-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Bet with the Marquis (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Bet with the Marquis (2)
Vmmm.
The dagger, infused with internal energy, began to tremble faintly.
A little too close, perhaps, but it shouldn't matter.
The range was a bit short for the dagger to build up maximum force and velocity, but I figured it would be enough.
Fwoosh!
I threw the dagger, brimming with internal energy, at Bolak's side.
Thwump!
The dagger shot forward like a blur, sinking into Bolak's flesh as if it were tofu.
"Kieeeek!"
Bolak's pained scream echoed through the training grounds.
"Kegh!"
"Hm?"
I hadn't expected it to die in one hit and was already preparing another dagger, but Bolak simply collapsed, motionless.
Just as I thought, the target must have been a weak point. A single strike had snuffed out its life.
"Hmm..."
No cheers, no jeers. The training ground was shrouded in silence, as if all sound had vanished from the world. Every spectator stared with their mouths agape, as if they'd seen a ghost.
I glanced at the Marquis, who was watching right beside me. His expression and reaction were no different from anyone else's.
Arin, though... she's as calm as ever.
It seemed Arin was the only one here who wasn't surprised, wearing her usual expression.
Clap!
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Suddenly, someone started clapping. Then, as if in response, applause erupted from all around.
"Amazing!"
"Wow!"
"Whoa!"
Perhaps because I'd been winning them over lately, the servants in the crowd started cheering for me. The knights, however, merely watched me with suspicion in their eyes.
It really pays to be liked.
"You, you... how did you do that?"
The Marquis approached me, trembling.
"I aimed well and threw well."
"That's obvious, you brat!"
The Marquis raised his voice, dumbfounded.
"That's all there is to it."
"Gah!"
The Marquis's face flushed red.
"I don't accept this."
"What?"
"Bolak, killed by a single dagger? That's ridiculous!"
"Hoh, is the great Marquis Lox going back on his word?"
"Urgh."
It seemed the Marquis was determined not to acknowledge my victory. He was convinced I'd killed Bolak by pure luck.
"Your Excellency."
"What!"
The mage who had been examining his summoned beast called out to the Marquis.
"This creature had a single spot where a scale was missing, and the Grand Prince's dagger is lodged right there."
"I know! That's why I can't accept it. It was pure luck!"
So, the Marquis knew I had aimed for that spot.
"Whether I aimed for a weak spot or took a hostage, a win is a win, isn't it?"
"Kugh..."
The Marquis still refused to admit defeat.
"Let's go one more time."
"What?"
"Just one more time. If you win again, I'll truly acknowledge it."
This guy... he's not a kid, yet he's throwing a tantrum.
"No, what's done is done."
"This is a new bet."
"A new bet?"
"That's right. If you win, I'll grant you any one wish you desire. And if you lose, you'll learn the sword as we originally planned."
The Marquis, having made up his mind, stated the conditions.
"Fine. Let's do it."
Taking down one more Bolak was no big deal, so I naturally nodded.
"Good. Then which knight will you face?"
"What?"
Suddenly, the Marquis said something incomprehensible.
"A knight?"
"I never said you'd be fighting a Bolak, did I? This time, your opponent will be a knight."
"What are you talking about!"
"Oh, I'm not saying you have to win, of course. I'll acknowledge it if you can just get past the knight's sword and land a single blow."
The Marquis probably wanted to see me flustered, but honestly, it didn't matter. I had a secret weapon.
"Ah! Fighting a full-fledged knight would be too disadvantageous, so I'll pick a knight-in-training for you."
"Why, thank you *so* very much for your generosity."
A knight would have been fine, but a knight-in-training will be even easier.
The Marquis had just made a decision he would spend the night regretting.
"So, when should we set the date?"
"Let's do it now."
"What?"
"With so many spectators, there must be at least one knight-in-training here."
Strike while the iron is hot, as they say. No point in dragging this out. It was better to finish it today.
"Bring me a knight-in-training."
"Yes!"
The Marquis gave an order to a nearby servant, who went into the crowd and brought back a knight-in-training wearing leather armor.
Huh? Why him of all people?
[Creator's Eye has been activated.]
[Name: Klyde]
[Traits: Berserker, Monstrous Strength Lv.1]
[Favorability: -20 (Dislike)]
A major character from the novel, one who would later become the protagonist's trusted companion, was standing before me.
But his favorability seems to have gone up since yesterday.
"Greetings, Your Excellency the Marquis. I am the knight-in-training, Klyde."
"Yes. Klyde."
"To have you speak my name is an honor, Your Excellency!"
Klyde was looking at the Marquis like a fan gazing at their idol.
"There is something I need you to do."
"Anything!"
"You are to have a match with Yuren here."
"Yes? With the Grand Prince? Ah! I-I apologize. How dare I question you, Your Excellency..."
"Haha, it's fine. It's understandable that you'd mishear. But you heard correctly. You're to have a match with this boy."
The Marquis gestured for me to come closer.
"I will now explain the rules."
"You're taking this seriously."
"Yuren, you win if you can get past Klyde's sword and strike him with your dagger. Klyde, you win if you can dodge or block Yuren's dagger. Simple, right?"
As the Marquis said, the rules were simple and easy to judge. But both he and Klyde seemed so certain I would lose that they hadn't considered the issue of the dagger actually hitting its mark.
It'll be fatal if it connects. They're really looking down on me.
"Neither of you needs any preparation, I assume?"
"Of course not, Your Excellency. May I draw my sword?"
"You may."
Upon hearing the Marquis's words, Klyde drew a training sword from his waist.
"I am also ready."
I took out the three daggers I had brought.
"Will you not need more daggers?"
"This is enough."
"Then, begin!"
Klyde and I put some distance between us and faced each other.
"Klyde!"
"We won't let you live it down if you lose, Klyde!"
"No dinner for you if you lose, Klyde!"
"A hundred laps around the training ground if you lose!"
"Go, Klyde!"
It seemed word of the match had already spread, as the spectators were cheering enthusiastically. For Klyde, of course.
"Go, Grand Prince!"
Huh? I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. Amidst the sea of cheers for Klyde, I heard a small female voice cheering for me.
Wow, I think I'm going to cry. I don't know who you are, but thank you so much.
"Grand Prince, I am ready."
Klyde gripped his sword with both hands, glaring at me with fiery eyes.
"Alright, here I come."
"Yes!"
As I infused the dagger with internal energy and prepared to throw, a target appeared on him, just like with Bolak.
So it appears on humans, too. It wasn't just showing well-known vital spots like the head, heart, or solar plexus; there were countless points visible.
Are these... fatal pressure points? I have no intention of killing him, so I'd better not aim there.
I had three daggers, so I decided to start off light with the first one.
Fwoosh!
Just as I had with Bolak, I threw it straight at Klyde, infusing it only with internal energy.
"Hah!"
Klyde shouted as he swung his training sword down swiftly.
CLANG!
An immense sound, far too loud for a clash between a training sword and a dagger, exploded outwards.
"Kngh."
Klyde was pushed back a step by the force behind the dagger, and his arms were trembling faintly.
"How can it have such power!"
Klyde was clearly shocked, looking at me with eyes full of disbelief.
The Marquis went a step further, picking up the fallen dagger and examining it from all angles, as if searching for some hidden mechanism.
I infused my next dagger with internal energy and spoke to the still-dazed Klyde.
"Warmed up? I'm coming for real this time."
"What?"
Fwoooosh.
Just infusing the dagger with internal energy created a faint wind around me.
Vrrrrr.
The dagger in my hand shook wildly.
[Using Straight Shot.]
I used the Straight Shot skill from the Sichuan Tang Clan's Hidden Weapons technique. The dagger flew toward Klyde, spinning as if it would pierce through space itself.
Zing!
I could hear the sound of the air being torn apart.
He's a main character, so he won't die, right?
"Uwaaaah!"
A blue light erupted from Klyde's entire body and his sword. He must have sensed the power in the dagger and instinctively released his aura.
CRASH!
Thud.
Klyde's training sword, broken in half, fell to the training ground. His blue aura had already been extinguished by the dagger's force, and blood was trickling from his hands.
"Ah, ah..."
Klyde could only stare at the broken blade of his sword, which was now embedded in the ground.
"Yuren."
The Marquis's face, which had been playful until a moment ago, was now so serious it was hard to approach him.
"You and I need to have a talk."
"The bet isn't over yet."
"What are you talking about!"
"I still have one dagger left."
"Yuren!"
My dagger broke his training sword, but that was it. It never touched Klyde's body.
"Klyde."
"Yes? Yes."
Ignoring the Marquis, I called out to the dumbfounded Klyde.
"Are you going to end it like this?"
"..."
"You want to be a knight, don't you? Would a future knight accept such an ambiguous result?"
"No."
"Honor lies in seeing things through to a clear conclusion, whether it be victory or defeat."
"Ah!"
Whether he was impressed by my words or not, the Marquis, who had been reaching out to stop me, lowered his hand and stepped back.
"May I get another sword?"
"Of course."
Klyde brought a new sword from the armory.
"I am ready."
As he finished speaking, a light even stronger than before erupted from Klyde's entire body.
A faint red hue crept into his eyes. It seemed his Berserker trait was lending him its power.
"Come!"
Klyde looked to be ready, his face set with deadly resolve.
Vwooom.
Without a word, I infused the dagger with my internal energy and used a newly unlocked skill from the Sichuan Tang Clan's Hidden Weapons technique.
[Using Curved Shot.]