Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Masterpiece.
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Veratir burst out from an unexpected angle. His fist slammed toward Matteo Rich.
Crack!
Of course, it wasn't Matteo's body that blocked the punch—it was the massive brush. But it couldn't deflect all the impact.
"Kuhk!"
Matteo Rich rolled across the ground alongside his broken brush.
Veratir didn't miss the opening and charged forward, swinging his fist once more toward Matteo's head.
Whoosh!
"I was gonna end it quick and painless out of old times' sake!"
Matteo Rich easily dodged the punch, then thrust the sharp edge of his broken brush into Veratir's side.
"Cut the crap!"
Thwack!
"Kugh!"
Veratir's torso shook from the earlier blow.
Thanks to that, the punch that missed its mark still smashed into the side of Matteo Rich's face.
Bam!
It wasn't a direct hit, but the aura exploding from the fist tore across Matteo Rich's face.
Slash.
"M-My eye..."
Matteo Rich clutched his shredded right eye and kicked Veratir in the stomach.
Thud!
Veratir staggered back, then stood up laughing heartily.
-Kuhahaha!
"Cute, old timer."
"...Veratir, why are you blocking me?!"
"Dunno. Heard someone was trying to steal my prey, so I came to check it out. Turns out it's you, you piece of trash, so here I am."
"Your prey?"
"Why act like you don't know now? I've heard all about what you did to our academy."
Matteo Rich glanced back and forth between me and Veratir, then furrowed his brow deeply before replying.
"Don't tell me that kid called you."
"Maybe."
"I don't know what nonsense you've heard, but our ties end here. Get out of my way."
"Can't do that. I just said it."
Veratir pointed at Roys with his finger and continued.
"That guy's my prey. You stay out of it and get lost."
The two glared at each other.
I watched from a distance, piecing together their relationship.
Father, Veratir, and this comrade from my past life I'd only just learned about: Matteo Rich.
What on earth had happened among the three of them to sour things so badly?
...It happens.
I'd had my share of fallouts with party members in my previous life. Reasons varied, but the biggest issue was always clashing goals.
They're no different.
No one's perfect unless they're a god.
"Veratir, I can't fathom why you're doing this. Why go after Roys now of all times?"
"That's what I wanna ask. You were Roys's lapdog— what the hell's with the sudden change?"
"Roys's lapdog? Same old thoughtless blabber as ever."
Veratir dug in his ear with his pinky, pulling a smug face.
"Who's this yapping mutt? Hey, Berddin. They say mad dogs need a beating—why didn't Roys ever muzzle this one?"
I smirked at him before answering.
"Sorry, Father's been too busy to keep him in check. Starting today, I'll handle the meds."
"Nah, I'll dose him good today. Prep a grave while you're at it. Gotta bury him proper after all these years."
Matteo Rich's face flushed red.
He tossed aside the broken brush handle, gripped the furry end with both hands, and lunged at Veratir again.
"Shut your damn mouths, you bastards!"
The duel between Matteo Rich and Veratir reignited. Both went all out, dead set on killing the other.
Animal soldiers painted by Matteo's brush filled the training grounds, but Veratir dispatched them like toys.
He grabbed a bull's horns and swung it like a club, smashing mice and rabbits.
Boom! Boom!
He booted sheep and monkeys out the window.
Crash!
The remaining animal soldiers lost the will to fight from his roars alone.
Hiss—
"Aaagh!!!"
Tiger, dragon, horse, and dog collapsed, blood trickling from their ears.
Thud, thud-thud.
"...Matteo Rich, do you know why Roys let a traitor like you go that day?"
Matteo Rich glanced at the fallen soldiers before replying.
"Let me go? I escaped him on my own power."
"Sure, you can think that. But back then, if Roys had wanted to, you think he couldn't have caught you?"
"......"
"Idiot. You've been a senile old coot since then—brain's not what it used to be."
"Shut it. No one in the party was dumber than you."
"That's your opinion. Whatever... Doesn't matter now. Today, I'll kill you and Roys."
Veratir turned his gaze to me.
"And claim the title of continent's strongest."
His lips curved in a smile, but his eyes burned with deep-seated grudge.
I knew it well, so I just watched in silence.
No one else would remember today's events anyway.
Clap clap clap!
I clapped loudly and raised my voice toward them.
"Just a heads-up: Sister Valentine will arrive at the castle soon."
Matteo Rich and Veratir's expressions hardened simultaneously.
"So hurry up and finish this. I can only pretend I saw nothing until then."
This is a very old tale.
Back when humans lived to an average of between 50 and 60, there was a knight well over 100.
"Matteo Rich, I appoint you as Captain of the First Holy Knight Order."
He should have retired from the front lines long ago—not to mention be on death's doorstep—yet here he was, leading a knight order.
"I swear by heaven and earth: until my last breath, I shall uphold the Creator's will."
He'd found a way to end his days gloriously as a knight. In the continent's most powerful force, no less: the Holy Knight Order under the Papal Court.
"Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
The Pope lightly placed his hand atop Matteo Rich's helmet.
"As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be."
Matteo Rich gripped his sword with both hands and whispered.
"Amen."
After the induction ceremony, he was immediately sent to the battlefield.
It was during the war against the demons who had defied the gods and escaped the tower—human forces were stretched thin.
Monsters outnumbered people everywhere, so his Holy Knight Order fought without a day's rest.
"...We'll stay in this village tonight."
Matteo Rich found a village near the front. But he couldn't reveal his affiliation.
This was Strange Family territory, rumored more dangerous than demons.
"We're just wandering knights passing through. Mind if we stay one night?"
A simple adventurer might've been turned away, but the white-haired village elder welcomed them warmly.
"If knights like you stay, we're honored."
He had only two knights following him.
Yet the villagers rejoiced as if a blessing against the darkness had descended.
And instead of a stable fit for mere adventurers, the village priest prepared a small room in the chapel.
"Rest well. If you need food, just tell the girl."
The village bishop assigned a white-haired girl with unfocused eyes to the knights.
"Understood."
The two knights following Matteo removed their helmets and pointed at the girl.
"Hey, come here."
"Bishop's quick on the uptake. Tonight won't be boring."
The white-haired girl walked over without resistance.
"Enough."
But Matteo Rich stepped in front of them.
"Our mission is to hunt demons who fled the tower. Save the fun for after the operation."
"C'mon, Captain! Cut us some slack. We've been fighting monsters non-stop for five days."
"Yeah, we didn't even ask—the bishop set this up."
Sweet respite after five days—couldn't waste it on revelry.
They needed to conserve strength for battles that could erupt anywhere, anytime.
Matteo Rich shook his head.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
The two knights grumbled and flopped onto the floor.
"Fine, do what you want. I'm sleeping till dawn."
"Me too—no dinner needed. Gotta catch some Z's for the early start—"
The white-haired girl tilted her head.
"What should I do?"
Matteo Rich gently patted her head.
"What's your name?"
"Joanna. Joanna Ark."
"Pretty name. Joanna Ark, could you fetch us some water?"
"Water?"
"Yes. Drinking water would be perfect."
Joanna Ark nodded slightly.
"Okay. But mister, are you really a knight?"
"Yes."
"For real?"
"For real."
"Then mister, can I ask one favor?"
Matteo Rich bent down to hear her out.
"If it's something I can grant."
The white-haired girl, Joanna Ark, told them about recent events in the village.
A few years back, adults started vanishing one or two at a time each night. Recently, even her parents had gone missing.
"So your parents vanished while they were just sleeping at home?"
"Yes, right next to me."
"Any kids your age gone missing?"
"Um... No. Only adults."
One knight muttered to himself.
"Maybe they got eaten by a monster while taking a piss?"
The other replied.
"Nah, no dungeons around here."
Matteo Rich rested his chin, pondered, then scowled deeply at Joanna Ark.
"No one's come back from the missing?"
"No."
"Got it for now. Fetch that water, and before we leave this village, I'll look into your mother's disappearance."
The girl went off for water after the talk.
Her subordinate knights, who had been lounging moments ago, straightened up and gave Matteo meaningful looks.
"Captain. Something's off since we entered this village. Smells like demons."
"Agreed. And the one we're hunting doesn't eat kids, right?"
This was demon work.
The two subordinates concluded as much.
"I'll handle this myself. You two rest here."
Matteo Rich ordered his men to stay put. No rash moves without certainty.
Better to recover stamina. Even if the culprit matched their quarry.
-Kyaaah!
The girl's scream rang out.
Matteo Rich and the two knights drew swords and rushed out.
There, they found the girl drenched head to toe in red blood.
"M-Mister... save me..."