Ch.241Sword of Oath

The proclamation resounded so loudly it scattered the clouds.

Haschal’s voice had definitely reached everyone.

Including Valenstein, who was commanding the rear of Ernst’s army.

‘Requesting a short duel in this situation? Why bother…? What are you thinking, daughter of Orhan…?’

Perplexed by the enemy’s declaration, Valenstein frowned as he pondered.

No matter how he looked at it, there seemed to be no particular advantage to such an act. If she wanted to break the conscripts’ morale, charging with the medium cavalry would have been sufficient.

‘Does she want to reduce the number of Master-level knights before the main battle?’

That was the only explanation he could think of, but even this didn’t make much sense.

If that were the case, she would have proposed a one-on-one duel. Facing multiple Masters alone and losing would be a pointless death.

‘Could it be that she’s reluctant to attack conscripts? …No, that’s impossible. She’s not a Paladin, and for a child of Orhan to…’

If she had been that kind of person, she wouldn’t have carried out that horrific slaughter on the day she surrounded the First Prince’s palace.

“…Lord Valenstein, what will you do?”

A noble serving as Valenstein’s aide asked cautiously.

He too understood the meaninglessness of this duel, but that cannibal Aishan-Gioro’s provocation was openly mocking Lord Valenstein… whether to accept it or not depended entirely on the lord’s mood.

Valenstein himself merely smiled nonchalantly, as if it were of little consequence.

“Why should we indulge in such games? A duel in the middle of a battlefield. And not even one-on-one, but against multiple opponents… Even if we win, what honor is there in such a victory? It’s nothing but meaningless wordplay, not worth engaging with. We should just shower them with arrows and they’ll retreat on their own…”

Valenstein’s words trailed off.

His eyes fixed on the front of the plain. Specifically, at the edges of the flanking cavalry.

Five from the left wing, and likewise five from the right.

Ten Masters who had been positioned at the head of the cavalry were stepping forward.

“W-what…? Those men…! Moving without Lord Valenstein’s orders, we should stop them…!”

“…It doesn’t matter. Leave them be.”

Though it was clearly a violation of discipline, unlike his agitated aide, Valenstein seemed indifferent.

After all, those ten weren’t particularly under his command anyway.

In fact, even calling them “ten men” was somewhat inaccurate. “Ten beasts” would be more fitting.

‘Parasvalier…. Still haven’t given up your greed, Isabella.’

Yes. While others might see this as impulsive action by knights consumed by honor, this was entirely Isabella’s will.

She probably intended to capture Aishan-Gioro Haschal as a prisoner and make her into her plaything.

Once the melee began, there would be no more opportunity for that.

“Ten of them, excellent! I’ll turn you all into fertilizer for the plains!”

With a spirited cry, Orhan’s daughter drew her longsword.

In her left hand, covered by a gauntlet resembling a beast’s claws, she held a spear with a black gleam.

The ten Masters who had stepped forward dismounted and approached Haschal.

It was better that way to take advantage of the melee. Nothing would be more foolish than fighting on horseback against a warrior from a tribe renowned for their horsemanship.

Now that they had shown their intention to fight on foot, she too would have no choice but to dismount and engage.

Even though it was ten against one, it was still a fight taking the form of a duel.

It was a knight’s duty to match the opponent’s choice of ground combat over mounted combat.

If she, having requested the duel, refused to follow proper etiquette… Ernst’s army would be justified in raining arrows during the duel.

As Valenstein predicted, before long, Haschal also stopped her warhorse and dismounted.

‘Well, let’s see how much her skills have improved.’

Valenstein watched the center of the plain with a relaxed expression.

Their steps toward each other gradually increased in speed.

Ten black iron weapons reflected the sunlight with dark gleams.

The colorful patterns embroidered on the decorative cloths covering their armor fluttered magnificently.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

With a fierce roar, a crimson mist swirled up like a whirlwind.

A blue light leaked through the mist, drawing a line as it rushed forward like a storm.

Fifty thousand eyes turned to one place at once.

And then,

Eleven flashes of light, racing like comets, collided in a rainbow-like burst.

======[Haschal]======

Hersella’s proposed plan was simple.

To use myself as bait and break all of the enemy’s champions.

She said that if they saw all their strongest fighters fall to a single person, the soldiers’ morale would hit rock bottom without needing to trample and slaughter them.

If things went as she said, we might be able to minimize the number of casualties.

Only one thing was needed.

To never lose.

No matter how many I fought, no matter who I fought, I had to win. That was all.

[Remember one thing. Until you fall defeated, I have no intention of intervening in this fight.]

Hersella’s final warning flashed through my mind.

[To me, what you’re trying to do is nothing but foolish stubbornness… but if it’s your warrior’s conviction, I’ll watch just this once. Try to accomplish it with your own strength. If you can’t even do that much, you have no right to speak empty words about reducing casualties. Understand?]

‘…Yes.’

A warning to resolve this alone since it was my stubbornness.

No, it was her own form of advice. Though her tone was utterly cold.

In the end, she was saying I could try it my way, but if I lacked the strength and failed, she would save my life her way.

—-

Setting aside my thoughts, I looked at the knights charging toward me.

Ten Masters as enemies. In the past, they would have been unbeatable foes.

Even now, there was no guarantee of victory.

But I couldn’t lose. I had to win.

To save the world, to protect people.

And,

for myself.

So I believed.

That I could win.

Like making a vow to myself, I offered a pledge with no one to hear it.

I will win.

No matter who the enemy is. No matter what I fight. I will never lose.

—The longsword in my grip shone like the sun.

===========

Durandal.

The sword of oath that protects humanity.

A symbol of endurance and resolve that never breaks before any hardship.

The first owner placed five constraints for those who would inherit the sword.

Hoping that descendants would never forget the will they left behind.

The first constraint.

The wielder of the sword shall pursue good.

Second.

Fight to protect the innocent.

Third.

Draw the sword to destroy evil.

Fourth.

Stake your life to uphold your convictions.

The final constraint.

Even when facing an unbeatable enemy, believe in yourself and advance without retreating.

Over hundreds of years, the contents of these constraints were gradually forgotten, but the soul of the sword still remembered its master’s will.

And now, at this moment.

Finally, all constraints had been fulfilled.

The oath sword, meeting its true master, offered its reverence in joy.

==========

As the light of the seal spread, the entire blade was dyed golden.

A brilliant golden radiance bright as the sun illuminated the world.

Through the hilt in my grip, limitless vitality flowed in.

Until now, Durandal had always emitted light and lent me strength whenever I fought.

But this was on a completely different level.

I didn’t know the cause.

Was it responding to my determination? Or was there some other reason?

I still knew so little about this sword.

But there was no time to ponder.

The enemy was before me.

Ten, no, ten beasts of Parasvalier.

Powerful magical beasts each with strength equal to a Master, aiming ten weapons at me as they charged.

Longswords, halberds, spears, axes, even a massive hammer.

Dark energy covering the gray metal rippled like a heat haze.

…I couldn’t cut through them easily before. Would it be the same now?

“Ooooooh!”

With a roar like an echo, three long spears flew at me.

There was no space to dodge. Evading one thrust would only put me in the path of other weapons.

Even if I could have dodged, I wouldn’t have.

I believed.

That I could cut through them.

Firm conviction filled the tip of my sword.

“Haaaaaaah!”

I swung my sword diagonally as if deflecting the spears.

The dazzlingly flashing golden blade carved a deep line across the world.

There was no sound.

The black energy entwined around the dark iron spears dispersed like smoke the moment it touched my blade.

And then.

Everything in the sword’s path was severed.

The creeping dark mana, the sturdy gray metal.

Even the two magical beasts that had been charging relentlessly.

A slash as if space itself was being torn apart.

The magical beasts, split in half, tumbled pathetically.

…The plain fell into silence.