Chapter 34 (1/2)
Chapter 34. Knight's Compet.i.tion (2)
TL: Warriormonk
Editor: Isleidir
The mercenary knight Alexei returned to his camp, greeted by a smile from the Baron.
”Well done, Sir Alexei.”
”I was unable to finish off Lapal, due to the Earl's interference.”
”Of course, that is a pity. However, you showed that you were well worth your price.”
Alexei stared seriously at the Baron.
”I have won the fourth match in the knight's compet.i.tion, as promised. My promised reward, lord?”
”As you wish.”
The Baron motioned with a wave of his hand, and a soldier approached with a chest. Alexei opened it to reveal the chest full of gold coins.
”As promised, ten thousand Denarins.”
”It seems that you really wanted to win.”
”It's fine. Even more than mining rights, it is important that I take Earl Nigel down a notch.”
The Baron laughed heartily.
Alexei merely shook his head as he watched the Baron.
The debris from the previous match was cleared, and the fifth match began. As was expected, Baron Tarpan sent out his knight captain, Heinlihi.
A handsome knight in his middle ages with a majestic moustache walked out to the clearing. He had a very confident look on his face.
'Now that Lapal has been fatally wounded, who will be my opponent?'
The Earl's camp was blanketed by a depressed silence. A couple of soldiers were s.h.i.+ning the armor that Kurotan would wear for this match, but most of the people in the camp were already predicting Kurotan's defeat.
The Earl called Luke.
”Did you call, my lord?”
”I did not know that the situation would end up like this.”
”I was surprised as well, my lord.”
”I am sorry that Kurotan has to fight Heinlihi, the Baron's knight captain.”
”It is quite all right. He's quite happy that he will be able to battle such a strong opponent.”
”That's a relief.”
The Earl lowered his voice.
”Heinlihi rose to the level of an aura expert five years ago. Is there any chance that Kurotan will be able to defeat him?”
Luke glanced at Heinlihi, who had firmly planted his feet in the center of the clearing.
”Is it all right to kill him in a knight's compet.i.tion?”
”O-Of course. No, it would be better if you did kill him.”
The Earl, slightly excited, slapped his knee.
”If you do kill Heinlihi I will give you twice the reward that was promised.”
The Earl had promised three thousand Denarins for Kurotan's partic.i.p.ation in the knight's compet.i.tion. If Kurotan was to kill Heinlihi, Luke would be gaining twice that much.
'Six thousand Denarins is a lot money. He should be able to kill him.'
Lapal had been fatally wounded, but survived. If Baron Tarpan's knight captain Heinlihi were to die, the forces between the Earldom and Barony would begin to tilt in the Earl's favor.
”As you command, my lord.”
Luke bowed and turned towards Kurotan.
”Kurotan.”
Kurotan bowed slightly, aware of the soldiers surrounding them.
”We receive twice the reward if you kill the opponent. Kill him without fail.”
As soon as he heard Luke's words, Kurotan's eyes began to turn red with bloodl.u.s.t.
”A pleasing command. Heu Heu Heu.”
Kurotan began walking towards the clearing, cracking his neck. Luke muttered silently as he gazed at Kurotan's back.
'I hope you can clearly display your skill as a Great Warrior of the orcs, one who has slain countless aura experts.'
Kurotan was introduced as soon as he entered the clearing.
”The knight from Earl Nigel's camp to be fighting in the fifth match will be the freelance knight, Kurotan!”
Heinlihi squinted his eyes as he heard Kurotan's introduction.
”Kurotan… A weird name. It seems that the Earl has hired some wandering vagabond?”
Kurotan walked up to Heinlihi, silent.
Heinlihi clucked his tongue as he saw the two axes in Kurotan's hand.
”It seems that I have to fight a fool who can only use axes meant for beginning mercenaries.”
The referee signaled the beginning of the fight while Heinlihi muttered to himself.
”Knights Heinlihi and Kurotan, I hope you do your utmost to fight for the honor of your fiefdoms.”
Heinlihi eased into a stance in a relaxed manner. The next moment, however, his eyes widened in surprise.
Kurotan had kicked at the ground and blurred towards him as soon as the referee had finished speaking.
Kwaaang!
The small crater appeared where his foot kicked off, and Kurotan shot at him like an arrow. Heinlihi, finally realizing that his opponent was also an aura expert, attempted to twist out of the way as he brought his s.h.i.+eld to bear.
Kurotan slammed his body into the s.h.i.+eld without a second thought.
Kwakwakwakw.a.n.g!
Heinlihi staggered out of the way as he ground his teeth.
”You stupid b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
His opponent was completely ignoring defense, running at him like a berserker. Heinlihi s.h.i.+vered at the bloodshot eyes visible through the opponent's visor.
'This b.a.s.t.a.r.d reminds me of an orc.'
Heinlihi discovered a gap in Kurotan's defense and slashed out his sword. The blade, strengthened by aura, sliced easily through armor and sliced into his flesh.
Paaak!
The lower half of the armor fell as blood spurted out of Kurotan's side.
The attack had worked, but it was Heinlihi who had to retreat. Kurotan had not even blinked and continued to weave his axes into a whirlwind of fierce slashes.
”Wh-What a golem like b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
Humans would flinch unconsciously, if they were wounded. However, Kurotan was like an undead that felt no pain.
The heavy sound of metal clas.h.i.+ng on metal rang out from the s.h.i.+eld. Heinlihi frowned at the strain it took to hold up the s.h.i.+eld.
”This b.a.s.t.a.r.d is an aura expert for sure.”
Kurotan was pouring all of his aura into his attacks. Even if they had increased the amount of Kurotan's aura through the tribal ritual, he had yet to reach his prowess from his time as a Great Warrior of the orcs.
Heinlihi absolutely surpa.s.sed Kurotan in terms of amount of aura and the perfection of his sword technique.
Kurotan, however, knew how to read the flow of battle thanks to his orc nature, a race dedicated to warfare.
'I can't let this match drag on for too long.'
This was the reason Kurotan was pouring all of his aura into an all-out attack. Heinlihi was being pushed back without a chance to retaliate.
Even with his senses and agility enhanced by aura, he was getting pushed back.
Kw.a.n.g. Kwajijik. Chw.a.n.g!
Heinlihi had mentally lost the battle after Kurotan had continued to attack after being wounded.
'I can't let this go on. I must change the flow of this battle.'
Heinlihi launched a counterattack after blocking Kurotan's axe with his s.h.i.+eld. However, he was a bit careless in switching from a defensive position to an offensive one.
Kurotan instinctively sensed the gap between Heinlihi's defenses. He had built up even his instincts from his countless battles with aura experts.
”Kwaaah!”
Kurotan roared an animal's roar and smashed his shoulder into Heinlihi.
Heinlihi hurriedly tried to regain his balance and stance, but Kurotan charged once again and completely knocked him off his balance.
”Huk!”
Heinlihi's face paled as he rolled on the ground. Heinlihi rolled backwards twice before bouncing up to a standing position, but Kurotan had already closed in with his axe raised high.
Kwajijik!
Heinlihi's helmet caved in at the center as Kurotan's axe smashed through it. Heinlihi's body twitched and then fell to the ground.