Chapter 34: Honorable Duel (2)
G56VSTHNoble blood is of a blue hue.u9d
GpZxFTheir blood carries the responsibility and duty that ordinary crimson blood may not be able to fulfill.wQaVj8z
GzkfPNt“….”s69cDX
txon7OHowever, Alicia is not ready to turn her blood blue.sGeli1D
lZMO6gAll those eyes on her.M3P1ke
eKik9And Endre’s fierce gaze staring back at her.CpjH7
lPYIt’s hard to breathe.LpHmyR
NKtAs determined as she was, for Alicia, a young woman not yet in her twenties, it was challenging to withstand the intense pressure emanating from Endre.jgS
KDQOsSSo, she averted her gaze.ZiJMU
BKVYhTo avoid his stare in the most casual way possible.fDKhq67
diOAnd there, when she turned, waiting for her, were the blue eyes she had seen that day.LXUvso
6Nir“….?”3jWfIv
OdokqsCA blond boy looking bewildered, as if he didn’t know what was happening.eItjE
qZwWhen the boy appeared, Alicia forced herself to focus.tYoxE
M5SHer pounding heart calmed, her dizzying vision returned, and her ceaseless sweat stopped.ueHUiq
KIiThe comfort she had felt on the hill with her father and mother was now in the blue eyes of the boy she looked at.vUfaX3Q
3e3pIn them, she could finally breathe.GVGkP8
mAW***Yx9cB
CqbVlad cleared his throat as he looked at the knight standing next to Jager.UufvZ7
cRi3eRA“He’s on our side.”3rDDiEU
0FTNnHWIt was the mysterious man who had spied on the knights from the other faction yesterday, just like Vlad himself.nR1c16
aQEJubert, a knight sent by House Shazad.fXS
IE4ijJVlad stiffened as he observed Jubert’s playful gaze.HfA8C
ASmGSomehow, you recognize me.dRtHV
VDH4apSomeone who had subdued him, pretended to be close to him without his permission, and then vanished in the end.MN9QF82
sNb[This woman, Alicia, has undoubtedly ensured she is clever; she has a good chance of winning.]kFokL
Q6sc42S“I suppose so.”zRggifl
OUTnaVlad couldn’t respond aloud in the presence of so many people, but he, too, thought it was most likely that Alicia would be the winner of this duel.6tkeBdR
uiK3U1He couldn’t get a good look at the knights standing beside Endre, but Colin and Pablo were no match for Jager and Jubert, no matter how high they were ranked.Hmj
D4yKqJubert, the knight sent by the Shazad family, was so advanced that his voice and aura couldn’t be easily read.ZlU
DBCvhIGiven the rules of the best-of-three duel, the outcome was predictable.c4e
nFH89Even if it meant losing a man.0Zb7
DAryc***JB4qdE
3BTy“Stop, stop, I surrender!”Nx1Y
xD32SGUpon Alicia’s urgent plea, the priest intervened.5vpd6
1nA91X“Hold! The duel is over!”SJfBfO4
6fC3Wr6“Not yet… I can still go on!”pY1RsmH
xzaX5E“Lord Duncan, your lord has waved his hand. He admits defeat.”Meni
8b8UC6Silence lingered as a fierce yet melancholic duel concluded.TeFH
HDX9L7Duncan, the Old Knight.LTHHH
kUssw1He had defended House Heinal for many years, and though over sixty, he remained in good form. However, the passage of time was inevitable, and despite his best efforts, the world would only accept the results.sqZ
BEf“It’s been a good fight, Master.”SVx
ZdCvCtZ“Am I still your master…?”22T6S7j
kVeV4Duncan gritted his teeth as the young knight extended his hand toward him.WHJc
ooaM3VChard, a knight of House Heinal who had pledged his sword to Endre.PDQo
DrhHv7“I don’t need…”1Kzrt
zgf686lRaised to be the future of House Heinal, he had reverted to a blade that stabbed his lord. Duncan’s misjudgment and venomous turn to Alicia were indescribable.YZg
77HhnStaggering from the wound, Duncan brushed away the hand with what remained of his pride and bowed his head to Alicia, guilt unabashedly etched across his face.KfDNw8
5Zx“…”vlNrDl
AHWXnThough her expression remained unwavering, there were deep ripples in Alicia’s eyes.gXY
d2qAn old knight apologizing for his disastrous appearance.q0tq7Y
8OOIt was the last pillar of strength Alicia had.apqS2eP
FMX3vBDuncan’s blood brought tears to Alicia’s eyes.N4ExsA
dmLB“The winner of this duel is Lord Endre’s knight, Sir Chard!”VBYeJi
SWySCThe priest’s declaration was met with a loud cheer from those siding with Endre. Just as Endre had risked everything to win House Heinal, they, too, risked much for him.p7dRg
OHbWinner takes all, loser loses everything.6uNc
Vb8DCVHaving taken the first step towards victory under the world’s universal laws, they certainly deserved the applause.gtuFyl
oiui383“Next knights, step forward!”MXq1aYK
GlmVlad swallowed nervously as the priest called for the next duelists.OfZ
bve4mA three-round duel, two winners.IEuAh
eP4Perhaps most crucial was the one securing the second place.8cD5O7o
RsuThey would decide the duel’s outcome if the first player won or, in the unlikely event of a loss, pass the duel to the third player in a desperate attempt to win.ZaKwGb
4IhW“The second knight from Alicia’s side, please step forward!”HTHK
lJEo7VAnd the knight with the significant task was none other than Jager from House Bayezid.KICk0
VUW2Jager with a single eye.mmw0NHN
v8ahKThough not a knight with a luxurious title, Duncan and Joubert were unanimous in their decision to place him in the second position.L3ZB6f
aUK1rtThe weight of the name Bayezid was enough to warrant that level of trust.VvLz
nRb“Jager.”ZsE6o
dO6zzDp“Colin.”d8EB
vKXFor a knight, their lord’s orders came first, their honor second.j9dV3Y
mhxK22In the eyes of many, a duel of honor was an all-out clash between their lord’s orders and their own honor.L7R6H0
QN6Therefore, the first encounter naturally led to a confrontation.bnwKjs
DOp2VbThe two knights stared at each other across the blood-splattered floor.oMV
dLkw“Where did you lose one of your eyes?”4np
3RBsJNj“I was hungry, so I ate it.”v1i
FTRmY“Ouch!”7v5
AhKXColin was a head taller than Jager, but Jager wasn’t intimidated. Rather, he seemed to ignore him as if he were a nuisance.sLJsF
cIE3Re“I guess you lost it then; you’ll never be the same.”nTN
zE8e“Yes.”HRAi
XTWnlo“I’ll take even your last eye.”Owv7Zrk
Nuk6j“Please remember, this is an honorable duel.”7DpCs
grHNFColin’s growl was uncharacteristic, but the priest stepped back for the duel to commence.qOKX
M4x67mdThough an honorable duel with rules, it was still a sword fight, and sometimes things could get out of control.0Y6Qo
v79ddR“For the gods of this day’s sun!”4Sg
v9dK“Kaaaah!”oxq
fjGAt the priest’s signal, Colin shouted and charged at Jager.yI9
GCnIt was an incredible speed from such a huge man, and it was a powerful strike from such a massive man.h81
A3zIndeed, with a single swing of his sword, the man known as the Earth Boar of the Middle Lands had proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with.WKiMdUC
7TnJager, the direct recipient of the momentum, could only stand still with an expressionless face.t1fyOQ
uxZBANG!d5sM
NqpkPColin’s sword shattered the floor of the hall with a tremendous roar. Fragments of the floor flew in all directions.AZpnA8S
jt6C2mF“Oooh!”COjTEF
S2TRVUC“He’s as powerful as I heard!”hwuoRj
A7h3amTAlicia felt her chest tighten as Colin’s blow resonated in the hall, and Vlad searched for the nuts Jubert had given him yesterday.1AfvXa
F9HNzMThis was just the beginning.BJc2
qGezZdZBut the knights on Endre’s side had noticed a strange turn in the combat’s momentum.iWTrNKV
0usxgNIt didn’t take long for Colin himself to feel that something was amiss.6tp5Chd
UBd“Olé!”3SBS5t
jwq“You bastard!”OTY
QwRhOg2Only now, facing Jager’s face, did Colin realize he had been foolish.m9n8F
9XKryUnlike him, who was out of breath, Jager’s face remained serene and untouched.KH3
GE82Colin opened his eyes horrified.JanhLV
t4pkcvJager’s body was moving strangely.9DXOB
2EG37vIt wasn’t fast or slow, but it held many possibilities.tl7wWO
S8FzqlmRight or left.6J1gJPv
IHXuUQ6Dodge backward or take a step forward.x9RU
t44It couldn’t be discerned.wn9
Vd00y“Argh!”ykqf
EVL9vYCColin opened his eyes and swung his sword relentlessly, trying to ignore Jager’s movements as they dazzled him.MHH
3giz5QIt wasn’t a refined move, but it was his best option.MWHZN
4VFWhen there was no clear alternative, one had to do their best.7gFm9U8
zikgAnd Colin wasn’t the only one watching Jager’s movements with narrowed eyes.wY7p
iiwK[Watch carefully; what he’s trying to show you is about to be revealed.]SDRIf5
mHYA6b“…”swOK
VukmwcoLast night, Jager had warned his nervous squire with a sharp blow.sQHc
OdFjFxrThink about walking before thinking about running.DKkU
kJrAt the same time, he demonstrated one of his tricks, passing on a lesson to a wobbling Vlad.qfVbB
CoSRo“You can’t use a technique like this if you don’t have the proper foundations.”lJt
sWrnKt“Kaaah!”FFfC
6HHColin yelled, continuously striking the massive sword.1tk12
h1bThe thick lines of blood on his shoulders and forearms showed how much power the sword contained.Fqmm2o
WiVTeng!Ge7gx2
wwDFNxqThe blade bounced off with a dull sound.Zlv
knqLFGTung! Tung! Tung-!ZdDV
XeNColin’s attacks were relentless, but Jager blocked them without missing a beat. No, he was cutting them.SNyn
WrZ3Q[That’s it. A gap?]vsg3
oklPWfxWith each swing of Jager’s sword, Colin’s momentum subtly wavered.bNuHd6m
BVgIt was a gap that could only be created by a forced misalignment of the blow.LF0qD
B4j4eO[Counterattack.]EI9ZjQ
B0SWCounterattack.JRgkm0P
ESbU7XThe art of launching a counterattack through a gap created by a blocked attack.q7qnt
OTtIt was an advanced technique that involved reading the opponent’s number of moves and responding accordingly, an unorthodox approach to the counterattack.l3zh
wYDNxmUIt was a challenging technique to execute, but it promised to be deadly if successful.beS
GRc“!”9e3H
YyxrgVlad stood there with wide-open eyes, watching the new trick Jager was demonstrating.qFG
0p2QTears welled up in his strained eyes, but the boy, hungry for everything, devoured what he was seeing.eJfnf
9Bl0DcHe didn’t even breathe.x5Z
EfmAHe was lucky to have found Jager.I3O
fqKrHe was a wild and twisted man, but a man who knew what he was doing.Jcfy7
qumaKToday’s lesson is called “Counterattack.”QBlEHT
1gszPZFThe test subject was the Earth Boar.97D
NhVX6gH***4T8
1y7MI apologize for any confusion. It seems there was a misunderstanding. Let me provide you with the translation:PmqcBk
cos“Done.”goN1Sv
LwQJager adjusted his eyepatch and looked at the priest.izF
s6sv“The winner of the duel is Lord Jager the Knight, representing Lady Alicia!”HNU
buVKHxJager’s victory was clearly declared, but the people on Alicia’s side remained silent, without cheering.Skpf4YK
yei6EThe silence filled the duel arena.9G2a6
mr3GWAJager’s strange aura left Endre’s men drained of energy and Alicia’s speechless.U83g5
uqmcIHf“…”Uz0
rlMv1But the one even quieter than them was Colin, who was now kneeling, with an expressionless face.z90z
nzC2LcToday, he had run into a wall.VpfcNP
icZiAnd he felt it.0VL
iJXy2ULIt was massive, insurmountable.15MNW
MX1R“Well done.”03Wqb
I1zJyt3“Good job.”PUa
J0S5vUVVlad could only be grateful that Jager had deliberately set the scene for him.my5
Q0ChlEven though he didn’t show it.vfsLUZ0
QElJqh“Thank you, Lord Jager.”UJBm
Yyp“I was just following your orders, Lord Joseph.”A8pJ
sEEDuncan turned to Jager, triumphant, and sincerely thanked him.npe
yHiN8RSeeing him wrapped in reddish bandages was still lamentable, but Jager was as courteous as he could be.FQjT2
h7qGCm“Next duelists, please step forward!”bZt
YSFsXlDuncan lost, Jager won.i9QBN9
uCD7OlqWith the Vanguard and Mid-Game battles finished, all that remained was the Grand Battle.CITrKLz
nrZG0PT“My turn.”3DYhSKg
WQPT0At the priest’s call, stroking his well-groomed mustache, Joubert entered the duel arena.t8hptR
6z9This duel would be enough.QqnBV
BmFAmWin this, and Alicia would be the legitimate Baroness of Heinal, recognized in the name of God.ScckJ5
pzlAlicia’s anxious looks, Duncan’s, and those following them merged behind Joubert.iRYzy
k67But Joubert himself remained undisturbed, with an inscrutable smile on his face.ppQJOI
MCFThe two knights crossed the silence that Jager had created and entered the duel arena.EwV
xVp3YNR“I am Pablo of Arnstein.”D54why
AGq7V“It’s not the first time. That we meet.”3KOd
RETmiOg“Pablo of Arnstein.”bkPLKi
TgDKCP“…Joubert of Shazad.”CjGG
bfPXyaJubert smiled ironically at his inability to make a joke.oZUu8X
gGswA5tHe turned his head to look at Alicia and bowed.Cfj06IR
08iIt was a proper and well-learned greeting.GGF
Yc8XiV“Eh?”SgXkuE
YwGmyJBut Joseph, sitting among the audience, observing the duel, knew something was wrong with the greeting Jubert had just given him.mvV8iF
b6yrU6It wasn’t a greeting he would use in this situation.gDlee
MEjl“I’ll say it again. A duel ends when a representative expresses the intention to surrender, and when the duel cannot be hastened…”SmX
7JQThe priest diligently explained the duel rules, but Jubert could only remain silent.CcbDn2
6iGUNJ“I will withdraw.”LKQg2M
s5eK“If you suffer a serious injury… What did you say?”MGsAy
UQ9U7eCThe priest didn’t immediately understand the words that came out of Jubert’s mouth.CuEG
tHq4w6He heard them with his ears, but he didn’t understand them with his mind.COszTXv
ZQJ0QIuThese were words that should not and could not have come out now.Tn0
PnJLFEj“I will withdraw.”oAlA
h7VLike an actor on a stage, Jubert looked around with exaggerated gestures and shouted.iwZ37pu
d8J0“I, Jubert, the representative sent by the Shazad family, withdraw from this duel.”kg6CD
RgR266“…”RzuJeA
e1ZC“…”RYS
PDO91GKJubert’s words seemed quite innocuous, but for those who had to hear them, they were a thunderous declaration.fVqDuZH
cgEA terrible silence gripped the hall.7V6IdEF
XcJlx“This, this… this.”wy2ogn
oAEsyDuncan, finally coming to his senses, raised his wounded hands in a sign of disbelief.Wbh
UX1YDP“!”SXKbOP
q7A7hAlicia, the one in the duel, stood up with trembling lips.BFpK6Xk
CujHer pale white skin was turning a pale blue.DeV
IZyjoxEveryone was in a panic, not understanding what had just happened.1UZiX
Zo2QAhMClap, clap, clap.214
XVFcGThe sound of someone’s applause echoed in the silent hall.duMo0C2
jJC7e“Attention!”mAg1a
HwqEndre Heinal.sbfQKC
VmzO7W5“So, the duel is over!”jVH
VxMThe man, the second in line for the Heinal House, finally showed the fangs he had been hiding.hLEoS5
3zWwdWn“Not like this!”d7J1zhM
MeMSThe man shouted loudly in the face of everyone’s silence.j0Uwpj
1qsHe was the accuser, the usurper.947KX
a8uypcHe was also a man who had four hands before entering the duel arena.mnp10jr
2Pyj“….Curse.”IRroT0
PzwngBRealizing he had been dragged into an unpleasant situation, Joseph quickly gestured to Bordan.WaWwRsU
q7betTR“Now recognize me before the gods. Priest!”AePiNZ0
lgeaJubert waved to Alicia with an exaggerated gesture.UwaY
Dr0It was a farewell.6D57
6ONn“That I am the only legitimate Heinal!”NcYQY
HAKYQThis duel was rigged from the beginning.CAFV
5ICCQ7By those who do not know honor.wuqaY
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KenKaneki
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