Part 11 (2/2)

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli.

Or so he thought before he noticed belatedly.

The path expanded into a circle in the middle of the large s.p.a.ce, the large bath. When he approached, Eugeo finally sensed someone's silhouette beyond the steam hanging over the water surface in front, on the right.

Instinctively jumping back, he placed his hand onto his sword's grip.

He couldn't see too well with the steam obstructing, but the other party had a pretty large build. Short hair and unfeminine.

Submerged up to his shoulders in the hot water, he was stretching out all four limbs.

The man appeared to be simply bathing rather than lying in wait, but he couldn't let down his guard. Regardless of the circ.u.mstances, that was unmistakably an enemy, so perhaps he should be attempt a preemptive attack while the opponent was stil in the water.

It happened when Eugeo quietly slid his beloved sword out from its sheath.

”Sorry, but could ya wait for a bit? I mean, I just got to the capital a moment ago, so my whole body's stiff from all the flying dragon riding.”

The voice was low and worn-out, but had substance. The speech that was more crude than anyone he encountered in the cathedral unwittingly left him silent. The lack of grandstanding reminded him of the peasants of his home town rather than of a knight.

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Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli.

While Eugeo stayed undecided over his reaction, splas.h.i.+ng noises rang out and the steam concealing the gigantic bathtub parted to the left and right.

The owner of the voice had drops of water pouring off his entire body like a waterfal while he got up. With his back to Eugeo, he placed his two hands on his waist and rotated his neck, letting out a sluggish groan. He appeared ful of openings, but Eugeo didn't take a single step with his hand still on his sword.

What a tremendous body. The part below his knees was still under the hot water, but still, it was clear the man measured close to two mel. His iron-gray hair, tinged blue, was trimmed short and exposed his shockingly thick neck. Furthermore, the shoulders it connected to were abnormally broad yet again. His forearm, on the level of a log, must be able to wave swords around with ease, regardless of how heavy they might be.

What drew his eyes the most was his back, covered in layers of muscles. Gorgolos...o...b..ltoh, whom Eugeo served as a valet, could boast of a tempered body as well, but the man in the bath reached new heights of bulkiness. Despite the unlikeness of him being young, there was no slackening around his hips whatsoever.

As his sight was stolen by the man's standing posture, like the very image of an ancient G.o.d of war, Eugeo failed to immediately notice the countless old wounds running across his entire body.

Observing properly, he saw that they were al wounds from arrows and blades. Scars, even from severe wounds, shouldn't remain if treated quickly with high ranking sacred arts, so that meant he must have always been fighting on battlefields which rendered even that act impossible, for long stretches of time.

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Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli.

The man in the bath was, in all likelihood, the one called the Knight Commander.

In other words, the mightiest expert among all of the integrity knights. The greatest hurdle thwarting Eugeo's path to the top of the Cathedral- In that case, it would be best to slash and defeat the man while he held no weapon and armor. Kirito would definitely have done that. Even while his mind thought so, Eugeo stayed still.

He couldn't judge whether the man's back was ful of openings or flawlessly br.i.m.m.i.n.g with preparation. He could even imagine the man was luring him into an attack.

Paying no heed to Eugeo's hesitation, the man finished loosening his body, then began walking north as he parted the hot water. A basket had been placed a little way ahead on the path that seemed to have his clothes in it.

Having taken the steps up and straddled over the edge, the man took undershorts out from the basket and pa.s.sed them through his legs. Next, he spread open clothes of thin make and wore them. It seemed to be clothes made in the north empire and while wrapping a wide cloth that came with the previous, the man finally turned his face to Eugeo.

”Yo, sorry for the wait.”

He had a firm look that matched the deep, worn-out voice well.

The wrinkle engraved near his mouth likely showed the man was over forty years old when he became an integrity knight, but his cheeks split by his high nose bridge were not slackened in any way. However, what left a deeper impression was the light in his eyes released from beneath his prominent eyebrows.

86.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli.

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