Chapter 176

Episode 176

“Ugh…”

*Thud! Boom!*

The two Mjolnirs fell to the ground. Baldr, who had launched a confident attack, was now kneeling before me.

I calmly pressed the blade of my sword against his neck.

Here’s a tip: it’s good to apply a little pressure with the blade. Just a slight movement, and blood would flow.

“You asked me if I had any last words, didn’t you? It seems like it’s you who should be leaving a will, Lord Baldr. I must have overestimated the level of the north.”

“Ugh…”

“It’s a shame you won’t be able to look for a burial plot.”

Unlike that Arthur bastard, I didn’t cut off his hands or feet. I couldn’t make an enemy of House Whitefield.

“Impossible! Lord Baldr, the great warrior of the north, defeated…?”

“I’ve never seen Mjolnir’s magic power fail before!”

“We’re the ones who got hit. Was he hiding his strength?”

No, I never hid anything. You were the ones who attacked.

Everyone started commenting on me. It wasn’t bad to hear.

Baldr would never forget this day.

All the warriors of the north, including Margrave Finwinter, were watching. Aside from the humiliation, his qualifications as a successor would be questioned.

Well, that wasn’t my concern.

Jericho, who was treating the electrocuted warriors, gave me a double thumbs-up. Selendis also smiled for the first time in a while.

I felt refreshed.

“Margrave, it seems the first duel ended rather anticlimactically. I apologize for not providing enough entertainment.”

“You’re stronger than I thought.”

Those words seemed to carry a lot of emotions. The Swordmaster of the Empire might have thought he should have stepped in.

Of course, I didn’t cross the line.

“I’d like to proceed with the next duel immediately. You said we would compete in archery. How should we do that?”

“Follow me.”

The Margrave started walking somewhere. Everyone, including me, followed him.

We soon arrived at an open space covered in snow.

A target was visible in the distance. I enhanced my vision with aura and saw a frozen corpse slumped over, serving as the target.

It was a Nordic mummy.

It was a scene that showed the tenacity of the north. I realized that the peace treaty with the Nordics was truly a last resort.

“This is where the warriors of the north hone their archery skills. We prepare for our revenge by piercing the heads and hearts of those Nordic bastards with arrows. Can you understand what that means?”

“How could a southerner like me possibly understand?”

“…”

Finwinter’s breath formed a white cloud in the air. He cleared his thoughts and beckoned with his hand. Freya approached.

“Freya is the best archer in the north. She’s worthy of being the wielder of Mistilteinn. For the final match, we’ll see how well you can destroy the target with five arrows.”

It looked at least 200 meters away. It was almost a dot without enhanced vision.

“Of course, it would be a boring duel if we just shot arrows. So this match will be conducted blindfolded. What do you think? Are you confident?”

“I think it’s doable.”

“Hahaha. I like your answer.”

The Margrave gestured, and the warriors of Whitefield brought bows and arrows. They drew a line on the ground.

“To ensure a fair match, Freya will also use an ordinary bow. I haven’t seen your archery skills, but this is the north, where the blizzard never ceases. No one will be disappointed even if your arrows don’t reach the target.”

“I appreciate your advice, Margrave.”

Freya and I each took a bow and hung a quiver at our waists.

The target still looked far away.

‘Can Freya hit the target even in this situation? She’s amazing.’

I had ‘Automatic Combat,’ so I wasn’t worried, but I was impressed by her ability to shoot arrows with just effort and talent.

A strong wind was blowing relentlessly.

Of course, I could overcome air resistance with aura, but hitting the target blindfolded was almost impossible.

‘Taunting her with words won’t work. I need to be more daring.’

I took five steps back.

The surroundings buzzed with murmurs at my sudden action.

Freya, who had turned around, frowned and spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“The target looks too close. I need to step back a bit to see it properly. This is perfect.”

“…”

Freya’s composure seemed to waver slightly.

But it was only for a moment. As befitting her title of ‘North’s Divine Archer,’ she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The warriors of Whitefield approached me and blindfolded me with a black cloth.

I couldn’t see anything, but I could clearly feel it.

The presence of the target.

“Your confidence is impressive. To step back five paces against Freya… But my daughter has also staked her honor as a warrior on this duel. I’m curious to see the outcome.”

Finwinter declared the start of the match. Freya shot first.

*Whoosh!*

*Thud!*

I had enhanced my hearing, so I could clearly hear the sound of the arrow hitting the target. A warrior who was standing far away shouted, “Bullseye!”

“Amazing.”

I pretended to be surprised.

It would make the audience more excited about this spectacular match.

“Now it’s your turn, Sir O’Brien. Shoot your arrow.”

I entrusted myself to ‘Automatic Combat.’

My arm moved automatically. Sufficient strength and aura were infused. There should have been a slight tremor, but it was as steady as if time had stopped.

If I shot like this, it would definitely hit the target.

But it felt a bit lacking. Wouldn’t it be a more impressive dish with some sauce?

As if responding to my will, ‘Automatic Combat’ added another option.

*Buzz—*

Aura and mana fused. My fingers moved, and the arrow was released.

*Whoosh!*

*Thwack!*

It sounded different. It seemed like it hit something, but there was no shout of “Bullseye” from the warrior.

Instead, the surroundings buzzed with murmurs.

“The target shattered! Unbelievable!”

“Can aura be that strong?”

“How did that happen? He just shot an arrow with an ordinary bow!”

The fusion of aura and mana created a powerful impact.

It was an unexpected achievement.

The upgraded ‘Automatic Combat’ had fused aura and mana. In such a simple way, without any special training.

‘This is a stroke of luck.’

A smile naturally spread across my face.

I wanted to take off the blindfold and see the Margrave’s expression, but it was a shame I couldn’t.

“Sir O’Brien, you’re lucky. The first shot is yours. What are you waiting for? Prepare a new target!”

After a brief commotion, Freya shot her arrow again. The sound was different. It seemed like her aura had become much stronger.

*Thwack!*

The shout of “Bullseye!” echoed once again.

Now it was my turn.

‘What kind of surprise should I prepare?’

Judging by the sound, Freya’s arrow must have also shattered the target. I needed to change my approach.

I chose the most difficult option presented by ‘Automatic Combat.’

I slowly raised my left hand while drawing the bowstring. The arrowhead pointed towards the sky, and I released the arrow in that position.

*Whoosh!*

The arrow shot towards the sky.

Normally, when an ordinary person shot an arrow, it would draw a parabola and hit the target.

But an aura user’s arrow flew in a straight line like a laser.

I had hit the target with the first shot, but to surpass Freya in the second attempt, I needed a more definitive method.

It was already time for the arrow to reach the target, but there was no sound.

A few seconds later.

*Thud!*

I heard the sound of something piercing through and the ground collapsing.

“Bullseye, Inspector! Hahaha! The target is completely buried in the ground! What a magnificent shot!”

No one could stop Jericho’s playful exclamation. The Margrave’s voice soon followed.

“Hmm. Sir O’Brien wins again. I didn’t know you were also skilled in archery.”

“You flatter me. But the bows of the north are truly exceptional. I’d like to introduce them to Walker Barony.”

“…Prepare the next target!”

Three arrows remained.

I was two points ahead. If I scored one more point, I would win this duel.

I had already decided how to end it.

“What’s this?”

“Lady Freya is hesitating…!”

Thanks to the kind commentary, I was aware of my opponent’s situation. I waited patiently.

After a long time, I heard the sharp sound of wind and felt a powerful aura shooting straight towards the target.

*Rumble!*

The cheers of the northern warriors erupted. Judging by the scale of the sound, it seemed like she had completely obliterated the target.

I could hear her ragged breathing. It seemed she had exhausted a considerable amount of aura with that attack.

Then it was only right to end it quickly.

I drew an arrow.

Not one, but all three remaining arrows, and nocked them on the bowstring.

“He’s crazy! A volley of arrows in this blizzard?”

“That’s reckless!”

But they were also afraid. The attacks I had shown them before couldn’t have been a coincidence.

I drew the bowstring, gathering my aura.

‘Automatic Combat’ created three trajectories. It was physically impossible, but with aura and mana, I could do it.

‘One arrow fast, another to the left, and the last one to the right…’

*Whoosh!*

The arrows, imbued with a blue light, were released.

Having exhausted all my arrows, I lifted my blindfold and observed their flight.

The arrows, piercing through the blizzard and drawing blue trails, were a work of art.

*Thwack!*

The first arrow pierced the target’s neck. The head was severed as if cut by a sword and rolled on the ground.

*Crack!*

The second arrow, flying in a skewed direction, suddenly changed course and pierced the target’s left waist. The waist was severed.

*Thud!*

At the same time, the third arrow pierced the right side and lodged itself in the knee. The target, having lost its torso, collapsed as if kneeling.

Everyone was stunned by the sight.

Freya had also removed her blindfold. She stared at the target for a long time, unable to take her eyes off it. Finally, she resigned herself to defeat and turned to me.

“Sir O’Brien, I admit defeat. I lost.”

“It was a good match.”

It seemed like the Margrave couldn’t accept this situation easily.

He must have had higher expectations for Freya than Baldr. Archery wasn’t a weapon anyone could handle.

“Margrave, I think I’ve sufficiently proven my strength.”

“Perhaps this is also our family’s destiny… Alright. If it’s God’s will, I must follow it. I’ll put the peace treaty with the Nordics on hold. Do as you wish, O’Brien.”

I had finally secured the business rights.

“Hahaha! I knew you could do it!”

“Congratulations, my lord.”

I smiled at my two subordinates who had trusted and waited for me. Perhaps this moment would be recorded in the history of the Empire for a long time.

As the Margrave returned to the castle, the warriors also dispersed. Freya approached me and handed me ‘Mistilteinn,’ which she had been carrying.

“You are now the North’s Divine Archer. Please make this a livable place.”