Chapter 164: Do Your Worst (3)
Chapter 164: Do Your Worst (3)
Even a massive forest fire that consumes the entire world begins with a tiny spark.
Perhaps human conflicts are much the same.
It started as a small incident in a tavern—taking out five soldiers.
Then it escalated to taking out two dispatched knights and dozens of soldiers.
And now…
“Block them! I said block them!”
“You shieldmen, get your heads in the—”
“No! Hold the line!”
“Aaaargh! He’s coming!”
It was nothing short of a war.
Petrick and his companions had stepped outside the tavern and were putting on a spectacular show against the regular army charging in to arrest them.
Isabella, having reached the 5-star realm, was a whirlwind of activity, while April silently supported her from behind.
Matthew, too, swung his twin swords without pause against the swarming soldiers.
And Petrick…
“Gwahahaha! Now this is more like it!”
A cheerful voice rang out from the midst of a flash of light that zipped back and forth, smashing soldiers and knights alike.
Yes, it was Petrick.
“Oh… here he comes!”
“Argh, block him! Block him!”
Boom!
Every time that flash erupted, enemies were sent flying, crashing into building walls.
Soldiers and knights were treated with equal prejudice.
Watching the scene, Matthew thought to himself:
Is this really okay?
Of course it wasn't.
The four of them were in a foreign country, duking it out with the regular army. This meant…
I think this is going to be a problem.
"Think"? No, it was a guaranteed disaster.
Considering their identities, this could escalate into a severe international incident.
Matthew felt he should stop them now, but…
“Wahaha! Weak. Too weak. Why are you all so scrawny? You bastards!”
How was he supposed to stop that? How?
Let’s just give up.
It was already too late.
Though the regular soldiers of Andmion continued to pour in, Petrick fought on without a hint of intimidation.
He moved constantly to avoid being surrounded, crushing the knights—the enemy’s core strength—and striking key points to prevent a perimeter from forming.
Thanks to Petrick’s performance, the other three were able to fight without being overwhelmed.
No joke, we might actually win at this rate.
The enemies were currently unable to mount any effective response.
If they kept this up, they might leave behind a legend of four people dismantling the military force of an entire city. But then…
“Hup!”
Matthew hurriedly threw himself aside.
He moved instinctively the moment a chilling sensation washed over him.
And in the spot where he had just been…
K-boom!
An attack of immense destructive power exploded.
The reinforced pavement was pulverized. The figure who had launched the attack spoke with interest.
“Ho, you dodged that?”
Did you expect me to just take it?
Matthew rolled across the ground a few times before springing back into a defensive stance.
He looked at his attacker.
A giant of a man, nearly two meters tall.
Muscles packed tight without a single gap.
In his hands was a battle axe so massive an ordinary person wouldn't even be able to lift it.
Crucially, a vivid Aura Blade was formed around that battle axe.
Or in this case, should it be called an Aura Axe?
Regardless, he knew who the opponent was at a glance.
“Are you Count Calvin Spike?”
“I am. And you… No, who are you people?”
At Count Spike’s question, Matthew bowed his head politely and spoke.
“I am Matthew, a fourth-year student at the Atronia Kingdom’s Academy. And, um…”
Matthew frowned as he continued.
“Could we stop the fighting for a moment and talk?”
The Count laughed as if he had heard something absurd.
“Why would I talk to rebel scum like you?”
“There has been a misunderstanding. We are not rebels.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We are—”
“Ah, enough.”
As Matthew tried to introduce them and explain the situation, the Count raised a hand to stop him.
He rested the massive axe on his shoulder and bared his teeth in a cruel smile.
“I’ll listen after I’ve caught you. Once I throw you in the dungeon and let you get acquainted with the torturer, you’ll tell me everything.”
“……”
Is it a local custom in this territory to never listen to anyone?
Matthew grit his teeth.
He had hoped for a conversation, but this man wasn't the type.
Since words wouldn't work, he had no choice but to enforce his will with a blade. However…
Count Calvin Spike.
One of the nine 7-star knights of the Caesar Kingdom.
A man known by the epithet "Axe Master" and the lord who ruled over Andmion.
Yeah, this is impossible.
He was not an opponent Matthew could hope to face. Therefore…
Matthew glared forward and put strength into his core. Then, with resolute determination…
“Petriiiiiick!”
He shouted his friend’s name at the top of his lungs.
What else could he do?
If your own skills aren't enough, you call a friend.
* * *
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence hung in the air. Just as the thought Why isn't this bastard coming? crossed Matthew’s mind…
“Are you ready to die?”
Count Spike raised his battle axe.
Matthew hurriedly raised his hands.
“Wait a second. He’ll be here soon.”
“Who’s coming?”
“My friend. Where the hell is that guy?”
“Shut up and die.”
In an instant, Count Spike’s massive frame seemed to grow even larger before Matthew’s eyes.
He had closed the distance without a single hint of movement.
“Urgh…”
Matthew barely felt the presence of such a giant approaching him.
“Die.”
Just before the battle axe raised above his head could fall…
“Did you call?”
Along with that voice, the most welcome flash of light in the world erupted.
Clang!
A monstrous impact collided right above Matthew’s head.
Petrick’s sword, having flown in like a bolt of lightning, clashed with Count Spike’s battle axe, letting out a terrifying roar. As a result…
“Hmm…”
“Oho… You’ve got some strength.”
Petrick stood firmly on both feet in front of Matthew.
Count Spike’s waist buckled back slightly, but he grit his teeth and managed to stop himself from retreating.
He glared and demanded, “Who the hell are you?”
“Who are you, Mister?”
“Mi… Mister?”
Count Spike was taken aback. He bared his teeth and growled.
“Watch your mouth, brat.”
“I’ll take care of my own mouth, so mind your business.”
“Heh… Hahaha…”
They say when a person is truly dumbfounded, they can't even get angry.
That was exactly how Count Spike felt right now.
Petrick spoke again.
“Who are you, Mister? Who are you to try and split my friend in half?”
“I am Calvin Spike.”
“Oh? Really?”
“Indeed. Now that you know, show some respect!”
If it were before he revealed his identity, it might be different, but now that he had, he expected the opponent to show proper etiquette.
Or so he thought.
“Why should I?”
“Huh?”
“You’re holding a weapon the first time we meet, so why bother with manners?”
“……”
“Man, you’re one picky mister. You’re gonna get called an old fogey by the kids if you keep that up, Mister.”
Count Spike’s jaw dropped.
Behind Petrick, Matthew wore the smile of a man who had given up on the world.
That consistent bastard of a friend…
There were no exceptions. None.
Even the continentally renowned 7-star knight, Count Spike, couldn't escape being treated as just some "mister" when facing Petrick.
Then again, this was a guy who treated the Empire’s Sword Saint like a senile old man, so what could one expect?
Unaware of this, Count Spike’s face flushed red as he spoke.
“So the rebels have someone with a lot of nerve.”
“Rebel? Me?”
When Petrick pointed to himself and asked, Count Spike replied, “Are you going to deny it? After making this mess, you’re saying you’re not?”
“Yep. I’m not.”
Petrick denied it flatly.
Hundreds of soldiers and dozens of knights lay groaning on the ground, and buildings throughout the city had been destroyed by the battle.
However, Petrick’s conscience didn't feel even a prickle of guilt.
“People get into fights sometimes, and when you fight, things get broken. You’re gonna treat everyone like a rebel just for that?”
“What did you say?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. A man built like a bear has a heart the size of a flea. You shouldn't live so stingily, Mister. You get me?”
“……”
Why am I the one getting lectured?
Count Calvin Spike, age 47.
He had encountered an unknown lifeform unlike any he had met in his life.
He barely managed to organize the chaos in his mind and forced himself to speak.
“Tell… me your name.”
Count Spike, barely holding onto his reason, asked for a name.
Yes, let’s start by introducing ourselves.
Then maybe this insane conversation can be steered back into a normal flow.
Petrick answered readily.
“The name’s Petrick Schneideeeer.”
“Petrick Schneider. You will never leave here ali—Petrick Schneider?”
“Oh, you know me?”
“You’re the Double Dragon.”
“Kuh, as expected, you know. That’s right. That’s me.”
At Petrick’s words, Count Spike’s mind fell back into confusion.
According to his subordinates' reports, there were people causing a riot in the city that they couldn't handle.
When he arrived, it was indeed a total disaster. But the one who caused this…
“Was you?”
“Yep. Me. Petrick Schneider. Double Dragon. Radiant Dragon He—ah, you don’t need to know that part.”
“……”
“Anyway, it’s me. The Petrick Schneider who won at Arcana.”
“Why did you come here?”
“Why? Haven't you heard the rumors?”
“…What?”
“Man, you really don’t know what’s going on in the world.”
Petrick clicked his tongue.
His behavior was extremely disrespectful, but Count Spike watched him silently.
Once an identity is known, the response must change.
The Double Dragon was not someone he could simply shout at using his authority.
Petrick pointed his sword directly at Count Spike and said, “Let’s have a go.”
“……”
“That’s why I came.”
Is he a thug?
* * *
Ah, come to think of it?
Count Spike, who had been standing dazed, suddenly remembered.
A rumor he had heard recently and dismissed as nonsense.
The rumor that Petrick Schneider had gone to the Decatur Kingdom and defeated two 7-star knights.
Since it happened in another country, he couldn't be sure, and it sounded too absurd to be true. But…
“Was it actually true?”
“Was what true?”
“No, no. That’s not what’s important.”
Veins popped on Count Spike’s forehead as he spoke.
“So, you’re saying you caused this entire mess just to draw me out?”
“No, not that.”
“It wasn't?”
“Yeah. If I wanted to fight you, Mister, I’d go to you directly and challenge you to a duel. Why would I cause a ruckus in a perfectly good city?”
“Then why did you do this?”
“My friend here will explain that from now on. I’m not very good at this kind of thing…”
Petrick pushed Matthew to the front.
Matthew let out a sigh of relief, thinking, Finally, I can explain the situation, and began to speak.
“I will explain from the beginning. First of all…”
Matthew explained everything.
From the reason the minor dispute started to how the situation turned into this total disaster.
Even as he explained it, he found it absurd.
So how must it feel for Count Spike, who was hearing it directly?
“So… my soldiers picked a fight with you and harassed a woman in your party?”
“Please watch your words. That lady over there is the Princess of the Atronia Kingdom.”
“……”
“It might be one thing if you didn't know, but committing such a discourtesy after her identity was revealed could lead to an international incident.”
“Hmph.”
Count Spike glanced at Princess Isabella and then turned his head.
There was no respect in his gaze, but he didn't seem inclined to argue further.
After all, disrespecting royalty was a disadvantageous point for them.
Instead, he turned to look at his own soldiers.
“Who are the soldiers who provided the initial cause?”
“Those guys over there.”
When Matthew pointed them out, the soldiers who had been anxiously watching the surroundings flinched.
They had heard everything Matthew said.
Now that they realized who they had picked a fight with, their legs were shaking.
“Because of you lot, the city has suffered immense damage.”
As Count Spike stepped in front of them and spoke, the soldiers hurriedly threw themselves to the ground.
“W-we are thorry, My Lord.”
“We have committed a deadly thin.”
“Pleathe forgive uth.”
Even with their teeth shattered and their speech slurred, they desperately begged for forgiveness.
Since the tiny spark they created had led to this, there was no way mere soldiers could handle the weight of it.
Serves them right.
As Matthew thought this, he spoke up.
“They insulted our kingdom’s royalty. If proper punishment isn't carried out…”
K-boom!
Before Matthew could even finish his sentence, Count Spike’s battle axe struck the sinners.
That single blow literally tore the begging soldiers to pieces.
They couldn't even leave behind a final scream before they were turned into bloody pulp.
Count Spike retracted his axe and asked, “Is that enough?”
“Um…”
Matthew was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected it to go this far. Depending on how one looked at it, it was a crime that could lead to execution.
However, he hadn't expected them to be killed with a single swing of an axe without a formal trial or even a summary judgment.
Count Spike swung his axe through the air once to flick off the blood.
Then he spoke.
“Now our side’s fault is settled.”
“……”
“Shall we now discuss the crimes you all have committed?”
At Count Spike’s words, it was Matthew’s turn to be troubled.
Glancing around, there were hundreds of soldiers and knights groaning on the ground.
Traces of destruction were evident throughout the city.
Most of them were marks of destruction Petrick had left everywhere.
Count Spike thudded his battle axe against the ground and said, “The sinners on our side have paid for their crimes with their lives. Now, what will you do?”
“……”
Matthew kept his mouth shut.
He didn't think any answer would lead to a good result. But then…
“What do you mean, 'what will we do'?”
Petrick, who had left the talking to Matthew until now, stepped forward.
Seeing Petrick picking his ear with his pinky with a nonchalant expression, Matthew felt a spark of hope.
Right. Even if he looked like this, this guy was actually quite clever. He must have stepped forward because he had a good idea.
And Matthew’s expectation…
“Do your worst!”
…was shattered into pieces.