Chapter 27 - {The Sub-Male Lead of the Original Story} 3
{The Sub-Male Lead of the Original Story} 3
Translator : Elizabeth
"Ho-oh."
Within the Empire, the North and South were always in a rival relationship.
The North revering martial power, and the South holding wealth and maritime rights.
They had been checking each other and engaging in a battle of pride.
But the head of the North, the Grand Duke, received an evaluation of being "terrible" from the continent's strongest martial artist.
The corners of Roan's mouth twisted up.
"Winter Grand Duke, that scholar-like guy fell with one punch, huh…."
Roan crossed his arms as if interested.
Actually, he inwardly considered Kalian a rival.
It was natural since they rose to Grand Duke and Duke at young ages, representing the North and South respectively.
But to hear he was broken, he felt gratified but at the same time, a competitive spirit arose.
"Then do you think the South will be different?"
"Well. Have to check to know."
Kang Jin-ho grinned.
"Whether this place is weak too, or the real deal."
Roan's amber eyes blazed.
Instead of falling for Kang Jin-ho's provocation, he retorted showing composure rather.
"Terrible, huh… coming from the mouth of a monster who lifted Mammoth Prime alive and flew here, it must not be a complete bluff."
"Oh?"
Kang Jin-ho's eyes widened.
The capture of Mammoth Prime alive happened not long ago in the North.
Especially knowing that he 'lifted it and flew' meant there was someone who saw it at the scene.
Of course, the number of people who saw that scene in the North would exceed tens of thousands.
But it was something that happened in the North just a while ago.
If the Southern Admiral already knew that, the answer was one.
"News travels fast? Looks like the Southern Admiral planted quite a few spies in the North?"
"Spies, that's unpleasant to hear."
Roan grinned and swept back his red hair.
"To rule the sea, one must read the direction of the wind. Shouldn't I know at least how the world turns, and what kind of monster was born in the North, to protect my neck?"
He pointed at Kang Jin-ho.
"The things you committed in the North… starting from Fenrir subjugation, destroying city walls, and up to Mammoth Prime. It's all in my information network."
"Not bad. Knowing a lot of information means you grasp the situation well."
Kang Jin-ho clenched and unclenched his fist.
An opponent he could talk to.
When doing business, there was nothing more important than this.
"Well, good. Words will get through well."
Kang Jin-ho took a step forward.
Blue Aura spewing from his body rose like a heat haze.
"Then shall we check? If your skill is better than the Northern bastards."
Roan didn't dodge either.
Unbuttoning his uniform jacket, he came forward with light movements.
"Good. Let's verify with my own body how valuable the Fist Emperor's 10% discount is."
Roan drew his twin swords.
Shwing—.
The blades shone red.
Red Aura like flowing lava wrapped around the swords.
The Southern Admiral using blazing Aura Blades reminiscent of fire in the city of the sea.
His intense spirit rushed toward Kang Jin-ho.
Rumble—.
As the spirits of the two strong men collided, the air in the front yard of the Ducal Mansion settled heavily.
Serafina and the knights swallowed dry saliva and stepped back.
"Come, Fist Emperor."
Roan growled low.
"I will teach you that the waves of the South here are rougher than the snowstorms of the North."
"Your words flow like water."
Kang Jin-ho grinned and raised his fists.
Boxing stance.
The most basic, yet the stance he trusted the most.
"Since you might become a customer, I'll go easy on you, so relax. Ah, of course, keep in mind I don't accept claims for medical bills."
Unfortunately, separate from Roan's spirit and passion.
To Kang Jin-ho's eyes, he was a weakling who seemed like he would die if tapped.
"Here I come!"
With Roan's shout, a red flash burst out.
His footwork was light yet explosive.
Irregular yet sharp steps, as if riding over rough waves.
The twin swords in his hands had already lost their form, leaving only red trajectories in the air.
'Quite fast.'
Kang Jin-ho evaluated indifferently.
Certainly faster than Kalian.
In battle, Kalian was closer to a style aiming for a heavy single blow.
On the other hand, Roan seemed to have storm-like rapid attacks, driving incessantly using twin swords, as his main weapon.
Swish—!
The first sword strike rushed aiming for Kang Jin-ho's neck.
Speed that an ordinary martial artist wouldn't even be able to react to.
But Kang Jin-ho didn't budge.
Neither dodged, nor reached out to block.
'Arrogant!'
Roan's eyes flashed with anger.
To dare ignore his sword!
He struck down without twisting the trajectory of the sword.
It was the moment the Aura Blade tore space and was about to touch Kang Jin-ho's shoulder.
Ting—!
A sound of bouncing off something was heard.
Not the sound of flesh being cut.
A cheerful yet futile sound, like throwing a chopstick at a massive steel wall.
"…?!"
Roan's eyes widened.
His sword couldn't touch Kang Jin-ho's shoulder.
To be precise, it stopped right in front of the shoulder, blocked by an invisible wall.
'Blocked?'
No, not blocked.
Bounced off.
Blue heat haze wrapping around Kang Jin-ho's body.
Aura Guard.
Not a simple defensive shield.
Aura condensed with overwhelming density blocking physical interference.
"Is this all?"
Kang Jin-ho asked with a yawn-mixed voice.
"Doesn't even leave a scratch."
It was a provocation again.
Roan gritted his teeth.
'Damn it!'
It was his Aura Blade, the Southern Admiral and a Sword Master.
Even if the opponent is the Fist Emperor, the continent's strongest martial artist!
'To not be able to pierce even the defensive shield of an opponent just standing still.'
His pride was hurt.
As a martial artist, as a man, he couldn't endure it.
"Not yet!"
Roan's body rotated.
The twin swords began to dance.
Clang! Clash! Kang! Ka-ang!
Sword strikes poured like a shower.
A wild dance digging in without blind spots—up, down, left, right.
Each one was a killing sword strike with the power to cut rock like tofu.
But Kang Jin-ho still stood there as if rooted.
"Not touching at all?"
Kang Jin-ho's evaluation was cruel.
Every time Roan's sword touched, the blue Aura Guard flashed and sparked.
But that was all.
It couldn't cut a single hem of Kang Jin-ho's clothes, nor a single strand of hair.
Rather, Roan's wrists swinging the swords were becoming numb due to the recoil.
'What kind of… monster-like durability is this!'
Roan shuddered.
This wasn't a difference in technique.
It was pure output, and a qualitative gap in Aura.
If the red Aura he emitted was a candle, the blue Aura that man wrapped himself in was a blast furnace.
Swallowed the moment it touches, and broken the moment it collides.
He felt rather overwhelmed while attacking.
"No more?"
Kang Jin-ho tilted his head.
He was apathetic like a spectator watching a talent show.
"The Northern bastards at least had a heavy single blow, but you are too light. Like a mosquito biting."
"Eek…!"
Roan's amber eyes were dyed red with bloodshot veins.
Mosquito.
Is that an insult suitable for the ruler of the South?
"I will make you regret it!"
Roan stepped back and combined the twin swords.
Concentrated the Aura of his entire body on the tip of the sword.
Not a simple wild dance, but a one-hit-kill thrust piercing everything.
Boom!
Roan's body became a red comet and rushed.
The atmosphere screamed and split.
This at least should pierce. No, it must pierce.
"Hyaaaaaap!"
Kang Jin-ho began to move his fist now.
But he didn't even clench his fist tightly.
Just lightly, very lightly thrust it out.
"Too big movements only create gaps."
Kang Jin-ho's step moved minutely.
The basic of boxing, a jab.
Thwack—!
"Kueok?!"
It was before Roan's finishing move could touch.
Kang Jin-ho's left jab struck Roan's face.
Neither a straight, nor a hook.
Just a fist thrown lightly for check.
But its power was beyond imagination.
"Kueok!"
Roan's vision flashed white.
An impact as if hit by a sledgehammer shook his brain.
The Aura drawn up for the finishing move scattered into pieces.
His body tried to pitch forward due to inertia, but floated backward due to the impact.
Thump!
Roan sprawled out in a large character shape (大).
The twin swords slipped from his hands powerlessly.
Clatter—
Red Aura Blades no longer lingered on the two swords fallen on the floor.
And silence hovered.
Only the sound of waves was heard exceptionally loud in the front yard of the Ducal Mansion.
"……."
Serafina covered her mouth.
The knights who were surrounding looked at their fallen lord with dazed expressions.
The Admiral called the strongest in the South.
Fainted from just a single jab, and a very insincere punch at that.
"Phew."
Kang Jin-ho shook off his fist and clicked his tongue.
"As expected, this side is weak too."
He looked down at the fallen Roan.
Fortunately, this time too, his strength control containing his effort was perfect.
Since emotion wasn't carried like with Kalian, the teeth were safe.
Just the brain shook for a moment and he fainted; bones didn't break nor did he vomit blood.
It was a very clean, gentlemanly, and considerate suppression.
'Since he might become a customer, it's trouble if he gets hurt badly.'
Show consideration to a customer who might make a request.
His business creed protected the teeth of the original sub-male lead.