Chapter 33 (2/2)
Right then, the judge announced the opponent.
”And from Tarpan Barony, Sir… Alexei.”
The judge had stuttered, as if he had not expected the name. Simultaneously, Viscount Nigel had jumped up from his seat.
”Wh-What?”
Viscount Nigel glared at the Baron in surprise. Alexei was the name of a mercenary knight whose price was legendary.
Alexei was in his fifties and had been serving as a mercenary knight for a long time, a veteran aura expert.
”Crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you hired such an expensive mercenary knight for just a mine?”
The visoc.u.n.t's hand was shaking. Alexei was also notorious for leaving his opponents in knight's compet.i.tion as corpses.
”He's given up the profits from the mine completely. He's taking this opportunity to whittle down our forces.”
Viscount Nigel's face had darkened as he figured out the Baron's plot. He wanted nothing more than to throw the fourth match.
Unfortunately, foregoing the match without even fighting would besmirch Sir Lapal's honor irreparably.
Knight Captain Lapal's face had also darkened at Alexei's name.
'Baron Tarpan wishes to kill me.'
He did not, however, have any intention of giving up the match. He was a knight, born and bred solely for the battle. He took a couple of deep breaths as his will to fight burned pa.s.sionately.
'Even if Alexei is a notorious, I am still an aura expert. I will not go down so easily.'
Right then, Viscount Nigel walked towards Lapal.
”Sir Lapal.”
”Yes, lord.”
”You do not wish to forego the match?”
Lapal nodded stiffly.
”I would rather die than live in shame, my lord.”
”Please, try to hold out as much as you can. I will be ready to throw the handkerchief at a moment's notice.”
”Yes, my lord.”
Viscount Nigel was planning on letting Lapal fight for a little bit, before throwing in the handkerchief as the Baron had done in the third match. Viscount Nigel retreated, and Lapal drew his sword.
Sererereung.
A knight walked out to the clearing from the Baron's side. Wearing a silver full pate armor, his face was visible through a raised visor.
Alexei looked young for his age, which was in the fifties.
”I did not think that I would be fighting you today, Sir Alexei.”
Alexei's eyes frowned, skin around them marred by scars.
”The Baron did have to overreach, in order to afford me.”
”I am also an aura expert. I will not go down so easily.”
”Hahaha, you think all aura experts are equal? Even with the same t.i.tle, there will be differences.”
Alexei's eyes gradually began to s.h.i.+ne with killing intent.
”My employer has demanded your death. Prepare yourself.”
A tornado of killing intent exploded from Alexei as soon as he finished his sentence. Lapal was startled into raising his s.h.i.+eld, when Alexei kicked the ground and became a blur streaking towards him.
Kwaang!!!
An explosive sound rang out as Lapal's s.h.i.+eld became deformed. Lapal staggered backwards off balanced. One clash had been enough for him to realize the difference between the amounts of their auras.
'I will still persevere!'
Lapal grit his teeth as he swung his sword in a counter strike, but he was nowhere fast enough to catch up to Alexei's movements. His sword swung through empty s.p.a.ce as Alexei retreated.
Kwaang!
Alexei's fierce attacks continued to deform Lapal's s.h.i.+eld.
Alexei's strength, bolstered by aura, was more than enough to mold metal. Lapal grit his teeth through the pain that began to pulsate through his arm.
Kw.a.n.g! Kwwanng!
Sword and sword clashed, sparks flying in the air. Alexei continued to rain down ferocious blows, but Lapal did not lose grip of his sword. The skin on his hand had long been torn to pieces, and blood dripped down his arm.
Lapal's expression began to grow somber as he felt his aura being used up in vast amounts.
'I won't be able to hold out much longer.'
As if he had read Lapal's mind, Viscount Nigel stepped in and began to throw a white handkerchief. Lapal had relaxed slightly for a moment, when Alexei's sword tore through his defenses.
”Keeuk!”
Alexei's long sword had smashed aside Lapal's s.h.i.+eld and penetrated his armor. This was the destructive power of concentrated aura.
Lapal spewed blood from his mouth and fell backwards as the handkerchief fluttered to the ground.
”Stop the match! Victory goes to Sir Alexei.”
The match over, soldiers ran out to the field to a.s.sess the situation. Viscount Nigel, unable to contain his worry, was among them. The soldiers removed Lapal's armor, and the priestess Daphne examined his wounds.
”Ho-How does it look?”
”The sword missed his heart, my lord. It did puncture his lung, however, and sir Lapal will need at least six months to recover fully.”
The Viscount sagged with relief at the news that Lapal had not died.
”Thank the G.o.ds. Move Sir Lapal off the field.”
”Yes, my lord.”
Alexei's victory had evened the scores. Both sides had won two matches, and lost two matches. The final match would be the deciding factor.
Viscount Nigel's face darkened as he realized that the Baron would most likely send out Heinlihi, his knight captain, for the fifth match.
Kurotan, whom he had recruited rather suddenly, was also an aura expert, but Heinlihi was a famous knight captain.
'Heinlihi became an aura expert over five years ago. He's a veteran! It seems I'll have to give up on the mining rights.'
The Viscount shook his head bitterly. He would have to be satisfied that his knight captain Lapal had been able to narrowly avoid death.
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