Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Ruby
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: I want to Have a Match
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"Sir Rohan. Where are you going?"
Just before leaving Straun.
Archbishop Haint called me to a halt.
He seemed to already know and was asking... but I answered while still mounted on my horse.
"Oliton in Laderun."
"The Kingdom of Laderun. That's also a place with quite beautiful scenery, isn't it?"
"......"
I really wanted to leave quickly, so why was he holding me back?
Perhaps noticing my expression, Archbishop Haint immediately got to the point.
He took out something like a small letter from his pocket.
"If you go to Laderun, would you please stop by the capital Siforeo once? I'd like you to deliver this letter to the Archbishop of Siforeo."
Siforeo.
I nodded my head.
Anyway, once I entered the Kingdom of Laderun, I had been planning to visit Siforeo once.
There was one useful item sleeping there.
Since I was going that way anyway, I wouldn't refuse such a small request.
"I shall."
"Thank you. Oh. By the way, you absolutely! Must! Not! open it."
Archbishop Haint said with a smile.
Since he said absolutely, I felt even more curious for no reason.
"......"
"I'll pray for your safe journey."
I tucked it away properly and nodded slightly as a greeting, then started my horse.
Diaz followed alongside me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Watching Rohan's figure growing distant in the distance, Archbishop Haint finally turned around.
The sub-bishop beside him asked.
"Archbishop. That letter just now. Don't tell me it was a recommendation letter for the position of Inquisitor?"
"Haha. How did someone already figure it out? It's supposed to be kept so thoroughly secret that even the person being recommended doesn't know."
"How long have I been by your side, Archbishop? I can see through most things now, can't I?"
"That's right. We've been together for quite a long time, haven't we? We've been together since I was making my mark as an Inquisitor, right?"
"Yes. I can't even remember how many times we almost died."
Archbishop Haint looked at the sub-bishop.
Even the sub-bishop who had seemed so robust had his hair turned completely white at some point.
"Time really makes everything fade. Sub-bishop, in the past you looked like you could chew up even a demon army commander."
"What army commander. Have you forgotten how your head almost flew off fighting just one staff officer?"
"Hahaha! That's right. That happened too. Anyway, now we're old, and the next generation is rising."
The sub-bishop gazed steadily at the direction Rohan had departed.
He was no longer even visible.
"It's distant. He's already out of sight. To the point where even I, who've traversed countless battlefields, can't see him."
Archbishop Haint understood the sub-bishop's underlying meaning.
"That's right. At such a young age, his level is already immeasurable."
"Indeed. I couldn't sense any aura at all... but the ability he showed in that battle recently. It was admirable enough to deserve respect."
"It means he's already surpassed the level where aura would be revealed or not. To be honest, I felt that not only that, but his eye for the battlefield was remarkable. It was as if he was controlling the paladins from above with a third-person perspective."
"Yes. That leadership was at a level that reminded me of Lord Gawron. Breaking down unit formations to reduce damage, and directing the dispersed units to cover each other's rear... it was like someone who had already experienced such battles dozens or hundreds of times."
The sub-bishop clicked his tongue.
"He's already being called a hero among the paladins."
"I feel the same way. The more I think about it, the more amazing it becomes, doesn't it?"
"So... are you planning to pass it on now? The position of Inquisitor, I mean."
"It's not something I can hold onto forever. It wouldn't be bad to give it to someone who needs it, would it? Of course, that fellow might refuse."
"......"
The sub-bishop could only nod in agreement.
Even if he returned to his prime, he wouldn't reach even Rohan's toes.
If it was someone with such ability, and a hero who had fought until now in the shadows where no one recognized him...
He was qualified to receive anything
As I walked with such thoughts in mind.
In the distance, Andrew, mounted on a horse, hurriedly approached.
"Lord Bishop!"
"Sir Andrew. What is the matter?"
"Uh, uh, Rohan! Has Sir Rohan already set off?"
"He just left a little while ago."
"Aaaah!"
"What’s going on?"
Andrew responded immediately as he started his horse.
"I was hoping to have a duel before I go!"
Andrew vanished in a flash.
Seeing that, the Vice Bishop shook his head.
"That’s not the direction."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Clack, clack.
Not slowly, I rode the horse while admiring the scenery of the forest path.
"......"
"......"
Not a word of conversation.
It had already been several days.
'Don’t all knights like this remain silent?'
Memories of Monted resurfaced.
Wasn’t it the same back then, spending a long time without exchanging a word?
I was so frustrated that I tried to say a few words, but…
“Yes.
“It’s nothing.”
“It's okay.”
All the responses came back like this.
With that, a conversation was hard to continue.
I thought we might get a bit closer since I saved her when she was young, but...
Something told me that there would be more obstacles than I expected.
Still, Diaz was methodically taking care of her duties as my adjutant.
Even with no supplies available, she prepared meals from hunting.
She also chased away some wild beasts.
Se performed her navigation role flawlessly.
Thanks to that, I could comfortably enjoy my journey.
Including time to organize my thoughts.
'Oliton, huh...'
Centered around Strau, the six kingdoms surrounded Strau like petals.
The Laderun Kingdom, where Oliton is located, was right in the middle among them.
Neither a great power nor a weak nation.
The reason the Laderun Kingdom gained such strength was due to the abundance of ruins.
Thanks to that, I could sometimes acquire ancient items and such.
Well, that wasn’t crucial right now.
My goal at the moment was still that bastard Jobaton.
'Wasn’t he the prince of the underworld?'
It sounded a bit childish, but there was no better title to describe Jobaton.
In those so-called shadowy places, Jobaton acted like a king.
From a thug in the alley to a prince of the underworld.
The driving force behind that was his unique skill, [Left Arm of the Colossus].
True to its grand name, the left arm of the Colossus was a powerful unique skill.
It was rated by users to be at least of elite rank.
The Left Arm of the Colossus was a type of unique skill that inflated stats, applying an increase of about 1000%.
Attack, defense, agility, and even magical resistance.
All stats increased by 1000% of the original.
Even if the original stats were raised, it would increase accordingly, making it a unique skill that got stronger the stronger one was.
Because of this, it became one of the unique skills unmatched in physical power.
In the original work, there was also a cinematic movie where Jobaton blocks Hellfire with his left arm.
Such merits were the reason I couldn’t give up on the Left Arm of the Colossus and came this far.
Jobaton, too, had claimed he took over the underworld because of that one skill.
Clearly, if we calculated the time, Jobaton wouldn’t have acquired the [Left Arm of the Colossus] yet.
'Jobaton became the prince of the underworld in just three years, as the townspeople said.'
Three years was just when Diaz in the original work had given up ers position as a knight.
Now was just before the timing that she would quit being a knight, so it was a bit precarious.
However, the real problem was...
'Where and how did he obtain that unique skill?'
Originally, Jobaton had appeared with abilities already in hand.
Of course, he wouldn’t have delivered any lines like, "Where did I get this ability from!"
After all, he was going to commit evil acts, so taking his unique skill was not an issue.
The biggest obstacle was that I had no precise data on where to intercept it.
So the conclusion I reached was.
'Let’s just confront him for now.'
Surely, if I kept an eye out, the time would come.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Time passed quickly.
And finally, the gates of Oliton came into view.
"I will guide you to the mayor."
Diaz stepped forward at the gate, and such a reply came back.
I guess they realized I was a member of the Seven Knights Order.
Thanks to that, we were able to enter Oliton smoothly.
'They said we’d receive a warm welcome. It wasn’t a lie.'
Indeed, we were treated quite well.
It was the first moment I felt the reputation of the Seven Knights Order.
Attendants surrounded us, and security forces followed.
I didn’t know much, so I left everything to Diaz.
Since Diaz had been a lieutenant of the Seven Knights before, she handled things very naturally.
Seeing her greet several high-ranking officials, it seemed she was already familiar with them.
Thanks to that, I hardly opened my mouth until we met the mayor.
After all the procedures were completed.
Diaz and I were waiting for the mayor in the reception room of the city hall.
"The mayor of Oliton is quite friendly toward the Seven Knights Order. If you have any requests, he will grant them easily unless there is a significant problem."
"I see."
"Do you have anything you want to say?"
"Would it be alright to break some parts of the city?"
"......Pardon?"
Just then.
The mayor, Baron Lopenser, entered the reception room.
"Nice to meet you. I am Lopenser. It is an honor to meet a member of the Seven Knights Order."
Once again, Diaz stepped forward and handled everything.
And the conversation soon got to the main point.
"Then, Sir Rohan, did you visit us for a planned schedule, or are you stopping by briefly on your way to the capital...?"
Diaz answered in my stead.
"Sir has a specific reason for visiting Oliton."
Well, of course.
"Oh. Is there a schedule? What kind of...?"
At that question, Diaz, who had been smoothly answering up to that point, stuttered for the first time.
"Um... wanted to break the city a little..."
Baron Lopenser’s face changed to one filled with question marks.
"Excuse? Uh, what? Huh?"
I, who had been quiet until now, added a bit more explanation.
"Outside the city. Would it be alright if I made some changes?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Diaz and I took a day’s rest and immediately started moving.
As the sun set and darkness crept in.
On the outskirts of the city, a tavern.
There, Diaz and I were seated.
"The mayor said he had never heard of a name called Jobaton."
"That means he’s not a big player."
"Yes."
I nodded.
As expected, Jobaton hadn’t acquired the unique skill yet.
That meant I still had time to act.
Now, I just had to find that bastard Jobaton...
Just then, some suitable guides appeared.
Men who looked as if they wandered the back alleys showing off their strength came up on their own.
"Hey, I haven’t seen your face before. First time? Want me to guide you around?"
"Hahaha! Sure. We are experts in this area. Just a little tip will do."
One of them openly tapped the side of his pocket.
"Wow! Quite a bit, huh? Are you some kind of young master? But why is there just one guard with you? Thank you. Hehe!"
I silently signaled Diaz with my eyes.
"Start."
"Understood."
Bang! Thwack! Smash!...
And a little later.
We were standing in front of a house.
The men were in a state with swollen eyes and noses.
Meanwhile, Diaz and I remained looking pristine.
I gestured toward the door of the house.
"Is this definitely the place?"
"Of course! This is where that bastard Jobaton lives!"
Thanks to their polite manner, I had a very satisfied smile.
"Right. If you’re lying, you’ll become a corpse."
"......!"
"H-Huh!"
I gave Diaz the command.
"Go in."
"Yes!"
Diaz kicked the door down.
Crash bang boom!
I stepped into the house.