Chapter 329: Let The Duel Commence!

Chapter 329: Let The Duel Commence!

“Wayland did? Are you sure?”

“Yes! Isn’t it interesting? Who would have thought that he was an actual Knight”

“Yeah... who would have thought...”

An elven woman dressed in the guild receptionist attire along with a large bald man were peeking out through the window. There they could see a barricade of soldiers in the distance blocking the way to the Valerian estate where Lord Arthur lived. Not so long ago they all heard the news that some trouble between the nobles were brewing.

“Are you sure the information is correct? Is it really that Wayland?”

“My sources said that it was a man dressed in runic armor, it did look like the one Mister Wayland uses but perhaps it could have been someone else inside?”

Solana the sun elf receptionist answered while also trying to peek at the knights. Some of them were frantically running around with no purpose. It was as if they were caught with their pants down and didn’t know how to react. Then there were also the regular soldiers that belonged to the city lord, they were on high alert.

“Guild Master, will you get involved?”

“Why should I?”

“Oh, I don’t know~. What if it’s really Mister Wayland?”

The elven lady chuckled while leaving the guild master in his office. The large man’s lips started to angle down as he watched the scenes play outside. He had chosen to ignore the city lord’s call in favor of the older brother. In his mind the bastard son had no way of winning and putting his neck out could only cause him harm. Yet if this new Head Knight could cause a reversal, it could put him in a bad spot.

“...Is this why he hid his status screen? Did I misjudge his worth?”

He asked himself a few questions while giving out a sigh. In reality, he didn’t feel that he did anything wrong. With the information that he was given, this was the correct choice. Theodore Valerian or one of the other brothers would normally be the ones to take the dungeon over.

“A hidden Knight? Could he be his Head Knight? Then what was it with that offer...”

To him, it didn’t make any sense, was Arthur several moves ahead of him? The position of a knight was also offered to the guild master. It wasn’t that strange for powerful adventurers to be given these positions but he chose to refuse it.

“Was this all just to test my loyalty? Haha, did I fail then... interesting. Well then, let’s see what this Knight can do, That Emmerson should not be an easy target.”

After putting in some thought the large man finally smiled. He was now actually interested in who this new player was. Could it actually be Wayland or someone that was just using his equipment? There was a large possibility that it was just a platinum adventurer coerced by Arthur.

However, if it was just an adventurer he could not see him easily winning over that Knight Commander. There was a difference when it came to fighting monsters and humans. Adventurers delved into the depths of the dungeon and spent most of their lives there honing their skills. Knights on the other hand were primed for war, their skills were developed to kill other people of the races and this duel was probably something a powerful knight would be used to.

“S-stop!”

“Why should I listen to a lowly knight like you? Don’t you realize that you are in the presence of your superior?”

“I...”

The Valerian Knights that arrived at the villa some time ago were confused. Some of their people had been tossed like rag dolls to the side while attempting to stop an armored man from entering this estate. He had a certain presence that could be attributed to tier 3 class holders. It was clear that they would not be able to easily subdue him.

“If you understand then make way, your commander owes me an explanation and I will not leave without one!”

This person was not kidding, soon after arriving he was shouting and trying to duel their leader. This was not something any of them expected. The injured group of knights that returned from their mission from the forest area must have been responsible for all of this. Five returned from a group of fifteen and apparently, the Lieutenant had been slain by this person.

“Who are you? Do you expect me to believe that someone like you is part of the noble Valerian Knights?”

Finally, all of the knights gathered here looked at their savior. There he was Commander Emmerson, one of the strongest people that they knew and their leader. When he appeared all the fear that they were feeling instantly went away, it was as if there was no foe they couldn’t defeat as long as he was fighting with them. They knew that this man would not stand for any of this and that this false knight before them was a deadman.

...

Name:

Emmerson L 215

Classes:

T3 Spirit Blade Guardian L65

T2 Spirit Sword Knight L50

“I blocked out the sound, they won’t be able to hear us talk.”

Roland proclaimed while still acting very knight-like toward the confused Arthur. Even though the other soldiers could see them unless they were able to read their lips while looking at their backs, there would be no way of knowing what the two were talking about.

“What are you trying to do?”

“The circumstances have changed, I want to make a new deal and for that, I need to be your Head Knight.”

“You want to willingly be my head knight? Were you hiding your true strength... so this is how you were able to defeat the Lich by yourself...”

“Something like that but that’s not important now, let me duel Emmerson.”

“Why would you want to do that? and why did you kill his men?”

It didn’t go unnoticed to Arthur that some of the knights that returned were injured. From the conversation they had with Emmerson, it was clear that they had suffered casualties. The party responsible was Roland, and this was obviously an attempt to get out of trouble. If Arthur accepted the offer he would also become responsible for the deaths of those knights wich could complicate things.

“They did something that they shouldn’t, they attacked my property without provocation and hurt someone dear to me.”

“I see... so you need me for your excuse for your vendetta.”

“In short... yes.”

“At least you are honest about it...”

Arthur looked like he wanted to cry after hearing Roland’s explanation of the situation. He was smart enough to figure out the logic behind the plan.

“You probably already figured out my circumstances. Now that it has come to this, I won’t refrain from using my true name if I have to but you should make up your mind fast, I don’t think Emmerson will wait for much longer.”

While Arthur and Roland were having their conversation their main foe continued to move. He had taken his helmet from the soldier that was holding it for him and was ready for battle. The knights on the sides were also ready to follow their leader into battle. It was clear to the two that a battle was imminent.

“Can you win?”

“I can.”

“...”

This was not an easy choice to make for the young lord but after everyone else had abandoned him already this was the only thing that remained. When he needed someone to lean on Roland appeared and made him an offer. This offer was quite insane but also had the potential to further his cause. If Emmerson was defeated in a sanctioned duel between knights, not even his brothers would be able to say anything about it.

Theodore’s men were the ones that poked the beehive. If Roland was truly Arthur’s Head Knight and a Knight Commander there was nothing wrong with the actions that he took. It was even something that was expected of a proper noble knight. His mind was torn but finally he nodded.

“I hope you won’t regret this choice.”

“I already am.”

“Haha.”

Arthur almost burst out in laughter at the quick reply with no hesitation behind it.

“Very well, Sir. Wayland, I will allow for this duel to happen but after this is over, we will have to have a little chat.”

“Thank you.”

Finally, the sound barrier was removed and everyone's gaze fell on Arthur who moved into the middle of the courtyard. After clearing his throat he turned toward Knight Commander Emmerson.

“My Knight has informed me about the transgressions that your men conducted. The fault doesn’t lay in the soldiers but in the hands of the man that gave that order, if I’m not mistaken, this would be you, Knight Commander Emmerson.”

Arthur’s words were thrown around to give Roland validity to this confrontation and the soldiers gathered here already knew where this was leading to.

“In light of these events, I Arthur Valerian, will sanction this duel.”

Both armored men weren’t even listening to the words of the noble. In their minds, the fight was already happening and they just needed him to move so their clash could commence. Soon all the soldiers were spreading to the sides while creating space. No one wished to be entangled in a battle between tier 3 class holders.

“Let the duel commence!”

Arthur removed himself from the middle and took his place next to Mary. Both of them were then surprised by the gust of air that instantly followed those words. The speed the two showed off was tremendous. Yet the more surprising thing about it was that the person that was being pushed back was Knight Commander Emmerson.

A large hammer had connected with his oval shield and sent the huge armored man flying backward. The weaker Valerian knights could not believe what was happening as their leader had to already regain his footing after the first exchange...