It was a shame. Sanchez questioned if Roman Dmitry was even qualified to be on the stage, but in the first ce, the Valha Empire brutally trampled on the meaning of their festival.
Even though changing the warrior to represent the festival was a sensitive issue, for political gain, Valha epted the request of the Kronos Empire and changed the opponent. It felt so pathetic.
How did their nation turn into this?
‘This must be the reason why Teacher didn’tpromise with the Valha royal family. If he had be their puppet, he would have been given afortable life, but like Barbossa, he would have had to fight against those he didn’t want to fight. Now I can understand why Teacher hated those who were seeking change in the nation. Teacher wasn’t afraid of change, he just hated those idiots on the high chairs who took everything in their control.’
Morales wanted Roman Dmitry to have the stage. If it was his skills that overpowered him, he would show the pride of a warrior by taking down Barbossa.
However, the truth couldn’t be hidden. It would be a pragmatic way to limit one option of Valha, but Morales provided a sure way for Roman to survive. Either way, it was a divisive option.
Just because those in power were bad, Morales didn’t want to fight like them.
Then Sanchez learned the truth. He told the truth on behalf of the dead, and he assumed Roman would take the safe way out.
It was expected. The death of Morales made Roman Dmitry shine, and if he went to a faraway nation, he wouldn’t be at risk with Valha’s n.
However, Roman Dmitry’s reaction wasn’t what he had expected.
“I know.”
“… What? Do you mean you knew that Valha was talking to Kronos?”
It was shocking. Roman Dmitry set foot in Valha despite knowing the ugly truth, and he continued.
“The rtionship between Kronos and Valha is a strange one. People think Valha acts like a bystander, but in fact, what they’re doing can’t just be described as being a bystander. It is something that you will understand if you look at the civil war in Cairo. If Marquis Benedict seeded with the rebellion and the regime changed, the Kronos Empire would have used Cairo as a bridge to start their continental conquest. If Valhall had gone against Kronos at that time, what does that even mean then? It holds no meaning. Bystanders don’t give advantages to others. To think that one preserves one’s power just by watching is the idea of weak people who have never held power.”
Between the rtionships of the empires, a small doubt formed. People said that the empires regarded each other as a huge block in their ns, but the two would never hurt each other. It was like they were acknowledging the existence of each other.
“I don’t think the rtionship between the two empires is one of perfect alliance. In the end, each of them is a force that holds arge piece ofnd. If a certain level is exceeded, then the two would also have to fight. However, until the surrounding forces are fully sorted out, there is enough reason for them to join forces. Considering such a premise, it leads to the conclusion that Valha isn’t just watching on the sidelines.”
“… What?”
Sanchez took a deep breath, as it felt like he was the one running out of air. Roman Dmitry spoke calmly, but as someone from Valha, he was shocked.
Valha was a nation of warriors. They had thoughts and passion, and they followed what they believed in. That was a good way to say it, and Valha, which was closed, was called a nation of nomunication.
But Sanchez still liked Valha. Even though Valha’s methods might not be the same as those of the people outside, Valha pursued its own way and represented the souls of warriors. If what Roman said was true—no, even ording to Morales’s will, if that was true, then Sanchez felt miserable.
It was the opposite. To join hands with Kronos, whom they have been criticizing, even if they fought a battle with Kronoster, it wasn’t an important issue for Valha.
If Kronos loved the results, then Valha loved the process. Rather than winning, they were hoping for a worthy defeat.
Sanchez said,
“Why ept the invitation from Valha when you knew it? This is a n that Valha and Kronos have colluded on. After the fight with Barbossa is over, it is certain that the forces trying to kill Roman Dmitry will move. Can you handle it? I admit that you are strong, but you have limits. The Warp Gate leading to Dmitry would have some problems, and running on foot would be impossible.”
His voice trembled. He was asking sincerely, and Roman Dmitry showed a calm face.
“I epted it because I knew the truth.”
“… Are you being serious right now?”
“Even if the truth hidden beneath the surface is revealed, it wouldn’t change the reality that I am confronting. And it is a reality that has to be dealt with at some point. In order for the weak nations on the continent, including Dmitry, to defend their nation, they need to start ignoring and denying the fact that Valha and Kronos are shaking hands.”
It was the worst theory. Going to Valha was risky, but there was a reason for him to do it.
“I hope that my actions in the future give cause for war. Even if Valha deliberately lured me into Kronos’s trap and tried to kill me, how would people react if I defeated one of the Twelve Swords of the continent and went back home alive? The change starts from there. Even if the ugly truth is revealed, people will only have a reason to fight until the end.”
Sanchez was speechless. Roman Dmitry was a reckless man that even Valha would call crazy.
The conversation ended, and Roman Dmitry didn’t run away. Recalling the image of him saying he would go onto the stage, Sanchez went out and looked at the moon in darkness.
“… Roman Dmitry, you are insane.”
His heart raced. During this festival, Barbossa’s victory was guaranteed. Although it was said that he defeated Morales, Barbossa was six levels higher than Morales in the ranking, which showed a huge difference in each level.
Even if he would take the risk and bring his opponent down, what greets Roman Dmitry after he gets off the stage isn’t the cheers of people but a ck future. Yet he still wanted to fight.
He chuckled. Even though it was such a risky thing, Roman Dmitry actually gave him hope that it would work out.
One time, Morales said,
“A true warrior doesn’t tolerate a single precedent. Not just because no one is watching, but because it is a choice everyone can understand. If they neglect their training andpromise with reality, their weakness will eventually make them fall to their knees and put their heads to the ground in a battle determined by will. I am not great. Despite knowing Barbossa was in the wrong, the time I neglected all of it proves how weak I am. Sanchez, if you meet a true warrior, learn about the life he lived. Even if you can’t live like that, you will learn something in the days toe.”
A true warrior. He was the existence that Morales spoke about. Roman Dmitry seemed like such a great being from the history of Valha.
He walked through the night.
‘I don’t think of it as being reckless. But if what he said to me was true, when he defeats Barbossa, I hope he doesn’t get killed by those empire dogs.’
Morales, his teacher, might have wished for the same. If he chose the path of a warrior even after he was told about the alternative, then he should be devoting himself to Roman.
He gritted his teeth.
Maybe, from now on, it would seem like he would have to spend some intense time.
The day before the festival was bright, with people moving around since the morning. With the festival being held tomorrow, there were many things that had to be taken care of today.
On that evening, as the sun went down, people began to flock to the festival site. People surrounded the huge stage, and each of them showed their anticipation.
“Who will win?”
“It has to be Gonzales of the Jonathan family. On the stage of the eve where the Rankers do not participate, it is safe to say that unless there’s a 4-star swordsman that participates, he wouldn’t have any opponents there. Besides, rumor has it that Gonzales will be challenging the rankings soon.”
“Ah, that man. Still, on the eve of the stage, one cannot predict the oue. It is not a one-on-one match, but thirty at the same time.”
The people were talking. Then someone mentioned the hottest topic.
“How about Dmitry’s sh?”
“… Hmm. I am looking forward to him, but maybe he iscking a bitpared with the others.”
“Still, I heard that Dmitry’s sh showed an overwhelming presence in the fight against the Kronos Empire. How swift his sword technique is. The people who have watched him fight think of the word sh even without hearing about the rumors.”
“He is definitely someone to remember. Considering that Roman Dmitry, whom he serves, brought down Morales, Chris might not be ordinary either.”
Just a day ago, Chris wasn’t the center of attention. He was just an uninvited guest mixed in with the festival happenings, but Roman Dmitry’s actions drew attention to him as well.
He was the only stranger, yet all of the attention focused on him. However, it was a fact that everyone thought that his chances of winning were low.
“Still, winning will be difficult. It is not easy for someone from a foreign nation toe and win our event on ournd. The warriors of Valha must be wary of Chris, knowingly or unknowingly, but in a situation where thirty warriors are fighting at the same time, will a miracle happen? Maybe in order to survive, he will have no choice but to respond in defense from start to end.”
It was one person’s words, but that was what the people’s honest evaluation of Chris was.
The time hade. At the call of the referee, the warriors representing each family took their positions.
“Chris from the Dmitry Duchy!”
“OHHHH!”
“Chris! Chris!”
“Chris! Chris!”
The people were excited. Most of the people weren’t sure of Chris’s victory, but that didn’t mean they were going to reject him. Roman Dmitry was recognized as a true warrior, and the people of Valha were going to scream their throats out for Chris just for the sake of Roman Dmitry.
That was the situation, and among the warriors there, several didn’t like it.
“<em>Tch.</em> Cheering for a total stranger.”
“Even if I die here, I cannot see someone who isn’t from Valha winning here.”
It was as people had expected. Just as people didn’t like Roman as Barbossa’s opponent, Chris was going through the same thing. Some warriors felt ashamed of the fact that an unproven warrior was being put on the same stage as them.
Furthermore, they received a special order from the lords of the families.
“If you win on the stage on the eve, it will be a great joy, but even if you lose, keep this in mind. Chris. Kill that stranger who followed Roman Dmitry here at all costs. If you seed in doing that, apart from winning, I will take full responsibility for your family.”
The killing intent lingered in their eyes. Chris was themon enemy. They knew each of them had a simr purpose just by looking into each other’s eyes, and one warrior spoke in a hushed voice.
“Probably, Dmitry’s rat is more likely to be defensive from the start. In a situation where he is dealing with the warriors of Valha, he will not be able to save his life. So why don’t we drench the stage of Valha with the blood of an outsider? I think it would be better to decide the winner of the match after we take him down.”
“I agree.”
“Nice. We will take down the stranger first and chew him up.”
The warriorsughed. They all had the same opinions. Even though they would have to take each other’s lives next, achieving amon goal felt good.
Finally, the high-ranking nobles, including the Emperor, were all seated. At the signal that everything was ready, the referee raised the g.
<em>Flutter.</em>
“Start!”
The signal announcing the start of the eve of the festival was given. The people went crazy, and it was then….
<em>Pat.</em>
Someone moved.
It was Chris. Contrary to everyone’s expectations that he would move defensively, he ran straight into the warriors first.
And then….
<em>sh.</em>
Cutting the throat of the warrior, who wasn’t even ready…
<em>Puak!</em>
He also shed the throat of the warrior next to him.
<em>Puak!</em>
Then he tore the chest of the warrior who was right next to him, and blood gushed out like a fountain.
The people were shocked. It was an attack that was so fast that it was hard for the naked eye to see. As soon as it started, three warriors were knocked down, and blood dripped from Chris’s sword.