“Count Hatres?”

Eugene had never met Count Hatres. Back then, he immediately returned to Maren after hearing the news that Count Hatres had dramatically concluded his negotiations with Count Winslon. However, Eugene had heard rumors about the count. He knew that Count Hatres was a long-time loyalist of the Caylor Kingdom and was an excellent knight in charge of the capital’s defense.

‘He’s insisting on my participation, even though he should know me well?’

Eugene frowned. He had never encountered the count in person, he was a man regarded as highly resourceful by the nobles of the royal castle, as well as the holy knights. Such a man would understand Eugene to some extent, and that Eugene’s victory was guaranteed if he participated in the knight competition.

‘There’s no way he’s insisting just to try and make me look even better. Hmm, he’s up to something.’

“The count has crossed the line. Even if he is a renowned noble, how dare he meddle in the matter of Your Majesty the King? It’s not something an honorable man would do,” Madrica commented angrily. Although he was not yet comparable to Luke or Princess Lilisain, Madrica was quite a Eugenophile as well.

“There is no need for you to participate, Your Majesty. I will enter with Sir Madrica and engrave the fiery blade of Maren on everyone’s souls.” Edmund also burned fiercely with vigor.

Eugene knew that Edmund had prior experience battling against the soldiers of Count Hatres when he was still supporting Count Winslon. Eugene asked, “Sir Edmund, have you ever confronted Count Hatres before?”

Edmund responded, “We never spoke to each other, but we were together in the negotiation between him and Count Winslon.”

“I see. What kind of person is he?” Eugene asked.

Edmund responded, “He is an extremely cautious person. The atmosphere surrounding him was extraordinary as well. I’m certain he is a seasoned knight who has experienced all sorts of hardships.”

“I see. But why is he planning on participating in the knight competition?”

“I don’t quite understand either. Although he is called the strongest sword of the kingdom, that was already more than ten years ago. I seem to recall that he is already over forty. It will be hard for him to win the competition even if he consumes refined mana stones,” Edmund explained. Refined mana stones were only useful for healing injuries and rejuvenating a person. They wouldn’t improve one’s physical abilities. In other words, given that Count Hatres’ physical abilities had to have deteriorated with age, it was questionable why he wanted to participate personally in the competition.

“A resourceful and cautious person will personally participate in the competition, and he’s strongly insisting that I participate as well… I understand,” Eugene said.

“What?”

“Count Hatres likely wants to take the lead among the three divided factions of the Caylor Kingdom,” Eugene explained.

“…?”

Edmund and Madrica appeared rather confused. Although they were brave, strong warriors, they were a bit dim when it came to political matters.

Eugene continued, “Even if he doesn’t win the championship, the fact that a great noble like Count Hatres would participate in a knight competition itself could elicit a response from the nobles, as well as from the young, promising knights.”

“Hooh. I see… There is definitely a certain aspect of it that would rile the honor and romance of knights.”

“In that case, he could simply participate by himself. Why do you think he wants to involve Your Majesty in the matter as well? Besides, there is no guarantee that Count Hatres will perform well, is there?”

“He must have received something,” Eugene answered.

“…?”

“Count Hatres met the Crown Prince of the Roman Empire with the nobles from Assir, right? And both parties are actively calling for my participation. It’s pretty simple, really,” Eugene added.

“Ah!”

Realization finally dawned on the faces of the two knights. Eugene turned his gaze away from them, then said to Prince Localope, who had a serious expression.

“Wouldn’t you agree as well, Prince? He’s your brother, so you should know. That little bastard, he’s a little bit persistent, isn’t he?” Eugene asked.

“That little bas—I-If you are referring to my brother Voltaire, then that’s right,” Prince Localope answered. He had already given up on trying to dissuade Eugene from speaking such audacious words toward the Crown Prince of the Roman Empire.

“Assir is the empire’s ally, and they are famous for producing many outstanding warriors. If my brother had called for both the nobles of Assir and the one known as the strongest sword of the Caylor Kingdom… And if they are urging for your participation as well, their intention is pretty clear…” Localope muttered with a sigh.

Eugene smirked. “It appears that the little bastard still hasn’t come to his senses. Fine. I’ll participate.”

“What?!”

“Your Majesty…?”

The expressions of the two knights quickly darkened. They had inwardly been planning to take the championship in the upcoming tournament.

Eugene spoke, “Ah, don’t worry. I won’t be facing you, sirs.”

“What? Ah, yes. If you say so, Your Majesty…”

Madrica and Edmund were confused, but their expressions loosened. Their reaction was different from someone else who had decided to participate in the competition.

***

“I implore you. Please compete with me at the knight competition.”

Princess Lilisain rushed over immediately after hearing that Eugene had decided to participate in the knight competition. Her eyes were burning even fiercer and hotter than whenever she looked at Mirian.

Indeed. She was a knight by nature, and she desired Eugene’s participation as much as Count Hatres. However, contrary to the latter, her desire for Eugene’s participation was solely due to her desire to have a proper battle against Eugene.

“No, it’s not like I can make that happen if I want, right? And you often trained with me, Princess, so why would you…” Eugene muttered with a stupefied expression.

Princess Lilisain interrupted him, “Training and a battle held in a knight competition are different. I will participate with my life on the line. A battle to the death!”

Huh? Hadn’t she always attacked him as if she wanted to kill him whenever they were training? Eugene vaguely recalled how he had suffered a couple of fractured bones during their training.

Thuck.

“My sincerest wish!” Princess Lilisain exclaimed after kneeling on one knee.

Eugene was a little taken aback by her firm attitude. However, he soon came up with a good idea.

“Hmm. Then let’s do it like this,” Eugene said.

“Whatever you want,” Princess Lilisain immediately raised her head and glared at Eugene with a gaze that threatened to devour him.

However, for once, Eugene needed her intense enthusiasm.

“Just win against two people. No, rather, even one of the two is fine. Then I will willingly face you in battle, Princess,” Eugene said.

“Honor! I will super-crush them!”

Fwoosh!

For some reason, it almost felt as if hot flames could be seen surging out of Princess Lilisain’s body.

***

The coronation and the founding ceremonies were held and celebrated in a grand fashion. The parliament and the governor spared no expense, as this was their opportunity to flaunt Maren’s wealth and power. More than two hundred foreign and domestic nobles who attended the coronation ceremony were awed, just as the governor and the parliament had intended.

The only flaw was the fact that Crown Prince Voltaire, the most celebrated figure to have planned to attend the ceremony, had returned to the empire, as well as the fact that the delegation of the Holy Empire had failed to arrive in time due to some complications. However, both the Roman Empire and the Holy Empire had recognized Maren as an official state in writing, and they had blessed the dukedom for prosperity. As such, no one doubted the status of Maren any longer, though there were many who were anxious to belittle Maren in any way possible.

“It feels as if I’m sprinkling ash on a finished stew, but what can I do?”

“That’s right. We must put them in their place so that they won’t act inappropriately in the future.”

“Perhaps, because it’s a country founded by those who are completely blinded by gold. They must not know that diplomacy isn’t solely based on money.”

“But you can’t help it when they have gold, right? So we have no choice but to show them up with something else instead.”

The foreign nobles chatted among themselves before turning their gazes elsewhere. Though they acted cordially in public to gain Maren’s favor, they revealed their true intentions in the shadows.

The young, beautiful king of Maren was armed in a black plate armor engraved with the sentence of Maren. It was as if he was trying to prove his identity as a knight. Although the young knight was quite well-built, it was hard to believe that he was the prestigious knight from all the rumors just from his appearance.

In addition, most of the nobles present were from nations other than the Caylor Kingdom. Eugene’s achievements as a knight weren’t as well known in foreign countries, and although a few famous stories had spread, the nobles simply considered them absurd, fabricated stories.

“Hmph. Today will be the last day he gets to act so smug.”

“I guess so. First of all, the Assirian knight named the Great Warrior by their king is participating in the competition.”

“I heard that the Troll Slayer, Sir Bilbain of the Cortes Countdom is participating as well.”

“You can’t forget about Sir Rose, the Rose Knight who had destroyed three groups of bandits all by himself[1].”

“Toscal, the mercenary captain of Paravan, is also a formidable man.”

“Don’t forget Count Hatres. No matter what anyone says, isn’t he a valiant knight known as the strongest sword of the Caylor Kingdom?”

The nobles chattered excitedly while discussing the famous knights and mercenaries from all over the world. The participants were powerful warriors in their own right, and their names were known beyond their own countries. However, all of them were participating with the same purpose—to defeat Jan Eugene Batla and to prove themselves the strongest. Moreover, the glory of their victory over the king would be exemplified even more since the stage was Maren.

“It’s not just one or two. If all of those knights are aiming for him…”

“He’s bound to suffer humiliation, no matter what. How could it be possible that not even a single one of them can defeat the king?”

Haahaha…

The nobles laughed, filled with arrogance and self-righteousness.

One hour later…

The long-awaited competition began. The noble attendees of the coronation ceremony, as well as all the residents of Maren, eagerly anticipated the battles. However, the competition headed in a strange direction before it even began in earnest.

***

“His Majesty the King! Has declared that he will participate in the preliminary round, just like any other participant!”

“…!!!”

The crowd was surprised after hearing the governor’s cry. For some reason, the governor appeared rather uneasy and worried.

In particular, the nobles of the distinguished seats took on puzzled faces.

“Why?”

“I’m wondering as well. He can simply participate once the preliminaries are over and the participants have been sorted somewhat, right?”

Ordinary knights would start from the preliminaries, but it was customary for knights with some status and reputation to start at the main rounds. Moreover, the competition was being held to celebrate Maren’s founding. No one would complain even if the king declared his intent to participate later on in the competition.

“Well, it’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. It’s going to be a sight worth seeing if he meets a strong candidate early on and gets destroyed.”

“We got lucky…”

The foreign aristocrats who wanted to see Eugene’s downfall whispered with insidious smiles. About thirty minutes after the beginning of the knight competition, Eugene’s first match, which everyone had been eagerly anticipating, took place.

“Ohh! He’s going to fight with the Troll Slayer of the Cortes Countdom from the get-go!”

“Hooh? A battle hammer? I’ve heard he has smashed the heads of countless trolls with that very weapon.”

“They say he has killed as many as four, as well as countless other intermediate and high-ranking monsters.”

“Hahaha! This should be entertaining!”

The eyes of the nobles sparkled. It was only natural. Knight Bilbain of the Cortes Countdom was an almost two-meter tall giant, and his favored weapon was a hammer the size of a person’s head. Leather or plate armor wouldn’t matter if their opponents were struck by the giant’s hammer. Indeed, there was a reason why knights favored blunt weapons like hammers and maces in a free battle. It allowed them to smash their opponents without aiming for the gaps in their opponent’s armor or their vital spots.

“Hoho. No matter how durable the king’s plate armor is, in face of that overwhelming weapon… Huh?” One of the nobles started speaking with a relaxed expression, then frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, well… Doesn’t it look like the king’s armor has changed?”

“Hmm? Ah! Is that…? That’s right. That’s not the armor he was wearing at the ceremony.”

“The color is the same… but it’s kind of unique.”

One of the nobles examined Eugene’s armor with scrutinizing eyes, then smirked. “Even so, it won’t make a difference. Moreover, look at the weapon that the king has chosen. How can you deal with a Troll Slayer with such a thin spear?”

The spear was a weapon. However, the spear was the most useless weapon when the opponent was heavily armed with a shield, to boot. A short sword or a long sword would allow one to strike quickly at the gaps in the opponent’s armor, but a long spear was specialized for stabbing. If the opponent managed to block the spear with their armor or shield—

All of a sudden, Eugene leaped towards Bilbain like a beast.

The nobles were surprised by Eugene’s inhuman speed. However…

“Uaaaghhh!” Bilbain swung his hammer with a loud roar, and the corners of the nobles’ mouths curled up into a smile. Finally, the wanker king would get his well-deserved humiliation, and the condescending people of Maren would—

Boooom!!!

There was a deafening explosion. The black spear had split the giant’s shield into dozens of pieces, then continued on to destroy the armor of the knight known as the strongest man in the Cortes Countdom before penetrating that same man’s shoulder.

1. Here, the knight’s name is written in Korean as the English word ‘rose’, while his title, the “Rose Knight,” is written as the word rose in Korean. ☜