bookpower Chapter 199 : Chapter 199
Chapter 199 : Chapter 199
A total of thirty-four kingdoms were invited to this year’s Emperor’s birthday.And the number of kingdoms that actually participated was forty-two.
The kingdoms that came to the empire without being invited were mostly weak nations that could not even properly defend their own borders.
As such, they did not have a surplus in their kingdom’s budget, but the reason they squeezed out money to come to the empire was all the same.
It was to build a relationship with the Emperor.
The way for a weak nation to survive is to become strong on its own like the Plank Kingdom, or to rely on the aid of a powerful nation.
Of course, becoming strong on its own is a healthy kingdom and an excellent direction, but that is really not easy.
Therefore, the kings or envoys of the weak nations intended to somehow exchange at least a word with the Emperor on this occasion.
And the best way to exchange at least a word with the Emperor was to ‘perform well in the swordsmanship tournament.’
As a result, the knights of the weak nations who decided to participate in the swordsmanship tournament meticulously analyzed their opponents in order to perform their best.
But no matter how much they analyzed, there was a difference in skill that could not be overcome.
And the two men who most clearly showed that ‘difference in skill’ were.
The two men from the Plank Kingdom.
***
「“Ye-Yes, indeed, Jereuth!! He is once again proving without a doubt that even time cannot stop his sword!!”」
The announcer in charge of broadcasting from the coliseum in the center of the imperial capital shouted, unable to hide his excitement.
He was currently marveling at the performance of the veteran he revered and had wanted to see again.
「“He defeated the Knight Commander of the Darpan Kingdom, known as a strong contender for victory, in just four exchanges! Amazing! Truly amazing!!”」
—Waaaaaah!
—Jereuth! Jereuth! Jereuth!
—The hero of humanity!!
—Did you see that?! He just struck a few times with his greatsword and made him drop his sword?!
—I told you! Jereuth would definitely win!! Jereuth is a god! Bet your entire fortune!!
As is the case with most tournaments, a gambling den for predicting the winners and losers of the swordsmanship tournament was in full swing.
Of course, there were people who purely enjoyed the swordsmanship tournament, but a significant number were gambling.
“Can you stand?”
When Jereuth asked, offering his hand to the loser, the Knight Commander of the Darpan Kingdom took his hand with a hollow smile.
“You are more of a monster than I heard in the rumors. I was nervous when they called you the ‘Hero of Humanity.’ I have learned that I still have a long way to go.”
“Don't say that. You fought well. You just don't know how to deal with someone who pushes through with strength.”
“Strength… I was confident in my strength, but I never thought I would lose so ridiculously to someone thirty years older than me.”
“Train more. You have talent.”
“Thank you.”
Thus, Jereuth also gave simple advice after each match.
He was not trying to be meddlesome or show off. He was just trying to help as a senior knight.
There was someone in the audience watching Jereuth’s match intently.
He, with his hat pulled down low, looked like an extremely ordinary citizen of the empire at a glance.
‘No matter how old he is, Jereuth is still Jereuth.’
However, his identity was Emperor Caturos.
‘Watching from the audience like this is indeed fun.’
The Emperor thought for a moment, then looked at the large gate below the swordsmanship tournament arena.
The next contestant would soon emerge from that gate.
‘The next turn is… the senior knight of our empire’s Royal Guard Knight Order, Duncan, and that one.’
Duncan, the senior knight of the Royal Guard Knight Order, was a strong man known to everyone in the empire.
He was also a knight whom the soldiers followed well and the citizens respected.
‘But it seems the audience is more looking forward to Duncan’s opponent.’
「“Alright! The excitement is not cooling down! This year’s empire swordsmanship tournament is truly thrilling! Then I will introduce the next match!”」
As the announcer spoke, the large iron gate of the tournament arena opened, and a man wearing only pants came out.
Of course, he was holding a sword.
「“Our proud Angla Empire’s Royal Guard Knight Order! Senior Knight! Sir Knight Duncan!”」
—Waaaaaah!
—Duncan! Duncan! Duncan!
—Duncan! Do your best!!
—Win, Duncan! Win!!
—Fight like you did in the war, Duncan! No need to hold back!!
「“His opponent! The other participant who is receiving the most attention in this year’s swordsmanship tournament, as you all know!”」
—…!
「“The King himself has stepped forward to prove the strength of his kingdom! The King of Plank, King Leonardo!”」
—Waaaaaah!!
—Win! Wiiiiiin!!
—I bet my whole fortune because you’re a king!! You’re confident, right?!
—Don’t die! You’re a king!!
—Kyaaaaaaak!
—Wow, he’s so handsome.
—He’s crazy…….
There had only been one time before when a king had personally participated in the empire’s swordsmanship tournament.
It was when the current Emperor Caturos was still in the ‘Angla Kingdom.’
The reason kings did not participate in swordsmanship tournaments was because it was too dangerous. Many knights truly die in this tournament.
However, that young king, the king with beautiful features, was participating with only a single sword and no protective gear, in accordance with the tradition of the swordsmanship tournament.
How could the citizens of the empire who revered the sword not like him?
On top of that, since he was also handsome, the women of the empire could not hide their affection for ‘King Leonardo.’
The commoners hoped to catch his eye during the tournament.
The nobles, especially the women who were full of thoughts of catching a strong man at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, even came dressed somewhat boldly to get Leonardo’s attention.
Ssk—.
The King of Plank raised his hand once as if responding to the cheers of the crowd.
He went to Duncan, who was already in the tournament arena, and extended his hand.
“‘May you be proud to have died fighting honorably.’”
“Ah… yes, ‘May you be proud to have died fighting honorably.’”
This greeting was a ritual that the knights of the empire performed before a match.
Leonardo greeted like this every time he competed.
‘I need to instill a good image of the Plank Kingdom.’
The knights of the empire who participated in this tournament were mostly the elite of the military.
Instilling a good image of the Plank Kingdom in such elites would surely be beneficial in many ways.
After Leonardo and Duncan shook hands, they moved a little apart. Then they each took their stance and prepared to fight.
「“Alright, then the match between Sir Knight Duncan and the King of Plank, be-gi-i-i-i-i-i-in! It begins!!”」
As soon as the announcer shouted.
“Hup!”
Duncan immediately rushed at Leonardo.
He was not doing it because he was ignoring Leonardo. He had formulated this strategy because he had seen the matches that Leonardo, the King of Plank, had shown so far.
‘The King of Plank’s swordsmanship feels like it reads the opponent’s flow. So I must end it before he reads the flow of my sword!’
Duncan could declare it.
The King of Plank was a great knight. It was clear just from looking at the faces of the knights he had defeated, or more accurately, ‘subdued,’ so far.
‘On the first day, he lightly defeated a mid-level knight of the empire and a retired senior knight. And yesterday, he even subdued a retired knight commander. That is absolutely not something that can be done by luck.’
To this extent, Duncan acknowledged Leonardo.
But that didn’t mean he intended to lose.
‘I will definitely win! I can’t show the citizens a knight of the empire losing to the king of a small kingdom anymore!’
Since it was still the early stages of the tournament, the citizens were cheering for the King of Plank.
But if the King of Plank advanced to the round of 16, the round of 8, and beyond, the atmosphere would change.
Because the pride of the empire, which boasted of having the strongest knights on the entire continent, could be shattered.
‘Before that… I will stop him here.’
His thoughts were long, but less than a second had actually passed.
Duncan swung his sword with the intention of truly cutting down and killing Leonardo, in accordance with the rules of the swordsmanship tournament.
However.
“Iyaaaaaaah!!!”
Duncan let out a battle cry and thrust his sword strongly and quickly.
However.
Swoooooosh…!
The King of Plank’s sword, as if to mock Duncan’s thrust, turned its blade sideways and deflected Duncan’s sword.
‘He deflected a thrust with the flat of his blade?! What kind of nonsense is this…?!’
The audience might have thought that Duncan’s thrust was just weak and grazed Leonardo’s sword.
But Duncan clearly felt it.
The King of Plank had toyed with his sword with a bizarre swordsmanship.
‘The other guys were also defeated like this—.’
Duncan could no longer continue his thoughts.
Because this time, it was Leonardo’s sword’s turn to attack.
Swish—!
The King of Plank’s pure white sword grazed past Duncan’s eyes from top to bottom.
Duncan thought he had dodged it.
But again.
Swish—!
The King of Plank’s sword grazed past his eyes from bottom to top, this time as well.
It meant that a sword had grazed past his eyes with the same trajectory not once, but twice.
‘…Is he playing with me?’
Otherwise, there was no way he could do this.
Thump—.
Duncan moved a little away from Leonardo, let his sword hang down, and looked straight at Leonardo.
Leonardo’s expression was very serious.
So it meant he wasn't ‘playing with him.’
‘Rather, it seems like he’s giving me a choice. Whether to continue fighting and die, get injured, or be subdued, or to give up.’
The three previous contestants who had faced the King of Plank might have had similar thoughts.
‘That man is stronger than me. But my choice is, of course…!’
“Iyaaaaaaah!!”
Duncan rushed at Leonardo once again.
The result was already decided.
Swoooooosh… Whoosh—!
Leonardo used the force of Duncan's strong swing against him, deflecting his sword.
It was such a great technique that Duncan, a senior knight, unknowingly dropped his sword from his hand.
*Clang…….
Duncan’s sword flew pathetically and fell to the ground.
Looking at the tip of the King of Plank’s sword aimed at his neck, Duncan bowed his head.
“…I have lost.”
—Waaaaaah!!!
***
While the men shed blood and sweat to gain honor and popularity in the swordsmanship tournament.
There was a place where a battle of wits and strategy, no less fierce, was taking place.
It was the Emperor’s 3rd Palace.
The guests who had come to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday were staying in the Emperor’s 3rd Palace.
“So… the King of Plank doesn't have a wife yet, is that right?”
When a princess spoke in a haughty voice, her attendant maid answered.
“Yes, Your Highness. The women he brought this time are only one maid, one vassal, and one knight.”
“Bringing only three women… what does that mean?”
“Perhaps he intends to find a woman at this year’s Emperor’s birthday celebration banquet? Because he is not interested in the women of his own country.”
“There are many kings like that. Who have a strange fantasy about foreign women.”
The princess said confidently, shrugging her shoulders.
“From what I’ve seen, those supposedly beautiful princesses of the empire are about on the same level as me. Maybe I can catch the King of Plank’s eye.”
“Your Highness will surely be able to.”
“Right?”
There were over a hundred women like this princess, confidently aiming for the King of Plank.
And among them, there was also someone from the Plank Kingdom.
***
Olivia.
She was looking at the top-quality cosmetics she had brought from the Plank Kingdom, obtained in great secrecy, with a somewhat determined expression.
‘To stop the insects aiming for His Highness… I must prevent them from even approaching.’
As a woman, Olivia knew well how to prevent ‘insects’ from getting unnecessarily close.
One just had to intimidate them with outstanding beauty.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve done my makeup, so I’ll need to practice a bit. Until the banquet tomorrow night.’
Olivia thought of her makeup practice as a way to protect Leonardo from the ‘insects.’
But deep in her heart, there was another meaning.
She too, like the other women, was aiming for Leonardo.