Chapter 29
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Duel Arena (6)
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Thud thud thud thud!
A group of cavalry charged toward the square at the edge of Dumfries Village, their banners fluttering ahead of them.
"It's Iron! The Iron Knights!"
"The Northern Lord's knights!"
In an instant, hundreds of people scrambled back, clearing the way.
Like a black wave crashing in, dozens of mounted knights clad head to toe in dark, heavy armor thundered into the duel arena through the opened path.
The knights, wearing black half-plate armor with longswords, lances, and shields emblazoned with snow leopards strapped to their saddles, exuded an overwhelming presence.
"Ugh..."
The crowd, visibly intimidated, hastily doffed their hats and bowed low.
Flutter!
At the same time, flags of all sizes representing Northway's nobles and factions—waving from every corner of the arena—drooped like grass in a gale.
Only one remained defiantly aloft: a single snow leopard banner on a tricolor field, proudly overlooking the arena.
Then, amid the Iron Knights, one figure emerged without a helmet.
A middle-aged knight in his forties, with a neatly trimmed, fiery red beard.
The gold-embellished leopard embossed on the left breast of his armor marked him as the leader of the knights gathered here.
And no noble present was ignorant of his identity.
"Hmph!"
Black Sheep Knight Howard Rockfield.
That was his name.
Rockfield furrowed his thick, caterpillar-like brows and turned his hawkish eyes toward the VIP seats.
"Ah, no way! Isn't that Sir Rockfield? What brings the Iron Captain all the way here?"
Administrator Nolfold, flustered but quick to recover, plastered on a smile and practically leaped down from the VIP seats.
Rockfield was the captain of the Iron Knights and the strongest among the Twelve Elite Knights.
"It's been a while, Administrator. And to all of you."
Unlike the administrator's excessive fussing, Rockfield greeted them calmly before scanning the VIP seats.
"G-Good day, Sir Rockfield."
"Hail the Black Sheep Knight."
The nobles in the VIP seats bowed in unison, as if rehearsed.
It was the kind of deference lower nobles once showed their lord.
But Rockfield merely nodded curtly before fixing his gaze on one person.
The man who caught his eye trembled noticeably but forced a smile.
"S-Sir Howard, i-it's been a while."
"A while? I seem to recall seeing you just a month ago."
Rockfield replied coldly to Baron Lancaster, who was straining to smile.
"Ah, well, that is..."
The baron, who had spent decades as a merchant, seemed to have lost all his composure.
"Whatever. Never mind that."
Rockfield spat the words and surveyed the arena.
The crowd, who had been sneaking peeks at him and the Iron Knights, hastily bowed their heads.
"I heard there was some entertaining spectacle in this village today, so I came. When does it start?"
"Oh dear! You mean the honor duel. Unfortunately, it's already over. Ha ha!"
"Is that so? What a shame."
"Why not join us up here instead of standing there?"
The administrator, rubbing his hands beside Rockfield, gestured to the top seat he'd just vacated, his tone sly.
"I'd like to, but with all these mangy mutts growling around, I'm worried about getting bit."
Though speaking to Nolfold, Rockfield's eyes stayed locked on the sweating Baron Lancaster.
Snap!
Rockfield snapped his fingers.
Dozens of lances from the menacing Iron Knights rose like a black tide, aimed at Lancaster's swordsmen along the roadside.
Whoosh!
"Eek!"
As people cried out and scattered, the swordsmen—now facing off against the Iron Knights—stumbled back.
Baron Lancaster's face paled.
"Th-That's not it, Sir Howard! My swordsmen were just..."
"Just what? Seeing off guests? Ah, right. I heard you had some important visitors. Are they leaving now?"
"Ugh..."
Rockfield turned away from the ashen-faced baron and looked around.
"What a pity. I was hoping to make the acquaintance of those renowned knights from the central regions. And ask what brought them all the way to this remote, rugged place... Where did they go? Ah, I see."
"Hic!"
Baron Lancaster's expression darkened rapidly as Rockfield's gaze snapped back to him, his shoulders shuddering visibly.
'This is bad.'
Rockfield knew everything.
The Blue Veins reaching out to him. His plan to betray Iron and join them...
Finally, Rockfield bared his fangs in a grin.
"Since those esteemed knights aren't here, I suppose I'll hear it from you directly. Later, I'll visit your manor myself..."
"Hic!"
At his deliberate, word-by-word delivery, Baron Lancaster hiccuped involuntarily.
Snap!
Rockfield snapped again.
Two Iron Knights flanked the baron and escorted him toward his carriage.
"Urk."
With a defeated expression, Baron Lancaster boarded his carriage with feeble steps.
Soon, the carriage departed, followed by the Lancaster knights and swordsmen, heads bowed in utter dejection.
Their pathetic retreat—worlds apart from their grand arrival—seemed to foretell the doom of House Lancaster.
'You'd better keep your neck out, you filthy cur!'
Rockfield glared at the baron's final glimpse before whirling around.
That was when it happened.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?"
One of the Iron Knights blocking a side of the arena bellowed like thunder.
Rockfield frowned.
"What's going on?"
"Some guy's trying to ride off."
"Hm?"
At his subordinate's words, Rockfield's eyes sharpened as he turned toward the shout.
Iron Knights were blocking someone.
"Ho?"
A glint of interest flashed in Rockfield's eyes.
Even ignoring the absurdly massive black sword slung across the saddle, the hulking man showed no fear before several Iron Knights. He was no ordinary fellow.
"Oh! That's one of the White Family's participants in the honor duel that just ended. A very strong knight. He took down all three of Baron Lancaster's duelists single-handedly."
Administrator Nolfold, who had sidled up, chimed in eagerly.
"Single-handedly, three?"
"Indeed. Quite impressive, isn't it? And moreover..."
As Rockfield eyed Blake appraisingly, the administrator added more.
"He's a knight of Prince Henrik Oscar, commander of Northernrocks. More precisely, he's the bearer of a letter from His Highness the Prince."
"...!"
Rockfield's pupils flickered as he stared at Blake.
But it was so brief no one noticed.
"No one leaves until the captain gives the order."
One of the knights blocking Blake declared firmly.
"..."
Blake's brow twitched faintly. In the old days, he'd have drawn his sword and cut them down on the spot.
But he held back.
Humans grow through experience.
Blake had learned from his past that acting rashly without information was inefficient.
Besides, starting a brawl here would likely drag him into more headaches.
Still, Blake didn't back down easily.
He just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
The gawkers' stares and the sight of the girl weeping over her dead sister were equally uncomfortable.
"You deaf? I said step back!"
As Blake paused to think, one Iron Knight thrust his lance forward threateningly.
Clang!
"Gah!"
A sharp gust of wind grazed the knight's face and vanished.
"Urgh?"
The knight's eyes widened in shock.
The massive man had swung his bizarre greatsword—still sheathed—hurling the lance aside and counterattacking.
Had he not instinctively dodged, his neck might have snapped.
"You bastard!"
The knights blocking Blake's path lunged with their lances like lightning.
Whoosh whoosh!
In an instant, six lance shafts formed a semicircle before him.
"You dare challenge the Iron Knights?!"
But the man bearing the brunt of their fury met their eyes without a flicker.
"What's wrong? You weren't trying to kill me, just threaten. I returned the favor."
"What?!"
Whoosh!
The enraged knight could hold back no longer and raised his lance to strike.
A cold killing intent flickered in Blake's eyes.
"Stand down!"
The knight froze at the command, whipping his head around.
"Apologies! But this fool dares—"
"Enough."
Rockfield cut him off curtly and slowly rode forward to face Blake.
"Hmm."
He said nothing, just studied Blake silently.
Blake found it odd.
The knight's piercing eyes were like a seasoned predator's, but there was no hostility—just keen observation.
Since leaving the fortress, this was the first knight not to show immediate enmity.
"What's your name?"
"Blake."
"This punk...!"
One knight glared at the curt reply.
But Rockfield raised a hand to silence him.
"Right, Sir Blake. I hear you were discharged from Northernrocks bearing a letter from Prince Henrik?"
"Yes."
Though wary, with it already out, Blake answered straightforwardly.
"I see. So, are you headed to the capital, Alteria?"
Rockfield's tone remained even.
But Blake sensed a subtle shift in his demeanor.
After a brief hesitation, Blake met his gaze squarely.
"I have no obligation to tell you my destination."
"...!"
Not just the Iron Knights, but everyone nearby watching the exchange flinched, doubting their ears.
Blake had just refused to answer the elite knight and vice-captain of the Iron Knights, representing the Iron Count's family—Northway's great lord.
The Black Sheep Knight Rockfield, whom even nobles and the administrator couldn't affront lightly.
"Hmm."
Rockfield's lips twitched slightly.
(To be continued...)