Chapter 49: Grand Knight Battle (4)

Chris's victory.

It was shocking.

People accepted the reality, saying that it was possible because Chris, after all, was called a genius swordsman. Chris was Jonathan's disciple, wasn't he? While it was incomprehensible in a conventional sense, it wasn't entirely impossible with Jonathan's teachings.

The problem was...

This match.

While the confrontation between Chris and Janson could be logically explained, the sight of Homer's cooling corpse made people feel as if their thought processes had come to a halt. Homer was not just a strong individual; he was a remarkable swordsman who had ranked even before reaching the 4th Rank, and now he was truly the sacred figure of Cairo, aiming for the top 30.

He...

Was dead.

Without even displaying his 4th Rank Aura, his body and sword were split in two by Roman's single strike, spewing blood.

"How... How can this be?"

"Am I seeing things?"

People were dumbfounded.

Roman Demetri.

They thought he was a dead man.

His refusal to forfeit despite facing Homer was seen as mere bravado, and no one, not even 1%, believed he could win. People were speechless.

Regardless of the fact that this was a crucial match, they blinked their eyes repeatedly, trying to confirm if this was indeed reality.

Only one person...

Roman, accepted the reality in front of him as a matter of course.

'Just a kid who hasn't even reached the peak, acting so arrogant.'

Homer.

His Aura was strong.

Among the people Roman had encountered in the Salamander Continent, Homer was the strongest. However, Roman's standards were not of this world but of his previous life.

In the martial world, where masters like the Heavenly Horse Baek Jung-hyuk could not afford to be careless, the cultivation methods here were inefficient and trashy.

Homer's strike.

While people marveled at the Aura he unleashed to its fullest, Roman sighed at the leaking of the energy.

So...

He ended the match.

Because he knew he would win.

Homer was no match for Roman, and the burning competitive spirit quickly faded.

Roman said,

"Referee, please announce the result."

Only then...

Did people realize the reality.

Following Chris's victory, Roman's win.

In the best-of-three matches, the Lawrence family had already secured the qualifications of the victor.

Swallowing hard.

Chris swallowed dryly.

While watching the match between Roman and Homer, his palms were drenched in sweat.

'This is my lord's true strength, huh.'

In fact, he couldn't clearly gauge Roman's strength.

The first time they sparred.

At that time, Roman was not as strong as he is now.

He seemed unable to use Aura, and in a situation where only sword skills were used, Chris tasted the humiliation of losing to Roman.

Later, he learned the truth.

Roman handled mana in a different way and, contrary to his public image as a fool in the Demetri family, had already reached a considerable level.

The problem was that the level was not clear.

Was bringing him down to his knees his limit, or was there something beyond that which Chris didn't know?

He couldn't tell.

So, this war was a good opportunity to see Roman's true form.

When he slaughtered over a dozen soldiers.

He understood.

It was something that the Roman he knew could do.

When he instantly decapitated the 2nd Rank swordsman Berg and shattered Flare, he was honestly a bit surprised.

Finally.

He dominated Homer.

Even if Homer had been careless and didn't display his 4th Rank Aura, Roman split him in two with his sword, even as Homer unleashed his 3rd Rank Aura to its fullest.

It was a truly overwhelming scene.

Even Chris, who thought he knew Roman well, was shocked by the situation that defied common sense.

'Was my lord already this strong when we sparred? Or did he achieve a rapid growth after our sparring? Neither makes sense. The former is impossible because my lord at that time was clearly not strong enough to dominate Homer, and the latter is too short a time and doesn't make sense. How is this possible?'

His mind was a mess.

He couldn't even dare to guess the truth.

About two months.

A short time for ordinary people, who couldn't even manifest 1st Rank Aura, but different for Roman.

After defeating Chris.

Roman developed himself step by step.

He underwent a complete transformation.

Harnessing the Flame Power, he advanced to a realm that Chris could not even approach.

It was a growth rate that was hard to find a similar example in the martial world.

It was possible because he was the Heavenly Horse Baek Jung-hyuk, and it was natural that Roman's growth was incomprehensible.

"Huff."

He exhaled deeply.

After winning against Janson.

Chris thought that the day he could surpass Roman might come soon.

But that was a delusion.

Now, having seen Roman's true strength, Chris felt a mix of reverence and a vague sense of frustration.

'Maybe my resolve was premature.'

The thought of dedicating his loyalty until he surpassed his lord.

Now, Chris was gradually realizing how hasty that judgment was.

The match was over.

Victory for Lawrence.

There was nothing more to see, but as the referee, Baron Ertes had the duty to oversee the match to the end.

"The Grand Knight Battle must proceed through three matches. Since the outcome is already decided, both sides can, by mutual agreement, send a new Grand Knight."

It was leniency for the loser.

There was no need to waste manpower in a fight where the outcome was already determined, so he gave Barco the chance to choose between practicality and pride.

Even after Baron Ertes spoke.

Baron Barco couldn't pull himself together.

From the moment Homer fell, spewing blood, Baron Barco felt as if the sky was collapsing.

'It's over.'

His mind went blank.

The conflict with Lawrence.

Barco had spared no effort for it.

He deliberately tampered with documents to provoke a fight with Lawrence and spent astronomical sums of money to bring Baron Ertes into the picture using his connections in the central government.

The money was not his.

Unlike the fertile land of Lawrence and the iron mines of Demetri, Barco's family was not wealthy, and he borrowed all the funds for the war from the Golden Bank, using credit as collateral.

His legs trembled.

He knew the meaning of a credit loan.

Without any collateral, he knew that an enormous interest would soon hit him.

'Why could Homer lose? Homer is a 4th Rank swordsman. Unlike the mediocre people in the northeast, he is a true swordsman who has roamed the kingdom and faced strong opponents. This defeat doesn't make sense. This is clearly a plot by the Mercenary Guild. They sent a fake to me, and that's why the fake couldn't defeat the fool of Demetri and died.'

He refused to face reality.

He didn't believe it.

Because he knew the enormous price he would have to pay.

Baron Barco's trembling eyes, even after confirming Homer's face, refused to believe it was real.

"...My lord, we need to send our side's Grand Knight."

A knight cautiously spoke up.

According to the original plan, a 2nd Rank knight was to take the third turn.

But with Barco's Grand Knights being killed twice, they couldn't afford to sacrifice a knight.

Practicality and honor.

Baron Barco didn't hesitate in his choice.

"We cannot lose our last hope. Send Benson instead. Since he disgraced Barco at the social party, let this match be his chance to redeem himself."

"Understood."

The knight withdrew with a slightly stiff expression.

It was a sacrificial pawn.

It was as good as a death sentence, and Benson had no grounds to refuse the Grand Knight battle.

At the last social party.

Benson was the knight who had a dispute with Kevin.

It was fine to look down on Demetri, but the problem was that he was beaten up one-sidedly by Roman in front of everyone.

That incident became a huge issue among the nobles.

It showed the difference between Demetri and Barco, and Benson was demoted as a result of the responsibility.

It was his last chance.

As a knight of Barco, to survive, he had to face the Grand Knight battle, knowing it was a sacrificial pawn.

"I am Benson of Barco."

As the last Grand Knight.

When Benson stepped forward, there was a commotion in the Lawrence camp.

Benson was a Rankless knight.

For the Lawrence knight who was supposed to take the third turn, it was an opponent he could definitely defeat, but before he could step forward, a figure suddenly appeared.

"I will face him."

A small child.

Wearing a helmet that didn't fit him, he looked up at Roman with a determined expression.

It was Kevin.

To the sudden intrusion, a Lawrence knight sternly said,

"How can a common soldier step forward so casually! Even if the opponent is a Rankless knight, you are not a match for him. The Grand Knight battle is a sacred position that upholds the honor of Lawrence. Out of respect for Young Master Roman, I will forgive you this time, so step back quickly."

Kevin's sudden action.

According to military law, it was a punishable offense.

The Lawrence knight was right, but the master he served, Lawrence, silently watched the situation.

Everyone knew.

Baron Lawrence did.

Flora did.

That Roman Demetri, who led the Grand Knight battle to victory, had the authority to accept Kevin's request.

Roman looked down at Kevin.

'Foolish kid.'

He was naive.

Although Kevin had been developing rapidly recently, fighting a robust adult swordsman was a dangerous choice.

Yet, Kevin said he would fight.

Whether it was to repay what he had suffered at Benson's hands or to prove his worth by risking his life, the reason was unknown.

What was certain was...

"Go and come back."

Roman was pleased with Kevin's choice.

In a world of the survival of the fittest,

The rights of a weak person who loses are not allowed at all.

The incident at the social party.

People talked about how Roman had beautifully avenged his subordinate, but behind it was a weak subordinate who had been hit silently even when his lord was humiliated.

People didn't think much of it.

Kevin was not Chris, and he was just a young soldier who couldn't do much.

That's why...

Kevin had to step forward.

While staying by Roman's side, he understood what Roman valued.

Kevin said,

"I'll be back soon."

With a fierce expression, he stood up, and the people of Lawrence couldn't stop Kevin's steps.