Chapter 231

Chapter 231 - Tournament (3)

A puppy also knows what the cheers of the spectators are. Might, possessing an intelligence far superior to that, had a lot of interest in the ecstasy that can only be tasted in a tournament.

A place without arrows, dirt dust, mud, and darkness. A sacred arena of competition existing purely for a head-on match.

Different from a battlefield where observers are restricted due to the chaos of killing and being killed. A glorious stage where hundreds and thousands of people focus their attention.

Carrying his master and receiving applause and cheers in a tournament was Might's long-held dream.

However, if he can't participate in a large-scale tournament where this many strong people have gathered, there's no need to even consider smaller tournaments.

The smart Might understood that and was sad. The fearless, peerless World Charger was also helpless in front of a shattered dream.

"As expected of a divine beast, it's a divine beast. To think it's a beast that understands and craves honor."

Marcus clicked his tongue at Eugene who came out having barely appeased him.

"Count. Excuse me."

"Thanks."

Maria wiped Eugene's cheek with a handkerchief soaked in water. It is the result of Might licking him diligently acting cute.

"He won't run wild or anything, right? If he does that here, it'll be a major catastrophe."

"It's fine. Wanting glory means he understands restraint. Unlike his ferocious appearance, he's a remarkably patient guy, you see. He never gets angry even if children pull his fur. Regardless of race, he's also good at childcare, you know?"

Maria wiped Eugene's face meticulously. Her fingers touching lightly were colder than the wet handkerchief. Eugene didn't dislike that coolness.

* * *

For this festival hosted by the King, the tournament is the main event, but there were also many side games.

First, there are universally popular matches like bare-handed wrestling, javelin throwing, weightlifting, and drinking lots of liquor. The prize money is high, and men participated enthusiastically wanting to show off their masculinity.

There are also multiple matches that can be enjoyed in family units or by entire villages.

Tug-of-war, catching a greased piglet, racing while carrying one's wife, racing pushing a cart carrying one's parents, searching for silver coins in flour with one's mouth, etc.

Barcia nobles have a climate of devaluing it if these side games are modest, even if the main tournament is fun.

Paradoxically, because it is the most strict class-based society, it is a country that also cares about the enjoyment of commoners and serfs.

And for this tournament, an unprecedentedly exciting show is prepared. It is exactly the trial by combat between the margrave families.

"Glory to His Majesty the King! Look at the clear sky! The Gods are also enjoying today's festival!"

An orator equipped with the best voice shouted resonantly.

"His Majesty is merciful and overflows with love! In an era full of chaos, he wishes for Barcia to be peaceful! Thus, he arranged an opportunity to mediate the discord among his vassals!"

The trial by combat was perfect as an appetizer for the tournament. Flowing blood is the oil coating the pan, and the knights' fighting spirit is the preheating heating up the pan.

"Noble Lords! Honorable Knights! Loyal subjects! Please send your applause towards the proxy warriors of the Pierce family and the Piranian family!"

At the left and right ends of the dueling ground, the crests of both families fluttered at the highest points like commander-in-chief flags. At a place one tier lower, the family flags of the knights stepping forward for the duel are hung.

"The trial by combat is governed by the Gods! Only steel can defend you! Magic items capable of distorting the Gods' will are prohibited!"

As the orator who finished the opening address bowed his waist to the King at the highest seat, the King praised him.

Now it's the knights' time.

"Bring me wine."

"Yes. Master."

The knight who was putting on armor with the help of his squire and slave gulped down wine to calm his palpitations.

"One more piece of leather. Pad it on the back of the thighs."

There are also knights who reinforce the defense of areas the armor cannot protect.

"If I die, this armor and horse are yours. Just deliver the sword to my family."

"Sir Roin. Do not say such words. You will definitely win."

There are also knights exchanging heartwarming conversations with their squires.

"What did you just say, you bastard?"

"S-Sir Gaston! You must have heard wro... Uak!"

On the other hand, there are also squires being beaten by knights whose nerves have sharpened.

10 minutes from then.

The first proxy warriors came out and stood side by side in front of the King.

It is Barcia whose pride in military horses and horsemanship pierces the sky, but the trial by combat was fought on foot.

"The Pierce family's proxy warrior Roin! The Piranian family's proxy warrior Gaston!"

As the scribe shouted their names, the two knights paid their respects to the King.

"Honorable knights! Fight righteously!"

As the King gave his praise, the orator subsequently shouted out the contents written on the scroll. It is a record of the legal battles in dispute between the two families.

A total of 5 pending trials spanning 42 years from the previous generation are at stake, and accordingly, 5 one-on-one duels are scheduled to take place.

"The salt mine discovered at Phara Hill, the border between the two families! The ownership of that place will be judged!"

It was mostly mediations regarding concessions.

* * *

"I've waited only for today! Shames of Barcia serving a Dhampir as your Lord!"

"Shame? Shame?! Words from a family whose necks were sliced off cleanly by the likes of bandit knights?"

"Not bandit knights, but pagans..."

Even amidst their verbal fight, the two knights continued to narrow the distance and clashed in the middle. In an instant, a brutal sword fight numbering nearly 20 exchanges passed.

The one who seized the victory between the two is Sir Roin of the Pierce family.

The moment their blades met and they fell into a deadlock, Roin reversed his sword 180 degrees and struck Gaston's face with his crossguard.

Peoseoseok!

Like a battering ram destroying a castle gate, the crossguard dug into Gaston's mouth.

Eugene clenched his fist tightly at the extraordinary striking sound.

"It's a decisive blow. Now if he just stalls for time, his attention will scatter and he'll self-destruct."

Gaston was in a much worse state than Eugene expected.

"Keuheok... Cough!"

Spilling broken teeth and blood, he retreated and coughed violently.

"Did blood water enter his airway?"

"Pieces of teeth could have entered too."

"I really hope that is the case."

Unlike her doll-like appearance, Maria was a strong-willed lady.

Waiting until the opponent organizes themselves in such a situation is praised as excellent chivalry. Just like Eugene did against Lipton.

However, this trial by combat isn't a situation to nitpick such things.

"Die!"

Roin swinging his sword mercilessly. Gaston tried to block, but of all things a cough came out again, his posture collapsed, and he allowed his vitals.

"Uwaaa!"

"O Gods!"

The spectators' cheers poured towards the victor.

"Brother..."

"What did I say? Trust our knights."

As relieved Maria grabbed the back of Marcus's hand with her gloved hand, Marcus also covered the back of her hand.

- Eugene. The King sent a secret envoy. He said to settle the match without borrowing the power of foreign forces.

Eugene's assistance was canceled.

The Barcia King's purpose is to suture the conflict between the margraves. To make the defeated side submit to the outcome, letting them compete solely with their families' power was best.

The victorious vanguard, Sir Roin, laid his blood-soaked sword horizontally and supported it with both hands.

First, the first thanks to the King.

Next, he knelt in front of the Pierce siblings and offered his sword.

Fierce matches went back and forth afterwards as well, and it reached the 4th runners.

"It is a trial regarding the tax convoy that was robbed and murdered in the Piranian family's territory! The Pierce family, pointed out as the culprit by the plaintiff, strongly denies the charge! The Gods will judge whether the crime was committed!"

The proxy warrior stepping forward in the defendant capacity is someone Eugene also knows. He is the knight whose father was hanged when the rebellion was suppressed.

"The Pierce family's proxy warrior Philip! The Piranian family's proxy warrior Salim!"

The scribe shouted the names.

"Since it's a position everyone would avoid, I was wondering who would step out, and it was him? It wasn't like you just forgave him simply because he had royal blood." "Right. I intended to have the punishment fully remitted with this."

At the conversation between Eugene and Marcus, Homi tilted her head.

"What does that mean? Is it different from the previous trials?"

"Homi. Trial by combat is largely divided into two types."

Eugene opened two fingers to show.

"One is judgments regarding concessions. Things like who will take a mine spanning an ambiguous area, or a territory whose inheritor has become in limbo."

"The previous duels, then."

"Right. The other one is a trial for criminal acts."

Eugene pointed at the Piranian proxy warrior Salim.

"If that guy wins, the Pierce family takes on the sin. Exactly speaking, Sir Philip who stepped out as the proxy warrior will pay the price for robbery and murder."

"What if Sir Philip wins?"

"The case concludes there. Charging a good-natured family with an innocent crime, Salim will receive the punishment corresponding to robbery and murder."

It was a real sword match in its truest sense. But Homi had an even more puzzled face.

"If there happens to be a separate true culprit, wouldn't that person smile the happiest? Irrelevant people killed each other, and they themselves became innocent."

"That's how the law is."

Eugene stroking Homi's hair whispered into her ear.

"That's why I didn't have much religious faith. How can I believe and follow Gods whose justice is like this?"

"But Goddess Vanas is kind."

"Right. She saved our Might healthily too."

Just as Marcus and Maria clasped each other's hands, Eugene and Homi also interlaced their fingers.

"It's a duel where the moment you lose, you become a criminal and take on the worst dishonor. So it was given to the person who staged a rebellion. If he wins, all his past faults will be remitted."

The duel was ghastly.

All knight duels are like that, but because both family heads lent them specially good armor, it was harder to inflict effective strikes.

"Huap!"

Jjeong!

The defendant Philip blocked the slash with his bracer. In that state, he struck the plaintiff Salim's armpit with his fist holding the sword.

It is an attack that can't even be called a minor injury, but Salim's arm tingled and lost power. A few seconds were enough to recover, but there's no way Philip would wait.

Getting hit by a continuous attack in that state, Salim couldn't withstand it and his posture collapsed. And his back revealed invitingly.

"Iyaap!"

Philip swung his sword with all his might.

Kwachang!

Naturally blocked by the armor, it only transmitted the impact to his back.

Kwachang!

Around the time the surcoat was ripped off as the second hit struck. Salim, whose arm strength had recovered, counterattacked fiercely. Now it's a battle of stamina and agility.

"Heuaaa!"

Both proxy warriors, their entire bodies soaked in sweat, shouted like beasts and engaged in a slugfest.

The proportion of weapons clashing against each other is about 70%. Combining swords, fists, and kicks, 30% of the attacks were landing on each other. However, none pierced the protection of the good quality armor.

Their match was decided by luck, not stamina or technique.

Ttuk!

Salim's leg guard detached and dangled. The fixing strap tying it from the back of the leg getting dragged on the ground during grappling and untying was the cause.

"Damn it! Without tying it properly, what did you do?"

A Lord on the Piranian side suddenly stood up and lamented.

Philip, forming a smile of triumph, dug into the weak point. Due to the dangling leg guard, Salim was at the point where walking was hard.

Kwadang!

At a body tackle aiming for the opportunity, Salim fell flat on his face, and Philip mounted his back just like that and pulled out a dagger.

"Keugh!"

Salim barely grabbed a dagger while lying flat, but his posture is terribly disadvantageous.

The one mounting and pressing down with both hands versus the one lying flat trying to block backwards. The result of the strength contest between the two was already decided.

"N-No!"

Sensing death from the slowly approaching dagger, Salim screamed in despair. But for Philip too, it's a match where his future as a Lord is on the line.

'If I win, the past of rebellion is cleanly washed away!'

Not only that. As an honorable proxy warrior, polite invitations will pour in at every banquet held in Bean Land hereafter.

Puk.

The moment the dagger dug into Salim's armpit, the resisting strength died down completely.

Puuuk!

The dagger digging in to the end, rotating half a circle in that state.

"Ulkeok!"

It was the moment the victor was decided.

For the previous duels the orator read the judgment, but this time the King stood up directly.

"The Gods have proclaimed that the Pierce family is guiltless. Sir Philip. The knight who proved his own innocence. I bless that courage and righteousness."

A roar incomparable to the previous three duels shook the world.

Philip approached Marcus and confidently took a military salute.

"Now all the faults of your family have disappeared."

"Thank you for fighting the harsh trial. Honorable knight."

Marcus placed his fist on his heart, and Maria grabbed her skirt hem and bent her knees.

"Booo!"

"Good death! You trash-like bastard!"

On the other hand, Salim instantly fell to a criminal and received jeers. The entire time he was dragged away miserably, he had to receive the commoners' phlegm spit and a baptism of stones.

The one stepping out as the last 5th runner is Aaron.

"Keuheok!"

He brought the opponent plunging down in just 7 exchanges.

Unlike Marcus's cheering vassals, the direction of the Piranian family was an atmosphere like a house in mourning.

Total score 4 to 1.

It was a great victory for the Pierce family.

* * *

The fierce trial by combat became a perfect appetizer heightening the festival's atmosphere.

"It's my first jousting tournament."

"Lord! We will protect, no, assist you with all our hearts and strength."

The heavily armed tribal knights said filling with joy.

It's a real sword tournament without equipment restrictions. Eugene's knights, unified with Hydra leather armor and Dwarf-made weapons, looked like the most elite group without peer in the world.

The intense visual of the knights standing side by side soon led to their pride.

"Your spirit is good, but everyone wake up your minds. Though it's a tournament, don't just pay attention to the enemy before your eyes, always look at your surroundings. The opposing knights will target us as the first priority."

The Barcia tournament is a mounted team battle. De facto not different from a war simulation.

"Would there be guys who have gone through more real battles than us?"

However, everyone was overflowing with confidence, and that was not arrogance.

Diet management ahead of its time, weight training, right down to weapons tech and martial arts.

They are powerful warriors who brook no comparison with any knights on the continent. Eugene knew that best.

"More than that, what do we do about Valda not being able to come?"

"She was looking forward to throwing flower crowns at Lord so much usually, too."

To the regretful knights, Eugene shrugged his shoulders.

"I have a lot of money. If push comes to shove, I'll just hold one more in Britannia."

The knights laughed cheerfully.

Meanwhile, the knights assigned as Eugene's opponents were excited in a different sense.

"I will confirm with my sword today whether the rumors entwined with Count Mayer are true!"

The people whose bodies had heated up seeing the trial by combat shouted from here and there. Everyone rejoiced like crazy at the participation of the knight receiving the most attention recently.

It's hard to find in history a knight who achieved such great success in a short period.

Even slaying one medium-sized monster, that honor lasts a lifetime, but the Count simply slaughtered Champions of Evil Gods in succession.

Even if they're a different individual, isn't he the knight who executed a Hydra, the very creature tangled in ill-fated relationship with Barcia?

'If I could cross swords just once!'

A knight's innate fighting spirit isn't the only important thing. Eugene's vicinity naturally becomes the place receiving the most attention in the tournament.

Knights desiring success considered it a golden opportunity to catch the Lords' eyes.

Even if they don't win, if they can strike even a single blow? That itself will be the best letter of recommendation.

"Let's decide the batting order!"

"What batting order. You young ones step out."

"You Sirs step out too. Because among us, there are no people more qualified than us."

"The Louis family?"

"That's right. Because we have a blood price we must absolutely receive."

"Getting battered excitingly already is enough, what are you stepping forward again for?"

"What?! Did you just insult me?!"

The creature called a knight is what's least able to coordinate opinions in this kind of situation. The tent that was harmonious turned into a mess with tables flipped over and curses and shouting going back and forth.

* * *

"It will start soon! Knights, please come out!"

The place where the trial by combat was held was used for the tournament as it is. Smelling the blood coming up from here and there, the Barcia knights licked their lips.

The knights of both teams glaring at each other centering around the halfway line.

"Fight! Honorably!"

The King, whose excitement was invoked by the trial by combat, directly raised his baton and raised the signal.

The knights of both sides shouted roars and charged.

After a bout of fierce collision occurred, the knights cursed in their respective hometown accents and fought the opponents before their eyes.

The lucky knights picked to face Eugene were tumbling on the ground first.

"T-These crazy bastards!"

Because all of Eugene's knights unified their armaments with long glaives.

Thanks to perfect horsemanship, swinging them with both hands without even grabbing the reins, the difference in destructive power and range was overwhelming. It was the optimal weapon for launching pincer attacks in many-to-many battles as well.

"Carlins of the Louis family!"

A tall Vampire knight aimed his weapon at Eugene.

"Count Mayer! I request a 1-on-1 match with you! I will avenge the Young Lord's failure!"

"Good. Bring it on."

Carlins feigned magnanimity, but in truth he charged in after scrutinizing Eugene meticulously.

'No magic axe, and no monster military horse.'

Carlins judged that Eugene's martial prowess was thanks to magic weapons and his military horse. That is a rational thought. Because actually there were quite a few such examples in history.

'If it's now, it's sufficiently worth tryi... Huh?'

Therefore, when Eugene received an ignorantly large Zweihander from a beautiful Beastkin woman, he realized something went wrong. And two of them at that.

"Twin greatswords?!"

Eugene adopted blunted twin greatswords as his tournament armaments.

"I am envious. Homi."

"Heu-heung!"

Last Autumn was held in Homi's hands. Because if Eugene sprinkled that brutal sharpness, severed limbs would be tumbling around everywhere in the arena.

"Come."

"..."

"Are you not coming? Then I will go."

Jjeong!

The sword blade of the sword Carlins blocked reflexively shattered into pieces in front of the Zweihander's destructive power.

Eugene struck down the Zweihander held in his other hand like lightning.

'M-Must block...'

Kwang!

Carlins holding the shield above his head couldn't withstand the impact. He fell off his horse getting hit in the head by his own shield just like that. Wonder if he's already fainted, there's not even a slight movement.

"Sir Carlins!"

"Such Ogre-like..."

Another knight of the Louis family charged. And he saw a pair of Zweihanders pouncing like scissors from both sides.

Ttang!

As a clear sound rang striking both sides of the helmet simultaneously, the knight stopped on the spot. His sword slipped out of his hand and the helmet with broken joints also peeled off and fell to the ground.

"Hehhh..."

The knight with a face looking the happiest in the world is sticking out his tongue. It's because he got a temporary concussion.

Tuk.

As Eugene lightly pushed with the tip of his Zweihander, the knight laid down on the horse's back in a 'Hooray!' posture. He didn't fall off because of his firmly secured stirrups.

"...Eliminated!"

The judge led the knight out grabbing the reins with a facial expression impossible to describe with words.

"Going alone won't work! We all have to pounce together..."

"Uwaaaaa!"

A rational knight shouted, but it was immediately buried. There was absolutely no way it would enter the ears of Barcia knights who had gone crazy with the excitement of battle and craving for glory.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

As two storms raged, broken sword blade fragments and chain pieces poured down like rain.