novelraw Chapter 113 : The Saintess and the Bet (1)
Chapter 113 : The Saintess and the Bet (1)
The Saintess and the Bet (1)
A biting, cold wind blew through January.
The final test that would determine the outcome with Saintess Seraphina's group had begun.
A mock battle unfolded in a three-pronged, sheer canyon.
The victory condition was a game of capture the flag.
If you snatched the enemy's flag and brought it back to your own camp, you won.
― Ta! Ta! Ta! Ta!
Mallory, the blond holy knight candidate.
He was heightening his specialty—speed—to the limit as he darted across the top of the canyon.
Mallory's target was the Sword Dragon Hall's flag.
He would hide near their camp, wait for an opening, then swiftly snatch the flag if a gap appeared.
'If it's my top speed, which breaks the sound barrier, it's more than possible.'
That tremendous speed was why Mallory could become a holy knight candidate.
And, in truth, his only real specialty.
But he could only maintain that speed for about three seconds.
He needed to pick his moment carefully.
'When the Sword Dragon Hall guys have emptied their camp as much as possible, and their guard is down... That's when I'll strike.'
― Pap! Pap! Pap! Pap!
Moving swiftly, Mallory made it to the cliff above the Sword Dragon Hall's flag.
Immediately, he dove into the bushes and observed their camp.
"Huh?"
But there was only one person guarding the flag.
It was the barbarian, Kuga.
― Dun!
He was standing with his back to the flag like some huge boulder.
"... Ho."
Mallory thought his luck was good.
The other Sword Dragon Hall cadets must have already charged out of their camp.
'To only assign one person to guard the flag.'
And Kuga's specialty was just strength, wasn't it?
No matter how strong you are—it doesn't matter if you don't hit me, or grab me.
'Looks like I'll finally get to show off in front of the seniors.'
With supersonic speed, he could snatch the flag in just a second and leap back to the top of the cliff in another second.
That lumbering, bear-like giant wouldn't even be able to do anything except stamp his feet in vain.
'There's only one dangerous moment.'
When you grab the flag and change direction to escape.
That fleeting stop.
'Just have to be careful then.'
As long as he wasn't caught by the barbarian at that instant, victory would be theirs.
He would get to have Ian Greysel, renowned as the greatest genius in history and personally requested by His Holiness, as his direct junior.
'Good! Let's go!'
― Ta-at!
Mallory jumped off the canyon cliff.
It was a pretty high cliff, but that didn't matter.
His legs were blessed, so he could easily withstand the impact of a drop like this.
― Pak!
― Ta-at!
As soon as his feet touched the ground, Mallory shot toward the flag like an arrow.
His peripheral vision stretched into lines, and the Sword Dragon Hall's flag drew rapidly closer.
Now, all he had to do was reach out and snatch the flag.
― Ta-at!
― Kwaaak!
"...!?"
When he tried to seize the flag, it didn't budge—like an ancient, deeply-rooted tree.
'Wh-what's going on!?'
He glanced up at the flag.
"...!"
Goosebumps rippled across Mallory's body.
Kuga was gripping the top of the flag, looking down at Mallory.
"I've been watching you the whole time, pisshead."
"W-what!"
He—He'd been watching him!?
"Since when!?"
"Since you were hiding up on that cliff."
"H-huh!"
How?
He could have sworn his stealth and cover were perfect!
"Hmph."
Kuga was from a tribe that lived on vast plains.
Because he always gazed into the distance, his eyesight was incredible, and from hunting animals there, he never missed even the smallest movement far away.
"Y-you've got to be kidding!!"
Mallory stiffened with indecision.
He thought Kuga was just a dumb brute!
But to think he also had such sharp senses!
No wonder the Sword Dragon Hall guys had left this guy here alone!
But it was too late for regrets.
With Kuga holding the flag, there was no way Mallory could take it by force.
― Bounce!
Mallory leaped back like a rabbit, retreating far away.
'No choice, then!'
The situation was unexpectedly unfavorable, but Mallory did not give up.
'There's no choice but to defeat that giant and take the flag.'
"Come. Pisshead."
Kuga also gripped the flag tightly in his right hand and took up a battle stance.
It was the beginning of a long fight between Mallory and Kuga.
* * *
The central path of the three-way canyon.
The broadest, most open route, with both camps exposed and no place for an ambush—making a direct clash most likely.
Kargon led the Sword Dragon Hall cadets out to meet the enemy there.
"Young master Kargon has arrived."
"Lady Elaine. It seems we'll be facing each other."
Elaine.
One of the three holy knight candidates tasked with guarding Saintess Seraphina.
A female knight with a neatly tied brown ponytail.
She barred the road with the holy knight apprentices at her side.
"It looks like we outnumber you."
The Sword Dragon Hall had far more people on their side.
The Holy Kingdom seemed to have spread their forces more thinly along the other roads.
Meanwhile, Sword Dragon Hall had focused their forces here.
A clear disparity in troops.
"Hmph!"
Elaine adjusted her helmet and raised her shield and sword.
"Are you boasting over such a trivial difference? That means nothing to us, for every one of us is elite."
― Chak!
As if in response, the holy knight apprentices also raised their shields and swords.
A solid shield wall was instantly formed.
"Hmhm. Is that so."
Kargon smiled nonchalantly.
"But it seems you're all rather nervous. Aren't your shields trembling just slightly?"
Elaine's eyes flashed.
"Don't be ridiculous! Get it over with! We'll stun you with our shields!"
Kargon's lips turned cold.
"That's fine. There's no need for a lengthy exchange."
― Chak!
At Kargon's signal with his sword, the Sword Dragon Hall cadets formed up behind him.
A wedge formation appeared in an instant.
Kargon stood at the very tip of the wedge as he continued.
"You are obvious enemies for trying to take Ian from us. I won't hold back."
― Gulp!
Elaine secretly swallowed nervously.
The numbers difference was clear—a disadvantage.
But as knights sworn to protect the Holy Kingdom and the Saintess, showing fear was not an option.
Nor was losing.
Elaine firmed her resolve.
"That's exactly what I was hoping for! Come, young master Kargon!"
She raised her glittering sword high.
"Deploy sanctuary of protection!"
"Deploy sanctuary of protection!"
Elaine's command echoed by the holy knight apprentices.
A golden sacred formation spread beneath their shield wall, sending up a dazzling light.
Their strength surged up at the same time.
"Oooooooh!!"
"Waaaaaaa!!"
Uplifted, the apprentices shouted battle cries.
A sacred blessing—and a battle tactic of the Holy Kingdom.
"As expected... Just like the Holy Kingdom. Makes breaking through exciting."
Kargon gripped his sword with both hands, standing firm.
"Sword Dragon Hall!"
"Yes!"
"Yessir!"
"Let's split them in one go!"
He cried out and charged at the very front.
"Waaaaaaa!"
"Iyaaaaah!"
The Sword Dragon Hall cadets followed at his heels, roaring.
― Kwahaaang!!
Soon, heavy sword and shield collided violently.
The fierce front-line battle had begun.
* * *
The right path of the three-way canyon.
The longest, most winding, and riddled with rugged obstacles.
Because of that, enemies were least likely to come here, and its defense and vigilance were the weakest.
― Ta! Ta! Ta! Ta!
That's where Yuria and Charlotte—the Hisperion sisters—were deployed.
"Don't fall behind, keep up. Sis."
"Hmph! Don't underestimate me! I'm an expert just like you now!"
"... Eh, not exactly the same."
"Shut up!"
The strategy—an elite mobile detachment with high speed and strong combat power.
Their mission was to pierce through the weakest defended area and snatch the flag.
However—
"I knew you'd come. I've been waiting."
Contrary to expectations, defense here was not lax...
"What the—?"
"Wh-why are you here!?"
The holy knight candidates' representative, Garenus, was blocking the critical path.
He stood magnificently, his massive sword planted in the ground, resembling a knightly statue.
"Your strategy is as clear to me as the palm of my hand."
― Pak!!
Garenus pulled his sword from the ground with a fierce motion.
"I figured from the start an elite detachment would come this way. I just didn't expect both the direct heirs to show up together."
― Wooooong!!
Garenus imbued his massive sword with divine power and aura.
The expert's sword aura glowed greenish and white.
"Still, it's an honor to face you both. Let this be a fair and honorable fight."
"Tch...!"
"Damn..."
― Shring!
― Shing!
Charlotte and Yuria also drew their swords from their belts.
"He's strong. Don't hold me back, sis."
"Worry about yourself, not me!"
Charlotte bit her lower lip hard.
"... And if I'm ever in danger, don't save me—just attack."
She had a lot of pride but she wasn't stupid.
She'd trained hard for a year to become an expert, but she was still the weakest among them.
If a fight broke out, she'd probably be the first to fall.
To make matters worse, Garenus's aura rank was higher than even Yuria's.
Unless she helped with everything she had, Yuria alone couldn't break through Garenus.
So Charlotte had already resolved to go all out.
"I'll throw myself to create an opening. We have to win this no matter what."
If Ian went to the Holy Kingdom, all the suffering she'd endured slaving away in Lunabreeze would have come to nothing.
And now, even her best friend Sophia would probably go with Ian to the Holy Kingdom.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
"Yuria! You can do it, right!? Answer me!"
"Of course. We'll win."
Yuria, too, could never let Ian be taken away so easily by the Holy Kingdom.
To Yuria, Ian was now—absolutely irreplaceable... her most trusted and closest person.
She could never let the Holy Kingdom take Ian away.
"... You both have some great resolve."
Garenus took up a serious fighting stance as well.
Charlotte and Yuria, their swords sharp and postures low, did the same.
A brief standoff.
― Paang!!
With an immense leap, all three instantly sprang into motion.
The fight between top elites had begun.
* * *
The left path of the three-way canyon.
Thick with winter trees and bushes, filled with cover and perfect for hiding.
Ian entered this section alone.
"...?"
But he wasn't attacked at all on his way to the Holy Kingdom's camp.
He arrived at the Holy Kingdom's camp.
"Ah! Lord Ian!?"
Inside the camp was Saintess Seraphina.
Surrounded by numerous holy knight apprentices standing guard.
Seeing Ian approach alone, Seraphina gasped, covering her mouth.
"I wondered who was walking here alone—so it was you, Lord Ian! You came by yourself?!"
Ian took a good look at the Holy Kingdom's forces, then nodded.
― Nod.
"H—Huh! Even if you are Lord Ian, this is reckless! To come here alone!"
Seraphina's eyes and mouth opened wide in surprise.
"Don't tell me you're here to surrender!? You must secretly want to defect to the Holy Kingdom, right!?"
Ian immediately shook his head.
"No. I've come for the flag."
"What? By yourself!?"
Ian nodded.
The Saintess went hoohoo... in admiration, then grinned mischievously.
"Huhihi...! Hard to believe! Maybe your swordsman friends are hiding somewhere behind you! If so, what an underhanded tactic, Lord Ian!"
"We'll see."
"But whether it's true or not doesn't matter! Now that you've come this far, you're not getting out again!"
― Clap!
The Saintess clapped her hands.
Then she raised both arms up high.
― Raise!
As she did, a golden light suffused the bodies of the surrounding holy knight apprentices.
"Oooooooh!!"
"Waaaaaaa!!"
It was the powerful blessing of Saintess Seraphina.
The holy knight apprentices now could perform at twice their usual ability.
"You finally showed us an opening, Lord Ian! We can't let it slip away! Everyone, lend me your strength!"
"Ooooooooh!"
"Glory to the Saintess! Glory to the Holy Kingdom!"
As if responding to her, the holy knight apprentices raised their swords and shields high and let out shouts.
Standing at their center, the Saintess declared,
"As soon as this match is over, you're coming to the Holy Kingdom with me to become a holy knight, Lord Ian!"
"I appreciate the offer, but I must decline."
― Shring!
With a calm face, Ian drew his sword from its scabbard.
Then he slowly stepped forward toward the Saintess and the holy knight apprentices.
"I'm taking the flag. If you try to stop me, someone will get hurt."
"Huhihi! You think we'll just hand it over? Now we'll finally get to see your real skills, Lord Ian! Holy knights, surround him!"
The battle among the most promising young talents of each side had begun.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Fight!!!
【( `Д´)o:【】:::::::〉】