Chapter 234
Chapter 234
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: 92. Overlord's Banner (2)
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Yuri selected the five champions in order.
It was easy enough up to Yuri, Jared, Simon, and Guinness, but the last spot was the problem.
After lengthy debates and spars, a knight named Tirbo—who usually didn't stand out much—was chosen.
"I'm a bit nervous. Hehe…."
He was a young man with a mop of unruly hair and an innocent look, but unlike his scatterbrained demeanor, he proved his worth with exceptional swordsmanship.
Moreover, despite his simple appearance, he was the scion of a prestigious earl family—a rare lineage in the Vengeance Knights. His blade work was sharp and precise, reminiscent of Rolang.
Aside from his looks and that foolish grin.
His swordsmanship, status, even his hair color resembled Rolang's, but that last bit made him seem unreliable.
"You sure about this, Tirbo?"
"Just leave it to me. Hehe…."
"Why do I feel so uneasy…."
For the first bout against Anabas, Yuri set the order himself.
Tirbo, Yuri, Jared, Simon, Guinness.
Tirbo went first to gauge his skill, followed by the others in order of strength to secure a swift victory without dragging things out.
Yuri hadn't planned to step in, but changed his mind for a quick win.
There was some debate over who went between Simon and Guinness, so they settled it with rock-paper-scissors.
Simon teased Guinness.
"Rock-paper-scissors is a skill too."
"What nonsense is that?"
"You always start with rock or scissors."
"Ridiculous."
"Now you're rattled and planning scissors next, right?"
"No, I'm not."
"Sure you are."
The Anabas knights wore stern expressions.
Their king wasn't particularly tense, but for the knights, their pride was on the line.
The king of Anabas said,
"Don't get hurt. Go easy on them. It's okay to lose."
"…."
"Honestly, winning would be a problem too."
"…."
"Still, give it your all. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
As the Anabas knights gathered to watch, the Overlord's Banner duel began.
If Brioll won, they took Anabas's flag; if Anabas won, they toppled Brioll's in humiliation. That was the agreement.
Even for the Vengeance Knights, it wasn't a fight they could take lightly.
Tirbo stepped forward first.
Yuri clapped him on the shoulder.
"Go easy. No pressure since it's your debut."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"It's okay to lose."
"Thank you, sir."
Yuri had chosen Tirbo first to test his abilities and scout Anabas.
Anabas had the same idea.
Thus, both sides sent out their weakest of the five, and their levels matched perfectly.
The very first match turned into an unexpected clash of equals.
"Hah… hah…."
"Hoo… hoo…."
"Impressive for someone so young. A true Brioll knight…."
"You're impressive too, sir. Hehe…."
Watching the scene, Yuri let out a long sigh.
"It's turning into a way better match than expected."
"Tell me about it…."
"Order matters a lot too, huh."
Their skills were so evenly matched that neither could afford a single mistake. The tense exchange of blows on knife's edge made it feel like a grand showdown.
"What a nail-biter…."
Every strike carried their full intent.
All their honed insights and convictions poured into swings aimed at the foe.
For the glory of their homeland alone.
In the end, Tirbo seized the advantage. His opponent was middle-aged, while Tirbo was in his prime. In the late stages, the Anabas knight showed a lapse in focus first.
One mistake sealed their fate.
Gazing at the sword halted at his throat, the Anabas knight grinned.
Tirbo's blade trembled up and down with his heaving breaths.
"Beaten by a young buck, eh."
"J-just luck."
The two worthy rivals exchanged grins.
As Tirbo lowered his sword, they shared a fierce embrace.
The watching Anabas knights burst into applause. Caught up in the mood, Yuri—who had been clapping too—whispered to Jared beside him.
"Atmosphere's getting a bit much, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I wanted to wrap this up quick."
"How long are they gonna hug?"
After the prolonged embrace, Tirbo staggered back to the Vengeance Knights.
The cheers for the pair lingered on.
With the afterglow of that epic bout still hanging in the air, Yuri stepped into the arena.
The Anabas knight bowed politely to Yuri.
"I am Harriet, knight of Anabas! Please, a lesson!"
"Uh, yeah, me too…."
The first match had been so thrilling that the spectators' expectations soared even higher.
So when the Anabas knight got demolished the instant the duel started, everyone doubted their eyes.
"Gahk!"
"…."
With a dying gasp, Sir Harriet collapsed. Sprawled out with limbs akimbo, he looked for all the world like he was napping.
Yuri flashed an awkward smile before promptly leaving the arena.
It was only natural, really.
Yuri was already among the top ten strongest on the continent, while his foe wasn't even the best in population-poor Anabas.
In the ensuing silence, Jared prepared to go as he whispered,
"Wasn't that a bit too quick?"
"We're short on time. Gotta hustle back."
"Still…."
"You wrap it up fast too."
Jared followed him into the arena.
The感動 from the opener had vanished; the mood turned frigid.
If Brioll won this one too, the Overlord's Banner duel was over.
Anabas would suffer a total rout.
Small nation or not, their pride was immense—especially in the league of small states.
"We can't lose."
"Fight hard!"
"Stake your lives!"
Jared scanned the row of Anabas knights.
Their top-ranked one was saved for last.
His face was stone-cold.
Soon, Jared's opponent appeared.
"I'll learn from you."
"Likewise."
After mutual courtesies, Jared overpowered him.
Another Brioll victory.
Not quite as instantaneous as Yuri's, but after a few clashes, he broke through the defense and held his sword to the vitals.
Thus, Brioll took three straight wins, ending the duel.
A grand start, a whimpering finish.
"Kuh…!"
Anabas's strongest knight, defeated without drawing his blade, swallowed his bitterness.
The losers approached him, bowing their heads in apology.
"Sorry, Captain! We should've done better…."
"You trusted us. Our fault."
"We're ashamed…."
But Anabas's top knight instantly switched to a grin, clapping their shoulders.
"No. It's not your fault. This isn't just your loss—it's all of ours. We fell together. We're one!"
"Captain…!"
"So chin up. No bowing heads."
"Sniff…."
Yuri watched with a dubious look.
His sharp senses had caught the man mouthing, 'Phew, glad it's over quick.'
Had it gone to his turn, he'd likely have clashed fiercely with Guinness.
Brioll knights weren't just talk. They held their own against great powers, but against small fry like Anabas, the gap was palpable.
"Something wrong?"
"Nah."
Since Anabas seemed in good spirits, Yuri let it slide.
The king of Anabas handed Yuri their flag.
The conceding knights applauded.
"Congrats on kicking off the Overlord's Banner. Foreigners have joined before, but never this seriously."
"We'll see it through."
"Rooting for you."
The king of Anabas clapped Yuri's arm.
"But it won't be easy. Never completed means it's that tough."
"I know."
Yuri had learned the details and understood why no Overlord's Banner had ever been finished.
There was a one-month time limit.
Since you staked all collected flags per duel, weaker nations just stalled.
Multiple countries had to aggressively collect flags to reduce duels.
But if some dawdled, the ambitious ones had to visit every nation one by one.
Yuri figured it'd be similar this time.
Might need to hit all sixteen in a month.
"It's declared today, so move fast."
"Yes. Leaving now."
The Vengeance Knights now had two standard-bearers: one for Brioll's flag, one for Anabas's.
They would carry Anabas's will onward in the Overlord's Banner.
The goal: complete it and forge a continent-wide anti-empire encirclement.
"Yuri."
Before mounting up, the king of Anabas called him.
First time by name.
Yuri dropped the reins and approached.
"Mind if I call you Yuri?"
"Sure."
"We've only just met, yet you feel like a brother."
Yuri chuckled. The king continued.
"In this short time, so much has changed for me. Empire, black magic, Overlord's Banner—it's surreal, like a dream meeting you."
"I get it."
"Fate, I suppose."
The king placed a hand on Yuri's shoulder.
"I think I get it now. Your father vanished, but Brioll—and the continent—still has you. To stop the empire, everyone must play their part, but yours is the biggest and hardest. It'll be tough. You'll want to quit sometimes."
Yuri looked up.
He'd toiled to halt the empire, but none had consoled him like this king.
A true king.
"But I know you won't quit. I have an eye for people. You don't need empty words. Still, what I want to say is…."
The king slapped Yuri's shoulder hard.
"We all know the weight you carry. May that comfort you."
"Thank you."
Yuri rubbed the spot, smiling.
His effort alone lightened the load a bit.
But one thing the king didn't know.
This was Yuri's second life.
Remembering past pains, he already burned with ample resolve.
"No need to worry, though."
Yuri grinned confidently and added,
"Even if no one notices, it doesn't matter. I'll do my duty regardless."
"I see."
The king's eyes sparkled before he burst out laughing.
"I got long-winded with worry. But I wanted to say it."
"It helped."
"Now go. Next time, have it complete."
"Of course."
Yuri mounted up at once.
Anabas knights cheered the Vengeance Knights, yelling not to lose to anyone else after beating them.
The flag-bearer with Anabas's banner waved it in response.
"Alright, let's move. Time to claim more flags."
"Yes!"
With Yuri in the lead, the Vengeance Knights departed Anabas.
The Anabas knights cheered their backs till the end.
The Vengeance Knights waved back.
An honorable farewell.
"Hey! Scared or what?!"
Yuri was short on time.
He wanted to collect flags fast.
So from Anabas onward, he dropped the pleasantries.
Growing rude, even.
"Here for your flag! Come out already!"
Upon reaching the gates of Orot, the next nation after Anabas, Yuri bellowed.
"Let's duel! Hand over the flag!"