124th Episode
A sparring session akin to an actual battle unfolded.
Since it was a straightforward contest of pride, both parties recklessly charged at each other.
Not even sparing a moment to catch their breath, they swung their swords with all their might.
Even those who knew little about swordsmanship among the onlookers grew pale from the knights’ overwhelming aura.
Their relentless strikes targeting vital points clashed several times before finally, the knight from Duke Matthias’s household fell first.
Jenkins, wiping the blood flowing from a cut on his face, pointed his sword beyond the training grounds once more.
While Harris Matthias frowned, another knight from the Matthias family stepped onto the training grounds.
Though Harris tried to intervene, the knight remained silent and drew his sword.
Once again, a flash of light swept across the training grounds.
The knight from the Matthias family who had just stepped up was also an experienced expert-level warrior, but Jenkins ultimately overpowered him.
After exchanging fierce blows, Jenkins secured his second victory.
The injured knight from the Matthias family was carried off the training grounds on a stretcher with serious wounds.
The knights of the Matthias family could no longer move.
Ideally, they wanted to rush Jenkins with all their strength regardless of the outcome, but already three out of the six knights sent to the Osiris Countdom were bedridden.
They couldn’t afford further losses due to this battle of pride.
As the knights of the Matthias family stood silently in frustration, Jenkins looked around at the crowd encircling the training grounds.
“Is this it? Is there no one else who wishes to cross swords? Are you all cowards?”
Jenkins’s provocation stirred the knights from other families.
Moreover, Johanna’s presence was also goading the knights. Even if Jenkins was exhausted, defeating him in swordsmanship would surely win her heart.
Someone stepped forward.
Without even knowing the opponent’s name, Jenkins unleashed his sword aura.
BOOM!!
Flashes of light erupted.
Although their skill levels were not vastly different, Jenkins once again dominated his opponent.
Their swords left countless cuts on armor and skin as they slashed at each other, but ultimately, Jenkins claimed victory.
“Ugh…!!”
“Next!!”
Having defeated three consecutive knights, Jenkins shouted.
Despite his heavy breathing, Jenkins’s face was full of joy.
The audience’s reactions became increasingly intense; some were enraged, while others cheered.
Amidst the mixed jeers and cheers directed at Jenkins, another knight stepped forward.
Jenkins had already faced three knights in succession.
Defeating an exhausted Jenkins wouldn’t bring any honor.
The knight standing before Jenkins simply wanted to test his skills against him and was curious how long Jenkins’s stubbornness would last.
Jenkins defeated the fourth knight.
Jenkins defeated the fifth knight.
And he defeated the sixth knight as well.
Cheers erupted for Jenkins.
The anger and tenacity displayed by the knight from the declining countdom moved those watching.
With his sword aura flickering like a candle about to extinguish, Jenkins muttered,
“…No more challengers?”
The seventh knight stepped forward.
It wasn’t a showcase of skill or a fight for honor.
The seventh knight stepped onto the training grounds partly out of arrogance and partly out of respect.
The bright sword aura clashed with the fading one.
The seventh knight’s sword aura split Jenkins’s and struck the metallic blade.
Panting heavily, Jenkins paid no mind and swung his sword at his opponent.
Crack!
Before reaching five exchanges, Jenkins’s sword broke.
Confident in his victory, the seventh knight relaxed. However, that was premature and careless.
Jenkins was a knight who adhered strictly to fundamentals but had also frequently encountered absurdly talented movements.
In an instant, Jenkins closed in on his opponent, feigning an attempt to break his arm.
As the seventh knight hurried to respond, Jenkins swiftly lowered his center of gravity and spun around.
In a flash, Jenkins positioned himself behind the seventh knight and swung his leg to strike the shin.
Wobbling, the seventh knight’s neck was grabbed by Jenkins, and they both fell to the ground.
The seventh knight’s sword aimed at Jenkins’s waist while Jenkins’s dagger targeted the seventh knight’s throat.
Though the sword imbued with azure sword aura was more threatening,
the seventh knight sighed, stood up, and acknowledged defeat.
“I’ve lost.”
Arguing here that he’d won would gain nothing.
It was better to show humility rather than be called dirty and despicable.
With half-lost pupils, Jenkins surveyed the training grounds after securing his seventh victory.
Holding up his broken sword, Jenkins muttered,
“Next…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Jenkins’s body leaned forward.
Ray caught Jenkins as he was about to fall.
Laughing softly while feeling Jenkins’s weight, Ray noticed that Jenkins still had a smile on his unconscious face.
Taking Jenkins’s place, Didier stepped onto the training grounds.
Didier originally planned to formally apologize and conclude the event.
However, because Jenkins had been so excited and unruly, Didier too couldn’t suppress the emotions stirring in his chest and drew his sword.
Swish!
“If anyone wishes to cross swords, I will gladly oblige.”
Faced with such an absurd scene, someone burst into laughter.
It took seven knights to carry Jenkins away.
How many knights would it take to bring down this man?
Many speculated that Jenkins must have been exceptionally strong among the knights of the Philips Count.
Otherwise, it didn’t make sense.
However, Didier’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Now that they were here, they needed to fully gauge the true strength of the Philips Countdom.
Knights began placing their hands on their sword hilts one by one.
That day,
Jenkins achieved victory over seven knights before losing consciousness.
Didier defeated five knights and then voluntarily stepped back.
In total, twelve knights experienced defeat, and eleven of them required over a month to recover.
Within a single day, one-third of the knight force residing in the Osiris Countdom’s Manor was incapacitated.
It was a shocking result for everyone, but a very pleasant one for Ray.
*
Following Ray and the knights’ plan, the knight force of the Matthias Dukedom was reduced by half.
Now, they only needed to carefully time when the Matthias Dukedom would transport the artifact towards the port.
“Why should I help with something like this…!!”
Florya began throwing a tantrum, clutching her hair.
Ray and the knights quietly kept their mouths shut.
After venting her frustrations through a few more mutters, Florya calmed her breathing.
Though slightly more irritable, Florya diligently continued to assist Ray.
“The dukedom will extract the artifact at noon tomorrow. They’ll head to the port, finalize some political agreements, and hand over the artifact.”
Pointing somewhere between the manor and the port on the map, Florya explained,
“You need to seize the artifact around here. This way, reinforcements from either the manor or the port will arrive as late as possible.”
“How long will it take?”
“The fastest knight-level forces will arrive within 15 minutes at most.”
Florya drew the escape route with a stick in response to Ray’s question.
“After reaching this coast as quickly as possible, you must flee without leaving a trace.”
The coast Florya pointed to had no facilities.
However, since it was a small area where boats could dock, leaving traces there could trick others into thinking you escaped by boat.
“This is the extent of my help. Will you be alright?”
“Yes, thank you very much, Lady Florya.”
“Hmph, be careful. It’ll be troublesome for me if we’re found out.”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
Ray assured her.
Thus, the next day came, and the party from the Matthias Dukedom moved as scheduled.
The dukedom’s carriages heading to the port totaled three.
According to the information Florya provided, Harris Matthias was riding in the central carriage, while the artifact was stored in the rear carriage.
Out of the six knights from the Matthias Dukedom, three were bedridden, and one remained at the Osiris Manor.
Thus, only two knights were guarding the carriages.
Ray moved alone, tightly wrapped in a robe and holding a staff.
The distance between the manor and the port wasn’t far.
As soon as the carriages reached the targeted location, Ray’s magic circle began to rotate.
Ray didn’t know how to properly use magic.
However, the magic circle encircling Ray’s heart was directly arranged by a great mage whose name was etched in history. This meant its performance was exceptionally excellent.
Therefore, with Aptel’s assistance, Ray could unleash significant magical firepower.
“Fire.”
BOOM!!!
A massive flame erupted from the ignition spell.
The leading carriage swerved due to the sudden flames in front and crashed into a wall.
The two horses pulling the carriage were quickly consumed by fire.
The two knights had already sensed the ambush before the magic manifested and gathered at the central carriage.
If there had been five knights, they could have divided their forces to protect all the carriages and search for the attacker. But now, that was impossible.
Since the value of the artifact was low to them, they focused on protecting Harris Matthias.
Ray dashed toward the third carriage while casually scattering flames.
At that moment, two official Templars and one apprentice Templar who had been waiting nearby raised their swords and shields.
Ray’s magic circle strongly rotated.
KOOOONG!!!
The ground froze momentarily before being enveloped in vibrant flames.
Though the magic was wide-ranging, it wasn’t fatal.
Initially, Ray lacked the skill to inflict severe injuries on formal Templars with his magic.
However, Ray’s magic pushed the Templars away from the carriage and created steam, obscuring the vision.
On top of that, Ray randomly detonated smoke bombs he had prepared beforehand.
Templar Albert furrowed his brows.
“They’re after the artifact.”
It couldn’t be handed over easily.
Albert shattered the rising ice with his robust physique, forging a path forward.
Apprentice Templar Thomas sprinted along the path Albert had opened.
Though the vision was chaotic, divine power illuminated the area, revealing Ray rummaging through the third carriage.
“Step back immediately!!”
Thomas shouted as he lunged at Ray.
Mages, regardless of how high their level may be, have a significant weakness in close combat.
Once the distance was closed, even Thomas could subdue an average mage.
“Are you daring to covet the property of the church!!”
In an instant, Thomas confidently closed the gap to Ray and yelled.
Then, raising his staff sideways, Ray chanted.
“Hard Stick (Hard Stick).”
“?!”
Having never heard of such a spell, Thomas was momentarily confused.
But now wasn’t the time to retreat, so Thomas shielded his body with his shield and swung his sword resolutely.
Seeing the sword descending above his head, Ray swung his staff sideways.
“Magical Slash (Magical Slash)!”
“?!”
Thomas attempted to overpower Ray’s staff with sheer force.
However, the speed of Ray’s swing was far faster than Thomas expected, especially since it was enhanced with Overdrive.
There was no way Thomas could keep up with that speed.
Blunk!!!
Ultimately, having been struck on the temple by the staff, Thomas’s eyes rolled upward.
Artifact (1)
