CH 97

Gulp.

Bahara soldiers, including Yamanta, gulped nervously. Ian was obviously not yet an adult. But a crushing pressure was seeping out of his small figure.

‘It’s not simply because our bodies are weakened.’

Ian’s figure riding the Blue Emperor truly looked majestic, reminiscent of a king. But that alone wasn’t enough to drag Yamanta around like this.

Instead, he sneered and yelled at Ian.

“How laughable! The Great Warrior duel should be honorable. But you deliberately injured me so you can fight me!”

“I will give you as much time to rest as you want.”

“!?”

Yamanta was greatly taken aback.

He understood what this brat was saying.

[I’m confident I will win even if you’re in your normal condition.]

His eyes instantly flared up with killing intent.

“You dare to look down on this Yamanta who has taken the place of the lord of the Molar Castle himself?!”

Rather, Ian responded with a cold gaze.

“I am the seventh prince of Kaistein. I came all the way here on my own and managed to capture the Molar Castle. You’re the first to look down on me, Yamanta.”

“What?”

“If you want to be respected, show your respect first. No, you people have this saying in Bahara. If you want to be respected, show your skills first. I’ve only seen you running away like a coward.”

“…”

Only at Ian’s words did he shut his mouth.

Because he wasn’t wrong. Everything in Bahara was determined by power. Talking like this was unlike a Bahara warrior.

Actually, he tried to buy some time to restore his physical strength by talking.

Instead, he was dancing to Ian’s tune.

‘That bastard…’

If he wasted any more time, rumors would go around that he was a coward who ran away because he was scared of a little boy.

Thus, Yamanta gritted his teeth.

“All right. Give me a moment to heal, then I will fight you fair and square. Ten minutes will do.”

First, he needed to find time to pull himself together.

However, Ian’s answer left him stunned.

“I will give you an hour.”

“!?”

It was like he was showing sympathy to the enemy.

Yamanta gritted his teeth and turned back. He would bring his body condition back to normal, even if only by a little bit. He suffered some burns, but his stamina should recover in no time.

And at that time, he was determined to crush him completely.

***

Like Yamanta, Ian turned back. He drove Blue Emperor toward his own camp. Then he got off his horse and began to warm up.

There was an hour left.

He had to be fully prepared before that.

However, Fiosen spoke worriedly to Ian, who was warming up.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

It was because Ian insisted that he would fight the duel himself.

It wasn’t just Fiosen. Galon and other soldiers also approached him.

“Sir Fiosen is right. It’s too risky.”

“Please let us fight for you. If you get hurt, it will be a really big problem.”

“Rather, please let me out! I will fight with your banner, Your Highness!”

Except for the Bahara soldiers, all of them had been fighting together since Labadom. Most of them were inspired by Ian’s performance. Everyone was crying that they would fight on Ian’s behalf.

But it was then.

“I guess you don’t trust us.”

Nathan, who had come down from the castle before they knew it, opened his mouth coldly.

At his remarks, Fiosen raised his voice in panic.

“Nathan!”

“Why? Was I wrong? But it’s simply unthinkable that the prince is going to fight. What have you been doing not stopping him? Is it because you don’t know who the lord of the Molar Castle is?”

“Kugh…”

Fiosen let out a sigh at Nathan’s sarcasm.

It was because he was also responsible for not stopping Ian in advance. No, actually, the biggest problem was the identity of the other person.

Yamanta.

He was a general whose fame had earned him the nickname “Bahara’s Bulwark.” Although he had a fiery temperament, he was a veteran who had blocked Kaistein without fail until now.

Sure, he was fooled by Ian’s provocation and made a big blunder. He had also suffered unreasonable losses.

But that didn’t mean that his skills were going anywhere.

Duke Lavaltor even recognized his bravery in the past.

It was no wonder Nathan was being sarcastic.

“I can’t believe you’re going to fight such a man. Are you really serious?”

“Please reconsider, Your Highness.”

Even Galon pleaded to him with serious eyes.

However, Ian’s answer had not changed.

“No. This is what I have to do.”

At some point.

Contrary to his determination to live differently from his previous life, he relied on others again.

It wasn’t on Galon only.

‘Fiosen and Nathan, I had been counting on too many people.’

Of course, there were times when he moved himself to some extent.

But most things went so smoothly that it was close to luck thanks to the people who helped him.

Maybe that was why.

Woong!

Lately, Ian could feel Faith getting weaker.

Clearly, the light, which had been shining brightly until he faced the Second Prince, was gradually dimming. Even the newly established light was weakening.

At this rate, his new life would be no different from before.

So, now was his opportunity.

‘It’s my opportunity to show my Faith properly.’

At the same time, it was time to gain new power.

Unlike his previous life, Ian once again strengthened his resolve to walk on his own, just like the moment he vowed to pioneer this life himself.

Of course, it was not for such a childish reason only.

‘Somehow, I feel like I can win. No, Faith wants it.’

This was his opportunity to take a step forward, unlike his previous life.

Ian never wanted to miss this opportunity. And there was another reason why he had to fight.

‘It’s easy to order a knight to defeat them. But then we can’t conquer them thoroughly.’

That’s what Bahara was like.

It was a country that worshipped the victors to an abnormal degree. A nation willing to acknowledge any means to win, but never bowed down to the loser.

They were also strange people that despised those who won with the help of others.

This was why the Northern Expedition of his previous life ended in failure.

‘It wasn’t because my sister, who was the supreme commander, was a woman. Because she took over Bahara with knights instead of stepping out on her own, proper governance was not working.’

Bahara’s warriors were incredibly stubborn.

In order to make them submit, it was necessary for a person who had yet to reach adulthood like himself to knock them down a peg.

This way, he would gather all the warriors under Olak’s banner and eventually even have Bahara in his grasp.

And so, Ian looked the knights in the eye with a serious gaze.

“Trust me. I’m sure I will win. As I have always done.”

“…”

Nathan said nothing more. However, after hearing Ian’s words, his murderous aura silently flared up.

The light in his eyes was as if declaring that if Ian ever got hurt, he would never let Bahara off the hook.

Galon also quietly strengthened his grip on the scabbard.

The promised time had come.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course!”

And the battle began with Yamanta’s powerful roar.

***

The duel was in front of the castle gate.

Bonfires lit up the dark night, drawing a circle surrounding the two.

There, Ian faced Yamanta and raised the royal sword.

‘He is by no means an easy opponent. I can never let my guard down.’

The tension between the two was high.

Despite the one hour’s rest, Yamanta’s physical strength had yet to fully recover. Therefore, the fight between the two would be a short-term duel.

Ian gave strength to the royal sword in his hand.

At the same time, Faith began to pulsate.

Ba-dump!

It was like a glimmer of light breaking through the dark night.

Whether it was Kaistein or Bahara, all the spectating soldiers held their breath seeing Ian’s figure.

It was the same with Yamanta.

But he didn’t just stand there and watch.

Like a volcano itching to erupt, uncontainable energy began to burn within Yamanta’s body.

Woong!

It was [Resolve].

If knights had an Oath, Bahara had a Resolve.

‘I will kill you here and prove that Bahara is never a joke!’

It’s akin to a warrior’s special move.

It was a type of power that strengthened the beholder’s body by burning his own life force.

“I, Yamanta of Bahara, will never lose to a kid like you!”

Boom!

With a great explosion, Yamanta charged toward Ian. A giant axe fell over Ian’s head.

It was a lethal attack that would cost massive damage if not avoided.

However, Ian did not dodge it.

Blaaarr!

Because his Faith was burning.

At the same time, he could feel it.

The numerous Faiths he had observed so far. No, to be precise, the Faith of a man who had been with him was engraved on his body.

[Never fall down or give in.]

That was Galon’s power.

Ian’s Faith and Galon’s power, which became one, were engraved on the royal sword. Ian took a step forward without delay and swung his sword at Yamanta.

And right at that moment.

Clang!

An incredible sound from the collision of a sword and an axe, which was raging like a volcano, resounded.

No, it wasn’t just the sound.

“H… How!”

The shining royal sword blew away Yamanta’s axe.

Yamanta couldn’t believe his eyes.

‘How the hell did you have such power? To blow away the axe that I have risked my everything so lightly!’

Although he was injured, his strike contained enough force to blow away such a small child.

It was even more unbelievable to deflect this enormous power that could shatter even a sword to bits. This fact couldn’t have been more shocking for Yamanta, who had never let go of his axe in his entire life.

However, he didn’t become the lord of the Molar Castle because of his strength only.

“You think you can defeat me with something like this!”

He was no longer bound by the axe.

Likewise, Ian had poured all his energy to knock out the axe. After checking that the royal sword had not yet returned to its owner, Yamanta lunged at Ian.

He intended to blow away this prince with his huge fist.

In fact, Ian could not avoid his fist.

‘I won!’

Yamanta didn’t know what kind of trick Ian did. However, no matter how great Ian was, there was no way he could avoid the fist imbued with Resolve at this distance.

It was right when Yamanta’s mouth curled up, sure of his victory.

BAAM!

Ian hit Yamanta’s fist with his forehead.

Instead of dodging, he rushed toward Yamanta’s fist, which was said to be capable of crushing even a giant rock easily.

“You… you madman! But that’s your mistake!”

However, Yamanta’s fist failed to send Ian flying, as if something was blocking it. Far from knocking Ian down, he couldn’t push him back a single step.

No, rather, it was Yamanta who fell.

Crash!

“Aaargh!”

His arms burst from the immense impact.

It felt as if his fist, which could bend even steel walls, had been shattered.

Of course, Ian wasn’t unscathed either.

Drip.

Blood flowed from Ian’s torn forehead. It trickled from his forehead, down to his nose and chin.

Drip drip.

However, Ian did not wipe his blood, nor did he cry in pain. As if it was only a natural measure to win.

He began to walk step by step toward the fallen Yamanta.

At that point, Yamanta showed a rather sorry sight.

“D, don’t come! Don’t come!”

‘What the hell is he! What’s with him!’

His reaction was only normal.

Yamanta had been fighting Kaistein in the Molar Castle all his life. Now, he was facing an insane surge of bloodlust that even he could not handle.

If he made a single move, it felt like his throat would be severed.

Normally, he would move with the determination to cut Ian’s neck.

Strangely, however, he couldn’t do so this time.

‘Did I get intimidated by such a kid?’

But, otherwise, this situation could not be explained. In fact, his legs were frozen stiff as if he was frightened by something.

No, it was like being thrown in front of a vicious beast that should never be touched.

As Yamanta was petrified.

Chuck!

Ian’s sword pointed at Yamanta’s neck.

At that moment, Yamanta sensed his own defeat.

“I lost…”

He had never felt such a sense of defeat all his life. Even he had never felt such humiliation when he was defeated by Arak, the First Warrior. Therefore, he bowed his head in acknowledgment of defeat.

But Ian was not satisfied.

Shiiing!

He raised the sword as it was aimed at Yamanta.

The place where his sword was directed was the remaining Bahara soldiers. No, not just Yamanta and his retreating soldiers. It was the direction where all of the Bahara soldiers, whom Ian had taken prisoner, were in.

Ian shouted at them.

“Who would object to my victory!”

Despite Ian’s shout, Bahara soldiers could not say anything.

But everyone knew. That Ian would never have mercy on Yamanta.

Nevertheless, they couldn’t believe that Bahara’s Bulwark had lost to Ian, who was nothing more than a nobody.

Therefore, Ian shouted one more time.

“Anyone who has an objection to this fight! Come out! I will deal with him no matter who he is!”

But at Ian’s continuous shout.

Thud!

Bahara soldiers all dropped their weapons.

And, following the etiquette that had been passed down since ancient times, they began to take a posture that should be directed to the victor of the Great Warrior duel.

In the dark night.

In front of a castle illuminated only by bonfires.

All the soldiers of Kaistein and Bahara bowed toward Ian.