“… Are you insane?”
Ragnar muttered blankly without even realizing it. There was amazement and disbelief in Luke’s eyes. Luke shrugged lightly.
“Is it strange?”
“To be honest, it’s funny.”
That’s what he said, but Ragnar didn’t laugh at all. Rather, it was an angry face.
“Do you really think you can become emperor?”
“You must also be the King of the North. It’s just one step up.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
There was a popping sound. It was the sound of Ragnar grinding his teeth. just one step. But how big of a difference do you think there is in that one step?
“A monarch cannot exist without someone recognizing it. What do you think is the meaning of taking this test?”
The King of the North is the ruler of all the northern lords. Therefore, the lords of the north had to formally kneel and bow their heads.
‘How difficult it was to do that once.’
An act of bowing down in a way that shows no respect or reverence. It’s just that, and everyone hates it to the point of shuddering.
And everyone jumps into the pit of fire just to get that joarem. Human pride is such a complex thing.
“A lord is the king of each province. It’s terribly difficult to even reluctantly accept. The stronger the lord’s power, the farther away the territory is, the more.”
There is also a limit to subduing it with military and economic power. No matter how much influence you project, there will inevitably be a hole in this vast land.
That is why a king and an emperor cannot be without someone who voluntarily supports them. Isn’t this life-threatening test to receive that one reluctant service?
“With the consent of all lords, obtain the legacy of heroes, slay dragons, and win duels. Even in this northern realm, I wonder if I can become a king only if I hit this uproar. What about the emperor? The emperor?”
Ragnar hates the Empire. But at the same time, he also knows the fear of the imperial family. It is not military or economic power.
Legitimacy that everyone in this vast empire serves as ruler. And the common sense that everyone takes that fact for granted was the real fear of the imperial family.
“It is very arrogant. Know your subject!”
It was an affair full of displeasure. It was like an adult yelling at a kid who was immature and didn’t know the reality. Luke looked at Ragnar calmly.
“The surroundings must have been stuffy.”
“… … ?”
“You must have seen far away. there must have been something wrong I would have seen the possibility. But other people would have laughed at you.”
“what are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you feel like you were about to explode? If you stretch out your hand, you can reach it, but the people around you shake their heads even though it is possible with their own abilities.”
Ragnar frowned, as if asking what the hell he was talking about. Luke continued talking.
“At some point, you will realize. Unless you put it right in front of your eyes, you won’t believe them until the end. If you are determined, you will prove yourself.”
“What kind of nonsense… … .”
“Before the dream of unifying the North, I became the warchief. When you put a piece of possibility in front of you, what did those who laughed at you say?”
Luke looked straight at Ragnar. In an instant, Ragnar’s face changed several times. It became queer, red-hot, then terribly crumpled.
But Luke didn’t stop talking.
“You will understand at some point.”
“… … .”
“Ah, I am different from them. The difference between the bowls is unavoidable. If I don’t lead… … .”
“shut up!”
Ragnar’s hands trembled as if he would tear Luke apart at any moment. Luke looked at him and smiled.
“Can’t you see the dream I’m drawing?”
“I would have told you to shut up… … !”
“Like the people around you who didn’t understand when you had the dream of unifying the North?”
“You damn bastard!”
Ragnar’s fist swung. There was no special technique, but the power that came as it tore through the air was extraordinary. Luke put his hand in front of the fist.
Perong.
“… … !”
Fists and palms collided with the sound of air bursting. Ray jumped outside at the loud noise.
“Lord!”
“Don’t come.”
Luke raised his other hand to restrain Rey. Ragnar, his fists clogged, looked at Luke with his eyes wide open.
‘It’s blocked.’
It wasn’t power, but it wasn’t a weak swing either. But I managed to stop it with one hand. Even now that I am giving it strength, it does not budge.
Whether weapons collide with each other or bodies collide with one another, tremors are bound to occur when the forces are at odds with each other. But there is not even the slightest vibration.
‘Are you overpowering me with your power? With this little body?’
In despair, Ragnar felt his power drain. How many things did you get with just one dragon heart?
Luke pushed his fist away and spoke to Ragnar.
“You really shouldn’t overestimate yourself.”
“… … .”
“Did you think you could be chosen by God? He could become a hero who enjoyed the era. But that doesn’t mean you’re the center of the world.”
So accept that there is someone higher than you.
“Someone like me, for example.”
“… … .”
Ragnar broke into tears at the joke. But I didn’t feel like swinging my fist like before.
“Let’s pretend you’re a better bowl than me.”
“I don’t need to hit it. It’s just the top.”
“Can you please shut up when I am talking?”
“I want you to face the facts.”
this kid is real Ragnar took a deep breath to calm his anger and continued.
“But if what you say is true, then you should pass the test.”
“why?”
“Because this is the place where the king of the north is elected.”
Ragnar pointed to one side with his finger. The direction in which the capital of this empire is located.
“If you want to become emperor, fight in the position of emperor. Do not use the North as your footing. The King of the North is for the Northerners.”
“Then will you kneel down for me? If you swear allegiance, I only care about the position of emperor.”
“… … .”
I kind of hate that. No, to be honest, I really hate it. Looking at the speechless Ragnar, Luke clicked his tongue.
“Where is the bastard doing the tricks? For the sake of the northerners, he said he wants to eventually become an invincible king.”
“Don’t insult me!”
“You are right, you son of a b*tch. Did you open the Platinum Conference and King Elect to save the North at your own expense? Even if you do this and that, you don’t have ambition.”
“… After all, there is no one more suitable than me.”
“No, there is.”
“what?”
Ragnar’s eyes widened. Are there other suitable people besides you and Luke? Carol is an exception. That idiot is at most the lord’s limit.
Rogaine is no exception. As would be the case with a leader in a region, he has no self-restraint to take on the task. Then there is only one thing left.
“Bjorn?”
“okay.”
“How do you see that he is fit for a king!”
“From my point of view, he is more suitable than you.”
Ragnar’s body trembled. It was an insult anyway. Bjorn is a decent guy. He’s not a bad warrior, he’s confident in his self-judgment, and he’s also loyal.
However, if you were to ask if he was a vessel equal to himself, it was not.
“Are you looking at me funny?”
“You are a hero.”
Luke said, erasing his laughter.
“But a hero doesn’t mean a good king. A great warrior and a great king are two different things.”
“what are you talking about.”
“Simple. When the two of you enter the coffin, it’s a matter of who the people below miss more.”
And the one people miss more is Bjorn. Luke swallowed his words and turned his back. Ragnar bit his lip while looking at Luke’s back.
I could guess the meaning even without hearing it.
* * *
The next day, Ragnar once again called a meeting and spoke.
“I will change the dueling method.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
The nobles frowned. Didn’t you already decide yesterday? It was too absurd to suddenly call and shout.
“It is for the sake of fairness. If you think about it, don’t tournament-style duels lack fairness?”
“That can’t be helped.”
The nobles were well aware of the problems of the tournament format. There is no choice but to win bye, and if you meet an opponent with a bad match, you will be ranked low compared to your skills.
My skills are not fully reflected.
‘But that’s the quickest and simplest.’
‘It doesn’t matter if the person involved in the duel gets hurt.’
‘It’s easy for commoners to understand.’
Ragnar raged among the swaying nobles.
“It’s a duel to decide the king! Why sacrifice fairness for convenience! This one duel could decide the fate of the North!”
You agreed yesterday too. Some nobles muttered inwardly, but did not speak out. Because Ragnar’s momentum was too scary.
In the end, Viscount Torvern took up the gun this time as well.
“Then, how do you plan to duel, Warchief?”
“Simple. Everyone fights once.”
“Huh.”
a cunning way. Certainly, if you take turns and duel with everyone, it will be a more fair evaluation of your skills.
If you win against everyone, no one will be able to admit it.
“Not bad. But won’t it be hard to fight again if you’re injured?”
“It’s not a duel that takes lives, so that must be my skill. Also, spend generously on potions.”
This human knows that potions are all-powerful. Unless it’s an elixir, no matter how good a potion is, there’s a limit.
Viscount Thorvern frowned slightly, but agreed to the proposal itself.
“What do other people think?”
“Agree… … .”
“I don’t agree!”
It was Marquis Serge who jumped out of his seat and stood up. The Marquis’ face was stained red. This was the worst way for Carol, who was relatively weak.
“It’s a dangerous way! Even if it’s for the sake of the king’s election… … !”
“Did you say Carol? He just needs to rest and fight one last time.”
“What, what?”
“Fight the final winner only once. Will that be enough?”
In other words, if you win just once, you will be made king. At the excessive concession, people stared at Ragnar with their mouths wide open.
“Great, chieftain. What are you talking about?”
“Doesn’t everyone else agree?”
“Should I agree… Aren’t the privileges too severe?”
“Okay. You should do this much.”
Ragnar glanced at the Marquis and said.
“To be honest, he has no opponent to beat. It is better to fight once and lose once than to fight four times and lose all four times.”
“… … .”
All the nobles became dumb from eating honey. Everyone was thinking about it, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Conversely, the Marquis’ hands trembled in shame.
‘This damn barbarian… … !’
From noble mtl dot com
I had to participate more than that. If you accept the offer and eat it, even if you win, you will be treated as an idiot, not a king.
“Is that enough?”
“Shut up! Carol will participate in the duel as a candidate!”
“is it? Do whatever you like.”
Ragnar turned his head away as if he had lost interest. It was an expression of his intention that he really didn’t care what happened to Carol.
While the Marquis cooled his anger, Ragnar was replaying Luke’s last words from yesterday in his head.
‘I can’t admit it.’
Luke admits it. But you say you’re inferior to Bjorn? what the heck does he have?
‘Then I have no choice but to ask myself.’
A duel sometimes conveys more than a conversation. Ragnar was thinking of asking Bjorn’s way in the duel.
If you’re drawing an acceptable future, I’ll admit it. But if that’s not the case.
‘After everything is over, I’ll slit your throat myself.’