976. Invitation
When entering a world of silence, surrounding objects appear to stand still. Encreed gauged his speed through that difference in sensation.
Transmission of power.
Every movement must not deviate from the basics.
This is something I learned through the blonde swordsman and reinforced once again while sparring with Rem, Ragnar, Audin, and Saxen.
Not a sword that is blindly fast, but one that cuts properly.
I imbue speed into everything I have learned, practiced, and realized. It was a sword strike like lightning.
However, the trajectory did not move in a zigzag pattern as before. It simply became a fast sword that was so fast and accompanied by thunder that the name ‘Lightning’ was quite fitting.
Balmung also swung his club toward the lightning that fell vertically.
Bang.
There was no sound, but as the waves spread throughout the body, they left behind that crashing sound. The shock surged through their entire bodies. The aftermath of the impact generated the moment Oneul and Balmung’s clubs met pushed their bodies to the opposite side.
As if by prearrangement, Encrid and Balmung moved their feet to deflect that force.
Both twisted their bodies halfway to release their remaining power. It was a technique of deflecting shock through the body. Encrid had learned this from Audin, and Balmung demonstrated a similar skill.
Having deflected the shock, the two exchanged a second attack. Encrid stomped his foot on the ground and mercilessly drove Will into Oneul’s blade.
Zzz
Even in a world of silence, it felt as though sound were echoing.
Will, having reached the stage of transformation, turned a faint blue and enveloped the blade. Balmung clenched his molars tightly, exposing his jaw muscles, and raised his club vertically. He, too, gathered his Will. Red threads swayed and clumped together over the club.
It seemed that if they clashed as they were, one of them would be seriously injured. It was as if a technique too dangerous to be used in a simple duel had suddenly emerged.
Yet, it didn’t seem like they would actually get hurt. After all
, weren’t they both experts in combat?
Moreover, they were knights. They would surely know how to strike and retreat.
That was Balmung’s judgment, but that fellow Encred thrust his sword forward as if he were risking half his life.
This time, it was a diagonal slash. It was a perfectly executed stance, just like something out of a swordsmanship manual.
‘Strong.’
He strikes down diagonally from above. It is a sword swing performed while stepping forward with his right foot, which had been behind.
Balmung felt that this was more dangerous than the vertical cut from earlier. However, retreating would mean being significantly pushed back in the offensive.
Block it.
My blunt weapon is also useful for defense. Utilizing the weapon’s strengths was also a skill.
I spread my empty left hand, spreading my thumb wide and pressing the remaining four fingers tightly together while gripping the middle of the club with force, and raised my right hand, which was gripping the handle, above my head and angled it diagonally. It was a barrier stance.
Block and bind or counterattack.
An exceptional knight possesses the insight to foresee several moves ahead. Balmung instantly calculated up to five moves ahead.
It was battle foresight born of experience accumulated on countless battlefields. Since his opponent was also an exceptional knight, the direction of his foresight was not singular. He could see an inch ahead in a total of three directions.
Twist the blade to strike.
One is a sudden counterattack using brute force.
Attach the blade and pull.
Two of them use binding techniques to get close and transition into wrestling using their hands and feet.
Shock Will by shaking him up.
The plan was to deliberately detonate the Will at the point of collision, powerful enough to inflict a significant physical impact on each other.
I particularly liked the third method. Blunt weapons were better than swords for absorbing shock.
Balmung braced himself and prepared, but Encred did not strike the weapon Balmung was holding; instead, he abruptly slashed at the empty air.
Then, as if that motion of slashing the air was meant for this very purpose, he thrust forward with his shoulder. It was a body slam.
Damn it.
It was a deception. He used the sword strike as a trick. Balmung instantly realized what Encrid had done and quickly turned to the side, bracing for the impact.
* * *
Whoosh.
Rem whistled. He was the only person in this spot capable of clearly watching the fight between the two.
Wow.
I was truly amazed.
You tricked me.
It was a sword that deceived from the very beginning. It started with a sudden vertical slash to manipulate the opponent’s thoughts. In doing so, it effectively delivered a blow with a body slam.
Everything was truly superb, from fixing the opponent’s mind to concentrate on the swinging blade.
Didn’t you say it was authentic Encred-style swordsmanship?
“That name is really annoying.”
As Rem watched, the distance between the two widened. Balmung frowned, then relaxed his expression and opened his mouth.
“What was that just a moment ago?”
Encred answered in an extremely serious tone.
Encred-style authentic swordsmanship.
I even attached the name “Authentic” to my name. To anyone watching, it looks like swordsmanship that is merely refining the basics, but in reality, it is swordsmanship determined to deceive people.
To others, all they heard was a succession of thunderclaps and explosions.
I won a round.
Krang spoke with a sense of awareness.
It looks that way.
As expected, Kreis also responded by reading the situation.
The Royal Guard watched the fight with extreme tension. Just watching a fight like this was enough to make one’s heart race, but to think it was taking place right under the noses of the King he was supposed to protect.
“How is it, Rem?”
Because Crys was clever, instead of gauging the outcome of the invisible fight himself, he asked someone who could see to make the judgment.
I won’t lose.
Rem was convinced. Balmung is an outstanding knight. He is faster than anyone he had met before, and his physical strength is also superior.
But.
It’s on the level of Balrog.
Rem looked at the current Encred in that way. Encred half-closed his blue eyes and raised his sword again. Seeing this, Balmung spoke.
I can’t risk my life doing this. This is really a dilemma.
His eyes gleamed. They were filled with murderous intent and jealousy.
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”
On the other hand, Encred’s gaze was indifferent.
“Don’t regret it. I’m a swordsman of the continent.”
Balmung spoke as he swung his club. He was incredibly stubborn, too. One would expect him to use something different after being fooled once, but he resorted to deception himself. He
pretended to swing the club, then suddenly tossed it away. Encred nonchalantly caught it with his palm and deflected it.
It was a technique he had already witnessed once before when killing that guy named Gelt or whatever who was being chased by the Empire.
I really shouldn’t have shown it back then!
Balmung shouted. Encred struck his abdomen with the blade without answering.
Bang!
The fight was long if you looked at it that way, and short if you looked at it that way. It was long to the eyes of a knight,
but short to the eyes of someone who did not know how to judge. After coming to the sparring arena and making a few swings, Balmung staggered and retreated.
Throughout this entire battle, Rem watched Encred unleash his swordsmanship and overwhelm his opponent.
“I lost.”
Balmung admitted it. Apart from his appearance when attacking, it was a clean declaration of defeat.
“I won.”
Encred seemed to be in a good mood and teased his opponent until the very end. Instead of veins bulging in his forehead, Balmung shook his head. “This bastard just won’t keep his mouth shut.” He was just thinking that.
How about we resume the discussion at the dinner?
Balmung adjusted his posture and spoke to the King, and Krang nodded. Thus, the first dialogue concluded.
It was fun.
Encred’s impression was simple. Krang’s was a little more complex.
“I suppose this is just the beginning.”
“You noticed.”
When Kryss heard those words, Krang, unbefitting of a king of a nation, raised only one corner of his mouth and smiled wickedly.
“So, did you think I would just sit back and get taken down?”
The forced display of meanness was like a scene from a play.
It is difficult to predict because I do not know what the other person wants.
Kreis honestly revealed his true feelings. Saying he doesn’t know something is one of his strengths.
“Since I won, I’ll use that as an excuse to ask.”
Encred offered his opinion on the two’s conversation.
“Shall I answer quietly if you ask?”
Krang asked back.
Even if they refused to answer, could he suppress them by force? Must he wage war against the Empire as well? To send thousands of soldiers to the battlefield once again?
The worries that were inevitable for a king tormented Krang. Yet, he was not truly distressed.
If one agonizes over things that have not yet happened, it is difficult to focus on the present. Knowing this principle, Krang simply looked back at the present.
“thanks.”
When he said that to Encred, Encred stared at him blankly. It was as if he were asking back what he was thankful for.
“Thank you for winning.”
“What if you had lost?”
“I’d still be grateful.”
“For stepping up even though you knew you would lose?”
“Why are you asking when you already know?”
Rem said from the side, frowning.
“Why are you saying such embarrassing things?”
“Shh, there are plenty of ears listening. It’s good to show that side of yourself every once in a while.”
Crys chimed in. It was a remark Rem made just out of sheer curiosity, knowing full well what was happening. Around the royal training grounds, there were many eyes watching, both consciously and unconsciously.
Servants, noble attendants, and even nobles themselves glancing around.
These were the same people who occasionally passed by when Encred and his party were staying there. After all, it was impossible to control the entry of everyone.
It wasn’t as if the number of people working inside the palace was small.
Since seizing the throne, Krang had doubled the number of staff. After all,
the kingdom wouldn’t function well simply by forming a Council of Ten and getting rid of a few foolish nobles.
Krang always felt there was a shortage of talent.
In any case, despite the many eyes watching for that reason, Encred won, and the King engaged in a friendly conversation with him. Watching this, Crys felt as though some kind of trick had been used—something that could never happen in a card game.
Kings and knights, assassins and spies, and strategists.
Everyone is on the same side, trusting and not doubting one another, and taking the lead in fighting the devil.
In card games, the soldier is a prime example of a card used as a discard, accepting an inevitable sacrifice.
Our King and the Commander are actually trying hard to protect that soldier.
The world is not like a card game. It was something I realized anew. It was just a thought that crossed my mind.
The party, having rested well until the evening banquet, gathered again. Although the standard protocol of royal court etiquette dictates that the chief attendant clears the tables, calls the guests first, and the King takes his seat last, Krang did not care about such things.
“This is the moment to welcome an envoy from a foreign country. It is advisable to observe proper etiquette.”
Marcus, the man who is now the Duke of Vaisar. As he spoke, he glanced at the Duke of Octo. Originally, it was the Duke who was supposed to speak, not him, but Octo had kept his mouth shut for some reason, so he stepped forward.
“Do you think I’ll say okay if you say it like that?”
“No, not at all. But I still have to say what needs to be said.”
“Fine, go ahead.”
While Krang was chatting with Marcus, the Imperial delegation entered. It was the same as before: a knight, a mage, a priest, two women, and a squire.
Does the Empire eat something different from us?
Krang asked while sitting.
“Is there really that much difference in what goes into a person’s mouth? By any chance, Warrior from the West, do you eat something different?”
While waiting for Balmung’s answer, one of the women stepped forward to respond. Her skin looked clearer than before, as if she had washed well in the short time she had been out. Her hair was neatly braided and tied back, giving the impression that a female attendant had been busy.
It was a question directed at Rem. She looked at Rem with a pure, elegant expression—or something along those lines.
They are largely the same, but if you look closely, they are different.
Rem sat in a chair and answered with languid eyes. It was an attitude of giving a perfunctory response to a bothersome question. The gist of his point was that while they both eat meat or grains, the cooking methods and ingredients differ slightly.
“Fish dishes are usually a rarity in the Empire. Fish provided by trading cities is particularly precious.”
“Then I suppose you should consider it fortunate.”
Krang responded to those words.
A flat steamed fish dish was placed on the table. It was a flounder, but since it was full of roe, it was a delicacy eaten only at this time of year.
It had been procured that very day, caught directly from the sea by the trading city. One
could barely eat it without something like the “Cold-Infused Basket,” a Spec Object .
It was truly a dish fit for a kingdom.
In truth, Krang didn’t particularly like such precious food. It tasted good, so that was nice, and since he couldn’t just throw away the Spell Object, he used it.
Well, being human, Krang didn’t think it was bad to receive this much of a reward for the hardships he endured sitting on the throne.
Please eat.
Krang spoke, and everyone enjoyed their meal. Encred also seemed to enjoy eating quite a bit. Was Rem any different? Kreis, in particular, considered himself a gourmet in his own way.
While they were eating and drinking, the woman wiped the corners of her mouth with a linen and spoke.
I could not come to see Your Majesty empty-handed, so I have prepared a gift.
It was a blatant shift in stance, but that was the only way to move the conversation forward.
While Balmung had abruptly resorted to force, the woman identified herself as an envoy and presented a gift.
It was a small box filled with several colorful stones.
“Each stone is imbued with magic. They are all intended for protection.”
It was a precious treasure. It wasn’t a spec object, but an artifact.
Could you please get straight to the point?
Krang glanced at the box and said, “You didn’t come to give me a gift, did you?” That was what he meant.
“Yes, I will.”
The female envoy answered without showing any signs of panic.
The Emperor has invited His Majesty the King.
