Before the duel, Ragnar made a proposal.
“This exam will be free for all Northerners to watch.”
In the case of the first test, it was so sudden that no one except nobles saw it. For the second test, onlookers came because it was word of mouth, but it wasn’t specifically targeted.
It just didn’t stop the rumors and bystanders from spreading. However, in this test, I decided to gather the spectators and let them watch.
“Is there a reason?”
“That way everyone will acknowledge it.”
A king who was recognized not only by nobles, but by all northerners. It was the goal that Ragnar coveted.
Among the nobility, opinions were quite divided.
“Not bad. There will be less aftershocks.”
“Absolutely not! What if commoners boo!”
“Maybe you’ll get cheers. If you deserve to be king.”
There was some fierce opposition, but on the whole it went in the direction of permissiveness. Even from the point of view of the nobles, Bae Su-jin was the current king.
‘The imperial family must have dispatched an inspector right away. I really don’t have time anymore.’
‘Somehow, I have to choose a king that everyone recognizes and have them fight.’
If things go wrong, the king will take all the blame, and if things go well, the North will come together as one. Either way is a no-lose option.
Although the king will sit on top of his head, isn’t there anything special about living in captivity in the imperial family? Rather, a king who thinks of the interests of the north is much better.
“Let’s allow spectators. But I won’t bother collecting them. If you’re interested, I’ll come on my own.”
“Okay. Rumors have spread, so even if you stay still, they will come like clouds.”
“sh*t! What the hell is going to happen to the North!”
Dissatisfaction erupted from the faction of the Marquis, but it was not enough to overturn the general trend. The size of the faction was already significantly reduced compared to before.
And then the fateful day arrived.
* * *
“There are so many.”
Luke climbed the hill and looked at the crowd of northerners. It is not a number that will be covered by the territories of the Marquis of Serge.
It seemed that all the people who could visit among the neighboring territories had flocked to it. Bruno shrugged and replied to Luke.
“Because rumors continued to spread after the first test. When he came back after taking the second test, there were already quite a few spectators from other territories.”
“They decided to observe the third test and gathered more?”
“That’s it.”
“Is there a place to stay?”
“Most of them seem to be sleeping in tents.”
Bruno pointed the other way. Luke looked closely and saw numerous wooden sticks driven into the ground in the distance. It was a stick used as the centerpiece of the tent.
It must be cold, no kidding, but it’s a great passion. Luke stuck out his tongue.
“How will they react to the election of their king?”
“I am enthusiastic.”
“I thought there would be quite a few people confused.”
“It can’t be. Rather, I really like it.”
According to Bruno, everyone was watching with anticipation as to who would become king. He said that there was not a single person among them who was afraid of the rumor that a king would be born.
Ray, who had been standing still by the side, nodded in agreement.
“In the North, the king has never done anything wrong. That’s why the current situation is just considered a festival.”
“wait for a sec. It’s the first time I’ve heard that they’ve never done anything wrong. Weren’t the old northern kings great?”
Bruno was surprised by Ray’s words and asked back. However, Ray shook his head from side to side.
“Because the last king disappeared in the early days of the empire. At that time, to the northerners, the king was a good warrior and a good distribution of loot. There was no concept of public affairs or domestic affairs.”
“uh… Then I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Because I’m not into politics. If he just killed the monster and showed a heroic side, he would have been a great king. As the years passed, only his reputation as a great warrior would remain.
‘But now the king’s role has changed.’
Times have changed. Now the king cannot be a pure warrior. Luke remembered the Ragnar he met yesterday. If the era was different, the guy who was the king’s lumber than anyone else.
Unfortunately, he was born in the wrong era. Luke knew all too well what path the guy who became king with his old ideas took.
‘All illusions were shattered.’
Northerners’ romance, Ragnar’s dream. Brilliant ideals were thrown into the gutter in front of the miserable reality. The result was the disappearance of the very idea of honor.
People who say that there was no such thing in the first place and become shameless and only take advantage of themselves. The northern part that Luke liked gradually disappeared.
In the end, all that was left was a vulgar world that pursued only greed regardless of nobleness.
“It was the worst.”
“yes?”
“never mind.”
Luke, evading Bruno’s question, looked to one side. Bjorn. In a way, he is someone who falls short of both Luke and Ragnar.
But, at least, he was a perfect match for the king of this ‘northern’.
‘You will be recognized.’
If Ragnar hates meanness and has the brain to judge what is truly right. And if you are someone who can look at yourself objectively.
No matter how bad he was, he couldn’t help but acknowledge Bjorn.
* * *
“The test is simple.”
Viscount Thorburn shouted at the gathered nobles.
“Each candidate will come out and fight all the other candidates. Injuries are unavoidable, but even if you win, you must not risk your life.”
Externally, a reconfirmation procedure for participants in the Platinum Conference. But the real intention was to explain the rules of the test to a common audience.
The commoners listened intently to Viscount Thorburn without breathing.
“It is possible to accidentally kill an opponent during a battle. Even if you win one clear victory, if you die as a loser, you will be eliminated on the spot.”
After explaining the additional rules added at the end due to the strong insistence of the Marquis, Viscount Torvern looked at the candidates.
The rules have been set, but who will go first has not yet been decided.
“Then the first person to step out… … .”
“grow.”
“Warchief?”
All the nobles, including Viscount Thorvern, flinched. I never thought that monstrous man would be the first to step out. I knew for sure that I would come out at the end this time too.
Ignoring the gazes of the nobles, Ragnar stood before Viscount Thorburn.
“I will start first. Do you have any objections?”
“That, no, but… … .”
“Okay, then no problem.”
Ragnar nodded, looked to one side and raised his weapon. It was a godfather at a level where it was impossible to distinguish whether it was an ax or a halberd.
Whoops.
“Oh my God, a human wielding that?”
“They said they cut off the dragon’s head… … .”
Consternation was heard among the commoners. Even the nobles who had already seen it many times were tired of it. It was a strength that did not look like a human at any time.
Ragnar, who swung a few times to create a wind, shouted at the candidate seat.
“Luke Bernstein!”
“… … !?”
“Come out!”
“This crazy… … !”
A storm worse than before blew upon the nobles. Two of the most powerful people in this position right now.
In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the other candidates were the two’s sidekicks. Are those two going to be the first to fight?
‘What are you thinking, Warchief?’
‘Did he change his strategy to give a shock by appearing at the end?’
‘Huh, this is how other candidates will fade.’
Amid the whispers of the surprised nobles, Luke blankly looked at Ragnar. I didn’t know that he would nominate himself, leaving me like he would nominate Bjorn.
“Luke Bernstein, what are you doing? Come out! Unless you’re a coward!”
Sparks flew from Ragnar’s eyes. Only then did Luke realize Ragnar’s thoughts and smile.
‘I couldn’t give up.’
The desire to beat the rook and be the first to reign. Even though he had seen clear evidence so far, Ragnar couldn’t abandon that desire. Because I’ve never fought before.
Maybe, maybe, I end up thinking that it’s one in ten thousand. The result is the current duel application.
“… Then you should let it go.”
It was time to wake up the guy who still misunderstood that he was the protagonist of the era. As Luke stepped forward, the crowd erupted in cheers again.
“Such a small man fighting such a giant?”
“Oh my, courage is great, but no matter how… … .”
“Tsk tsk, these people don’t know what.”
Those who did not see the hydra that Luke had brought worried that it was an act of suicide, and those who saw the scene of moving it themselves were filled with anticipation.
As the two candidates faced off, Ragnar took his stance.
“Do you need a signal to start?”
“I do not need.”
“is it.”
Ragnar’s foot, which had been nodding, stepped on the ground with a bang. And the next moment, he approached Luke and swung his axe.
A lightning-like movement. However, Luke drew his sword at the same time as the ax was swinging.
Wow.
“Keuk!”
“Ears, ears!”
The two weapons collided and the sound of metal echoed everywhere. The crowd covered their ears and groaned. When they barely looked up, they saw two men with arms crossed.
“You’re strong too.”
“The health food I ate recently was pretty good.”
“I guess so. It is none other than the dragon’s heart.”
This time, Luke’s weapon did not budge. It was clear that Luke overpowered Ragnar in terms of strength.
“But combat is not all about physical strength.”
“Was there anything else?”
“I will tell you now.”
Ragnar’s ax jerked sideways. At that moment, Luke’s sword, which had been entangled, twisted around his arms and went down.
“what?”
The moment Luke stumbled, Ragnar’s ax rose high into the sky. There was a small smile on his lips.
‘The application of battlefield experience and technology. No matter how strong you are, you are missing these two things.’
In Ragnar’s opinion, Luke’s only weakness was age. The age I want to be around sixteen or seventeen now.
Of course, how many times have you applied your swordsmanship in real combat? Have you ever really fought with weapons getting tangled and body to body bumping into each other?
‘There won’t be. I don’t know if you’re the son of Snowfield, but you’re from the east.’
The East is a peaceful province. No matter how many times you cross the line, there is a limit to the number of times you have experienced it. He must have made up for it with his innate talent until now.
Even more so if the opponent is a being that must be confronted with pure power like a dragon.
‘So, this is your defeat.’
No matter how much a dragon is, when it is young, even the teeth of a fully grown beast can tear its neck. Ragnar struck the ax with confidence.
pug.
“It’s big!?”
But before he could feel the ax chopping his skull, Ragnar was hit in the chest and flew backwards. I was gasping for breath and felt like my breastbone was being crushed.
“Kuk, Cough, Cough Cough!”
Taking a few steps back, Ragnar coughed. Luke leisurely retrieved the sword he had thrown to the ground without inflicting additional blows.
“Baby, you use your skills quite well, don’t you? It just looks like it will push through with force,”
“My, what have you done to me?”
“What are you doing? I hit you with this.”
Luke tapped him on the shoulder. It was only then that Ragnar’s face hardened as he grasped the situation.
‘Did he throw away his sword and hit his chest with his shoulder in that short period of time?’
Reduce the weight, correct your posture, and dig inward to attack and evade at the same time. It’s easy to put it into words. However, in practice, it is a technique that is close to impossible.
From noble mtl dot com
A warrior has a mental shackle that says he must not let go of his weapon under any circumstances, and the one who is attacked reflexively chooses to retreat when evading.
‘But to make those two decisions at once without hesitation.’
It’s not a judgment that the sun chick will make. Rather, it is a state of mind that only a few can reach even among those who have rolled on the battlefield for decades.
“Experience and skill to subdue power? That’s great.”
Luke smiled sharply at Ragnar, who had hardened.
“Even if I’m like this, I’m confident in my experience.”