Chapter 106
Zeke’s words instantly made the atmosphere in the conference room turn cold.
It clearly sounded like a reference to the Empire’s stationed troops.
However, Morgan was an experienced knight.
He relaxed his stern expression and said with a friendly smile.
“Hahaha! You got me there. Very well. So Sir Zeke Draker is Princess Melissa’s secret card.”
Morgan returned to his seat in the conference room.
Zeke also took his seat next to Princess Melissa.
Morgan looked at Princess Melissa and said.
“To continue what I was saying earlier… Allensia lacks the ability to manage the Bird tribe ghetto area, so the Empire will manage it instead, that’s what I mean.”
Melissa’s expression hardened at Morgan’s words.
Although Morgan was speaking with a smile, this was clearly an insult.
Princess Melissa returned to a calm expression and said.
“There are two incorrect points in your statement, Commander.”
“Oh? What are they?”
“First, Allensia does not manage the Bird tribe ghetto area. That land has been inhabited by the Bird tribe for 500 years. Allensia respects their territory.”
Melissa continued while looking at Morgan.
“Second, even if Allensia lacks management ability, it’s a separate matter whether the Empire has the right to exercise authority over it. Moreover, I’d like to remind you again that stationing troops illegally in Allensia’s border area violates the Central Continent Treaty.”
Morgan smirked at Melissa’s logical argument.
It was a sneer that only someone with the composure of a great power could make.
He looked at Melissa and said.
“It seems there’s been some misunderstanding about my words. The Empire respects the Bird tribe’s territory. When we say management is needed, it’s not for any other purpose but to protect the Bird race. His Majesty the Emperor himself gave the order, concerned about the gradually declining population of the Bird tribe.”
Melissa clenched her teeth at Morgan’s glib words.
As expected of a knight of the Snake Master seat, his skill with words was extraordinary.
Zeke, who was next to Melissa, felt something strange while listening to Morgan’s words.
‘Why are they trying so forcefully to take over the Bird tribe’s territory?’
While the Rom Empire Emperor’s territorial expansion policy was well known, causing conflict with Allensia was an irrational decision in many ways.
The Bird tribe ghetto was practically unusable wasteland like the desert region in the southern Central Continent.
The endless ravines and red sandstone walls were beautiful to look at, but not suitable for people to live in.
‘The reason they’re targeting that place must be something that isn’t visible on the surface.’
The Empire usually had the same reason for doing such things.
‘Ancient ruins… There must be an important dungeon in the Bird tribe ghetto.’
Emperor Rom, who dreamed of immortality, was excavating dungeons hidden throughout the continent.
A dungeon existing in the territory of the Bird tribe ghetto , who had maintained mysterious abilities since ancient times, would naturally attract the Emperor’s interest.
As Morgan rebutted Melissa’s logical argument with various sophistry, Zeke slowly opened his mouth.
“Sir Buffon.”
Morgan turned his head to look at Zeke.
“Do you have something to say?”
“It seems we’ll keep going in circles if we continue this discussion.”
Morgan grinned at Zeke’s words and said.
“I agree with Sir Zeke.”
“There is a traditional method to quickly resolve arguments that reach no conclusion.”
Morgan’s eyebrows twitched at those words.
“Surely, you’re not suggesting a duel?”
“Isn’t it the traditional method that has continued since the Holy Empire era?”
Morgan tilted his head at those words.
‘Why is that Draker acting like this?’
Anyone could see that the situation was more advantageous for the Empire.
Yet bringing up the duel meant he must be quite confident.
Morgan spoke probingly toward Zeke.
“Traditional duel method… You mean the Grand Warrior battle?”
“Yes. Three from Allensia’s side, three from the Empire’s side. The winner continues.”
Morgan grinned upon hearing Zeke’s words.
‘It seems Zeke Draker himself intends to participate in the duel.’
This was typical behavior seen in young knights who had just received their titles.
Young knights who didn’t know how high the sky was in the world they had just entered often made such mistakes, thinking they were the strongest.
Moreover, Zeke Draker was the winner of the Draker Tournament, so his confidence must be through the roof.
‘Still just a youngster though.’
Morgan nodded and answered.
“Very well. The traditional method is always the best answer.”
With Morgan’s agreement, they decided to settle the argument with a Grand Warrior duel.
While the dueling ground was being prepared, Melissa spoke to Zeke with a worried voice.
“Sir Zeke, are you really sure about facing the Empire’s knights?”
The Empire’s knights were famous for being rough and strong.
This was because they had many knights with plenty of actual combat experience from fighting many wars.
In comparison, while Allensia’s knights might have high swordsmanship levels, they lacked actual combat experience.
Zeke reassured Melissa, saying.
“Don’t worry. I will protect Your Highness’s honor.”
For Zeke it was just a casual remark, but Melissa’s heart fluttered for a moment.
It was a line often used in storybooks when a knight confesses his feelings to a princess.
However, seeing Princess Melissa blush slightly and turn her head away, Zeke interpreted those emotions completely differently.
‘Is she angry that I decided on the Grand Warrior duel on my own?’
Since Zeke had unilaterally made the decision without prior consultation, he thought it was understandable from Melissa’s perspective.
But the duel had already been decided.
Looking at Princess Melissa, Zeke thought he should take responsibility for his actions by doing his best to defeat the Empire’s knights.
* * *
Thud!
The Empire’s knights also appeared in the dueling ground wearing full plate armor for the Grand Warrior duel.
The same was true for Zeke and the other Allensia knights.
Commander Morgan did not participate in the duel himself but sent out his most skilled subordinate knights.
Morgan said to Zeke.
“Will Sir Zeke be participating directly?”
Zeke nodded.
Morgan, seeming satisfied that his assumption was correct, went up to the observation seats with an unpleasant smile.
Melissa also sat in the observation seats with a worried expression.
First, one of the Allensia knights stepped forward.
Zeke sat in the waiting area and observed the Empire’s knights facing the Allensia knight.
‘They seem to be at least Blue Knight level.’
Morgan, one of the Thirteen Constellation Knights, was a Blue Knight but his skills were relatively low compared to his position.
While he was originally someone who excelled in strategy rather than martial prowess, he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly as the commander of the Snake Constellation Knights, one of the Empire’s 13 constellations.
However, perhaps for the sake of his dignity as commander, Morgan himself did not participate in the duel.
He seemed to think his subordinate knights were more than enough to defeat Allensia’s knights.
‘That arrogant carelessness will be their weakness.’
Soon the duel began, and immediately the Empire’s knight pushed back the Allensia knight.
Crash!
The Empire’s swordsmanship specialized in shield combat.
It was suitable for traditional duels as it was an adaptation of traditional swordsmanship passed down since the Holy Empire era.
Morgan’s confident attitude was now understandable.
“KUHEK!”
The Allensia knight fell without even being able to properly exert his strength against the Empire’s knight.
The second knight stepped forward, but the result was the same.
As two knights lost in succession, Melissa’s face turned ashen.
If even Zeke, the last participant, lost the duel, they would have to fully open the path to the Bird tribe ghetto for the Empire’s garrison forces.
They would first station troops under the pretext of protecting the Bird tribe ghetto, but would soon gradually encroach on Allensia’s territory.
That was the Empire’s typical method of territorial expansion.
Zeke entered the dueling ground wearing armor and holding a kite shield.
The Empire’s knight looked at Zeke in his full plate armor and said.
“It’s an honor to duel with the winner of the Draker Tournament.”
Though he said it was an honor, it was clearly mixed with mockery.
Zeke silently closed his helmet and drew his sword.
The Empire’s knight also drew his weapon and stood before Zeke.
As the duel began, the Empire’s knight lunged forward first.
“Haap!”
The Empire’s knight swung his shield to strike Zeke’s side.
CRASH!
An tremendous collision sound rang out as shield met shield.
The Empire’s knight expected Zeke to stagger.
However, surprisingly, Zeke stood perfectly still as if he hadn’t felt any impact at all.
Rather, the knight who had swung the shield was thrown off by the reactive force.
He raised his sword to strike down at Zeke.
CRASH!
Zeke struck the knight’s front with his shield first.
The knight staggered back from the tremendous impact.
Zeke quickly moved forward and swung his sword at the knight’s side.
CRACK!
The armor crumpled and a rupturing sound rang out from the knight’s side.
“KUEOOK!”
The Empire’s knight collapsed and groaned.
Morgan, who had been watching with a smile, jumped up from his seat in surprise.
He shouted at Zeke.
“Th-that’s an artifact, isn’t it? That’s cheating!”
Then Zeke opened his helmet and said.
“These are ordinary sword, shield, and armor. They were borrowed from the Allensia border headquarters, so you can verify them.”
Morgan clenched his teeth at Zeke’s words.
It was because Zeke’s skills were better than expected.
‘If I had known this would happen, I should have just gone out myself, dignity be damned.’
But the already determined Grand Warrior duel couldn’t be changed.
Morgan calmed himself and sat back down.
The remaining two warriors were veteran knights he had personally trained and fought alongside on battlefields.
He reassured himself that they weren’t at a level that a rookie knight who had just received his title could defeat.
CRASH!
But the second knight went flying from one strike of Zeke’s shield.
Seeing this, Morgan’s jaw dropped.
“H-how…?”
Despite clearly having little experience as a knight, Zeke’s shield swordsmanship skills were exceptional.
He handled the heavy and unwieldy shield as freely as if it were part of his body.
There was nothing to say as he subdued the Empire’s knights, who took pride in their shield techniques, with just his shield.
Morgan spoke with a serious expression to Antonio, the last remaining warrior.
“You absolutely must not lose.”
Antonio nodded and closed his helmet.
As Antonio was the most skilled among the three, Morgan decided to trust in him.
Zeke and Antonio faced each other in the dueling ground.
As both were the last warriors, this would be the final duel.
Melissa in the observation seats also watched the duel with clenched fists.
Antonio moved first.
“HAAAT!”
True to an Empire knight, he swung his sword while leading with his shield in clean, practical movements.
CLASH!
Zeke’s sword collided with Antonio’s.
Antonio was shocked to feel the incredibly heavy sword strikes from Zeke, who wasn’t even an adult yet.
‘Is he a monster?’
He could understand why Draker knights were called the strongest on the continent.
Sensing Antonio’s movements slow down in his shock, Zeke immediately exploited the opening.
BANG!
Zeke’s sword struck Antonio’s shield.
Though he blocked with his shield, the impact penetrated straight through his body.
“KUK!”
Unable to endure further, Antonio stepped back.
After creating distance from Zeke, he grabbed his shield with both hands and charged forward to change the flow of battle.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Antonio charging with his heavy shield was itself like a terrifying weapon.
But Zeke wasn’t docile enough to just take the charging shield head-on.
He naturally avoided Antonio’s attack using phantom footwork.
Then he swung his shield toward the exposed side.
CRASH!
Antonio blocked Zeke’s attack with his shield using incredible reflexes.
CRACK!
But his wrist holding the shield was bent backward.
Antonio discarded his shield and pointed only his sword at Zeke.
“HUFF. HUFF.”
Aura concentrated in Antonio’s sword.
While using an aura blade was considered improper etiquette in traditional duels, sometimes people would use it without maintaining appearances.
And Antonio judged that now was such a time.
WOONG!
A clear aura blade formed on Antonio’s sword.
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