988. Ready to talk
The thin gambeson covering the Imperial Knight’s arm expanded. This was caused by his arm muscles swelling up as if they were about to burst.
He tried to break Encred’s arm, but the forearm targeted by the attack did not budge, as if it were made of solid metal.
‘what.’
His panic was short-lived. He, too, was a knight. He was someone who knew with his heart, not his head, that panic in battle leads to death.
He let go of his sword, jumped as if clinging to his arm, and wrapped his legs around his opponent’s neck.
At that, the knight from the continent also let go of his sword and blocked with his forearm, striking his own leg. The Imperial knight tried to squeeze and break even that arm with the strength of his legs, but it was no use.
‘why?’
The opponent pushed the leg with one arm as if it were nothing. Not with technique, but solely with brute force.
Then he jumped up and, in return, wrapped his leg around his own neck. In an instant, the two were entangled in mid-air like a twisted net.
I was tricked.
The moment that thought occurred to me, I felt a tightening grip around my neck, and my mind went blank as blood cut off to my head.
Even in this state, I desperately reached my hand into my chest for the dagger I had hidden in my bosom, but losing consciousness came first.
Penetration and injection.
Wrapping his two legs around my neck, he infiltrated Will. It was a variation of Divine Infiltration, one of the Paladin’s specialties.
Where did such a monster come from?
It was the Imperial Knight’s last thought. With that, his memory snapped abruptly.
* * *
The moment the opponent attempted an arm lock, Enkrid proved that the sweat he and Audin shed was not in vain.
A calculated move.
He evades every attack and decides the match through close-range wrestling, taking advantage of the moment his opponent is shaken. He must have used this as a surefire winning strategy until now. However, this time, it didn’t work at all. Encred’s forearm didn’t budge, and the subsequent follow-up attack was blocked by a single arm.
Should one say that his leg strength was overwhelmed by his arm strength? His well-trained physique was a weapon in itself.
“You’re saying that doesn’t work at the level of a knight? Who said that, Brother?”
“If it doesn’t work on a knight, I’ll just train until it does.”
Audin’s words echoed in my ears like a hallucination. Encred strangled him while suspended in the air. The two fell with a thud; one got up immediately, but the other didn’t budge.
Did you kill him?
Balmung asked from a distance.
“no.”
Encred answered, brushing off his rear end. As he shook it vigorously
, dust billowed up. Although it was called a surprise attack, the opponent had attacked with determination. His intention to gauge the opponent’s skill at close range took precedence over concealing his presence. That pleased him quite a bit.
While Balmung’s request was certainly a factor, the main reason he didn’t sever the opponent’s head was his own.
Excellent.
Temares was impressed.
As expected of my fiancé.
Sinar also approached and nodded.
Hwaruk.
Esther, who was guarding the campfire, instantly intensified the flames. The fire shot up in a straight line as high as the giant and then subsided. It was quite a sight. After all, a wizard’s tricks are akin to acrobatics.
“Where are you writing the order?”
Watching that, Nephir Tesher spoke with frustration. Was the reason she realized the spell just moments ago to cheer for that man’s victory?
Judging by the situation, it certainly looked that way. Although she had realized long ago that there was no room to intervene, seeing Esther express her determination by abusing the spell once again made her feel down.
“…Because we won.”
Esther hesitated for a moment, then muttered. She thought that using a spell might have been a bit excessive.
Rem, who had just knocked Rhinox unconscious by smashing his head, spoke up.
“If you win twice, well, you aren’t planning to burn down this whole place, are you?”
It is a joke told with a giggle.
Do not burn the forest.
Sinar added.
Words are enough. You witch.
Temares comforted her. Esther kept her mouth shut, knowing that speaking up here would only be to her disadvantage.
The hospitality in the Empire is truly extravagant.
Krang spoke, leaving the madmen behind. His tone lacked intonation, so no emotion was revealed. Before anyone realized it, Saxony was guarding his rear, and the Royal Guard still did not let their guard down.
“Even if this is not what we desired and is not Your Majesty’s will, I truly have nothing to say. I merely ask for your understanding with a broad mind. This area is the fastest and safest route.”
While it was quick and safe, it must have been easy for the person leading such an operation to predict.
Seriana offered the excuses and justifications she had prepared. In conversations between rulers, excuses, pretexts, and justifications always come first.
By winning over public sentiment and opinion, one gains half the battle before even entering. After all, war begins before spears are raised and swords are drawn.
It sounds like you brought him knowing that. Is that correct?
Krang asked again.
Riley was still standing behind Seriana. It had been clear from the moment she first appeared whose side she would take if necessary.
Since there was no one to trust if she feigned ignorance here, and it was obvious that only ill feelings would build up for no reason, Seriana answered honestly.
“Yes, that is correct. I didn’t predict this situation, though. In particular, I didn’t expect the Butterfly Circus to get involved.”
And she certainly never imagined they would suffer like this, unable to do anything.
She swallowed the rest of her words. Her eyes looked at Krang, but her attention was turned to Saxony.
What on earth did I do?
The Butterfly Circus is a renowned group even within the Empire. While their involvement doesn’t guarantee success in every endeavor, it would be rare for them to fail so helplessly. At least, that is what Seriana knew. Yet, the man standing before her now has single-handedly blocked the circus’s attack.
Looking at the situation, that seems to be the case. Could the circus’s preparations have been sloppy?
No, that cannot be the case. The person who ordered this is not someone to be trifled with, and the circus that executed it is certainly not that kind of group.
It is purely that man’s ability.
The notoriety of the Mad Knights had spread all the way to the Empire. It wasn’t for nothing. Along with the big-eyed guy acting like the mastermind and the madman who was the captain, it was difficult to gauge that man’s abilities as well.
“Do you know who did this?”
Krang asked. At the question, Seriana turned her gaze back to the King. Yes, it was time to ask who was in charge of this matter.
“There are a few within the Empire who are not particularly pleased with this visit. I suspect you are one of them. I will only know your exact name once I reach the capital, though.”
Actually, I have a name to name, but it wasn’t the time to say anything about it here.
Count Coty ordered me to.
Then, an answer suddenly popped out from the other side. She was a member of the circus Saxon had faced. An assassin who used her double braids and youthful face as weapons.
Her skin wasn’t smooth from the rough work she did, but outwardly, she had a sufficiently cute appearance.
To the discerning eye of a knight, one would know she was no ordinary person from her well-developed trapezius muscles, well-proportioned physique, and calloused fingertips. It was a woman
crawling out of the darkness to speak. As she did so, she smiled sweetly at Saxon. It was the smile of an ordinary woman smiling at a man she liked, and it certainly didn’t fit the current situation. Saxon simply ignored her completely, as if she were invisible and inaudible.
“Count Coty?”
Krang asked back. His question was always directed at Seriana. Because it was clear who was in charge.
“It is the Margrave’s nickname. His original name is Gainer Epoch, the name of the Margrave who rules this area.”
As a count guarding the southern border of the empire, he is a Margrave. Since he governs the border region, he was a figure who could be considered a king in this area.
“So we have to pass through that city?”
The question is how can you trust someone who does such things.
“It may be hard to believe even if I swear, but nothing will happen. If necessary, I will remain as a hostage.”
Riley Zaun was quick-witted. He hadn’t taken Seriana hostage for no reason.
The King of Naurilia was far too complacent. Entering a place that could potentially become an enemy nation without even the slightest guarantee of safety.
Taking an Executor hostage would make things easier. He wasn’t explaining it; he was essentially telling the King to do it through his actions.
Is it really necessary to go that far?
Krang rejected it. He understood Riley’s intention, but he politely refused. Why? If one were to nitpick, it would be correct to say that they were of different calibers.
“If I die here, that must be my fate. Besides, there are plenty of people who won’t just let me die.”
Who would be referred to as the person who wouldn’t let him die?
Encred nonchalantly grabbed the unconscious Imperial Knight by the leg and dragged him to the campfire.
If you’re not going to kill him, take him away.
He spoke. Though his words carried no particular will, intimidation, or verbal power, everyone listening knew.
Unless one surpasses the Mad Knight, one cannot reach the King. That fact was clear.
Just before he spoke, a Western barbarian, a dragonman, a fairy, a wizard, and an assassin stood behind Encred.
They did not speak; they merely stood behind him.
With that, his message was conveyed to everyone. They all shared the same will as the knight named Encred. Krang smiled and returned to his seat.
Would you like some?
With that, he made a proposal to the woman presumed to be the assassin.
He remained composed, despite the fact that things had whizzed toward him just moments ago, a fight had broken out, the ground had been dug up here and there, and several tents had collapsed.
Was it necessary to have this level of nerve to handle the Mad Knights? It was understandable that those watching would think so.
Seriana was once again impressed by Krang’s response, but the aspect she admired was slightly different from others.
I know that I and he are in different positions.
The man known as the King elevated his status effortlessly. He did so by stating that merely taking an executioner hostage was meaningless.
What must one do to converse with the Emperor on equal footing?
At any moment, the Emperor would say he was bored because he had no friends to talk to. Seriana could not understand this. The Emperor was always surrounded by people, so why would he say such a thing?
Now, she understood the reason.
Friends should be able to talk with a shared perspective.
Although there were people around the Emperor who supported her, no one attempted to speak to her on equal footing.
The Chancellor was the closest to him, but even he was like a son, not a friend.
‘iced coffee.’
I can now understand some of the Emperor’s emptiness and depression.
Cdianat Landius Nauril had finished preparing to speak with the Queen even before he left.
You are wrong.
Seriana spoke to the person in the capital who had plotted this. “After talking with the King and spending time with him for a few days, I understand.”
Is he a king because he has a throne?
Is one a king
simply because of his subjects? Is one a king only if he usurps the title? Is one a king only if he is recognized? Probably not. Above all of that, a king is a king only if he knows himself. He solidified his position and status with a simple remark:
he did not take the executioner hostage. He firmly established his place by walking and choosing a path that no one else would easily choose.
“Will I be able to see the face of that Margrave tomorrow morning? Or must I fight my way through a hail of arrows?”
“I will make sure you see his face immediately.”
Seriana spoke and gestured toward a member of the circus.
“Go tell the Marquis that he intends to shoot arrows at me as I lead the way. And add that you know full well he is not the type of person to do such a disgraceful thing.”
It was a remark spat out in a fit of anger. The assassin stared intently at Saxon’s face before standing up.
“yes.”
It was the Executor’s order. Even if a Margrave is king in this land, once one enters the Imperial capital, an Executor holds a special status.
As she gestured, three or four assassins with broken ribs or limbs approached and took care of the Imperial Knight.
“When that fellow wakes up, tell him my name is Enkrid.”
Encred spoke to those leaving. Although he didn’t like the surprise attack, it was not a bad duel.
One of the assassins nodded at his remark, which he made simply because he wanted to let them know his name.
Watching them retreat, Rem stood beside Saxen and spoke.
“When I get back, I will spread the word far and wide. That he was a legendary master of assassination who ended the fight by seducing an ambushing assassin.”
“……Nonsense.”
“It would be truly amusing, especially if someone found out.”
Rem let out a laugh that rose from deep within his lungs. His giggling was no different from that of a demon.
“Before you go back, shall I make sure you can never run your mouth again?”
Saxony showed a rare display of indignation. Although Jenatrice knew the current situation, she wouldn’t say anything, but she found herself irritating. The way the guy pointed that out was utterly detestable.
Seriana felt a different emotion looking at the knight named Rem, just as much as she had felt admiration looking at the King and the knights.
You’re saying you’re going to point that out and make fun of it at this very moment?
He seemed like someone who spent his entire life scheming to tease others. That was truly astonishing.
