Chapter 65

Chapter 65 - Prophecy (4)

Witches and magicians are not the only ones the Blackhand Mercenaries exceptionally possess. They also nurture knight-level military power.

That training process was refined with know-how accumulated from the nomadic days, through the assassination group, down to becoming a mercenary group.

Ranging from a wide range of weapon arts, hidden weapon arts, physical arts, training methods that squeeze specific muscles to the limit, lung capacity strengthening, flexibility training, to consuming secret medicines.

Those who stepped forward as challengers are warriors who went through such special processes. They possess combat power surpassing ordinary knights.

However, the opponent was too bad.

Swoosh!

An iron pole as long as a lance thrusts at tremendous speed.

The tribe warrior heard the warning of his instinct. 'That is an attack you must not block!'. However, there was no method other than raising his shield.

'What kind of speed is...'

It is Eugene who swings a flail like a toy even with one hand. As he thrust holding it with both hands, its speed was like lightning.

It is not at a level a person can react to and dodge.

Bang!

The warrior floated up, flew, and sprawled out. He didn't drop his weapon and shield, but he groaned and couldn't get up.

'It would be better to completely crush their spirits with this kind of thing.'

It is not a spar with an opponent of high status. There was no need to engage in a long tussle and save each other's face.

"..."

At the match that ended too simply, the warriors who stepped forward together gritted their teeth.

Because their pride did not allow them to back down like this. Even so, multiple people persecuting one guest was also a dishonorable sight.

"I thank you for an honorable duel. The Gord Knight Lipton also dropped his shield, but I express my respects to your tenacity in receiving it to the end."

Eugene sold out Lipton, who would be far away, and extolled the warrior.

"The Iron Wall Lipton did?"

"He dropped his shield, you say?"

Whether it was an honor to be evaluated with a comparative advantage over Lipton, the collapsed warrior also had a much more relaxed face.

At that time, Rex said.

"Sir Knight. How about giving the other warriors an opportunity as well?"

Rex intended to engrave Eugene firmly into the family using this opportunity.

"There also exist opponents in the world against whom sacrifice is indispensable. It is not a dishonorable thing to attack you with wheel-battle tactics (continuous chain of challengers), Sir Knight. The experience of the warriors in the back finding a method while watching those who fell earlier is also important."

He wondered if he should escalate things further here, but when the minor tribal chief came out like this, it was difficult to refuse.

At the appearance of the warriors burning their will to fight even more at Rex's words, Eugene also nodded his head.

'It would be better to just shake off all hard feelings during the festival. Since they will forget everything once they drink to their hearts' content and get drunk.'

The tribe members cheered, clapping and stomping their feet at the even greater spectacle.

"For honor!"

The second challenger aimed his spear at Eugene. He stepped forward ambitiously, but the problem is he can't find an opening to attack.

'Just how am I supposed to enter that range...'

Since both used similar types of weapons, their postures were the same, but their momentum was heavens apart.

The warrior, who prided himself as the best in the tribe in spearmanship, felt chagrin. Because his falling behind in length, speed, and power in all aspects was clearly compared.

"If you aren't coming, this side will go."

Clang!

The moment the warrior blocked the first attack with his spear, he received the sensation of all the bones in his body shaking.

Vwooong!

So he couldn't even dare think of blocking the second attack flying in sweeping the lower section. The warrior jumped up on the spot and dodged.

That was what Eugene aimed for. Around the time the warrior landed, the 3rd swinging attack flew in.

'Damn i...'

At that swift attack, he was struck on the side before he could even assume a defensive posture.

"Keuheok!"

Coughing out all the air in his lungs, the warrior who rolled over and over to the side convulsed.

The nearby spectators running over, immediately pulling him out, taking off his armor, and checking his injuries was a very skilled sight.

"He is safe!"

A spectator drew a circle with his fingers and showed it.

"I request your teaching sword to sword, Sir!"

The third challenger shouted.

In a fight with cold weapons, the difference in range is absolute. It seems he made the judgment that it absolutely wouldn't work like this.

"Rex. Give me a weapon. A shield with it too."

"Of course."

The range became the same, but that didn't mean anything changed. Eugene swung the shield and sword simultaneously and battered him as if unfolding dual-wielding sword arts.

Swinging 2 swords harmoniously is also hard work. Let alone a shield and a sword whose center of gravity and length are completely different. Everyone admired the consecutive strikes driving in like a storm combining the two.

Clatter!

The warrior, who was being pushed back frantically, eventually dropped his shield.

Tremble tremble.

Even though he was standing still, his entire arm trembled like a person who caught hand tremors. He couldn't hold anything anymore.

"I have lost."

Holding his arm, he admitted defeat.

As even the third warrior collapsed, the last remaining warrior challenged to a physical arts showdown.

He gave up facing him by swinging a weapon and attempted super-close-quarters offense and defense from the beginning.

'His strength and weapon arts are monstrous, but surely his joints aren't sturdy as well!'

The warrior bet everything on that belief. Pretending to attack, he sharply lowered his posture and pounced on Eugene's lower body.

'It's the first time I'm seeing someone using this kind of technique. As expected, this tribe is special.'

Eugene admired and just fell over as is. If he wanted to hold out, he could have held out like a thousand-year-old old tree, but physical arts is also a field he is confident in.

It was definitely Eugene who was pounced on, but his grasp and torso squirmed bizarrely, and up and down changed in a single breath.

"Aaaagh!"

And the warrior's scream full of pain resounded.

"Lord Rex. Did the Knight teach you that too during the bandit group subjugation last time?"

"No. It's the first time I'm seeing it too."

Rex and all the family members watched the armbar with intrigued faces.

It was an unfamiliar technique, but they are the group with the deepest understanding of the human body in the world. They recognized its viciousness at once.

"It's over. If he endures further, he will end up needing splints."

"He cannot escape that under his own power."

The warrior, whose face turned beet red while using all his strength trying to break free this way and that, had veins popping out on his neck.

"S-Surrender! It's my surrender!"

As Eugene released his arm, Rex jumped up. He downed his drinking glass in a single breath and threw it.

"Did everyone see? If there is anyone who still doubts my discerning eye, step forward! From now on, I will take you on!"

"Would there be? Thanks to you, we saw an enjoyable spectacle!"

At Rex's shout, cheers and applause poured out from everywhere. A fight between strong warriors is indeed their most favorite side dish and entertainment.

The warriors who struggled to get up also bowed their heads politely to Eugene. They were relieved faces without any lingering hard feelings or the like.

As Rex signaled with his eyes, the tribe young ladies poured alcohol overflowing into their glasses. The atmosphere of the banquet hall, having consumed the warriors' sweat and pain, heated up warmly.

* * *

The morning the next day after eating and drinking like crazy.

"Sir Knight. A guest has come looking for you."

A maid waiting outside Eugene's quarters informed him.

Homi had gotten sick of the smell of alcohol filling the banquet hall and had just gone out for a walk outside.

"Who is it?"

"It is the Summoner, Lord Marbas."

Eugene laughed quietly at Valda fiercely nodding her head.

"Let him in."

Unlike last time, Marbas was in a state with bandages wrapped around various places on his body.

"The tribe's traditional clothing suits you immensely well. I bet it's the first time a human has worn that clothes."

"Thanks to that, I had to spar with hot-blooded warriors."

"As a result, didn't the respect and goodwill towards you increase? Think of it positively."

"I am doing so. This here is Lady Valda, the Magician of the Emerald Forest."

Eugene pointed to Valda with his palm.

"I have heard your reputation very much. For such an advisor to accompany a young knight, it's the greatest blessing."

"I also wished to meet the Summoner. Thank you for sharing precious knowledge with my Knight."

The two great magicians conversed with Eugene as the topic in their first greetings.

"Since it was also for me, there is nothing to be thankful for. Isn't a Summoner the most solitary of all magicians? For me, the conversation with this Knight itself was a reward."

Did a stinging pain rise up? Marbas paused his words for a moment and touched his bandaged arm.

"Troubled times will unfold in the future. It was a truly well-done thing to become friends with this family. The minor tribal chief also seems to have been completely mesmerized by you."

"To treat me so well just from fighting together once, it's to the point of being burdensome. Although hearing there was a prophecy makes it understandable."

Marbas waved his hand.

"Do not misunderstand. The minor tribal chief learning of the prophecy was after parting with you. He treated you with pure goodwill. He must have done words and actions that moved him in addition to martial might."

Valda nodded her head. Because even if Eugene said just a single word, he had a knack for winning over people's hearts.

Later, while conversing about how the world turns, Eugene saw the corners of Marbas's eyes trembling quiveringly.

"Are you okay?"

"The throbbing is severe today especially."

"I have medicine that works well for alleviating pain. Shall I give you some?"

"Thank you, but when it comes to medicine, I am using sufficiently good things. Where do you think the place I am staying is?"

The Blackhand family is a former assassination group and current mercenary group. They also hunt monsters routinely and possessed witches. They are equipped with better medicinal herbs and healing arts than an average great noble.

"As you know, what swallowed me is not ordinary flames. It's a bastard that gnaws at both the physical body and the soul."

Marbas unwound the bandages wrapped around his arm and showed it.

"You can see it, right?"

"Yes."

Eugene saw spiritual embers wavering beyond the burned skin. They are clinging to Marbas's soul like glowing coals.

"For a single mistake, the price is too great."

"Thank you for recognizing it. Whenever the opportunity comes, it becomes a fire snake and flicks its black tongue beyond my skin."

"Is there really no method?"

Eugene looked at Valda, but she shook her head. This is not a mystery a magician of the forest can handle.

"To me, the embers tormenting him are not even visible. My magic and medicine only heal the physical body. The fire blazing from his inner self is..."

Valda trailed off out of sorrow.

"Do they say even the religious order has no method? If it's this kind of healing, there would be no candidates as qualified as them."

"There was a time I spent a massive amount of money to use holy water benedicted by a Bishop. However, only the symptoms revealed on the outside improved, the fundamental problem wasn't solved."

Marbas stroked his skin stained with burns.

The embers of hell tormenting Marbas's soul. To Eugene, for some reason, they were considered trivial like a candle in front of a storm.

Tap tap tap.

Eugene tapped the desk with his index finger.

Because he felt something tickling inside his head. A certain thought stimulated him as if it would pop up or not.

"Ah!"

After a moment, the finger tapping the table stopped right there.

"Perhaps."

"Hm?"

"Perhaps I might be able to help."

Eugene instructed the maid outside to bring a jar full of water.

"Lady Valda. Could you excuse us?"

She got up without asking anything. Similarly, Marbas also asked nothing.

Because both being magicians, they instinctively noticed that Eugene was trying to challenge a new mystery. This is an enlightenment that must not be disturbed.

Especially Valda knew that Eugene possessed unprecedented authority when it comes to handling the power of another world.

"I wish you luck."

After Valda left, a moment later the maid came holding a jar full of water. Seeing as it's heavy, he thought a male servant would bring it, but as expected of a woman of the Blackhand family.

"You worked hard."

"Don't mention it. If you need anything more, please give your command."

As the maid politely bowed and withdrew, Eugene dipped his hand in the clean water and stirred it hither and thither.

"Would you tell me what you're planning to do now?"

Eventually unable to suppress his curiosity, Marbas asked.

"I am trying to extinguish an inextinguishable fire."

"What does that mean?"

"I cannot explain it well either. Because I am merely listening to and following what my instinct whispers."

Eugene closed his eyes and placed his palms on the water surface of the jar.

And he recalled the baptism he experienced at the Lord's Order monastery in the past. The holy ritual that the village children, including himself, received like a rite of passage.

* * *

"I expel you from his soul."

As the prayer in a low voice started, Marbas's eyes widened.

"Unclean spirit. Tenacious flames and pain. Under my guidance, be uprooted from this creation and leave."

The jar water Eugene stirred while praying. Intense mystery is dwelling in it.

It is a power similar to yet fundamentally different from the miracles of the Bishops Marbas had seen several times.

"I will not permit any further sentence. He must have suffered sufficiently. Thus..."

While the prayer continued, Marbas felt the heat inside his body subsiding. Just by being next to Eugene's benediction, the rampaging aura of hell was suppressed.

Eugene scooped up a gourdful of the essence that finished baptism.

Splash.

A mighty power of purification was felt from the wavering water.

It is neither holy aura containing God's will, nor wicked aura containing an Evil God's will.

Just pure power.

Regardless of good or evil, it was a power of purification specialized only in cleanly washing away spiritual foreign substances.

"Please come in front of me."

At that moment, Marbas felt the physical body and years wrapping him peeling off. Like only his soul remaining and facing Eugene.

The bandages unwound and the skin stained with burns was revealed. The heat of malice trying to peek at the world by squeezing through the scars that healed a long time ago wavers.

The essence Eugene sprinkled poured down on that body.

Splashhhhh.

The water flowed down along the skin, but its coolness passed through Marbas's physical body and soaked his soul.

Sizzleeeeee!

The smell of sulfur and smoke rose from Marbas's physical body where the water touched.

"Ohhh..."

Marbas's wrinkled areas around his eyes began to get wet.

Salvation.

It was the single sensation he felt right now. The remnants of hell that gnawed at him over 30 years were being banished in front of Eugene's baptism.