Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Knight
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I'm a guy who's weak to emotions.
Really weak.
I swung and was swung at in a trance.
I wasn't even sure if what I held was a sword—maybe it was just a wooden stick or something.
Still, it had been a while since I'd faced someone whose blade sparked like that.
Having gone so long without crossing swords at length, I felt the irritation inside me slowly dilute.
But instead of beauty in those sparks, I felt boredom and emptiness.
When I let my strength slacken idly, my opponent's sword grazed the folds of my clothes. But when I flung my blade without force, it rang sharp, repelling his armor.
'Annoying.'
The golden armor gleamed incessantly, reflecting light that stung my eyes.
I hated that piercing glare. One day, light had blazed into this world and possessed me.
Straight as a line with the sword.
But then it curved and swam, birthing stinging sparks until something finally plip—dropped right into my eye.
It happened while I was dazed, staring at the light.
I noticed my eye wouldn't open.
"Ah."
"To think a master like you was hiding... somewhere. Hoo..."
Sip.
I'd been crossing blades with my opponent without realizing.
Only then did I notice I'd severed the Knight Commander's arm.
Unaware of that, I'd entrusted my gaze to the sparks of our clashing swords, and a spurt of blood from the severed limb had splashed into my right eye.
He ground his teeth through bloodshot eyes and tried to staunch the bleeding.
I took a step back. My eye stung.
'Won't open for a bit.'
This was part of the fight, so I decided not to complain.
I closed my right eye. Closing it brought a faint urgency and unease to my heart.
But it stemmed from blows I couldn't block.
I lowered my stance into a defensive posture and glared at the Knight Commander.
"......Until just now, for the crime of killing my knights. You and the lady you serve would receive at least the minimum... kuh... hoo..."
"The minimum?"
"I thought you'd get even a small punishment. Though I'd receive a great one myself."
As he spoke, his voice shifted from human resonance to something else.
I couldn't understand, so I observed him closely with my left eye.
And I realized one thing.
Like a lion.
His hair began to ripple and swell, like a mane sprouting as the Knight Commander transformed.
"But it seems you won't get even the smallest punishment. You're too strong for that."
"......That's a weird way to put it. I'm not strong enough to topple the Empire."
There was more than just this one Knight Commander, after all.
I knew four of his skill could be a bit dangerous.
I could probably kill them all, but I'd be drained of stamina.
And if tens of thousands came for me in the meantime, this spot would be my grave.
I'm just a breathing human, after all.
"My liege doesn't wish for the strong to die."
"You mean the Emperor?"
"His Majesty. And yes. He seems to be preparing for war; he's always lenient toward the strong."
"So I won't be punished?"
"No one can question the Imperial Family's sins to begin with, so it was about holding you accountable... but even that sin will surely be forgiven."
"......Whoa."
A horizontal scar on the Knight Commander's face now looked like a lion's nose.
He'd truly become a lion shining with a golden mane.
And he radiated a beastly fighting spirit toward me.
"Then why fight? Revenge for your dead subordinates?"
"No. I don't put weight on such things."
"Are you insane? I half-killed your men, and you don't care?"
He spoke at length, enduring throbbing pain with long breaths.
"I don't know how you view honor, but we insulted yours first.
If I were in your place, I'd be angry too. So I won't dwell on it.
Even if those you killed were my subordinates...... you know."
"It was my greater fault to begin with, treating you like a drunk and scorning your honor with mere wooden swords."
"Impressive."
I thought he was the most knightly of the knightly sort.
That's why he's the commander. Manly and cool in a way, but invoking honor amid his dying men was ridiculous.
What the hell was he drunk on?
The Knight Commander declared his name and raised his rippling golden blade.
"Imperial Knight Commander, Leonhardt. The one I must protect up there has no intention of fleeing."
I glanced at the Princess and Dorian.
Sure enough, his attention had drifted their way for a while.
"For the one I must protect, I ask you—who are stronger than me."
"Ask?"
"Didn't I say to fight long? Let's fight very long. With full power... but in exchange."
Leonhardt swung his golden sword at me.
We were quite far apart. His hefty blade wouldn't reach.
But.
"!!"
I twisted my body to dodge the golden strike.
A massive scar gouged the ground. If it'd hit, I'd be dead in one blow, I thought.
"Don't touch those two."
"Impressive."
I planned to deal with this guy roughly and teach the Imperial folk the value of life properly.
It wouldn't be very peaceful.
But the Commander seemed to read my mind.
"Well, don't you feel a bit wronged first?"
"What do you mean?"
"Doesn't this whole situation feel unfair?"
I asked in disbelief.
An unwanted fight where parts of my body vanished, many subordinates dead.
He'd taken the most damage himself, yet he stanched his severed arm and glared at me, ready to fight.
Why bring this up now?
His question answered itself.
"The one I must protect. I chose to, so I must. That's a knight. That's my honor!!"
A woman's face flashed in my mind for a moment, but Leonhardt's swing cut off my reverie.
Lightning cracked like the earth splitting, nearly blinding me.
"So!"
Whoosh!
The ground didn't just crater.
The arena shattered like crushed gravel as the golden sword assailed relentlessly.
"Forget your anger!"
I circled the range of his sword to close in, attempting a swift charge, but.
Leonhardt was adept at long-range. He barely blocked my rushes each time.
Every trace of brutal violence before me made me hold my breath.
"Forgive me!"
"You're the mad one."
To unleash such attacks without respite.
Leonhardt was strong.
Missing one arm, yet he poured out blows with no openings.
Dodging them all would leave me unable to close in, probably losing a finger or so.
So.
Hup.
I decided to parry before dodging.
More precisely, shatter them. Shatter and advance.
With that in mind, I abandoned my unopening right field of view.
Narrowing my left eye, I stared straight ahead.
At the crescent-shaped light assaulting me.
'Impressive.'
I thrust my neck forward, shifting my center of gravity to my lower back.
Brought the sword to my waist, wrist tensed as if drawing from a sheath.
What I was about to do: a draw-cut.
Hard to gauge this strike's power—unlike any I'd seen.
So I'd counter with my safest, most powerful move.
As the golden strike neared my instep.
I swung in the exact crescent shape, body slightly back.
In case my sword shattered, to leap forward.
But no need.
My thrust arm met the light yet didn't buckle.
Nor did my sword.
──!!!
A massive roar, smoke rising.
Dirty dust-mixed haze clouded thickly. Dust threatened my left eye, so I closed it and charged through.
Unable to track me in the smoke, no immediate strike came.
"Dodged?!"
Confirming I was unscathed, Leonhardt swung without pause, but I'd already gauged that blow could be met with a sword.
No need to deflect—just slash, and the golden ruin couldn't harm me.
Thus, uncomfortably with one eye, I parried the second.
Another horrific crash; onlookers clutched their ears.
A disbelieving chuckle escaped Leonhardt.
"Shattering Aura head-on...? Damn, this is...!"
"Ease up on the barrages."
"Grrgh!"
I closed the distance in a swift leap. From tricky range to close quarters at last.
Leonhardt swung for his life, each strike all-out.
I received them all, occasionally scraping his armor with quick counters.
Dust rose, gashes appeared.
With one arm, he put on a fierce brawl.
But I deliberately spared his life.
The reason wasn't clear. Just something vague I wanted to ask.
Thinking I'd underestimated him, Leonhardt ground his teeth till his sprouting fangs seemed ready to snap.
"Raaargh!"
A lion's roar burst forth; his sword blazed massively, morphing into a greatsword that slammed the ground.
A spectacle split half the spacious arena; I marveled at the quake shaking my balance.
Yet a one-armed man's body, no matter his sword skill.
Had directions he couldn't cover.
I spun toward his severed side, drawing a semicircle that wasn't blunt.
Shrieeek!
My sword could have gone for the throat.
But it didn't.
Clang! Grind...
"Kuh, hack..."
My blade sliced from his armor into his side halfway, organs barely spared—I'd focused meticulously.
Hoo.
Blood gushed; his mane-like hair lost power and fell.
To the Commander, still gripping his sword without collapsing, I said.
"Drop the sword."
"Promise not to touch them, and I will."
"Why would I kill you?"
"No, the ones... I must protect... are there."
"......"
He fretted more for the Princess and Prince above than himself.
I was too curious.
Even fighting, he'd block my drifts toward the Imperials, expending energy.
Why go this far?
I asked.
"Don't you feel wronged?"
"Insanely wronged."
"Then why tell me that here?"
"That's my... honor."
"Honor........."
This was the first time I'd seen such eyes conveying knighthood.
Eyes with a gray zone of unknown even as light faded.
I asked why he acted this way—did showing knighthood before death send him to heaven?
The answer was slow, slurred, but I listened closely.
Gazing at his dead knights, the Commander spoke softly.
"Fuck, do you think... protecting trash like them... gets me to heaven?"
"......"
"I just protect. Fought worse than this... That's my stupid honor."
I released my sword, left embedded.
Pulling it might sweep organs amid blood, risking shock death.
"That's enough."
Then Leonhardt neither dropped his sword nor fell—fainted upright, head drooping.
His surviving knights eyed me warily, creeping closer.
I nodded at the man.
Shaking my head indifferently, I walked away from Leonhardt.
"Take the Commander!"
With that, the knights fled the gruesome scene, leaving the arena in silence.
So urgent they left those two behind.
Phew...
I picked up a sword from a sprawled knight's corpse.
Stepping around blood, staggering forward.
To where the Princess and Prince overlooked me. Before them.
I bent my knees, then sprang rebounding to the arena stands.
Not too high, so I leaped unhindered.
Thud...
Landed steadily, stepped forward.
The two guarding the Princess and Dorian stared in terror.
Dorian sweated coldly, hand on sword hilt. Frightened. Fair enough—covered in blood.
Swish...
I met Princess Rebecca's eyes.
Her violet irises trembled fiercely; her wine glass did too.
Ripples reflected my image.
I let out a hollow laugh at my bloodied self—wine-red or my own, who knew.
"......"
What now.
Even seeing people as bugs, convictions like his occasionally restored my humanity.
What was he drunk on? Honor? Duty to protect?
Whatever stronger than liquor kept him going till death's door.
"...Me."
"Don't speak."
Maybe pleading to spare these two.
"Just listen."
I tilted my head slightly.
Blinking slowly, the golden lion's face resurfaced.
I thought I'd seen a true knight for the first time.
And recalled the one I must protect.
So, time to end this.
I opened my mouth.
"First. I don't know about the Imperial Family's nobility or whatever. Dead is dead, buried the same... those knights, the Emperor too."
Gulp. A swallow echoed.
"Second. Anyone who gambles lives, rules with false crimes—deserves death."
Dorian couldn't draw his sword, blinking slowly as he sat.
Rebecca seemed more detached from death than her brother, trembling eyes fixed on me.
"However."
"...!!!"
I raised my sword.
Seeing it, Rebecca closed her eyes.
Before the guards could intervene, I swung at Rebecca.
Moments later, liquid poured.
".......However... why... did you spare us?"
I'd cleaved her barely held wine glass in half.
Red wine spilled to the floor, splattering her dress in filthy stains.
"Think your Knight Commander protected you properly."
I held no feelings for the knights I killed.
Drawing real steel, judging honor or whatever, scorning my life.
I had equal right to scorn theirs.
I'd staked my life from the start.
Even wooden swords—loss meant death. Fights have unknowns.
If that knight had scratched me.
Like blood in my eye, what if some threat arose.
I shook my head.
Past now.
"They're dead because of you too."
I told Dorian, eyeing the strewn corpses.
"Did you feel sorry?"
"........."
"You said you'd compensate me?"
I grabbed the wine bottle beside Rebecca.
More than half full; I downed it steadily on an empty stomach.
"This suffices."
Imperial blood after all.
When the Commander knelt, Dorian felt something other than guilt first.
I refused the reward entrusted to me.
- On the Imperial Family's honor...
I scoffed at the memory.
Not one to judge honor, spitting on the dead like vermin.
But the Imperial Family seemed honorless.
"One thing. If the Knight Commander dies, hold me accountable."
Final warning.
"But any other crime against me or mine... I'll resist fully. Whatever it takes."
"......"
"Think you get it."
"Um, wait...!"
Whoosh!
I slashed her neck faster than the Princess could see.
She collapsed unaware, unresisting.
Patience limit—quickest solution.
"You'll suffer for a while."
Can't kill the Princess.
No matter how mad I am, slaying imperial blood.
The Empire's army would swarm Aster and me.
But I couldn't fathom the pooling liquid at her feet.
A murky wine puddle under Rebecca; I ignored it.
To Dorian:
"I've taken my reward. But think of another who deserves one."
".......I'm sorry. Understood."
Tipsiness rising; I stopped talking.
Found the gaping exit from the arena, walked out.
Dragging feet irritably across the ground.
A bit mad at myself.
"Shallow. I'm so damn shallow."
Even citing duty to protect, weird honor meanings.
The Commander went that far to protect.
And me—with someone to protect, yet fighting the Imperial Family, no vengeance for her.
I halted.
Told Sylvia that, yet still weak.
How shameful.
What should I have done?
Wish I had words for times like this.
What should I have done...
"......"
For the first time, about knights.
Deep, deeply pondered.
Honor.
Maybe I'd thought too lightly.
Of knights.
Memories of wandering back alleys surfaced.
Daily drunk haze—honestly shameful life.
I recalled why I'd left, breathed deep.
"Mister?"
"......"
Yeah, to protect the girl calling me that.
Yet my cute boss was likely confined in the waiting room, worrying. Shame burned; I downed more wine.
"Um..."
Need to find her quick...
"Misterrr?"
"Hm?"
Disbelieving, I rubbed my eyes.
Right eye finally opening; Aster stood blankly before me.
Her bright eyes held me—no disgust or anger.
Cold, haughty face, but surely.
"How... here..."
"Ah, broke through the wall. Kinda... collapsed it."
I exhaled at boastful Aster, cold aura from her fist.
First woman proudly admitting wall-smashing.
Aster stared unwavering, asked.
"You okay, Mister...? That blood yours?"
"......No."
"Then fine. That's all that matters."
"Aster."
"Yes?"
"......Sorry."
"Why sorry, Mister...?"
So casually checking me, relieved— I blurted unwittingly.
Surrendering to drunkenness, spilled all regrets.
"My carelessness wasted time."
"Prince came out on his own."
"...Because of me, you're locked here."
"Princess did that? I escaped."
"......... Just killed unknightly. Your knight."
"So?"
I blanked momentarily.
Aster spoke.
"For you?"
"My... bruised feelings."
"Helped?"
"Feels better inside, but ashamed of my impatience."
Aster looked exasperated, wiped blood from my cheek.
Handkerchief, already bloodstained.
"Here."
"...?"
Aster offered her pinky.
Clueless, I reached, hesitated long.
What meaning? No more killing?
"Everything you do from now is my responsibility. I bought you."
"That's."
"Pinky quick."
"No..."
"Aah! Hurry!"
"Ah, okay."
I wiped bloody finger on clothes, hooked hers.
Warm, no recent chill.
"So, fight freely for you from now. But consider my thoughts a bit."
"......Yeah."
Like kids, we pinky-swore.
Absurdly fun; I laughed.
Me grinning sheepishly, she said.
"Good work today."
Smiling Aster sparked a memory.
Good one, before drunken haze.
'Ah, got it.'
I knew why drawn to her from start.
Not looks—toughness, personality resembled someone familiar.
Mother.
I stepped forward.
"I'll knight hard."
"Uh... Knights and ladies shouldn't."
"What nonsense."
I hugged Aster tight.
After whole wine bottle—emotional surge.
Dump all this world's bullshit in one hug.
Relaxed, held long.
Using drunkenness right. Send bad memories away.
"...Really, you need me."
"Aster, I'm actually 24."
"Pfft, joking even now."
"......"
Regrettably, truth buried again today.
'Must protect.'
I thought.
This guy resolves to proper knight.
And for that, need strength.
Mind first. Body too, a bit.
Don't know Imperial Family's moves, but if power comes.
Handle it.
'Rested too long.'
So thinking.
I wiped blood-sticky neck with sleeve.
The trigger for this man to deem himself a knight.
From next day, mornings: water instead of booze.
Lunch, dinner, night same.
But mornings, one glass water.
New starts deserve it.