105
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 105
I had felt it before, but there was something about Caesar's duels that made people excited.
Axe techniques that control wind and an axe that generates lightning.
Despite being life-or-death duels, watching him handle nature itself was more entertaining than frightening.
The editor-in-chief of Knight Night magazine, sitting next to Aldo, muttered.
"God of Lightning... No... Wind Barbarian?"
"What?"
"About his new nickname. After watching today's duel, I think a different nickname would be better than Devil Slayer."
The editor was right.
Devil Slayer or Homigraphy's Axe.
These don't really fit Caesar's current situation.
A new nickname would be good, but what would work?
"We'll think about that later, what rank was Vincent?"
"4,511th."
Given that Gideon was ranked 4,928th before losing his right arm, he had defeated a knight nearly 400 ranks higher in one go.
In Knight Night magazine's 100+ year history, climbing 400 ranks at once had happened only a handful of times.
It was almost unprecedented among knights in the top 5%.
Aldo glanced at the knights in the audience.
While Golden Knights had the stigma of lacking skill except for their 'sturdy armor', many knights were shaken by the overwhelming power and technique that chopped through that sturdy armor like firewood.
"Are we supposed to face such a monster?"
"...I'm not even ranked 6,000th."
"This seems like something we should give up on."
"You know we won't get severance pay if we do that. If we tarnish the nobles' honor, we might even have to pay compensation."
"Those noble bastards, did they send us knowing Caesar would be this strong?"
The fear Caesar created was spreading.
Just by taking down one Golden Knight Vincent, he had made all the knights sitting here tense.
Aldo looked at Caesar's next opponent walking out confidently.
"Who is that man?"
"A knight called Deck the Hair Collector. They say he cuts off all his opponents' hair after winning and keeps them as wigs."
"What rank?"
"Well... 3,9..."
Ting!
The coin Joseph flipped flew high and fell to the ground.
Caesar and Deck charged simultaneously.
Deck successfully dodged Caesar's axe with nimble movements.
And his sharp rapier thrust toward Caesar's lower back.
Caesar dodged Deck's rapier with amazing movement while swinging the axe in his left hand horizontally.
Deck must also be technique-oriented, as he lightly dodged Caesar's axe that came at an almost impossible angle to avoid.
But he couldn't dodge the sharp winds rising from the axe.
Dozens of sharp wind fragments slashed Deck's face.
"Gyaaaaaah!"
His bloodied hair flew about as he instantly became bald.
Caesar raised his axe toward Deck's head, who had lost his eyes, ears, and hair.
"Take the rage of 100 million bald people."
Thwack!
Deck's head split vertically, spraying a fountain of blood.
The editor swallowed hard.
"...He was ranked 3,925th."
"The duel ended in less than 10 seconds."
Aldo swallowed.
Caesar Sylvatil.
Honestly, while he didn't particularly like the guy, after watching today he was sure of one thing.
If that guy had seriously targeted House Sylvatil, he wouldn't have bothered with the complicated verbal takeover of House Sylvatil.
"...Endless Duel."
"Pardon?"
"For Caesar's nickname. This would be good."
This new nickname would surely cause a stir throughout the imperial province.
***
Miles stared blankly at Caesar's duels.
He had lost count of how many challengers had been turned to rags.
Starting with the Golden Knight, he killed them one by one, the Hair Collector, Cheglan's Hound, Knight of Bourbon, and other knights rumored to be excellent in the Empire.
Miles looked at the knights in the audience.
All the knights looked at Caesar with terror-filled eyes.
Caesar's axe showed no mercy.
Once a duel began, he mercilessly cut off knights' heads, and executed those who begged for their lives on their knees like an executioner carrying out a death sentence.
'Is there a counter?'
Classic-type knights fought trusting their sturdy armor and shields, but they all became scrap metal to Caesar's axe.
Technique-type knights could fight somewhat evenly with Caesar using their refined swordsmanship and quick footwork, but they were so physically weak that even a graze from Caesar's wind was fatal.
'Tank-type knights lasted the longest, at least.'
Tank-type knights could withstand Caesar's sharp winds with pure physical endurance and somewhat keep up with his speed.
But crucially, tank-type knights weren't technically complete enough to match Caesar's skill and experience.
Slash!
Another knight's head flew off.
Caesar looked at the spectators and spoke.
"Next opponent."
Caesar wiped the blood from his axe by rubbing it against the body of the knight he had just killed, readying himself again.
The knights spoke with trembling hands.
"H-how many is that now?"
"That makes twelve."
"...He's a monster. That thing is a blood-drinking monster."
If Caesar showed even a slight sign of fatigue, they might challenge him, but Caesar showed no signs of tiredness at all.
Could that really be human?
Just then, messengers arrived through the crowd of knights.
"Is Sir Milan here?"
"Is Sir Thomas present?!"
How could the messengers have gotten into the spectator seats?
As everyone was wondering this, one of the men who received a letter opened it and immediately stood up.
"I-I forfeit the duel!"
Miles tilted his head.
A knight forfeiting a duel.
This was beyond dishonor, it was practically severing one's own lifeline as a knight.
Caesar, who had been taking a brief rest, spoke while looking at the knight who said he would forfeit.
"You say you're forfeiting? What's your name?"
"P-Pion, sir."
"Pion... Ah, now that I think about it, you were the one who wrote that letter ranting about how small my thing was."
Pion bit his lip.
"...I was rash. I sincerely apologize."
"Right. I'll let those who apologize off. See over there?"
Caesar pointed to Harrison and Gideon sitting in the spectator seats.
"Go to those two people, and they'll calculate exactly how much you owe for your life and the price for insulting me."
"Thank you."
Following Pion's lead, others began forfeiting one after another.
Most were those who had received letters, and some knights declared their forfeit even without receiving letters, swept up in the atmosphere.
What on earth was going on?
Just then, a secretary ran up to Miles.
"What's happening right now?"
"The Imperial family and House Redfield have made their move."
"What?"
"The nobles received letters asking them to stop criticizing Caesar. From the Imperial side, Prime Minister Hilos and the Crown Prince applied pressure, and from House Redfield, Sir Mitchell took action."
The secretary swallowed hard before continuing.
"Because of this, we expect at least half of the knights to forfeit."
"Why didn't I know about this?"
"...It seems they moved secretly to keep the Royder Order from finding out. I apologize. We only learned about it 10 minutes ago."
Miles roughly loosened his tightening tie.
He perfectly understood what Caesar was aiming for.
Where would the knights go with those contracts that Harrison and Gideon were having them sign?
They would go to their lords.
Then they would have to pay Caesar compensation as specified in those contracts, and the money of the lords, whose financial situation was already not good, would quickly start to dry up.
Unless House Redfield and the Imperial family helped financially, but would that be easy?
Perhaps...
Just then, a messenger approached Miles.
"Are you Miles Parker?"
Miles looked at the letter stamped with a red wing-shaped seal.
It was House Redfield's seal.
***
[Caesar Sylvatil! Defeats Knight Night Magazine's 3,115th Ranked Knight of Bourbon!]
[Caesar Sylvatil: Anyone Who Wishes to Challenge Me May Apply Regardless of Skill Level]
[Who Will Be Caesar Sylvatil's Next Opponent in His Infinite Duels?]
[Caesar Sylvatil: Why Did He Suddenly Begin These Infinite Duels?]
Caesar's face was plastered across newspapers throughout the imperial province.
Felix put down the newspaper.
"3,115th rank... I never dreamed Caesar's skills would be at this level."
Bang!
The district head slammed the table.
"We, we need someone stronger! One thousandth rank. Yes, wouldn't it work if we recruited a knight ranked within the top thousand?"
Felix shook his head.
"It won't be easy."
"Why not?"
"Up to three thousandth rank, there are wandering knights and duel knights who make their living solely from duels, but from two thousandth rank up, most belong to prestigious knight orders."
Felix took a sip of tea.
"Such knights are honorable and excellent knights that lords would never give up even if they run out of money. Moreover, most of these knights hold important positions, so if they were to die or get injured in a duel with Caesar, it could shake their entire house."
"Then what are you saying we should do! Most of the knights who challenged Caesar are now forfeiting! At this rate, we'll only end up increasing that damned Caesar's popularity!"
"Even the media is taking Caesar's side."
"They're all dancing to that damned Imperial family's tune! How on earth did it come to this..."
The district head seemed to lose his mind as he pulled at his hair.
Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Y-yes! Perhaps assassination would be the right choice! P-poison or something! Sir Caesar is clearly a heretic, so even the pure goddess of the Royder Order would understand."
"If that is what you wish, then do so."
"R-really?"
"But don't think about getting help from the heresy inquisitors."
If Caesar were to die by poison in this situation, who would be suspected of orchestrating the assassination?
The Royder Order, of course.
And if they were to fail?
It's impossible to even imagine how he would respond.
"A-ahem! It seems I was hasty. I apologize. But how should we resolve this situation?"
"There's Margrave Yugar Hironeel."
The district head hesitated before speaking.
"I'm not sure if Count Hironiel will move. We did promise to regularly supply 10% potions to treat his son if he would participate in the duel, but..."
"That's not enough to move the Wolf King."
The Wolf King, Yugar Hironiel.
The guardian who protects the continent from the periodic invasions of the snow people from the snowfields.
To move the sword of such an honorable person, a simple potion won't be enough.
"Give him holy water."
"Wh-what did you say? Holy water? That's preposterous!"
"Nothing less will move the Wolf King right now."
Felix rose from his seat.
"Calculate it carefully. How much the Royder Order will lose if you don't kill Caesar now."
With those words, Felix left the room.
***
In just 3 days, Caesar had achieved victory over 49 knights and received surrender from 182 knights.
Caesar went to find Joseph, who was leaving the dueling grounds.
"Thank you again for today."
Joseph contemplated for a moment before speaking.
"Sir Caesar. Not everything can be solved with blood."
"I know that."
"While this incident has raised your reputation, it has only planted deep vigilance and revenge in your enemies' hearts."
Caesar isn't a fool either.
Now that the Royder Order has somewhat gauged Caesar's martial prowess through these duels, they won't confront him with shallow tactics.
It's not like they can make peace gestures now either.
The Royder Order and Caesar will go to the very end.
"It was a relationship that would have soured anyway. The timing was just moved up a bit."
Caesar looked at Gloria sitting in the spectator seats.
Gloria was helping Harrison and Gideon guide those who were forfeiting their duels.
"Since you understand, that's fine. And I don't think I can continue being a witness anymore."
"Did the Dre Order contact you?"
"They told me not to witness for someone causing so much controversy."
It's actually impressive that he held out for three days.
Caesar expressed his sincere gratitude.
"I'm truly grateful for all your help until now."
"...If you need a fair witness, I could help personally."
"No. I'll handle that matter myself from now on too."
Joseph hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"To be honest, I'm being tested."
"Tested?"
"I've never met such a devout believer and righteous knight as Sir Caesar. Even what's happening now... I think it's extremely unfair by my standards."
Joseph's hands trembled.
"Despite my conscience and faith being torn apart, I... I who cannot help Sir Caesar... I feel so pathetic and shameful."
Caesar placed his hand on Joseph's shoulder and spoke.
"Sir Joseph, what's important is protecting good people from devils. In contrast, I'm just a knight swinging an axe for my own petty interests."
"Everyone in the world knows. The malaria treatment can save many suffering patients. Hundreds of thousands... No, millions could be saved. Sir Caesar is swinging his axe to save countless patients. I've seen this noble sight closer than anyone else here."
Joseph gently removed Caesar's hand.
"I seem far too inadequate to become as excellent a knight as you, Caesar. How embarrassing that I suggested you become a holy knight with such shortcomings."
Joseph placed his hand on his chest and said.
"I sincerely pray that the merciful Goddess Dre's fortune fills your future path."
With those words, Joseph left the dueling grounds.
Caesar scratched his head while watching Joseph's lonely departing figure.
"He's too kind-hearted."
But isn't it because of people like him that the world keeps turning somewhat correctly?