Chapter 44

Chapter 44 – Tripier, the Knight of Mist (2)

Meanwhile, Count Arsene was watching the entire situation unfold among the soldiers on the plain.

Gulp.

‘He told me not to get involved no matter what, but......’

His palms were soaked with sweat.

Tripier, the Knight of Mist, was not a name to be taken lightly.

A knight who had already reached the intermediate Expert level five years ago.

Moreover, he had reached the so-called realm of manifestation.

In other words, he was a cut above the rest.

The question of whether one had the potential to become a master depended on whether they could manifest mana into another form.

Although at the same intermediate level, Count Arsene himself couldn’t achieve manifestation.

‘Ah, as expected......!’

His concern became reality.

One of the top five strongest in the entire count’s household.

Rodri was unable to even make a proper move and was defeated.

‘What on earth are you planning?’

Should he step in now?

He even felt a bit of belated regret.

Wasn’t he still just a child?

If only he had continued to defend the castle gates based on the information obtained beforehand.

Or, if he had aimed for an ambush, the results could have been much more effective......

‘......No, let’s believe in him. I must believe him.’

That was the promise.

To never step in under any circumstances.

Count Arsene, struggling to hold onto his wavering heart, shook his head vigorously.

‘Hasn’t he already proven his ability enough?’

Count Arsene barely managed to calm his breathing.

He wasn’t the only one tense.

“Count, he’s just about the same age as the young lord...... Is this really right?”

Even the count’s retainers, who had been silent due to their guilt, voiced their concerns.

“Master......”

“This is too reckless.”

“This is madness. It’s a suicide mission!”

The apprentice knights, including Harun, Kirian, and Jan, were also worried.

“What are you thinking? No matter how great the hero’s will he inherited, the difference in level isn’t easy to overcome.”

Even the head of the Mask of Night.

Everyone’s attention was focused on this first battle.

Among them, Narakas found it particularly interesting.

“If you win, I’ll make sure to provide thorough after-service.”

After all, this was just a preliminary skirmish.

The outcome of this battle would affect the civil war in the Kingdom of Hart.

In other words, it would influence the morale of both the royalists and the nobility.

“I’ll make sure the name ‘Ancelot’ is known throughout the kingdom, no, the entire continent.”

In this field, reputation was everything.

Narakas, eyes gleaming, focused on the battle.

***

‘I don’t know how much I can do as I am right now.’

I lightly wetted my lips with my tongue.

In this life, it was the first time I’d encountered someone of such skill.

‘That assassin called Jake from before was approximately an intermediate-level Expert in terms of prowess.’

However, assassins are fundamentally specialized in ambushes.

In a direct confrontation, he would be several steps below this guy named Tripier in front of me.

But still.

“......Well, he’s just a small fry.”

Compared to knights from the Empire of the same caliber, he was several levels lower.

“Why use a knight’s sword to kill a dog? I’ll handle it, captain.”

“Hm? Kieran?”

Meanwhile, Small Fry Two stepped forward.

“Kid, you have no complaints, right? Our captain, whom you want to fight, has just finished a battle.”

“Well...... if that’s the pretext, I have nothing to say.”

“You should feel honored.”

Shiiing.

A short metallic sound followed.

“To face the sword of Kieran, the vice-captain of the White Lion Brigade.”

Step, step, step.

Small Fry Two approached confidently.

I let out a sigh.

You could ascertain his skill from his stance.

‘It’s riddled with openings.’

His sword wavered towards the ground like the leg of an octopus.

His steps were leisurely as if he were on a stroll.

And his expression?

He looked like an uncle playing with his nephew.

“In place of your foolish parents who failed to raise you properly, I will personally educate you.”

‘Like him, it will have a far more dramatic effect in boosting our side’s morale.’

Another reason.

This was one of the few opportunities to objectively evaluate my current skills.

“Just like before.”

“......?”

“You were talking about that mist nonsense earlier. That’s the best you can do right now, isn’t it?”

Boooom!

Soon, the killing intent emitted by the opponent enveloped my whole body.

“......Step back.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Immediately, the knights who were supporting Small Fry Two retreated.

“......Right. Even a tiger gives its best effort to catch a single rabbit.”

“I’m telling you, you’re not a tiger, you’re a dog.”

“Regret in the afterlife. Your arrogance is what has brought you to your death.”

Hummm!

Along with the familiar sound of resonance.

Shhh......

The mist, which had dissipated, reappeared.

In an instant, the manifestation of mana covered the surroundings in a gray haze.

Before I completely vanished from sight, I glanced to one side.

“Viscount Rodri.”

“......Huh?”

“Keep your eyes wide open and watch from there.”

Perhaps it was because he had already seen my skills?

The look in Viscount Rodri’s eyes as he stared at me was different from before.

“The sins you’ve committed won’t disappear. They are karma imprinted on your soul.”

“I...... know that better than anyone.”

Viscount Rodri, biting his lip, replied with difficulty.

By then, the mist had fully formed, obscuring everything from sight.

“No matter how hard you try, it’s not easy to restore trust once it’s been betrayed.”

“......Right.”

“But.”

Fwoosh!

Suddenly, crimson flames flared up on my sword.

“Flowers can bloom again, even from ashes.”

“......!”

“The decades of dedication you gave to the Count’s family, the resentment of losing a child, and the betrayal from a moment’s poor judgment. If you bury all of that in your heart and strive again...... Perhaps your lord might reconsider?”

Actually, this is a question I once asked myself.

The five subordinates I trusted the most.

One of them was a traitor.

If that traitor had a reason similar to Viscount Rodri’s......

For instance, if he was forced to betray me because his aging mother and child were held hostage.

Could I forgive him then?

‘......Of course, I’d only know if that time came.’

Whoosh!

The flames on my sword spread out in all directions.

“M-Mana manifestation!?”

Tripier’s voice was filled with astonishment.

Not just keeping the flames on the sword but spreading them across a wide area was also a form of manifestation.

Sizzle!

Soon, the collision of two opposing forces produced thick steam.

The fog was ‘evaporating’.

‘One thing is certain.’

Painful memories.

Constant regrets.

All kinds of negative emotions.

Dwelling on such a past and blaming yourself only ends up hurting you.

Because it’s an act of corroding your own soul.

“Like this mist dissipating before your eyes, burn away the inner demons troubling your heart.”

“......!”

“Only then can you move forward again.”

I knew better than anyone the agony of losing a child.

That’s why I could offer sincere advice.

“Hey, hey! You crazy bastard!”

But in this touching moment, someone had to ruin it.

‘Was it Baron Tucker?’

Another traitor of the Count’s family and Viscount Rodri’s loyal right hand.

“What are you thinking, burning that!?”

“......Why?”

“‘Why’, you idiot!? Did you forget? This place is surrounded by oil!”

“......Ah......?”

At the same moment as my exclamation.

Fwoooosh!

An enormous inferno, incomparable to anything before, engulfed the surroundings.