[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 106
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly turned cold at Zeke's words.
It was clear to everyone that he was referring to the Empire's garrison.
However, Morgan was an experienced knight.
He relaxed his stern expression, put on a friendly smile, and said,
"Hahaha! You got me there. Very well. So Sir Zeke Draker is Princess Melissa's secret card."
Morgan returned to his seat in the conference room.
Zeke also took a seat next to Princess Melissa.
Morgan looked at Princess Melissa and said,
"To continue our previous discussion... Alencia lacks the ability to manage the beastmen ghetto, so the Empire will do it instead, that's what I mean."
Melissa's expression hardened at Morgan's words.
Although Morgan was speaking with a smile, it was a clear insult.
Princess Melissa regained her composure and said,
"There are two things wrong with the Legion Commander's words."
"Oh, and what would those be?"
"Firstly, Alencia does not manage the beastmen ghetto. That land has been inhabited by beastmen for 500 years. Alencia respects their territory."
Melissa continued, looking at Morgan,
"Secondly, even if Alencia lacks the ability to manage it, it's a separate matter for the Empire to claim authority over it. Moreover, I would like to remind you once again that illegally stationing troops in the Alencia border region violates the Central Continent treaty."
Morgan chuckled at Melissa's righteous words.
It was a sneer that only someone with the confidence of a powerful nation could make.
He looked at Melissa and said,
"It seems you have misunderstood my words. The Empire respects the beastmen's territory. Our need for management is not for any other purpose but to protect the beastmen. His Majesty the Emperor, deeply concerned about the dwindling beastmen population, has personally issued this order."
Melissa clenched her teeth at Morgan's sly words.
As expected of a knight of the Serpentarius constellation, his skill with words was exceptional.
Zeke, who was next to Melissa, felt something strange as he listened to Morgan's words.
'Why are they trying so hard to occupy the beastmen's territory?'
He was well aware of the Rom Emperor's policy of territorial expansion, but deliberately causing conflict with Alencia was not a rational decision in many ways.
The beastmen ghetto was practically a wasteland, like the desert region in the south of the Central Continent.
The endless canyons and red sandstone cliffs were impressive to look at, but they weren't suitable for human habitation.
'The reason they're aiming for that place despite that must be because there's something hidden there.'
The Empire usually had the same reason for doing things like this.
'Ancient ruins... There must be an important dungeon in the beastmen ghetto.'
The Rom Emperor, dreaming of immortality, was excavating hidden dungeons all over the continent.
If there was a dungeon in the territory of the beastmen, who had inherited mystical powers from ancient times, it was understandable that the Emperor would covet it.
Zeke slowly opened his mouth towards Morgan, who was refuting Melissa's righteous arguments with various sophistries.
"Sir Buffon."
Morgan turned his head and looked at Zeke.
"Do you have something to say?"
"I think we'll just be going in circles if we continue this conversation."
Morgan grinned and said,
"I agree with Sir Zeke."
"There's a traditional way to quickly resolve a dispute that has no conclusion."
Morgan's eyebrows twitched at those words.
"Are you suggesting... a duel?"
"Isn't that the traditional method that has been passed down since the days of the Holy Empire?"
Morgan tilted his head at those words.
'Why is that Draker acting like that?'
It was clear to anyone that the Empire had the upper hand.
Nevertheless, the fact that he brought up a duel meant he must be quite confident.
Morgan said to Zeke, as if testing him,
"A traditional duel... Are you referring to a champion battle?"
"That's right. Three from Alencia, three from the Empire. The winner continues."
Morgan grinned at Zeke's words.
'It seems Zeke Draker himself intends to participate in the duel.'
It was typical behavior seen in young knights who had just been knighted.
Young knights, unaware of how vast the world was and thinking they were the strongest, often made this mistake.
Moreover, Zeke Draker was the winner of the Draker martial arts tournament, so his confidence must be sky-high.
'He's still just a kid.'
Morgan nodded and replied,
"Very well. The traditional way is always the best answer."
With Morgan's agreement, they decided to settle the dispute with a champion duel.
While the dueling ground was being prepared, Melissa said to Zeke in a worried voice,
"Sir Zeke, will you really be alright against the Empire's knights?"
The Empire's knights were known for being rough and strong.
This was because they had fought in many wars and had plenty of real-life combat experience.
In comparison, Alencia's knights might have a high level of swordsmanship, but they lacked practical experience.
Zeke reassured Melissa, saying,
"Don't worry. I will protect Your Highness's honor."
Although Zeke said it without much thought, Melissa's heart skipped a beat.
This was because it was a line often used by knights in storybooks when confessing their feelings to a princess.
However, seeing Princess Melissa blush slightly and turn her head away, Zeke completely misinterpreted her emotions.
'Is she angry that I decided on the champion duel without her consent?'
Since Zeke had unilaterally made the decision without consulting her beforehand, he thought it was understandable for Melissa to feel that way.
But the duel had already been decided.
Seeing Princess Melissa's reaction, Zeke thought he should take responsibility for his actions by doing his best to defeat the Empire's knights.
***
Thud!
The Empire's knights also appeared on the dueling ground, clad in full plate armor for the champion duel.
Zeke and the other Alencia knights were similarly equipped.
Morgan, the legion commander, didn't participate in the duel himself and instead sent out his most skilled knights.
Morgan said to Zeke,
"Will you be participating in person, Sir Zeke?"
Zeke nodded.
Morgan, seemingly convinced that his assumption was correct, climbed up to the spectator seats with an unpleasant smile.
Melissa also sat in the spectator seats with an anxious expression.
First, one of the Alencia knights stepped forward.
Zeke sat in the waiting area and observed the Empire's knights facing the Alencia knight.
'They seem to be at least Blue Knight level.'
Morgan, one of the thirteen palace knights, was a Blue Knight, but his skills were relatively low compared to his position.
He was originally a person who excelled in strategy rather than martial arts, but even so, he was the commander of the Four Dogs Palace Knight Order, one of the thirteen legions of the Empire, so he wasn't an opponent to be underestimated.
However, perhaps due to his pride as a commander, Morgan himself didn't participate in the duel.
He seemed to think that his subordinate knights alone would be enough to defeat the Alencia knights.
'That arrogant complacency will be their downfall.'
Soon, the duel began, and the Empire's knight immediately pushed back the Alencia knight.
Crash!
The Empire's swordsmanship specialized in shield combat.
Since it was a traditional swordsmanship passed down from the Holy Empire era and adapted for aura use, it was well-suited for traditional duels.
It was understandable why Morgan had been so confident.
"Keuhuk!"
The Alencia knight collapsed without being able to properly fight back against the Empire's knight.
The second knight stepped forward, but the result was the same.
With two knights defeated in a row, Melissa's face turned pale.
If Zeke, the last participant, also lost the duel, they would have to give the imperial garrison free passage to the beastmen ghetto.
At first, they would station troops under the pretext of protecting the beastmen ghetto, but soon they would gradually encroach on Alencia's territory.
That was the typical method of territorial expansion for the Rom Empire.
Zeke entered the dueling ground, wearing his armor and holding a kite shield.
The Empire's knight, seeing Zeke equipped in full plate armor, said,
"It's an honor to duel the winner of the Draker martial arts tournament."
Despite the words, his tone was clearly mocking.
Zeke silently closed his helmet and raised his sword.
The Empire's knight also stood before Zeke with his weapon raised.
As the duel began, the Empire's knight sprang forward first.
"Haaa!"
The Empire's knight swung his shield and struck Zeke's side.
Crash!
A tremendous crash resonated as the shields collided.
The Empire's knight thought Zeke would stagger.
But surprisingly, Zeke didn't seem to be fazed at all and stood firm.
Rather, it was the knight who had swung the shield that was surprised by the recoil.
He raised his sword and tried to strike Zeke.
Crash!
Zeke struck first, hitting the knight's front with his shield.
The knight staggered back from the tremendous impact.
Zeke quickly stepped forward and swung his sword at the knight's side.
Crack!
The armor caved in, and the sound of cracking ribs echoed from the knight's side.
"Kugh!"
The Empire's knight collapsed and groaned.
Morgan, who had been watching with a smile, jumped up in surprise.
He shouted towards Zeke,
"I-Isn't that an artifact? That's against the rules!"
Zeke opened his helmet and said,
"It's an ordinary sword, shield, and armor, not artifacts. I borrowed them from the Alencia border headquarters, so you can check them."
Morgan gritted his teeth at Zeke's words.
Zeke was more skilled than he had expected.
'If I had known it would be like this, I should have just gone out myself, regardless of appearances.'
But he couldn't change the champions who had already been decided.
Morgan calmed down and sat back down.
The remaining two champions were veteran knights he had personally trained and fought alongside on the battlefield.
He reassured himself that a young knight who had just been knighted wouldn't be able to win.
Crash!
But with a single blow from Zeke's shield, the second knight was sent flying.
Morgan gaped at the sight.
"H-How...?"
Despite his apparent lack of experience as a knight, Zeke's shield combat skills were outstanding.
He wielded the heavy and unwieldy shield as if it were a part of his own body.
There was nothing to say as the Empire's knights, who prided themselves on their shield combat, were being overwhelmed by a single shield.
Morgan said to Antonio, the last remaining champion, with a serious expression,
"You absolutely cannot lose."
Antonio nodded and closed his helmet.
Morgan decided to put his faith in Antonio, who was the most skilled of the three.
Zeke and Antonio faced each other on the dueling ground.
Since both were the last champions, this was the final duel.
Melissa, in the spectator seats, also watched the duel with clenched fists.
Antonio was the first to move.
"Haaa!"
Like a true knight of the Empire, he swung his sword with clean and practical movements, keeping his shield forward.
Clang!
Zeke's sword clashed with Antonio's.
Antonio was surprised to feel the unexpectedly heavy blow from Zeke, who hadn't even reached adulthood yet.
'Is he a monster?'
He could understand why the Draker knights were called the strongest on the continent.
Zeke, sensing Antonio's hesitation, immediately seized the opportunity.
Bam!
Zeke's sword struck Antonio's shield.
Although he blocked it with his shield, the impact penetrated deep into his body.
"Ugh!"
Unable to withstand it any longer, Antonio retreated.
He created distance from Zeke and, to change the flow, charged forward with his shield held in both hands.
Crash!
Antonio, charging with the heavy shield, was a fearsome weapon in himself.
But Zeke wasn't naive enough to just take the charging shield head-on.
He smoothly dodged Antonio's attack with Phantom Step.
And then he swung his shield towards the exposed side.
Crash!
Antonio, with incredible reflexes, raised his shield to block Zeke's attack.
Crack!
But his wrist holding the shield was twisted.
Antonio dropped his shield and aimed his sword at Zeke, holding it with both hands.
"Huff... Huff."
Aura concentrated in Antonio's sword.
In traditional duels, using an aura blade was generally considered disrespectful, but there were times when it was used regardless of etiquette.
And Antonio judged that this was one of those times.
Woooong!
A clear aura blade formed on Antonio's sword.
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]