Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Blood Knight Ant
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"My wife and child were so shocked they forgot their manners. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us."
So Gun-ak nodded casually, as if it were no big deal, and asked,
"Who were they?"
"Mercenaries hired by the Beritz Merchant Group. They have a monopoly on leather goods produced in Chirato Village."
"Strange for a group like that to go after a mere 20-gold deer head, don't you think?"
Ralph's face darkened at So Gun-ak's question.
"Anyone else, I might doubt it, but Beritz? He's not after the bounty. He probably wants to present it to the lord and make a good impression."
So Gun-ak nodded in agreement. It wasn't about the 20 gold tempting him; he wanted to use the gift as an excuse to curry favor with those in power.
So Gun-ak sheathed the long sword he had been polishing, slung the bag containing the jewels over his shoulder, and picked up the spear leaning against the wall.
"Are you leaving?"
So Gun-ak closed his eyes and nodded.
There was no reason he couldn't stay longer in Ralph's home, but if he lingered, it would make Ralph's family uncomfortable.
Feeling awkward about it, So Gun-ak had no desire to stay any longer.
But if he just left abruptly, Ralph's family would bear the full brunt of the Beritz Merchant Group's revenge.
As if having made a firm decision, a resolute expression settled on So Gun-ak's face.
"Can you procure a horse for me?"
"I can't get a horse right now, but I have a donkey I ride. Can't I give you one donkey for saving my life? Take it and go."
Even a donkey could fetch at least one gold. So Gun-ak smiled inwardly at Ralph's ready generosity.
But he shook his head.
It was a significant asset for Ralph's household, something he couldn't just take.
"Guide me to the Beritz Merchant Group. I'll settle things there and then be on my way."
So Gun-ak planned to deal with the Beritz Merchant Group before leaving. If he departed now, they would surely target Ralph again.
Ralph's face lit up at those words. He had been worried about retaliation from the Beritz group as well.
"Thank you so much."
The Chirato branch of the Beritz Merchant Group. In the courtyard, Group Leader Beritz was fuming with rage.
"You idiots!"
Bam!
Beritz, the leader of the Beritz Merchant Group, hurled a cherished flower pot he owned.
The ceramic pot smashed into the back of a bowed warrior's head, shattering into pieces.
Blood spurted from the mercenary's head, and he collapsed lifelessly to the ground. Instant death.
The remaining four mercenaries trembled, heads bowed at the sight.
"Argh! You couldn't even handle that simple task!"
"Th-the guy's movements were downright ghostly."
"You idiots!"
From behind the furious Beritz emerged a man with a black mustache split into two prongs and slanted eyes, chuckling.
"Heh heh heh. You're expecting too much from these vermin, Group Leader."
The kneeling mercenaries trembled with humiliation but dared not retort.
"Ah, Knight Ant. When did you arrive?"
The man called Ant grinned slyly.
"The stench of blood is so thick it's ruining my drink..."
Ant glanced at the corpses of the warriors loaded on the cart, then pinched his nose with thumb and forefinger, wrinkling his face in exaggerated disgust.
"Ha ha, I have no decent swordsmen under me..."
The Beritz Merchant Group had two armed forces.
One was directly trained and salaried by them, the other consisted of contractors who helped with the group's affairs. Ant belonged to the latter.
Mercenaries lasted three or four months at most, but Ant was someone Beritz had invested heavily in, staying with the group for four years already.
Ant's skills were undeniable, but his foul temper led to casual murders that gave Beritz constant headaches from cleanup.
On top of that, he loved women and liquor, so Beritz provided them daily to keep him placated.
Yet Beritz kept Ant around to the end because of his brutal actions.
Paradoxically, people feared the Beritz Merchant Group because of Ant. His mere presence made them yield a step.
"I'll catch that bastard for you."
Beritz was pleased yet inwardly cursed at Ant's bold claim.
'Damn it! What'll he demand this time?'
Ant, who leeched off the group doing as he pleased, occasionally took on jobs. The problem was the exorbitant rewards he demanded each time.
Still, the results were guaranteed, so Beritz flattered him with a smile.
"If the once-renowned Blood Knight Ant steps in, my worries are over. Ha ha ha."
Ant waved it off with a laugh.
"Whoa, teasing me with my old nickname again? Heh heh heh."
The kneeling mercenaries couldn't even lift their heads as the two bantered back and forth.
Blood Knight.
Originally a knight from some baron's house, Ant's cruelty led to murders on every mission, straining relations with the lord.
When tensions peaked, he slaughtered the lord's family and fellow knights before fleeing.
Chased thereafter, the pursuit ended when that baron's house fell.
Though now a free knight, no one accepted him for breaching knightly code, nor recognized him as one anywhere.
Wandering aimlessly and wreaking havoc, he was dubbed Blood Knight or Knight of Betrayal.
Beritz treated him as a knight consistently to keep him.
A border baron's fall was proof of Ant's prowess.
Then—
Boom!
A sudden roar drew Beritz and Ant rushing to the main gate. Group members swarmed out, blocking the shattered entrance.
A red-haired man in black clothes and cloak—the apparent culprit—stood before them. Behind him, Ralph carried So Gun-ak's spear and backpack, surrounded by villagers drawn by the evening commotion.
Beritz sneered at So Gun-ak.
'That's the guy. Got some guts, alright.'
To barge in when he should be fleeing showed boldness. But that recklessness would cost him his life.
"That's him. Hmm."
Ant eyed So Gun-ak seriously, unlike his usual self. He tapped the sword hilt at his waist and stepped forward.
"I'll handle him."
"Heh heh, I leave it to you."
Beritz groveled with a sleazy grin.
Meanwhile, Ralph behind So Gun-ak fidgeted anxiously.
How ruthless and reckless was the Blood Knight? In Chirato Village, they said to avoid eye contact if you wanted to live long.
"Will you be alright?"
So Gun-ak nodded calmly.
"Don't worry."
As Ant approached, the group members parted left and right, clearing a path.
Across the gate-less entrance, So Gun-ak and Ant faced off.
Inside, warriors and workers encircled them; outside, spectators did the same on the street.
'Perfect. Another chance to show the Beritz Merchant Group's might.'
Slaughtering the insolent fool before all the villagers would flaunt their power once more.
Villagers whispered about So Gun-ak's bold challenge.
"What's going on?"
"Ah, the Beritz warriors tried something nasty to Ralph's family."
"Then that black knight showed up and killed them all."
"Whoa, where'd a knight like that come from?"
Rumors had spread, dubbing So Gun-ak the Black Knight.
"Can he beat the Knight of Betrayal?"
"Shh, don't let him hear."
Ant despised being called Knight of Betrayal.
Luckily, Ant seemed oblivious, eyes locked on So Gun-ak. The two stared, tension like calm before a storm.
"Ah, I hope that Black Knight wins. Can't even breathe easy around here."
"Me too. That pig's bribes keep guards away from our little village."
Villagers cursed Beritz, subtly rooting for the Black Knight.
Ant glared cautiously at So Gun-ak.
'He's got some skill.'
Though confident, So Gun-ak's aura unnerved him. Unusually tense.
So Gun-ak was surprised too.
'Not bad. A decent knight.'
He hadn't seen Jamie's spirit swordsmanship, but purely in martial prowess, this man seemed superior to Jamie.
Though to So Gun-ak, Jamie was third-rate at best.
"What's your name?"
"So Gun-ak."
Ant frowned at the curt reply. Unfamiliar name.
'Eastern guy? They're tricky...'
As a fugitive, Ant had crossed borders once.
Rare here, but in Ravito Kingdom, eastern continent merchants abounded.
They had such odd names.
And their martial arts were peculiar, hard to handle.
But that thrilled Ant.
Muscles thrilled with long-lost tension, like facing fellow knights after betraying the lord.
"Hah!"
Unable to hold back, Ant charged. Distance closed instantly.
Shing!
Mid-stride, Ant drew his sword.
His specialty: swift iaijutsu. But...
Clang!
So Gun-ak sidestepped and parried; Ant's blade veered harmlessly aside.
'Fast!'
Ant's balance shifted left, exposing his right.
His pupils dilated. In crisis, he spun like a top, slashing the right space.
"Ooooh!"
Spectators gasped at the agile move.
Clang!
Momentum redirected into a horizontal slash, but So Gun-ak blocked it.
Skid.
The force slid So Gun-ak back.
Distance reformed.
All in one breath.
Ant toward villagers, So Gun-ak toward group members.
"Not one to underestimate."
Ant flushed with anger at So Gun-ak's words. Seeing his opponent's composure fueled humiliation.
"You bastard!"
Ant lunged again.
Clang-clang-clang!
Five thrusts, six slashes in a flash.
So Gun-ak countered, but despite Ant's vile nature, his skill was real.
Dazzling moves and clashes widened spectators' eyes. Even Beritz.
'This is bad.'
What brought someone matching the Blood Knight to this rural village?
'No, calm down. After all the money I've sunk into him, he won't lose, right?'
Beritz steadied himself.
Villagers saw it differently.
When had they witnessed knights clash? Even retired mercenaries were rabbits before Ant.
Ant ruled Chirato's rabbit hutch like a lion.
Now, a tiger appeared before that lion.