Ch.28092. You Still Don’t Know? (3)

A knight is, above all, a symbol of admiration and aspiration.

One who protects the weak and punishes the wicked.

One who upholds justice and stands against injustice.

Unlike the lawless who wield power as they please,

Unlike those called warriors, knights were officially established by the church as the so-called guardians of justice.

Therefore, they are given somewhat heavy duties and substantial responsibilities.

That’s why respecting and revering knights is almost like a duty.

The belief that their efforts will benefit one’s own livelihood.

Also, no one wants to be defined as evil.

Especially in this era where the ideology that God watches over you is widespread, this is all the more true.

CLANG!

“Kuhak!”

That’s why fighting bare-handed without weapons, clad in armor…

Might be a chaotic scene that can’t be viewed with admiration or any kind of longing.

The blue knight who quickly rises after falling to the ground.

The white knight who kicks him down again.

Now, and in this era, knights may be objects of admiration and longing.

And even in the near future, knights might truly uphold justice, faithful to their professional conscience.

Even if some stray from the path, as long as the majority stand firm in their place,

The name of knight will never fade or become meaningless.

“Kari—!”

THUD!

“Ugh!”

The blue knight staggers backward after taking a blow to the abdomen.

But there’s no time to rest.

Consecutive strikes follow.

The impact points, including the abdomen, are terribly crumpled and distorted.

It’s rare to see intact armor damaged in such a way.

Especially if it’s achieved by bare fists with gauntlets?

It’s common knowledge that one can subdue an opponent by thrusting a blade into the gaps of armor.

But this was something of a different caliber.

“At least you have a sturdy body.”

“You—!”

CLANG!

He sprawls again after taking a hit to the leg.

Perhaps because his face hit the ground first.

“Grrrr—.”

A fierce groan escapes between the blue helmet, creating a devastating noise.

“……”

In the near future, knights might still monopolize admiration and longing.

But in the more distant future?

Someday, the dream and hope that anyone can become a knight will be firmly shut by the corrupt minds and selfishness of the privileged class.

Those who are unworthy of being knights will increasingly proclaim the existence, status, and authority of knights.

And because of this, knights will be replaced as symbols of corruption.

At that point, even if there are some exceptional, just, and wise knights,

The majority, except for those few, will abandon knightly virtues, noble duties, and responsibilities.

Why do people cry out for the need of loyal subjects?

…Because loyal subjects are rare or non-existent.

Knights will become the same.

At some point, jousting tournaments will degrade into feasts for nobles.

Not like now, where anyone regardless of status can participate.

Then, it will truly transform into an exclusive event for nobles.

I’ve actually seen it.

Not like the free duels of today, but with set rules, somewhat distant from real combat, degrading into a game.

And at some point, it will decline into a culture where they just boast about their family lineage.

I can see it clearly.

A narrower competition field.

Where they merely charge at each other and make formal thrusts with lances.

And even before that begins, a family herald jumps out, not to praise the knight himself, but to boastfully proclaim the greatness, achievements, and prosperity of the family.

That kind of formal and outdated culture steeped in their own conventions.

“……”

Power absolutely corrupts, as she once casually remarked.

It’s an undeniable truth.

…

The final match had already become a mess, hardly worthy of being called a fierce battle.

It’s just two people hitting each other.

Yet why does it feel so intense, so base, so chaotic?

The desperate resistance of the blue knight who’s being one-sidedly beaten.

The white knight who overwhelmingly suppresses and crushes him.

…This situation itself was already completely detached from knightly conduct and a knight’s duel.

“Stop! Halt!”

The magician who was also serving as the moderator, unable to bear it any longer, teleports near them to intervene.

“……”

The white knight glances at him.

“By whose authority?”

“What?”

The blue knight, Alesius, felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

‘…Back then too.’

Was it in the library?

Back then too, despite everyone’s attempts to stop him, he had knocked him down.

And then continued… continued…

Perhaps that’s why the blue knight wasn’t at ease.

In fact, Kariel came at him as if nothing mattered.

Thanks to his response, he gained a moment to retreat.

But even that was useless.

Alesius’s wrist was immediately grabbed.

“?!”

As his wrist was pulled, the peculiar movement, posture, and attack method of striking his side with the opposite shoulder was truly bizarre, yet…

CRACK!

“?!”

It caused a terribly distant, one-sided pain.

Being struck in the side was just the beginning.

When his body tried to move away from the impact, his wrist was pulled and twisted.

His arm and wrist joints were all twisted.

“—!!”

It was commendable that he tried to respond without screaming.

But with that, his right arm became a useless burden.

Yet that wasn’t the end.

His grabbed wrist was pulled, twisted, and squeezed again.

…He collapsed miserably, unable to do anything.

“!!!”

All he could do was suppress his screams.

Because there were onlookers, for that reason alone, he was displaying superhuman patience that even he couldn’t believe.

…But how long would that last?

“I command you to stop!”

“……”

Despite the teleported magician’s shouts, Kariel didn’t move.

He just looked down at Alesius, who was unable to move because his wrist was being held.

“If you fall to the ground this time, be prepared.”

“…What?”

What is this crazy bastard suddenly being formal for?

Thanks to him kicking his ankle, Alesius, whose consciousness was focused on his wrist and arm, sprawled onto the ground.

“You ignored my warning before, and you’re doing it again.”

‘What the hell are you babbling about, you damn bastard!’

However.

Alesius realized his situation at the same time.

The moment he mounted his sprawled upper body.

…A strong sense of déjà vu pierced his mind.

At that moment, he realized that his right shoulder had been dislocated by this action.

‘This is….’

Pain was familiar to him.

Compared to his childhood, he had become quite accustomed to it.

But.

That doesn’t mean he could endure it.

Moreover.

If the situation was…

“I warned you.”

If you fall to the ground.

“Be prepared.”

…If it was a situation that strongly evoked a sense of déjà vu?

It’s vividly depicted.

Even though he couldn’t glimpse the future a few seconds ahead.

…He could see it.

‘Knee.’

At the moment he tries to swing his hand and strike him, it’s easily neutralized.

At the same time, the guy occupies his left arm with his knee.

“……”

He feels the guy’s eyes within the helmet watching him.

And also…

His tightly clenched fists.

…The premonition that they will fiercely rain down on Alesius’s face.

Indeed.

THWACK!

The iron fist, encased in metal, comes down relentlessly, crushing even the helmet.

THWACK! THWACK!

“Ah—!”

THWACK!

“Ah—!”

THWACK!

“Argh—!”

THWACK!

“Stop! If you move any further, I won’t stand by—!”

THWACK! THWACK!

“I said stop!”

THWACK!

Alesius can no longer move his mouth.

He realized that trying would only break his teeth and damage his jaw.

And if he bit his tongue? Whose loss would that be?

…But non-resistance doesn’t bring safety.

Whatever it is, you must fight back.

Even if I’m exerting all my effort to prevent you from fighting back.

You should rightfully resist.

If not.

…It means you’re handing over the initiative of your life and safety to me.

Would you die if I told you to?

Of course not.

So resist. Fight back.

WHIRRR!

His body hesitated momentarily, but the numbed sensation soon dissipates.

“No?!”

The harmony of magic loses meaning to me.

Such things harmonized with mana have no meaning to me.

Rather than that, it would be much better to exert physical force indirectly through magic.

Because that’s a phenomenon that belongs to the laws of physics.

THWACK! THWACK!

“Stop him! Why are you just standing there?! Are you just going to watch?!”

Not just the magician, but soldiers who had appeared at some point also rushed in to try to restrain him.

“Urk!”

But they were either dragged along or thrown aside.

For someone like me who understands the principles of force, center, and utilization, simply trying to restrain and control would have no meaning.

Yes.

…Generally speaking.

THUD!

“That’s enough.”

…This one is definitely different.

“……”

A middle-aged man was looking down at me intimidatingly with his one remaining eye.

…I vaguely remember.

Was he called a general?

“Are you planning to kill my precious subordinate?”

“……”

A being who is both a general and a margrave.

And he is closer to a soldier than a knight.

…If I had walked the path of a military god.

He would have been someone with whom I would have built a stronger bond and trust than with my own father.

“……”

He deserves respect.

That’s why I stopped.

“Thank you.”

Normally, such an attitude from him would be truly exceptional.

But he knows.

Unless I decide or determine to do so.

…He can never stand in my way.

“What kind of outrage is this in a sacred competition?!”

The magician confronts me.

As if trying to return all the humiliation he had suffered.

“……”

But what am I supposed to do?

“With this, my victory is decided, right?”

“What…? Are you in your right mind right now?!”

The magician is aghast.

Regardless, I shook off the general’s hand and stood up.

“……”

I took off my helmet and threw it.

THUD!

The discarded white helmet loses its shape and turns to dust as it falls.

“Hmm…”

The general beside me sighed deeply.

“Victory or whatever, you, prepare yourself…”

In an instant, the space felt compressed.

There was nothing special.

…Except for a few people appearing nearby.

“Hmm.”

The general sighs more deeply and steps back.

Seeing him take care of Alesius… he must have taken a liking to him.

No, even logically, that would be appropriate.

“……”

I glanced at a knight standing to one side.

Hair as clear and white as the first snow.

And eyes resembling gold, resembling someone unknown.

The man, boasting beauty beyond sculpture, looked so youthful that it was hard to believe he was middle-aged.

When such a man wore a special knight’s ceremonial dress, it seemed so noble that…

A small laugh escaped me.

“……”

“……”

Perhaps because the atmosphere was peculiar.

While the surrounding magicians and some soldiers were busy checking each other’s reactions.

“That, that, I think I’ve seen that somewhere before?”

Did the signs start from the audience?

Surprisingly, the first to show a reaction were from around the nobles’ seats in the audience.

“…Is that the child of the Radiance?”

“He’s… grown a lot.”

“But why like this…?”

“I, I heard he ran away from home, has he returned?”

Reactions close to shock beyond bewilderment.

“……”

And those high-ranking nobles and influential family members who knew part of the truth…

Only added silence to silence.

They had all turned their heads to one side of the audience, as if by agreement.

“……”

The Hero Emperor.

To gauge his reaction.

At the same time, they turned their gaze back to the inside of the arena.

Because.

The Knight of Radiance had descended there.

The audience was still confused.

Some wondered if he had personally come to blame, reproach, or punish the white knight for playing too rough.

They could only vaguely guess.

But even among the citizens, there were those who displayed suspicion.

“Black hair…”

While it’s quite common in the empire, look at those golden eyes that sparkle conspicuously even from this distance.

If they were light brown or amber, or simply a pale yellow, one might think nothing of it.

But those eyes, those pupils that seem to be embedded with gold…

Aren’t they the symbol and characteristic of the Knight of Radiance, the hero Rueld?

Gold embedded by God.

To such an extent that even kings of different races couldn’t help but admire it.

“……”

But this young man with such dark, deep black hair.

To see the same characteristic in him.

And that characteristic conspicuously stirs everyone’s minds.

And they remember.

That once, there was someone… with such characteristics.

“Could it be?”

“Nah, it can’t be.”

“No matter what, that’s…”

“What’s going on here?”

There’s no more festival.

The festival has ended. It has stopped.

No one had said so.

But everyone was feeling it.

But they still don’t know.

That one end is another beginning.

And that there’s always a next… that is.