Chapter 270: What Kind of Fresh Bullshit Is This? (2)
Chapter 270: What Kind of Fresh Bullshit Is This? (2)
“Ugh… Dammit.”
Jason staggered, drunk.
He had turned down his colleagues' invitation to drink, but after hearing Sanson’s worried nagging, he couldn't help but seek out alcohol.
“Haah… Must be nice. Must be real nice to be talented.”
As the alcohol took hold, the honest feelings he hadn't dared to utter earlier came spilling out.
He couldn't even begin to compare himself to Patrick or April, but…
In Jason’s eyes, Sanson was also a brilliant genius.
He was envious of that dazzling talent.
“Heh… ‘Don’t be impatient’?”
Jason spoke with a self-deprecating smirk.
“Talk is cheap. If I had that kind of talent—no, if my knee were at least normal…”
A Heart Demon.
Jason was currently falling into the most dangerous trap for any martial artist.
If Patrick had seen Jason’s condition himself, he would have intervened somehow, but Jason’s state was currently out of Patrick’s sight.
Instead, there was someone else who was watching Jason closely.
“Excuse me, Sir Knight. Could you spare a moment to listen to me?”
The person who approached Jason was a young priest dressed in white clerical robes.
As the Schneider Duchy had developed rapidly of late, many priests had come seeking to proselytize.
“I don’t go to church,” Jason said, immediately raising a hand.
“Pardon?”
“I believe, but I don’t attend. I don’t donate, either. So, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Ah, wait! Please, just a moment. I’m not here to beg you to come to the temple.”
The priest hurriedly caught Jason as he tried to leave.
Wiping away cold sweat, he said, “I am Reed, an intermediate priest dispatched from the Holy Kingdom.”
“…Ahem. So, what is it?”
“From what I heard earlier, it seems your knee is bothering you. Is that correct?”
“…And?”
“It’s likely an old wound that didn't heal properly and set incorrectly. Doesn't it make using a sword a bit uncomfortable?”
“That’s right.”
Jason nodded at the accurate assessment.
At that, the priest named Reed spoke up.
“Hahaha! If you use the new healing ritual recently developed in our Holy Kingdom, it can be fixed perfectly.”
“This is a ten-year-old injury, you know? And you’re saying you can fix it?”
“Of course. Not only will it improve your physical condition, but your realm might even rise as a result.”
“…….”
It was nonsense.
It was the kind of bullshit a cultist would use to boast.
If Jason had been in his right mind, he would have grabbed such a suspicious person and dragged them to the guards immediately. But…
“Is that true?”
A martial artist fallen into a Heart Demon is a precarious being.
Even when they know what the right decision is, they turn away from it and make the wrong choice.
Just like Jason was doing now.
* * *
“No way… How could this happen…?”
“Is he crazy?”
“It’s definitely not a choice someone in their right mind would make.”
The knights of the Double Dragon Knights whispered among themselves.
The reason they were whispering so cautiously was that one of their comrades had recently committed an act of sheer madness.
An unexcused absence.
Even back when they were mere soldiers before the formation of the Double Dragon Knights, no one had ever had the balls to pull a stunt like this.
Because…
[Oho… You want to take a break? While still expecting to get paid?]
That was why.
It was true everywhere, but it was especially difficult to collect a salary from a demon.
Even if you had a high fever, even if you suffered a serious injury, even if your parents passed away… Ah, no, he actually gave them a pass for that last one.
Regardless…
Skipping work and training without a valid reason was unthinkable for them.
Just look.
“Hehehehe… Hahahahahaha!”
Look at the mad laughter of that Great Demon whose seal had been broken.
“Hehehe… You dare skip training? You skipped training without a single word!”
Hearing Patrick Schneider’s roar, the other knights desperately averted their eyes, terrified that the sparks might fly their way.
“Sanson!”
“Yes, Young Master!”
“Go catch Jason right now! I don’t care if he’s dead or alive!”
Is it really that big of a deal, you lunatic?
Sanson wanted to say that, but he carefully opened his mouth instead.
“Young Master. Could I try talking to Jason first?”
“Hmm? You want to beat him up first?”
“…I’m going to talk to him.”
“Isn't that the same thing?”
“No, it’s not. Please stop applying demon logic to humans.”
Whack!
“Ugh… Why did you hit… Did I do it again?”
“Yeah. You said it out loud.”
“…….”
Sanson spoke with a sour expression.
“Ahem. Regardless, I am the Captain of the Knights, and Jason is my subordinate, isn't he?”
“So?”
“Please. Let me talk to him first. You can hand out the punishment after that, Young Master.”
“Uuuugh… Fine. If you insist.”
As long as Sanson was the Captain of the Knights, Patrick shouldn't infringe upon his domain recklessly.
Of course, he fully intended to call Jason aside and wreck him later.
Having received Patrick’s permission, Sanson spoke.
“Go find Jason.”
“Yes, sir!”
And so, the Double Dragon Knights set out to find Jason, who had gone AWOL.
* * *
Three days later.
“Where the hell did this guy go?”
“We’ve searched everywhere, but there’s no sign of him.”
“Did he get into an accident or something?”
The atmosphere in the knights' quarters gradually grew serious.
At first, when Jason didn't show up, they just figured he was having a rough time.
The mood had been down lately, and training was getting harder, so they thought he might have just skipped out.
But when they checked his house and searched the surrounding area thoroughly without finding a trace, other worries began to surface.
“Did he go outside the Outer Wall alone to hunt monsters?”
“Suddenly? Why?”
“How should I know? But there’s no sign of him within the territory, is there?”
“Dammit, where did this bastard go?”
The knights expanded their search radius. If they couldn't find him today, they were planning to ask the Elves for help and use spirits to search. But then…
“Huh? Isn't that Jason?”
“Where? Oh… Found him.”
The knights, who had gone to check Jason’s house one more time just in case, spotted him.
They shouted in voices mixed with welcome, relief, and a bit of anger.
“Jason!”
“Hey, you bastard!”
“Where have you been?”
“The Young Master is pissed. Prepare your… No, never mind. Just write your will and follow us.”
At his comrades' voices, Jason glanced over, smirked, and said, “I just did some personal training for a bit. What’s with the fuss?”
“Wow… You…”
“You’ve got guts… No, you’ve given up on life.”
“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly talking like someone who’s weary of living? Did you get dumped?”
The comrades were now genuinely worried about Jason’s mental health.
How could he be so nonchalant after hearing that Patrick Schneider was furious?
But then…
“More importantly, this is perfect. Oliver.”
“Huh? Me?”
Oliver, who had been singled out, pointed at himself. Jason continued.
“Let’s have a match.”
“…Out of the blue?”
“Why? You scared?”
“Hey, it’s not that. This is just too absurd.”
“I asked if you were scared.”
“…….”
Oliver’s expression hardened.
He had a dozen questions and was bewildered by the situation. But regardless of that…
He’s picking a fight this blatantly?
To begin with, Oliver was a man who claimed he’d be offended if anyone said he wasn't the third most hot-tempered person in the Schneider Duchy.
He scratched his head and said, “Let’s go to the training ground.”
“Fine by me.”
And so, a duel between the two was suddenly decided.
* * *
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Sanson, who arrived at the training ground late after hearing the news, showed a rare expression of anger.
Jason and Oliver were already facing off, and both were holding real swords, not wooden ones.
“Captain?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Ahem. We tried to stop them, but they were both so stubborn we couldn't.”
Sanson frowned at his subordinates' report.
He was glad they found the missing Jason, but he hadn't expected him to pick a fight the moment he returned.
Should I stop them?
He could stop them if he wanted to. But…
“You really won't regret this?”
“Who? You?”
Looking at the atmosphere between the two on the training ground, it didn't seem like they would stop even if he intervened.
Neither of them had the air of a simple sparring match between comrades; they were setting the stage for a real duel.
What was unusual was…
He’s not being pushed back by the momentum?
Jason wasn't being overwhelmed by Oliver’s presence.
This was surprising.
Jason was in the mid-4-Star realm. In contrast, Oliver had recently reached the 6-Star realm, making him one of the top five strongest in the entire knight order.
The fact that their momentum was clashing evenly was almost impossible.
Should I watch for now?
And then…
Boom!
The two on the training ground moved simultaneously, their swords clashing.
The duel began while Sanson was still contemplating.
The first clash.
The two, having collided head-on, vied for power for a moment before immediately springing apart. Then…
Clang! Clang! Boom!
They swung their swords while stepping brilliantly, striking and retreating with speed.
The swordsmanship of the Twin Dragon Sect was originally a style that integrated offense and defense within its footwork.
When fellow disciples dueled, it usually turned into a back-and-forth exchange of striking and retreating while maintaining a certain distance.
And here, the difference between a superior and an inferior usually became starkly apparent.
The basic strength and speed were different.
The superior could observe the inferior’s movements with more composure, while the inferior would be busy reacting to every single move of the superior.
As a result, the inferior would eventually lose after being stuck on the defensive.
Oliver and Jason.
Considering the difference in their skills, Oliver should have seized the advantage long ago. But…
Boom!
He parried that?
A horizontal slash after masking his intent with a thrust and circling to the right. Followed by a diagonal upward thrust, diving in while inducing the opponent to retreat.
It was a technique Oliver was certain would work, but Jason responded to the attack cleanly.
He dodged the first two attacks and struck back at the third as if he had expected it.
Then, Jason’s sword surged toward Oliver, whose posture had been broken.
Swish!
A thrust with the back-hand sword followed by a horizontal slash with the front-hand.
And after inducing Oliver to duck his head…
Thwack!
“Ugh…”
Jason’s foot came up to kick Oliver’s head.
Oliver hurriedly pulled his hand back to block with the hilt of his sword, but the impact forced him to retreat significantly.
“How was it? Isn't it much more concise and better than what you did?”
“Jason, you…”
Only then did Oliver realize.
Thrust, horizontal slash, and vertical attack.
Though Jason had swapped the final thrust for a kick, it was essentially the same attack pattern Oliver had just used, thrown back at him.
Jason spoke.
“I’d thought about it for a long time. I just couldn't do it physically because my knee wouldn't cooperate.”
“…Come to think of it, your knee.”
“It’s all healed.”
“How?”
“What do you care?”
“…….”
“You just need to focus on getting beaten.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jason lunged forward again. He swung his swords fiercely at Oliver.
Clang! Boom! Clang!
A fierce but seamless onslaught.
Jason swung his twin swords savagely, mixing in kicks and shoulder charges, driving Oliver back.
Seeing Jason like this, the other knights were greatly impressed.
“Wasn't his knee bad?”
“Right? He couldn't link his steps so fluidly before.”
“He’s even planting his weight properly when he steps, isn't he?”
“Is his knee really all better?”
Jason, no longer handicapped by his knee, was relentlessly pushing Oliver.
Everyone watching was struck with admiration.
No one had expected Jason to be able to pressure Oliver like this.
He wasn't losing out in speed or power at all.
In terms of technique, he was even ahead.
It was as if someone who had been shackled until now was fighting for the first time after being freed.
Ugh… This is dangerous.
Oliver was serious.
He was getting caught up in Jason’s attacks and kept being forced back.
At this rate, he would lose.
To seize the advantage in this situation…
I have no choice.
“Hup!”
BOOM!
Oliver swung his sword with immense strength, clearing the space in front of him.
Jason, who had been pressuring him brilliantly, was pushed back significantly.
Oliver’s sword was now wreathed in an aura far more powerful than before, surging wildly.
Until now, he had been suppressing the power of his aura to the 4-Star level to match Jason’s strength.
He had now released that suppressed power. In this state…
“If technique won't work, I’ll crush you with power.”
4-Star and 6-Star.
With a two-level difference, he intended to overwhelm him with the sheer might of his aura.
But Jason didn't shrink back in the slightest.
Instead, he wore a smile as if he had been waiting for this, and beckoned with his hand.
“Bring it.”
“You’ve really lost your mind.”
Regardless, if he was told to come, he would go.
Oliver lunged forward, swinging his twin swords charged with 6-Star aura. Then…
Boom! Crash! Bang!
Explosions and aura bursts on a completely different level from before tore through the training ground.
The strikes were now of a power that could no longer be considered a mere spar.
It was a duel where a single mistake would surely result in death.
Within that clash, one side, which had been leading with power, began to crumble.
“Uh… Uhhh…”
“Look at that…”
The knights couldn't close their mouths at the sight.
A clash of power against power.
The outcome was becoming crystal clear.
Every time their swords clashed, one side would stagger unilaterally, barely managing to keep their balance.
But the problem was…
“Oliver is the one being pushed back?”
“No way! How?”
The one being pushed back was Oliver.