Chapter 28

Chapter 28

TL-Mechatronic

The Knights of the Count of Rava are called The Eagle Knights. If Count Rava becomes a Duke, they may rise to the rank of double-headed eagle knights.

The Eagle Knights Commander heard the knight’s words.

“Quiet, don’t be hasty. The Duke of Luverne has changed, and the Dark Knights had a great influence on the outcome. It could be different this time around.”

Everyone stood in attention with the Commander’s stern voice.

But, what could they do? Even if they tried to get their minds in the game, there were rumors about the new Duke. Few battles have been won head-on, and most of them have been won by land-based strategies.

Furthermore, the Duke who was said to be a master of strategies using the terrain would not appear in the battle.

It was much better for Count Rava who was a legitimate son to be the new Duke rather than the illegitimate child of Luverne to occupy the Duchy,

Didn’t even the imperial family secretly have such thoughts!?

Moreover, the Dark Knights are not even true Knights. Many rumors say that they are actually just a mercenary group.

At that time, a soldier who was on watch duty came running.

“Report! Two horses with Black Hawk flags are approaching.”

“Two?”

The symbol of the Dark Knights is a Black Hawk. The Black Hawk was engraved on a blue flag that could be used only by the Duke.

But only two?

“Are they the leaders? Is the rest following from behind?”

“Maybe they are coming to give greetings first.”

When the vice-commander said so, the leader nodded, “I see.”

Unlike the previous Exchange Matches, this would have new faces.

Then another soldier ran again.

“Captain, that…… It’s a unicorn!”

All the knights opened their eyes and looked at the soldier.

“A unicorn?”

“You mean, the one’s with horns?”

“Yes, it has a horn. And…….”

Said the soldier, wheezing.

“The other party identified itself as the Commander of the Dark Knights.”

Jean glanced at Nina. She stretched out her back and sat quietly and comfortably on her unicorn.

He recalled the conversation yesterday.

“Two? Only us two will go?”

“We can’t fill a team of people anyway. As it turned out, fewer than ten Knights remain.”

After the civil war, Adrian received the resignation of the knights who wanted to retire. Then the knights who were tired of fighting with humans left. Thanks to this, there are now fewer than ten people in the Order.

“Since we can’t leave the Duchy empty. Let’s just go and fix the problem.”

“Are you serious…..?”

Jean shut his mouth tight. Will it really be okay?

But those words didn’t come out. He knew just how strong Nina was. But he could not help but worry, the knights over there are tough. They’re going to come up with the best ten of them.

“Okay.”

Jean nodded his head. Let’s believe in Nina’s words. Nina said with an apologetic face.

“Tean, I’m sorry but I don’t think your turn is going to come.”

At her words, Jean replied only with, “Yes, yes.”

But when they arrived like this and said that they were only two people, he became nervous again.

There was a signal to enter the temporary camp.

When both went inside, there were extravagant barracks built in an orderly manner. Jean, who had no memory of using barracks without a hole, admired the barracks built of soft, thick cloth.

I’ve never seen a rich order of Knights.

The curious gaze of the soldiers turned to the unicorns.

“Fr-From here on you have to go by foot.” (random knight)

Nina jumped out and came down from the unicorn The soldier held the reins and looked at it with entranced eyes.

“Please come this way.”

The guide who came out to meet Jean opened his mouth. The words were courteous, but the tone, gaze, and expression were not.

“I wonder if he thinks I’m the Commander?’

‘Let it go.’

Jean and Nina followed the guide after exchanging such glances.

In front of the innermost luxurious barracks, a team of knights lined up, and in front of them stood the leader of the Order of the Eagle.

“Greetings, I’m Teravolt, the Commander of the Eagle Knights.”

It was obviously a rude tone, but the two people who did not know aristocracy remained calm.

“Greetings, this is Nina La Dell, the Commander of the Dark Knights.”

I just followed it the same way as if it was a courtesy. In a second, an angry atmosphere spread among the Eagle knights. But Teravolt was surprised in a different sense.

“You? The Commander?”

“Yes, I’m the leader.” Nina straightened her shoulders.

With her long silver hair tied in pigtails, she had gold eyes and a neat face. She wore a black uniform all the way to her neck, but she looked like a little girl.

“Are you serious?”

“The seal of the Duke of Luverne is on my unicorn saddle.”

After a moment of commotion, they really knew she was the leader.

“But why are only the two of you here? If you plan to postpone the Exchange Match……”

“Oh, I think two would be enough.”

A moment of silence hovered at Nina’s words.

“What did you say?”

“I said, ‘Two would be enough’.”

Nina said with a single smile. Jean stretched his shoulders and stood firmly behind her.

If they get pissed off, I shouldn’t be separated from her.

Sir Teravolt’s well-kept mustache shook. But he continued.

“This exchange match is supposed to be dueled by ten men! Two people are not enough. This year the victory should go to us by disqualification.”

“I said that two people is enough. How about this, if you win the match, I will give you some unicorns.”

Teravolt flinched.

He had just seen the unicorns and could not help but admire them. For a person who rides horses, it would be strange to not be amazed by such creatures.

Is there anyone you won’t like such terms? The other knights gave him a keen look as if they felt the same way.

‘Let’s just do it, boss!’

‘It’s just two people. We can win with enough margin.’

‘It seems that the little girl believes in the bulk behind her.’

‘It’s a piece of cake.

This was a bet that one had no choice but to accept. If he retreats like this, there will only be an earful of Count Rava later.

“Okay, but I’ll write the contract first.”

“That’s great.”

Nina and Teravolt exchanged parchment contracts. Unlike ordinary exchange meetings, this was a

confrontation between two Dark Knights versus ten Eagle Knights, but they accepted each other’s terms.

The winner must be accepted unconditionally.

If Nina loses, the ownership of the unicorns is permanently transferred to the Count. The rest were the same conditions as for the usual exchange meeting. The game began after they stamped each other’s ring.

The square stadium was packed with farmers that looked poorer and darker than the people in the territory of Luverne. Jean was suffocated by the despair-like air that pressed down on the stadium and tried to ignore it, but Nina was calm.

Each was given a blunt iron sword. After a while, the team of the Eagle knights came in one after another.

Jean admired their shiny armor.

“Isn’t that heavy?”

“It must be heavy. The only knights that use full plate armor are the knights of the temple.”

“How do they deal with Bellacs like that? I think I’m going to be trampled to death wearing that.”

“They don’t wear them when dealing with Bellac. That’s for interpersonal combat.”

Nina finished stretching.

Jean became anxious and asked.

“If you hit that with an iron sword like this, would it even make a dent?”

“Ah, Jean.” Nina stretched her back and laughed, “Whatever happens, happens.”

After a while, ten people from there and two from here stood side by side, raising their swords and greeting each other.

“Then I will come out as the first one and start the duel.”