chapter 16
Episode 16
Since I was participating in the Round Table of Swords, the royal palace was in a festive mood.
I don’t know if I’m happy that Eli Kingdom is attending the Round Table of Swords for the first time, or I’m glad I’m away.
I was greeted by them before leaving.
I approached Horeth, who had been smiling unhappily from earlier, and said,
“Hores.”
“Yes, the lieutenant commander.”
“I believe you will do well.”
It meant to behave well and not to make jokes behind the scenes.
But he
“Thank you for always trusting me. I will live up to that belief.”
Even if I misunderstood something, it seemed like I misunderstood for a long time.
I was going to say one more word, but stopped at the bright eyes of this old man.
For now, since I am not in the palace, I have no choice but to believe that I will do well on my own.
“Are you all gathered?”
My direct escort knights are five including Aaron.
“Yes. We are here too.”
And there were Hariel and her 5 men.
Looking at the number alone, it seems small, but considering the power of Hariel and her subordinates, it was a very reliable escort.
If there is one regrettable thing, it is about moving by horse rather than by carriage?
“I······.”
My escort knights and Aaron blushed when they saw Hariel.
In particular, Aaron’s reaction was quite fresh.
The guy who always escorted me with a blunt face doesn’t know what to do.
After all, men can’t use their feet in front of a pretty woman.
“These are the ones who will accompany us starting today. Don’t fight with each other, be friendly.”
Please don’t fight and fight each other.
The moment we fight, we will all be killed by Hariel.
“Yes!”
These were the knights whose voices seemed more powerful today.
“Hariel.”
“Yes.”
“It will be a forced march. I hate taking a break.”
“I understand. There will be no falling behind.”
The goal was to go as quickly as possible and return as quickly as possible.
The moment I receive 10 gold, I will take it out right there.
“Then let’s go.”
However, when I was about to go out to the city gate, as if the rumor had spread, the people had already gathered.
“Standby Division Commander!!”
“Congratulations!!”
“You are the pride of our kingdom!”
As if welcoming a knight who had sounded the news of victory, the people saw me off by scattering flower petals.
Hariel said with a slightly surprised expression.
“You are really popular.”
“Hmm. That’s how it is.”
As a characteristic of infatuation, I was taking their compliments for granted.
“It seems that the women waving their hands are also very sad for the Grand Commander.”
Where Hariel pointed, young women were waving handkerchiefs at me.
“I’m used to it now.”
“Ah~ I hope you’re fine.”
It felt like there was a thorn in Hariel’s words.
is it an illusion
“Is there anyone who hates the love of crowds?”
Profound charm, morale enhancement, and even reign.
It was specialized characteristics to raise public sentiment.
“Do you care a lot about these people too?”
“That is natural.”
How could I hate them?
because,
“They give me hope,”
give me a quest
“Gives courage,”
give gold,
“It even gives us a reason for our existence.”
give the tax
“Therefore, of course, it is the honor of a knight to protect them and die for them.”
Of course, I really had no intention of dying.
“ah······.”
Hariel listened to my story earnestly and nodded.
“That is what motivates you. I see now.”
“I was just talking about the mindset that any knight should have. Nothing special.”
I told her as I kicked the horse in the belly.
“Let’s start quickly now.”
“Yes!”
Where the Round Table of Swords opens.
To the Temple of Reyes.
* * *
Heading to the Legolas Mountains where the Round Table of Swords was held, Aslan and his group just ran nonstop.
At first, Hariel was still admiring Aslan’s appearance and what he had said before leaving the castle gate.
However, as the march continued, that composure disappeared.
‘Why aren’t you resting? This is enough to rest.’
It was hard work even for Hariel to repeat running without a break.
The same goes for subordinates.
In particular, it was even more difficult because there was a place where you had to cross the desert area while running.
However, Aslan
“It’s slow. Follow me sooner.”
It looked very fine.
Not much has changed from when I first started.
“Hey, Aslan. Can’t we just take a break? My subordinates are having a hard time.”
Although he made excuses for his subordinates, Hariel was also tired.
I’ve already been running for three days without a break.
Aslan narrowed his brows slightly, then nodded.
“I will.”
Only then could Hariel’s men gasp for a break.
“Ugh. How good is the alternative stamina…”
“No matter how good the martial arts are, there really is no up or down in forced marching.”
“A monster, a monster. no. that’s the devil He really never lost his posture.”
“How could that be?”
The subordinates shook their heads as if they were fed up.
Aslan was a monster more than they thought.
Especially in this desert area, if you don’t drink enough water and rest, you’ll fall quickly.
Even so, Aslan never stopped running.
What’s more, surprisingly,
“That horse looks like its owner.”
The horse he was riding was purring just as cheerfully as it had been before setting off from the city.
It’s surprising that both of them are fine without a sign of trouble.
“Did you rest?”
“Yes···? Hey, I just sat down.”
“Haven’t you been sitting on a horse all the way here? You don’t run, the horse runs, so why do you guys get tired first?”
“…”
Then Tasha, impatient, stepped out.
“Aslan. I am very tired of talking. It looks like the horse will die.”
“Feed the potion. If you feed the potion well, you can run well for a week without getting tired.”
“…”
The benevolent appearance he showed to the people.
At that time, Aslan really looked like a saintly man who only cared about his people.
That’s why they misunderstood him until now, thought Hariel and his men.
But,
“Don’t leave. I will abandon the one who falls behind.”
Also he was the devil.
* * *
It was a round table meeting of swords that had been convened in a long time.
If you consider that the last convocation was 5 years ago.
It was a meeting that would not be called for such a trivial incident, but this time there was a reason that everyone could understand.
War between Eli Kingdom and Halaz Kingdom.
And the death of Sword Master Yuhan!
“But was it Aslan who killed Yuhan? Is that Aslan? Could this be some misinformation?”
But the overall mood was like this.
“No matter how much I think about it, it makes no sense that Yuhan died at the hands of Aslan.”
“There must have been some scheming.”
“Doesn’t Karpel-nim think so too?”
It was the same with Karpel, the third sword master on the continent and the prince of Einsof Kingdom.
“Isn’t that why the church called the meeting like this?”
The reason this roundtable was convened was to resolve this awkwardness.
Although the intention was not directly revealed, it was to confirm that Aslan had really killed Yuhan with his own skills.
“I can’t admit it. Even if Aslan did indeed defeat Yuhan, I would not admit it.”
Karpel turned to his escort knight, Joris.
“Does that mean you want to defeat Aslan?”
“When the opportunity arises, I am always ready.”
Yuhan was famous for being much taller and bigger than the others.
This Joris also resembles Yuhan in that respect. Also, his ability was special.
In addition to that, he had superior strength compared to other subordinates, befitting his size.
His belligerent and hot-tempered personality was a weakness, but he was a promising article for the future.
What if Aslan really did something to kill Yuhan, and if Lloris took his place…?
It seemed like it would be pretty interesting.
And just in time.
“Yoris.”
“Yes, lord.”
“Look ahead.”
“…?”
Lloris looked up to where Karpel pointed.
At that place,
“I can’t believe that…”
“yes. This is Aslan.”
steadfast gait.
lingering arrogance.
And the subordinates behind him who seemed completely exhausted.
It was the perfect time to spice things up.
“Yoris. Can you take responsibility for your words? That said, I will try to defeat Aslan.”
Then, Lloris pounded his chest and answered.
“If I become a Sword Master, I will be able to bring more glory to the Einsof Kingdom and a brilliant future to my lord.”
It was a very pleasing answer.
Even if it wasn’t, I wanted to try that Aslan.
Are you a real sword master or a fraudster?
“great. Then I will lay the plates.”
Lloris approached Aslan.
* * *
There is no strength in the whole body.
It feels like the whole world is spinning around.
I felt like I would collapse if I just closed my eyes.
Having passed through that hot desert as a living, it is very natural.
I didn’t sleep for three days and just ran through the night as if it were daytime.
But is that suffering over?
we finally,
“This is the temple.”
Arrived at the Temple of Light where the Round Table of Swords is being held.
I glanced behind me.
Everyone who followed me, including Hariel, was in a state of exhaustion.
My body was so heavy that it was difficult to even lift a finger.
“Everyone, build your stamina first.”
The tongue was very flaccid.
I looked at Aaron and the knights, who had lost their handsome faces, and shouted bitterly.
“Especially, if my knights have such weak stamina, where can I use them?”
“Cow, I’m sorry.”
“And Hariel. Do the swords that protect the church have to be so weak?”
“That’s you…!”
Hariel was about to say something, but soon lowered his head.
“I know.”
“Hmm. I will go in.”
I got off the horse and took the lead, flapping my cloak.
My legs seem to be shaking, and my hands are shaking, but as long as Aslan’s crazy bravado exists, I won’t collapse here even if a knife is stabbed in my throat.
Even if the world collapsed right now, it seemed as if Aslan, armed with bravado, would stand upright.
I have to say that one of these things is useful.
“Welcome to the Temple of Light.”
“He is the commander of the Aslan Grand Division of the Eli Kingdom.”
“Yes. Hariel. And Aslan, the commander of the Air Division. You may enter. God bless you.”
Past the guards, we walked down the long hallway inside the temple.
The hallway seemed wider than our palace.
It is because they extorted money here and there in the name of an offering to God and applied it to these places.
All kinds of precious jewels were studded here and there, and sculptures and artworks that seemed to have nothing to do with religion stood out.
And the most notable of these is
[Carpel]
Power: 94
Intellect: 80
mana: 80
Among the crowd walking in front of me, a man who shines especially brightly.
Magic Swordsman Karpel.
look at that beautiful figure
Not only his strength, but his intelligence was 80, and his magic power to use magic reached 80.
Is that all?
From being the third sword master on the continent to being a member of the royal family.
What would have happened if I had chosen someone who was born with a diamond spoon in his mouth like Karpel instead of Aslan?
······My mouth watered just thinking about it.
‘My subordinates only take dirty strong guys.’
To meet such a monster as soon as you enter the temple.
The guys behind him also had a rough look, so I tried to get over them as quickly as possible without bumping into them.
But,
“Who is this? The new sword master of our continent has come.”
Karpel greeted me first.
‘Why is this guy pretending to know again and fucking?’
I received a short greeting without a long word.
“Nice to meet you.”
And what is about to pass quickly,
“Lord. It’s strange no matter how you think about it.”
The tallest guy behind Karpel looked down at me funny and said,
“Are you saying Lee Ja defeated Yuhan?”
It was an obvious provocation.
“hahahaha. Joris. You’re having a lot of fun. What disrespect to the new sword master?”
“ah. this. You were still by my side. I didn’t know because he was so short.”
A sneer was mixed in Karpel’s voice.
It was to see me as water.
[Yoris]
Power: 90
Intellect: 60
Same size as Yuhan, similar height.
i know this giant
Karpel’s subordinate, Lloris, the raid leader of the Einsof Kingdom.
yes. This is the one I always used reliably when playing as the Einsof Kingdom.
In fact, if you follow the story, this guy later kills a sword master with his own hands and proudly puts his name on it.
‘yes. It seemed like this.’
I expected that there would be someone who would argue with me, but if someone who wasn’t even a sword master would attack, I could see how low Aslan’s reputation had been crawling.
What can I do though?
We can’t have a fight against these strong people here.
“I dare now…”
However, excited Aaron gnashed his teeth.
Even the knights, who had been unable to walk properly with tired faces until just now, also had fire in their eyes.
Why are you guys making a fuss when I’m still?
“Did you want the Grand Knight Commander to live by saying such absurd things?”
“Ah- someone said it, and it was you. Aaron, a young knight who was the pride of the Halaz Kingdom. I heard that he was even mentioned as the next lieutenant division commander, what kind of situation is this now? To be a dog for an enemy country.”
“!?”
Aaron, who fell for Yoris’ provocation, tried to pull the sword from his waist,
“Aaron.”
“…?”
“Calm down.”
I blocked it.
But I didn’t stop it because I was afraid that the two would collide.
I raised my head and looked up at Lloris in front of me.
“You are tall.”
He was such a giant that the tip of my head barely touched his shoulder.
I felt so much pressure.
“Whoops. Are you jealous of my height?”
However, Aslan’s pride and bravado running through his veins were not afraid of this giant.
Rather, I felt a different emotion than before.
yes. This is probably anger.
“You dare to look down on me.”
“······what?”
Following that boiling feeling, I put my hand on Lloris’s shoulder, higher than my head.
And,
“Be cheeky.”
I clenched my fist lightly.
Quadduk-!!
“!?”
There was the sound of rotten leaves crunching into bunches.
It just felt like squeezing a fist into the air, but in an instant, his shoulder blades and shoulders were squeezed like rags.
Quaang-!!
Suppressed by the brute force, Lloris knelt on the floor.
The floor of the holy temple cracked like a spider’s web, hollowed out beneath it.
His kneecap was broken and protruded out through the skin.
“Oooh…”
All of this happened in an instant.
“aaagh-!!”
I looked down at Lloris, who was screaming horribly.
“Shut up and look me in the eyes.”
Then he looked up at me with his twitching eyes.
Now it has reached the proper eye level.
“I am not someone you can look down on.”