Chapter 147

Chapter 147 - A Monster Among Hungry Wolves (4)

The imposing pressure threatening the knight vanished in an instant.

'An illusion?'

Because it was too fleeting a feeling to cool his hot martial spirit. The desire to strike down Eugene and make a name for himself reigned immediately.

Like a crucian carp snagged by a fishhook, luckily freeing itself, and then biting the bait again.

However, that is precisely a knight. Creatures tamed to become extremely simple before competitive spirit.

"Are you saying you will hide behind a maid even now after receiving a challenge? If you are a knight, confront me proudly!"

"How rude. Homi is not a maid. She is my one and only squire."

"A squire?"

The knight stared at Homi with a surprised face.

Though tall, her body is slender, and her fingers are thin. At a glance, she did not suit being a squire assisting Eugene, a human weapon.

"And I told you, didn't I? Homi is my very weapon. Her fighting is exactly the same as me swinging a weapon."

"Such wordplay!"

The knight took Eugene's attitude as a provocation.

"Knights of the holy Appen Peninsula fight wrapping God's protection around their swords. Do not be conceited just because you built some reputation in the barbaric lands up north. Where does a bumpkin dare..."

Slap!

Homi's palm struck the knight's cheek.

Though she didn't bat an eye even when he insulted her by calling her a maid, she did not tolerate her master being insulted.

Clatter!

A hand that flew in so fast the knight couldn't dodge. However, the contained power was intense enough to knock down a burly man.

"Eeeeek!"

The cheek of the knight who jumped up bore a bright red handprint. Though he could endure the pain, the disgraceful gazes staring from around were unbearable. To him, Homi extended her index finger.

"A duel."

The knight stopped in his tracks. A short single phrase from Homi, who had kept her mouth shut like a mute. That voice was more beautiful than imagined, and its resonance contained a straight and upright power.

What the Heart of the Forest gifted Homi was not only the strength to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight alongside her Lord.

It also taught her how to control the wild nature tightening around her neck. Though she is still merely barely managing one phrase a day.

Therefore, Homi carefully selects what words to say every day.

- Thank you.

When receiving a gift from Eugene.

- It's delicious.

When tasting the cooking Eugene made.

- It's pretty.

When receiving the scarf Valda personally knitted as a gift.

- You shouldn't fight.

When young Dark Elves inside the Moving Castle were having a fistfight.

- Going forward, continuously.

When nodding in greeting to Hind, who came back after assisting Eugene in drawing a map of the surroundings.

Every time her lovely lips opened, everyone admired the beautiful tone ringing out.

- It is truly sad that such a beautiful voice must be tightly wrapped up and hidden. The gods are surely indifferent.

Though Valda rather felt it was a shame.

And Homi used today's opportunity to bring down the iron mace upon the one who insulted her Lord.

"My squire says she requests a duel with you. You don't intend to avoid it, do you?"

"Fine! I'll accept it!"

Somehow the situation flowed strangely, but he couldn't back out here either. First, strike down the squire before his eyes, and then request a duel with that arrogant knight of Roman!

* * *

Everyone has a plausible plan. Until they get punched in the face.

Whack!

The knight whose face was struck by Homi's elbow sprawled out spread-eagled on the sparring ground.

His squire, who hurriedly ran out, shook him vigorously to wake him, but the knight didn't even twitch. He had fainted with an expression as if his soul had fled.

"Wahahaha!"

"Bah! Knocked out in one hit by an opponent not even holding a sword?! Quit being a knight!"

Cheers and boos from the spectators poured down on the squire struggling to drag away the armored knight.

A class difference where normally they wouldn't even dare meet eyes. However, during the martial arts tournament period, they can hide behind the anonymity of the crowd and say impudent things to their heart's content.

Watching fights is one thing, but many spectators feel the appeal of being able to throw informal speech and mockery at high and mighty people.

"Franco!"

Someone who seemed to be a friend of the fainting knight being dragged away intruded. News that Eugene appeared at the sparring ground resulted in knights who were lying in wait rushing over en masse.

"I am Knight Julio of the Verati Family! I request a duel!"

Julio threw his gauntlet at Eugene.

It wasn't that he was avoiding Homi out of fear. It was because, as a renowned knight of a quite famous family, no one but Eugene caught his eye.

However, Homi is not one to sit by and watch that. She unfastened the whip tied around her waist and whipped the flying gauntlet upward.

Snap!

Homi caught the gauntlet whose direction changed after being struck mid-air. Unless one is a fool, one could recognize it as a declaration of intent to face him on behalf of her Lord.

While everyone admired that astonishing skill, Julio bit his lip.

"A loyal squire. Good. Draw your weapon."

As Julio aimed his sword, Homi raised her fists wearing gauntlets to show him.

"A martial artist? Are you joking right now?!"

It is a world where even blunt weapons like hammers are treated as minor weapons. Those who knights, living and dying by the sword, consider lower than mercenaries are martial artists.

At nobles' banquets, two shirtless martial artists having a bare-fisted bloodbath to liven up the atmosphere is a common sight.

- Step back now.

- Hehe! Thank you!

They would snicker with swollen faces and bleeding lips, picking up silver coins tossed by the nobles.

Even if they train their whole lives, either dying miserably to a back-alley thug's dagger, or prolonging their lives bleeding in a clown show. That is the perception knights hold toward martial artists.

However, as Homi kicked off the ground and charged at tremendous speed, Julio's face was colored with astonishment.

Feeling the illusion of a charging bull, he swung his sword with all his might. Though it lacks an edge since it's a sparring sword, it contained enough power to kill if it hit a vital spot.

Clang!

Homi effortlessly deflected the sword with the alloy brace covering her forearm. And thrust her fist into the exposed abdomen.

'Fool! Only your wrist will break.'

Julio is wearing armor reinforced with steel plates on the front. After easily taking that flimsy fist...

Wham!

"Keheugh!"

Julio's thoughts cut off immediately. The steel plate dented, and an immense shock violently shook his guts—such agony. He couldn't possibly maintain his sanity.

Homi grabbed both cheeks of Julio, whose waist folded as if bowing deeply in prostration.

Smash!

A knee striking straight into his face just like that.

Julio, spewing a double nosebleed, went flying, eyes rolling back, and fainted.

"That's a technique you taught her, right?"

Valda, who was watching, asked Eugene.

"How did you know?"

"Being invited to nobles' banquets, I've seen martial artists belonging to troupes fight several times. But I've never seen a technique like that."

"It's called a knee kick. Like this, pulling the opponent's face..."

Eugene made mixed martial arts motions, kicking his knee up into the empty air.

"No need to tell me the technique name. No demonstration needed either."

Pressing down Eugene's raised knee, Valda sighed.

"As a prospective knight, a life of struggle is inevitable, but isn't that too violent?"

"Is there such a thing as violent or not in a fight? If you win, that's it."

"Homi is a lady simultaneously with being a knight. I want her to be respected not only for her strength but also for her beauty and elegance. Because she is a young lady who rightfully deserves that."

No sooner had Julio been carried out than a third challenger appeared.

"Beautiful knight! I, Brandon, will challenge you! I shall strike you down and proudly reach your Lord!"

A burly knight shouted boldly, stepping up to the sparring ground.

Seeing her valiant figure easily defeating two knights, he seemed to think she was a formal knight, not a squire.

"When exactly are you going to knight her? Regarding both skill or dedication, I believe she's sufficiently passed the baseline long ago."

"I've already suggested it multiple times, but Homi declined."

A squire has the duty to serve and attend to a knight. All squires find it bothersome and look forward to the day they quickly rise as a knight.

However, Homi is the exact opposite. To her, attending to Eugene isn't a duty. It is her pride, her right, and her greatest wish itself.

But if she rises as a knight, she must stop. There's no problem with a knight serving another knight as their Lord, but attending to him as a servant is nonsense.

Whoosh!

The greatsword swung by Brandon had an exceptional wind-cleaving sound right off the bat.

Even against that fierce momentum, Homi confronted it head-on. Her two hands wearing gauntlets moved bizarrely, then snatched the greatsword.

"What?"

Brandon felt the power of his descending greatsword evaporate as if sucked away somewhere.

The reliable sword that had struck down numerous enemies in tournaments was pitifully caught. Much like a prey caught by a praying mantis.

Clang!

Missing his sword, Brandon flew backward.

"..."

"..."

The spectators stared blankly at Homi slowly retracting her fully extended leg. That elegant motion was reminiscent of a secretarybird.

Applause originating from someone spread instantly, turning into a passionate ovation.

With this, the gathered knights completely changed their target. Because Homi, defeating knights of the peninsula one after another, was already an appetizing opponent as well.

Thwack!

Smash!

Those who charged like that all ended up falling away spewing blood from somewhere on their faces.

"How can a whole group gang up and still not beat one person?"

"Shouldn't she rest a bit as well? She faced knights consecutively all by herself."

"Seems she hasn't even broken a sweat yet though?"

The spectators' cheers grew louder, and the knights' faces turned red. Now it's a matter of pride. For the honor of the Appen Peninsula, someone had to break Homi.

"Let's see if you can block this too!"

A certain knight aimed at Homi with his family's secret soft swordmanship. A fatal move where the trajectory sharply changes amidst an ordinary attack, aiming for a vital spot.

However, Homi leaned heavily backward and dodged the sword. While an ordinary person would have fallen over just like that, Homi has a third leg.

The long and thick tail supported her, providing time and balance. In that gap, pressing her hands to the ground, Homi delivered a diagonal spin kick.

Vwoosh!

Along with a tremendous wind-cleaving sound, the knight saw a massive horse hoof overlapping in Homi's rising kick.

The fatal move of a horse that beats even lions to death was flying toward his face.

Crack!

The knight struck diagonally on the jaw spun around 3 times like a top, then collapsed with a thud.

Homi's punches or kicks. No matter which, there is no one who withstands a single hit.

"Kyaaaaah!"

"Elegant Knight! Please look this way!"

Among the cheering spectators, the most fervent were noble ladies in luxurious attire.

They seemed to have heard the stories and come to watch while having a tea party somewhere.

With their faces half covered by fans, they gazed at Homi with eyes burning with admiration and passion.

Boring days learning embroidery, social dances, and refinement while waiting for an eventually approaching arranged marriage as a member of a noble house.

The female knight crushing burly men while frolicking as if dancing excited them more than a fairytale prince.

"Homi. Winning is good, but shouldn't you respond to the spectators? Their roars are precisely the strength of knights, aren't they?"

Nod.

Homi, responding to her Lord's shout, strode briskly toward the noble ladies.

At that imposing and impactful figure, the ladies wearing flushed faces gathered both hands beautifully at their chests.

- W-would you accept this?

Homi took out flowers from her bosom that she received from the young man at the street stall she stopped by with Eugene.

Standing before a certain noble lady, Homi took the posture of court etiquette she learned from Cassandra.

Swish.

The tail wrapping around the flowers stopped in front of the noble lady's face. Because of the abundant white fur, the mood was enlivened like roses blooming amiss baby's breath.

"A-are you giving this to me? Sir Knight?!"

Instead of an answer, Homi lightly flicked the tail holding the flowers.

"Kyaa!"

The lady, holding her hands together, stomped her feet, not knowing what to do.

Grabbing the flowers as slowly as possible, she slyly stroked the tail with her palm, resulting in an expression of reaching paradise.

"Valda. Seems we don't have to worry about Homi lacking popularity, right?"

"..."

When the number of defeated knights reached 8, no more challengers appeared.

* * *

After that day, Eugene spent a comfortable time.

Homi, serving as a middle gate, mashing up challengers played a part, but his military forces additionally arriving from the north was a big factor.

Because the sight of a mighty military force continuously gathering under a single flag was overflowing with imposing pressure.

"The Blackhand Mercenary Corps in such large numbers?"

"Is he crazy? How does he intend to handle all that money? He'll snap to his senses when a sword is shoved in his belly like that."

Someone cursed Eugene as being reckless. The Blackhand Mercenary Corps is the most expensive group on the continent in terms of ransom.

Pressuring them with noble authority or running off with their money like other mercenaries was also impossible. If one did that, the family itself would burn and vanish.

"If they knew I was receiving a special discount, I wonder if everyone would be disappointed?"

"No. They would rather find it even more intriguing. The fact that those snobbish and arrogant folks formed such a special relationship with a human, that is. Because Dark Elves cutting their prices while selling their swords is unprecedented."

Looking at the Blackhand Mercenary Corps gathered on a large scale, Valda nodded satisfactorily.

In the world of knights, authority is ultimately completed by the army one leads. No matter how numerous one's achievements, if the led army is small, all sorts of flying bugs stick around being annoying.

But how is it right now?

The buzzing knights and mercenary captains who used to stare full of jealousy dare not even make eye contact anymore.

"I definitely heard he was a knight without even a noble title, yet this is..."

Being fellow warriors themselves, unlike other gossips, they couldn't sneer at Eugene.

Because one could tell many things simply by looking at the gazes and attitudes the consecutively arriving army had when looking at Eugene.

That was an attitude offered to a lord they sincerely submitted to. Loyalty and respect unobtainable in a relationship simply bought with money.

"With that level, he seems likely to take charge of the right wing alone."

"Exactly what I'm saying. Even the army of the Count of Bordeaux's family during the last monster subjugation wasn't at that level."

Knights letting out exclamations emerged here and там.

The tactics of this era are simple. While the left wing holds out and the central army aligns the balance, the elites deployed on the right collapse the opponent's flank.

On a battlefield where shouting is the only means of communication and individual commands are wielded separately, more precise command than this was impossible.

Generally, the right wing was a position expected to establish many merits. While mercenaries avoided it because it was a fierce spot, knights preferred it because it was a position to rack up achievements.

"Even at this point, wouldn't it be good to seek Sir Eugene out and at least offer a greeting?"

"Definitely... Seeing him dispensing charity in the slums last time, he did look certainly generous. He won't mistreat us."

Knights starting to think about seeking Eugene out, getting acquainted, and potentially joining his army began to emerge.

They were mostly free knights or knights from humble families.

"Do you sirs have no pride?"

"How can you say you will bow your waists to barbaric northern bastards?"

Knights hailing from influential families of the peninsula viewed that sight with disapproval.

Even if they understood the Temple Knights taking charge of the center, they thought the right wing would naturally fall to themselves.

"Why don't you try saying those words directly in front of the person involved? Stop backbiting where you can't be seen."

"What, you bastard?!"

Where knights gather, conflicts never cease constantly. The troublemakers bothering Eugene disappearing was largely also due to them starting to fight among themselves like this.

* * *

The Hammer Brotherhood coming via land route took a bit more time.

"Whenever receiving contact from Rampage, I looked forward to the day I would meet you. I am called Walker."

The Dwarf blacksmith who came with them bowed deeply in greeting.

It wasn't just warriors that Eugene summoned through Rampage. He also brought in a considerable number of dwarf technicians to overhaul the Moving Castle in earnest.

"Welcome. Rampage and his subordinates were being grinded down to a pitiable degree as it was. We can set our minds at ease now."

Fighting as warriors, standing guard, repairing the Moving Castle, and operating the forge to mend armaments. If necessary, they were even drafted by Valda to decorate the castlé's interior.

"To think I would see the legendary Moving Castle directly. My subordinates have high expectations as well."

Walker, true to his name, possessed an itchy face wanting to work immediately.

"Before that, could you take a look at this?"

Eugene showed Walker and his apprentices a massive axe. Though called an axe, it was so large that just measuring the length of the blade would put it at the level of a decent greatsword.

The handle is from the bones of the dead, the axe blade is a metal of the netherworld forged in the lava of hell.

"Wh-what on earth is this?"

Walker's beard bristled at the subtle heat felt from the lump of iron.

"Metal of Hell. Beyond that, I don't know either."

Eugene explained the operation to recover the Moving Castle. That this was the weapon wielded by a 5m tall ghoul born using the demons' corpses as a womb there.

"As you can see, because it was handled roughly with no maintenance, its condition isn't good. I can't carry it around with a handle like this either."

"Just looking at it oozes wickedness. With this much, one could even say it's a handle molded from the undead."

Walker nodded.

All parts connecting the handle to the axe blade are composed of bones imbued with shamanistic power. Terrible lingering resentment leaked profusely from within.

"I heard there are many famous blacksmiths in New Canaan, so I brought it for now, but I couldn't entrust it. Because the religious orders give me too much attention. I was worried bad rumors would cycle unnecessarily if I entrusted this."

"You did well! Leave it to us! We shall attach a new handle fitting perfectly in the Lord's grasp!"

Walker, assigned an awesome task from the start, thumped his chest with thick hands.

"Metal of Hell, of all things!"

"It must be something precious enough to dismiss even meteorite iron as trivial."

The dwarves rubbed their hands and gulped.

Just as a warrior's caliber is decided by how dangerous a powerful enemy they strike down, an artisan's caliber is decided by how phenomenal a work they lay their hands on.

Here, artisans were disadvantaged compared to warriors in various ways.

Since it's a world littered with danger, all warriors needed was courage. Seeking out powerful enemies is not difficult.

On the other hand, just discovering great metals is an epic hardship.

Many artisans ended their lives having never laid hands on even rare metals, let alone meteorite iron, despite working their entire lives in the forge.

If it's the Axe of Hell, later when sharing heroic sagas with dwarf blacksmiths of other families, absolutely no one would dare try to match them.

"Wait just a moment. I will draw you out quickly."

Walker snickered while stroking the axe.

Through their beards, the dwarves could feel the unknown magic slumbering within the metal of hell.

Currently, it was in a state of sleeping sunk deep within the metal due to not receiving maintenance for a long time.

However, once finished refining in the hands of dwarf artisans, it would blaze fiercely anew and leap outside the metal.

"I'll trust and leave it to you."

"Please look forward to it. We will present an axe that will slice even the neck of a dragon."

Watching the dwarves gathered around the Hell's Axe discussing how to restore it, Eugene also fell deep into thought.

'I need more weapons.'

Eugene has faced numerous powerful enemies in rapid succession that an ordinary knight might encounter once in a lifetime if lucky.

The Final Autumn is a powerful sword that destroys all magic, but its length is short.

The large flail has long range and is powerful, but is limited solely to striking power.

Since it's a situation where he doesn't know what kind of bizarre enemy he will meet hereafter, the more means to cope, the better.