The Imperial knights and Seran were confronting each other.
There were only eight Imperial Knights left standing, Seran had already slain more than twenty of them in total.
Leaving the start aside, after what happened, the difference in skill was as clear as night and day.
Those slashes were sharp and were aimed with precision at vital points, even if they tried to block or dodge them, they just didn’t have enough skill.
No matter how strong he was, he was up against thirty of the country’s strongest elites; in the beginning it was going smoothly, but after the knights had recovered themselves, they built up their formations and attacked him with superior numbers.
(As expected of the Imperial knights, they have a lot of tenacity. Their eyes are still alive…)
“What a hassle.”
Seran said without any power.
“Let’s end it around here.”
One of the surviving knights said, with a questioning look.
“I already said it at the beginning, my job was to slow you down. My objective isn’t to slaughter all of you. The horses are gone and some time has passed, you don’t have any way to go after the princess anymore…….. in other words, I don’t have any reason left to fight anymore.”
This surprised the knights, normally, this would’ve been the perfect chance to cut him down, but they couldn’t imagine the image of him being cut down by them, the only thing they could see was them being cut down in reverse.
“Of course, if you guys want to continue it’s a different case, but you should’ve understood the difference in power. If you guys will run away, then I won’t follow.”
Because of Seran their mission had already failed, it wouldn’t make any sense to die now.
“If you’re going to make a choice, do it quickly. That vice-captain is barely alive, and if you’re quick, you could end up saving more guys. I have some magic medicine that can heal them, but as one would expect, I don’t have any reason to share them with you.”
Seran who had taken some distance, leaned against a tree in the forest and drank some magic medicine that he had taken out.
The knights should have come to a decision after looking at each other.
While they were doing that they let their guard down, because when they looked at Seran, they saw that he was doing nothing and didn’t seem to follow them at all.
After gaining some distance, when all the knights were behind him, he started running towards Acken —– as he ran without a sound, Seran took his last magic stone and threw it from behind at the knights.
The knights were blown up by the explosion, and Seran, instead of running away, gave the finishing blow to those who were still alive.
“Sorry, but I never planned to let any of you get away in the first place. Because one or two of you would have run away for your dear lives, I had to put up an act.”
It would’ve been a hassle if it came to that, Seran said, while giving the final strike to the vice-captain, who was kept barely alive for this reason.
“You guys found out about the treasure in the Sangurd mountain range. That treasure is one of Kail’s important lifelines, there was a small chance that you’d leak this.”
If Lize was here, then she’d retort with: “No, but aren’t you the one who talked about it”, but Seran was totally serious.
Having them let their guard down a little by talking about the treasure, and silencing them for the reason of knowing about it, was a necessity, and came only natural to Seran.
“Fu~~……. I’m tired.”
Even for Seran it’s dangerous to fight against thirty Imperial knights, the magic medicine may have healed his wounds and stamina, but he was still mentally exhausted.
“I somehow managed on this side, so you guys better do your best too.”
Seran muttered, while looking in the direction of Acken.
In an Inn’s room within Acken, Zentos was looking at the card that was supposed to show the regular report.
Even if the vice-captain were to die, there were replacements – if there was no report anymore, then that would mean that there was no one to replace him with left.
His face was emotionless as always, but his clenched fist was trembling.
When he left his room, he gave instructions to his subordinate Imperial knights.
“All of you protect his highness, don’t let anyone come through until I return.”
Not even giving them time to rebuke, Zentos rode his favorite horse and left Acken.
Kail and the others had almost reached the exit of the forest.
‘Only a little more’, just when they were thinking that, Sildonia reports something.
[Hey Kail, a knight is coming this way.]
“No it’s only one and……hey!?]
Sildonia raises her voice in surprise.
“What happened?”
【Energy Blade】is a low level attack with a low attack power that can hit enemies from afar, because of its cost and range it’s a regularly used attack magic.
“I see, attacking without a warning against a bird that was showing strange movements… Also being able to control magic from a distance, and he’s come alone….. it can only be him.”
So he really did come, Kail let out a big sigh.
“I wished from the depths of my heart that he wouldn’t come, but it wouldn’t go that easily it seems.”
Despite not wanting to fight him, there was no other choice than to meet him.
Kail stops the Sleipnirs and gives everyone instructions.
“But…… will you be alright Kail?”
Lize said anxiously to Kail’s words, which didn’t have any nervousness in them until now.
“….. The only thing I can say for certain is, I’d have an easier time fighting that Hydra or those thirty Imperial knights.”
Princess Mirena probably guessed it from all that, and makes a harsh face.
“He is Jirgs’s greatest knight. Are you saying that you will fight him on your own?”
Kail already knew that himself.
“I also wanted to avoid that, however, there are no other options available. Don’t worry, I’m not going to try the impossible.”
‘Please rest assured’, saying that much, Kail left everyone and started walking again.
After distancing himself from Lize and the others, Kail stood in the middle of the road with a Niōdachi stance, a single cavalry unit ran towards him at breakneck speed.
When he noticed Kail, taking into account that it may be a trap, he dismounted from his horse and moved forward.
Zentos, who dismounted, was coming closer, if he takes another step, the battle will probably begin, but Kail began to talk to him at the last second.
“So you are the traveller that helped out princess Mirena?……. I see, it seems like you’re pretty skilled.”
Zentos strengthened his vigilance. ‘One more step’, Kail had a clear understanding of his attack range.
“Well I expected as much…… but why are you alone? Shouldn’t there still be around 10 knights on your side?”
Zentos had enough confidence and skill to say that he could kill everyone on his own.
“I see, I’m sorry, but most of the knights that came after us were about to be annihilated. And saying something like that is, well…… if it’s possible, can’t you surrender? I don’t want to let you die, nor do I want to kill you.”
Zentos raises his eyebrows.
He never thought that in such a straight way, he would be asked by a man at least ten years younger than him to surrender.
“Certainly, with these charges you may be sentenced to capital punishment, princess Mirena promised me a reward, and I can use that to ask her that you be let free. Of course, that is only if you accept some conditions.”
Because he understood that Kail was speaking the truth.
He was earnestly trying to save him, the one who wanted to falsely accuse them of killing the princess.
“I do not understand the reason, why would you try to save me?”
“…… I am happy that you think so highly of me, however, there is no way I can stop here.”
Kail sighed, but he had no other choice now.
“I just want to ask one more thing, why lend a hand in the princess’s assassination? At least, I know it isn’t for gold, and not for status either, right? And is Kalnas worth all of this?”
This was an answer I expected.
“…… Even so, wasn’t the plan full of holes? Right now it’s on the verge of falling apart, truth to be told, it was just sloppy.”
“Isn’t that a little too forceful? I think some guys will stay suspicious.”
Zentos draws his sword, and after saying that, more talking would just be useless.
“I cannot let you buy anymore time. I have to defeat you quickly and go after the princess.”
Kail draws his sword after saying that, this was the most time he could buy.
Kail was actually stalling for time.
But like this, it is only kill or be killed.
However, that ends here, Kail began to chant his magic.
And Zentos too, began to chant magic.
“【Haste】【Strength】!”
At almost the same time, they both cast self strengthening magic that raises their speed and power.
This is how a fight between Kail and Zentos, his teacher as a magic swordsman, began.