Chapter 60: Chapter 60

The one who sneered at Shan was a young man who looked to be in his early to mid-twenties.

Judging by his sturdy build and well-toned arm muscles revealed under his extravagant clothing, he seemed to have undergone considerable training.

“Show some courtesy to the guest from afar, Baron of Lugen.”

After a brief silence settled over the banquet hall, Kladek spoke in a voice that seemed to suppress his anger.

However, the man called Baron of Lugen was far from intimidated; instead, he raised his head with a defiant air.

“It’s not as if I said anything wrong, brother-in-law. The only war in Pendia recently was the brawl between the princes, and since he didn’t participate in that but was fleeing instead, how on earth could he have killed so many people? Surely he didn’t take a bunch of peasants and cut them down, did he?”

Judging by the title of brother-in-law, the young baron seemed to be the countess’s younger brother.

In truth, his words made a certain degree of sense in their own way.

Unlike other countries where bandits abounded and frequent conflicts arose among humans, warriors of Pendia rarely had the opportunity to kill people.

If anything, because monsters were scattered everywhere, even criminals found it difficult to leave cities or villages to form gangs.

Even if one participated in the rare war, it was difficult to slay a hundred people under normal circumstances, so there was plenty of room to treat the words of Shan (who lacked such a record) as the boast of a young boy.

However, the problem was that harboring suspicion and openly voicing it out loud were two entirely different matters.

To openly ask a knight in a setting like this, ‘Isn’t the military exploit you boast of a lie?’ was a tremendous insult.

At his remark, all the nobles and knights in the vicinity (even those who had been looking at Shan with displeasure) could not hide their embarrassment.

And for some reason, Shan could sense that the baron kept glancing to his side.

Amidst the flowing silence, Shan carefully chose his words for a moment before giving a composed response in his own way.

“I have never particularly thought of killing people as something to be proud of. Young Lord Blois asked, so I simply answered with whatever came to mind. If you are asking whether I truly possess the skill to back it up, I shall demonstrate it to you directly.”

At the words that eloquently expressed ‘Do you want to die?’, a smile surfaced on the young baron’s face.

It was as if he had been expecting such a reaction to come back to him.

“Just as I wished. Shall we see the skill of the knight who came from outside?”

“What is your preferred method?”

“Anything is fine. Jousting, swordsmanship, or even a brawl. Since you must be tired from traveling from afar today, let us do it tomorrow.”

“It makes no difference to me if it is right here and now.”

“Yurk! My patience has its limits! Get out of this place right now!”

As the atmosphere suddenly turned as though a duel might break out, Kladek flared up with a shout and scolded the young baron.

At that, the man looked back toward the head table with a displeased expression, then bowed his head deeply.

“Yes, I apologize for ruining the atmosphere. This helpless scoundrel shall take his leave now.”

Then he shouted toward Shan, ‘I shall come find you tomorrow!’, before walking straight out of the banquet hall.

*

After the ruined banquet fizzled out to an end, Kladek invited Shan and Cheryn to the reception room.

And there, surprisingly, he bowed his head.

“I must offer my deepest apologies, Sir Shan. I have no words.”

Originally, high nobles around the rank of count were stiff enough to not easily bow their heads even before a king.

Even Shan, who was relatively less sensitive to the pressure of social status than others, felt that it was an apology so polite as to make him feel somewhat overwhelmed.

But that was one thing, and ultimately an apology received from someone other than the party involved held little meaning.

“I do not think it is something for you to apologize for, Count. More importantly, that person just now is probably…”

“My foolish brother-in-law. He is also one of only four barons in Palles.”

Baron of Lugen, Yurk Jul, was a baron himself as well as the brother-in-law Count of Palles, and he enjoyed a high reputation as the most skilled warrior in this land.

He satisfied both of a man’s most important values: authority and martial strength.

“Oh…”

“Compared to proper knights on the outside, he might be mere chaff, but in this land, he has played the boss of the neighborhood for a long time. At least when my father-in-law was alive, he was tolerable, but since he inherited the title a few years ago, his nose has risen sky-high and he can’t be controlled at all.”

Even so, Kladek shook his head in incomprehension, stating that he usually didn’t behave so outrageously as to cross the line entirely, and he couldn’t understand why he acted that way today.

“Yurk has long boasted that if he left this tiny, cramped land of Palles, he could easily make a grand name for himself. But since a knight of high reputation entered from the outside just now, it seems he wanted to prove his own strength even by picking a fight.”

“It doesn’t seem to be just that, Uncle.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Cheryn, who had been listening beside them, spoke with a tired expression.

“That guy kept glancing toward me several times from the moment the banquet began earlier. After picking a fight with Sir Shan, he put on a boastful expression as if telling me to look at how great he was…”

Saying that it was a sight too hideous to look at, she let out a quiet sigh and added:

“Did he really think that looked impressive?”

In short, the reason the baron had suddenly picked a fight with Shan was to show off a cool side of himself to Cheryn.

By nature, did men not often commit all kinds of irrational and foolish acts to attract a woman’s attention?

If it was the psychological desire to boast how great a male he was by defeating the knight from the outside in front of the princess he had fallen in love with at first sight, everything fit together perfectly.

Kladek, who wore a troubled expression at a reason even more absurd than expected, wiped his dry face before speaking to Shan.

“I suppose I cannot command the two of you not to fight. After all, it is Sir Shan whose honor was insulted first.”

If he used his authority as a count here to punish his brother-in-law and prevent the fight, people would surely think Shan lacked the courage to fight and hid behind the count’s back.

In other words, once the other side had openly picked a fight, a clash was unavoidable.

“However… may I ask you to please spare his life? He is a terribly foolish fellow, but he is still my wife’s only brother. He is also one of the few skilled knights in this land.”

Considering that they were in a position of seeking refuge, he could have spoken in a commanding tone, yet Kladek made a polite request and bowed his head once more.

Shan, who tended to be weak against people like this, hesitated briefly before nodding his head.

“Understood.”

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can rest easy. As long as it is not to the point of crippling him, I will not hold it against you even if he is severely injured. No, rather, that might be better… as it might cool down that wild colt of a temper.”

It was a tone of speech that did not even consider the possibility that Shan might lose.

In truth, for a warrior who had ended an ogre’s breath, this was the general reaction.

It was just that the guy called Baron of Lugen earlier had lost his mind over a woman and made an irrational judgment.

As Cheryn said she had more to speak with the count about, Shan left the reception room first and realized that someone was loitering next to the door.

It was the count’s son, Blois.

“Ah, Sir Shan!”

“Have you come to see His Excellency the Count?”

“No, I came to see you. Because that happened earlier because I brought up something useless…”

As Shan felt it, the commotion was not particularly the boy’s fault.

Because that man called Baron of Lugen earlier seemed to have been itching to pick a fight from the very beginning.

As Shan stood quietly, the boy, who hesitated with a guilt-ridden expression, asked.

“You’re fighting Uncle tomorrow, right?”

Wondering for a moment who he meant by uncle, Shan realized anew the fact that the rogue from earlier was a close relative of this gentle boy.

Lacking a family of his own, he was often a step late in recalling the complex family trees of such noble households.

“Yes.”

“Are you going to kill him?”

“No, I do not intend to kill him.”

“R-really?”

Although there was sufficient justification to kill him, considering the count’s request and the thought of killing a close blood relative of a boy who admired him, it felt uncomfortable after all.

Had he not felt guilt when killing the night watchmen of the capital in the past simply because there were those among them who admired him?

At Shan’s answer, Blois placed his hand on his chest and let out a sigh of relief.

“What a relief…”

“It seems the two of you are close.”

“Yeah. My dad was busy, so my uncle played with me a lot. Riding horses together and such. If he died from fighting because of me, I would have been really sad. If possible, I wish the two of you wouldn’t fight, though.”

Young as Blois was, he seemed to understand at least that it could not be avoided under the current circumstances.

After conversing a bit more and parting ways, Shan entered the room assigned to him and lay down on the bed.

‘How complicated. That someone who is a bad person to one person could be a good person to another.’

In the past, he could evaluate everyone simply.

Treat me well and you are a friend; draw a blade at me and you are an enemy deserving to be torn apart and killed.

Once defined like that, there was nothing to worry about.

However, as he grew older bit by bit and met and interacted with more people, the world grew increasingly complex.

Suddenly, the families of the Altoan explorers he had killed in the past came to mind.

Was taking each of these things into consideration one by one how one gradually became an adult?

Perhaps one day, he might end up unable to recklessly kill anyone at all…

As he was lost in such numerous thoughts, by the time evening arrived, Roden and the others arrived at Palles City a step later.

Unlike Shan and Cheryn who had come straight by carriage, it took them a long time because they washed, ate, rested thoroughly at the port, and then walked for several hours.

Even though a considerable number of people arrived all at once, there was no immediate accommodation problem thanks to the count vacating spare spaces such as castle towers in advance.

Although in the long run, they would have to build the houses they would live in themselves.

After receiving a report from Roden, who had come up to the castle, on a few minor occurrences during the short journey, Shan informed him of what had transpired at the banquet.

Having heard the story, Roden let out a soft sigh.

“There really isn’t a single quiet day as soon as we arrive.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Well, even so, it doesn’t seem like a entirely bad thing.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Both the princess and the count want you to command the army of Palles in the future, right? To do that, you need authority to match. The fame built out there is fine and good, but after all, humans are creatures who only believe when they see with their own eyes.”

Overwhelmingly defeating the strongest warrior in Palles was an opportunity to elevate Shan’s, and Cheryn’s, authority, which was Roden’s opinion.

“Looking at it from that perspective, it’s practically a welcome thing that the guy picked a fight.”

“However, killing him is problematic. Not only would you lose the count’s trust, but other influential figures in Palles would also look upon you unfavorably.”

“I know. I told you I won’t kill him.”

Somehow, having everyone ask if he was going to kill him made Shan feel like some kind of murderer, so he shook his head with a displeased expression.

“I just intend to thoroughly fix his habit. Sticking his neck out like that won’t be of any help in future fights anyway.”

Of course Sir Darkal had said that allies were not to be persuaded through violence, but Shan believed that even he would have understood had he seen such a scoundrel.

He intended to give him a lesson severe enough that he would never be able to meet his eyes again.

Absolutely, it was not as though he was doing this because that fellow had acted smug while showing affection toward Cheryn.

*

The next day, after finishing breakfast and giving it enough time to digest, Shan headed toward the training ground located inside the count’s castle.

There, Count of Palles, along with his retainers and key figures of the fief, had arrived first.

The duel opponent, Baron of Lugen Yurk, who was warming up by lightly swinging his sword, spoke sneeringly.

“You’re late. I thought you had run away.”

“Hardly.”

Ignoring his opponent’s provocation, Shan moved lightly to warm up his body.

A moment later, the count, who took on the role of witness, personally proposed the rules of the duel.

“First, we must determine the condition for victory… but I think the ‘First Blood’ rule would be best.”

The ‘first blood’ rule he spoke of was, simply put, a rule where the side that shed blood first lost.

It was the most suitable method for avoiding the risk of losing one’s life due to an unforeseen mistake during a duel.

However, Shan voiced an opposing opinion.

“Rather than that, I would like to apply the ‘Incapacitation’ rule.”

“Is that not excessive?”

“It is fine. Because I can adjust it sufficiently.”

Incapacitation, true to its name, was a method where the side that could no longer fight lost.

Dying, losing consciousness, or declaring defeat.

It was truly a rule that only people brimming with mutual malice, believing they could not stand it unless they killed the other, would use.

“You…”

“Surely you aren’t scared.”

Flustered by the calm provocation, Yurk flared up and nodded, saying fine.

It was likely because Cheryn, shading herself from the sunlight with a parasol, was watching from beside the count.

Next, the format of the duel was decided as swordsmanship using blunted feather-swords, and plain-clothes sparring without armor.

Striking away or breaking the opponent’s weapon with fighting spirit was permitted, but thrusting into or cutting the body was a foul.

This too was a rule that Yurk, knowing that his opponent possessed outstanding magic skills, had no reason to oppose.

After all the rules were decided like that, the two swordsmen stood facing each other.

Just because they were using feather-swords did not lessen the tension.

For someone of a knight’s caliber, killing an unarmored person simply by imbuing a piece of metal with fighting spirit was a simple matter.

“Phew…”

Looking at the opponent facing him, Yurk took a deep breath to shake off the remaining tension in his body.

Yes, he could thoroughly win.

Even if he boasted of having accomplished all sorts of feats, in the end, wasn’t he just a brat half a head shorter than himself?

He was one who had been praised as a genius from a young age and had no equal in the land of Palles.

Since he occasionally went outside by boat to hunt monsters and had even captured a troll, all he lacked compared to the greenhorn before his eyes was merely the opportunity to encounter powerful monsters.

“Begin!”

With the count’s declaration, Shan and Yurk approached each other.

However, unlike Yurk, who cautiously raised his sword above his head in a stance, Shan walked over with heavy steps holding the longsword, which ought to be wielded with both hands, in just one hand.

At a sight that could hardly be considered a combat stance, veins bulged on Yurk’s face.

‘You look down on me? I’ll shatter one of your arms first before we start!’

As he took a step forward, the swordsmanship he had practiced for over a decade unfolded.

Due to the nature of the feather-sword being faster than a regular longsword, its speed was to the point of being invisible to ordinary eyes.

At this, the spectators gathered around let out a gasp of surprise.

“Ugh!”

However, after the clanging sound of clashing metal erupted, what echoed across the dueling ground was a low, heavy scream.

Stabbed precisely in the shoulder by the tip of the blade, Yurk staggered backward.

“One.”

Holding the sword that required two hands with just one, Shan placed his blade at the precise location to parry Yurk’s attack while simultaneously delivering a counter strike.

It was truly a technique possible only because the skill difference between the two was as vast as heaven and earth.

Yurk, whose anger flared, swung his sword once more, but the result did not change.

Downward slashes, thrusts, diagonal slashes, upward slashes…

Against all manner of extravagant sword strikes, Shan responded simply by extending his feather-sword straight ahead, parrying moderately, and thrusting back.

As long as he placed the sword at the right moment and in the right position, neither power nor speed was necessary.

According to the principle of the lever, he could press down on the opponent even with minimal force.

Imbuing the blade with fighting spirit to cut or shatter the opponent’s sword was also meaningless.

Every time, Shan blocked by appropriately imbuing his own sword with the will to endure without breaking.

A moment later, staggering backward, Yurk could feel dark bruises forming all over his body.

“W-What on earth is…”

At this rate, did it not feel like he was fighting some kind of mage rather than a swordsman?

Realizing that his opponent’s skill was at a level he could not possibly match, a heavy shadow of defeat settled over Yurk’s face.

To be defeated by such a small boy in front of his acquaintances, including the count, and the girl he had fallen in love with at first sight?

It was a situation utterly hard to accept, yet even a fool could tell that there was an overwhelming difference in skill between the two.

In truth, it was merely that he, being a fool, was the only one who did not know what everyone else already knew.

At the sight of his opponent shrinking back and stepping away, Shan gripped his sword with both hands for the first time.

“I suppose I have shown enough of a difference in skill by now.”

“W-Wait a minute…”

Yurk intuitively sensed it.

That he had to declare defeat right now and turn around to flee.

However, the moment he opened his mouth, Shan’s sword struck him squarely on the lips.

At a speed that was a total contrast to his loose movements from a moment ago.

Along with a suppressed scream, several white teeth popped out from inside his mouth.

“Mmmph!”

“Teeth can be regenerated through healing miracles, so it is fine even if a few break…”

Covering his mouth, where terrible pain surged, with his left hand, Yurk threw down his sword and raised his right hand.

Because raising an open right hand high was the method of declaring surrender when one could not speak.

However, the moment his hand was raised halfway, Shan’s sword struck his shoulder squarely, dislocating the joint.

As his right arm limply drooped along with a burning sensation, tears welled up from both of his eyes.

“Uaaagh…”

“Who gave you permission to surrender?”

After that, the third sword strike was to the shin.

When one leg broke and could no longer support his body, Yurk rolled helplessly onto the ground.

Having already dropped his sword, and with blood bursting from the struck areas, it was a situation where defeat would have been declared immediately had the rule of the duel not been incapacitation.

However, Shan ruthlessly continued to beat the fallen Yurk.

Breaking every single bone in his body, yet to the degree that he would not lose consciousness.

Following his shoulder, Yurk felt his elbow, forearm, and fingers breaking one by one.

Next were his ribs, thighs, insteps…

The control of force was so precise that he could feel only the bones shattering, which made it all the more terrifying.

Sounds of people around them asking whether they shouldn’t stop this could be heard, but Shan did not stop his sword.

‘Save me, save me!’

Mumbling with his mouth of shattered teeth, he received one more strike while covering his lips with his hand, breaking the back of his hand, after which he curled up on the ground unable to even utter a sound.

As he was being beaten without even being able to resist, his limbs entirely crushed, a firm hand grabbed Yurk by his hair.

As he was dragged along, a beastly howl leaked out at the pain transmitted from the broken bones all over his body.

Holding Yurk by his hair, Shan walked a few steps and shoved his face onto the ground.

A thick smell of urine seeping into his nose.

When he recognized that its identity was the urine he had leaked while being beaten moments ago, shame and anger surged.

However, the moment he painfully raised his head and met Shan’s pair of green eyes, all those emotions turned into terror.

At the sight of him bowing his head deeply, not daring to even meet his gaze, Shan smiled satisfyingly and raised his sword.

“Good. Unless he is a monkey, he should remember this well enough by now.”

With an incomprehensible murmur, striking the back of his head finally extinguished his consciousness.

*

The dueling ground where dozens of people had gathered was completely quiet, as if not a single person were present.

Looking down at Yurk, who had passed out with his head buried in his own urine, Shan marveled inwardly.

‘His skills are actually quite good compared to what I thought.’

He had thought he was merely a fool swaggering around Palles, but at this level, he had enough skill to carry himself reasonably well even among the knights of Pendia.

Of course, it was a terrible level compared to the royal knights.

Having concluded his light evaluation with that, Shan approached Count Kladek, rested his sword against the ground, and bowed his head respectfully.

“It is finished, Your Excellency.”

“Ah… victory in the duel goes to Shan of House Barendil. As announced in advance, the loser, Baron of Lugen, shall seek him out later to formally apologize for his rudeness.”

While the count spoke, Shan scanned the nobles and knights of the Palles fief gathered around.

Seeing as every one of them avoided Shan’s eyes, it seemed he had certainly left a solid first impression.