Chapter 903 - It's You
One of the traditions of a Knight's Duel is a one-on-one match.
Fighting one-on-one to gauge who wins.
The rest become spectators.
Stepping forward first is an expression of confidence worthy of it.
A knight of Lihin-Stetten snatched that opportunity.
"That bastard."
Lien ground his molars while waiting for his turn.
The guy who landed a blow on him previously.
Well, not quite a grudge, but should he say a bastard whose tricks were pettier than expected?
A guy whose actions were childish compared to the skills he possessed.
Lien cracked his neck left and right.
This time, he would break his nose bridge.
There was no place more suitable for him than a Knight's Duel.
His inscribed weapons were gauntlets wrapping two fists and greaves around his shins.
His specialty was breaking joints, and his hobby was smashing faces with fists.
A man for whom dealing with a single knight was twice as easy as dealing with an army was the knight named Lien.
Although the guy who stepped forward now was a tricky character even for him to deal with, nothing would change because of that.
'Just fight when it's time to fight.'
Block if needed.
Die if one must.
Those guarding the Southern front share the same mindset starting from a single soldier.
That is why they have protected the front line until now.
The name Guardian Deity of the Kingdom didn't come for no reason.
Tung.
Lien bumped his fists together.
Sparks flew as if representing his heart.
Didn't the Master keep him from stepping forward until now to make him prepare for such a moment?
No injuries and stamina was overflowing.
"Who is the fastest among you?"
The guy who stepped forward asks.
When discussing speed across the entire continent, an alias never left out is the Knight of the Gale.
Following that, an alias comparable to it is Blitzkling, Lightning Blade, and that belonged to Alexandra Yohan.
And the guy who stepped forward now was a madman revering speed, dreaming of the day to meet Gale and Lightning Blade.
His alias was Fastest.
Since there was no one faster than him across the South, he was the Knight of Fastest Speed.
"My name is Lados, called the Knight of Fastest Speed. Come out, fastest guy. Let's compete in speed."
When he finished speaking and Lien was about to take a step forward.
"Is it my turn?"
Dunbakel took a step.
She is a beastkin.
Confident that her instantaneous acceleration is faster than anyone here.
Therefore, she took a step to go out, but hurriedly bowed her head before that foot could stick to the ground.
Hwik—a fist passed the spot where her head was.
The evasion movement based on instinct didn't betray her today either.
The back of her head wasn't touched by the fist containing violence.
"Where do you think you're going, sour smell? He's calling me."
It was Rem.
He spoke while swinging his fist.
In the first place, he didn't intend to hit her but to stop her outgoing step.
His intention worked.
Dunbakel stopped her feet.
The barbarian standing behind was too crazy a bastard to ignore and go out.
"Why does your hand go out first leaving your mouth alone?"
"I spoke too."
Laughing, his words are extremely detestable, but he was an opponent with nothing to gain by attacking.
Dunbakel spat ptoo on the ground once and withdrew.
"Barbarian who lies habitually, withdraw."
Would Ragna just watch?
The genius swordsman holding Sunrise stepped next to Rem.
"You, step in when needed and stay out when not."
Rem growled.
The two argued exactly as usual.
Amidst this, Shinar looked at Enkrid and asked.
"How is it? Do you think I would be faster?"
Looking only at speed, Shinar isn't on the lagging side anywhere either.
If Jaxen was here, he would have said being fast isn't important but moving as much as needed at the appropriate moment is important.
And Jaxen's way of thinking like that would sometimes make one strike a sword faster than any knight.
If Jaxen was here, would he have stepped forward?
Might have.
'Originally a friend who liked to step back and watch.'
When seen this time, Jaxen was performing acrobatics alone against five knights.
The fact that he showed such an appearance itself was surprising.
Goosebumps even rose when facing that moment directly.
The will to protect what is behind his back was vividly conveyed to Enkrid.
Enough to make the desire to stand by his side and swing a sword boil.
Of course, Enkrid fell faithfully to that desire and achieved his wish.
Even now, his mindset was similar to that.
Although he felt fatigue from flying and fighting all day, he didn't want to back out here.
Who is the fastest?
"Seems fine if I go out."
Enkrid spat out what he had to say instead of answering Shinar.
"Fiancé, sometimes you don't even listen to others' words with the back of your ear. Is it because human ears are short? Or because you ate a poisonous herb wrongly when young?"
Neither.
Just personality.
Enkrid didn't react particularly to Shinar's words this time either.
Attracted as soon as he heard the word 'Fastest'.
In a way, the opponent radiated charm.
Probably a proper knight and a guy worth dealing with.
Expectation rose subtly.
Although it didn't really mean it was his turn.
"Captain, rest a bit."
Rem said.
Meaning since his body condition isn't normal, no need to step forward unnecessarily.
Rem's words were also correct.
Enkrid nodded, but not only because of Rem's words.
Rather, he stopped seeing another person step forward first.
Lien looked bewildered, stopped watching, and opened his mouth.
"Seems like my turn, isn't it? Captain?"
Cypress answered laughing kuk-kuk.
"Anyway, compatibility doesn't fit with you, so how about just watching? Besides, one from our side is already stepping forward."
The only madman among available forces who rolled his eyeballs looking for something instead of running his mouth.
Instead of running his mouth, he walked forward.
Since no great determination or killing intent lingered in that step, they didn't expect him to step forward like that, so Rem couldn't stop him from going out.
"This bastard?"
Rem said frowning his forehead.
Where does that guy think he's going without permission.
'I'll be seeing you when you get back.'
While Rem engraved a grudge, Ropord was also watching the situation after roughly tending to his body.
He looked for the guy who made holes in his body.
'Seems exactly like that bastard.'
Although didn't see the face, the momentum resembling a tranquil lake was hard to forget.
Identical to the guy who stepped forward from the opponent's side now.
And the ally standing facing him also caught his eye.
'Why does that Fel bastard look angry?'
Unknown matter.
Fel, who walked out, asked.
"It's you, right?"
"...?"
The opponent expressed question with his expression.
"It's you. Petty trickster."
The moment Fel spoke and grabbed Idolslayer, Knight Lados also placed his hand on his sword grip.
The distance is over ten steps, but a distance fine for exchanging swords just as exchanging conversation.
The gap between the two was barely ten steps.
The moment swords are drawn, they will jump forward without saying more.
Also, will strike down the swords held in hands.
Then it will be decided who is faster between the two.
Fel also had excellent talent in putting full power into a single blow.
'Could have fought from the front.'
When Ropord faced the drug-drunk unit at the front, this bastard only aimed for gaps.
'Petty bastard.'
A guy who stabbed the sword while pulling his body safely and ran away.
What was that?
'Amusement? Play? Ravaging?'
Doesn't matter for what reason he did so.
Fel knew seeing the wounds on Ropord's whole body.
'Played with him.'
Ropord endured and held out even knowing that.
Probably did so knowing the formation would collapse if he crumbled.
'I wouldn't have been able to do it.'
Difficult with his personality.
Even if the formation collapsed, he would have tried to catch that one opponent knight.
'You stepped forward knowing that, right? Nerd?'
Ropord knows how to take responsibility.
That is the difference from himself.
Words heard from the clan elder in the past lingered in Fel's head.
"What can be done with only talent in slaughter. Even if you kill dozens of coyotes, dead sheep do not return."
"Learn responsibility. Fel. If you lack that, you will not become a shepherd but only a swordsman drunk on slaughter. Qualification to wield Idolslayer starts there."
Fel hadn't failed many times in protecting sheep until now. Hard to call him the best, but didn't think he lagged as a shepherd either. Doesn't a shepherd just need to protect sheep well?
Is it a job requiring grandiose words?
Thought so.
Until seeing Ropord fight, the root of that thought didn't change.
Only after seeing him did the frame of thought break.
He grew a little more through this incident.
'Childish and young.'
Fel looked back on his past self, and realized the nerd growling by his side was an adult.
He showed responsibility.
The nerd would have kept his position even if he died.
'Nerd bastard.'
Although he won't voice this out even if he dies today.
'In a protecting fight, you are above.'
Fel admitted.
It was just that he hadn't admitted it alone until now.
Everyone in The Madmen Knights except him knew.
If fighting leading a unit, Ropord always won.
But was there anyone inside The Madmen Knights who discussed responsibility to Fel?
None.
"Lost again? Pfft, pip, pfft."
Rem bastard was busy teasing spilling strange laughter.
"You win if you cut everyone alone."
The madman named Ragna spat nonsensical words nonchalantly.
"Effort, effort is lacking."
Enkrid wasn't much different from Rem.
What would be the intention of mimicking Fel's usual words.
So did he resent them?
No.
Even if cursing inwardly, didn't resent.
"Do you know what is needed to learn? Knowing what you lack."
Frog, Luagarne's words intervened like lightning amidst thoughts.
Must ask a question to know the answer.
Must extend a hand to grasp something.
Must move feet to reach the desired place.
Simple logic rummages through his head.
Fel focused more than ever.
He predicted the trajectory the opponent would swing even before he drew the sword. Simultaneously, he also drew Idolslayer and swung.
Kkang!
Metal meets and exchanges greetings.
Cheerful noise cut across between the two.
Fel went left forward with the motion of swinging the sword as is, and the opponent bounced in the opposite direction like a mirror.
No time to catch breath.
Fel immediately turned his body and swung Idolslayer.
The jet-black blade reflected light and left an afterimage like spreading black velvet cloth wide.
The opponent's extremely thin blade encountered the velvet afterimage.
Kkang!
Both weren't ordinary weapons.
Light flashed between the two when blades exchanged power.
Then both started striking down swords while holding breath.
Tadadadadadadadadadadang!
Seemed like roasting thousands of beans simultaneously.
Such sounds were heard consecutively.
Some soldiers covered their ears.
Those who reached the level of knights watched without blinking once.
'Not pushed back.'
Enkrid saw it so.
Looking only at the speed of swinging the sword, the opponent might be slightly faster, but.
'Fills the lack with movement path adjustment.'
Fel minimized everything in the motion of swinging and withdrawing the sword.
Filled the gap in speed with that.
Fel forgot thoughts and was busy swinging the sword, blocking, and pouring out what was inside him.
Just before being sucked into a world where only the sword remains forgetting himself as usual.
This was his specialty.
However, unlike usual, one thought intervened amidst this.
"If you die, who protects the sheep?"
With the elder's last words.
"From now on, you are our unit's Guardian."
Damn nerd's words.
Guardian what, he was a hooligan swordsman.
Simultaneously, Fel saw needles flying in front of his eyes.
Didn't know when and how they flew.
Didn't feel presence, nor saw any preparatory motion.
Just reacted because he saw a few dots.
Changed to evasion hurriedly from the motion of extending the sword.
Fel showcased a motion close to acrobatics giving strength to both big toes.
Lay back leaving knees as is.
Holding out with strength in waist, seemed like lying on an invisible bed.
A feat achieved with surprisingly trained abdominal muscles, thigh muscles, and toe strength.
And above that, the sword slash the Knight of Fastest Speed boasted flew in.
Fel raised the sword upward.
Tiririring.
The opponent's blade passed hitting Fel's left shoulder area as is.
Should he say it's fortunate he didn't lose the arm at least.
Fel's blood fell on the floor.
Fel gave strength to his soles while blocking the sword and kicked the ground to raise his body.
Throughout the motion of standing up, he held the sword with only his right hand and aimed at the opponent.
No carelessness.
Since carelessness here would lead to defeat and death.
The guy called Knight of Fastest Speed faced him as is in a posture with hands behind back with left hand and aiming the sword held in right hand forward, and said.
"First, left arm."
Fel couldn't lift his left arm.
Clearly tendons or muscles or whatever were cut properly.
Meaning, one arm dropped out of the fight first.
***
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