Chapter 55

Both sides were warned to swear by their family names to conduct a proper duel and to avoid unnecessary casualties. Sora exhaled heavily as he gazed at Chaf, who stood facing him from a distance. Everyone believed in Chaf's victory without a doubt. Because of this, there was something Sora had failed to mention. It was his demand to Chaf in the event of winning the duel. If he were to say it now, Chaf might realize that Sora was confident of winning and become wary, possibly preventing a decisive battle. Sora had no choice but to remain silent.

The referee finished his speech, and time was set aside for both parties to encourage their troops. Normally, this would be the time to make a chivalrous vow, but due to the unconventional method of the duel, it had come to this. Just as Chaf was about to speak, the king interjected.

"I will grant the title of Viscount to the winner. Without a title, one cannot interfere in the management of a territory."

The audience began to murmur but quickly fell silent. They understood that the king intended to cut off the Kleinzelt family and integrate it into the Trainen family. There was also a demonstration to the troublesome church faction, but the fact that the Kleinzelt territory was in a state of neglect was undeniable. The king likely intended to favor the Trainen family, which had a record of achievements. The loyal vassals would be given the Kleinzelt territory.

Despite the potential for significant resistance, the king's decision to stir the situation was a matter of blood, Sora thought, and sighed. Suddenly, he realized something. Covering his mouth with one hand and bowing his head to hide his expression, Sora composed his thoughts and smiled with satisfaction.

Chaf, who had been surprised by the king's declaration, regained his composure and began to encourage his troops.

"I will deliver justice with my own hands to the Kleinzelt family, who have oppressed the good people of the kingdom!"

His formal and serious words were fitting for the occasion. When the royal guards responded in unison with "Aye!" the young nobles in the audience also cheered, enjoying the duel as befitting their age. Sora alone remained cold, seeing it as nothing more than a spectacle.

"Sora Kleinzelt, do you have any words to encourage your troops?"

Prompted by the referee, Sora took a light breath.

"No."

The referee frowned at Sora's bold but brief response but was puzzled by the actions that followed. Thirteen wooden swords were raised high without a sound. The heavy, motionless wooden swords, with their closely carved rings, boasted of the long years they had been rooted in the earth. Sora, leading them, spoke little, and their unwavering confidence was evident. The trust built in less than a month clearly surpassed that between Chaf and the royal guards, as was obvious to everyone.

"...Now, the duel between Sora Kleinzelt and Chaf Trainen will begin. Both sides, take your positions."

The referee glanced at Sora as he announced this. Regretfully thinking that what might be lost in this duel was not the incompetent and vulgar "fat pig" but a potential commander who could command true trust from his troops, the referee opened his dry lips in tension.

"Begin!"

As soon as the command was given, the deputy leader of the royal guards led a two-row formation in a rapid charge against the security guards. The front row, with their long swords aimed at the security guards, maintained a low stance and thrust forward in unison as soon as they were in range. The security guards, led by Gorge, leaped back to avoid the attack and were about to counter when the rear row of the royal guards, signaled by Chaf, swung their long swords. This was to deter the counterattack and the long swords of the rear row, swung down in front of the noses of the security guards, created a strong wind. Even though the blades were blunted, a long sword could easily shatter bones. If the strike landed in a bad spot, it could be fatal.

However, Gorge and his men did not flinch and held their wooden swords horizontally. The front row of the royal guards quickly parried the attack but were inwardly shocked.

"What speed and weight! Are these really wooden swords!?"

The weight of a single strike was heavier with the long swords, but the wooden swords possessed an unexpected power. Moreover, they were much faster than the long swords. The sword techniques did not follow the official forms of the national army, making them difficult to read.

"Stop whining. If the royal guards lose to a mere security force, it will be a disgrace!"

The deputy leader's reprimand focused the entire group on the battle, and they gradually began to push back Gorge and his men, taking advantage of their numerical superiority. Gorge and his men, while parrying the attacks of the royal guards, began to retreat. The deputy leader felt a sense of unease at how they maintained their formation and parried the attacks without breaking their ranks.

– They are very good at retreating. Too good.

Although they were inferior to the royal guards, their skill in maintaining formation and retreating without losing any members was considerable. It was a movement that required composure. Sensing something, he tried to pay attention to his surroundings but was distracted by the rapid slashes of the security guards' swords.

"Lord Chaf, the enemy is planning something. Be on your guard!"

The deputy leader informed Chaf, who was at the rear. Chaf turned to survey the training ground but could not find anything unusual. However, he noticed that the path to Sora and his two guards, who had not moved from their starting position, was now open due to Gorge and his men retreating diagonally backward. The front row, led by the deputy leader, could hold back Gorge and his men. Although the battle would likely be prolonged due to the compatibility of their weapons, the advantage of being able to attack Sora, the commander, with the ten idle rear guards and Chaf himself was significant. Continuing a long battle with the incompetent Kleinzelt family would be a disgrace to the name of the samurai. A quick resolution was necessary.

"Rear row, follow me! We will take down Sora Kleinzelt!"

As Chaf gave the order, the rear row moved almost simultaneously. Even as Sora saw the eleven men led by Chaf approaching, he showed no sign of fleeing. He took out a glass bottle, about 500 milliliters in capacity, from his waist and lit the cork made of rolled-up bark. The two guards also took out glass bottles but did not light them. Sora raised the glass bottle in his hand and shouted.

"Begin the attack!"

The glass bottle Sora threw landed eight meters in front of Chaf, and flames erupted. Chaf, running, looked at the referee with a questioning gaze.

"It's not magic. Continue."

The referee, who had been shown the fire bottles by Sora beforehand, declared the continuation of the duel. Although confused, he decided that if the referee said to continue, it was not magic and refocused his thoughts. Fortunately, the flames on the ground were not very wide or high and could be easily jumped over. Chaf made this judgment, but the glass bottles thrown by Sora's two guards were nearly three times larger than Sora's. They were specially prepared and hidden in the shadows of Sora and his guards, which was why they could not move from their starting position. Imagining the size and scale of the glass bottles, Chaf shuddered. Realizing that the enemy's strategy, warned by the deputy leader, was this, he heard a war cry from behind and turned, his face turning pale. Sora's strategy had only just begun.