Chapter 47

In the underground training ground of the Knight's Tower, I faced Chester.

Without any preamble, I cut straight to the chase.

"I heard a rumor."

"What kind of rumor?"

"That the Dragon Knights are concerned about the future development of flight magic. Sir Chester—whether it's the Dragon Knights or you, is there something you want to say to me? Or is it Lord Gregg's policy?"

At this, Chester's eyebrows furrowed slightly. But only for a moment, before a smile that seemed to be an attempt to cover up appeared on his face.

"Well, what are you talking about?"

"There's no one else here, and I know you don't have a good impression of me. I'd like to hear your honest thoughts."

"Honest thoughts, huh?"

Chester closed his eyes and shrugged.

"Alright. Indeed, I don't like you. A dirty magician trying to barge into our territory. The king is interested in you, and it seems the captain can't hold a banquet without inviting you. Do you think I like that?"

I've heard that the relationship between magicians and the knight order isn't good, but I don't really understand why.

"Why do you hate magicians so much?"

"Why? I've heard about your fighting style. When you faced the demon, you started with a big spell to catch them off guard, then pretended you couldn't fly to trick and defeat them. Magicians always do this. It's not a way of fighting that a person of honor would choose. You should change that while you can."

"…Are you serious?"

"Of course. If you don't come out of the Adventurer's Guild or the labyrinth, that's fine. But I don't like the idea of someone like you being involved with the glorious kingdom. Lord Gregg agrees with me."

…Is this about chivalry? I think there's no place for chivalry when facing demons.

The way he provokes me is unusually mild, but even if it's due to Lord Gregg's intentions, it's mostly because of his personality. In other words, Chester seems to genuinely believe what he's saying, which is usually just a facade.

Because of the labyrinth, strong individuals are valued, but the kingdom hasn't had a large-scale war in a long time. From the perspective of the knights who protect the royal castle and the capital without directly dealing with the labyrinth, it's understandable that they would value honor. The royal knights are likely to have an elite mentality… it makes sense that they and magicians don't get along.

The fact that the knights didn't notice the kidnapping incident or the demon's infiltration, and failed to resolve it, is certainly a point against them, and they must be frustrated.

"If you fight demons with that mindset, you'll die."

"Hmm. That's quite a statement. Unfortunately, I've never fought a demon."

"…I'm not joking or being sarcastic."

"Demons can be subdued head-on. A dragon knight blessed by a dragon is immune to miasma."

There are ways to counter miasma. That's true.

The knights can receive support from the rear, and dragon knights can compensate for the disadvantage in aerial combat.

"Or—are you saying that's arrogance, and you want to teach me otherwise?"

Chester said this with a frustrated tone. If he could overwhelm me in close combat, who had sparred with Linette using staff techniques, then defeating a demon head-on would be easy… in theory.

"I don't mind. It's faster to prove our skills. If a single mock battle can settle this, I'll go along with it."

"Now, in that outfit? You don't even have a weapon."

…That's why.

I'm saying it's a misconception.

There are practice spears without spearheads leaning against the wall in the training ground. They are made of iron, including the shaft. For a mock battle, where I won't be using magic, this will suffice as a replacement for a staff. I picked up a suitable practice spear and said to Chester,

"Will the demon show mercy based on your attire or weapon?"

"…Interesting. If I win, you'll swear not to get involved with the royal castle, right?"

That includes the issue of flight magic. At least, if things continue as they are, no one will rival the dragon knights for a while… but if I get involved to promote myself, who knows what will happen.

"Fine. I never intended to quit being an adventurer. If I win, I'd appreciate it if you didn't interfere with me."

"Alright."

Chester also picked up a practice spear, and we faced each other. Chester is a dragon knight, so I knew he would use a long weapon even in ground combat.

Well, Chester seems to dislike magical tricks and believes that if he can handle the demon's flight and miasma, his skills will be effective.

"Then—let's begin?"

"Come at me."

Once he agreed, I kicked off from the training ground floor and closed the distance in one breath. Chester, wide-eyed, tried to counter with his spear, but his reaction was slow. I pushed him back, using the spear as a shield and my knee for support, slamming into him with my body. Since it's not a wooden spear, it won't break even if I handle it a bit roughly without channeling magic.

"What!?"

Chester stumbled and widened his eyes. He didn't expect to be pushed back by pressure alone, like a child.

That was a test and a reveal of my cards. In a mock battle, I can't use lethal magic or channel magic through the weapon, but I can enhance my physical abilities through circulation, which is the core of my combat style.

I closed in and gripped the middle of the spear, attacking from both sides like rowing an oar. The iron spears of Chester and me clashed, producing a metallic sound. The distance was mine. Even with the same weapon, my usage is different from the start. I deflected Chester's thrust, and our positions changed rapidly, like a waltz.

Once I had accustomed him to attacks from the side, I suddenly changed the trajectory and attacked from the side downward, transforming it into a sweeping strike.

"Ugh!"

He couldn't evade and blocked it with his left gauntlet, but Chester swung his spare right hand's spear in a wide arc. I jumped back to avoid the strike.

"I'm not a child anymore!"

Taking advantage of the gap, Chester held his spear at waist level, and his body and spear were enveloped in blue fighting spirit.

Martial skill, Meteor Thrust—. With the gesture of thrusting the spear, Chester charged forward with tremendous momentum.

"Too easy."

Feeling cornered and forced to act, he must have thought that close combat would put me on the defensive.

Meteor Thrust is indeed fast, but such a big move should be used after destabilizing the opponent. Otherwise, it will backfire.

I countered his martial skill with my own. Staff martial skill, Mist Deflection.

The spear tips touched, and I deflected the force, sliding it along a track created by a mix of fighting spirit and magic. At the same time, I changed my stance.

"What!?"

Chester's body was redirected along with the thrust, charging towards the training ground wall.

"Ugh!"

Just before hitting the wall, he barely managed to stop. I casually approached and struck him with the spear from the front.

He barely blocked the spear but was thrown off balance. He crouched and readied himself, then delivered a twisting strike to his side.

The concentrated spiral force sent Chester's body spinning in the direction of the twist. I pulled back the spear, swept his feet, and as he rolled, I thrust at his neck height.

"…"

With the tip of the spear at Chester's throat, I asked,

"Do you admit defeat?"

"...Yes."

Despite his regretful expression, Chester nodded.

"I haven't been handled this well since the captain and Lord Oswald taught me."

That's understandable. To put it bluntly, it's a matter of experience.

My training is the result of countless trials and errors in BFO's PvP.

In normal training, you can't push yourself to the limit, but in BFO, you can compete beyond your limits every day and night, to your heart's content. How to use a technique, how to counter it, the next move, the best move.

Whether it's martial skills, magic, or items, I've fought in battles where anything goes, and I've struggled with how to break through and counter traps and checkmate situations.

With such vast experience and knowledge, and with my body catching up through circulation, there's no way I'd lose easily.

"I—indeed lost. But I don't think I'm wrong. If you can do that much without using magic… there would have been no need for tricks against demons, right? You, for example."

If you think that, you're underestimating me. My magic is most effective at close range, and miasma bullets can't be withstood by the human body. If you get hit, you die, so you need to create a situation where you can approach without being hit.

"…I respect that you adhere to chivalry, Sir Chester. But I have my own way of fighting and my own philosophy. I don't want you to impose your views on me."

"…What is it?"

"When I move this way, the opponent wants to do that. Reading their position and thoughts and crushing them is what I consider practical combat. So, whether I'm stronger or weaker in a match or a mock battle, I don't intend to change that. Especially against demons. They are—more ruthless."

"What did the demons… do to you?"

Seeing my expression, Chester frowned, as if he had some thoughts.

"…It's a common story. There's no witness, but I believe the agreement will be honored."

With that, I left the underground training ground, leaving Chester standing there in a daze.