Volume 2 - CH 11

When we got outside I gave my body a light stretch.

While I was at it, I checked my status.

I’d done a lot of things after coming to this area, such as fighting with the goblins. Thanks to that, my status has gone up all around. This should be enough to win, right?

I’d like to win if possible. The goblin queen came up to me as I was checking my status. “…Don’t push yourself.”

“Sure thing. Say it or not, I’ll withdraw if I’m about to die.” …I mean, the werewolf king probably won’t kill me since he wants my ability to give names.

“Yes, you’re an outsider in this. We’re prepared for that much.” The goblin queen smiled at me. Seems the werewolf king was finished getting ready as well.

The goblins and werewolves moved away to form a circle around us. I drew my sword from my waist, and the werewolf king did similarly.

“Are you ready Crest?”

“Yeah, I’m good any time.” The werewolf king shifted his eyes from me onto a stone. On it was the werewolf who would be working as the referee. Next to them was Darkle.

There was a chance for foul play if there was only one referee after all. He was there as a check to that.

“All right you two… Begin!” The moment the werewolf shouted this the werewolf king’s body sunk down low. The next moment he shot forward. Fast. He had overwhelming speed like an explosion.

The werewolf king appeared before my eyes in an instant, and all of his lean muscles shook to swing his sword down on me. I caught his attack at the very last moment. The werewolf king was completely drawn in by my act, having drawn him in till the very last moment before avoiding as if to greet him.

…I can see his movements well. It seems that the werewolf king’s stats are probably below mine. So, every one of the werewolf king’s moves were clear for me to see.

“N, no way! For the king’s attack not to hit!?”

“How can he be faster than the king! This hasn’t happened since that guy!!” I guess it’s really unexpected for the werewolf king’s attacks to not land. Among the desperate cries from the werewolves, the goblins were getting riled up.

“Crest! Go for it! Show them what you’re made of!”

“You’re crushing it! Hit him there! Hey, Crest! Take him down!”

“Please do your best, Crest!” As the goblin’s cheers got more energetic, I exchanged attacks with the werewolf king.

“Uooo!” The werewolf king let out a war cry and raised his sword. Although I didn’t expect a quick attack from that direction, I parried it regardless and moved to his flank.

Then I slashed my sword. As I struck the werewolf king’s sword, he let out a short yelp and let go of his sword.

His sword danced through the air. The werewolf king stretched out his arm in an attempt to chase his sword. Within that opening I moved my sword to the front of his throat. As the werewolf king froze his sword stabbed into the dirt.

“…I surrender.” As soon as the werewolf king made this quick statement the surrounding werewolves went wild. Then the werewolf king stared at me for a bit before bowing down on the ground before me. “…Kill me. I don’t want to live in such disgrace. In exchange, look after those guys for me.”

“…” Eh… The werewolf king looked at me with eyes filled with resolve. But seeing their king like this, the werewolves all raised their voices in protest.

“K, king! L, let’s kill this guy!”

“What are you talking about!? I lost the duel! This all falls on my head!”

“We followed you when you were banished precisely because we think you’re our rightful leader! You are the only one who can be our king!”

As the werewolves started shouting one after the other, the werewolf king stood up and yelled at them. “Silence!! All of you! Do you plan to sully my duel!?” The werewolves all fell silent at the werewolf king’s cry. …Maybe a duel is something that the werewolf king holds to be very sacred.

The werewolves seemed be moved by the werewolf king’s conviction. With tears in their eyes, they all agreed with him. Once more, the werewolf king kneeled down on the ground in front of me and looked into my eyes.

“Sorry about that Crest. I’m proud to have been able to fight with someone as strong as you before the end.”

“…” As the werewolf king stared at me, I lifted my sword. Then, I put it in its sheath.

“…What are you doing Crest?”

“I’m the winner here. The only order I have for you is to live on and enter an equal alliance with us.”

“Crest. A duel might just be a meaningless thing for humans, but it’s a very important matter for werewolves.”

“So you want to abandon your precious subordinates and die before them? You chose a duel so you could protect your comrades. Are you seriously going to throw them away?”

“Well-” Before the werewolf king could deny it, I cut in.

“Stop messing around! I’m a human! I get that you hold duels in high regard! However, we humans are wise beings! Pride is nothing to throw away your life for! And I’m the one who won here! So listen to me! What I want is an alliance between the werewolves and the goblins! I’m not going to pointlessly take a life!! Come out now if you’ve got a problem with that! I’ll take you on!”

I looked around me. There was no one who wanted him to die in the first place. Should I make him an example? If I did, then all the werewolves here would resent me.

I don’t want to do something so troublesome and dangerous. Hearing my declaration brought not only the goblins to attention, but also the werewolves.

At that moment, the werewolf king came before me and fell to his knees. “…Crest. Or rather, our lord.”

“…What?”