I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience

21 – 021: 5,000 Years of History (2)

Seeing the lance covered in a thick layer of dust from disuse for so long, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Why is there so much dust on the lance?”

“I had to prioritize weapons that require maintenance due to their utility. (Experience Points: 8 individuals)”

The knight seemed to be justifying his neglect of duty, but it was all meaningless excuses.

Prioritizing the lance after the Gains was a fundamental strategy even mentioned in Sun Tzu’s Art of War.

This was common knowledge for any citizen of South Korea, even those who hadn’t undergone military training.

No matter how different this world might be, some timeless truths remain unaltered. How could a knight offer such excuses?

“Among all the weapons I’ve seen so far, there hasn’t been a single one that should take priority over the lance.”

I asked him once more, giving him a chance to retract his statement, but the answer I received was utterly pitiful.

“What? Since the invasion by the Demon Army, the lance hasn’t been utilized much. They are swift like beasts, and using the lance requires both infantry and proficiency… (Experience Points: 8 individuals)”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Certainly, the lance boasted formidable power even when used on horseback along with a shield. Had they not passed through a path that had been traversed over 4,000 years ago on Earth?

I tried to teach the knight that one could simply wield it in hand and fight, without needing to ride a horse, but it was futile.

The width of the window is too broad and the length too long, so even with magical assistance to augment strength, movement inevitably becomes sluggish.

Due to its excessive length, it is prone to breakage and challenging to make, making it unsuitable as an infantry weapon.

It becomes difficult to handle when thrust into one’s embrace.

In the process of the peculiar excuses of the Bamboo Clan, who cannot admit their lack of skill, I gradually began to develop a headache.

Now, I understand why these writers depend on heroes.

If they let a treasure like the lance decay like this, how can they handle the demon army?

This was not solely their responsibility but also a problem that should be addressed to the gods.

If the God of Wisdom had taught the proper use of the lance, and the God of Valor had demonstrated how to wield it, it would not have been so pathetic.

“Teach us the 5,000 years of history accumulated by our ancestors in using the lance. Follow me!!”

*****

‘This is maddening.’

Watching the valiant knight brandishing the lance, Roland unconsciously clenched his fist.

It was nothing short of a miracle that he didn’t send his tightly clenched fist flying towards the back of the knight’s head.

A fervent follower of the God of Patience, he diligently recalled the teachings received in the temple and managed to lower the fist he had raised.

‘What’s the point of replacing it with a lance?’

The lance is by no means a suitable weapon for infantry.

Its length is too long, and even with magical assistance to augment strength, the weapon naturally becomes sluggish due to its enormous size.

Additionally, trying to protect or reinforce the lance with magic is more mana-intensive compared to other weapons due to its long length.

If it could exploit the mobility of a horse, it might be a different story, but it’s definitely not a weapon for infantry to wield alone.

As the hero returned to the training ground, knights who shared the common sense exchanged amused glances.

All eyes passed the hero and turned towards Roland. In response, Roland merely shrugged his shoulders.

“Sir, why do you carry a lance?”

“This is my weapon. Actually, I wanted a gun lance, but it seems to be nonexistent in this uncivilized world.”

Everyone, including Roland, didn’t know what a gun lance was, but judging by the knight’s character, they suspected it wasn’t a conventional weapon.

The knight, standing ahead on the training ground as if urging them to come forward, started making gestures.

However, except for one person, all the knights gathered at the training ground couldn’t help but smile.

“Sir, the lance is not suitable for beginners. Let’s switch to a proper sword.”

The knights lightly smiled at the tone as if saying, “What does a cook know,” though not a single word about cooking had been uttered.

Far away, even the nobles in the viewing stand whispered, questioning what that was, and their smiles deepened.

“… I once feared these guys.”

In response to the knights’ ridicule, the warrior let out a sigh from his chest.

“Do you already forget about that time you couldn’t even lay a finger on me in that room? I see familiar faces here too, don’t I?”

“….”

As they recalled the unforgettable moment of disgrace, the knights’ expressions stiffened.

“I thought the same way at first… but now I see that it wasn’t the case.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that it doesn’t take a skilled warrior to take down scumbags like you.”

Not just skilled, not even Lance is necessary, just a pot lid and a chopstick is enough.

The warrior confidently stated.

There was no room for interpretation, it was a clear provocation that made the knights’ foreheads narrow.

One of the knights among the gathered knights drew his sword and silently stepped into the practice ground.

The knights all had strong pride. And it goes without saying that a knight of the Royal Guard would be even more so.

The knight standing in the practice ground was not just any opponent for a beginner who had only fought once, even if he couldn’t match the knight commander, Las, in skill.

If he stepped onto the practice ground, there was no need to mention the outcome.

Originally, it would be right to stop it immediately, but Roland saw this as a good opportunity to humble the warrior’s arrogance.

Those who knew no fear were bound to die quickly, and a warrior is a person who must never die.

Even if he’s just a half-baked warrior who can’t compare to other warriors, he is a warrior nonetheless.

Although he accidentally defeated one of the Maou Army’s officers, he is strictly a beginner in combat.

It would be a way for him to experience defeat here and break that strange sense of pride.

Believing without doubt, Roland did not say anything and allowed their duel.

He seemed extremely uncomfortable at the moment, so surely he would have to go through a tough situation, but unless it reaches that extent, that lunatic won’t come to his senses.

“Alright.. begin!”

With the signal from the judge, the duel started and the knight began running towards the warrior as if he wanted to finish it in an instant, without even assessing the situation.

Watching his back as he ran with his sword raised, everyone anticipated his victory.

Lance is not a weapon that a beginner can handle easily.

Even when using it on horseback, considerable skill is needed, and of course, the same goes for using it while dismounted.

Due to its length, the lance boasts a wider range compared to other weapons, but how well can a novice exploit this advantage?

Everyone expected the warrior to effortlessly pierce through and send the knight flying in an instant, but the next moment echoed with the knight’s scream.

“Ugh!!”

The knight who had boldly charged ahead was sent flying far away.

The warrior looked down at the knight, clutching their abdomen and struggling to rise, and calmly spoke.

“Oblivious well-dweller, know the vastness of the world.”

*****

I immediately realized their mockery.

Those knights who merely saw the lance as a cavalry weapon didn’t truly understand the essence of a lance.

That’s why they were charging in so defenselessly. If they were Japanese samurai or Western knights, they would never have acted so recklessly.

They would have understood the power of the Korean lance and the Geonlance better than anyone else.

The 5,000 years of Korean history.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that our proud history as a people began and ended with the Geonlance.

Even Dangun, the founder of the Korean people, is said to have wielded the Geonlance, so it’s needless to say that the Geonlance embodies the essence of the Korean people.

As evidence, the wall paintings in the Goguryeo tombs from the mid-4th century vividly depict Dangun wielding the Geonlance.

Furthermore, the famous Battle of Salsu, where 300,000 soldiers of the Sui Dynasty were annihilated, is a well-known historical fact attributed to the water-based Geonlance’s bombardment.

“You thought mere upstarts with a history of only 1,000 years could handle the 5,000-year history of the Korean people!!”

“We, we were just complacent!! (Experience Points: 6)”

Despite their bold proclamation, the knight did not rush forward recklessly again.

The knight, who had cautioned against the thrust moments ago, did not rashly charge but carefully sought openings, waiting for the right moment.

Eventually, readjusting their sword, the knight lowered their body and dashed forward with elegant steps.

Moving sharply from side to side to induce a thrust, they would likely aim to attack after the failed attempt.

However, if they continued to wait like this, they would inevitably penetrate deeper and stray beyond the lance’s range.

‘Too predictable…’

If this was all they had, it seemed they were underestimating me… no, underestimating the 5,000 years of Korean history.

As if challenging me to try something, the knight withdrew the lance, preparing for the imminent attack.

Just as they withdrew the lance abruptly, doubts crept in about whether this might be a trap, yet they dashed forward without hesitation.

Perhaps they had forgotten this was a practice bout, as the sword aimed for their head fell.

But at the moment when that attack, filled with intent to kill, was about to connect with their head, a shield shot up like a released rubber band, deflecting the sword.

“…?!! (Experience Points: 6)”

“Cross Slash.”

The cross-shaped strike that came flying right after the attack.

The knight was left breathless, unable to even utter a scream, as the blow struck.