The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 17

A dispute over the opportunity to attend Eliza’s birthday banquet led to a duel competition between the rooms.

The winners of the match, will each receive 100 florins as a prize.

At first, I wasn’t inclined, but I decided to win.

The desire for money is secondary.

I want to consume protein until I’m full.

Even if it’s just for one day.

The next reason is personal.

He came to the final and ended up competing against the group Gulliat belonged to, and Gulliat was chosen as the main player.

I can’t lose.

I don’t want to lose.

If they are going to be so hostile towards me, I have no intention of being kind to them.

“I will win no matter what.”

The flow of the final was somewhat anticlimactic.

Our room, Room 13, is not very strong when considering the entire group.

Just about average.

Even reaching the finals was largely due to luck.

In contrast, Room 15 is not like that.

First of all, Gulliat alone is among the top candidates in the entire group of candidates.

The rest of the members are not to be underestimated.

Even the members chosen as opponents are quite skilled.

As a result.

“Third opponent of Room 13, confirmed inability to fight. Next opponent, Dylan. Come forward.”

It’s already Dylan’s turn, the fourth opponent.

Meanwhile, Room 15 is still with its first opponent.

In other words, three people lost to one person.

I didn’t know the gap was so severe.

Room 13, which made it halfway through luck.

Room 15, which broke through solely on skill.

Is this a natural result?

“I don’t want to lose…. But I also don’t like the idea of losing and being praised for fighting well…?”

The third opponent, Felin, returned to the bench weakly. He was tall, with many freckles, and looked about 14 years old. Was he a 10th grader?

I’m starting to remember their names too.

“I’m sorry….”

He entered and muttered weakly.

Richard, who had come down to the front row to cheer, shouted, “Hey, why are you acting like you’ve committed a sin? You didn’t do anything wrong, man.”

Around the front row, there was a bustling crowd from Room 13.

They had come down to cheer for their fellow roommates.

On the opposite side, Room 15’s front row was also crowded.

Unlike here, it was a festive atmosphere over there.

It was as if they had already won.

“It seems like we lost….”

Richard chuckled at Felin’s sulking.

“Hey, if you act like that, what will happen to Judas who’s still here?”

Only then did Felin notice me and shook his head apologetically.

Understanding his feelings, I just shrugged my shoulders.

As if it didn’t matter.

“Well, to be honest, the three who went out ahead were pretty weaklings.”

At that, Felin became even more crestfallen.

Richard chuckled and nodded towards Dylan.

“But still, he went out first.”

The leader of Room 13 and the second in command.

Dylan, who had skills next to Richard.

He stared at his opponent with sunken eyes.

The first opponent from Room 15 arrogantly raised his chin and said, with a clear sneer.

“Wouldn’t it be better to give up now? It would be better than losing to me alone, wouldn’t it?”

Dylan didn’t respond.

He just looked calmly.

The ignored opponent’s face turned red.

“The event is a free duel. Let’s begin.”

Gawain confirmed their readiness once again and raised his glove.

Thud. As it fell, the opponent rushed forward.

With taunts, the wooden swords fell fiercely.

“Pretending to be tough-!”

Dylan didn’t change his expression and moved.

From a stance aiming at the opponent’s belly button, to a stance aiming at the opponent’s head from above.

Clash! The wooden swords collided.

The opponent’s sword narrowly grazed Dylan.

On the other hand, Dylan’s sword tip stabbed the opponent’s neck accurately.

“Thunk!”

The opponent grabbed his neck and stepped back.

Whether he felt embarrassed or not, his face turned red.

He corrected his stance and charged forward.

“Don’t underestimate me!”

Dylan calmly counterattacked.

After sweeping the sword to the side, he struck the opponent’s wrist.

The opponent dropped the sword.

The opponent staggered.

Dylan quickly caught up.

He held the sword with one hand.

Pretending to stab, he grabbed the opponent’s neck with his remaining hand and tripped him, mocking him.

The sword fell over the fallen opponent’s face.

“Surrender-!”

Just before the tip of the sword touched his forehead, the opponent shouted urgently.

Dylan’s sword stopped right in front of his forehead.

Dylan slowly got up, murmuring as if puzzled.

“Why mix words in the middle of a battle…? It would mess up your breathing…. Strange….”

Innocent curiosity.

Because it was pure curiosity, the defeated opponent shook his head with an even more shameful expression.

“Room 15, defeat. Next challenger, please come out.”

The audience’s cheers grew louder.

It was a rebellion by Underdog, who had been losing all along.

***

After that, Dylan continued his winning streak.

Indeed, it was as Richard had said.

Dylan quickly defeated the remaining three.

Even when the event changed and he had to use a different weapon, he easily won.

It was a short but very educational battle.

‘Like a textbook.’

His movements were concise and precise.

He performed the stances taught during training as if they were drawn in a textbook.

‘Even though the opponent is also human, how can he do that?’

While I was purely amazed, Richard clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk. Fighting so frustratingly.”

Does he not think that his fighting style is overly brutish?

It doesn’t seem like he does.

And finally, the fifth challenger from Room 15.

Gulliat appeared.

Even in our room, Dylan is quite tall.

But Gulliat was even taller.

‘He must be about 180cm.’

Dylan and Gulliat just looked at each other without saying a word.

Gawain explained the event.

“Swordsmanship duel. Only the sword and body can be used.”

Gulliat put the shield in his hand away.

They stood there, not saying a word, just pointing their swords at each other.

“I’ll start,”

Gawain said, dropping his glove.

The outcome was brutal.

Dylan fought well, dodging or parrying the slashing sword, and even attempted to counterattack.

He even succeeded a few times.

But that was all.

Gulliat remained untouched by Dylan’s counterattacks.

On the other hand, Dylan struggled even just to block Gulliat’s attacks.

Eventually, Dylan’s sword broke.

After his sword broke, he fought with his bare hands.

It was a futile struggle.

Though he was being beaten mercilessly, Dylan did not cry out for surrender.

He did not resort to dirty tactics, but he was as tenacious as could be.

‘Why go this far….’

I, who was on the same side, felt such doubt.

“Stop. There’s no need to resist against such an opponent.”

In the end, Gawain stepped in to stop it.

Considering the overwhelming difference in skill, Dylan fought really well.

But he couldn’t win.

He was the epitome of

“he lost, but he fought well.”

“Next. Opponent in Room 13. Judah. Step forward.”

“Phew….”

Taking a deep breath, he stood up.

In the end, it had come to this.

In the center of the training ground, Gulliat stood upright, not even out of breath, glaring at me.

“Come back after you’ve killed him.”

Richard patted my shoulder.

“Yes. I’ll be back.”

“Win! Knock down that big piglet with a big body and come back!”

“It’s okay to lose, so don’t overdo it!”

With the cheers of the people in the same room on their backs, they walked forward.

On the way out, Dylan returned to the waiting room with Argon’s support.

He said.

“I’m sorry…. I tried my best, but… I don’t think I could even muster up the strength….”

“………”

Only then did I realize.

Dylan fought like that because of me, who was left behind.

He probably wanted to at least cause a minor injury, but Dylan couldn’t do that.

“Senior.”

I tapped him on the shoulder and said.

“If you say that, it feels like I’ll definitely lose, right?”

With shameless words that he would surely win, Dylan and Argon looked at me blankly.

I smiled at them both.

“I’ll go kill him.”

“Intentional murder is prohibited by the rules….”

“Go in and watch.”

Ignoring Dylan’s grumbling, I moved towards the stage where Gulliat was waiting.

‘Anyway, the kid is responsible.’

He’s not just the captain for nothing.

I wasn’t too disappointed to think I would lose.

It’s a realistic and rational inference.

Honestly, I can’t even guarantee victory.

A newbie who hasn’t been inducted for even a month.

He’s young, and he’s small.

On the other hand, although it hasn’t been long since he was inducted, he’s a promising rookie who is highly regarded.

He must have a lot of experience.

‘But I’ll win.’

I don’t know the possibility of losing.

Although this body is now that of Judas, I’ve fought countless battles against opponents stronger than me in my previous life.

But among them, no one has beaten me.

Finally, I stood in front of Gulliat.

He’s so big that I have to tilt my head up.

Is it because of my mood that it looks even bigger today?

‘If I fight barehanded, I might have a slightly higher chance of winning…. But if I have to fight with a weapon, it’s a black adjunct. I have to drag it along with barehanded fighting. What was the technique to make the opponent miss their sword….’

Gawain announced the event.

“Hand-to-hand combat. Both duelists must discard their weapons.”

With a sigh of relief, I mentally put away the sword and shield.

“Surrender.”

Looking down at me, Gulliat said.

“It’s not a provocation. You’re too small and weak compared to me. If I don’t control my strength, I might kill you. This is sincere.”

As if Gawain was worried about the same thing, he waited for my answer.

It was nonsense that I didn’t need to think about.

With a kind tone, I spat out words that were not kind at all.

“Stop talking nonsense. Senior.”

“…….”

“I honestly don’t know why you hate me so much, Senior. Because I really can’t figure it out, I’m going to make a reason for it today.”

I raised my chin towards his face.

Gulliat’s face crumpled.

“If you end up looking bad because of me, wouldn’t that be a reasonable reason to dislike me?”

The roar of the crowd erupted fervently.

His voice wouldn’t be heard from a distance.

But even this resolute pause was enough to understand the situation.

“Don’t regret it.”

There was a lot of truth in his words.

In a duel, even if you die, you won’t be held responsible.

And, he is truly strong enough to kill me.

Still, I didn’t back down.

Running away is worse than dying.

At the edge of sight, up high.

Eliza appeared.

She was smiling.

Like a villain who enjoys others’ suffering.

Since when had she been looking at me with such a smile?

Probably from the beginning.

Gawain raised his glove high and spoke fiercely.

“…I’ll begin.”

As soon as the glove touched the ground, Gulliat rushed forward fiercely.

One hit, two hits, three hits.

How many hits did he take?

Judas gave up after three.

He had been hit too many times, and he didn’t have the luxury to continue.

From the beginning until now, Judas had been just blocking.

It wasn’t even defense.

The difference in strength was extreme.

Blocking with his arms hurt them.

It was the same as getting hit in the face with his arms.

It couldn’t be called blocking.

He crouched his body to minimize hits to vital spots like the face and abdomen.

He didn’t even think about counterattacking.

It wasn’t within reach.

Before skill, the weight class was unfair.

At first, except for Room 13, all the audience cheered.

The one-sided violence stimulated the human’s base and impulse.

It was a thrilling pleasure that they couldn’t usually enjoy.

But it was short-lived.

As the confrontation prolonged, the audience grew quiet.

The sight of a sturdy young man mercilessly beating a boy half his size.

It wasn’t a duel.

It was simply assault and abuse.

Wouldn’t it have been better if both sides had weapons?

The scene of beating each other with bare hands was excessively cruel.

“Don’t we need to stop this…?”

In the waiting room of Room 13, Lindel said uneasily.

Richard frowned, and Dylan turned his head, unable to watch.

“He’s going to die for real at this rate!”

Argon shouted, but Gawain showed no sign of intervening.

Gawain was also at a loss.

They should have stopped the match long ago; the outcome was obvious.

However, Judas did not give up.

Even as she stumbled frighteningly, he got up.

Despite blood trickling down, his eyes shone brightly, as if he were a beast trying to find a prey’s weakness.

His will to fight was strong.

He did not cry surrender.

Then, there was no way to intervene.

Eliza, who had been laughing, suddenly wiped the smile off her face.

Until Judas appeared, she had not been watching the match properly.

She anxiously looked down, waiting for Judas to appear.

And when Judas appeared, the duel began.

What would he show?

Eliza smiled in anticipation, but Judas just kept getting hit.

By then, the smile had disappeared.

She couldn’t even understand why herself.

Was it because it wasn’t fun?

Because Judas didn’t show what she expected?

Eliza couldn’t be sure if that was the only reason.

If there was another reason, what could it be?

“Hah, hah…”

Gulliat breathed heavily.

It was unbelievable.

Even with broken bones and torn muscles, he could still stand like that.

He envied Judas.

Even now, his confident stance seemed so.

Even the audience who had cheered for him seemed to be sympathizing with Judas now.

Gulliat clenched his teeth and swung his fist.

Thud!

Judas couldn’t block and was hit in the face.

He quickly got up after falling.

“…Stop. Now.”

Gulliat said in a restrained voice.

“You can’t win. If you continue, you’ll really die.”

Spitting out blood-mixed saliva on the ground, Judas struggled to raise himself, his breathing too strained to speak.

“…Okay. If that’s really what you want. As your senior, I’ll listen.”

The sight of him persisting still showing.

The disgusting light that gathered the gazes around him as if it were natural and embraced him as an ally, was terribly repulsive.

Gulliat summoned mana.

Body reinforcement.

Unless the reinforced body hit something, it couldn’t be detected from the outside.

Perhaps if Gulliat had known in advance, he would have strengthened only the tip of his fist in preparation.

It was a blow intended to kill.

“Hoo, hoo….”

He breathed evenly, focusing his eyes.

His vision kept getting blurry.

The enemy appeared to split in two and then merge back into one.

His knees were trembling.

His consciousness was fading halfway.

He stood on instinct alone.

The instinct not to yield.

He felt a force compelling him to stand before the halting enemy.

A force spreading like ripples.

Mana.

The alien power made Judas’s consciousness sharply aware.

The use of mana is permitted only among those capable.

Why couldn’t Gawain notice?

Why could he realize it instantly?

Was it because the mana he possessed was Moon in nature?

He didn’t know.

It was too late to call for a stop.

Yet he didn’t want to.

The mana emanating from the enemy touched Judas’s mana.

Mana received through the Moon deer over the past few days surged through his veins.

‘I will win.’

What should he do to win?

What he could do.

What he was good at.

He recalled the past.

The past that could now be called a previous life.

His time in a place called Earth, Korea.

His identity that he momentarily forgot while living and adapting here.

Gulliat who was walking, began to run.

Memories flooded into his mind at lightning speed.

Name: Kang Jewon.

Gender: Male.

The enemy pulled back his fist to strike harder.

The trembling of his body ceased.

[Mana Release (Lv.3)]

For some reason, his energy returned.

Not just returned, but overflowed throughout his body.

Moon attribute.

In other words, the special mana imbued with the power of a god was the cause, but Judas didn’t have the luxury to confirm that.

Instead of his fading consciousness, instinct spoke.

‘Just once. Just once is fine, so I don’t have to catch him… If only the sleeve and collar come into my hands… I’ve used counterforce a lot before…’

He reached out his hands.

His left hand reached for the opponent’s right arm sleeve.

His right hand for the opponent’s collar.

The remaining memories flood back.

Things I was doing. Things I wanted to do.

Physical education student. Taking a break from school.

A dropout from the national team selection trials.

The dream back then was an Olympic gold medal.

Sport: Judo.

A slow, outstretched hand touched the sleeve and collar.

A strong grip.

The opponent was coming in with all their might.

The body’s center was already leaning.

All that was left was to throw.

Instinctively ingrained movements.

A technique remembered not by the body but by the soul.

“Uki-goshi.”

As I grabbed, I simultaneously rotated my body backward.

I pulled with all my might, bending my head forward.

A heavy weight was placed on my back.

I twisted my waist and pelvis with all my strength.

It’s the finishing move that surpasses the opponent.

Thud!

A dull and heavy sound echoed through the training ground.

The opponent collided with the floor.

The momentum of the run, the height they were lifted, the strength of Judo enhanced by the moon’s attribute.

All of that lifted the opponent and slammed them to the ground.

“Gg-guk!”

The opponent let out a heavy groan.

The momentary pain of breath being blocked and the body contorting.

Laughing, then rolling my eyes.

“Haah, haah….”

I put down the opponent who had passed out.

Breathing heavily, I realized the situation belatedly.

“I won…!”

The moment I thought that.

“Waaaah-!”

Hundreds of audience, who had been silent even in their breathing, cheered in unison.

Cheers that seemed to deafen the ears.

My skin tingled.

In the midst of it all, Judas caught a glimpse of the fragment of the dream he had so desired.

The dream was blocked by a realistic wall.

“Ha, hahaha….”

He laughed weakly.

His legs gave out and he sat down.

A pleasant shiver ran through his body, and the laughter didn’t stop.

“Judas.”

The judge, Gawain, approached.

His gaze as he looked down was cold for some reason.

“Disqualification for unauthorized use of magic.”

“……”

Judas lifted his head blankly.

As if he didn’t understand what he had just heard.

The cheers of the audience gradually subsided.

Just as Judas was about to make an excuse.

“Wait.”

Someone carefully interjected between them.

It was Lia, Eliza’s closest maid.

“Miss, she says she has testimony to give as a mage regarding this duel.”

Gawain and Judas.

And all the audience looked in one direction.

Eliza, who had been sitting in a high place, gracefully descended the stairs.

Step by step.

The quiet training ground was filled with the sound of Eliza’s footsteps.