The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 7

The Trial duel.

The trial was judged over by Gawain.

The first match was between me and Lindel.

The second was between Richard and Argon.

It was a very personal battle, entangled with deep emotions, yet it was undeniably part of the curriculum.

Gawain emphasized this.

“I understand that there are personal emotions involved, but remember, this is part of the curriculum. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes.”

The four of us answered at once.

Except for me, the other three seemed to not consider it a part of the curriculum at all.

Their expressions were quite severe.

“The rules are simple. The duel ends immediately if one side surrenders or if the presiding judge determines that one cannot continue fighting.”

Lindel glared at me fiercely and smirked.

Perhaps, he was imagining a future where I would surrender disgracefully.

Dream big, I suppose.

“Depending on the outcome of the trial duel, the loser must grant the winner’s request. What do you each seek from the other?”

“Argon.”

Richard spoke up immediately.

“That bird… no, that fellow, I sincerely hope he apologizes for insulting Judas.”

“If I win.”

In response, Argon said right away.

“You will apologize for ignoring me and Lindel.”

Gawain calmly noted their requests.

Then Lindel spoke.

“Judas. You too. If you lose, kneel and beg.”

I barely managed to suppress a laugh.

Trial duel is truly a barbaric way of determining a winner through strength.

In reality, who is right or wrong doesn’t matter.

So, after beating someone, they fulfill all sorts of demands.

Like paying a sum of money, surrendering the souls of their parents or daughters, or even bowing down to them for several months Etcetera.

But these guys just want an apology from the other if they win.

“Seeing these simple things, they’re just kids.”

I thought they were cute in an inappropriate way.

It reminded me of the little kids in the gym.

“Judas. Now, state your demands.”

Gawain urged.

After a brief moment of contemplation, I answered.

“If I win, I would like you to acknowledge.”

“Acknowledge what? Your demand must be specific.”

“Senior Lindel acknowledging his reality. That’s all.”

“…Understood.”

The first duel was between me and Lindel.

In the middle of the training ground.

Surrounded by other candidates in a wide circle, Lindel and I faced each other inside.

It was definitely part of the training.

However, to the candidates who were about to watch a real fight, that didn’t matter.

They were all excited.

“Fight to the death!”

“You’re going to kill each other now!”

“Both of you fight to the death!”

Just people who were excited about this situation.

“Step on that arrogant rookie!”

“Let them know this isn’t going to be easy!”

Those who sided with Lindel.

“Take down the rookie! Show them what you did last time!”

“Break them down!”

Those anticipating Underdog’s rebellion.

Stage. Players. Audience. Cheers.

A familiar sensation envelops the body.

The heart races, the mind calms.

Consciously slowing down the breath.

“Arrogant bastard.”

Lindel growled.

“Do you think you can beat me at your level? There’s a limit to underestimating… If capturing Kale was just a matter of luck.”

I didn’t respond.

Just let it flow.

It’s a fight that started emotionally.

But emotions must be excluded.

Adrenaline dulls pain and draws out the body’s strength.

As a counteraction, the body becomes dull, unable to formulate rational strategies.

All that’s needed is the vitality from the right amount of adrenaline. That’s all.

For my fighting style from now on, especially to maintain rationality.

I twirled the loosely held sword around and raised my shield.

“Lindel’s armament is spear and shield. Disadvantageous in reach.”

Doesn’t matter.

Disadvantage doesn’t mean defeat.

Gawain dropped his raised gauntlet.

As the gauntlet touched the ground, the duel began with the audience’s cheers.

***

Richard crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk.”

A trial duel from the first match.

Not to underestimate Judas’s skill.

In the morning, at least the basic stance wasn’t bad.

But real combat and stance are different.

“Why is he so unpredictable?”

He’s a strange one.

Even when acting impulsively, he responds unbelievably rationally.

He also shows signs of excessive maturity.

It’s not my place to say, but children who are abnormally mature compared to their peers tend to grow up in environments where they have to be mature.

So, I feel more protective.

Thinking of the siblings left at the orphanage.

Why the boy, who is only on his second day, chooses to do such noticeable things.

That doesn’t bother me.

He didn’t do anything to deserve hatred.

He even brought cookies that I’ve never even thought of.

“It doesn’t matter if he loses.”

What Lindel believes in is Argon.

In other words, if he can defeat Argon, even Lindel will have to bow his head.

“But… why does it feel like he won’t lose.”

I don’t know well.

Judas’s dueling skills were not that outstanding.

Considering it was his first duel, it wasn’t bad.

It’s just that level.

He was quite similar to Lindel.

He lacked the sense of distance and his movements were awkward.

Either he didn’t put enough force into it, or he put too much and his attacks and defenses went off course.

“Woo-!”

The audience jeered at the dull fight.

Lindel, who was initially aggressive, hesitated when things didn’t go as planned.

“Fight more fiercely!”

“Do you really think the opponent would die from that level of attack?”

Lindel even flinched at the jeers.

On the other hand, Judas was sloppy but didn’t get swept away by his surroundings.

He calmly seemed to be honing his sense of distance.

Richard couldn’t help but admire.

The same was true for Gawain, who was the judge.

“He has quite a good concentration.”

He expected to see young puppies stumbling around like this.

He accepted it knowing this.

The reason is simple.

Real combat is very different from training.

Emotionally hitting and fighting can lead to serious injuries.

In this way, a clumsy skill can make the fight ridiculous.

“Argh, frustrating! I’d be better off fighting than watching that!”

“Hey hey, just beat them both!”

Sarcasm and jeers poured out.

Eliza is a noble with many enemies.

If you become one of her Escort Knight, you may have to fight for Eliza’s honor in such an environment.

He charged somewhat recklessly.

He thrust his spear roughly.

It was a move with emotions.

He couldn’t overcome the reality of being humiliated even by the audience.

“Yes! More! Hit harder!”

As much as the audience was provoking him, Lindel was provoked.

“Newbie! Boring! Just give up!”

On the other hand, Judas remained calm.

He dodged and blocked the spear.

He occasionally got hit.

He looked for a chance to counterattack, but he didn’t counterattack.

Wooden spears and shields, or swords clashed, making crude sounds.

It was a childish fight.

“Ahh-!”

Lindel screamed and rushed in.

“Surrender! Just give up!”

Scratch, the spear scraped against the shield as it narrowly missed.

And then.

Thunk, the tip of the sword touched Lindel’s chest.

Judas stabbed Lindel next to the shield, who was rushing at him with a shield.

It was a coordinated motion of attack and defense.

The tip of the sword pricked Lindel and withdrew.

“Waaaah-!”

“New recruit! That’s it! Push harder! Drive the momentum!”

The crowd’s cheers made the stage tremble.

Meanwhile, Judas remained calm.

Lindel’s face, caught in the excitement of the audience, grew even redder.

“This guy-!”

After that, the tide turned.

Judas blocked or dodged, then struck quickly and withdrew.

Lindel allowed each effective strike.

Richard watched, his expression revealing his thoughts. ‘Is he insane…?’

An enemy charging directly at him.

Cheers echoing from all directions.

Amidst it all, Judas’s calm demeanor made him seem more like a madman.

His fighting style might have been frustrating compared to his own, but it was suitable for Judas’s level of skill.

Gawain was the first to notice a change beyond that.

‘…Training?’

Judas skillfully blocked Lindel’s attacks and countered.

It was a well-standardized movement.

Like someone well-trained.

What was unusual was not that.

Judas was deliberately prolonging the fight, treating Lindel more like a student than an opponent.

“This guy!”

Lindel vaguely sensed that Judas was going easy on him.

But he considered it mockery, not training.

“How dare you! How dare you! You lowly thing! Challenge me!”

Lindel spoke with a grating voice, thrusting his spear wildly.

Judas didn’t block every attack.

His lower body, out of reach of the shield, allowed several strikes to land.

Lindel noticed this.

Aiming for the head with the spear tip.

When Judas raised his shield, Lindel withdrew the spear and thrust downwards.

“Ugh!”

He extended his arm with all his strength.

He was certain Lindel wouldn’t be able to get up if it hit.

But.

“………”

With a deep sound, the spear struck the ground.

Judas evaded the spear and stepped on the spearhead embedded in the ground.

Creak… Crack!

The spear broke.

“Oops….”

Lindel groaned, and

“Waaah-!”

The crowd’s cheers intersected.

Immediately after, Judas swung his shield like a fist.

The bewildered Lindel took the blow to his face.

Judas watched as Lindel, clutching his nose, fell.

The plan was a success.

“Pretend to have trouble blocking the lower body, take a few hits, then counter when they come in big.”

After finding his sense of distance, everything went according to plan.

“How… could this…”

Lindel muttered in disbelief.

Though disoriented, Gawain did not stop the match.

Because Lindel’s body was capable of fighting.

“Why on earth…”

His futile muttering was drowned out by the cheers.

Judas approached expressionlessly and struck Lindel with his shield.

Lindel didn’t resist and took the blow.

Blood dripped from his nose.

Judas’s gaze descended coldly on him.

“Get up.”

“…?”

“You’re just going to accept this at this level?”

Even against the rude informal speech, Lindel couldn’t retort.

“Get up with your weapon.”

The audience cheered even more, perhaps thinking it was mockery and performance.

On the other hand, Judas was serious.

Lindel became even more enraged at his serious demeanor.

As if, he felt like he was being pitied sincerely.

The condescending gaze hurt.

“What do you, what do you know…!”

Lindel shouted, trembling.

“What do you know! You’re just a lucky bastard, born with luck, pretending to know something…!”

The audience roared in amusement.

Judas said nothing.

Luck. Fortune.

Words that were distant from his life.

Could it be said to be the same even here?

A world he was dragged into against his will.

But he knew the future of this world.

It was clearly a luck that was difficult to express in words.

However, it was somewhat unfair to dismiss his experiences as luck.

“Shut up and make a choice.”

Judas had nothing more to say.

There’s no point in whining and effort won’t help.

Not all efforts are rewarded fairly.

Some efforts, no matter how earnest, betray life.

Those who have strived desperately know that sometimes efforts are meaningless.

He lived such a life.

So he doesn’t force others to make an effort, nor does he belittle others’ efforts.

He didn’t want to.

He’s still like that now.

If there were no “search technique” in the system, could he have beaten Lindel?

It’s deception to put effort into words.

It’s not a problem of deception towards others.

It’s self-deception.

Deception easily turns into arrogance.

Arrogance soon degenerates into decline and laziness.

Judas didn’t want that.

However, Judas wanted to tell Lindel one thing.

“Either get up and fight. Or surrender. Make it clear.”

“………..”

“Don’t escape from reality and face it squarely. Are you ashamed to be defeated by your junior? Then hit me now.”

He can’t tell him to whine and make an effort.

He can’t give him false hope that everything can be achieved through effort.

However, he can say that you shouldn’t just stand still and do nothing

Choosing to escape from the options and choosing the option of running away.

Those are fundamentally different.

“If you just stand still, you won’t achieve anything. If you’re going to do it, whatever it is, do it decisively. Don’t hesitate.”

The audience, who had been screaming, suddenly fell silent.

The voice of a small boy captivated the crowd.

It was a simple and obvious, even clichéd, statement.

A piece of advice that is so clichéd and familiar that no one wants to hear it anymore.

But humans become numb to what is familiar.

A numbed truth is sometimes forgotten.

Lindel slowly stood up.

He grabbed the broken spear.

The tip with the sharply protruding thorns was more threatening than before.

So, he held it in reverse.

Killing is not the goal.

Winning is the goal.

Judas remained calm as always.

Lindel’s heart also settled calmly.

He said nothing. He just charged again toward his opponent. The cheers from the audience erupted even louder.

“Winner, Judas!” Gawain declared.

“Wow-!”

“Judas! Judas! Judas!” The audience chanted my name.

It was an easy victory. I had been watching over him from the start. It wasn’t that I was ignoring Lindel; I just wanted to teach the naive kid a lesson. Blaming others while escaping reality felt like looking at someone from my childhood. That’s all.

“Huff, huff…” Lindel lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily.

His face was covered in blood from the beating he took. Watching him, I felt somewhat sorry. ‘Did I hit him too hard at the end?’ I approached Lindel and reached out my hand.

“I won.”

Lindel stared at my hand for a while, then chuckled dryly.

“…Fine.”

He finally grabbed my hand and stood up with added strength.

“You told me to acknowledge reality.”

“Yes.”

“…Right. I get it. I understand what you’re saying.”

That was the end of it.

Gawain suddenly called out to me,

“Judas. Are you satisfied with that?”

I watched Lindel walking away. He felt weak, as if he could stumble and fall at any moment. Now, I had only to endure on my own.

“Yes.”

“Right. That oddball….”

“What?”

“Never mind. Next, Richard, Argon.”

The crowd, as if relieved, rose again. Richard sprang out as if he had been waiting.

“Argon! Come out, you bastard!”

“So loud, really….”

Argon walked out with a sword and shield, while Richard held a large two-handed sword.

It was a sincere confrontation between two 5th graders belonging to quite a high rank. The heat from the audience was palpable.

“Let’s begin.” Gawain raised his glove high.

Around that time, a notification arrived.

[Hidden Quest Discovered.]

[In Progress: ‘Yesterday’s Enemy, Today’s Ally’]

‘…In progress?’ Without regard to my confusion, the glove fell to the ground. Thud, as soon as it touched the ground, Richard charged.