Chapter 165: Public Ranking Match (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Public Ranking Match (4)
This Public Ranking Match wasn't simply intended to prove his own strength.
'The Valhalla Empire uses the ranking system to separate the wheat from the chaff. Discovering hidden talents before anyone else is an immense benefit to them.'
His own experience had already proven Valhalla's true purpose.
Back when Roman Dmitry was still undervalued, the Temple of Valhalla had recognized his worth and made moves to approach him. That was no coincidence. The Valhalla Empire had spread its unique culture of 'rankings' across the continent, allowing it to take root by stimulating people's inherent desire for honor.
As a result, rankings became a continental phenomenon. Skilled swordsmen scrambled to cement their names on the list.
And why wouldn't they? It was a system that prompted unknown, ignored experts to reveal themselves of their own accord. Because the Valhalla Empire had pioneered this system, they could welcome talents knocking on the temple doors while barely lifting a finger. Thanks to this, Valhalla expanded its power rapidly. By absorbing prodigies from all over the continent, they built a formidable force rivaling the Kronos Empire.
In other words, Roman could utilize this exact same system.
The rankers on the Cairo Ranking were highly attractive, pre-verified prospects.
'Some rankers belong to factions, while others do not. Through this ranking match, I will assess their potential. From Rank 99 to Rank 1. Among them, there will surely be talents that Dmitry needs. Under the pretext of a Public Ranking Match, I can summon them before me and verify their skills.'
It was an incredibly attractive plan—killing two birds with one stone.
Roman had intentionally expanded the stage, driving the rankers he faced into a corner and forcing them to surrender.
In the future, Dmitry would have to stand against Cairo's power players as well as foreign forces. In a game where the odds were logically stacked against them, he had no use for cowards who shrank back, intimidated by a mere reputation. He intended to separate the wheat from the chaff among those who still dared to face him despite the rumors. And Fernando, the gatekeeper of Rank 30, strongly piqued Roman's interest.
'They say Fernando represents the absolute limit of effort.'
He had heard about the man's weakness: Aura emission.
While he needed to meet the man in person to resolve the physical issue, it was Fernando's story that had initially caught Roman's attention. Despite repeatedly hitting a wall, Fernando had never given up. Even though his defeat by Bertov must have been a massive shock, he still proudly stood as the gatekeeper of Rank 30.
At first, Roman had his doubts. Was he just a loser who had resigned himself to reality? But upon meeting him in person, the look in Fernando's eyes—boiling with a deep sense of inferiority—was definitely not that of a defeated man.
'People think of inferiority as a negative emotion. But I think differently. Inferiority begins with the desire to overcome one's own shortcomings, constantly yearning to catch up to those superior to oneself. Inferiority is an honest human emotion. The moment one acknowledges their reality and accepts how pathetic they are, they can transcend their limits and step into an entirely new world.'
He liked that.
Watching Fernando struggle to the very bitter end, Roman mentally gave him a passing grade. That was why he had used Voice Transmission to point the man in a new direction, waiting for Fernando to seek him out after the duel.
And now...
"Thank you so much for your guidance! I, Fernando, will never forget your grace, Lord Roman Dmitry!"
Fernando's shout echoed out. It was exactly the picture Roman had envisioned.
* * *
They moved to a quiet location.
Fernando's attitude was deeply respectful. Faced with a sudden ray of hope in his bleak reality, he asked in a cautious voice, "...May I ask how you knew about my problem? People simply assume I wasn't born with a talent for Aura; they don't realize it's an issue arising during the process of Aura emission."
It was a complete mystery to him. His opponent was only in his mid-twenties. While he acknowledged Roman's incredible strength, the realm of theory usually required decades of experience to master.
Roman spoke.
"It is a simple matter. The fact that you can use a 4-Star Aura means you have reached that level qualitatively. However, unlike the inherent power of your Aura, the force with which it was emitted was abnormally weak. It wasn't that the destructive power of your Aura was lacking, but rather that its emission was feeble. Therefore, applying a different method to the emission process would be the way to solve the problem. I wasn't entirely certain either. But based on my experience, I deduced there was a high probability that the issue lay in your Aura pathways."
"...You are truly amazing."
He was genuinely filled with admiration.
The Hero of Cairo. Just what kind of life had Roman Dmitry lived? Though Roman had lived far fewer years than him, the word 'experience' as spoken by Roman Dmitry felt incredibly vast and profound. Perhaps that was why he naturally accepted Roman's informal tone.
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
Fernando hesitated for a long time before finally squeezing out his words.
"I will speak frankly. I saw hope in your method, Lord Roman Dmitry. I have found a clue to solving my Aura emission problem, but I do not know what the outcome will be if I rely solely on my own strength. If you know the perfect solution... could you teach me that method?"
He was in his fifties. His opponent was far younger than him. Yet, he did not hesitate to bow his head.
Roman Dmitry had shown him the kindness of pointing out the way, and though his intentions remained unclear, Fernando did not want to miss this opportunity. It was his innate greed as a swordsman. If he had wanted wealth and fame, he would have aligned himself with powerful figures like the Noble Faction long ago. But because he only wished to grow as a swordsman, he had endured constant ridicule as the gatekeeper of Rank 30.
"Teaching you the method is not difficult."
At Roman's words, Fernando's heart pounded. He looked at Roman, his eyes conveying that he was willing to pay any price.
"However, I do not particularly like one-sided transactions. If I resolve your problem, I must receive a corresponding price in return."
"Tell me what you desire."
"What I want is clear. I want the man named Fernando to live for me."
He revealed his true purpose. The sword named Fernando. Roman coveted it.
Just as the Valhalla Empire had secretly reached out to him, Roman revealed his desire for Fernando in the exact same manner. If Fernando refused, Roman would turn away without hesitation. It was Roman's way to never force loyalty, yet the answers of those who received his proposals were always the exact same.
"I, Fernando, swear my loyalty to you, Lord Roman Dmitry."
Chris. Kevin. And all the others who had chosen to follow Roman. They had all reached the exact same conclusion.
'Roman Dmitry. He is the one who will lead me down the right path.'
He spoke with an unwavering voice. The firm gaze looking down at him gave Fernando the absolute conviction that he could trust Roman.
That day, Roman Dmitry won over Fernando, a man whom the power players of Cairo had constantly courted. It was a minor incident that occurred behind the scenes of the Public Ranking Match. While the people of Cairo remained completely oblivious, Roman's grand plan was steadily moving toward its climax.
* * *
Over the past few days, Cairo had been in an absolute uproar.
As Roman Dmitry defeated the high-ranking rankers one by one following Fernando, the Noble Faction gathered in one place.
"Roman Dmitry's momentum is unusual. At this rate, is he really going to defeat Count Nicholas?"
Nicholas. A Royal Knight and the First Sword of Cairo.
People had always regarded Count Nicholas as an untouchable existence, but Roman's actions presented a new possibility that had been unimaginable until now. Roman Dmitry hadn't simply won a few ranking matches. He had climbed to the upper tiers by defeating opponents one by one, starting all the way from Rank 99. Even the renowned high rankers suffered completely one-sided defeats against him.
It was clear. Roman Dmitry possessed the qualifications to challenge Count Nicholas, the man who reigned at the absolute peak of Cairo.
Marquis Benedict spoke up.
"It is still too early to judge. Count Nicholas is a powerhouse who ranks as high as 80th in the Continental Ranking. Although Roman Dmitry has a record of defeating Butler, facing Count Nicholas is an entirely different matter."
The Continental Ranking. There was a world of difference between the very bottom of that list and 80th place.
And...
"In truth, Roman Dmitry's actions so far do not mean much. Since he already proved himself to be a 5-Star Swordsman by defeating Butler, winning against swordsmen outside the top 10 is a completely natural outcome. The Public Ranking Match truly begins now. Swordsmen of an entirely different caliber hold the line from Rank 10 onward. Only if he defeats them can we finally acknowledge Roman as someone capable of challenging Count Nicholas. To reach the top 10 in one's twenties... As soon as the Public Ranking Match ends, we will stake everything on recruiting him."
"...But what if, just what if, Roman Dmitry actually defeats Count Nicholas?"
Nicholas's defeat. It would be an unprecedented upset. It wouldn't simply mean the emergence of a new peak; it would signify the complete collapse of the existing power structure.
Marquis Benedict's expression turned cold.
"The main reason the Royal Faction has managed to hold out until now is largely due to the presence of Count Nicholas. But if Roman Dmitry defeats him, the very significance of Roman's existence will change completely. The First Sword of Cairo. A family boasting immense wealth. Even the Northeast Association. Roman Dmitry possesses the perfect environment to build his own faction, meaning he could potentially forge a completely new power dynamic in the Cairo Kingdom. That is an outcome we can absolutely never tolerate. If Roman Dmitry defeats Count Nicholas and still refuses our offer..."
The worst-case scenario. He had calculated every possibility. The moment Roman Dmitry returned to Dmitry, the situation could become far more serious than dealing with a mere puppet king.
After countless deliberations over the past year, Marquis Benedict had reached a chilling conclusion.
"We must eliminate Roman Dmitry by any means necessary."
A talent of the nation? The eyes of the public?
None of that mattered. Before Roman Dmitry grew too large to handle, they had to nip him in the bud.
The members of the Noble Faction all wore grave expressions. This Public Ranking Match... At the thought that its conclusion might result in the assassination of Roman Dmitry, the atmosphere grew heavy.
Of course, it was merely the worst-case scenario. They were still confident that, far from defeating Count Nicholas, Roman would severely struggle starting from Rank 10.
Marquis Benedict spoke.
"Everyone, secretly summon your respective families' troops to the capital. The moment we force Roman Dmitry to make a choice, no matter what decision he makes, he must not be allowed to escape our grasp."
At the very hour the Noble Faction was plotting their conspiracy, Roman Dmitry finally faced the Rank 10 ranker.
* * *
The duel with Rank 10.
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Jeron is a 5-Star Swordsman. No matter how strong Roman Dmitry is, victory against Jeron isn't guaranteed."
"Is it a battle between Jeron's seasoned experience and Roman Dmitry's youthful vigor? I'm betting on Roman Dmitry. Even if he can't reach Count Nicholas, I think he can at least defeat someone like Jeron."
"I'm betting on Jeron. The man is no pushover."
For the first time, opinions were fiercely divided.
Jeron was a swordsman who had been active in Cairo for twenty years. Even though Roman Dmitry had shown an overwhelming performance so far, facing Jeron was an entirely different story.
Jeron himself was highly confident. As a follower of Count Gregory, he stepped before the crowd with a fearless expression.
"You really are something. To start from Rank 99 and make it all the way to me."
He acknowledged Roman's skill. But that was all. Even after watching Roman's previous duels, he still had absolute faith in himself. He had experienced countless trials and tribulations to reach his current position, and he had decapitated countless individuals whom people claimed were strong—just like Roman Dmitry.
The 10th rank was no empty title. People said that the real trial began now, and for the first time, the audience debated who would win or lose rather than how long Roman's opponent would endure.
The crowd's anticipation swelled. How grand would this match be? Who would emerge victorious? No matter the outcome, they were certain this would be a moment remembered in history.
People crowded around, holding their breath.
And then...
Thud.
"Cough!"
The crowd lost their collective minds.
Jeron, who had walked onto the stage so confidently just moments ago, was now on his knees in a wretched state. Pushed back helplessly by Roman's relentless attacks, he spat thick blood onto the ground, his face pale with sheer terror.
"Would you like to continue?"
Roman had not ended the match. He had already given Jeron three chances.
When Roman first struck his abdomen with the flat of his sword and took a step back, Jeron had been furious. When he was struck in the face the second time, he had doubted whether this was reality.
And now, Jeron was terrified.
He had been absolutely certain of his own victory, but upon facing Roman Dmitry, he was forced to confront a horrifying hidden truth.
'Roman Dmitry has not been using his full strength until now.'
The people of Cairo, including the Noble Faction... they had all believed that the real challenge began from Rank 10.
And they were right.
Roman Dmitry had intended to show his true power from the exact moment people began to doubt his victory.
"...I surrender."
Jeron hung his head in defeat.
At the shocking, anti-climactic result, the spectators watching the duel could not accept the reality unfolding before their very eyes.