Chapter 98 - Barbarian Trophy (5)

Unfortunately, my opponent in the semifinals wasn't the last of the three knight stooges. The remaining one had lost in the second round, giving off every indication that he'd done so deliberately, for some reason.

'So one of them missed out on physical therapy after all.'

Anyway, since I no longer had any reason to aim for the head, I smashed my opponent's sword with my double-bladed axe as soon as the duel began. But perhaps he simply couldn't bear to lose to a barbarian.

"N-not yet!"

Even after losing his sword, he showed his determination to continue the duel bare-handed. So I threw away my axe as well, charged him, and snapped his spine.

"Th-the winner is Bjorn Jandel of Baron Martoin's Family!"

It was a bloodless victory, but the crowd's reaction wasn't bad.

"Waaaaaah!!"

"Knight Crusher! Little Valcan! Bjorn, son of Jandel!!"

Apparently, even these people found the sight of a man being folded in half quite stimulating. The baron's opinion wasn't much different. As soon as I returned to the tent, he greeted me with wide eyes and a question.

"My friend, do you realize? That gave me goose bumps! Throwing a man into the air and catching him on your knee! Where did you learn a technique like that?"

Well, if I had to answer, I'd seen it in a comic once. Though I'd only learned today that it was physically possible. Nothing really was impossible for a barbarian.

"I'll rest a little until the next match."

"Hmm? Ah, of course."

Having excused myself to the baron, I closed my eyes for a while. Not because I was sleepy or anything...

'Just one more to go now?'

With the finish line in sight, my heart began to race.

* * *

The long-awaited final began.

"Sir Albatross of Count Ferdehilt's house and Bjorn Jandel of Baron Martoin's Family, take your positions!"

My opponent was an apprentice knight serving Count Ferdehilt, the banquet's host and the man who'd suggested I enter the tournament. The aftermath might be another matter, but I wasn't particularly worried about the duel itself. I'd already sized him up while watching his earlier matches.

"A pleasure to meet you."

The hulking knight greeted me briefly, an enormous greatsword in hand. I gave a faint chuckle at the sight of him.

'I think I have an idea what sort of man the count is.'

Knights were different from explorers. To them, Essences were merely tools to support their swordsmanship. That meant most chose Essences related to Physical stats, but the combinations differed from house to house. Systematic research had established a few efficient combinations as standard builds, but every character needed a theme.

'Orc Great Warrior, Giant Golem, and Cyclops...'

My opponent was a textbook Strength knight.

Perhaps because he could count on priests, he'd prioritized Physical Resistance over regeneration. Taking advantage of his high Strength, he'd equipped a full suit of armor made from raitinium, a tier-two material. He was essentially a walking tank.

'He's blown a shitload of money on an apprentice knight.'

Even as I guessed at the count's tastes, his wealth amazed me all over again.

One grade-seven Essence and two grade-sixes. He must have bought bottled Essences and had the knight absorb them. How much had that cost?

'Add in his equipment, and he's practically leagues above a third-floor explorer.'

It suddenly occurred to me that the count might never have considered the possibility of my winning. That was how far this guy stood above the rest. Most of the contestants were Level 2, with nothing better than grade-seven Essences.

"Where have you left your equipment? Why are you unarmored?"

Anyway, just before the duel began, as we stood with our weapons touching, my opponent asked me a question. Unlike in my previous duels, I'd come up with nothing but an axe, and he apparently found that odd. I answered briefly.

"It was uncomfortable."

That was the truth, not some gratuitous insult. The plate boots that were nothing but dead weight, the ridiculously ornate helmet, the belt, the shoulder pads, and so on. Never mind that I couldn't expect much protection from them—at the very least, they shouldn't get in the way of moving.

"I see. Yes, it would be difficult to fight as you usually do wearing such things."

Fortunately, he took my words without twisting their meaning. But that was all.

"I was worried this would end too easily, but it's a relief to see you intend to take it seriously."

That relaxed expression and tone were surely a sign of his confidence that he would win no matter what I did. I felt no particular need to prolong the conversation.

"Glad to hear it."

If my opponent wanted to let his guard down, I could only welcome it.

I smoothly drew my weapon away and backed off. My opponent did the same. When we were about fifteen meters apart, the referee raised his flag. We were now free to attack.

"Come."

My opponent assumed his opening stance and gestured with his sword. Looking at him, I could almost picture the scenario he was hoping for.

A barbarian who'd displayed such overwhelming might that he'd earned a new title: Knight Crusher. A true knight, defeating that barbarian with grace and dignity. The cheers of the crowd and recognition from his lord. A rosy future stretching out before him like a smooth, open road.

I smirked. I could feel just how easy this guy's life had been. Whether my guess was right or not, if you wanted something, you had to be more desperate than that. You always had to consider the opposite of how well things might go if everything worked out.

'Still, seeing how careless he's being, I'm glad I kept it hidden until the end.'

In this tournament hosted by the count...

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!"

I used that combo for the first time.

* * *

「The character has cast [Gigantification].」

「The character's body grows larger, increasing the Threat stat and Physical stats in proportion to size.」

「The character has used [Wild Outburst].」

「The character's Threat stat temporarily triples, increasing Physical stats in proportion to that value.」

* * *

[Gigantification] and [Wild Outburst]. Using these two skills together raised my Threat stat to an absurd degree. And in proportion, my Physical stats skyrocketed too. There was the drawback that [Wild Outburst] lasted only thirty seconds... but so what? At least for those thirty seconds, I could enjoy one hell of a power trip.

'Though I didn't expect it to end this anticlimactically.'

Was it a side effect of raising my Threat stat too high? Competitive spirit or no competitive spirit, the Threat stat worked regardless of its target's personality.

"Uh, uh, uh..."

It inflicted overwhelming terror on the enemy.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Even as I charged with the thunderous footsteps of a giant monster, the knight stood frozen, too stunned to move. But just as I was about to bring my axe down...

"E-eek!"

He rolled across the floor to dodge, then scrambled away. But there was no way he could keep running forever on this tiny platform.

As deftly as if I were playing a boxing game, I cornered him and reached out to grab him. That was when it happened.

"R-ring out!"

He fled right off the platform, ending the final without so much as a proper fight.

'Well, I appreciate how easy that was...'

The crowd's response was icy. Fortunately, none of the criticism was directed at me, but vicious boos rained down on the knight for his dishonorable display.

"N-no, I didn't mean to... A-again... I can do it if we try again!"

Apparently having belatedly regained his senses, he climbed back onto the dueling platform, but he might as well have been fondling his dead son's balls for all the good it would do.

"How much further do you intend to disgrace me?"

He'd been demanding that the referee reverse the decision, but at the count's cold words, his head drooped.

"The winner is Bjorn Jandel of Baron Martoin's Family!"

Tsk. Maybe I shouldn't have used [Gigantification]. The thought came to me belatedly. I'd won easily in the end, but even I felt uncomfortable with how it had happened.

'And somehow I seem to have offended the count too...'

For someone more concerned about the aftermath than winning the tournament, that wasn't good news. To think that hiding my full strength until the very end to eliminate even the smallest complication would create this one.

'Fuck, I never imagined he'd run right off the platform like that.'

Whew. He wasn't going to retaliate over this, was he?

I was worried, but the count merely laughed heartily as he came up onto the platform himself to present me with the prize necklace and trophy.

"Haha! You made quite an impression today."

Unable to reach my shoulder, the count patted my forearm encouragingly. I couldn't tell whether he genuinely bore no grudge or was merely acting. As I watched him uncertainly, trying to gauge his mood, he murmured so that only I could hear.

"I'll summon you separately when you're more prepared."

"... Summon me?"

"You needn't know the details. Until then, simply ignore any summons from other nobles. Understood?"

I didn't understand what he meant, but I nodded for now. I could read the room that much, at least.

'What a murderous look...'

He looked ready to do something drastic if I refused.

Anyway, the award ceremony brought the long banquet to an end. Plenty of people intended to stay and enjoy themselves until dawn, but Baron Martoin wasn't one of them.

"I'm tired. Let us be on our way."

I returned to the mansion with the same party we'd arrived with, reclaimed all my equipment, and received my promised payment.

"You worked very hard today. Your name and my family's will surely be the talk of society for months to come. So if you encounter any trouble, don't hesitate to come to me."

The baron seemed quite taken with me, to say something like that, even if it was only lip service.

'Well, after everything I did, he has good reason to be pleased.'

"Off you go, then. I'm tired as well. I've had a carriage prepared, so you may take it home."

"Thanks!"

By the time I left the imperial capital of Carnon and returned to my lodgings in Lavigion, it was past two in the morning. After everything that had happened in a single day, I was exhausted in both body and mind, but...

'Shall we get started?'

I sat at the table instead of getting into bed and began the final tally.

One million Stones for the initially promised fee. Two million Stones for entering the tournament. Another million Stones promised for winning. Three hundred thousand Stones as thanks for handing the winner's trophy over to the baron.

'A total of 4.3 million Stones in cash.'

Was it because my client was a wealthy noble? I'd earned a sum so enormous it was hard to believe it was a single day's pay. And that wasn't even all.

Never mind my new nickname, Knight Crusher.

'I never thought I'd get this so early...'

No.7777, Garpas' Necklace.

I'd obtained an item that, with bad luck, you might never get no matter how much you ground for it in the late game. Of course, awakening its hidden piece would consume an enormous amount of resources... but there was no denying this was incredible luck.

And so I renewed my resolve.

'How many stacks of good luck have I built up already?'

From now on, I'd have to be careful even when breathing.

* * *

The morning after the banquet, one mystery was solved. At least halfway.

'What's with all these letters...?'

The moment I got up, mail began arriving nonstop. Every letter was from a noble, asking whether I would attend a banquet they were hosting. They also included promises of a "modest payment" for attending. They called it modest, but the amounts made me think I could live comfortably for the rest of my life doing nothing else...

'So this is what the count meant.'

I still had no idea what he'd meant about summoning me when I was ready. But this was surely what he'd been referring to when he told me to ignore other nobles' summons.

'Whew. How much gold am I losing out on?'

I sent replies declining them all. If I simply ignored them without a word, those proud nobles might retaliate. But accepting seemed likely to earn the count's wrath.

'What the hell is the count thinking?'

Honestly, he scared me most of all. He'd been consistently friendly toward me, but men like that tended to fly off the handle the instant something displeased them. His unclear motives bothered me in the first place. What reason would a count have to take an interest in a mere barbarian explorer?

'Next time the community opens, I'll look into the count too.'

Fixing that new quest in my mind, I hurriedly finished getting ready and headed to the Magic Tower.

'This is the last month of the regular research sessions, too.'

The three months I'd promised Raven were already drawing to a close. Though my visit today had nothing to do with that.

"Oh, you're here?"

When I arrived at Raven's private laboratory, she greeted me looking fully functional despite the early hour, for once.

"So where is this senior of yours whose research I'm supposed to help with today?"

"Well, um..."

Raven trailed off. That alone gave me a bad feeling. Then it happened.

"It's been a while."

A white-haired old man popped out from behind the door as if he'd been waiting for his cue. The master of the Altemion School. Commonly known as "the old man."

"Whew..."

No further explanation was offered, but I understood the situation instantly.

"I'm quite sure you told me it was a 'senior.'"

"I'm sorry. My master was so insistent..."

Right. So he'd forced her to change it. When I glanced his way, the old man broke into a benevolent laugh.

"Hoho, don't be so nervous. It's hardly a grand experiment."

I'd be the judge of that once I heard it. I gave him a look telling him to explain, and he spoke in a meaningful tone.

"It's an experiment to determine whether a magical device I've created can distinguish an evil spirit's soul!"

No, fuck.

What the hell was this now?