Chapter 222: ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (4)

Chapter 222: Alliance of Nobles (4)

“Among them. . .”

“. . .?”

“. . .I will give the honor of stepping forward first to the one who knows Biorarn the best.”

At Johan’s words, the elf knights were taken aback. It was a condition they had never even imagined. While they had heard the name and rumors quite a bit, few knew him well.

In this era, information was still heavily reliant on word-of-mouth stories and accounts from those who knew. This was the same even among nobles.

The murmuring elves began to volunteer what little they knew, one by one.

“He has quite decent sword skills. Of the emperor’s bloodline, he is the most knightly.”

One of the elf knights said so. For an elf knight, it was quite high praise.

Of course, the word “knightly” could be used in various senses. It could mean brave and strong, but also recklessly foolish. Sometimes it meant both.

‘And now seems to be such an occasion.’

Biorarn had come with not a large army and boldly requested a duel to decide the contest.

While it was a common enough custom to gamble a contest on individual martial prowess rather than armies, even allowing for that, the sheer audacity he showed in not considering the consequences if he lost was puzzling.

Reinforcements could arrive for Johan’s side at any moment, potentially hemming Biorarn’s forces in or encircling them, yet he seemed not to consider that in requesting a duel.

Seeing nobles who did just as they pleased without thought for the consequences, Johan occasionally wondered if he himself thought too much.

“I’ve heard rumors of bad blood between him and the emperor, and that they’ve crossed swords.”

“That he has caught an ice drake before. . .”

Taking advantage of the elf knights’ chatter, Suetlg quietly asked, probing Johan’s intentions,

“Are you perhaps averse to a duel?”

“No. To be honest, if it can be settled with a duel, I would prefer that.”

A clash between hundreds of warriors with spears and swords held many variables. As the emperor’s son, the opponent would doubtless be elite as well, and there were many on Johan’s own side to consider too.

In contrast, Johan had several contacts who were confident of victory in a duel. Just the elf knights alone were warriors who had rarely bowed their heads anywhere.

“I’m just concerned about whatever power Biorarn commands as Cardirian’s son.”

“Certainly, the rumors depict Biorarn-gong as the most valiant of the emperor’s sons. His exploits in the north are widely known.”

In addition to hunting numerous northern monsters alongside other knights, as the emperor’s son he was likely to possess magically enhanced armor and weapons.

In a duel with its uncertainties, knowing one’s opponent was most vital.

As the others talked, one of the elf knights simply smiled to himself. When it grew somewhat quieter, the knight stepped forward and spoke:

“Your excellency, I have personally seen Biorarn-gong fight in a tournament. As I would know him best among all here, I ask that you give me this chance!”

And so the knight to step forth first was decided. The other elves looked at him with envy.

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As the elf knight came out instead of Johan, Biorarn sent out one of his subordinates. Biorarn had led several knights befitting his fame and wealth.

He didn’t exactly claim to be a knight order, but people naturally called Biorarn’s knights the Crimson Knights. It was because of the color of the surcoats they wore around.

“Are they bringing around arrogant elves?”

Biorarn murmured in a strained voice. The knight next to him took his words.

“Elves are excellent knights, so we must not be careless.”

“There should be no knight among those present careless enough to be caught off guard! Isn’t that right?”

‘Damn it.’

Torsten kept looking around. He was afraid of being surrounded here or having to leave for some reason.

While Biorarn was confident in his skills and other knights would sacrifice their lives to protect him, he was not.

One from each side jumped out. When the distance narrowed, Biorarn’s knight dismounted from his horse. Seeing this, the elf knight shouted decisively.

“Count, this time I’ll show you my sword!”

As Biorarn swung his sword, the mystery contained within pulsated and turned into cold air. The tip of the Giant Slayer froze and slowed. It was a deceptive level of magic.

An average knight would have been unable to wield the heavy slowed weapon and gotten cut somewhere. However, Johan gripped the Giant Slayer even harder and swung it more strongly. The ice stuck to the Giant Slayer broke and scattered.

Though Biorarn was the one on the offense, he was also the one who retreated. Not daring to come into striking distance, Biorarn backed away. His face flushed red with humiliation.

As his opponent retreated, Johan approached. As he retreated, Biorarn watched for an opportunity. Sensing an opening, Johan realized what his opponent was aiming for.

‘He plans to use the trees to restrict my swings?’

It seemed Biorarn intended to use the nearby forest trees to limit Johan’s free swinging warhammer.

‘Normally that kind of thing is used against monsters not knights. . .’

“Isn’t His Excellency being pushed back?!”

The observing Torsten blurted out in confusion. Shouldn’t the knights intervene and stop the fight now? Dishonorable yes, but better than dying right?

However the Empire knights didn’t seem to consider it. Knowing Biorarn’s personality, he would hate that more than dying.

More than anything, they believed in Biorarn.

“Look. Though the Count’s strength is monstrous, Biorarn-gong has cleverly maneuvered him into position! Now he won’t be able to swing that warhammer.”

“I see. . .!”

Judging that he had lured Johan in, Biorarn stood his sword again and charged. At that moment, Johan’s eyes flashed beastly. Biorarn instinctively halted his steps and jumped back.

Crack!

Johan swung his warhammer, smashing through the thick interfering tree as he tried to strike Biorarn. It was a truly common sense defying blow.

But he missed again, only scraping the edge of the armor. The sound of the tree falling and dust swirling up filled the air.

“Isn’t it too much like a rat running away?”

“. . . . . .”

Johan, who often killed before provoking so he was not good at provoking, thought provocation would be necessary this time. The opponent was avoiding better than expected.

Anyway, there was no one here to listen even if he talked, Johan wondered what kind of swear words he should use.

Which of the opponent’s father and mother should I swear at first?

But without having to say such things, Biorarn’s face was flushed red with shame and humiliation. He had kept avoiding without clashing his swordmanship that he had honed so much. He had nothing to say even when called a rat.

‘What’s so effective?’

Johan was refreshed by the unexpected effect. It’s already at that level even though I haven’t even started swearing yet. If Johan enumerated his usual views on Cardirian, the blood vessels on his face would surely burst.

Biorarn braced himself and raised his sword again. He was going to give the count a proper blow even if he had to give up one of his limbs.

Whether that determination was conveyed, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. The chirping sounds of birds were no longer heard. The sunlight coming in between the leaves also disappeared. Johan’s face was filled with horror.

An ogre was standing behind Biorarn.

The monster of the forest, the master of the forest, the nightmare of the forest, the ogre.

The ogre, who appeared like a ghost, was looking down at Biorarn with a dull and fierce look.

“Bow down!”

Johan shouted and threw the Giant Slayer. Biorarn unknowingly bowed his head low and prostrated himself. He made the absurd act of following the words of the enemy.

Thud!

With a dull sound, the Giant Slayer broke the ogre’s breastbone. Even though Johan did not order it, Valkalmur manipulated the Giant Slayer on its own to make it return like a boomerang.

‘Well done, Valkalmur!’

He felt the evil spirit at his fingertips feeling proud. Johan grabbed the Giant Slayer and threw it again.

Translation-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight