Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 18: Duel Without Honor (2)
The personal training ground of the 1st Knight Order.
Amidst dozens of wooden dolls placed around, Ruan was holding a sword and gathering Aura. A deep blue color different from before wrapped around the sword, and a smile hung on his lips seeing that.
"Haaap!"
At the same time as swinging the sword, dozens of wooden dolls were split in half. Seeing the sight of them breaking with slice- sounds from here and there, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Hu, hufu. Heuhahahaha!"
Eventually, I did it. It was worth shutting myself in and only training for several days. The color of Aura that was faint until a while ago was now a brilliant blue color to anyone's eyes.
Ruan was afraid of his own talent. Now other Captains also won't be a match for him. The seat of the next 1st Knight Order Captain was also practically his.
However, before that, there was a problem to be solved.
"Kukuk. Kukuku. Look forward to it, Carmil. I will show you what talent is."
I will pay back the humiliation at the castle gate twofold, no, dozens of times. Imagining the appearance of Carmil begging for his life miserably, laughter kept leaking out.
Those wooden dolls under his feet looked overlapped with him.
"Soon I will make you realize what class is."
Trampling the wooden dolls, he left the training ground with a fishy smile.
Currently, various voices were coming and going in the Royal Audience Chamber.
Several hours since the negotiation proceeded. There was not an inch of concession in the opinions of both sides.
The North, which had already experienced humiliation once in the Republic, was more desperate, but the Kingdom also intended to just make political gestures and send them back, like the Republic.
Because both sides knew that, the negotiation was getting longer than initially expected.
"Currently, thousands of demons are launching an offensive in our North. Please remember that at one time, our North stood at the forefront in the war against the Demon King's army. This time for sure, our humanity must join forces to root out the remnants of that Demon King's army!"
"We understand. How could we not know the circumstances of the North. However, our Kingdom also recently had an incident where demons massacred villagers. In a situation where such a terrible situation might happen again, a large-scale military dispatch is difficult."
"Kuk..."
At those words, Barg ground his teeth. He knew about that incident well because he heard it too. The fact that unlike their words, they are actually indifferent to that incident. And the fact that only the 4th Knight Order solved that problem when everyone turned away.
He shuddered at the hypocrisy of the Kingdom nobles. And that was the same for other Northern delegates.
However, Yuria composed herself inwardly as if she expected this situation.
'Phew. It's fine. I can do it.'
Didn't I already succeed in raising the atmosphere in the city once? So surely, I will be able to do it this time too—Yuria believed so and opened her lips.
"I understood the Kingdom's will. It seems we also can't just keep being stubborn."
"M-Milady?"
"Since we were invited as guests, we can't make unreasonable demands beyond this."
"Haha. Since the Grand Duchess says so, our hearts are also much lighter. Still, do not worry. Our Majesty also hopes for maximum support, so surely your hands will be heavy when you return."
At Yuria's words, the reaction on the Kingdom's side also brightened. The King who was listening all along also smiled satisfied, and Yuria looked with eyes saying she knew it would be like that.
She immediately changed the subject to get to the main point.
"By the way, while staying in the Kingdom for a few days, I learned that the culture and tradition here seem amazing every time I see them."
"Hoh, is that really true?"
"Yes. Although the Republic was also great, the time spent in the Kingdom remains much more in my memory. I looked around the market street yesterday too, and it was truly a series of admiration and joy. Fufut, I couldn't close my mouth throughout staying there."
As she praised with artificial laughter, the corners of the nobles' mouths didn't know how to come down. Especially, the elders with strong pride openly liked the comparison with the Republic.
"Hahaha! Since the Grand Duchess says so, I don't know what to do with myself. Well, the Republic is a bit dull. It is understandable for a charming person like the Grand Duchess to say so. Indeed, of course."
"Actually, I also have been to the North in the past, and the memories there remain until today. Especially, the tradition and history in the North were enough to engrave deep in my heart."
"Hmm. Is that so?"
Yuria's eyes narrowed. As expected, there is nothing better than praise to break down wariness.
She threw bait to those fluttering.
"I am also glad that you liked our tradition and history. Then with this opportunity, how about other people also feel the culture of the North? Surely you will like it."
"Hoh. Culture of the North. Certainly, it is interesting. But, is it possible in this place?"
She nodded. Barg was anxious from behind wondering what she was planning to do again, but having come this far, she couldn't back down.
"Our North often holds duels between warriors as a meaning of exchange and friendship. When there is a duel, everyone in the city comes out to watch."
"Pardon?"
"Just in time, I heard there are swordsmen considered the best on the continent in the Kingdom. Didn't one of them even defeat our warrior we boast of?"
At those words, everyone alternately looked at Leohar and Barg in that place. Amidst the mixed joy and sorrow of both sides, Yuria continued speaking.
"To make up for the regret of the first day as well, how about experiencing our North's tradition together. And as a team battle at that."
"Huh. That is, hmm..."
The nobles who were favorable just a moment ago started to hesitate.
To such people, she threw the next bait.
"If we lose, we will provide our North's Ice Crystals for free."
"Yes!? Wh-What does that mean? Did you say Ice Crystals just now!?"
"Yes. We will provide processed Ice Crystals for half a year for free."
Ice Crystals. At that one word, the Kingdom side started to stir. As one of the materials used when refining magic tools and magic swords, it was a resource obtainable only in the North. At that proposal, knights, especially mages, couldn't hide their excitement.
She poured more oil on such people.
"Come to think of it, I heard there are many citizens regretting not being able to see the duel that happened in the market yesterday. Just in time, there was a big platform in the square, how about holding it there? Surely it will be a good festival."
"Hmm."
Already because of the 1st Knight Order's defeat yesterday, the atmosphere of the citizens wasn't very good. Instead of fearing the 4th Knight Order Captain, now everyone was busy praising his swordsmanship. Conversely, the 1st Knight Order was even hearing words asking if the reputation built up so far was just a facade.
In such a situation, her proposal was practically a good opportunity to redeem themselves.
"Then what will you do when the North wins."
At that time, the King who had only been listening all along opened his mouth. At those words, everyone shut their mouths, and Yuria answered as if she had waited.
"It is nothing much. We just want one person."
"Person?"
The King's gaze became sharp. As he glared with eyes saying don't tell me?, she shook her head.
"Please do not misunderstand. It means we will just take him for a while. When the time comes, we will return him."
"..."
"Haha, if it's that much. Isn't that right. Your Majesty?"
A noble asked, but the King didn't answer. However, the nobles were all of the same opinion. They are already pestering for military support anyway, if we can settle it with just one person there, isn't it a completely free deal.
Besides, even that was the case when they won. There was already Leohar, the Kingdom's Best Sword, on this side.
Since there are other Captains too, it was practically an opportunity to get Ice Crystals, which even the Empire or Republic can't easily obtain, for free.
They whispered so only they could hear.
"How is it everyone? I think this is a not bad opportunity."
"It's not just simply not bad! Think about it. Already the warrior called the strongest among them was miserably broken by the 1st Knight Order Captain. Then needless to say for other warriors, would that Grand Duchess even be able to lift a sword properly?"
"Fufu. I can already see the Empire guys envying because of this matter."
Already the nobles were half persuaded, and needless to say for the knights. Since they were already worrying about how to use the Ice Crystals. Yuria was convinced everything was going according to plan.
Until she made eye contact with Leohar.
"Ha."
The moment she heard his sneer, a chill ran down her spine.
It was the moment the tower she thought she built perfectly shook.
"Ice Crystals. That is indeed a decent proposal."
As he stepped forward, everyone's gaze turned to him.
"But when making a bet, you have to weigh it clearly. I feel sorry to Lady Yuria as it seems only we are benefiting."
"P-Please do not mind. This is not a bet but just according to our North's tradition..."
"Haha. Whatever it is, it is true that something was bet."
"Le, Captain Leohar? Why are you suddenly like that."
People on the Kingdom side were also flustered and stopping him, but he didn't even pretend to listen.
Why is he suddenly saying such things. Amidst Yuria being anxious, he opened his mouth.
"Since Lady Yuria bet Ice Crystals, we will also bet Danguk Herb which grows only in the Kingdom."
At those words, everyone there couldn't close their mouths. Danguk Herb was also a rare herb growing only in the Kingdom, effective for wounds and all status conditions.
Even though such a precious thing was bet, only the King and Leohar were calm. Only then did Yuria realize something was wrong.
"Instead, since the Grand Duchess wants a person, if we win, we will also take one person from the North equally."
"Ugh!?"
She flinched, but it was too late. Leohar's fishy smile was already pointing at her.