Chapter 281: You Said "Anything," Didn't You? (3)
Chapter 281: You Said "Anything," Didn't You? (3)
The high-ranking leadership of the Holy Kingdom gathered in one place.
“The Double Dragon of the Schneider Duchy, is it…?”
“A big shot has graced us with his presence.”
“Hmm, is he really a ‘big shot’? Isn't he just a young man barely past twenty?”
“Can anyone deny his achievements, regardless of his age?”
The Cardinals of the Holy Kingdom discussed Patrick. His visit was an unexpected move that none of them had anticipated.
A country that had recently gained independence as a duchy sending an envoy to foster friendly relations? That act in itself wasn't particularly surprising. However, the fact that the one leading the delegation was the Double Dragon changed things significantly.
“If we can recruit him and gain his assistance, it will be a massive help in this stagnant war against the Empire.”
“I agree. To be honest, the front lines are in a difficult state right now. If nothing else, we desperately need a countermeasure to stop the Sword Saint.”
“Are you saying that young man can defeat the Sword Saint?”
“Who knows? But even if he cannot win, it is certain he would be of great help.”
“Hmmmm….”
Currently, the Holy Kingdom was plagued by a grueling war with the Empire that they couldn't seem to escape. When the war first began, they hadn't intended for it to escalate to this scale. However, the conflict had gradually turned into a quagmire, and the Holy Kingdom was effectively losing ground.
The reason for their defeat could be summed up in two words: the Sword Saint.
There was no way to stop that man. The Holy Kingdom’s proud guardians, the 12 Paladins, had challenged the Sword Saint only to suffer one-sided, miserable defeats. In one instance, three of them had teamed up against him, and they were still crushed.
From the Holy Kingdom’s perspective, whenever they tried to make a move, the Sword Saint would appear at the decisive moment, forcing them to retreat without accomplishing a thing.
The only saving grace was that, for some unknown reason, the Sword Saint wasn't participating in the war very aggressively. He only moved to defend the Empire's home territory and had not appeared in battles within the Holy Kingdom’s borders. If the Sword Saint had been operating offensively across all fronts, the Holy Kingdom’s situation would have been far more dire.
As it stood, the Sword Saint’s existence was becoming an increasingly painful thorn in the side of the Holy Kingdom’s leadership. In such a situation, if Patrick Schneider had come as an envoy…
“This is surely the help and revelation of Lady Yupinel. We must bring the Double Dragon to our side by any means necessary.”
“Setting everything else aside, simply being able to receive a cheap supply of food from the Schneider Duchy would make this war much easier.”
“I heard the military strength of the Schneider Duchy itself is quite excellent. They managed to turn the tide of the Harbor Kingdom’s civil war with only a thousand troops….”
There was no disagreement on the point that they had to recruit Patrick. That left only one question.
How?
How could they bring Patrick Schneider over to the Holy Kingdom’s side and deploy him in the war against the Empire?
To that question, one of the Cardinals spoke up.
“How about we confer upon him the title of… Honorary Paladin?”
“An Honorary Paladin? That is a glorious position. He will undoubtedly love it.”
He’ll hate it.
“How about we build a temple in the Schneider Duchy and dispatch a first-class priest along with several other priests?”
“Hahaha. He would be overjoyed.”
He’ll definitely find it extremely unpleasant.
“Let us petition His Holiness the Pope to grant him a holy relic personally blessed with a benediction. If we do that, he will surely be moved to cooperate with us.”
“Hahahaha. That is an excellent idea.”
I don’t even know anymore. Just dig your own graves.
While the Cardinals were rowing their boat in the completely wrong direction…
“From what I’ve heard….”
“What is it?”
“Um, I heard the Double Dragon has a great greed for wealth. So, how about we just offer him money?”
The room fell silent for a moment at the words awkwardly spoken by a young Cardinal. Then…
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
No, that’s actually the right answer.
“Hahaha. Money? Do you think the Double Dragon is some kind of mercenary?”
Actually, when he participated in the Harbor Kingdom’s war, he really did sign a contract with the dwarves as a mercenary.
“If we made such an offer, the Double Dragon would surely be furious. Money? How could you say something so insulting?”
He’d love it.
Considering the scale of funds the Holy Kingdom could mobilize, Patrick’s smile might have reached his ears and stayed there forever. However, everyone except the one who spoke up rejected the idea flatly, as if it were impossible.
“Then, starting tomorrow, let us move to recruit the Double Dragon.”
“Let’s do that.”
And so, the Cardinals began to march steadily in the wrong direction.
* * *
One week later.
Thud!
Patrick collapsed onto the bed in slow motion, his face filled with a sense of worldly futility. His friend Matthew spoke to him.
“Good job.”
Patrick replied in a dying voice.
“I want to throw everything away and go home.”
That single sentence summarized everything that had happened over the past week. Watching him, Matthew shook his head.
For him, he’s actually holding it in well.
Over the past week, the Cardinals had approached Patrick with various "carrots" to bring him over to the Holy Kingdom’s side. This in itself was fine. Patrick was a fair and upright man who normally loved being treated well. The problem was…
[Hahaha. How about it? I shall personally grant you the position of Honorary Paladin.]
[Oh… Honorary Paladin? What kind of position is that?]
[It means we recognize, in the name of God, that you possess sincere faith and practice a life of integrity and nobility.]
[Does it… come with any authority? Or a pension?]
[Hahaha. How could there be such a thing? Ah! You will gain the right to donate one-tenth of your income to the temple. Is that not glorious?]
[…….]
He had almost punched the man.
Even after that, they offered to give his future children names blessed in the name of His Holiness the Pope. Or they offered to provide a burial plot in the holy grounds of the capital, Promise, after his parents passed away.
The crowning achievement was when they handed Patrick a half-rotten piece of wood and said…
[How is it? This is a holy relic that Saint Karl Leon possessed during his life before he made a noble sacrifice during the Lestain Incident.]
[…….]
[Hahaha. You’re speechless. Normally, it is an honor just to look at it, but if you wish, ahem, while giving it away is impossible, I can lend it to you.]
It had been a long time since his Infinite Hell Chain Fist felt so itchy.
Do you know what the hardest part was?
[Ha… haha…. It’s an honor, but I’ll decline.]
It was having to hold back instead of acting according to his temper. Patrick had come here officially as the representative envoy of the Schneider Duchy. He couldn't ignore the nation's dignity. As a result…
“I… I am the Radiant Dragon Hero Jincheon, the man who held drinking parties in the Shaolin Abbot’s room, grilled meat at the Wudang Sect’s sword-unveiling pond, and did… intimate things with my wife at the Emei Sect’s holy grounds….”
How was a guy like this ever a ‘Hero’?
“To think I have to endure this! That I can’t act according to my nature! Ugh… is this what they call asceticism?”
Matthew replied to Patrick’s novel brand of nonsense.
“No, it’s just called living normally.”
“Really? You mean other people live like this, suppressing what they want to do and just enduring it?”
“Yeah.”
“…Liar.”
From Patrick’s perspective, he was exercising the maximum patience of his life—enough to produce Buddhist sarira beads in his body. But to find out this was ‘normal’? He couldn't believe it.
And do you know what was most infuriating?
“Where the hell are they? These damn dark mages!”
“I thought you said you could find them easily?”
“Ah, I thought I could.”
“Didn't you say you’d get a feeling just by looking?”
“Right. But I’m not getting any feeling, friend. What should I do?”
“How should I know?”
“Ugh….”
Patrick had looked through the Cardinals and the surrounding priests with agonizing patience, but he couldn't find a trace of a dark mage.
Matthew spoke to the weakly collapsed Patrick.
“Just endure a bit more. They say patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet, right?”
“If the guy who first said that was in front of me right now, I’d beat him up.”
Patrick had experienced it firsthand: patience was bitter, and there was no fruit. To make matters worse, there was someone annoying him during this process of endurance.
And that person was…
“Young Master, you have a visitor.”
Oliver’s voice came from outside the door. Patrick frowned and said, “Tell him I’m not here.”
“Yes, understood.”
A moment later, Oliver’s voice from outside the door said:
“He told me to tell you he’s not here.”
That bastard.
Is he messing with me on purpose?
“Double Dragon!”
Eventually, the door swung wide open, and a gruff voice rang out.
“Are you playing games with me, Double Dragon?”
“Haaaaa….”
Patrick kept his head buried in the pillow and spoke without even turning around.
“Is it you again, Michael?”
“How many times do I have to tell you it’s Antorius Denar?”
“It’s hard to memorize. Can’t I just call you Michael?”
“…….”
What is wrong with this guy?
Matthew, standing nearby, shrugged at Antorius.
“Give up. I’ve known him for over five years and I still call him Stew sometimes.”
“I’ve just changed my name to Knight A,” Oliver added.
“…….”
Antorius found himself wondering again. Seriously, what is wrong with these people?
* * *
In truth, Antorius had high expectations when he heard Patrick was coming to the Holy Kingdom. He thought his chance had finally come.
Antorius Denar was called the future of the Holy Kingdom and was evaluated as having a guaranteed seat among the 12 Paladins. However, he had been defeated by the Overlord Sierion in the semifinals of the Arcana.
One defeat was fine. He wasn't a weak man who would crumble over that. The problem was what happened afterward.
There was no need to explain Patrick’s path. His deeds had already elevated him to the status of a living legend. Then there was Sierion Vyssus Yuzef, who had completely pacified the northeastern part of the continent and earned the title of Overlord. Garcia Reinardo had become the Rising Star of the Empire through his exploits on the front lines. Even Riman Sierra, who had failed to reach the semifinals, was making a name for himself with clear achievements during the subjugation of the Great Forest as the future of the Tower of Truth.
In the midst of all this, the name of Antorius, once called the future of the Holy Kingdom, was bound to fade.
Antorius wanted to perform deeds that would make his name known to the world, just like the Double Dragon. He had wanted to participate in the war against the Empire, but…
[It is still too early for you.]
He had been forced to stay back by those words from his master. Since he couldn't refuse the command of his master, who was also one of the 12 Paladins, he couldn't join the war and was stuck in Promise, focusing only on his training.
Then, finally, the opportunity had arrived.
The Double Dragon had come in person. If he could cross swords with him and prove his skill, he could revive his reputation, which had fallen behind his rivals of the same generation.
So, he had been coming every day to request a duel, but…
“Shoo! Shoo! Go away. You’re annoying.”
This was the treatment he was receiving. Antorius couldn't contain his rage at Patrick’s behavior as he waved him away with the back of his hand.
“Double Dragon. Do you plan to keep avoiding me?”
“Yep.”
“Are you that afraid of me?”
“Yep.”
“If you keep acting like this, rumors might spread that you avoided a duel with me out of fear.”
“Yep.”
“Double Dragooooooon!”
“Yep.”
Antorius realized for the first time that day that it doesn't take long speeches to make someone angry. A single-syllable word was more than enough to drive a human to fury.
At Antorius’s behavior, which was now radiating killing intent beyond mere fighting spirit, Patrick turned his head and spoke.
“Hey, honestly, what do I have to gain by fighting you?”
“A knight should not fear a duel and should not avoid a challenge for the sake of honor.”
“You do that then.”
If Patrick were the type of person to listen to logic, things wouldn't have reached this point. Antorius’s anger reached its peak, and when a human’s anger peaks, reason becomes paralyzed. And a human whose reason is paralyzed…
“Fine. If I lose the duel, I will do anything you ask, as long as it’s within my power. Will that suffice?”
…tends to say things they can't take back.
In an instant, Patrick’s body slid up from the bed.
“You said anything, didn't you?”
“…That’s right.”
He felt a sudden chill, but he couldn't back down now. Having come this far, he had to see it through to the end. Patrick flashed a thick smile at Antorius, who was bluffing with the typical psychology of a man betting his entire fortune on a gamble.
Seeing that, Matthew and Oliver thought…
Ah… that smile….
It’s the smile he makes when he’s caught a pushover.
They already began to feel sorry for Antorius.
Patrick, who had been half-dead and rotting away, spoke with a face full of newfound vitality.
“Well, that changes things. A duel? Sure, why not? Let’s do it.”
“Really?”
“Of course. But in exchange, if you lose, you really have to do anything. If you try to say otherwise later, you’re dead.”
“…Of course.”
Antorius Denar was starting to feel a bit nervous, but he truly couldn't retreat now. Matthew and Oliver watched him with pitying eyes.