Chapter 167: It Would Have Been the Same. No, I Would Have Been Even Worse (1)
Chapter 167: It Would Have Been the Same. No, I Would Have Been Even Worse (1)
‘I can’t accept this. I refuse to accept it!’
Count Spike grit his teeth and drew every last drop of aura from his Aura Hall.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
He poured everything he had into the effort—to overcome his fear... or rather, to deny the very existence of that fear.
As a result, the Aura Blade flickering on his battle axe doubled in size. The excess power erupting from his Aura Hall surged and billowed around his entire body.
“Here I coooome!”
He charged toward Patrick.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground exploded with every step of his charge. The spectators watched in horror at his sheer momentum. Count Spike was a monster, capable of causing massive destruction just by running forward. However...
“Wow, look at this guy.”
Patrick watched the Count’s approach with an expression of utter disbelief.
A 7-Star Knight would be considered a powerhouse even if thrown into the Jianghu of the Central Plains. He was a master in his own right. And yet, a man like that...
“Is just showing off his brute strength like an idiot?”
It was so absurd it wasn't even funny. Patrick was simply dumbfounded.
Regardless of Patrick’s reaction, Count Spike reached him and swung his axe down with every ounce of his strength.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
K-Boom!
The destructive power was terrifying. A crater deep enough to bury three men appeared where Patrick had been standing. But Patrick, the intended target, had already stepped aside.
“Hyaaaaaah!”
The Count didn't give up and swung again. The battle axe flew through the air, imbued with enough power to cleave Patrick’s waist in two. But once again, Patrick dodged.
Whoosh!
It wasn't even a fast movement. He simply predicted the attack and ‘walked’ out of the way. That alone was enough to keep him safe from Count Spike’s assault.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
The same meaningless exchange repeated several more times.
Boom! Crash! K-Boom!
Count Spike attacked like a madman, and Patrick dodged with effortless ease. To an outsider, it looked so easy it almost seemed staged.
“Why... why can’t I hit you?!”
Finally, unable to contain his frustration, Count Spike screamed. Patrick replied coolly.
“You seriously have the nerve to expect this to hit?”
The raw power was decent. A 7-Star Knight swinging with everything he had was nothing to scoff at. But an axe swung by someone who had lost their mind and was flailing like a lunatic wasn't scary at all.
His form was completely broken. His desperation laid his emotions bare. His eyes were frantic, and his breathing was ragged. All the telegraphs of an attack—things a true master would never show—were plain as day.
And he expected Patrick to get hit by that?
‘Even Matthew wouldn't get hit by this.’
As long as one remained calm and observed the opponent, no one was stupid enough to be struck by such a ridiculous attack. And an opponent who wasted their energy in a fit of rage was...
“Huff... huff...”
“Tired already?”
“You bastard...!”
The Count swung again in a fit of pique. But this time, both the power and speed had noticeably dropped. Patrick slipped past the blow and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, tsk. You’re worse than a novice...”
“Uwaaa...”
“Shut up!”
Slap!
Count Spike’s head snapped to the side. Patrick had slapped him across the face with the flat of his blade. Stunned by the blow, the Count stumbled backward. Patrick began to walk toward him, one step at a time.
“Normally...”
Slap!
“I would have pointed out your flaws as payment for the duel and ended it reasonably.”
Slap!
“That way, regardless of who won or lost, this moment would remain meaningful for both of us.”
Slap!
“But I’m not going to do that for you. Do you know why?”
Slap!
Even as he spoke, the sword-slaps continued to rain down. Count Spike’s face began to swell up like a balloon. He roared at Patrick in a fury.
“What kind of insult is this?!”
Patrick replied indifferently.
“An insult? No, it’s not.”
“...”
“This is just disciplining a son of a bitch who hasn't learned how to be a human being.”
“Wh-at...?”
Slap-slap-slap-slap-slap!
In an instant, a barrage of sword-slaps too fast to count exploded across his face. Count Spike’s vision spun. Patrick looked down at him with a chilling gaze.
“Shut up and just take your beating.”
*
The knights of House Spike stood with their mouths agape.
“What... what is happening?”
“My god, how can this be...?”
They knew better than anyone how strong Count Spike was. He was a monster that the entire knight order combined couldn't guarantee a victory against. And yet, that monster was losing. No, he was being toyed with.
The knights were speechless at the sight. Eventually, a few of them spoke up.
“Shouldn't we step in?”
“This is going too far...”
The battle was already decided. It was no longer a duel; it was a one-sided assault. Normally, it would be right to stop it, but...
“St-stay back.”
“Captain.”
“If we interfere now, our lord’s defeat will be finalized. And in the worst possible way!”
That was the problem. If Count Spike lost a public duel because his subordinates interfered, he would be effectively dead as a knight. It would be a disgrace that would haunt his name for the rest of his life—and even after death. They couldn't afford to act rashly.
Meanwhile, there were others who were worried for different reasons.
*
“Senior, will he be okay?”
“There’s no way this is okay...”
Matthew and Isabella watched the arena with eyes full of concern. They could clearly see Patrick lecturing Count Spike while beating him to a pulp. Every time the Count tried to resist, it only invited more brutal violence.
Was this really allowed? Their opponent was a Count of the Caesar Kingdom. Was it truly alright to do this, even in the middle of a duel?
As the two debated whether to intervene, April spoke up.
“It is fine.”
Matthew snapped his head toward her. “How is that fine?!”
April replied in a calm voice. “The Young Master has a reason for doing this.”
“Reason or not...”
“Matthew, if you wish to remain the Young Master’s friend...” April interrupted him, which was unlike her, and continued firmly. “Please, trust him.”
“...”
“The Young Master is not someone who would act like this without a very good reason.”
At her words, Matthew spoke in a deflated tone. “I know that.”
Matthew turned his gaze back to the arena. She was right. Patrick Schneider was not the kind of friend who would do something like this without cause.
*
Count Spike’s face was now so swollen it was hard to recognize his features. One of his legs was broken, and his body was covered in various wounds. Patrick, who had reduced a Count and a 7-Star Knight to a tattered rag, finally stopped his blade.
“If I hit your head any more, you’ll die.”
“You... how dare you...”
Seeing that Count Spike had nothing left but spite, Patrick sighed.
“You’re showing persistence in all the wrong ways.”
“I will kill you. I will definitely kill you...”
“Do whatever you want.”
“...”
“But there’s something more important for you than whether I live or die.”
Patrick pointed his finger toward the spectator stands. The citizens were there, watching the duel.
“Do you see the expressions on those people’s faces?”
“...”
Reflexively, Count Spike turned his head. He couldn't help but grimace; the mere movement of his facial muscles sent waves of agony through his swollen face. But that pain was nothing compared to the humiliation blooming in his chest.
They were smiling. They were cheering. The citizens were rejoicing at the sight of their tyrant suffering in shame and agony.
Patrick pointed at them and said, “That is the result of your actions, you pathetic piece of shit!”
Bam!
Patrick kicked Count Spike away.
“Gah...!”
After rolling several times across the ground, the Count forced himself up. He spat out words filled with venom.
“What... what are you trying to say?”
“You don't know what I’m trying to say?”
“...”
“Or are you just pretending not to know?”
“You...!”
“You pathetic bastard!”
Crack!
Another powerful blow sent Count Spike flying toward the spectator stands.
Cough! Hack!
The sight of the Count collapsing and vomiting blood was gruesome. The knights of his house could no longer bear to watch and rushed in.
“My Lord!”
“My Lord, are you alright?”
They hurried to support the Count and take him to a priest. However...
Slash!
Two streaks of light carved the ground between them and the Count. The flashes left two deep lines in the earth. Patrick walked slowly to the center of those lines.
“The duel is not over yet.”
“Listen here, Double Dragon! The duel is already—”
“If anyone interferes...” Patrick looked at them with a murderous gaze. “I will kill you.”
The knights froze, sensing the absolute sincerity in Patrick’s voice. Having warned them, Patrick walked over to Count Spike and grabbed him by the collar, hoisting him up.
“It’s only been two days, but that was plenty of time.”
“Cough... what...?”
“To investigate what you’ve done to the people of this city.”
“...”
For a moment, Count Spike’s eyes wavered. Because he had been knocked toward the stands, their conversation was now audible to the citizens sitting nearby. And from Patrick’s mouth, truths began to pour out that dragged the Count’s honor into the gutter.
“Taxes... not double, but five times the normal rate? Are you out of your mind?”
The citizens’ faces turned to stone. They knew their taxes were heavy, but they hadn't realized they were five times higher than in other regions. And that wasn't all.
“Because you didn't manage your soldiers and knights, the cases of them harming the residents are too many to count.”
Several knights and soldiers turned pale. Patrick’s indictment grew even more severe.
“People framed for crimes they didn't commit and thrown into prison. People stripped of their property and driven into the streets. A woman who committed suicide after being disgraced because no one would listen to her report. Even the knights, those bastards, were running a loan shark business targeting the residents.”
Some of the knights wanted to cover Patrick’s mouth. What a disgrace! With every word Patrick spoke, the glares from the citizens became more murderous. But it was impossible to stop him. Instead, they had to lower their heads, terrified of meeting Patrick’s eyes.
Then, Count Spike, struggling to stand, wheezed out, “Ugh... what does that have to do with you... Gack!”
Pow!
Another punch from Patrick made the Count spit blood. Patrick grit his teeth as he looked down at the fallen man.
“Listen well, you pathetic excuse for a man.”
“...”
“People like us, who live by the sword, are basically useless leeches.”
“...”
“We can’t grow the grain we eat, we can’t make the clothes we wear, and we can’t rebuild a ruined city.”
“...”
“The only reason we can act like big shots and hold our heads high as knights is because we claim to stand for what is right.”
Righteousness.
“And because there is a promise that we will protect the weak when they are threatened by violence!”
Chivalry.
“If you abandon that...”
[Cheon-ah, remember this. A martial artist who loses righteousness and chivalry in their heart is no longer a martial artist. They are merely...]
“No different from a bandit or a thief, you piece of trash!”
Thud! Crack! Thump!
Patrick’s fists rained down on Count Spike in succession.
“Gah... cough...”
The Count’s teeth flew out, and his nose was broken. Even amidst the agonizing pain, he glared up with pure spite and shouted.
“For such... such trivial reasons... you dare to insult me?!”
“...”
Patrick’s fist stopped. The look in Count Spike’s eyes was genuine. He truly believed that the pain and humiliation he was suffering in this moment were more important than the suffering of his people.
Seeing that, Patrick lowered his fist and let out a deep sigh.
‘Is this how it is? Is this what it’s like?’
Perhaps he would have been no different from this man. If he hadn't met his Master in his previous life... and if, when he was reborn, he had been born into a different noble family instead of being his father’s son...
‘It would have been the same. No, I would have been even worse.’