Pop
Pop. The sound of a man's most vital parts bursting rang out. Was it just my imagination? What exactly is a reunion? It's when two people who've met before encounter each other again. Normally, the word brings a rush of warm, welcoming feelings. So why the hell am I flooded with such intense bewilderment and irritation?
That fucking bastard. How did he even get here? Did he follow me? Since when? Wasn't he supposed to be back in Ludrick with Lunaris and Fina? Questions kept bubbling up nonstop. A storm of emotions raged inside me. He was the only one in the party I could actually talk to, but the truth that he was still a troll-ass son of a bitch hadn't changed one bit. It's a stupid thing to admit, but the only person here who can fight him and win is me. I know better than anyone that even when he acts like a complete idiot, his skills are the real deal. That's exactly why this pisses me off so much. He got blinded by women, turned tail, and ran without so much as a backward glance.
"Do not look at me that way."
Bullshit.
"I realize I have done too much. I am well aware."
"If you were so aware, why the hell did you do it?"
Stop standing there mumbling like an idiot and open your damn mouth. You're not a mute who swallowed a jar of honey.
I thrust the Holy Sword toward him. His eyes locked onto it. Oh? Look at this guy.
"Doesn't work on the Legion Commander, huh? This is what you want, right?"
"...No. I did not come here to commit such a shameful act."
Liar. After all the time we've spent together, you think I wouldn't see through one pathetic lie?
"Then why are you here?"
"I came to apologize to you. It is sincere."
Hah. It was so absurd my breath caught in my throat. Curses had risen all the way to the roof of my mouth, but the sheer ridiculousness of it left me unable to spit them out. The fact that he could spout such empty words without flinching was honestly impressive. If you're going to apologize, look me in the eyes. Why the hell is your gaze glued to the Holy Sword? That a guy like this received Odin's grace and fought as a warrior was laughable. Must be because he's a barbarian. He doesn't even know how to hide his own desires. What an absolute moron.
"Your mind changed after barely a week? Don't spout nonsense."
"The party without you... has no future. Come back, Taesik."
"You all brought this on yourselves."
More than that.
"Did you really think the two of them would even glance at you if I wasn't around?"
"...Your tongue is too long."
"See? In the end you still haven't learned. You got your ass handed to you in the party without me, so now you suddenly need me, right?"
Ragner's brow twitched. He was clearly remembering the humiliation from that day. The party without Taesik. Himself, convinced every woman would turn her eyes to him. The fantasy of claiming the hero's seat, crushing the Legion Commander, and finally taking the two women for himself.
I simply watched Ragner's face. Even as anger and irritation boiled inside him, I saw clearly how hard he was fighting to hold it all back.
"What a spectacle."
I couldn't even understand why he was the one getting angry. If anyone should be furious, it was me. To anyone listening, his tone sounded like he was doing me some kind of favor. Did he not know who stood above and who stood below? If you're stupid, you should at least have basic instincts. If you can't even sense that, you're beyond help.
"Just go back to your tribe."
"...What?"
"Even if I did return to the party, I wouldn't need you."
Those words ignited pure rage.
"Taesik!"
"Who the hell do you think you're raising your voice at right now? You suicidal bastard."
"I ran all the way to Jotunheim to ask for your help! And what do you say? Go back to my tribe?"
"Yeah. Plenty of women there for you to claim to your heart's content."
"With those women who lack even basic hygiene, I...!"
"Then listen up, you fucker. To me, you look exactly the same. You act like a dog in heat the moment you see a woman. Who's calling who lacking in hygiene?"
Excessive truth can become violence to someone. We agreed to call it fact violence.
Did it hurt that much? Ragner's body shook as he clenched his fists tight. Thud. One step. The act of stepping forward and planting his foot on the ground irritated me beyond words.
"Don't come any closer. You'll give me an STD."
"...You!"
"Are you actually brain-dead? If you were me, would you party with you guys?"
"Can you not help us just this once? We need you."
He kept saying we need you. But I wasn't stupid enough to miss what he really wanted.
"Not we. You. Your real target is this Holy Sword, isn't it? With this, you could rip apart the Legion Commander and steal their attention."
"...Kuh!"
"Wow, it's true? Aren't you supposed to at least deny it? As expected from a barbarian. Can't even lie properly. Is your brain just that slow...?"
"I-I do not want the Holy Sword!"
Sigh. What an idiot.
"You've already been caught lying to my face. What are you even saying now?"
It was too late. Seeing this only reinforced how right I'd been to desert. At the same time, I felt a surge of pride for surviving two whole years with these people.
The joy of victory after so long had been completely ruined. He needed to take responsibility, but I hated that idea. Honestly, I just wanted him to fuck off, but his expression said he wasn't going anywhere.
Vikings value honor above all, right? Then if I destroyed his honor right here, he wouldn't dare approach me again. No matter how stupid, he couldn't break a vow made beneath the god he'd served his entire life.
"Hey, Ragner."
"...You have finally decided to join!"
"No. I'm not joining. What I'm offering you is this."
"This?"
I leveled the Holy Sword filled with Odin's grace at him. He wasn't dumb enough to miss the meaning. Pointing the blade meant for monsters at a human meant only one thing: a fight.
"Odin is watching everything. You tried to steal the sword he bestowed upon me."
"N-no!"
"That's why I'm making this offer. I'll help you restore your fallen honor in front of everyone."
"...Honor."
Yes. Honor. The very thing you Vikings hold so sacred.
"You want this sword, don't you?"
"...No. If only you would return—"
"No need to lie. Tell the truth. You need the Holy Sword."
"...That is correct."
I knew it.
Heh. A smile slipped out before I could stop it. There was no way I would lose.
"If you want it, fight me and take it."
"...Truly?"
"Yes. I swear it here where the gods are watching."
And.
"You swear too. If you lose here, you'll never show your face before me again."
"But that—!"
"Why? Don't like it? Then get lost."
Ragner shouted, filled with excitement. This was a chance that would not come again. He had to defeat Taesik right now and seize the Holy Sword. That single thought consumed his mind. Above all, this was a matter of honor. Countless Vikings were watching, no matter which tribe they belonged to. His defeat would tarnish that honor.
"Puhuhu. Looks like you've made up your mind."
Tirgar, understanding my look, shouted to the crowd.
⊳ All Vikings and Giants
⊳ One-on-one duel about to begin
"Everyone form a circle! The damn slaves of the gods are going to fight it out!"
"Uahahahaha!"
He pounded his massive chest with heavy fists. Thump! Thump! Thump!
Giants and gods had never gotten along. Even so, calling my friend a slave of the gods? ...I couldn't deny it. It wasn't exactly wrong.
The Vikings raised their round shields, forming a perfect circle.
"Wu! Wu! Wu! Wu! Wu!"
The arena was wide enough yet narrow enough for a one-on-one fight. The atmosphere ignited instantly, like some underground fight club.
"You who believe in Odin's grace! You idiots who stake your lives on protecting honor! Cheer louder!"
"Uahahahahahaha!"
The giants' laughter mixed with the Vikings' roars, shaking the heavens. No one took offense. Even if the giants spoke from the heart, the Vikings wouldn't rage. As long as it wasn't Ragnarok, these two races were drinking buddies in moments like this.
By the way, I could see people making bets in the distance. Shouldn't they be giving me a cut? This is illegal gambling. The gambling tip line is 1-855-01...
"Taesik. Keep your promise."
"Sure. I'll make sure not to tarnish your precious honor."
Of course that was a lie. I wanted to say it, but I'd already sworn in front of the gods. Still, it didn't matter. All I had to do was win. And if he broke his word and kept clinging to me afterward, everyone would witness it. In the end, he'd be the one destroying his own honor. If that happened? Well, I'd just have to send him straight to Valhalla. Ah, but if he died without any accumulated virtue, his soul would probably fall to Helheim or Niflheim. These types make for such annoying enemies. Still, since I could kill him legally, it didn't really matter.
You think I'm too much of a psycho? That's a misunderstanding. Try living in a place like this for two years. You can't survive without your common sense changing.
"Then..."
A heavy silence fell. Tirgar's booming voice shattered it.
"Fight!"
Wu! Wu! Wu! Wu! Wu!
The cheers of giants and Vikings thundered in the background.
"Let's end this quickly."
So I could enjoy the festival already.
Whoosh! Brilliant flames from the Holy Sword wrapped around me. I felt it clearly in this moment. Odin's grace was with me. It meant even Odin knew the bug before me wasn't worthy of receiving it.
The axe sliced through the air in a sharp diagonal. The gray blade traced a deadly arc. Dodging it was easy. I dropped low, grabbed Ragner's torso, and hurled him.
Boom!
"Wu! Wu! Wu! Wu! Wu!"
"Get up! Don't you dare stay down!"
Ragner, who had slammed his forehead into the Vikings' shield wall, looked utterly pathetic. He glared at me. How ridiculous. A smirk formed on my lips while my eyes filled with pure contempt. A fool who couldn't see reality had no place by my side.
"Get up, Ragner."
"Kuh..."
"You never went down from something like this before. At least not until Fina and Lunaris joined the party."
"You talk too much, Taesik. Come at me!"
"You've been charging at me just fine until now. What happened? You scared?"
"I-I'm not scared!"
"Then come on."
It was a simple provocation. Challenging someone when the gap in strength was so obvious was beyond foolish. There was no way he'd fall for such a lame taunt. If he did, then he really was a...
"...goddamn idiot?"
"Uwoooo!"
Whoong! The axe tore through the air with a deafening roar right beside my ear. That one was a little too close. No matter how strong I was, Ragner had once been called the greatest warrior. It never hurt to stay cautious. Still, the truth that I was stronger remained unchanged.
I twisted the axe's path and struck upward. I shifted my center of gravity and blocked it with my one-handed shield. Ragner couldn't shatter it. Because Odin's grace flowed through my shield.
Defense
Reflection
The shield that had taken the downward axe strike was now cracked. I recited the rune characters, poured mana into them, and activated the spell.
Slaaash!
A vivid axe wound marked Ragner's chest. It hadn't sunk deep, but blood flowed freely.
"How's it feel? Like striking an axe into your own chest?"
"Taesik! Your jokes go too far!"
"Puhuhu. Those are your favorite breasts, aren't they? They look a bit bigger than Fina's. You should be proud."
"Iiiiiik!"
Ragner's charge was fierce and brave. Golden fighting spirit erupted across his entire body. The fact that he could manipulate mana without even reciting runes showed just how much combat talent he possessed. Mana control had always been my weak point. That's why I'd relied so heavily on scrolls. But.
That was all in the past.
I wasn't about to flinch at fighting spirit like this anymore.
I'd planned to toy with him a little, but that would waste too much time.
You should've come to your senses sooner.
"Taesik!"
The moment Ragner hurled his axe and began throwing wild punches, I slipped lightly into his guard and shouted.
"Brainless Punch!"
Pop.
"...Huh?"
"Puhuhu."
The sound of a man's most important parts bursting. Was it my imagination? No. It wasn't my imagination at all. I'd aimed for it on purpose. I had simply done what was best for Ragner.
"...Y-you coward."
"Got a complaint?"
"First of all, that wasn't a punch, it was a k-kick..."
Well, what are you going to do about it? I only need to protect my own honor. Besides, on the battlefield such tricks are simply called strategy.
"You should thank me."
"...Son of a bitch."
"I only helped you so you wouldn't be blinded by women anymore."
Yes. I really did help him.
Why? Laughter kept bubbling up uncontrollably. A vulgar energy that completely abandoned any heroic dignity, like the buzz from too much drink, twisted my lips.
"Puheheheheheh."
It was so fucking funny.