Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 008
Chapter Title: Living as an Outsider
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“Wow...”
Watching the knights' mounted charge, Shan finally grasped the true nature of the “heroic spirit” that Roden had described.
It was because an impossible destructive force erupted from the tips of their lances, given their size and speed.
This power belonged to an entirely different realm from Shan's unique techniques for controlling his body.
If his were about efficiently wielding muscles to push physical abilities to their limits, theirs bordered on distorting reality itself.
The shield wall the knights shattered soon collapsed completely under the infantry's breach.
The sight of a battlefield pitting hundreds against each other tipping in favor of just four men was almost majestic.
Shan thrilled at the fact only briefly before his eyes darted around, reading the shifting flow.
Fortunately, their vantage point overlooked the field like a god gazing down from the heavens, making the changes easy to spot.
“They're surrounded.”
“What?”
“Those knights are in danger.”
Roden, who had narrowed his eyes against the flashing blades everywhere, only registered it a beat later upon hearing Shan.
The knights who had boldly smashed through the shield wall were trying to fall back to their lines when an enemy unit with long spears blocked the path. From the opposite side, the enemy's knights charged with lances at the ready.
There were five of them—one more than the enemy.
Unlike the helmets of the charging knights, which bore red tassels, theirs had blue ones.
Outnumbered, their lances broken from the charge, and their speed lost, the outcome was obvious.
Two managed to parry with shields and flee, but one fell from his horse, unable to hold. The last was impaled straight through the chest and tumbled down.
One surviving red-tasseled knight shouted urgently at the sight.
“Dorian! Solem!”
“Too late! We gotta run while we can!”
“Damn it!”
The two red knights who weathered the assault scattered, drawing swords and hammers instead of broken lances as they slashed through the enemy ranks to escape.
As the blue knights pursued, the fallen knight regained his senses and stood—only to find himself surrounded by infantry.
“Surrender!”
“You filthy peasants dare...!”
The last knight drew his longsword from his belt, refusing to be taken alive.
His skill truly lived up to the title of knight.
Each swing cleaved through nearby soldiers' bodies and armor alike. Attacks aimed at him glanced off his plate armor at angles, minimizing damage.
Left alone, he seemed capable of mowing down a hundred or even a thousand foes single-handedly.
But his frenzy lasted only moments. As he tired and slowed, several soldiers hurled nets.
He severed a couple, but one he missed tangled his legs, sending him crashing down.
“Urk!”
“Got him! Pull!”
As the knight thrashed under layers of nets descending over him, Roden tapped Shan's shoulder from behind.
“Let's get out of here.”
“Why?”
“It's wrapping up. Varik Count's side won this one. If we stick around and they spot us, they'll pin all sorts of charges on us—like being Morayen Duke's spies—and rampage. Winning armies always do.”
Scanning the field again at his words, Shan realized Roden meant the blue-tassel knights were Varik Count's forces.
After losing the fleeing red knights, they struck the rear of the infantry pushing into their lines, isolating them. Sensing defeat, the soldiers ignored their officers' shouts and fled.
Shan and Roden bolted down the hill eastward as well.
Luckily, they were far enough that they didn't run into Varik Count's pursuit units chasing stragglers.
After hurrying at a near-run for several dozen minutes, Roden halted first, panting heavily.
“Haa... this should be safe enough... I only went to help thinking it'd be monsters or bandits at worst. Who'd have thought they'd be waging a full war.”
“You can't fight if the enemy's got a blade.”
“You've got my back. Alone, I'd have been too scared.”
Shan couldn't fathom why bother saving someone attacked by bandits, but he just tilted his head and let it go.
Right now, he was far more intrigued by the knights' prowess he'd witnessed.
“Knights are more impressive than I thought... but also kinda weak.”
Up until they pulverized the shield wall with their charge, they seemed the mightiest beings on earth.
The “heroic spirit” they embodied as one felt intense enough to pierce even a dragon.
But once surrounded, stripped of speed and mounts, the knights on the ground weren't all that strong.
Shan figured he could take them one-on-one right now, sword in hand.
Seeing his somewhat disappointed look, Roden chuckled.
“The world's more intricately balanced than you think. If knights could mow down hundreds of regular soldiers like wheat, no one would bother raising armies. Knights wouldn't need to serve kings or nobles either.”
“Ah.”
“Besides, knights were the ones finishing the fight, right?”
True enough—Varik Count overwhelmed Morayen Duke because his knights hit the infantry from behind.
In the end, the battle came down to who used their knights more effectively.
“Like I said before, a knight's true duty is slaying monsters. That's what we'll do in Pendia too.”
“Hunt monsters, huh?”
“Yeah. Against them, even I can pull my weight. If we tour the east together taking them down, we'll build a reputation. That could land us knighthoods from some prominent noble.”
Roden paused, hesitating, then added,
“Not trying to scare you off with the rosy picture, but it won't be that easy. Pendia being less discriminatory doesn't mean they'll treat Altoin like regular westerners. You get what I mean?”
“Yeah.”
“But you'll make it. Don't lose confidence.”
Shan figured discrimination like that was nothing.
Sure, just lop off a wrist or two whenever someone picked a fight, and they'd shut up.
If Roden could read that thought, he'd have sighed deeply.
Half a day after escaping the battlefield, the pair finally found a quiet farming village.
The farmers who rushed over at news of armed visitors bowed low at Roden's intimidating presence.
“So, just follow that road straight ahead?”
“Yes, sir knight. You'll make it to the city well before sunset if you head out now.”
“Enough with the 'knight' bit. Here's pay for the directions.”
Roden flicked a half-silver coin—severed by his thumb—and the farmer snatched it up with a gasp.
As they passed, Shan asked Roden,
“You really emphasize not being a knight.”
“Can't have anyone picking a fight over a misunderstanding. Impersonating a knight's a serious crime—challenges the authority of kings and nobles who appoint them.”
Still, denying it too vehemently made him seem cheap, so Roden's strategy was to play the “knight down on his luck pretending otherwise.”
True to the farmer's word, the city soon appeared.
Shan let out a soft “whoa” at the stone walls—the first he'd ever seen.
“Impressed?”
“Super!”
Vito City was a fortress town encircled by walls about as tall as two or three grown men—roughly four meters, per Roden's earlier units.
Yet for some reason, the gates were shut tight, and the base of the walls teemed with tents, wagons, and makeshift shacks.
Seemed like folks who'd come to the city but couldn't get in.
“Gates are closed.”
“Probably the war. It was practically next door... Might be stuck camping outside too if we're unlucky.”
Roden sounded regretful, but Shan—who inwardly dreaded entering—was relieved.
Looked like it'd be a nightmare escaping if a fight broke out inside those walls.
Glancing around curiously, Shan's eyes landed on a man with hair half black, half gold.
“Come one, come all! Special show today only! See the fire-breathing toad-man like a dragon, the dwarf with trees growing from his body, and the fairy girl who flies through the sky! This way to the red tent! Just two silver coins admission!”
He was hawking a traveling circus.
They performed odd feats or exotic curiosities from afar for a fee.
Guess he was targeting those stuck outside the city.
Such troupes passed through Willow Village every few months or years while Shan lived there.
Of course, he never got to see inside, but even the puppeteer playing with dolls outside had been mesmerizing.
“Roden, can we watch that?”
“Hm? I'm not big on... They usually do knife-throwing.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, you'll be fine alone. Here's some coin—don't lose it. I'll scout a place to stay. Meet at the gates when you're done.”
“Got it!”
Pocketing a few silvers, Shan eagerly headed for the red tent.
He halted, eyes widening, at the burly doorman blocking the entrance.
“Uh...”
The man had shaggy brown hair and a plain, unremarkable face—your everyday sort.
But Shan stared because two feather-topped horns sprouted where his ears should be.
The frozen doorman grinned good-naturedly.
“No worries, kid! Not all Altoin are man-eating monsters! Here alone?”
Shocked by his first encounter with kin, Shan steadied himself and cautiously offered the silver.
The doorman seemed to think his stiffness came from fear of Altoin features.
Thankfully, the tent's high ceiling meant no worry about his eyes glowing.
He fought the urge to draw his blade every time shoulders bumped, taking deep breaths to calm down.
Minutes later amid the crowd, the show began.
The promoter from outside announced clearly what was in store.
“First up, the fire-eater! This guy's Altoin magic lets him unleash massive flames!”
“Whoa!”
Some gasped in awe; others grumbled anyone could fake it with strong liquor.
Soon, an Altoin with red chitin-like cheeks on both sides swung a small torch, then inhaled sharply.
His cheeks ballooned like bellows, and a sky-piercing blaze erupted on exhale.
“Whoa!”
“Never seen fire shoot that far...”
“Without booze?”
“The priest was right—Altoin are all monsters.”
The acts that followed brimmed with wonders.
A dwarf shorter than Shan grew three small trees from his back; a girl with shimmering butterfly wings “flew” along ropes.
When the fanged woman roared wide-mouthed at the crowd, a few kids burst into tears.
As the final applause and cheers died, the ringmaster bowed dramatically.
“Thank you all for coming! Show tomorrow too—once the gates open, please spread the word about our Altoin Monster Circus!”
Even as the audience dispersed, Shan stared blankly at the empty stage.
The feather-horned doorman entered to clean and spotted him.
“Hey, kid? Time to tidy up... Oh! You too?”
His excited tone made Shan realize sunset had darkened the tent interior.
His eyes' influence sometimes left him oblivious to light or dark when lost in thought.
“Yeah.”
“Haven't seen another Altoin besides us in ages. Parents nearby?”
“No... But someone's kinda like me.”
“Lucky! Uncle Rocksi! Know this kid's Altoin too?”
The “Uncle Rocksi”—the dual-haired promoter and emcee—glanced curiously from atop the stage.
“Huh? No clue.”
“Guess his eyes glow at night. Didn't notice earlier.”
“Some don't show it outwardly. Like me.”
Shan looked at him, surprised.
Rocksi seemed utterly ordinary westerner aside from his hair.
“You're Altoin too, mister?”
“Born with this hair. Lie and say it's dye when I need to pass.”
Rocksi chuckled, tousling his locks.
The other Altoin performers emerged from adjacent tents, drawn by the commotion.
Soon Shan was surrounded, bombarded with questions.
“Who gave you that sword? Looks top-notch.”
“Kinda ended up with it.”
“What's brings you here? War nearby—mercenary? You're too young for that.”
“Wow, those eyes are gorgeous... Look over here? Yeah, like that. Just like emeralds.”
Every answer spawned two or three more, leaving him flustered.
But the attention felt nice.
Unlike with Roden, being treated as one of their own tickled his heart.
They were all one big family, he learned.
Doorman Pen was brother to butterfly-winged Devi; their father, dwarf Boldot, was Rocksi's brother and ringmaster.
Fanged Kete was the siblings' mom and Boldot's wife; fire-breather Hosu, her brother.
“You guys don't look much alike for family.”
“Altoin traits rarely pass from parent to child. Almost never.”
“Ah.”
Shan realized his glowing green eyes weren't inherited—vague hopes dashed.
If so, finding his parents might truly be impossible.
Not that he cared much.
When his goal came up, they gaped in shock.
“A knight?”
“No way!”
“Roden said I could make it in Pendia.”
“Hm, never been, but hard to buy...”
Ringmaster Rocksi frowned cautiously.
“Don't wanna badmouth your guardian, but it's suspicious. Sponsoring an unrelated Altoin kid that much? I'd assume he's selling you off to some far-off land. Why not travel with us? Pay's decent, and we're short-handed—no normals allowed.”
Rocksi's offer sounded appealing.
These first Altoin he'd met seemed kind and genuine.
But Shan had dreams—and ambitions—since meeting Roden.
They'd grown watching those daytime knights.
He was sure he could outdo them.
They nodded regretfully at his refusal.
“Hope it works out.”
“Become a lord someday and hire us?”
“Not hard.”
They laughed and joked briefly, then cheered him on toward his knighthood dreams.
Just that warmed his chest.