartime, so I was going to go easy on you.”
“Oh. I was thinking the same thing.”
The new Decurion’s continued provocations seemed perilous.
“This bastard. I gave you an inch and you took a mile. A punk who’s still wet behind the ears, talking back to me.”
“If the blood in my head dries, I’d be dead. And as for talking back, that’ll stop when you do.”
“You little shit, I swear!”
“What, you little shit? Swear what?”
“Gaaaaah!”
The Mad Dog’s eyes went wild.
His ragged breaths made it seem like he would lunge at the new Decurion at any moment.
“Starting?”
“Looks like it.”
“Everyone, find your spots!”
“Hey, now. Where do you think you’re going? We claimed this spot first.”
The soldiers of the two centuries, who had been eagerly awaiting a showdown, quickly snatched up the best viewing spots.
“What? What’s going on? Why’s it so noisy?”
“A guy from the 21st Century and a guy from the 23rd are about to throw down!”
“Why?”
“Does the reason even matter right now?”
“Guess not!”
Decurions and soldiers from the cohort who had just noticed the commotion began to flock to the scene.
As the crowd of onlookers swelled in an instant, turning the area into a chaotic mess, the two main figures of the disturbance stood facing each other.
The new Decurion’s small frame looked even smaller.
“You gotta take a shit? Stand still for a second.”
As Bella nervously paced back and forth, a nonchalant voice reached her.
The third-rank infantrymen, who usually never left their barracks for meals or anything else, had all gathered.
Seeing them gnawing on chicken legs and jerky they’d procured from who-knows-where, Bella felt a fire of frustration rising within her.
“How can you not be worried when he’s up against the Mad Dog of the 21st Century? You all know that no one who fights that man comes out unscathed.”
“He came from the Cradle of Stars, the Empire’s finest academy. You think he’ll lose that easily?”
“Cradle of Stars or not, the Over-ten is still just a kid.”
He was almost twice the kid’s size. How could he possibly win?
Despite Bella’s words, the third-rank infantrymen remained unconcerned.
“Look at the kid worrying about another kid.”
“And so what if he loses? It’s not like our century actually loses if he does. He’s not really one of us in the first place.”
If he wins, he’s one of us. If he loses, he’s not.
The third-rank infantrymen chuckled.
“Ugh, seriously!”
When Bella shouted, the infantrymen hastily changed their tune.
“Besides, it doesn’t look like he’s going to lose.”
“Those who’ve properly learned the sword are a different breed.”
Bella frowned.
Their expressions were quite serious; it didn't seem like they were just saying it.
“And from what I can see, that kid definitely didn’t start this without a plan.”
The words of Quentin, the senior soldier and de facto leader of the third-rank infantrymen, didn't sound like a joke either.
“It looks strangely familiar. The way he’s escalating the situation, too.”
“Looked that way to me, too.”
“All that talk about undermining command authority… wasn’t that basically for our benefit? His intentions were pretty clear.”
“Did he serve a war knight?”
The other third-rank infantrymen chimed in, agreeing with Quentin.
Perhaps he planned to use this opportunity to gain recognition within the century in one fell swoop.
Senior Soldier Quentin watched the new Decurion’s back with an intrigued expression.
“But he’s still green. You can never win the soldiers’ respect with a squire’s methods.”
“We have our own ways here.”
“He’ll probably try to settle this in one go with some flashy swordplay.”
The third-rank infantrymen’s consensus was that even if he overwhelmed his opponent with skill and technique, it wouldn’t be the kind of victory the soldiers wanted to see.
But that was a premature judgment.
The infantrymen’s expectation that he would naturally rely on his formal swordsmanship to face the Mad Dog was completely off the mark.
“Yan, Over-ten of the 23rd Century, challenges the nameless Over-ten of the 21st Century to a brawl!”
Surprisingly, the new Decurion chose to settle the matter with a brawl.
A physical fight in a confined space, with no weapons allowed.
It was a traditional method frequently used among soldiers to establish a pecking order.
“With that physique?”
“Did he professionally learn hand-to-hand combat?”
“Still, the size difference is too great.”
“Besides, brawling is the Mad Dog’s specialty.”
The third-rank infantrymen spoke over one another.
They seemed considerably shaken by this unexpected turn of events.
They weren't the only ones.
The other soldiers, who also hadn't expected the new Decurion to propose a method so disadvantageous to himself, were murmuring amongst themselves.
“I can’t believe he’s settling this with a brawl!”
“Wow. Win or lose, you’ve got to respect that nerve.”
“Kid Over-ten! I’m on your side!”
After a brief pause, cheers for the new Decurion began to erupt from all over.
And they quickly multiplied.
“Kid Over-ten! Kid Over-ten!”
“Twenty-three! Twenty-three! Twenty-three! Twenty-three!”
Now, every soldier except those from the 21st Century was on the new Decurion’s side.
“This confirms it. That kid has military experience. He knew exactly what soldiers like to see.”
Senior Soldier Quentin exclaimed in admiration.
For soldiers who couldn’t tell the difference even if they saw flashy swordplay, this was far more appealing than a duel.
“If he gets lucky and beats the Mad Dog in a brawl, he’ll become a celebrity known throughout the cohort.”
“There’s no story people love more than an underdog beating a giant.”
“Well, if he loses, he’ll become a celebrity for all the wrong reasons.”
While the third-rank infantrymen were chattering away, a Decurion from the cohort stepped forward, volunteering to act as referee.
“Knockout is a loss. One side admitting defeat is also a loss. Any objections?”
At the refereeing Decurion’s question, the new Decurion asked one of his own.
“Not an objection, just curious. Don’t you usually tie your hands for these brawls?”
“It’s wartime, so tying hands is a bit much. See this circle? Stepping out of it means you lose.”
“I don’t mind either way.”
“The kid Over-ten might be fine with it, but we’re not. Let’s keep it reasonable. It’s not like you’re sworn enemies.”
The referee chuckled at the new Decurion’s bold question.
“Kid Over-ten, you do your best. No groin kicks, eye-poking, pinching, or biting. And you, Mad Dog, especially no biting. You’re a repeat offender. One of my guys still can’t hear right because you bit his ear.”
“Is it right for the referee to keep taking one side?”
“Then is it right for you to jump at the chance when a kid half your size challenges you to a brawl?”
“Hmph.”
While the referee was giving the Mad Dog a few warnings, the new Decurion suddenly began to strip off his clothes.
“……?”
“I promised to return it clean.”
The new Decurion replied casually to the referee’s questioning gaze, ultimately stripping down to just his trousers.
“Making excuses about your clothes. You’re just taking them off because you’re afraid I’ll break every bone in your body if I get my hands on you…”
The sneering Mad Dog trailed off.
The soldiers, who had been eagerly waiting for the brawl to start, stared dumbfoundedly at the new Decurion’s bare torso.
“What are those scars…?”
“Did he stick his head in a dragon’s mouth? Why are those teeth marks so big…?”
“Looks like he barely survived a few of those.”
“I thought the eyepatch was just for show.”
Trainee Bella nodded.
She had felt much the same when she first saw the new Decurion’s body.
“They call it the Empire’s best academy, but it must be a den of madmen.”
“For a kid who isn’t even an adult to have scars like that, what in the world did they put him through?”
“More importantly, his build is extraordinary. The scars hide it well, but he’s packed with muscle.”
Even the third-rank infantrymen, who were rarely fazed by anything, couldn’t hide their surprise this time.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the Mad Dog shouted with feigned bravado.
“Must’ve gotten bitten by some dog! Don’t be scared by a few measly scars!”
He subtly adjusted his own uniform.
“I’m ready. Need me to wait longer?”
“Hmph! I’ve been waiting! You arrogant little brat!”
After exchanging a final word, the two men stood inside the roughly three-meter circle that had been drawn beforehand.
“I’ll say it again, don’t forget this is wartime. Keep it reasonable. Just enough to avoid disciplinary action. Got it?”
The referee, after giving a final warning, stepped out of the circle.
“Alright, begin!”
And the brawl started.
***
He’s underestimating me.
Gordo, the Decurion more often called the Mad Dog than by his real name, gritted his teeth.
The fact that this arrogant brat had challenged him to a brawl was utterly absurd.
This pup who didn’t know his place.
This atmosphere of everyone cheering for the kid.
This referee’s attitude, glaring at him with such intensity.
Everything was grating on his nerves.
“Let me tell you something. Once this brawl starts, no one can enter this circle. That means there’s no one to help you.”
And the Mad Dog had never let anyone who got on his nerves off easy.
“You’re the one who blew this out of proportion, so don’t come crying to me later…”
“God, you talk a lot. The meal service is going to end at this rate.”
*Crack.*
The kid’s persistently irksome retorts finally snapped what little patience the Mad Dog had left.
“I’ll crush your arms and legs, even if I get disciplined for it.”
Though he snarled ferociously, he didn’t charge in immediately—not out of some meager patience, but purely out of pride.
“You know what?”
The kid asked, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet.
“Some foul-tempered guy once taught me something.”
The Mad Dog just glared at the kid, thinking that if he answered, he’d just be accused of being a talkative man again.
“He said a sword is an extension of the hand.”
“……”
“If that’s the case, couldn’t the reverse be true, too?”
He had no idea what the hell the kid was talking about.
“I’m holding an extension right now.”
The kid held up a tiny fist.
The Mad Dog couldn’t stop himself from retorting.
“What kind of bullshit are you…”
How could that extension be the same as this one?
Even an ignoramus like him knew that.
The sheer absurdity of it made the tension in his own clenched fist drain away.
And at that moment.
*Thump.*
A sound like a drumbeat erupted from somewhere.
The dazed Mad Dog craned his neck, searching for the source of the sound.
The kid, who had been at least five steps away, was now right in front of him.
His eyes fell on the tiny fist buried in his stomach.