Chapter 398: Antigone (3)

Eugene, who had grabbed Tulmar’s ankles, spun him like a top. A strong gust of wind happened to blow at that moment, and the citizens felt as if a living windmill was producing a sonic boom.

The Giant Swing was a technique more dangerous than one could imagine. If someone capable of performing it deliberately swung and threw, it could kill. Eugene knew this and adjusted his speed accordingly.

Even so, both Eugene and Tulmar were large men, so the excitement was palpable.

Wasn’t it a technique never before seen in the long history of wrestling? The citizens of Antigone craved both the new and the thrilling, and the Giant Swing satisfied both.

Eugene gave a slight bounce before rolling him sideways. Tulmar, being the seasoned wrestler he was, rolled and minimized the impact.

Roll roll roll roll!

The audience cheered as Tulmar rolled more than ten meters.

“What was that? What was that technique just now?”

“Tulmar like a toy doll!”

From the spectators’ perspective, it looked like he’d been thrown by a giant.

“Get up! Tulmar! I bet on you!”

Responding to the screams of spectators who would lose their money, Tulmar sprang to his feet. In wrestling, overwhelming strength was useful not only for dominating opponents but also for avoiding injury.

The damage was minimal, but Tulmar’s pride had been scratched, and he burned with fighting spirit. He had always been the one throwing others, never the one being thrown.

‘Seems like he has good control.’

Eugene had no intention of drawing blood in an entertainment event. But merely adjusting to not kill was difficult enough; giving just the right amount of impact to incapacitate the opponent was even harder.

Of course, that didn’t mean he intended to hold back.

-A fine match. A strongman like you would be hard to find even in the West.

-It’s exhilarating. The world truly is wide and full of the strong.

Sparing someone’s face like this was only done when their status warranted it. There was no need to go that far for a mere council member with a fixed term.

“I can still fight.”

Before Tulmar’s voice had even faded, the crowd’s roar washed over them.

“Fight! Fight fiercely!”

“Your Majesty! Show us more of Western techniques!”

Citizens waved snacks and wine bottles, stamping their feet. The envoys and council members, who had originally planned for just one bout of strength, looked to Eugene for guidance.

“Tulmar! Champion of Antigone! Come at me as much as you like! The protagonists of today are neither you nor I, but the citizens of Antigone! From the moment I stepped onto the sand, I am nothing more than one wrestler. Let’s give them an even more exciting show!”

As a powerful magician who had learned the mysteries of vocalization from Homi and also received the power of the dragon, Eugene’s voice carried a force that no great orator could match.

“Whoaaa!!!”

“Long live His Majesty the King!!!”

Amid the city-shaking fervor, Tulmar charged.

Wrestling on the Three Sisters Peninsula wasn’t much different from the West. While striking techniques were banned, body checks, shoulder charges, and low kicks were permitted.

This was because wrestling was sportified from close combat in warfare. Punches and kicks against an enemy armored with shield and armor were meaningless, but breaking their stance through collision or tripping them to the ground was effective.

From an entertainment perspective, some striking techniques were necessary too. The ruling powers who sponsored the games wanted citizens to enjoy themselves and work off their discontent.

Boom! Boom boom boom! Boom! Boom boom boom!

The drumming band, set up who knew when, began providing background music.

In an instant, Tulmar closed the distance, lowered his upper body, and grabbed Eugene’s arms.

‘Sweep!’

He pulled his right leg back, and by a hair’s breadth, Eugene’s leg sweep cut through empty air.

‘Now!’

Eugene had just attempted the leg sweep and was standing on one leg. If he pushed with all his strength in this opening, he could topple him.

But Eugene used the rotational force from the missed sweep to turn his back to Tulmar.

‘What is this?!’

In the moment of confusion caused by the unfamiliar technique, Eugene had already grabbed Tulmar’s arms with both hands like a bundle thief and swung.

Whooosh!

The citizens of Antigone witnessed for the first time a shoulder throw.

Thud!

Tulmar, sent flying about five meters, crashed into the ground. Fortunately, he had rolled and fallen forward, so he didn’t lose points.

“The… the leg sweep clearly failed, didn’t it?”

“It was a feint! Is that Western wrestling?”

The spectators held their heads in both hands and gasped. Eugene had called himself a wrestler and used judo techniques, but as long as the audience reaction was good, that was all that mattered.

“Haaah!”

The indomitable Tulmar charged again. This time, he aimed to grab Eugene’s belt at the waist rather than his arms.

Wrestling on the Three Sisters Peninsula, unlike the West, was conducted completely nude. But since this was a match conducted for the king’s dignity while clothed, there were plenty of places to grab.

When Eugene’s hand moved grotesquely to intercept, Tulmar hastily withdrew. The memory of the previous shoulder throw was still fresh. Instead, Tulmar attempted a leg sweep this time.

Whack!

But this madman of a monarch ducked low as if sinking down and caught the leg. Pulling straight back, Tulmar flipped and was dragged along.

Tulmar, lying on his back, tried to kick with his free leg to break the hold, but even that was easily caught. When Eugene crossed his arms, Tulmar’s two legs also formed an X.

From that position, Eugene spun 180 degrees, and Tulmar was flipped from his back to his stomach.

“Th-th-that!”

“Tulmar!”

In the citizens’ eyes, they could see Eugene’s sturdy back and rear, and below him, Tulmar’s red face and waist.

“Shake him off!”

“You can do it, Tulmar!”

Those who had bet on Tulmar cheered, but it was useless. Once a Sharpshooter was locked in, no strongman could break free with their hands.

But soon Tulmar was freed. Eugene had let him go of his own accord. Tulmar, mistaking it for an honorable king giving him time to regroup, didn’t immediately try to get away.

“Th-thank you… Huh!”

That one second of complacency brought disaster upon Tulmar. Eugene hadn’t let him go; he was trying to set up a consecutive hold.

Tulmar’s arms and legs, from behind, were bound by Eugene’s hands and feet. With all four limbs restrained, when Eugene fell to his back, Tulmar naturally ended up facing the sky, fixed in midair.

The perfect rectangle formed by two people. The Romero Special was realized.

“Graaah!”

Tulmar struggled to break free, but the more he did, the more pain intensified in his bound arms and shoulders. After a moment, the restraint was released, and Tulmar collapsed to the side.

“What kind of competition has the West been holding all this time?”

“We were frogs in a well.”

“We keep using the same high-efficiency techniques to rack up points, so there’s no progress!”

The citizens of Antigone felt exactly the emotion of sailors discovering a new continent. While euphoric, they also felt sadness for their own stagnated sports.

And our Tulmar once again rose to his feet.

“At this point, just st—oh!”

Eugene read something in his opponent’s expression and gaze.

“You’re magnificent! Tulmar!”

“Don’t give up, mister!”

It wasn’t the face of an athlete but of a politician. The sight of taking no effective hits, getting beaten, but still charging—that was being received by the citizens in a different way.

Eugene and Tulmar. Two politicians exchanged unspoken intentions. Wrestling remained wrestling, but the genre had shifted.

“Hyaaah!”

Tulmar launched his final charge and exchanged five rounds of blows.

Whack! Whack!

Afterward, they locked hands and wrestled for strength until Tulmar, exhausted, dropped to one knee.

“Tulmar!”

“My lord! Finish him off!”

Amid the cheers from both sides’ fans, the finishing move was delivered. Having taken his back, Eugene bound Tulmar’s limbs and fell sideways.

“Ugh!”

Tulmar groaned from the impact, but this was just the beginning. The two wrestlers, now one mass, began rolling in a circle.

Since Tulmar was underneath, every rotation gave the visual effect of his entire body being crushed.

“Oh my god!”

“What is that cruel technique?!”

Everyone was horrified by the overwhelming majesty of the Rolling Cradle, which surpassed even the Giant Swing.

Thanks to Eugene’s monstrous strength and Tulmar’s flexibility, the rolling speed was tremendous, and since both were thick-bodied, it was incredibly thrilling.

“…”

“…”

Tulmar, who had burned through all his fighting spirit and collapsed.

Eugene, who despite being a king, had rolled in the sand for the people’s entertainment.

Thunderous applause rained down on both of them. The show was a resounding success.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Thanks to you, we earned this much.”

The dark elves greeted the returning Eugene by shaking coins.

“It’s pocket change for you anyway, isn’t it?”

The Blackhand Tribe earned income through breeding, manufacturing, and trade from the Moving Castle, and the stipend for combat deployment was also substantial. After deducting living expenses and taxes, they lived quite comfortably.

“It’s not about the amount.”

“There’s a thrill in winning bets, you know?”

Naturally, every single one of his subordinates had bet on Eugene. That was no different from betting on whether the sun would rise in the east or west tomorrow.

* * *

Even after the wrestling match ended, latecomers who hadn’t witnessed it challenged him to new bouts. Having not seen Eugene’s match, they were all firmly convinced of their victory.

Since Eugene had already shown a genuine fight, the envoys tried to turn them down, but the citizens’ reaction was too heated.

“I’m fine with it. As I said, we’re not the protagonists today. The citizens desire it so much, so I should naturally oblige.”

And the matches ended decisively.

“The victory of Britainia’s king! His Majesty Maier!”

The javelin throw saw the javelin tear through the target and pierce through, and the discus flew beyond the city walls and disappeared entirely.

“His Majesty’s discus has been transformed! Blessed by the goddess!”

A superstitious farmhand’s babble spread and caused a momentary commotion.

The last event was a wooden sword duel replacing boxing. Even in this, the knights Antigone was proud of suffered defeat after defeat.

“With this, all matches have concluded!”

When no more challengers emerged, the referee waved both arms.

“Well done.”

Valda wiped Eugene’s face with a damp towel.

“It took longer than expected, but I think it was worth it.”

“What a spectacle! Look at the citizens’ eyes. Even if you ran for council, you’d win by a landslide.”

Every gaze directed at the guest was favorable. He wondered how much of the forty percent opposition would remain by tomorrow morning.

A free city, especially Antigone, valued winning the citizens’ hearts above all else. With a day’s effort, he had cleared away a significant amount of future obstacles.

“But we can’t let our guard down. The populace may be swayed by pleasure, but city nobles entangled with money and power are a different story.”

“I’m not asking for much. Just follow orders to go in when told and retreat when told, and I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Isn’t that asking for a lot?”

Valda chuckled.

Not listening to the commander was a common trait among the warlords of this era. But for this operation, they would likely be quite obedient.

If they weren’t, the supreme commander would perform a Giant Swing from the deck. And the landing spot wouldn’t be sand but the sea.

* * *

Even though Eugene had arrived, they couldn’t set out immediately.

Antigone’s warships were operating throughout the Mediterranean. For maximum efficiency and training of greenhorns, they had divided their elite sailors into several groups and deployed them.

But exterminating ghost ships was a task requiring the best of the best. They needed to gather the skilled personnel scattered across the seas and form an elite fleet.

“There’s only one ghost ship, so whether it’s a ramming attack or boarding, the number who can attempt it is limited.”

“As Your Majesty says. The most the excess ships can do is cheer from behind. As long as they don’t get in the way, that’ll be enough.”

Eugene and Marbas nodded at the ram at the front of the warship.

“Still, as a wealthy city, they’re well-prepared. I’m sure it will please Your Majesty.”

“Of course. Silver is always right.”

This wealthy city had silver-plated the rams of their warships in preparation for the ghost ship.

-Yes! When spending money, spend it! Who suggested this?

-That would be me, Your Majesty.

-We should shake hands. Collaborating with such a talent gives me confidence. No wonder Antigone became the Mediterranean’s strongest maritime city.

-I was called a wasteful spendthrift countless times, so I’m delighted Your Majesty approves.

Eugene praised the idea highly. When fighting unknown entities, preparation determined victory or defeat. Allies who didn’t spare money to prepare for everything? They were truly the best sponsors.

As the fleet gathered, a lavish banquet was held. In terms of scale alone, Eugene had attended many larger banquets, but the variety of offerings couldn’t be matched by Antigone.

Ornamental cacti and aloe from Samur were set up, carpets from the Eastern Empire covered the floor, and colorful parrots chirped in their cages.

Roasted birds and marsupials from the West, unavailable in this part of the world, were marinated in various spices and gave off a fragrant aroma.

Unlike the West where wine was always the star of beverages, there was also clear rice wine and beer that had come from the desert kingdoms south of the Mediterranean, which drew attention.

“Beer made from bread?”

“Just hearing about it sounds somehow savory.”

“What is this straw for? Use it from the top but only suck from the middle since the bottom gets dirty?”

True to its reputation as a maritime city competing for Mediterranean hegemony. The food was so varied that Eugene’s subordinates couldn’t taste everything before getting full, eating just one bite per item.

Nominally, Eugene had come as a mercenary captain, but his status was king. Therefore, gift exchanges were conducted as diplomatic acts during the banquet.

“Saplings?”

The Antigone citizens, who had presented gorgeous silks, were puzzled by Eugene’s gift. They had assumed the king who roamed the world would surely produce something extraordinary.

“This is a variety created under the command of the First Era Elven royal family. When I visited the deep forests, it was presented to my beloved, Queen Valda.”

Everyone froze at Eugene’s nonchalant delivery of such an enormous claim.

If anyone else had said it, the response would have been “What kind of scam is this?” But the Elven queen who radiated presence like the sun beside Eugene gave it credibility.

“Your Majesty. Crops created and distributed by the Elven royal family have only ever benefited all peoples of the world. What function does this sapling hold?”

“It can produce smoke that eradicates pests. Beyond the Mediterranean, there are many regions plagued by tropical diseases carried by mosquitoes, aren’t there? You can trust the effects since we’ve used it ourselves. It’s absolutely amazing.”

Humanity had been tormented by mosquitoes since the beginning of time. While some regions suffered only itchy bites, others had countless casualties every year.

There were even ethnic groups whose platelets had evolved to be sickle-shaped to resist mosquito-borne parasites. A chronic blood disadvantage that had nonetheless evolved to combat even a single mosquito.

There were folk remedies to repel mosquitoes, but most were ineffective, and there was plenty of nonsense like “drinking urine cures internal injuries.”

“I’ve prepared two hundred saplings. Tomorrow, the queen herself will plant them and teach the cultivation methods. Prepare the relevant council members and farmers.”

“Thank you! When these grow, trade history will be rewritten!”

For Antigone, where more exploration and exchange directly led to progress, this was the finest gift.

“B-But Her Majesty will plant them herself?”

“What’s the problem?”

Valda asked.

“A noble person shouldn’t be buried in dirt. We’ll prepare a palanquin, so please just give instructions…”

“My husband himself rolled in the sand arena for the people’s entertainment. Where the needle goes, the thread must follow.”

Valda waved her outstretched hand. When a person in power did this, it naturally conveyed arrogance and authority. But from Valda’s bearing, only dignity overflowed.

“Developing and distributing crops that benefit the world is our royal family’s banner. Originally, fieldwork was the duty of cadet branches, but now I’m the only remaining royal. Therefore, it’s proper for me to carry out the task.”

“…”

To be elected by popular vote, one had to show example. Noblesse oblige paradoxically worked most effectively in city-states governed by democracy.

That was precisely why Valda’s words and actions captivated the citizens of Antigone at once.

“Just like the soapberry trees, this doesn’t discriminate by soil. But since it’s currently in the distribution phase, we need to grow them quickly.”

The next morning.

Valda led a large number of people down the dirt road. Beyond those involved in cultivation, all manner of onlookers had gathered in great numbers.

A scene from the First Era that they had only encountered through stories or paintings.

An Elven royal descending with saplings in one hand and soap in the other to enlighten the masses.

It was the recurrence of that historical moment.

Valda walked barefoot on the earth, gauged the soil’s vitality, and used magic to dig holes. She taught the farmers one by one what fertilizer to use and how to manage the plants.

Dozens of people were painting the scene. Wide-eyed artists wielded their brushes in their respective styles to create the masterworks of their lives.

* * *

“I appreciate the offer, but now my physical and mental strength is focused solely on the ghost ship.”

Eugene declined every subsequent sports invitation and managed his condition.

Large galleys arrived from various parts of the Mediterranean, and the prepared craftsmen silver-plated the rams.

“Not just one, but all of them?”

“Please reconsider. The money involved isn’t just a few coins…”

Many who wanted to save the city budget opposed it, but with Eugene backing the decision, it proceeded as planned.

Eugene’s words, having eradicated countless evils, carried authority. Moreover, thanks to the spectacular show on the first day, his popularity within the city was immense, making it difficult for council members to voice objections.

“It’s magnificent.”

Arms crossed, Eugene toured the pier with a grin, admiring the fleet.

The imposing warships’ rams glowed silver in the sunlight. Antigone’s warships used particularly large and thick rams, and with the added elaborate decorations, the silver plating had excellent synergy.

“Is it really that enjoyable?”

Cassandra, who accompanied him, asked.

“Is there anything more enjoyable than realizing your dreams with someone else’s money?”

“The ghost ship may be an evil entity, but it differs from evil spirits. It’s a being with a physical form—a ship.”

Cassandra was both a guerrilla leader and a talented witch. That’s why she was also adept at analyzing spiritual opponents like this.

“The ship’s hull is merely wood, and the mystique might be condensed in a deeper layer. If so, the effectiveness of silver-plated rams would be poor.”

“That’s precisely why we should use someone else’s money.”

“Wow.”

While they spoke, another warship docked.

“Captain Basco! I’ve returned under the council’s command!”

From across the Mediterranean, the most elite fleet—having survived countless pirates, sea monsters, and storms—was taking shape.