Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: 92. Overlord's Flag (4)
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"Hoo, hoo..."
The Vengeance Knights continued to claim flags one after another.
It was thanks to their march that transcended all limits.
"There's nothing mental fortitude can't achieve. Everyone, up!"
"Yes!"
Yuri and Jared brought unconditional victory, and at least one of Simon, Guinness, or Tirbo won every time, so Brioll had yet to suffer a single defeat.
Now, the number of flags they held had surpassed ten.
The sight of them marching with all sorts of banners drew eyes wherever they went, concentrating the gazes of the small nation alliance's residents every time the Vengeance Knights appeared.
Village children even followed the Vengeance Knights around.
Yuri tossed a strip of jerky to a trailing kid and glanced back.
"Everyone tired?"
"No, sir!"
They all shook their heads.
Yuri grinned.
"Good. That's the Vengeance Knights for you."
A group's name can change the mindset of its members.
The weight of the word "vengeance" was already transforming the entire Vengeance Knights.
And with their leader Yuri never excluding himself, always leading by example, no one dared complain.
"We're almost there. We'll stay in the castle tonight."
"Yes!"
The sun was setting.
If they arrived in a country right on time, they sometimes imposed on them instead of camping out. But that had been rare so far. So the Vengeance Knights welcomed Yuri's words.
The country they were arriving at this time was called Conzed.
"Looks like that's it."
Far off, a reddish castle bathed in the fading sunset glow came into view.
Its spires were particularly tall, casting long shadows that stretched from the castle walls all the way to where the Vengeance Knights stood.
It looked almost like a black path laid out before them.
"Beautiful, but ominous too."
Jared said.
Yuri agreed.
Though he hadn't said it aloud, he could feel a dark aura emanating from within.
The knights supposedly sent by the Empire might even be here.
As the Vengeance Knights arrived, the castle gates opened naturally.
As if they'd been waiting.
"Welcome."
A man emerged and greeted them politely. He wasn't a knight; he was one of the ministers serving Conzed's king.
He studied Yuri's face carefully and smiled.
"We've been expecting you. Here for the Overlord's Flag Battle, I presume?"
"That's right. Who are you?"
"I'm Leil, a minister of Conzed. I humbly serve as prime minister."
Prime minister was a position that didn't exist in Brioll, typically holding authority second only to the king.
"Your Highness, since you're in a hurry, shall we start the Overlord's Flag Battle right away?"
Leil's words made Yuri's eyebrow twitch.
"That possible?"
"Of course."
The other small countries they'd visited had all seemed reluctant about the Overlord's Flag Battle. Unless Yuri pressed them, they never brought it up first.
But Conzed was different.
"Let's do it."
"Excellent."
Leil kept his leisurely smile. He didn't flinch at the sight of the mounted knights; instead, he gestured grandly with exaggerated arm movements.
"With such magnificent knights here, how could we delay? You must be eager to press on."
"Indeed."
Yuri nodded.
It was growing dark, but that wouldn't hinder a duel.
"In exchange, can we stay the night? It's getting late."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
"Overlord's Flag Battle now? Knights on standby?"
"Yes."
"The king?"
Yuri deliberately mentioned the king arrogantly.
"Where is the king?"
"His Majesty..."
Yet Leil showed no agitation.
"...is unwell and resting. He says he can't watch the Overlord's Flag Battle."
"I see."
"I'll handle proceedings in his stead. Haha..."
"Got it."
Leil led the way, and Yuri followed on horseback without protest.
The soldiers waiting inside the castle showed no particular expressions. No hostility toward the Vengeance Knights, no curiosity either.
"Please proceed on foot from here. We'll take the horses."
Yuri handed his horse to a Conzed soldier and looked around.
Conzed's castle was well-maintained. Unlike the relatively lax defenses of the other small alliance nations they'd visited, this place looked ready for a siege at any moment.
The soldiers held their positions impeccably.
Yuri tilted his head.
"Either they've got a capable leader, or there's another reason..."
"Why?"
"It's very well-kept."
"It is."
Jared nodded.
"Maybe they rushed an inspection because we came. Some stake their lives on appearances."
"Hope that's it."
Yuri glanced up. The dark aura he'd sensed outside still prickled his nerves now that they were inside.
"But I doubt it. Stay alert. Conzed doesn't feel like an easy pass."
"Why?"
"Just a feeling."
Yuri eyed Leil's back as he spoke.
"Insisting on duels in the dark is suspicious too."
"Probably just want to lose quick and be done."
Yuri chuckled.
"Wish it were that simple."
The Vengeance Knights soon reached the dueling ground.
Conzed's knights were lined up in the vast training yard inside the castle.
Dozens of torches planted around blazed fiercely, illuminating the entire arena.
Yuri tilted his head.
"No magic lights?"
"Ah, yes..."
Leil ahead answered.
"His Majesty doesn't care much for magic. He thinks torches suffice without needless spells."
"Huh."
"Adds to the atmosphere, don't you think?"
The many torches kept it from total darkness, but the flickering flames in the breeze would differ from fighting in broad daylight.
Yuri looked at the lined-up knights' faces. The shadows from the firelight made them seem grim.
With everyone silent, only the Vengeance Knights' footsteps echoed around the arena as they entered.
Leil spoke.
"Let's begin right away. No need to drag it out. You all need rest."
At his words, a knight stepped forward into the arena's center as if on cue.
His emergence between the torches looked almost heroic.
"Conzed knight, Dustin."
Yuri called the other four for the duel.
"Draw lots?"
"No."
Yuri shook his head.
"They're not specifying order, so Tirbo, you're up first."
"Yes. Heh heh..."
"Tirbo."
Yuri glanced back before continuing.
"Bad feeling about this. If it gets dangerous, forfeit immediately."
"Pardon?"
"Forfeit if it's risky."
"Ah, got it."
Tirbo nodded with a hardened expression.
Yuri watched arms crossed as he stepped into the arena.
The opponent's eyes flashed upon seeing Tirbo.
And in that instant, something changed.
"..."
Yuri immediately entered the heart-soul realm and stared at the arena.
In his whitened vision, he could see the more primal flows of energy. Amid the lined-up knights lurked a black mass-like presence.
But as Tirbo emerged, that black form suddenly rose and was sucked into Dustin's body. Black energy then began surging from Dustin.
It had changed.
Dustin was far stronger now.
Yuri scanned further. No more black energy visible. Just the one in Dustin.
As the two faced off with swords drawn, Yuri approached Leil.
"Ah, Your Highness?"
"Feels like we didn't agree on order properly."
"Haha, no issue. Proceed as you like."
"Are those your Overlord's Flag Battle knights?"
Yuri pointed toward the knight where the black energy had lurked.
Leil nodded.
"Yes."
"Who's the strongest?"
"Pardon?"
"You know I'm the strongest on our side. Fair play means we should know your order of strength too."
Leil thought a moment, then smiled.
"No need to reveal that. That's the Overlord's Flag Battle rule. Bear with it if you want the flag."
"Fair enough."
Yuri nodded.
"Got it. By the way, His Majesty's truly fine? Hasn't shown at all."
"Yes. He's recovering. You might see him briefly before departing tomorrow."
"Understood."
Yuri looked to the arena.
Tirbo was being pushed back. But not by a huge margin. It was close, with occasional minor hits.
But through the heart-soul realm, Yuri saw it differently.
"Overlord's Flag Battle rules, huh..."
Yuri eyed Leil.
"You seem to know them well."
"Had to cram when it suddenly started. Thanks to Your Highness, the small nations are buzzing."
"I see."
Yuri grinned and returned to the Vengeance Knights.
He watched the arena again.
The duel, which seemed even, saw Tirbo regain the advantage.
He pressed relentlessly.
Conzed's knights stirred; the Vengeance Knights cheered.
Dustin kept retreating.
That was the surface view.
But Yuri saw otherwise.
The black energy bloomed like a flower, awaiting Tirbo, while Dustin dangled from it like a puppet, luring him deeper into the trap.
Dustin stumbled.
Tirbo lunged forward with a long step, sword thrusting at the opening.
"Brioll forfeits!"
Yuri's voice boomed across the yard.
Tirbo froze instantly.
At the same moment, pitch-black sword energy shredded the air right before him, dissipating upward.
For a split second, it was a strike vicious enough to make onlookers doubt their eyes.
Had Yuri not stopped it, Tirbo's body would've burst.
Tirbo retreated dazedly.
"Whoa, just now... I nearly died..."
The Vengeance Knights buzzed too. That strike far exceeded Dustin's prior level.
Yuri nodded.
"You win. Congratulations."
"..."
Leil fell silent briefly. Yuri smirked at his face.
"Next round?"
Yuri chose the more cautious Guinness between him and Simon.
"Guinness."
"Yes."
"Keep your ears open. If I say forfeit like before, pull back immediately."
"Understood."
"Don't push. You'll probably forfeit too, so don't mind if it cuts short."
"Got it."
Guinness, sensing something amiss, nodded grimly.
Yuri turned his gaze.
As the duel ended, the black energy left Dustin and returned to its prior host knight.
Then, as two knights entered the arena, it swiftly entered another Conzed knight.
Same as before.
The black energy surged from the Conzed knight, targeting Guinness.
"I get it now."
Yuri nodded.
"Cunning bastards."
"Pardon?"
Jared tilted his head. Yuri called Jared and Simon.
"Guinness will lose."
"He looks like he'll win."
"They're playing dirty. I'll explain later."
Yuri chin-nodded at the remaining Conzed knights.
"Confident in winning?"
"Of course."
"We three have to win."
"Count on us."
Simon showed resolve too.
Yuri nodded.
"Good."
Yuri watched the arena again. Guinness pressed as before, while the Conzed knight dug a trap under the black energy's lead.
Yuri forfeited without forcing it.
"Brioll forfeits."
The Conzed knight, black energy bloomed wide in wait, lowered his sword in bewilderment.
Thus, Conzed led 2-0.
For the third, Yuri stepped up himself.
"..."
This time, the black energy stayed hidden inside the knight, not moving.
Yuri curled his lip.
They were playing a shallow trick.
Using that unidentified entity hopping between knights' bodies to ignore unbeatable foes and unleash killing blows on weaker ones, aiming to whittle Brioll's forces.
If things continued, it'd emerge in Simon's turn even if Yuri won.
"Petty tricks."
Yuri eyed the knight before him and slung Guilty over his shoulder.
The man looked extremely tense.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Know the Overlord's Flag Battle rules?"
"The rules...?"
"Most accidents are allowed. Like accidental deaths."
Yuri raised Guilty.
"Watch yourself."