Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Mounted Combat (2)
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Abel Haksen moved to the seat next to Olivia.
“This means we get to meet again like this.”
As soon as he sat down beside her, Olivia smiled and spoke. Abel felt his chest swelling with emotion.
‘Brother, thank you.’
If it weren’t for Demian, he wouldn’t have gotten another chance like this.
A heartfelt thank you to Demian welled up from deep within Abel’s chest.
“I’ll do my best to ensure the young lady enjoys the matches.”
Though he said it with tension, Abel was full of worries.
Unlike his brother, he lacked any real skill in swordsmanship. He had no confidence that he could entertain Olivia.
“It’s fine.”
“Yes? But...”
“Never mind that. Tell me more about the Haksen Viscountcy.”
Olivia urged him on.
Though Abel thought this wasn’t quite right, he began talking about the Haksen family.
* * *
Demian returned to the waiting area.
As he entered, he could feel the knights putting distance between themselves and him.
They were all looking at him with eyes full of wariness.
It was proof of just how strong an impression his archery display had left.
Earning their wariness meant they would be keeping a closer eye on him.
But Demian didn’t care.
He wouldn’t fear having to fight every knight here. The important thing was Abel’s happiness.
“Participants, listen up.”
A knight clad in plate armor entered the waiting area. The knight’s cloak bore the crest of the Copperhead Earl family.
He was a knight sworn to the earl’s service.
“For the next three days, the mounted combat will proceed with different events each day.”
The knight began explaining the detailed schedule to the participants.
“At the end of each match, points will be awarded to the participants. On the final day, the one with the highest total score will be declared the winner.”
The participants nodded.
“There are three events prepared in total. I look forward to your efforts, then.”
At those words, the participants began murmuring among themselves.
They had expected team events given the vast size of the arena.
But monster hunting was something they hadn’t anticipated.
“Don’t worry about injuries. Mages skilled in healing magic are on standby for any emergencies. The matches will begin in thirty minutes, so finish your preparations.”
With that, the knight left the waiting area.
“Y-Young master! This is bad!”
As soon as the knight left, Victor cried out.
“What’s wrong?”
“F-For mounted combat, we have to ride horses, right!”
“That’s right.”
“B-But we don’t have any horses! W-What do we do... Should I run out right now and buy one real quick?”
“Why wouldn’t we have horses?”
At Demian’s words, Victor let out a sigh of relief.
“As expected of you, young master. You’ve already prepared perfectly...”
“We’ve got the ones that pulled the carriage.”
Victor nearly fainted on the spot.
“Young master, those are draft horses—they’re heavy-bodied and can’t run fast at all...”
Horses were the most crucial element in mounted combat.
They needed to be fast, enduring, and unflinching in battle.
Without a superior breed like that, they couldn’t be used in combat.
“Look at this guy. Acting like he knows better than me. If you’re so smart, you do the knight thing.”
“Y-Yes? Ehh?”
“Quit yapping and go fetch the horse.”
“Y-Yes, sir...”
Victor headed to the stables, his heart heavy with worry.
* * *
“Young master, I’ve brought it.”
Victor handed the horse’s reins to Demian. Demian stroked the horse’s mane.
The horses raised by the Haksen Viscountcy were enormous, with thick legs and a very sluggish appearance.
Just as Victor had feared, they weren’t suited for combat.
“Sir Demian, you don’t intend to ride that horse into the matches, do you?”
A passing knight spotted the horse next to Demian and sneered.
“Sir Demian must not know, but that’s a draft horse—unsuitable for battle.”
“Sir Walter, enough. It seems he has no choice.”
The knights burst into laughter.
Demian ignored the knights’ words. He could always trample the mockers in the arena later.
Right now, he had something else to do.
Among the masters Demian had fought in the past, there was one named Jinnai Khan.
A nomadic warrior from the steppes, he was unusual in that he hadn’t mastered sword or spear, but horsemanship instead.
The realm he had achieved was unity of man and horse.
He could communicate with his mount to perform all sorts of intricate maneuvers.
He could even reinforce his horse’s body with mana and shape an Aurablade around it.
Thanks to this bizarre realm, the horse Jinnai Khan rode would charge at supersonic speeds, cloaked head to toe in an Aurablade.
Demian had emerged victorious after clashing with him for half a day.
“Look at me.”
Demian grabbed the horse’s head and made it meet his eyes.
“I’ll need to borrow your strength today. It’ll be tough, but hang in there.”
Demian injected mana into the horse’s body.
The horse’s eyes widened. It seemed quite startled by the unfamiliar sensation.
Fortunately, the horse didn’t buck. It docilely accepted the mana Demian poured in.
Demian’s mana spread throughout the horse’s body.
“The mounted combat will begin soon!”
At the soldiers’ shout, the knights mounted their horses. Demian climbed onto his as well.
“I’m counting on you today.”
As if in understanding, the horse let out a soft whinny.
* * *
Monster hunting.
When he heard the event name, Jackson Cutter cheered inwardly.
‘Finally, I can show my true skills!’
Hunting monsters was entirely different from fighting humans.
Even knights hardened by killing people often died pointlessly against monsters for that very reason.
Thus, hunting monsters required special skills and experience.
‘I’ll make my name known in this match!’
He resolved to etch the title “Monster Slayer” firmly into people’s minds.
“Then... we’ll open the gates!”
With the soldier’s shout, the doors of the waiting area swung open. The knights passed through and entered the arena.
“Andrew Gladan! Andrew Gladan!”
“Gerda Bonn! Gerda Bonn!”
The nobles shouted the names of their favored knights. The knights waved to the spectator stands.
“Jackson! Jackson Cutter!”
Amid the noise, a familiar voice rang out.
Jackson Cutter turned his head and saw Sophia Russell waving both arms.
Jackson Cutter smiled and waved back at Sophia Russell.
Dong- dong-
At that moment, a soldier beat the drum. It signaled that the monsters would be released soon.
The knights looked toward the iron gate on the opposite wall.
They didn’t know what monsters had been prepared, but already a dull, savage roar echoed from within.
The knights stared at the iron gate with tense expressions.
Since they were pitting groups against it, it was clearly no ordinary dangerous monster.
And their expectations proved spot on.
“Groooarrr!”
As the grating opened, a house-sized monster burst out.
The moment the knights saw it, they cried out in shock.
“...It’s a troll!”
Skin tough enough to resist blades, strength to tear humans apart effortlessly.
A monster famous for its tenacious vitality, unkillable no matter how many times it was slashed.
Not just one, but three of these beasts that even low-class knights struggled against had appeared.
“Groooar!”
As if on cue, the trolls charged at the knights all at once.
“Scatter! Don’t fight them head-on!”
At someone’s shout, the knights began to disperse. The trolls pursued them.
‘They’re insane. Releasing trolls?’
Jackson Cutter clicked his tongue as he rode.
With Aura, he could slice through troll hide easily enough.
But the same went for the trolls. With their monstrous strength, they could kill a knight effortlessly.
A low-class knight might withstand one blow. A quasi-knight? No chance.
‘So, we’re expected to take risks like this?’
While the knights fled in panic to evade the trolls, Jackson Cutter went on the offensive instead.
Jackson Cutter circled the troll repeatedly. The troll’s eyes spun dizzily.
-Groooar!
The troll swung its palm to grab Jackson Cutter. But it sliced through empty air.
“Hah!”
Jackson Cutter drew his sword and slashed the troll’s thigh. A groan escaped the troll’s mouth.
But as expected of a monster renowned for its regeneration, the wound vanished in an instant.
“As I thought—not enough!”
Jackson Cutter circled the troll on horseback again.
Whenever it showed an opening, he slashed at its legs with his sword.
“Who is that knight?”
“Not only brave, but highly skilled too.”
The nobles in the stands watched Jackson Cutter in admiration.
As their murmurs grew louder, Jackson Cutter felt deep satisfaction.
‘See that? This is me! Jackson Cutter! The Monster Slayer Jackson Cutter!’
Jackson Cutter swung his sword again. A long gash appeared on the troll’s thigh.
That was when it happened.
The sound of hooves came from behind. Without thinking, Jackson Cutter turned his head.
Demian Haksen was charging straight toward him.
“Groooar!”
The troll spotted Demian Haksen. Demian Haksen whipped his horse. It sped up even more.
‘Idiot!’
Jackson Cutter sneered at Demian’s actions.
Trolls might look dull, but they were actually incredibly fast and dangerous monsters.
Let your guard down, and that palm would burst your body. Knowing this, Jackson Cutter had kept circling to find openings.
‘Doesn’t he know charging head-on is suicide?’
As he’d thought, Demian Haksen wasn’t an exceptional knight.
‘A chance for me.’
Jackson Cutter planned to strike the troll’s belly the moment it attacked Demian Haksen.
If he could split its gut and spill its innards, even a troll would take serious damage.
“Groooarrr!”
The troll swung down its hand. It was the instant Jackson Cutter lunged for the belly.
The horse Demian Haksen rode leaped high into the air.
The troll’s palm slammed into the ground. The horse carrying Demian used the troll’s forearm as a ramp and galloped across it.
Demian and the troll were now at eye level. Demian swung his sword and cleaved the troll’s neck.
Hot blood sprayed across the ground.
At the same time, the troll’s head hit the dirt.
* * *
‘Controlling a horse isn’t easy.’
Unlike a weapon, a horse had its own ego and emotions, making it tricky to handle.
But Demian’s talent was more than enough to overcome any lack of experience.
Demian quickly got the feel and issued commands to the horse.
‘Go!’
Without whipping the reins or spurring its flanks with his heels, the horse moved.
He could feel it with every step as its hooves struck the ground.
How brimming with power its muscles were, how it moved.
‘Like this?’
Demian synchronized his mana with the horse’s movements. The injected mana reinforced them.
With every bound, the horse’s speed noticeably increased.
Its initially heavy gait gradually lightened. Soon, it was charging like the wind.
-Groooar!
The troll spotted Demian and raised its arm high. The horse’s terror transmitted directly to him.
‘Don’t be afraid!’
Demian soothed it.
‘Don’t I have your back?’
Demian’s iron will influenced the horse as well. It forgot its fear and charged at the troll.
‘Jump!’
The horse leaped. The troll’s palm smashed the ground beneath it.
The horse galloped across the troll’s forearm. Though narrow, it didn’t waver in the slightest.
It reached the shoulder. The perfect position to sever the troll’s neck.
Demian swung his sword and beheaded the troll.
The horse leaped once more. It landed lightly on the ground. Behind it, the headless troll collapsed.
“...Woooah!”
“W-What did I just see?”
The nobles erupted in cheers all at once.
The horsemanship Demian had displayed was something none of them had ever seen in their lives.
No, it was so incredible that they couldn’t even be sure they’d see it again.
“Good work.”
Demian patted the horse’s neck. Pleased, it let out a soft whinny.
Demian glanced to the side. Jackson Cutter had the look of someone possessed by a ghost.
“Thanks for drawing its attention.”
At Demian’s words, Jackson Cutter’s face twisted in fury.
“You bastard...!”
Demian didn’t bother hearing the rest as he spurred his horse onward.
There were still two trolls left.