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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“We’re at war with the beastmen. You’re asking us to kill beastmen under the command of a beastman? I refuse to accept that.”
The backlash was stronger than I had anticipated.
It was understandable that they would resist being commanded by a leader of a private knight order.
The suppression force had been decimated, and aside from the person responsible for their defeat, the highest-ranking person was the leader of a private knight order.
But I had underestimated their prejudice. I had momentarily forgotten that beastmen were seen as nothing more than slaves or menial laborers.
I hadn’t fully considered the deep-rooted classism and racism of this world.
And this was the result.
Even after Kane announced his resignation as Commander-in-Chief, the knights were openly defying Pelaine in the war council.
The already shattered suppression force was on the verge of fracturing once again.
“I can’t give up the position of Commander-in-Chief.”
“Imperial Knights Commander!”
“It’s absurd for a human to be commanded by a beastman. I challenge you to a duel. If you defeat me, I will gladly step down and acknowledge you as my superior.”
“…”
I was surprised.
Kane, who had just been defeated and forced to step down, was challenging her to a duel.
I almost fell for it.
I almost believed that he was genuinely clinging to the position of Commander-in-Chief.
“Very well. Let’s settle this with a duel, right now.”
“Uoooooo…!”
But I was certain.
Even if Pelaine won the duel, the Holy Knights, who had fought against Kane, would likely be expelled from the suppression force. That would halve the already dwindling strength of the suppression force.
Kane would prioritize the war effort over his pride. He wasn’t someone who would blindly chase after honor.
He must have deliberately challenged Pelaine to a duel, intending to lose.
The knights, excited by the prospect of a duel, rushed out of the tent.
“Schlus.”
“…?”
As I was about to follow them, I felt someone tugging at my sleeve.
It was Iris.
She looked unusually flustered.
“Show me your arm again, Schlus.”
“Didn’t you heal it already?”
“I’m worried that I might have made a mistake because it was dark. There’s light here, so just show me your arm for a moment…”
Was she talking about the splinter wound?
The pain was gone, and I could move my arm freely. It was clearly healed. But Iris seemed anxious.
I sighed and rolled up my sleeve, revealing my forearm.
“Oh no…! What should we do? The scar…”
“….”
Was she talking about that tiny scar?
I hadn’t even noticed it until she mentioned it.
But Iris, as if she had misconnected a blood vessel during surgery, was making a fuss.
The same Iris who had calmly healed me when I was dying from a stab wound to the liver…
“It’s alright, Iris. It’s fine.”
“But…”
“It’s really fine.”
I took her hand and led her out of the tent, many thoughts swirling in my mind.
I had always thought of Iris as a cold and rational person.
Even I, the author who had created her personality and dialogue, believed that.
A virtuous person, befitting a Saintess, who silently did the right thing without expecting anything in return.
That’s how I had always perceived her.
But Iris was a Saintess, not a superhuman.
She was a human with a desire for recognition and gratitude.
Now that I knew she was the one who had restored Schlus’s sight and hearing…
Now that I had experienced those memories…
Iris had been breaking character in front of me.
She was shedding the mask of the cold and aloof Saintess.
She was craving validation for her efforts.
“I would have bled to death if it weren’t for you.”
“Don’t be silly… It wasn’t that serious.”
“Then this scar must be nothing. Don’t worry, Iris. And thank you.”
“…”
I could provide her with the validation she needed.
I could make her feel comfortable in front of me, allowing her to be just Iris, not the Saintess.
I could turn her into an ordinary girl who laughed and joked about trivial matters, not the God’s Maiden who was always fair and strict.
It felt like the least I could do to atone for dragging her into this painful life.
“Why don’t we go watch the duel?”
“Sniff… Alright…”
We stepped outside to see everyone gathered in the courtyard, buzzing with excitement.
It was a sudden turn of events, occurring in the middle of a war council…
But I had no reason to stop them, and even if I did, they probably wouldn’t listen.
The crowd surged towards the open space as Pelaine and Kane stepped outside, forming a sea of people.
Even the guards had abandoned their posts to watch the duel.
“I’ll fight you with only an arming sword.”
“Waaaa…!”
The crowd roared as Kane drew his one-handed sword.
They seemed to interpret it as a sign of arrogance.
“Taylor, did you bring it?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“…?”
But the sword Pelaine received from the Vice-Commander was unusual.
An abnormally thick hilt.
And an even larger blade…
It was a massive two-handed sword, nearly as tall as a person.
Was it even a two-handed sword?
Wasn’t it more like a giant’s sword?
“Uh…”
Even Kane seemed genuinely surprised.
As Pelaine raised the sword above her head, it felt like she had taken down a crucifix from a cathedral and was about to use it as a weapon.
Well, considering this world was full of people who were far stronger than in real life, it wasn’t that strange.
“What are the rules of the duel?”
“They haven’t changed, regardless of time or place. Until one of us yields.”
It was a simple, brutal rule.
After confirming the rules, the two nodded and stepped away from each other.
The knights, forming a circle, had created an impromptu dueling arena.
“A beastman in armor. How amusing.”
“I find it even more amusing that you’re facing me with a one-handed sword.”
The two stared at each other, ready to pounce, and then—
“…”
“…Hm?”
They remained silent, their eyes fixed on me.
Ah, that’s what they were waiting for.
“Begin!”
They wanted me to signal the start of the duel.
Boom…!
As soon as I gave the signal, the two blurred into motion, kicking up dust as they charged towards each other.
In the past, I would have only seen afterimages, but thanks to my training with Trie, I could now see their movements.
…Of course, that didn’t mean I could fight them.
Whoosh…!
The massive greatsword whistled through the air, creating a chilling wind.
It seemed like it would collide with Kane’s arming sword, but Pelaine swung the greatsword, and Kane twisted his body, dodging the attack.
The reach difference was overwhelming.
Kane had no choice but to dodge without even attempting to counterattack.
Pelaine spun the greatsword and raised it above her head, advancing towards Kane.
At first glance, it seemed like Kane had no chance of winning.
But I, the author who had created the character of Kane, the Imperial Knights Commander, knew better.
A veteran who had experienced countless battles wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
“Ugh…!”
Kane thrust his arming sword forward, entering the greatsword’s range.
Pelaine’s greatsword slammed down at a ferocious speed.
Kane’s choice was—
Clank… Clank…!
“Ugh!”
…not to retreat, but to deflect the attack with his arming sword and press forward.
Sparks flew as the blades clashed.
His arming sword would be unusable after that. What was he planning?
I thought to myself, just as Pelaine attempted a backhand swing, as if to prevent him from getting any closer.
Clang!
“…!”
But Kane blocked the menacing backhand swing with the plate armor on his left arm and continued to advance.
He had calmly calculated that the greatsword’s mass would prevent it from generating enough force for a backhand swing to be effective.
And he had the courage to block the blade with his arm.
Those two factors led to his successful counter.
Even if the blow hadn’t been fully powered, his arm should have at least been fractured.
“Gah!”
Kane, finally reaching Pelaine’s chest, discarded his sword and punched her in the stomach.
The plate armor on Pelaine’s chest caved in, and her body was lifted into the air.
But she didn’t let go of the greatsword.
I closed my eyes, thinking it was over.
Thwack!
“Ugh?!”
At that moment, Pelaine, landing on her feet, headbutted Kane.
Kane, his nose broken and bleeding, looked bewildered.
His bewilderment quickly turned to fear.
His opponent, who should have been writhing in pain after a direct hit to the liver, was snarling and spitting blood.
If she had followed her beastman instincts, Pelaine would have dropped her weapon and bitten Kane’s neck.
But she knew that would only earn her ridicule for being barbaric.
She was determined to win using the tools of civilization that humans valued so highly.
Boom!
While Kane was stunned, Pelaine grabbed the blade of the greatsword and shoved it forward.
Kane, unable to resist the force of the impact, was thrown back and fell to the ground.
Pelaine pounced on him, like a feline predator going for the kill.
“Ugh! Damn it!”
“Hyaaaa…!”
A struggle ensued.
Pelaine pressed the blade of the greatsword against Kane’s neck.
Kane tried to push it away.
But he was no match for her monstrous strength. The back of the blade was already touching his throat.
He had lost the high ground, and he couldn’t overcome the beastman’s overwhelming physical strength.
Kane, his face flushed red, finally spoke, “Ugh… I… I yield!”
“Waaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
A roar erupted from the sidelines.
It was the Holy Knights cheering.
Pelaine, her expression returning to its usual blankness, offered Kane a hand.
Kane hesitated for a moment, and then grabbed her hand and stood up.
“I concede defeat. I, Kane von Sturmguard, hereby acknowledge the Holy Knights Commander as the Commander-in-Chief of the suppression force, and I accept the position of Vice-Commander.”
It was a clean ending, leaving no room for argument.
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“Huu…”
Kane sat down behind the barrack, rubbing his neck. The blade had left a mark.
“So you were here.”
“Schlus Hainkel…”
The ‘reinforcements’ appeared, parting the tent flap.
The man who had saved his life and then snatched away his command…
“I came to thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For silencing the knights’ discontent.”
“…”
Kane’s expression hardened.
It was true that he had challenged Pelaine to a duel to bring the knights under her control. They would never have obeyed her orders if she had remained a beastman in their eyes.
But Kane’s decisive defeat had quelled their discontent.
No mere knight could defy someone the Imperial Knights Commander had acknowledged.
But he hadn’t intended to make it so obvious.
He had thought his acting was convincing, but it seemed like this cunning bastard had seen through it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Thank you for losing. It couldn’t have been an easy decision. I never thought you would sacrifice your honor as the Imperial Knights Commander to support a beastman.”
“…”
That was a misunderstanding.
He had initially intended to lose, yes. He was going to toy with her for a bit, show her that she couldn’t defeat him, and then gracefully yield.
But he had been caught off guard by her bestial fighting style and couldn’t perform at his best.
No, that was an excuse.
He had been defeated by Pelaine, plain and simple.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but… I’ll accept your thanks. To be thanked by the Empire’s hero…”
“Ha. Coming from the Imperial Knights Commander.”
A veteran of countless battles.
The person the Emperor trusted most, aside from the Empire’s strongest swordsman.
Kane chuckled at Schlus’s sarcastic tone.
That trust would have crumbled after this crushing defeat.
“It couldn’t be helped. If you had insisted on remaining as Commander-in-Chief, the Emperor himself would have dismissed you. Pelaine is a skilled knight and strategist, but her leadership skills are nowhere near yours. Please, help her lead the suppression force to victory.”
“Victory? Our priority is to survive. You’re being unrealistic.”
“We will win. I’ll make sure of it.”
“With only a week left?”
“Yes. I’m giving you the opportunity to prove yourself as the Vice-Commander. If the tide turns, you can try to regain your authority.”
If the tide turns…
It was a pipe dream.
Perhaps if an Imperial legion arrived as reinforcements… But with a bunch of kids from the Imperial University as their reinforcements, there was no chance of that happening.
But Schlus’s voice was strangely confident.
People like him were either…
…all talk and no action…
…or truly capable.
He didn’t know which one Schlus was, but he had no other choice.
“Tell the Holy Knights Commander to watch her back. The moment the tide turns, I’ll launch a coup and take back my command.”
“Do as you please.”
The two, smirking at each other, returned to the tent, where the war council that would decide the fate of the suppression force was waiting.
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