Crash. Bang!
“Argh!”
The sound of furniture breaking and someone’s furious roar emanated from the tent. The guards standing outside flinched in fear. Eventually, the noise subsided, and someone emerged from the tent, causing the flap to flutter.
“Gather everyone.”
Though Viscount Jaden’s rage had somewhat diminished, his reddened face still bore traces of anger. An impromptu meeting continued in the adjacent tent. Having lost the first two duels, aimed at asserting dominance, the mood was understandably tense.
But surrendering the contest was not an option. While Luciano held symbolic significance as a knight commander, he wasn’t the strongest knight on Viscount Jaden’s side.
“Let me fight! I will secure victory.”
“I am the most familiar with the Count’s swordsmanship. Leave this to me!”
The knights, seeing it as an opportunity, eagerly volunteered for the next duel. Seeing their enthusiasm slightly eased Viscount Jaden’s mood.
“Enough. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we must secure victory at all costs. Suggest strategies, not just eagerness.”
“……”
Silence enveloped the meeting for a moment as the knights fell quiet.
“I have an idea!”
The one who spoke up confidently was Viscount Jaden’s eldest son, Titus.
“How about letting me handle the next duel?”
After a brief consideration following Titus’s explanation, Viscount Jaden finally nodded. The stakes were high; losing this duel would have significant consequences. It was crucial to turn the tide by any means necessary.
“Do as you see fit.”
And thus, the third and possibly final duel approached.
***
“Then, for the third duel, senior Knight Enrique will…”
“Excuse me! Young master Raul, you’re needed outside urgently.”
As they were about to decide the third contestant, a messenger came in searching for Raul. Curious about the situation, Raul followed the messenger up to the battlements, where someone below the castle wall was shouting.
“My name is Titus de Ashton! I am the heir of Viscount Jaden and the chief knight of the Black Bear Knights! I have something to say to my cousin, Raul de Ashton!”
Facing the enemy alone and raising his voice seemed quite brave, but Raul could see through Titus’s intentions and merely chuckled.
“He’s been shouting the same thing over and over for a while now.” the messenger explained.
Nodding in understanding, Raul stepped forward.
“You have something to say to me? Speak, Titus.”
As Raul appeared, Titus’s face hardened. He drew his greatsword and pointed it at Raul, shouting.
“Raul de Ashton! I challenge you to a duel! If you are a knight, come out and face me honorably!”
“……!”
The knights and soldiers atop the wall murmured in surprise at the unexpected challenge.
Raul, however, responded with a cold expression.
“I refuse.”
“…What?”
Titus’s face showed confusion, having not expected such a direct refusal. Unwilling to give up, he shouted again.
“Ha! Are you going to hide behind your subordinates like a coward? As a matter of the family, let’s settle this honorably!”
Raul looked down at him with cold eyes and asked.
“Are you the third duel knight for Viscount Jaden’s side?”
“This challenge has nothing to do with the knight duel! As a member of the Count Ashton’s house, I contest your unjust actions! Let’s settle this with our swords!”
“Bullshit.”
“What, what did you say?”
“Since the incident 16 years ago, Jaden’s name has long been removed from the Count Ashton’s family register. Don’t pretend to be a part of this family now. And you—you have no title or authority to challenge me to a duel. It’s laughable.”
Raul’s harsh words left Titus speechless. His greatsword trembled in his grip, barely containing his anger. As Raul turned away indifferently, Titus panicked. Originally, he planned to provoke Raul into a duel, defeat him, and nullify the knight duel altogether.
‘I thought he was a proud and hot-headed guy….’
Given Raul’s actions so far, it seemed like a reasonable assumption.
He had shaken up the family upon arriving in the capital, led his troops under the pretext of rescuing citizens during the Gate incident, and staged a spectacle at his knighting ceremony in collusion with the temple.
Raul seemed to crave attention, and rejecting a duel challenge in front of many onlookers was unexpected—Titus had miscalculated.
“Wait! I am the third duel knight! Raul, if you’re not a coward, face me in front of everyone! Are you, a direct descendant of the noble Count Ashton’s house, afraid of losing and avoiding this duel?”
Titus’s open provocation seemed to strike a chord.
Raul stopped walking, turned around, and wagged his finger side to side.
“Tut-tut. Know your place. Do you think the chief knight of some nameless order, with no titles, is on the same level as the lord of five territories, a Viscount of the Ruben Kingdom, and the temporary lord of Conford Castle?”
“Grr.”
“But if you’re the third duel knight, that’s a different matter. I’ll make you pay for running your mouth without knowing your place.”
As Raul accepted the duel, Titus clenched his fist in triumph.
‘Got him!’
However, several nobles near Raul voiced their concerns.
“Young master Raul, is it necessary to accept this duel? We already have two victories; let the knights handle the rest.”
“Young master Raul, you are the responsible overseer of Conford Castle. While we understand your feelings, it’s too dangerous for you to step in personally.”
Their concern was understandable. Few in the main family knew Raul’s true prowess. Though it was known that Raul had reached the Expert level at a young age, that didn’t guarantee he could defeat his older cousin.
But Raul, having made his decision, showed no intention of changing his mind.
The duel was thus set, and the nobles and knights of the Count’s house, unaware of the true situation, could only watch with bated breath.
*
『Name』: Titus (28 years)
『Level』: 69
*Class: Knight (Sword Expert, intermediate), chief Knight of the Black Bear Knights
『Affiliation』: Viscount Jaden’s house, Ruben Kingdom // Jaden family, brennan Republic
『Stats』: Potential Ability (A-Grade)
『Strength 73』 『Agility 67』 『Stamina 71』 『Intelligence 64』 『Mental Power 68』 『Magic Power 67』 『Perception 62』
*Unique Traits
Noble Swordsmanship Lineage (A), Aggressive Instinct (A-), twisted Fighting Spirit (B)
‘Fairly impressive.’
Reaching near-Advanced Expert level before thirty was indeed remarkable. With the use of tattoos, there would hardly be anyone among his peers who could match him.
But that was a general perspective; to Raul, Titus posed no threat at all. If they had sent out a genuine expert for the third duel, their chances of winning might have been higher.
But oblivious to this, Titus was supremely confident. The last time he saw Raul was at the knighting ceremony, and he knew Raul had reached the Expert level.
‘No matter how much of a prodigy he is, he couldn’t have advanced significantly in just a year. At best, he might be an Intermediate Expert. No way he’s my match.’
From a general standpoint, his prediction seemed reasonable. Who would have guessed that Raul had already reached the Advanced Expert level, nearing the pinnacle?
This misconception was enough to lead to a disastrous outcome.
Bang! Thud!
“Ugh…!”
The duel had not lasted even five minutes. Yet, Titus was already on the brink of giving up. His once-ornate armor, embellished with intricate patterns, was now battered and broken beyond recognition.
His helmet had fallen off and rolled away, and his face was swollen and bruised, making him almost unrecognizable. Though he hadn’t taken any fatal wounds, his ability to move was only adding to his misery.
Whish, thud! Smash!
“Agh! Aaaagh!”
A barrage of semi-circular mana blades, each the size of a fist, pounded on Titus’s body. While he managed to dissipate some of the blades with his sword, he couldn’t fend off the relentless assault.
‘Damn it, this guy’s a monster. He’s been hiding his true strength. This is unfair!’
Even as he was being pummeled, he stood his ground only because Raul was controlling his strength. Titus had already activated his tattoos, his body brimming with power, but what use was it?
He couldn’t even take a single step forward, being thoroughly outmatched. Raul, standing about twenty meters away, casually swung his sword in the air. But the results were anything but casual.
Golden mana blades shot from his sword, splitting in mid-air and homing in on Titus like guided missiles. At the Advanced Expert level, knights can launch mana blades from a distance.
Though initially just a single line, with practice, they can launch multiple blades simultaneously, and at even higher mastery, they can alter their shapes.
In other words, the technique Raul displayed was something only a small number of highly skilled Advanced Experts could achieve.
Borrowing the power of tattoos, Titus barely reached the Advanced level, which was leagues apart from Raul’s innate strength.
Swish! Swish!
With each swing of Raul’s sword, dozens of fragmented golden mana blades continuously flew out with breathtaking beauty and overwhelming force. Those watching the duel from the battlements were unknowingly cheering.
“Long live young master Raul!”
“Long live the Count Ashton’s house!”
“Whoaa!!”
Even though the duel’s outcome wasn’t officially decided, no one doubted Raul’s victory.
Rumble.
The castle gate opened, and three hundred fully armed knights and seven hundred cavalrymen rode out to line up before the battlements.
They were preparing for any unexpected situations that might arise after the knight duel concluded.
And finally.
Thud! Crash!
Titus’s defenses crumbled under the barrage of mana blades, leaving him sprawled on the ground, curling up and screaming.
“I surrender! I surrender! Ugh! I’ve lost! Stop, please!”
Raul walked over leisurely, pressing his sword under Titus’s chin and asked.
“Do you admit defeat?”
“Y-Yes, I’ve lost, aagh!”
Thrust. Raul’s sword pierced through Titus’s thigh.
“Your words are lacking. Let me ask again. Do you admit defeat?”
“Aah, yes, I do! I’ve lost!”
Titus clutched his bleeding thigh and bowed his head.
Whisk.
Retracting his sword, Raul turned his head slightly and called out loudly.
“You heard him. Do you acknowledge the defeat?”
By then, dozens of knights from both sides had approached, blades pointed at each other. In their midst stood Viscount Jaden, biting his lower lip.
Looking up at the battlements, he saw soldiers with arrows nocked, ready for battle. The mounted knights below were poised, ready to charge at any moment.
“Sigh….”
Viscount Jaden sighed deeply and plunged his greatsword into the ground.
Rumble.
The earth screamed as if an earthquake had struck, swallowing the greatsword to its hilt.
“Today, I’ve lost. We’ll retreat for now.”
“Very well. I shall leave it at that for today as well.”
Raul raised his hand, signaling the knights to carefully sheath their swords.
“Hmph, don’t think this is over.”
“Well, I beg to differ.”
“You insolent brat. Let’s go.”
At Viscount Jaden’s command, his knights began to withdraw their weapons and retreat slowly.
“F-Father….”
Titus, lying on the ground in pain, called out feebly, but Viscount Jaden only glanced at him momentarily before coldly turning away.
“Well, regardless of his name being stricken from the records, he is still of the bloodline. I’ll see to it that he’s treated and sent back.”
Raul’s words made Viscount Jaden frown deeply as he spun around.
“Do as you please.”
Thus, the knight duel concluded with a decisive victory for the Count Ashton’s house. True to his word, Viscount Jaden quietly ordered his camp to pack up and leave.
Watching from afar, Jake asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to deal with them now? It feels like we’re leaving trouble for later.”
“That’s an option, but if we’re going to deal with them, we should extract the maximum benefit first.”
“If you say so….”
Jake, having followed Raul for so long, knew he rarely made a move that didn’t benefit him in the long run. Even if it seemed like a short-term loss, it usually turned out advantageous.
‘He must have something in mind this time too.’
Jake wasn’t much of a strategist himself, but he was curious about what Raul intended to gain this time.
(To be continued)