Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Shred of Honor
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"Waaaaah!"
In the bandit hideout turned into utter chaos by the sudden raid, William looked around. He could tell at a glance that these attackers weren't ordinary soldiers. They were highly skilled veterans.
'At least Vanguard Swordsman level.'
Not only were they better armed, but their skills outclassed his crew entirely. Even if they'd clashed head-on instead of this ambush, he was certain they'd lose a hundred times out of a hundred. And among them, one man stood out.
"It's a monster!"
A giant wielding a greatsword taller than a man. The bandits couldn't even stand before him. They scattered like startled rabbits, screaming in terror.
William instantly recognized Kyle as the leader of the attacking soldiers. Even swinging a man-sized two-hander, his stance never faltered, and his swordsmanship was remarkably refined. It was like watching a knight.
'Can I win?'
A foolish thought. What did it matter if he couldn't? He knew even fleeing would end in capture soon enough.
Clank!
Pulling down the visor on his sallet narrowed his field of view until only straight ahead remained. He loved this sensation. No matter how dire the situation, donning the helmet and lowering the visor brought a sense of calm.
William raised his sword. It was a treasured family heirloom he'd wielded for nearly a decade, though reduced to a bandit's tool.
'Finally, I can use you without shame.'
Even as an Elite Swordsman, facing two or more Vanguard Swordsmen was suicide. Yet now, he felt as at ease as during his army days. Back on the battlefield, he roared.
"Come at me! I, an Elite Swordsman, shall face you all!"
"Come at me! I, an Elite Swordsman, shall face you all!"
As the Vanguard Swordsmen carved through the bandits, a sudden voice made them turn. In the dim flicker of the campfire stood an armored man staring their way.
The Vanguard Swordsmen raised their swords and surrounded him at the sight of this unusual foe. Even if he was an Elite Swordsman—no, a knight—even twenty Vanguard Swordsmen charging at once would overwhelm him. But I held my men back.
"I'll handle him."
It wasn't out of fondness. I just wanted to test my skills against the first Elite Swordsman I'd faced in war, the one who'd pushed me hardest in combat.
It had only been a few weeks since then, but I could now parry a knight's blade to some extent, and the lady teaching me swordsmanship had called me a genius. I should be able to manage.
Of course, I also figured if things got dicey, my Vanguard Swordsmen could mince him like butcher's meat. Even if it bruised my pride a bit.
As I pulled my men back and stepped forward, the man bowed his head.
"My thanks for this honorable duel. My name is—"
"Honor? What honor does a bandit scum like you have?"
Honor? I smirked at his words. Honor for a bandit? He gave a bitter laugh.
"True enough... A bandit has no honor. My apologies. I forgot myself for a moment."
With that, he raised his sword. It was a two-hander just like mine, though slightly smaller.
"Still, thank you. At least I can go out fighting properly to the end. I always figured it'd end like this someday."
A two-hander versus two-hander duel. I advanced cautiously, sword at the ready. Where to strike? Knock his blade aside and go for the throat gap? Or lock blades and smash his guard?
His medium armor would blunt slashes, that much was clear. That put my lighter gear at a disadvantage.
One step... two steps. The distance closed. He began spinning his sword over his shoulder. That was textbook—using centrifugal force.
I was the freak wielding a sword unnaturally. Who else in this world swung a nearly 10kg blade like a longsword besides me?
Clang!
Our swords met with a heavy shock traveling down the blade. Through the slit in his sallet, fierce eyes gleamed.
Clang! Cha-ring! Scraaape!
A flurry of exchanges in seconds. Matching strength for strength, I gripped the ricasso just above my guard and slammed the crossguard into his sallet.
Thud!
"Guh!"
Even protected by the helmet, a blunt strike to the head delivers massive shock. Staggering from the solid hit, he still raised his sword to check my advance.
"...Monstrous strength. Just a crossguard tap, and it felt like an iron mace."
I watched him silently. He was better than expected. An Elite Swordsman earned the title; his technique was highly polished. But... maybe because of who I'd sparred with up to now.
Sparring Cligrove's strongest knight had proven invaluable in real combat. No one matched the lady's speed, and their precision fell short too.
As I stared, he quietly raised his sword. Our blades flashed keenly, tangling in the air.
Slash!
"Guh..."
My upward sweep sliced his thigh. The thigh was a vulnerable spot relatively speaking.
It needed free movement, and lower attacks were rare, so beneath the tassets covering above, it was practically bare flesh.
But regardless of armor, it was a critical area—the femoral artery ran through it. A deep cut could cause fatal blood loss.
"Damn... So this is the end for me."
Blood poured from the gash my sword had left. Left untreated, he'd bleed out soon. Knowing this, he roughly yanked off his sallet and tossed it aside.
Clunk!
The helmet rolled on the dirt, revealing a middle-aged man's face. Elite Swordsmen were defined by skill, so it made sense.
"I yield. I thought no one could force me down with raw power alone, but to lose in strength and swordplay..."
His hands trembled from clashing with my brutish two-hander repeatedly. I posed a question to the dying man.
"The bandits rampaging around Cligrove... All from Sarisa?"
If so, it confirmed the Sarisa Count had deliberately unleashed them. But he just laughed.
"I'm still a man who knows honor."
"...A man of honor who plundered villages, enslaved folk, and massacred the innocent?"
If he knew honor, could he have burned villages and slaughtered the blameless? He shook his head.
"That wasn't my doing. Believe me or not, that's your call... But your thinking is unusual. The villages my men hit were full of serfs."
Serfs were less than untouchables. Nobles and even commoners beneath them barely cared if a few died. His words captured local sentiment perfectly.
He found it odd that I, claiming some honor and thus at least commoner rank, cared about serf deaths. That was reality. If I'd stayed a serf growing up, I might've ended up dead by bandits someday.
"Perhaps you're the true makings of a knight."
His voice grew weaker. The blood loss from his thigh suggested shock was imminent. Aware of it, he laughed hollowly.
"I know it's shameless, but... one last request?"
"What is it?"
He fidgeted with his hand, then laboriously lifted his sword from the ground.
"If possible... Deliver this sword and ring to my son. And finally... Search that building. There's a chest inside. Even a few gold coins for my family..."
His eyes were eerily calm for a man on death's door. I could've ignored him, but granting a dying man's wish wasn't hard. Bandit or not, his swordsmanship deserved respect.
"Understood."
As I took the sword and ring, he bowed gratefully.
"My son's name is Railey. No family name... He's a commoner. But ask for Railey of the apple tree house outside the outer wall—anyone will know."
He hesitated, then spoke quietly.
"Not curious who sent us?"
"..."
"I can't say directly. Consider this repayment for the favor—and my last shred of honor. Heh..."
With that, he died. I had my men bury him, of course stripping the armor first. It wouldn't fit me, but an Elite Swordsman's gear was valuable.
After burning the bandits' bodies and lair, I decided to return to the city.
"I see... Well done. Excellent results."
That was the lady's response to my report of a village wiped out and the bandits eradicated. Her tone held regret, but not for the serfs—likely the minor tax shortfall their deaths would cause.
No one cared about the vanished village. Tucked in a corner of the count's domain, mostly serfs anyway. If I'd remained a serf, I might've met the same end someday.
"Thank you. One more thing to report."
Her turquoise eyes turned to me.
"Important?"
"Yes. It's from the bandits' own words, but grave enough to warrant telling you."
She eyed me with interest. Curious what could make me call it grave.
"Speak."
"The Sarisa Count seems involved in this bandit raid."
"Any solid proof?"
"None, but..."
No evidence. Just the bandits' tales and the final swordsman's words. She narrowed her eyes.
"I suspected as much. But no proof. We can't confront the Sarisa Count on suspicion alone."
Should've beaten a confession out of a regular bandit. But in noble disputes, commoner testimony rarely counted. It was same-class word against word.
Anyway, report done, I bowed to leave the office and rest. But...
"Speaking of which, Kyle."
I looked up at her voice.
"Yes, my lady."
"It's time for your true mission."
True mission?
"True mission, my lady?"
She smiled.
"Escort duty. We're heading to the Sarisa Count's territory. Prepare yourself."