Ch.108Chapter 108. Great Chieftain (4)

Chapter 108. Great Chief (4)

Maybe it’s because I’ve been hanging around with Lakye and seen so many high-level fights, but this wasn’t exactly thrilling.

Honestly, Asha and Kanto’s fight was more entertaining. Asha’s elegant hand movements while mercilessly beating Kanto were truly artistic.

Bang!

This guy Isaac failed another attack. If it were Lakye, he would have sliced through both the axe and the body.

Thud!

Ha, what the hell is Kanto doing? He swung his axe down too hastily. He should have struck after engaging more. If it were Lakye, he would have sent Isaac to the goddess’s side by now.

Tap tap!

Sigh. Look at that backpedaling. Lakye would move faster than that even if he were crawling sideways like a crab.

Seeing this made me newly appreciate how amazing Lakye is, having hunted demons without a single defeat since the early days of the Tribal Federation.

Of course, I know full well that if I were in that position, I’d be torn apart before I could throw a single punch. With my original body instead of Malak’s, I’d probably lose even to Paya.

Still, I can’t help the itch to comment. I really want to give some advice.

“Hyah!”

He’s throwing his axe from there? I mean, I told him not to be fixated on weapons, but I didn’t mean to discard them so easily.

“Ugh!”

Ah, I see. He threw it to force Isaac into a position where he had to deflect the axe. Isaac’s rapier broke after deflecting the incredibly heavy axe.

“Not bad.”

“That was a skilled strike.”

Lakye nodded in satisfaction at Kanto’s judgment. Harry stroked his beard in agreement.

– …

I was the fool. Good thing I kept quiet. I almost looked like a know-it-all.

This is why backseat fighters are the worst.

“Berserker! Berserker! Berserker!”

“Black Knight! Black Knight! Black Knight!”

As the audience chanted their pretentious nicknames, the two men began their fistfight.

Isaac had the advantage in instantaneous speed, but Kanto’s overall movement was faster.

The powered suit increased strength, but it probably didn’t enhance reflexes.

Unlike Isaac, whose movements were choppy, Kanto flowed naturally from one strike to the next. His speed was fast enough to compensate for his relatively light armor.

Just when I thought Kanto would win at this rate and started to relax…

Pssshhh-!

Gas sprayed from Isaac’s left arm, enveloping Kanto’s face. No one expected that attack.

“Kuh!”

Kanto grimaced and stepped back slightly. Since this was just a duel, it probably wasn’t a highly toxic substance. Maybe pepper spray?

Anyway, the momentum shifted back to Isaac. He pulled out a three-section staff attached to the back of his armor, extended it with a clatter, and began beating Kanto.

It’s not an ordinary weapon. It occasionally sparkles, probably because it contains magic stones.

“Ugh! Argh!”

This is the Baton Strike technique. As expected of the best martial art of the Open Sect, even the Mad Dog Kanto can’t resist it.

“You bastard!”

Kanto finally opened his eyes after being beaten. His eyes were so red now that he finally looked like a berserker.

Kanto grabbed Isaac’s hand holding the three-section staff, threw him over his shoulder, and slammed him down hard.

“Guh!”

Isaac, pinned to the ground, extended his left hand toward Kanto. I wondered what he was doing.

A small projectile flew toward Kanto. He hurriedly raised his right arm to block it and hesitated.

The projectile that stuck into his arm with a thud was a small needle. Kanto’s face contorted as he moved his right arm slowly but unnaturally.

Perhaps he was hit with some paralyzing poison.

“You dishonorable bastard!”

“There’s no such thing as dishonor in the world of competition. That’s just the excuse of losers!”

Isaac jumped up and charged at Kanto.

Wow, this man. I’ve gained some respect for him. I thought he’d be straightforward since he was a knight commander, but he fights quite cunningly.

That “Gale Thrust” technique or whatever he showed at first seems like it was just to disguise himself as an honorable warrior.

Actually, I like him more now. I can see how he hunted mid-level demons. Unlike Kanto who prefers direct confrontation, he probably used various tools and equipment for surprise attacks. He must have caught them off guard at unexpected moments.

But… is that allowed?

“Isn’t that cheating?”

“It’s not cheating. Weapons are allowed in this match from the start.”

“But he concealed hidden weapons.”

“Was there a rule against carrying concealed weapons?”

“Fight with all your might—that’s the only rule. It’s not cheating.”

The audience scratched their heads in confusion but eventually leaned toward the opinion that it wasn’t cheating.

Like all barbarian cultures, the Great Chief Tournament had few or no rules to follow. The atmosphere was that anything goes as long as you don’t kill an opponent who surrenders.

It’s almost like a fantasy version of Vale Tudo. Isaac seems to have cleverly exploited this.

Isaac continued to fight like a street brawler. Throwing dirt, firing another poison needle, and launching hidden weapons concealed in his armor were typical examples.

“Indeed, you don’t tire. You’ve received quite a blessing.”

Look at Isaac’s eyes. Despite his increasingly desperate situation, those eyes still hunger for victory. Even though he knows he’s at a disadvantage the longer they fight, he’s still looking for a chance to turn the tables.

Though his methods might be dirty, he too was a warrior.

“I acknowledge you. You are a strong warrior.”

Kanto, who had been furiously shouting things like “You’re no warrior!” or “Are all knights this cowardly?”, seemed to have received Isaac’s sincerity.

The dragging battle ended anticlimactically.

Clang!

Kanto’s fist struck Isaac’s helmet at an angle.

“Ugh!”

The helmet couldn’t withstand the impact and came off. Isaac’s surprised face was revealed in the sunlight.

Crack!

Kanto’s fist connected with Isaac’s face. The leader of the demon hunters fell with a nosebleed.

It was Kanto’s victory.

“Had you been a paladin, I might have lost.”

Kanto approached Isaac, rotating his right arm as the paralysis gradually wore off. Isaac lay on the ground, breathing heavily, having spent all his energy.

“Isaac.”

Kanto smiled and extended his hand.

“It was a good match.”

“Huff, I’m glad to hear that.”

“Would you consider becoming my deputy, Great Chief Kanto?”

Kanto’s former deputy, Denzo, was now commanding the garrison troops at the Tribal Federation headquarters. He did need a new deputy.

“…It would be an honor.”

Isaac took Kanto’s hand and stood up. The two men looked each other in the eyes and smiled.

These guys are acting like they’re in some shounen manga. Next they’ll be watching the sunset together.

“Kanto, chief of the Blue Moss Tribe, has become the Great Chief!”

“Great Chief Kanto! Great Chief Kanto! Great Chief Kanto!”

The barbarians cheered, celebrating Kanto’s victory.

“He fought well despite losing!”

“What you might call an honorable defeat.”

The civilized people seemed satisfied in their own way.

Anyway, now that we’ve chosen a commander-in-chief, I can go back to auto-hunting.

With Kanto, Isaac, Noah, and hundreds of warriors, even mid-level demons should be easy to hunt. My score will accumulate faster than before.

– Fulfilling your responsibilities without losing your original intention, even when facing great trials…

After saying a few appropriate words, I returned to the altar with Lakye. Noah was waiting for me.

“Um, Lord Malak.”

– What is it?

“Someone in the community is asking for help.”

Help? From our Tribal Federation? Let’s hear it.

– What is it?

“Well… it’s… you see…”

Noah continued his explanation hesitantly. Ugh, why is he having such trouble speaking? It’s frustrating just listening to him.

He’s still trembling slightly, probably still afraid of me. Maybe seeing me transform into a dragon made him more nervous.

The person requesting help is a user named NotACatfish. Apparently, he became friends with Noah, our Tribal Federation’s PR manager, by exchanging comments and messages.

He’s been hiding in a cathedral built in a remote location with the Pope and a few other followers of the Goddess, when suddenly a group of demons appeared and occupied the area where the cathedral is located.

They’ve put up a barrier to keep the demons out, but they can’t hold out for more than two weeks. They’re just waiting to die in the cathedral and are begging for help.

In return, they would all become members of the Tribal Federation and serve me, Malak. The Pope and other believers have also agreed, so there shouldn’t be any complications.

That’s the summary of Noah’s disorganized explanation.

– Hmm.

Two weeks… not extremely urgent. I checked the map, and it’s not too far away. We have plenty of time.

Someone of the Pope’s stature would know a lot. We might even be able to get help from him in return.

Even if NotACatfish is lying just to survive, it wouldn’t be a complete waste of time. Killing demons to collect points would be enough.

The worst-case scenario would be if Charon is controlling NotACatfish to lure me out.

It’s uncommon for demons to move in groups. Unless they’ve become Charon’s zombies.

…What should I do?

After thinking carefully, I decided.

– Tell him this.

I can’t ignore people who are dying in fear, even if it’s not confirmed to be Charon.

I can’t keep avoiding Charon forever.

Lakye has good instincts, so if Charon is planning something suspicious, he’ll notice quickly. If it seems dangerous, we can buy time with the “Totem of Confusion” like before.

– Tell him that I, Malak, will come, so don’t give up and wait.

Let’s go.