Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Blood Knight's Demise
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“Woo-hoo! Take him down!”
“The Knight of Betrayal is getting pushed back!”
The crowd openly cheered now that So Gun-ak appeared to have the upper hand. It was because they'd suffered so much at the hands of Ant and Beritz's merchant group in the past.
“Wh-what the hell? Have those bastards lost their minds?”
Beritz glared furiously. But with the wall between them, and Ant and So Gun-ak facing off right between the villagers and the merchant group, there was nothing he could do but glower.
Perhaps because of the cheers, the fierce exchange of blows between the two briefly settled into a lull.
Clang.
The longsword So Gun-ak had discarded on the ground snapped in two. The blade, chipped in places, looked pitiful.
The crowd fell silent.
Seeing So Gun-ak's demeanor, Ant—who was drenched in sweat from head to toe—curled his lips into a sneer.
“Discarding your sword means you're not a complete idiot. Kneel, beg for mercy, and I might just spare your life.”
So Gun-ak let out a scoff at those words. He took the spear Ralph was holding and spun it around with a whoosh.
“I tossed it because it wasn't one I was used to. Looks like you got the wrong idea.”
If this had been his old body, with its meridians fully unblocked, what did weapons matter? He could've snapped off a tree branch and taken Ant's life in a single exchange.
Even now, a single exchange might be tough, but So Gun-ak was confident he could kill Ant before twenty moves passed.
Instead, he'd treated it like a sparring match, exchanging blows with sword and testing the man out.
I'm getting more used to it bit by bit.
Jamie's body now was different in height and build from before.
He'd spent the time adapting as best he could, but So Gun-ak had focused mainly on building up the internal energy within.
That had created a slight disconnect between body and soul—which this fight was the perfect chance to iron out. That's why he'd dragged out the exchanges for a while.
But with the cheap sword finally giving out, he'd decided to end this tedious back-and-forth.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh. Snap!
So Gun-ak menacingly twirled the spear this way and that before leveling the tip at Ant.
Swift Flash Single Spear
The Black Dragon Corps' essential martial art, Extreme Spear Ten Principles, First Form
“Come at me.”
The same tone and words as at the start.
Ant's narrow eyes twitched at that.
This guy who'd been evenly matched just moments ago now brimmed with leisure. And up close, he didn't even look tired.
But the truth was, Ant was exhausted.
Where the hell did this monster come from?
If he could run, he'd bolt right now.
But he couldn't.
Ever since betraying his lord, the stain of being a traitor had clung to him like a tail. What had allowed Ant to earn Beritz's trust and rule the people through fear was that he'd never shied away from a fight.
He could bear the infamy of traitor—but coward? Never.
Yet when he moved to charge, he saw no openings. No matter which way he lunged, that spear tip would follow.
If I can just close the distance... I'll win.
A spear was a long weapon. Its reach gave it the advantage, but negate that range, and the tables turned. Ant would be the one in control.
“I'll come to you.”
As Ant hesitated, So Gun-ak kicked off the ground.
Sching!
Swift Flash Single Spear!
The Black Dragon Corps' essential martial art, Extreme Spear Ten Principles' first form.
This thrust embodied ultimate speed, targeting a single point. At its peak, it could pierce straight through a massive boulder.
Ant raised his sword to parry while twisting his body left to dodge.
But the spear was already at his face.
Kang!
The spear tip struck Ant's blade flat-on, shattering it to pieces.
Pfook!
Neither Ant's sword nor his thick breastplate could withstand Swift Flash Single Spear. So Gun-ak's spear heartlessly pierced right through Ant's heart.
“Huerk...”
Ant's eyes bulged, veins bursting, as he clutched the spear shaft embedded in his chest.
“Cough!”
He spewed a mouthful of blood, and his neck snapped limp.
Silence blanketed the yard.
The crowd was dumbfounded by the events that unfolded in an instant. They could hardly believe it.
Ant—known as the Blood Knight and Knight of Betrayal—had sullied the code of chivalry and endured the scorn of other knights, but his skill was undeniable. No one dared touch him.
And now, some mysterious black knight had brought him down.
“He won...”
Someone's murmur spread like wildfire.
“He beat the Blood Knight!”
“Wooooaaah!”
The villagers erupted in cheers. What a fight. Swords had clashed at speeds no ordinary eye could follow, and the moment the spear came out, a flash of light pierced the Blood Knight clean through.
“H-hek...”
Beritz stared blankly at the spear tip protruding from Ant's back before jolting in horror.
Squelch.
So Gun-ak yanked the spear free, and Ant's corpse tumbled grotesquely to the ground.
So Gun-ak shook the spear in the air a few times, but the bloodied tip and blade still gleamed menacingly.
He shook it a few more times and approached Beritz.
“Eek!”
Seeing this, Beritz stumbled back until his heel caught on a step, sending him sprawling.
On the ground in a heap, Beritz was too terrified to even feel the pain.
“Sp-spare me, please.”
He begged. He didn't even know what he'd done wrong, but he begged anyway. So Gun-ak's eyes made it seem like he'd kill him for sure.
As So Gun-ak drew right up to him, Beritz threw himself flat on the ground and pleaded.
“Please, spare me.”
“...”
With So Gun-ak silently looking down at him, Beritz poured out words even faster.
“It won't happen again, I swear. Please, just let me live.”
“What won't happen?”
“Pardon?”
Beritz racked his brains.
“I-I won't touch Ralph again. So please, spare my life...”
“Wrong.”
“Pardon? Then...”
“Don't bother me anymore.”
Beritz nodded frantically.
“That's it, right? I won't bother you again, ever.”
So Gun-ak scoffed. Beritz laughed awkwardly in kind.
“Haha, it's nothing much, but as a gift...”
“Give me a horse.”
Beritz's face lit up. The darkness before his eyes felt like it had cleared.
“Bring a horse, now!”
Beritz bellowed, and a servant hurried off, leading back a horse.
“I'll make good use of it.”
“Heh heh, you mean this? But perhaps you'd like to talk with me a bi—”
But Beritz couldn't finish. A dagger had embedded itself in his forehead—he didn't even know when it'd flown.
Beritz's eyes bulged, his face frozen in a sycophantic grin, as if he hadn't even sensed death coming.
Thud.
So Gun-ak's expression remained impassive as Beritz toppled forward.
Judging from his experience in the Central Plains, Beritz was not the type to keep promises. He'd surely hound So Gun-ak endlessly.
He was the sort who could buy assassins stronger than Ant and send them after him.
As the second young master of the Eternal Divine Cult, So Gun-ak naturally uprooted any potential future threats at the root.
Meanwhile, with Beritz dead, the merchant group's men found themselves awkwardly surrounding So Gun-ak.
“Chase me, and none of you will survive.”
His words, laced with subtle inner energy, made the merchants all nod vigorously.
Their leader was dead, and even the Blood Knight Ant was gone.
There was no fight left in them.
So Gun-ak stepped into the stirrup and mounted effortlessly.
Neigh!
The horse bucked and reared, but after So Gun-ak patted its neck twice, it quickly calmed.
Clop-clop, clop-clop.
As So Gun-ak headed for the main gate, the terrified merchant workers parted to either side.
The villagers who'd come to watch were no different.
The cheering crowd now silently watched each of his steps. Some felt elated; others eyed him with fear.
As So Gun-ak reached Ralph, he handed over the bag and said,
“Thanks for everything.”
“No, I should be thanking you. I'll never forget this favor.”
So Gun-ak nodded slightly and kicked the horse's belly.
“Hyah.”
Neigh!
The startled horse bolted forward. The villagers scattered in panic, clearing a path amid the chaos.
“Phew, thought my heart would stop.”
“Tell me about it. What in the world just happened...?”
As So Gun-ak vanished into the distance, the villagers swarmed around Ralph.
“Ralph, who the hell was that black knight?”
“A wandering knight named So Gun-ak.”
“A wandering knight? Someone that strong is just wandering around?”
“Heavens, what a day.”
“More like a disaster. He killed Beritz and just walked off—won't they put out a warrant for him...?”
“No way they'd dare.”
The villagers glanced at the merchant group, sunk in a heavy mood. Plenty of mercenaries and workers still lingered there, all wearing dazed expressions.
Some of them might not have been bad people. They could've just endured the ugly side for a living.
But if everyone could voice their grievances and stand for justice, words like "justice" or "grievance" wouldn't even exist.
In this moment, to the people of Chirato Village, So Gun-ak embodied justice.
Beritz's merchant group had monopolized handling Chirato's leather goods. Even with their leader dead, it was anyone's guess how much they'd change.
The villagers of Chirato would long remember the fight between the mysterious black knight So Gun-ak and the Blood Knight Ant. Perhaps they'd just witnessed the first steps of a hero who would shake the continent.
Some even strained to etch the image of So Gun-ak—spear slung over his shoulder, galloping into the distance—into their eyes a moment longer.
A wail rose from Beritz's merchant yard.
“Father! Father!”
A slender-shouldered woman shook Beritz's body. Her young sobs weighed down the air even heavier.
She, too, would never forget So Gun-ak.
4. Baron Willis
Willis Baron's Castle was in the midst of preparations to receive a guest.
Komora, the young lord set to inherit the Diel Family, was en route with an enormous dowry for his marriage.
Judging by the date in the letter, he'd arrive in about a month.
Everything had to be ready to welcome him by then.
Fortunately, there was already a gift prepared for Komora.
It had cost a pretty sum, but as an investment in the future, it wasn't all that regrettable.
Become in-laws with the Diel Family? Hahaha!
Baron Willis couldn't help but chuckle. His light steps carried him to Sophia's room.
Knock-knock.
“It's Father.”
“Come in.”
Sophia sat on the terrace, basking in the sun. Her wavy golden locks and sharp nose had inherited her late mother's beauty perfectly.
“What are you up to?”
Baron Willis asked with utmost gentleness.
He'd been disappointed at first that she'd been born a girl instead of a boy, but those thoughts were long gone.
This child will revive House Willis one day.
She wasn't a son, but Sophia had a weapon that could captivate men like that. And she'd grown splendidly, just as he'd hoped.
“...I wonder what happened to him.”
Baron Willis's face hardened at Sophia's question. He knew exactly who "him" she meant.
“Didn't you tell him to go fetch Ryle's Sword?”
Sophia let out a small laugh.
“Just curious, that's all.”
“You're not missing that guy, are you?”
He asked, then tensed up despite himself. Had his daughter truly fallen for that knight?
But Sophia's response lived up to his expectations.
“Me? No way.”
Sophia smiled brightly up at her father.
Why would she miss Jamie? Even when she'd been his woman, she'd never given him her heart—not once.
“I know exactly what I need to do.”
“Oh, my daughter Sophia. I'm so proud.”
In the first place, she'd approached Jamie—the skilled Knight of the Wind wandering the world—to bind him. And behind it all had been Baron Willis's request.
Back then, the Knight of the Wind, Jamie, was a prize Baron Willis desperately wanted to catch.
But now a bigger fish had bitten, so it was time to empty the net.
The scheme to dispose of the stubborn, upright Jamie had come from Sophia herself, who knew him best. Another knight might've fled from such an impossible task, but Jamie would charge ahead blindly.
And die in the process.
Sophia turned her gaze to the garden.
Servants bustled about, trimming the garden trees or frantically scrubbing moss from statues and polishing them to a shine.
Not long now.
For a noble's daughter, her own feelings didn't matter. Political marriage for the family's benefit was her fate.
Raised with that education, Sophia knew how to rein in her heart. She valued her house above all and burned with ambition for power more than anyone.
Part of it surely stemmed from her childhood, subtly sensing her father's longing for a son and his disappointment in her. Sophia wanted to flaunt House Willis's revival in his face.
In a month, I'll be a woman of Count Komora's house.
Sophia's eyes sparkled with more vitality than ever.
Then, in the distance at the castle gate, she caught sight of soldiers in an uproar. They seemed utterly panicked, desperately trying to bar the gate while stumbling backward suspiciously.
“Hm? Who's that?”
Baron Willis tilted his head at the scene too.
Crazed lunatics sometimes showed up unannounced at the baron's castle. But it was odd seeing soldiers flounder instead of just chasing him off.
“My lord! Disaster!”
Butler Cowan came rushing in with the report.
“What is it?”
“H-he's back.”
“Who?”
“Sir Jamie! Sir Jamie has returned!”
“What?!”
Baron Willis bellowed.