Chapter 43
Chapter 43
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Evergrow Knights
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A group of riders holding torches drew steadily closer.
When they were still some distance away, Galpredic bellowed.
"Halt! Come any closer, and we'll shoot!"
His shout rang out through the night air, causing the horses to stop.
"Who the hell are you, chasing people in the dead of night? State your identity!"
"It's Marble, knight of Evergrow! Is that you, Sir Galpredic!?"
"Ah, Sir Marble. Yes, it's me, Galpredic. What's this about?"
"We heard you killed Sir Rugates under the guise of a duel! Is that the act of an honorable knight!?"
"Yeah! And it was in secret, wasn't it? You set up that meeting just to kill Sir Rugates, didn't you?"
Galpredic shouted again at another voice.
"I recognize that voice—Sir McCawley. Listen! Yes, I killed Rugates in a duel, but I did nothing to tarnish my honor."
"We can't believe that! Then why are you sneaking out of the castle like a fugitive in the middle of the night!?"
"Because I knew you knights would come looking for us. Fighting in the lion's den would only hurt us."
"Hmph! More like you're scared of us. And why has Duke Jevin taken it so hard? The duke understands honor! He'd accept it if there was a just reason, even if a knight died!"
"Naturally, because he thought Rugates would beat me, and it backfired. And from the looks of it, he'll be heartbroken again."
"What do you... Sir! Are you provoking us!?"
"I'm just stating facts. In a one-on-one, none of you could match me."
"Such insolence!"
"If you're so strong, take my sword, Ridren McCawley!"
Led by him, three knights charged forward on horseback.
"Should we shoot?"
"Let them come."
Galpredic held back Glad and Raban as he yelled at McCawley and the knights hurrying behind him.
"Let's do this one at a time! You're not planning to gang up like cowards, are you? Otherwise, our mage might step in."
The territory knights, now close enough to see Eugene's entire group, flinched in surprise.
Their gazes fixed on Romari, who stood in front of the cart, staring at them with blank eyes.
They had rushed out upon hearing that Eugene and Galpredic's group had left the castle, without thinking twice—but a female mage was with them too.
"Lady Romari! You're not thinking of attacking us, are you?"
"I have no ill will toward you knights, but I've been hired by Sir Eugene. So I have to do my duty for now. Sorry."
"This is..."
The knights ground their teeth, exchanged glances, and spoke again.
"Fine! We'll duel one-on-one. We're not dishonorable scoundrels like you."
"Good, good. Glad to hear you're honorable knights. Then let's draw up the articles of agreement and affix our seals first."
"Agreed!"
"Romari."
"Yes."
At Eugene's command, Romari quickly wrote out two copies of the agreement.
Marble, one of the Evergrow territory knights who could read, checked the contents and affixed his seal.
"But if we win, which one becomes our prisoner—you or Sir Eugene?"
"Well..."
As Galpredic hesitated, Eugene stepped forward.
"Rather than that, maybe we should discuss who becomes our prisoner if you lose."
"......!"
Marble's eyes widened at Eugene's words, then fury erupted as he drew his longsword.
"If such a disgrace happens, we'll all become your prisoners! I, Pertrek Marble, swear it on my name!"
After exchanging a glance with Galpredic at Marble's words, Eugene drew his shortsword.
"Glad you're honorable knights."
"You bastard!"
Marble charged on horseback, swinging his longsword at Eugene, who had just echoed Galpredic's earlier words.
* * *
Shiiing!
Marble's longsword traced a streak of blue light.
'I see it!'
Previously, he had dodged or blocked on instinct, but now Eugene could read the sword path in Marble's strike.
'Block.'
Clang!
'And slide into a thrust.'
Kakak! Shing!
'Parry it!'
Kclang!
"Ugh!?"
Marble's swordsmanship was impressive, but the monstrous power behind it sent his longsword flying upward, eyes bulging.
In that instant, Eugene's shortsword curved like a snake toward his helmet.
Tang!
"Gah!"
Struck hard on the helmet by the flat of Wolfslaughter, Marble let out a short cry and fell from his saddle.
'Good. Sword test complete.'
Eugene leaped from his saddle and charged at Marble, who was staggering to his feet.
Kwang!
Their bodies collided in a powerful tackle, flying several meters before crashing down together.
Boom boom!
Pinning Marble down, Eugene trapped both his arms with his knees, then pummeled his head relentlessly with his gauntlet-clad, powerful fist.
The helmet dented from the impacts—no way his head inside was unscathed.
"Kek! Guk! Ack!"
Marble screamed repeatedly before going still.
'Hand-to-hand is pretty useful too.'
Satisfied with the combat skills absorbed from Galpredic, Eugene dragged Marble over and tossed him onto the cart.
The knights gaped in shock at the sight of him easily hurling the massive figure—over a hundred kilograms with his armor.
"Those coming up behind—are they Evergrow territory soldiers?"
At Eugene's question upon spotting the group of troops approaching with torches, the knights snapped to attention and answered.
"Y-Yes."
"Seems you're the ones without honor. Three knights and over thirty soldiers to catch us? Were Galpredic and I that scary?"
"Nonsense! This is just in case you refuse our demands..."
"Whatever. More witnesses the better. So, who's next?"
"......"
After a brief glance at each other, the burlier of the two remaining knights stepped forward.
"It's my turn now, Ridren McCawley. Sir Galpredic! If you have any honor left..."
"What are you talking about? I'm fighting all of you."
"What?"
McCawley, wearing a helmet with a cross-shaped gash across the faceguard, glared.
But soon he dismounted, shield and shortsword in hand.
"Sir Marble let his guard down, but I'll be different."
"Fine, then come at me."
Sheathing Wolfslaughter, Eugene grabbed the mace from behind Silion's saddle.
Against a shielded opponent, a spear or mace was better than a shortsword.
Another bit of knowledge from Galpredic's combat skills.
'Plate mail.'
Compared to his own plate armor, it had more weak points, but still a tricky suit to penetrate.
Plus, the shield could serve as a powerful bludgeon, not just defense.
A brawl like before would be somewhat risky.
'Of course, against normal knights.'
Finishing his thoughts, Eugene charged at McCawley, who stood at an angle with shield forward, sidestepping.
Shwaak!
McCawley's sword, no less formidable than Marble's, whistled down with a chilling sound.
'Deflect.'
Clang!
As Eugene used his gauntlet to redirect the shortsword toward the thigh and swung his mace, the shield shot out to block—as if waiting—then tried to shove him back.
'As expected, he's decent.'
To kill a plate-armored knight, collapsing their balance and toppling them was best.
Just like Maverick's ambush in Tiwin territory's dungeon long ago.
But like Maverick back then, McCawley didn't know Eugene was a knight beyond human strength limits.
Kwang!
Eugene smashed the shield with his mace. The metal surface crumpled instantly, splintering the wooden core inside.
"Ugh!?"
Amid flying wood chips, McCawley was helplessly pushed back.
The throbbing pain in his left arm wasn't the issue—it was shock at the sudden charge.
And as always, hesitation came too late.
Eugene hooked McCawley's ankle with his foot, toppling him.
The armor scraped with a deafening metallic screech.
"Eek!"
Pinned by Eugene, McCawley strained to use his wrestling and grappling techniques.
They were similar in build and weight, so he could...
"Grk!?"
His breath caught like a boulder was on him, stunned by the immovable foe.
Kwang!
Eugene's fist hammered down on McCawley's helmet faceguard like a hammer.
The terrifying force made his armored body jolt, crumpling the helmet and shattering his nose and front teeth.
Sirs... the sirs...!
Only the cries of late-arriving soldiers reached from afar; silence fell everywhere.
Swish, swish.
Grabbing McCawley's leg, Eugene dragged him like he did Marble and tossed him onto the cart.
"......!"
Eugene's group, including Galpredic, gaped in astonishment.
Eugene had been strong before, but these two fights were leagues beyond—utterly overwhelming.
Amid all their stares, Eugene dusted his hands and turned to the last knight.
"Come on."
* * *
"So, to clarify: you've added a sandstone school mage and one knight to your group, and... captured three Evergrow territory knights?"
"Yes. It shouldn't affect the contract, right?"
"Oh, o-of course not. Should I book rooms at the Stellar Citadel for the new members too?"
Before the hesitant Prechella, Eugene stated what he'd planned beforehand.
"Rather than that, find us a decent house with an annex. Doesn't need to be big."
"Ah! How about the villa owned by our merchant group? Seven bedrooms and a nice garden. Perfect for staying a while."
Prechella quickly suggested, slightly worried about the inn costs with the growing group.
"Sounds perfect. Can we move in today?"
"Of course! I'll tell the staff, so head right over. I'll arrange two or three for cooking and chores too."
Her face brightened at the thought of saving dozens of silver coins daily.
"And, about this: I'd like to gift armor to the newly recruited Sir Galpredic. Can you pass the word to Bettisak Armory? Plate armor."
"Bettisak Armory... pl-plate armor, you say?"
Eugene frowned at Prechella's sudden stammering.
"Why? Something wrong?"
He'd pay for the commission himself.
Was something up with Bettisak Armory?
'Even if I said I'd cover arming new hires, plate armor is too much!'
Hiding her thoughts, Prechella forced a smile.
"No! Nothing at all! I'll have the staff relay it."
"Good. Pellid has the monster byproducts and mana stones from the Evergrow count family share. You can check with him."
"Yes."
A bit disappointed it was less than expected, Prechella consoled herself that it was decent for a first subjugation.
Then Eugene lowered his voice and held something out.
"And this: two high-grade mana stones from upper monsters in Morrison Mountain Labyrinth. Kept it secret from the Evergrow count family due to circumstances."
"......!"
Prechella's eyes and mouth both formed perfect 'O's at the large mana stones from the pouch.
(To be continued)