Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Twin Crown's Champion
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A fierce backlash erupted after an undigested impure mana crystal was found in the Holy Knight's stomach.
Mana stones were malicious byproducts bestowed by demons to tempt humans. However, mana crystals created by purifying mana stones were divine blessings bestowed upon faithful humans.
That was precisely why the church took responsibility for all matters related to mana stone purification from the start.
Yet the Holy Knight himself—the very sword of the church—had been revealed to have consumed the forbidden power of an impure mana crystal.
And that, in the finals of a swordsmanship tournament hosted by one of the kingdom's top five great lords, no less!
Boooooo!
"You cowards!"
"Are you even knights?!"
"Get out! This isn't a place for honorless scum like you!"
"You're the real heretics! Faithless, honorless trash!"
Jeers and insults rained down on Dirhit and his squires.
The mood was ripe for a full-blown riot, so Count Winslow ordered his soldiers.
"Escort the Holy Knight's party to the castle."
Dozens of soldiers surrounded Dirhit and his squires, hurriedly escorting them away under guard.
They left the arena without even lifting their heads, enduring a barrage of vile abuse.
Amid the chaos, Eugene and Dirhit's eyes met.
"……!"
Dirhit's face twisted in revulsion at the enchanting smile playing on Eugene's lips—one that might have seemed alluring to the oblivious.
'An enemy! That bastard is the church's enemy!'
Flames of rage ignited in Dirhit's chest. But what could he do in this situation? One wrong move, and the furious crowd would beat them senseless.
In the end, Dirhit could only slink away like a criminal under the soldiers' protection.
Bwaaaaa!
Then a long horn blast echoed, slowly calming the frenzied crowd.
Count Winslow raised a golden baton high and declared solemnly.
"What a depraved and dishonorable affair! But from it emerges a knight who has proven his valor and honor with his own hands—standing here with me!"
Rooooar!
"Thus, the lord of Winslow commands! Compose a song of praise for the most honorable champion! Cheer for the hero who proved himself! Cheer for the master of the Twin Crown!"
Waaaaaaaaaah!!!
Thunderous cheers shook the heavens.
And so, Eugene claimed the Twin Crown, winning both the mounted lance tournament and the swordsmanship tournament for the first time in sixteen years.
* * *
Count Winslow spared no silver coins.
Food from village pubs and taverns was carted to the arena until stocks ran dry, turning the event into a grand feast. Spectators praised the generous count and the Twin Crown champion as they ate and drank their fill.
But the stars of the show—Eugene and Count Winslow—only stayed for about thirty minutes before retreating to the castle.
Nobles, knights, and commoners alike clamored to see Eugene up close, and things threatened to turn chaotic.
The count's direct kin and honored guests were desperate for even a word with him, but Winslow brushed them all off for a private audience with Eugene.
"Care for a smoke?"
"Certainly."
Eugene lit the pipe the count had rolled for him and took a drag. He had no taste for tobacco, but refusing a great noble's gesture would leave a poor impression.
The count then flashed a warm, contented smile—one he rarely showed in company.
"It's laced with mana stone dust."
"I see."
Eugene nodded, recalling what Roamari had told him.
Unpurified mana stones were poison to all life except monsters.
But as the saying goes, even poison can be medicine in the right context. The residue from mana stone purification was mostly harmless yet offered special effects.
Namely, hallucinations.
That was one reason mana stones fetched such high prices. Hallucinogenic narcotics were always exorbitantly traded, regardless of era or nation.
Fortunately, mana crystal consumption neutralized any addiction symptoms from the residue.
Thus, wealthy nobles with mana crystals to spare freely inhaled the dust or mixed it into tea and smokes without a second thought.
"Finish it, and I'll give you a mana crystal."
"This much is fine."
It might harm humans, but mana stone residue had no effect on him.
"You're refreshingly straightforward—I like that. By the way... was that unfortunate incident today as intentional as yesterday's?"
Count Winslow cut straight to the point.
Already suspecting as much, Eugene nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. It'll help even more in tomorrow's mock battle."
"Hahaha. That's why I like you so much. We've only just met, yet you scratch exactly where I itch."
Count Winslow was genuinely delighted.
When uninvited Holy Knights announced their participation in the knight tournament, he'd been deeply troubled.
Like most lords, he had a strained relationship with the royal family. And like them, his ties with the church were decent enough.
The church, meanwhile, enjoyed close bonds with the crown—the cardinal was practically the current king's foster father.
The church positioned itself as a bridge between the royals and the lords in this dynamic.
Thus, he couldn't outright refuse the Holy Knights' sudden entry into the tournament.
But letting them compete freely risked the superior Holy Knights dominating or even winning, which would bruise his pride.
Holy Knights were, after all, extensions of the king's foster father, the cardinal.
He permitted their entry but needed his loyal Golden Moon Knights—skilled and devoted—to keep them in check.
Yet that spawned another issue.
Both the Holy Knights and Golden Moon Knights were famed across the kingdom. Whoever lost would suffer a grievous blow to honor and pride.
Count Winslow wanted to protect his dignity without souring church relations—a dilemma with no easy out.
Ideally, a neutral "third party" unaffiliated with either would claim the tournament's glory.
And the black knight before him had delivered exactly that.
Eugene had no direct ties to Winslow but wielded the count's famed sword, Wolfslayer.
To Winslow, he couldn't have looked more perfect.
Merely introducing him had made his previously disliked son-in-law suddenly worth seeing for the first time.
"Thanks to you, the knights quartered in the castle are in an uproar. Those you crushed today were all staying here. No fools among them—they know who you're targeting."
"Good."
"The backlash is fierce, though. A few are vowing to teach you a lesson."
That figured. Knights were mostly arrogant hotheads.
Moreover, the castle's residents were all high-status or titled.
Wounded in pride, they'd naturally seek redemption in the mock battle.
"Even better."
"Oh? Why's that?"
Eugene replied calmly to the intrigued count.
"I've learned a few things from frequent demon realm purges. One is that excited monsters are easier prey than cunning ones. You enjoy hunting, my lord—you know this well."
"Hahaha! Quite right!"
Count Winslow laughed, clapping heartily.
"But cornered prey can act unpredictably. Your thoughts?"
"Perfect. You'll see why tomorrow firsthand."
The count's eyes widened slightly. This young champion wasn't even considering defeat in tomorrow's mock battle.
"You have a knack for intriguing me in every way. Very well."
Smiling faintly, Count Winslow continued.
"Then I'll announce your reward tomorrow as well. Something worth anticipating. But a champion claiming the Twin Crown after sixteen years deserves his prize now."
He clapped twice lightly. The door opened, and waiting servants entered cautiously.
Eugene's eyes gleamed at the gold-leafed wooden chest. The count spoke with pride and anticipation.
"Open it. A fitting gift for the Twin Crown's master."
Eugene bowed once to the count, then unlatched the chest.
Click.
"This is……."
Even the ever-cool Eugene betrayed surprise, drawing a broader, satisfied smile from the count.
"Madarajika. The tongue of the far-northern dwarves. In our language, Ogre Slayer."
"Madarajika……."
Eugene reached into the chest unbidden.
"With your divine power, you should be able to wield it... What?!"
The count's words trailed off in shock.
Eugene held aloft a pitch-black, gleaming spear in one hand.
"Over fifty kilograms, and you lift it single-handedly?"
"As I said, I carry elven blood."
"Amazing! Even Lord Durak could barely manage it two-handed……."
The count was stunned but didn't doubt him.
Claiming the Twin Crown after sixteen years proved his skills far exceeded ordinary knights.
But the astonishment didn't end there.
Hummm!
The spear trembled, emitting an eerie cry.
"Ha, hahaha!"
The count could only laugh in disbelief.
'So many knights couldn't even lift it properly before! As expected of this one…….'
Any lingering doubts vanished. Stroking his beard contentedly, Count Winslow beamed.
"They say every treasure has its destined owner. Madarajika has found hers today."
"You're too kind."
Eugene was just as pleased.
He knew the moment he grasped it: this was no ordinary weapon.
The count's explanation sealed his conviction.
"Now, let a drop of your blood touch Madarajika."
"My blood, you say?"
"Yes. That decides if you're its true master."
Eugene pondered briefly.
Then he removed his gauntlet and black scale mail, slashed his palm with his dagger, and gripped the spear.
"……!"
Eugene was startled. The spear absorbed his blood like a sponge drinking water.
'Enchanted?'
"Oh ho! Madarajika acknowledges you as its true master. Astonishing."
Seeing the count's genuine awe, Eugene figured the spear would have been reclaimed had it rejected him.
A martial noble like Winslow wouldn't tolerate a magic-imbued treasure lacking its destined wielder.
"Now, Knight, hurl Madarajika once."
"Here?"
"It's fine. Go ahead."
Though puzzled by the count's excitement, Eugene obliged.
Whoosh!
With moderate force, the spear whistled through the air and embedded in the wall.
"Call it back."
"Pardon?"
"Infuse your will, like summoning a subordinate. Voice or mind... What?!"
Crack! Swoosh!
The spear yanked itself free and flew back to Eugene's hand like an invisible thread guided it.
"Hahaha! My eyes didn't deceive me. Sir Eugene, you are Madarajika's true master!"
"This is... impressive."
Not as excited as the count, but Eugene was quite shocked.
A spear that returned on willpower alone!
It went beyond mere retrieval.
Knights like Eugene typically carried multiple javelins.
Short-ranged and less accurate than bows, their raw power was unmatched against mid-to-large monsters.
The drawback: recovering thrown ones mid-battle was tough. Madarajika solved that flawlessly.
And its far greater weight meant exponentially deadlier impacts.
A total jackpot.
Victory tomorrow meant another reward.
"You'll deliver tomorrow too, won't you, Sir Eugene?"
"Absolutely. I stake my honor on victory."
"Kieek!? Y-You... emitting an aura like mine!?"
In that moment, Eugene embodied the Origin of Desire.
(To be continued)
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