A Magnificent Warrior (10) Completes
Ahor approached Ushun, who was loosening her muscles. She informed her that she had come alone because Ashtien had decided to cheer for Vesta.
“So the captain came alone?”
Ushun laughed and clicked her tongue.
“Huh. What can I do? It’s because of the reason, so it doesn’t feel too bad.”
Even Ushun thought that her subordinate’s match mattered less than her fiancé’s. And it was her first match.
If she had had someone similar to a fiancé, she would have chosen that side too.
—No. If I had had such a person from the beginning, I wouldn’t have even participated in this match.
Why would I go through pointless hardship? Instead of playing with my fiancé, I would have watched or joined other matches.
“Damn it.”
Ushun let out a big sigh. Seeing that, Ahor thought Ushun was unusually sulky.
So she gestured with her chin to the others.
“There are already a lot of people.”
The people who had come to cheer for Ushun were not just Ahor. Ushun valued friendship, and she had acted without shame in that regard.
She was the kind of person who received as much love as she sowed.
Ahor saw her subordinates gathering tightly, wanting to cheer for Ushun.
When everyone looked bright, it wasn’t that they were forced to participate.
“I didn’t have to come.”
“If you say that, it’s a bit sad.”
Ushun chuckled at Ahor’s joke.
“Why did you say you were participating in the tug-of-war match?”
“If I just stood still, my body would have felt itchy.”
“I see. That’s why you are who you are.”
—The participants are starting to gather now.
One centaur shouted in a deep voice. Ushun listened to that voice and stretched her back.
“It’s about time.”
Uhtcha—
She stood up straight, striking an imposing posture.
“Thank you for coming to cheer for me, Captain.”
Ushun extended her fist.
“Don’t thank me. Since you’re going anyway, come back having won.”
Wanting to pass on strength, Ahor bumped fists with Ushun quite forcefully.
“Haha. Of course. Have you ever seen me lose anywhere? I’m Tamugai Ushun. Even against a centaur, you won’t win.”
Ushun walked toward the arena, leaving Ahor behind.
“This side is centaurs. That side is centaurs.”
She scanned the participants. She didn’t see any other elves. In reality, apart from Ushun, most were centaurs.
“All of them have such massive builds.”
Ushun was not only tall but also had an enormous physique. She could have been called a giant without shame.
But even Ushun could not compare to the centaurs.
“It feels like I’ve become a foal. I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
Perhaps because elves were rare here, the centaurs shot Ushun glances.
“What are you looking at?”
“…Did you mix up the event? Or the venue. Shooting with bows is over there.”
“You’re a kind friend. You can even speak elf. Is this the tug-of-war area? If it is, then it’s fine.”
“Huh.”
An awkward elf made the others look doubtful. Ushun didn’t care about that at all.
What stood out far more than that was—
“Hm?”
A man caught her eye.
What made that man stand out was that he wasn’t a centaur.
“Human…?”
The human man had taken off his shirt. Ushun let out a small exclamation.
—It’s a human. And it looks like he’s from the Empire.
Even as a veteran elf warrior who had lived through countless battles, Ushun saw that the man’s body was no ordinary sight. No, it was the first time she had seen such a body.
He was taller than Ushun. Enormous.
—Bear? No, no. Then a bull? No, that’s not it either. A bull would mean a bull with teeth.
If a bull’s body carried aggression, if there truly existed a bull that devoured meat.
—It must be a body like that.
First, it was thick. It looked hard. But at the same time, it had elasticity and looked flexible, and it looked functional. It would be extremely agile.
It was enough to make one gasp.
Ushun kept an eye on the warrior. Because there were things one could know just by looking at the body.
—I’ve never seen such a human before. He won’t be easy.
Few people would give that evaluation to Ushun.
*
Vesta lowered his neck guard.
This was the weapon to be used during the tournament.
Why would a neck guard be used in the centaurs’ duel-focused matches? But there was a reason for everything.
Until a hundred years ago, they had fought with wooden swords.
‘Every time a match was held, the arena was full of corpses.’
Fifty years ago, they used this missing iron sword. Ten years ago, they started using neck guards.
Because so many warriors were dying, they had no choice but to change.
Even if they fought with neck guards, would there be no injuries? The neck guard itself was a magnificent weapon. If you knew how to use it, it was nothing to make a hole in a human’s head.
‘If you wear a helmet, you don’t have to worry about your head exploding.’
Still, if you were hit properly, you could fall unconscious from a concussion.
Flick— flick—
—It’s just right.
The match was about to start.
—Since it’s been a long time since I’ve fought in a match, my heart is pounding.
This pounding was wrapped in tension or excitement, but if you looked closely, you could tell it was fear.
If it wasn’t a lunatic like Lycaon, even a professional fighter who had fought all his life would feel this fear every time.
Entering the fight was terrifying. It was like entering a battlefield no one could help with.
Vesta never turned away from that fear. He had always fought with it beside him.
[You have no fear? What kind of mind allows you to be like that?]
[I'm afraid.]
[Someone who’s afraid can’t fight like you.]
[No, that’s not true]
To survive, one had to accept that fear. To tame it. Only then could one fight not to win, but to survive.
‘Today, I will survive.’
Vesta’s expression looked colder than when facing the elves. It was like the look he had when he had only just arrived at the tribe.
Bia saw that expression and worried. Her own heart was probably not at ease either.
“Are you really okay?”
Only Vesta could solve Arin’s question without further explanation. Bia knew that fact, but she also knew that Vesta had no obligation to do so.
To Bia, Vesta did not seem to be a person who enjoyed fighting. He simply did not avoid the given fight.
What would he gain from this fight?
A championship prize? His fiancé was the king who ruled the wasteland.
Recognition? That was important, but Vesta was not fighting to get the centaurs’ recognition.
He was simply coming out to fight for his friend’s honor.
“Even now…”
Bia hesitated. What she wanted to say was probably this. I’m really grateful you’re coming out, but I don’t want you to see you getting hurt.
“Bia. Don’t worry too much.”
She was not fighting with a debt in her heart.
“Don’t stop me. Just cheer for me.”
Bia looked up. She saw a boy with a sharp expression loosen and smile confidently.
—Ah, no longer can I call him a boy.
He was a boy who had grown up in the rough storms of the steppe.
—Yes. The one in front of me is no longer a child.
He was a warrior. Vesta had that capability and mindset.
“I will cheer. Of course.”
Then he would win.
—Since I received the fairy queen and the golden blessing.
*
Ashtien welcomed Bia back from the stands.
“Yes. The preparation is ready?”
“Yes. He seems to be in good condition.”
“Huu. So that’s it.”
Ashtien closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
“I’m not even the one going, but I’m nervous.”
“I’m the same.”
“Is that so. Well, you wouldn’t be at ease either.”
Ashtien spoke to Bia in a way of treating her as a friend rather than a subordinate.
“Yes. How do you think the match will go? Not anyone else, but if it’s you, it’ll be something I can trust.”
Bia was about to answer, but Ashtien waved her hand.
“No. Even so, I need to confirm with my own eyes. And I have some idea too. I’m also a warrior.”
When she spoke of her own martial arts, she could not leave out the bow. But Ashtien’s martial arts were not limited to bows. She was an outstanding warrior in every aspect. Of course, she handled swords well.
“I’m not as good at handling swords as you, but I do have some eye for watching.”
Bia nodded.
“Vesta-nim is an excellent sword user.”
The most practical sword user in the world. And also.
“Even if his strength is lacking.”
He had other strengths.
Centaur were born as knights and warriors. Just growing up normally gave them absurd strength.
Because of that, they were arrogant, and they had no choice but to be arrogant. Because they had power.
Vesta was different.
“In spirit and heart, there is no rival.”
Not power, but a strong spirit. And a strong heart. Bia wanted to call it courage.
And stronger heart than strong power. Bia believed that.
*
Vesta walked forward step by step.
Suddenly, he thought it had been a very long time since he had walked like this.
The reaction was not favorable. Because a human boy who seemed tough had appeared, the stands were greatly agitated.
It didn’t matter much. In the end, between so many spectators, the two people shining the brightest supported Vesta.
What use would cheering from centaur giants do?
‘Is that my opponent?’
The opponent’s centaur also looked stern.
The opponent’s skill was unknown. She wasn’t some famous young master’s daughter. According to Bia’s word, she was a nameless warrior whose name was not known.
Perhaps this was her first match of the year.
Still, he did not underestimate her.
‘She might be starving for victory.’
Like when he first killed a bear. Like when he bit off Orthros’s brother.
Like he had cut down countless opponents.
“…A challenger who is human. That’s boring.”
Vesta knew a little about the centaur arena. He raised his head.
“You’re mistaken about something.”
“Human…?”
Vesta clearly stated one fact.
“I’m not the one challenging. You are challenging me.”
—Because my side is ten years senior.
“Come on, let’s see your skill, rookie?”
—I welcome you to the duel match. Sincerely.
Flame Barrier Activation
The flames roared up around Vesta. A circular flame barrier rose, protecting him like a blazing fortress. His spirit flame burned with the power of his own blood and life force, illuminating the entire arena in brilliant red light.
The crowd gasped.
Narinhoon’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re using your life as fuel? Insane.”
Vesta’s voice was calm, but his burning eyes were unyielding.
“Enough talk. Let’s end this.”
He stepped forward, the flame barrier swirling around him like a hurricane of fire.
Narinhoon’s spear thrust forward, but the flames repelled it instantly.
Vesta’s hand moved. He formed a fist and punched straight through the barrier.
The collision sent shockwaves of heat rippling outward.
Narinhoon’s face twisted in pain as he was sent flying back.
The Spirit Princess watched from the royal box, her eyes wide.
Vesta’s breathing grew ragged, but he stood firm.
“I won’t lose.”
The flame barrier began to flicker as his life force drained.
Narinhoon charged again, spear glowing with dark energy.
Vesta burned more blood, his veins glowing red under the skin.
The flames roared higher, scorching the ground.
Narinhoon’s attack slowed, the fire burning through his armor.
Vesta roared and delivered one final strike.
The flame barrier exploded outward in a wave of fire.
Narinhoon was sent crashing into the arena wall, his body broken and bloodied.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Vesta collapsed to his knees, the flame barrier fading.
He had nearly lost consciousness, but he had won.
The Spirit Princess descended, healing his wounds with her magic.
Vesta smiled weakly.
“Thank you.”
She nodded, her voice soft.
“You fought bravely, Vesta.”
He looked up at her, his burning eyes softening.
“I fought for my friends.”
The Spirit Princess smiled.
“And for yourself.”
Later, in the quiet of his tent, Vesta spoke to the female dragon in ancient Dragon Tongue.
The dragon’s voice rumbled like distant thunder.
“Human… you have done well.”
Vesta answered in the ancient tongue, his voice steady.
“I seek no war. Only peace.”
The dragon paused.
“Human Khan… I will consider it.”
Vesta bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
He walked out of the tent, the weight of the fight lifting from his shoulders.
Narinhoon was carried away on a litter, defeated but alive.
Ashtien watched from the stands, her heart full.
Her fiancé had returned victorious.
Bia and Arin ran to him, hugging him tightly.
“You did it!”
Ushun pounded her fist on Vesta’s back.
Ahor smiled proudly.
Vesta laughed, weak but genuine.
The steppes celebrated long into the night.
The nomads sang songs of victory.
And in the distance, the female dragon watched, her eyes thoughtful.
Peace had come.
For now.