Volume 2 Chapter 74 The Conflicting Moon And Sun II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”My Lord, it is time.”
Natra pulled Kians consciousness from meditation with a voice.
The cheers from outside reached his mind even during his meditation.
Starting with the bard’s preamble, greetings from Maribel and McCutchen followed.
Then came the transfer of the Holy Sword of the Sun after Eleonora’s words.
Now that all of that was over, the tale of ‘Thorn Demon’ and ‘Knights of the Sun’ was being sung resoundingly with music.
After this, Kian and the others would dramatically leap into the coliseum as ‘Knights of the Sun’ came to face the Demon.
”Is there anything strange about the armor?”
”No. How about my side, my lord?”
”Nothing at all, just holding the bishop staff entwined with thorns as always.”
”Always? I’ve only worn this Eastern-style equipment a handful of times.”
”It suits you very well. You’re adorable.”
”Oh…?”
Natra narrowed her black eyes peeking from behind the Kitsune mask.
”To be able to speak such sweet words so naturally, you truly are a womanizer, my lord. I wonder how many women you’ve said that to besides me.”
”Perhaps it’s getting to the point where one hand isn’t enough. I’m trying not to charm too many women.”
”Huh?”
’What is this man saying…’
The cheers from outside grew louder.
The bard’s voice echoed through the coliseum via a magic tool, announcing the appearance of the ‘Thorn Demon.’
It’s showtime.
”────”
Dressed in a bucket-like full-face helmet and steel armor covering his limbs.
Each piece was adorned with spikes, colored all over in shades of green, brown, and purplish-red like thorns.
It resembled the legendary giant known as the ‘Thorn Demon.’
”Woooorrrrrr!!”
As Kian stepped out from below, the sunlight burned his eyes.
He felt the hot sand beneath his feet.
Following the performance, Kian raised both fists and repeatedly let out a battle cry.
The long sword──its hilt twisted like coiling thorns──reflected sunlight overhead, gleaming white.
As the bard recited the continuation of the tale, he focused his senses on the swordsman standing before him.
”────”
Oswald of Ramsey.
The strongest knight of the border, ruling the northern granary region of Ramsey.
A former slave soldier of Azrael, taught swordsmanship directly by the Twelve Divine Generals.
He wore heavy golden armor, with the Holy Sword of the Sun sheathed and thrust into the sandy ground at his feet.
He was not wearing a helmet.
His blonde hair and distinctive shaved sides were exposed.
His golden eyes sparkled with lively light as he sent a cheerful smile toward Kian.
”It can’t be Guillaume, right? A guild staff member? It’s hard to discern magic power with that full-body armor’s enchantment.”
”────”
Even if he spoke, his voice would likely not reach the noisy audience, but still, the ‘Thorn Demon’ was supposed to remain silent.
For the people of this region, a Demon was an evil to be defeated, requiring no human-like traits or background such as speaking or showing emotions.
(It’s convenient if he doesn’t know that I’m the ‘Thorn Demon.’ If he realizes I’m his opponent, he might hold back.)
A deadly fight with a strong enemy was what he desired as a warrior.
He had long wanted to engage in a serious duel with Oswald.
Ever since he saw his sword in that underground place──.
He had feigned indifference, but deep down, he desperately wanted to steal his Azrael swordsmanship.
”────”
’────’
Natra and Tengu stood silently on either side of Kian.
The Kitsune mask and the Tengu mask.
The two, with their grotesque appearances, seemed to draw more than their fair share of the audience’s interest.
Even Oswald narrowed his eyes.
His attention turned toward Natra.
Perhaps it was because she possessed the greatest magic power among them.
However, a warrior’s strength was not determined solely by the amount of magic power or sword skills.
(If he looks at Natra, I will inevitably make him aware of me.)
”────”
With heavy armor on, he could not use Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship.
He couldn’t afford the disrespect of shedding his armor here, so he needed to use heavy armor swordsmanship.
Kian chose the swordsmanship of the Mercenary King.
It was a style commonly used by swordsmen from the West.
He envisioned overpowering the heavily armored magicians on the battlefield and delivering fatal blows through the gaps in their armor.
Of course, this could also be applied against swordsmen.
”Hmm.”
Oswald reacted to the killing intent directed at him.
He picked up the Holy Sword of the Sun from the ground and drew the blade from its sheath.
The blade, reflecting sunlight, shone brilliantly in silver as he held it in a ready stance.
(The swordsmanship of the knights of the Franz Kingdom. An adaptation of the Mercenary King’s style, specialized in piercing the magician’s armor of this region.)
Other notable styles include that of the knights of the Western Church, which focuses on forming walls with groups and overwhelming through numbers.
While techniques for one-on-one duels are certainly considered, when facing Western warriors whose strength can rival monsters, the armor often becomes a hindrance.
A little armor is merely a drop in the bucket against overwhelming offensive power.
If he didn’t evade or deflect, the body within the armor would be crushed.
In a personal battle, someone like Renaud, whose body was not human and wielded a powerful shield, would be strong, but Oswald currently had no shield.
”Now, let’s fight.”
”────”
Kian drew the tip of his long sword, adorned with thorny decorations, to his chest.
Beside him, Natra focused her energy and formed a strengthening seal.
A massive amount of magic power flowed from the girl wearing a Kitsune mask, wrapping around Kian’s body as a red aura visible to onlookers.
”Azrael’s strengthening spell… Who are you?”
”……”
Natra did not respond and readied her bishop staff.
This was the battlefield.
To her, words were unnecessary.
”────”
Oswald’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.
At that moment, a bard dressed in vibrant clothing shouted loudly from a platform next to the VIP seats in the coliseum.
”The sun shone directly overhead. It’s noon! Seizing the opportunity, the ‘Knights of the Sun’ brandished their holy swords and struck at the massive demon made of thorns!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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