211

The sword, the rose, and the lion (3)

Only four knights of Teuton stood intact and unwounded. Those who had been seriously injured were carried out on stretchers, while those with light injuries remained at the dojo, having only simple first aid applied to their wounds as they watched the contest reach its end.

Of those Teutons who had been defeated, only half had stepped away with minor injuries. The faces of the forty-seven Teutonic knights who observed the duels looked terrible as if they had suffered great insult. Leonberg had more than thirty knights left who were fighting-fit compared to Teuton’s four. The knights of our kingdom who remained in the dojo were a hundred, the original number that had entered. Even a knight whose forearm was severed remained to watch the contest after receiving the attentions of the court wizard.

The appearance of Leonberg’s knights stood in stark contrast to Teuton’s. It was the difference between knights who had arrived at the palace after fighting countless wars and those knights who had honed their skills by swinging swords in a gym.

The duke from Teuton must have realized it by now. I knew the Rosethorn knights were just like plants grown in a well-kept garden. No matter how sharp the thorns of the roses were, one could never compare them to the canine teeth of fierce wolves.

I laughed a little – it was so much fun! I was enticed by the fact that the contest had not yet ended and the fact that the most delicious meal still remained to be savored.historical

“Stop it!”

While I was admiring Duncan’s expression, there came a disturbance.

“We have clearly stated, repeatedly, that the purpose of this contest is to form unity between our two countries!” cried Princess Hestia. “I don’t understand why Leonberg’s knights enter these duels with murderous intent – as if meeting their lifelong enemies!”

While I listened to the princess complain about our behavior, something suddenly caught my eye within the dojo. There was a woman who wore a coat of blood – Adelia, whose eyes emitted different rays of light. And before her was a Teutonic Master. Both contestants were equally bloody, but one was covered in his own blood while the other was covered in her foe’s.

“When did he go up again!” I shouted in disgust, as they were obviously trying to force Adelia out. Duncan Seymour Tudor stepped out and spoke.

“Why can’t a wounded person reenter a contest between knights? Well, it is a matter of course. So I, Duncan Seymour Tudor, head of the Rosethorn Knights and Duke of Teuton, have no intention of raising any objection.”

“Duke!” the princess cried out, frowned, and tried to say something, but the duke spoke first with an absolutely wrathful expression.

“If you don’t want Teuton’s knights to be known as battle-fearing cowards, then this must be done.”

The expression and tone of Duncan, as well as his fierce gaze, made it clear that there was no room for compromise. The princess shut her mouth, her face stern. After the duke had beaten back the princess, he glanced at Adelia and then looked at me.

“I will continue the duel.” What came into his eyes was obvious anger, murder.

“I, Duncan Seymour Tudor, Duke of Seymour, head of the Rosethorn Knights, will enter battle with Leonberg’s knights.”

As the duke said this, he drew his sword and entered the ring. Adelia reacted to the destructive energy flowing from Duncan’s sword.

“Adelia!” I shouted to her, knowing she was about to run wild. But it was too late.

‘Shiip~’

Duncan Seymour Tudor’s sword cleaved into Adelia, cutting her diagonally from one side’s shoulder to the other side’s waist, and she collapsed to the ground in mid-charge. The duke raised his sword again. That blue flash of light was flying toward Adelia’s back, who has crouching with both her hands on the ground. I was already running, just managing to protect Adelia’s front as I drew my sword.

‘Bwang!’

The light upon Duncan’s sword faded out as he stayed his blade.

“What are you doing? The contest hasn’t finished yet. There are three knights left.”

Instead of answering Duncan, I hugged Adelia.

“Adelia?”

The light that had shone in her eyes returned, and she touched her lips. However, it wasn’t words that flowed past her teeth but a handful of blood.

“Don’t- Don’t say anything.”

As she heard my words, Adelia tried to speak several times, then closed her eyes. Her body felt limp in my arms.

“Where is the wizard?”

“Yes, your Highness!”

“Save her. If she doesn’t make it, I won’t forgive you.”

The court wizard rushed out and took Adelia, gently pulling her from the ring. He began to pour out his healing magic. I couldn’t look at it anymore, so I turned toward Duncan Seymour Tudor.

“This is shameful, it is terrible. A third party never intervenes in duels, which are sacred. Is there a greater insult than this?”

There remained a sense of superiority in Duncan’s eyes. He laughed, and it came out dry.

“Very well. I admit my fault.”

Rather than readying his sword, which he had so eagerly swung towards Adelia’s back, Duncan apologized. He added that Adelia wanted to keep fighting anyway, and it wasn’t unreasonable for him to attack an opponent who didn’t let go of her sword.

“You did wrong. That’s easy to say,” I told the devious duke in a soft tone.

“I have a single suggestion to make on the matter of correcting your fault.”

Duncan’s eyes lit up as he heard my words.

“We will end this contest with a single win, regardless of the number of wins gained by either side.”

“That means-”

“It means that if you defeat me, the contest will end with Teuton as the victor. The sword will also be Teuton’s.”

Duncan Seymour Tudor laughed and said, “Then, please, let me apologize properly.”

So, the arrogant duke took up his sword and pointed it at me.

And I..

“I cut the scales of a dragon that cannot be cut by any sword, and drink its hot blood.”

From my stance, I slashed my sword from left to right.

‘Karreaul,’ Twilight cried.

‘Shkrsoo~’

The duke’s sword was sliced clean through in quick order. The arrogant man stretched his eyes wide, and there was amazement within them. Twilight unerringly flew at the duke’s neck.

‘Quap~’

I twisted my grip at the last moment.

‘Bang!’

Twilight missed its target and smashed into the training ring, scattering dirt and stone dust.

“You died once.”

I smiled coldly and stepped back.

“Again,” I said.

The duke had been staring at my sword blankly; he snapped awake and shouted, “..!”

One of Teuton’s knights handed him a well-forged longsword, and Duncan gripped it with both hands.

Then he took in his stance, his eyes filled with caution.

‘Wshik~’

I again thrust my sword at the duke, and its blade touched his chest. Duncan looked at me, frowning.

“You died twice.”

The duel commenced once more, and Twilight touched the duke’s body several times – on the chest, neck, belly, groin, and head. All the vital places where a wound would be deadly.

“You have died eleven deaths.”

Duke Seymour died countless times by my sword, even if not a single tear came upon his fabric.

“What are you trying to achieve by doing this?” Duncan Seymour Tudor growled while looking at me.

I coldly laughed as I looked at his face, which was a mess of shame and anger. I had to do it. This man of Teuton had seriously hurt my precious knight. The duke’s lips trembled, and he could not hide his humiliation. Then, he corrected his posture and raised his energy, and the unique presence of a knight who had reached the highest stage spread everywhere. I took the duke’s energy in stride by marshaling my own and felt that he was still scattered.

“Again,” I urged.

“Ahhh!” Duncan cried like a beast and rushed toward me.

And again died a woundless death.

“Again!”

The duke died, died, and died some more.

Shame and anger; little by little, these emotions faded from Duncan’s eyes. A completely new emotion took control of his mind: Fear. I looked into his trembling eyes and continued to wield Twilight.

“You have died sixty-seven times.”

The fear in the duke’s eyes began to fade and also disappeared before long.

Then- “The eighty-fifth!”

When I raised my sword to deliver death number eighty-six, the duke stopped showing any reaction to my strikes. He was just looking at me with empty eyes. And as he stared with those dead eyes, his sword hung limply by his side.

“Princess.”

The princess, who was completely enchanted, turned to me in amazement.

Number One Knight in the West, Teuton’s Strongest Knight – it seemed that the Teutons had not yet awakened to the reality of the disastrous defeat suffered by the handsome duke.

“Tchu. Do you want me to continue? If not, say something,” I said in a frigid tone to Princess Hestia, whose face was still blank. When I glanced at the few Rosethorn Knights who had not yet fought, they trembled. Only then did the princess manage to open her mouth with a stutter.

“Oh- He lost.. We lost..”

I turned back and watched Hestia repeatedly declaring Teuton’s defeat, forgetting the referee’s duty to maintain neutrality.

“I admit to Teuton’s defeat!” the princess finally exclaimed in a shaking voice. My back was already turned on her as I returned to my seat. The knights of Leonberg were looking at me – with a spirit of profound respect.

As I looked at the pride on their faces, my heart itself became proud of them. But I didn’t dare express myself, so I raised my chin as I gazed at my knights – being terribly arrogant.

“Your Highness.”

Arwen, whose arm and shoulders wound were bandaged, bowed her head to me and expressed her unparalleled respect.

“He’s a real monster,” Bernardo Eli, who had made sure his wounds were healed in a hurry, muttered to himself with an awe-filled face.

“Brother.”

Maximilian looked at me in a very affectionate manner. Even though we had spoken many times as brothers, no words needed to be said when our eyes met. I merely saw him, and he saw me. Quéon and the other knights of Leonberg looked at me and took to shouting.

“A homage to another victory from the Crown Prince!”

“Long live the prince!”

“Long live the Leonberger royal family! Long live the Leonberg Kingdom!”

I remained silent as I listened to their cheers – and then saw Adelia.

The court wizard nodded to me and said she had passed the stage of emergency. If Adelia healed well, there would be no long-term effects.

“The scar will remain,” the wizard said with a face full of emotion, full of regret.

Still, she was fortunate, and I only became relieved once I saw Adelia breathing regularly.

Taking a sigh of relief, I looked at Teuton’s knights on the other side of the dojo. Up until yesterday, the Teutons had been arrogant; those people didn’t exist anymore. There only remained losers who had been devastated by the disastrous results of their hubris.

‘Sheek~’

And it was then that Leonberg’s knights drew their swords and broadened their stances. The one who had lost his right forearm wielded his sword with the left, while the knight with two injured arms still pointed his blade skyward, groaning in pain. The warrior with a severe leg injury stood stiff as he forced himself to endure the pain.

‘Chuck~’

And with this, as one, the knights of the Leonberg Kingdom raised their swords at an angle, and the palace knights also took part in the salute.

They shouted with one voice.

“Infinite respect to the best knight in the north!”