Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 20
Duel Without Honor (4)
What is a Hero? Everyone has their own answer to that.
Some shout glory, some shout honor. It was a position all knights dreamed of, and the pinnacle itself.
Then, what would the man in front of me, who already obtained the title of Hero, answer?
"What are you doing. Not coming up."
Ruan came to his senses at that voice and looked around. Everyone was waiting only for him to come up.
Yet why is it. After hearing the story from his subordinate, his steps didn't move easily.
To Ruan, a Hero was the 1st Knight Order. The 1st Knight Order was indeed the best knight order on the continent, and he considered the fact that he was the Vice-Captain there more honorable than anyone else.
So he was convinced. That as a Vice-Captain, he would someday hold not only the Captain's seat but also the title of Hero in his hand.
There was no way such a 1st Knight Order would lose to just one person.
"Right, there's no way..."
Surely Carmil must have used some trick. At most, isn't he a human who snatched the Hero seat just by killing many people on the battlefield? A half-wit who can't even use Aura couldn't do that.
Ruan denied it with effort and went up on the arena. The Aura of the drawn sword was clearer than ever. Now he felt like he could win against even Captain Leohar.
"Then we will start the first duel between Captain Carmil and Vice-Captain Ruan!"
Along with the declaration of the start of the duel, the cheers of the spectators covered the square.
Sh-ring-
Amidst that, the sound of the sword Carmil drew was heard very clearly. Not wanting to lose, Ruan swung Aura once in the air.
Whoooong- At that powerful momentum, not only the spectators but also other knights around were surprised.
"Wh-What was that just now? Some blue color flashed."
"Huh. To think Vice-Captain Ruan grew up to that extent already. Truly a genius."
"Hut. Huhu."
Satisfied with their surprised appearance, Ruan laughed only then. As expected. His talent wasn't wrong.
He looked at Carmil again. What kind of expression is that face inside the helmet making now? Surprise? Astonishment? Or awe?
Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Since he would take off that helmet and confirm soon anyway.
"1st Knight Order Vice-Captain Ruan. Challenges you, Carmil, to an honorable duel."
"..."
"Do you know? How much I waited for this day to come."
The humiliation at the castle gate. Today was finally the time to pay it back.
"At that time, I was a little flustered because you cowardly emitted killing intent suddenly. But today will be different."
"...Ha."
"I, the Vice-Captain of the 1st Knight Order! Will defeat you right here today and proudly show everyone-"
-Thud!
At that moment, Ruan couldn't understand the situation unfolded before his eyes.
Carmil, who was on the opposite side just a moment ago, had approached to a position where his sword could reach with just one stomp.
At his appearance rushing kicking off the ground, Ruan stopped talking and took a stance urgently.
"Kuk!?"
Clang! Ruan barely blocked the sword Carmil extended. Of course, the moment he received the sword, he knew. This attack right now was adjusted by Carmil 'so that it could be blocked'.
Therefore, it was even more humiliating. He distorted his face at the indelible disgrace following the castle gate.
"Y-You bastard. How dare you use petty tricks...!"
"Still haven't come to your senses."
Clang, Claang! Clang-
At Carmil's ensuing offensive, Ruan couldn't hide his embarrassment. He wanted to widen the distance for now, but he didn't even give that chance.
Rather, as if mocking him, he even increased the speed of the sword.
"...Damn it!!"
Slash- Eventually, Ruan chose to give flesh and take bone. Instead of forcibly widening the distance, his left arm was cut.
"Huk, huk...!"
He took a deep breath and composed himself. It seems he was too excited. Missing the guy's movement, and being flustered by that frantic sword. He needed to calm down a little more.
Ruan's insides twisted watching him shake off the blood on the sword. Even that relaxed appearance must be a trick to make him angry for sure.
"Hu, huhu. Your trickery is quite something. I almost fell for it as it was."
"What nonsense are you talking about after babbling alone to your heart's content."
"Right, that way of speaking is the problem. A guy who can't even use Aura daring to receive the title of Hero, your existence itself is the problem!"
Becoming a Hero just for the reason of killing many people on the battlefield? This is practically insulting all honorable knights. His sword was stained with blood, not honor.
And I will peel off that reality right today—Ruan swore so and rushed in.
"You better be prepared. Because the chance just now was your last!"
Clang! Ruan's heavy Aura covered Carmil's sword. Although he blocked it, Ruan grinned seeing that appearance.
As expected, he didn't dodge or deflect the sword—no, he couldn't. Because it's obvious what would happen if he responded like that to this fast and sharp sword.
"How is it. Dizzy right? Do you get a sense now?"
"..."
"Don't worry. Since I won't kill you."
Instead, I can't take responsibility even if you lose an arm or so.
Clang, Clang! Ruan swung his sword not to give even a little gap. Once. Ten times. And dozens of times. Everyone admired that endlessly continuing attack.
"Truly amazing skill. Captain Carmil can't even move!"
"Like this, maybe Vice-Captain Ruan will really win."
While those watching couldn't easily predict victory, only Ruan thought.
Why? Why can this guy keep blocking the sword wielding Aura casually? Can't he see this vivid blue color?
Something was wrong. Ruan looked at his sword. It is definitely powerful and sharp Aura than ever. Yet why is that guy fine even after striking down dozens of times? Ruan couldn't accept it at all.
While exhaling rough breath, he pushed even stronger somehow.
And looking at Carmil blocking his attacks calmly, he denied with effort.
'Probably that guy is also overdoing it. Hu, huhu. He must be pretending to be okay.'
Surely this attack will be the last. Surely he won't be able to block the next attack and will fall. Or even the next attack is fine, so please just fall down already...
"Hey, are you done."
"Ah."
When he came to his senses, Carmil was already blocking his attack with one hand. A small dagger was held in his left hand.
"Do you know? The fact that a dagger stabbed once is much more fatal than Aura blocked a hundred times."
"W-Wait a moment-"
-Stab. Along with those words, the dagger stabbed Ruan's shoulder.
"Ah, aaah?"
Ruan looked at his shoulder as if he couldn't believe it. But soon, pain he experienced for the first time in his life covered him.
"Aaaaaaaaak!!"
"Truly a frog in the well."
20 years since the Demon King died. That peace where there was no need to go to war during that time became poison to him now on the contrary.
Ruan dropped his sword and tried to pull out the dagger stuck in his shoulder.
"Ah, aaah. Aaaaak!"
But even that was too painful, so he gave up. Carmil kicked him like that.
"Keoheok!?"
Watching Ruan falling to the floor, no one among the knights could open their mouth. Truly a miserable ending where honor couldn't be found.
Nevertheless, victory and defeat were divided, and amidst the citizens' cheers, Carmil aimed his sword at him.
"If you want to fight more, I won't stop you. However, if you get up, I will cut your leg, and if you grab the sword, your arm will be cut."
"Haa. Haa. Carmil, you bastard... Kuk!"
Ruan glared resentfully, but nothing changed. Suffering from the pain in his shoulder, he laughed with effort.
"Kukuk. Kuhahaha! Did you win like this until now?"
"Hmm?"
"I mean did you annihilate the 1st Knight Order with such petty tricks!"
He glared at Carmil and was sarcastic. Even if he lost in the duel, at least he had to take care of his pride and honor.
"Must be very good. Very proud, huh? Winning against us with such despicable acts."
"..."
"Why? Why don't you go and spread rumors? That you defeated the entire 1st Knight Order!"
Looking down at him shouting desperately like that, Carmil had an expression saying he couldn't understand.
"I rather want to ask. Do you have no experience dealing with a knight order alone until now?"
"Kukuk. Now you are even talking nonsense. Asking the obvious..."
"On the battlefield, this is daily life."
"What?"
When left alone separated from comrades. When falling into an enemy's trap. And when everyone died and only I survived alone.
At that time, what was visible in front of eyes were only hundreds of enemies.
At Ruan's expression not understanding that, instead of explaining more, Carmil just nodded.
"Is that so. Was your world that narrow."
"N-No... Can't be."
With those words as the end, Carmil didn't deal with him anymore and approached. Facing that huge wall, Ruan laughed hollowly.
"Ha, haha..."
I, was a frog in the well?
"Can't be. Can't be..."
"Farewell. Kid."
"Can't be-"
-Slice. The sword Carmil swung cut off Ruan's wrist as it was.
He looked up at his lump of flesh flying in the air as if he couldn't believe it.
"Kuaaaaaaaaak!!"
-Bam! The fist struck down immediately after slammed Ruan's face.
Stuck on the floor, he couldn't even scream anymore, and at that scene, everyone couldn't close their mouths.
"The 1st match. Captain Carmil's victory!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!!"
The square was filled with cheers, and no one doubted this victory.
People who wondered why he stood on the North side, and even people who cheered for the 1st Knight Order, had only one thought in their heads.
Overwhelming. They were just enthusiastic about that unapproachable state.
And Yuria, who watched that match from beginning to end, also couldn't stop her heart from being overwhelmed.
"H-He won."
He really won. He kept the promise. Looking at his back, she clenched her two fists.
And that was the same for the warriors of the North.
"That is... the Kingdom's 4th Knight Order Captain."
"War Hero...!"
Everyone couldn't hide their excitement at the match he showed. Having seen such a thing, they felt like they could win no matter who the opponent was. If they follow that back and stand in the war, what will happen.
Amidst such warriors, Yuria grabbed the axe on her back. Now she just has to win two matches out of the remaining three. Although the 1st Knight Order Captain remained, this much possibility was sufficient.
Like that, she was waiting only for Carmil to come down.
"Uh?"
But why is it. No matter how much time passed, he didn't return. Looking at the arena, the referee's flustered appearance and stirring spectators were seen.
Only then did she realize what happened.
"...Carmil?"
Still, he hasn't come down from the arena.
The duel ended.
With the last attack, the opponent didn't get up anymore.
"The 1st match. Captain Carmil's victory!"
Along with the referee's declaration, endless applause was heard. But why is it.
I was still standing in that spot.
"Captain Carmil. It was a really wonderful match. You may go down now."
The enemy was carried out and the referee guided the way, but I just looked at the sword I was holding.
Even though the opponent fell, I was not sheathing the sword yet.
"Captain Carmil...?"
Why. Why am I still keeping this spot.
'Because this is my battlefield.'
Someone asks me. When do you leave the battlefield.
That is when you achieve complete victory in the war. Or when you face death. If not even that, when you run away leaving the enemy in front of your eyes.
Then where do I belong among these now.
I lifted my head and looked at the battlefield unfolded before my eyes.
'None.'
I didn't correspond to any of those three.
To me who just defeated an enemy, there was no reason to run away. Nor did I face death.
Above all, to say I achieved complete victory, enemies still remained in front of my eyes.
"Next."
"...Yes?"
Therefore, my battlefield hasn't ended yet.
"Who is next?"