Those who are permitted because they are qualified (2)
Godin had already expected that Vlad would reject his offer.
Because I knew the boy’s temperament well because I had experienced it before.
However, what actually made Godin bitter was not so much that his consideration was rejected, but rather the false bubbles surrounding the boy.
“He would have grown up well on his own without having to go to this length.”
The report that Godin was currently checking by candlelight contained the achievements that Vlad had made so far.
A city organization was destroyed.
The warlock’s head was driven out.
The Death Worms were brought in and Lindwurm was personally killed.
“I guess Bayezid was in a hurry.”
Godin put down the report he was holding as if he had nothing more to look at and took a sip of the drink next to him.
There is such a thing as common sense in the world, and there is a good reason why certain standards become common sense.
“I raised it too high.”
When Godin first saw Vlad, he was clearly just a kid who couldn’t even swing a sword properly.
The last swing was plausible, but it was only an expression of possibility and was definitely not at a level that would allow him to rise to the position of a dragon slayer in less than a year.
“It is a created possibility…”
Although the Knights of Bayezid had an outstanding reputation in the North, they were evaluated as having failed to change generations in this era.
So there was some motivation to inflate the evaluation for Vlad.
“Still, I’m proud of the fact that I realized an Auror.”
And the reason why Bayezid did so was obviously because of the boy’s outstanding potential.
Since the manifestation of Aurors was not something that could be achieved by teaching them, it was quite understandable that Bayezid was excited to see Vlad acquire Aurors at a young age.
“······.”
Should I have brought him here somehow?
Although I left him alone because the direction of the relationship was not right, if I had been able to persuade him well, he might have become a Gaidar by now.
“It’s a shame.”
As you live, you are bound to come across many crossroads, and even if you made the best choice at the time, you cannot help but have regrets when you look back.
Godin was bitter because he felt like the boy’s shining potential was being overshadowed by his own wrong choices.
※※※※
Vlad’s gaze was wandering as he saw Alicia looking at him with a cold expression.
“Are you going to do that again?”
“sorry. “I reflected a lot.”
Not only was her energy strong, but the numerous foods placed on the round table were tempting the boy with their fragrant smells and appetizing appearance.
“I swear I will never neglect your handkerchief again, Mistress Alicia.”
“great.”
Alicia nodded as if she was satisfied with Vlad’s sincere answer and opened her mouth with a different smile than before.
“You need to know how to overlook just one mistake.”
It looked as if they were baiting him with food, but anyway, he was sure to get an answer from Vlad, so that was enough.
I will have another opportunity to talk about Lady Gemina again.
“great. Everyone eat it.”
Everyone picked up the dishes in front of them as if they had been waiting for Alicia’s words.
All of Bayezid’s knights who had been invited as guests looked satisfied.
“That’s great. “I haven’t seen a dinner like this in a long time.”
“I heard that the lemon crop this time was amazing.”
There were the voices of his seniors coming from beside him, but Vlad just focused on the food in front of him.
Vlad had complained about the food here when he visited Deermar.
Josef liked it, but Vlad didn’t like Deermar’s vegetarian culture at all.
“It’s whole pork barbecue with special lemon sauce.”
‘Oh oh······.’
But what was now in front of Vlad was nothing but mouth-watering meat.
It is probably common knowledge that growing boys need protein.
“thank you. “Baron.”
“eat a lot.”
Vlad took a bite of a large piece of meat and let out an exclamation without realizing it.
I had eaten plenty of high-quality meat at the Kannor family, but the barbecue I tasted at Deir Mar was on a completely different level.
[The pinnacle of every dish comes from the sauce.]
His voice was grumpy, as if he had eaten a lot like this, but Vlad just kept biting into the meat in front of him so as not to miss the scent in his mouth.
Alicia, who was sitting across from the boy, was looking at this with satisfaction.
“······Are your preparations going well for the showdown?”
Duncan seemed embarrassed by his young lady’s attitude and spoke to Jayar, who was sitting next to him.
“I still had some requests about it.”
Xayar was also embarrassed to see the food being blatantly placed in front of Vlad.
I understand that he is considerate of the great warrior who will carry his honor, but perhaps this is going a little too far.
“Just say the word. “I will do my best to prepare.”
“then······.”
The boy who has to fight for the duel that will take place in a few days must eat well, and those who have to prepare must think deeply.
The knight named Istvan was the eldest son of the Gaidar family, the losers of the West, and he was a true talent who had been honing his skills since childhood.
To be honest, Xayar did not think Vlad’s chances of victory were very high.
“Say whatever you want. Deirmar will do everything for Lord Vlad.”
“All right.”
As Duncan just said, Deirmar will spare no effort in supporting the boy.
If the boy loses, Alicia will have no choice but to fully embrace the interference of Bayezid, another foreign power, in order to defeat the threat of Gaidar.
Everyone in Deremar was preparing for what they wanted.
For a cause, for self-reliance, and for revenge.
Everyone here knew that the current dinner was like the calm before the storm.
The night passed with plenty of laughter.
※※※※
“······.”
The morning of the duel.
Stephan, who entered the duel arena prepared by Alicia, was feeling an uncomfortable feeling that could not be explained in words.
“…Aren’t duels usually held in the lobby or hall?”
“There was a special request from Baron Alicia.”
As Godin said, Alicia wanted this duel to be held outdoors rather than in a lobby or hall.
Since it is related to a marriage proposal, he said that he would like his parents, who are buried in the ground, to also see him.
“okay?”
It wasn’t necessarily an understandable reason, but Stephen still felt reluctant.
The feel of short-trimmed grass against your toes.
A field that has been neatly organized with even the smallest pebbles removed.
“Did it rain in the morning?”
“no.”
And the grass in the field was moist even though it had not rained.
Although it was comfortable for moving quickly, it was not a good environment for prosecutors like himself who had to take strong steps.
“You have to endure this much.”
“You’re trying hard.”
Creating an advantageous battlefield before a battle is one of the basic attitudes of a commander.
Stephen smiled fiercely as he looked at the one-eyed knight who had somehow accumulated small variables for the boy.
“Are you ready?”
Zayar, who maintained an indifferent expression despite Stephen’s meaningful smile, turned his head and looked at the boy standing behind him.
The intangible force of the Gaidar knights is still pouring towards Vlad in order to take the initiative.
And Vlad was standing behind the seniors, who were blocking the momentum for the boy, with his eyes closed.
“yes.”
Xayar nodded, looking at Vlad’s unwavering blue eyes.
It has been patient so far.
I know very well that the reason you endured endlessly even in the face of those who could be considered your enemies was to keep the promise you made to Joseph.
“good.”
So now it is his turn to repay the boy’s patience.
When Xayar signaled to Duncan that he was ready, the priest invited by Alicia came up to the duel arena.
He was a priest who had seen the boy blossom into his own world during the last duel regarding the right to succession.
“Contenders from both sides, come up!”
A priest with a face.
A battlefield made for boys.
“Observers from both sides, please come up!”
And rules made for boys.
Following the priest’s instructions, two knights entered the duel arena behind Istvan and Vlad.
Godin, the Blue Moonlight Knight, and Xayar, the One-Eyed Knight.
The knights representing Gaidar and Bayezid were facing each other.
“Aurors can be used in this duel.”
Zayar, who thought that a pure swordsmanship battle with Istvan would be an inevitable defeat, chose an Auror to create a variable.
Because I thought that the boy’s firmness in the world would be second to none.
“Since this is not a duel that will determine life or death, either of you can intervene if the contenders are in danger.”
As Aurors are used, safety measures will be needed, and the two knights posted now will be observers preparing for the worst-case scenario.
“Do you agree with the current rules?”
After seeing the two knights’ nods, the priest was now only making final preparations for the duel.
“The parties move forward.”
A duel arena where observers go down and only those involved in the duel remain.
There, Vlad and Istvan stood facing each other.
“Do you have a good handkerchief? “It’s a hassle to go through unnecessary procedures to get your hands on it.”
“······.”
A priest raising his head while waiting for the sun to be hidden by clouds.
Finally, waiting for the start of the upcoming duel, Vlad opened his mouth.
“If I were to give you a handkerchief, then what would you give me?”
A weak dog tends to bark.
To hide one’s own fear and intimidate the other person with a threatening attitude.
However, instead of barking, the boy in front of him, who was obviously weaker than him, was just smiling quietly.
“I guess I should get the sword you’re holding.”
“This son of a bitch…”
It wasn’t just the West’s temperament that it was accustomed to taking away.
The boy who lived in the back alleys where being stolen meant death was also a greedy person just like Stephen.
“I definitely think that’s a good balance.”
I took it because I wanted it.
I stole it to live.
The two beasts, accustomed to taking, began to thrust their sharp teeth at each other.
“God is watching under today’s sun!”
With a signal from the priest, the duel began.
‘······What is that?’
Stephen wanted to jump in and throw Vlad to pieces right away, but the unfamiliar posture that Vlad was taking was holding him back.
It was in such a position that one could not easily extend the sword, and even if one did, it would be difficult to reach.
A posture in which the body is held as sideways as possible while holding the sword with one hand.
The boy’s posture, which allowed as little area to be hit as possible, was clearly the posture mainly used by swordsmen using rapiers.
“I hope you like it.”
Information does not always mean the truth.
Godin made a wrong decision even though he had information about the boy in his hand, but Josef used the information he had in his hand to predict the current situation and created it.
From the moment Josef received Alicia’s letter, he was preparing for a duel with Stephen.
“I prepared it for you.”
Bayezid’s knights arrived at Deirmar only after a long time had passed, enough for Alicia to be distressed.
It was to give the boy time to prepare.
“······.”
Godin, who was watching the duel, saw Vlad’s reluctant stance and looked at Bayezid’s knights standing behind the boy.
‘I was preparing.’
Bayezid’s knights looking at the boy outside the duel arena.
Coincidentally, all of them were holding the same greatsword as Stephen.
