Chapter 41

“Wait a sec. Before we fight, let’s talk first.”

I quickly stopped him, as he looked ready to charge at me any second.

If we could avoid fighting, that would be the best outcome. For both the killer and the one about to be killed.

“Talk? The Ka`har, talking to their enemies? Are you joking?”

Knut raised an eyebrow, looking utterly baffled, his shoulders even shaking a little.

“I’m serious. I might not look like it, but I’m a pacifist.”

“…Nonsense.”

The axe blade on his shoulder gleamed a deep blue under the moonlight, pure and untainted.

It was the absolute truth. Everything I did was necessary for me to live peacefully.

“Though, if I were in your shoes, I probably wouldn’t believe me either. But I really hate pointless fights.”

“Pointless…fight…”

Knut muttered under his breath, his voice low.

“I can guess why you hate me so much…but I had my reasons too. I do feel sorry. If you want me to apologize to your people, fine. I’m willing to do that.”

I casually placed my right hand on the hilt of my longsword. It wasn’t Ai-mel-ra’s sword, but one I got from the academy. If it came to a fight, I planned to use this one first.

“So, can we talk this out? Do we really have to spill blood over some faceless grudge? Answer me, Knut of the Ka`har.”

Give me a reason not to kill you.

“Do we really have to spill blood?”

Knut glared at me with burning eyes, his teeth clenched. The surging murderous intent pressed down on the forest, silencing even the insects.

“Do we really have to spill blood…!”

The moonlight flickered.

“So, you don’t remember me… Of course. To you, I was just another day…!”

Knut trembled, baring his teeth as he raised his axe.

The deep-seated resentment, crouched and waiting, finally rose. The rotten hatred surged like a wave.

Damn it.

I didn’t expect him to be a direct victim.

…Talking it out seemed hopeless.

I guess there’s no other way.

I closed my eyes one last time, taking a deep, deep breath of the cool night air.

I didn’t want to kill you.

Not for you, but for me.

I drew my steel longsword.

—-

– Clang!

The swinging axe left a black afterimage, and the longsword clashed with a cry. The violent collision echoed through the night, stirring the forest awake.

I didn’t plan to show my full strength from the start. Just as I had hidden my abilities, Knut likely hadn’t revealed his true power either.

My longsword grazed the axe handle, leaving a small scratch, while the axe blade dug into the sword’s edge.

Clearly, this was a specially prepared weapon, each strike strong and heavy. But it wasn’t beyond my ability to handle.

I was stronger, after all.

I swung the longsword sideways, deflecting the axe. The axe blade scraped roughly against the sword, emitting an unpleasant noise. Sparks flew like a waterfall, drenching my armor before extinguishing.

“Ha!”

Knut rolled to the side, dodging my thrusting kick. He swung his axe at my ankle, but I lifted my leg to avoid it and kicked him instead. Knut barely blocked with the axe handle, sliding back.

The dagger I threw after him was deflected by the axe blade, grazing Knut’s left cheek as a thin line of blood trickled down.

“Haa!”

I lunged, stabbing with my sword. I pressed my left palm against the hilt, pushing forward with added force, aiming to pierce his chest.

Knut kicked a corpse at his feet. The half-split Kobold corpse flew toward me, scattering dried blood.

I grabbed the hilt with my left hand and swatted the corpse away like a ball. The Kobold spun like a top, scattering flesh.

The axe blade was right in front of me. I brought the sword back to block.

Crack—the sword began to chip. This guy couldn’t even last twenty exchanges.

“Ai-shan Gi-orrrr!”

“Kaaaah!”

Knut roared, intensifying his attacks. I met him with a sharp cry.

The axe and longsword danced wildly. The metallic screams tore at my eardrums relentlessly.

Our attacks tore at each other’s armor, scattering fragments of metal. The sword was breaking apart.

I couldn’t afford to hold back anymore. If I didn’t deflect properly, the sword would shatter.

Despite the heavy force, his strikes were as fast as mine. And his weapon was sturdy enough to withstand my attacks.

Clearly, this was a different level from what he showed during the entrance exam.

“Imperial swordsmanship…! How dare a Ka`har like you!”

Knut grew even angrier upon recognizing my swordsmanship. His face twisted with rage and venom, resembling a frenzied beast.

But anger makes attacks sloppy.

The emotionally charged swings left many openings.

There was an obvious gap in the moment.

I twisted the extended sword sideways.

“Oops…!”

Knut’s upper body swayed, revealing his head.

Instinct bared its fangs.

“Kyaaaah!”

I shot my fingertips like bullets.

The surging killing intent stretched out like rays of light.

Knut hastily turned his head to dodge, but his chainmail tore, and blood splattered from his shoulder.

“Ugh!”

I grabbed the hilt of the sickle-like weapon he swung upward in retaliation.

The gauntlet couldn’t withstand the impact and crumpled slightly. The fingertip part was completely flattened.

With that, I swung down the longsword.

The sound of splitting wind echoed pleasantly.

– Whoosh!

The sword bent from the sheer force of the swing, and the engraved crack widened even more.

Though it was just one arm, it was a properly powered strike.

Knut kicked my wrist holding the axe and rolled back in a hurry.

With a shattering sound like dozens of windows breaking simultaneously, blood spurted.

The splattered blood stained my breastplate.

Knut, who had rolled on the ground and stood up, lowered his head to look at his chest.

Through the torn chainmail, a diagonal sword wound was visible.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a fatal wound.

Still, it was a bit shallow.

I threw away the longsword, now shattered with only the hilt remaining.

Knut, having regained his stance, raised his axe again.

“With power beyond reason, and the Empire’s swordsmanship… well, I expected this level of difficulty…!”

“If it’s hard, why not give up now? Last piece of advice.”

I placed my hand on Ai-mel-ra’s sword swaying at my waist.

With this sword, I could swing it with all my strength without worrying about it breaking.

Perhaps, it could even cut through that axe.

“A warning… I can’t do that. My oath hasn’t even taken its first step yet.”

Knut, muttering, pulled out a spear embedded in the ground.

Like the axe, it was made of a blackish metal.

“One last thing, I’ll ask you one thing.”

Knut, holding the spear, stared at me.

His gaze, filled not just with anger but complex emotions, blurred as if seeing something other than me.

Like an old man reminiscing about the past.

“What do you want to ask?”

“Why do you fight? For what reason do you swing your sword and commit so much slaughter?”

It was an unexpected question.

Why do I fight?

If I knew, would something change?

…Now, of all times?

There was no reason not to answer.

“…To survive. Yes, to survive. If I don’t fight and kill, I’ll end up dead.”

That’s the only reason I’ve fought.

In the past, crawling through gunfire with a gun, and now, swimming through a sea of blood with a sword.

And probably in the future too.

Because there are things I can only achieve if I stay alive.

“To survive, you say…?”

Knut ground his teeth fiercely.

His demeanor changed completely.

The anger that had been rising and falling now surged uncontrollably like a volcano.

“After all, you’re not a warrior… no, you’re not even human…!”

The raised spear trembled violently, unable to contain his rage.

A deeper killing intent pierced through me.

I gripped the hilt and slowly drew Ai-mel-ra’s sword.

The inscription on the blade suddenly caught my eye.

‘Twelve Swords to Protect Humanity’

A sword to protect humanity…

Really, such words don’t suit me.

With a bitter smile, I grasped the drawn sword with both hands.

Let’s not dwell on it. After all, a sword is just a sword.

The faded blue blade stood ready.

And then, Knut howled towards the sky.

“Bølberg, the time has come to fulfill the oath!”

A storm brushed past my eyes.

A surging gray aura enveloped his body, undulating.

Wait, hold on.

Is that…?!

[His spear heralds the beginning of war.]

With a low chant, gray light strands clung to Knut’s spear, swirling fiercely.

Gravel and metal fragments around were swept up in the wind, spinning and colliding, flashing repeatedly.

A gray storm roaring with lightning.

Undoubtedly, it was a sight I had seen a few times before on screens.

The Spear of War.

A combat miracle used by the devotees of the war god, Bølberg.

This guy…! He’s a holy warrior…!

My nerves, stretched to the limit, sent intense danger signals.

Knut raised his spear and threw it—

A deafening roar tore through the forest.