Episode 414
For a moment, a dumbfounded silence fell, inappropriate to the current situation.
I almost picked my ear hole out of habit, but then realized that I was a loser and stopped myself.
Did he sense this somewhat awkward silence?
Delak opened his mouth.
“Your coming here means that the outside situation has also changed. Whether it’s positive or negative – there’s no need to kill them anymore. Isn’t that right?”
“…That’s true, though.”
I am not the only one who has the intuition to deduce a situation based on given clues.
Just as I had guessed what was going on when I returned from seeing the scenery of this underground cave, Delak must have realized something just by the fact that I was here.
But somehow I felt like I had been robbed of my player, so I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.
“Then unnecessary arguments between us would be a waste of time. However… … .”
Delak, who had been speaking in an unusually fast tone, as if making an excuse, paused for a moment at this point.
“However, due to my position, I cannot easily accept your opinion. I have already mentioned their deaths, and I need to take the minimum procedure to take back what I have said.”
“Minimum steps?”
“Take up your sword.”
“… … .”
As expected, I thought it wouldn’t be easy.
In fact, if Delak had come out like that, the situation would have been much worse for me… … .
Rather, I felt relieved.
It was because of the somewhat twisted idea that certain hostility was better than uncertain goodwill.
“Luzard. You don’t have to do that.”
Then a heavy voice was heard from behind.
Stonegan.
I had gotten used to reading the expressions on the faces of the rocks, so I could tell that this guy was worried about me.
“Fighting the Iron Blood Lord is a life-threatening affair. Even if the author has his hands full… … . There is no need for you to fight like that.”
“Don’t treat me like an outsider. I’m also of a different race. If we continue like this, the Iron Blood will kill us all anyway… …. Here, my fighting is the only way for us to survive.”
“… … .”
Stonegan hesitated for a moment, then closed his mouth as if he had nothing to say in rebuttal.
After finishing speaking, I just glanced around to dismiss my complaints and worries, and only then did I stand in front of Delak.
As it turned out, I ended up competing with this gentleman again.
If there is anything slightly questionable… … .
What is the standard for the ‘minimum procedure’ mentioned by Delak?
‘In my current state, a short-term battle is the answer.’
Since it wasn’t a life or death issue in the first place, it could end quickly.
Surely he wouldn’t kill or cripple his youngest sibling, whom he treasures so dearly…
Even if you are a heartless person, I believe that you still have affection for your blood relatives. Please.
I opened my mouth while taking the jockey’s seat and pulling out Myungryong-ah.
“How can I prove it?”
“Do your best.”
It was a somewhat odd response, but I guessed the meaning and nodded.
One thing that was a bit bothersome was that I didn’t feel any particular fighting spirit from Delak who was holding the sword… … .
In the first place, he is a gentleman who is used to erasing his presence, so I guess that is how he feels.
“I’ll take the lead.”
Anyway, since there was nothing more to measure, I immediately closed the distance with Delak.
A sword in Delak’s hand.
The simple design of the sword, without any distinctive patterns or decorations, feels somewhat refreshing today.
Is it because I now know the origin of that weapon?
‘Michael the Sword.’
One of the decisive weapons in demon hunting.
As a bare-handed martial artist, there were times when I thought relying on weapons was weak… … .
Maybe it’s because I had a lot of fun with Onmyoji in the fight right before. It’s a bit different now.
The idea that there are impurities in cultivating one’s ignorance still persists.
However, it is different when the condition changes to survival.
The devil, or the demon lord.
To fight against those incomprehensible monsters, we too must use any means necessary.
Kaang!
Even though Michael is a sword, his strength is not inferior to that of Vulcan’s divine weapon, the Mingryonga.
Considering the exceptional durability or regenerative power of Verita’s eyes, it would be difficult for even Mingryong-ah to break that sword…
It means that there is no way you will be pushed back in a head-on confrontation.
I continued to attack somewhat recklessly, and Delak stood there and defended against all of my attacks.
At home, and coming to the south… … .
I had quite a few sparring matches with Delak.
At first, he was a human who could somehow stick together, but as the sparring continued, he grew at an incredible rate.
Is it regression rather than growth?
Anyway, the strength that had soared like that didn’t stop even while I was rolling around in the workhouse.
It seemed to have now risen to a level so dizzying that I could hardly look up.
Delak had finally regained his strength as an iron-blooded warrior.
Squeak.
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The blade curved like a snake.
How is such skill possible when it’s not even a curve?
There are probably dozens of different types of swords that Delak can wield.
Of course, the basic strong sword, quick sword, and medium sword are all there, but the proficiency in sharp sword or sharp sword is probably greater than that of a master who has practiced only that sword his entire life.
So at some point, I no longer had the luxury of attacking and I was forced to focus solely on evasion.
With his hardened body, he somehow twists his flesh and manages to slash Delak’s blade with a difference of just a sheet of paper.
But after this fight lasted another minute or so, I realized that things were going a bit strange.
‘what?’
At first I thought I was doing a good job of avoiding it.
Even though his body is a mess, he is able to put up a tense stand against Delak, who has lost all his strength…
But that wasn’t it.
In a fight with such a strong opponent, there are times when the thought of ‘I’ve been defeated’ suddenly crosses my mind.
Is this a fatal mistake that makes your heart sink and your spine shiver the moment you make it?
In my defense, the problem was Luzard’s body.
I thought I had adapted quite well, but as I continued to engage in close combat with a top-class player in an extreme situation, my body started to creak as if it was broken.
Mistakes made because of it.
The right hand that was reflexively extended contained the secret of Baekilsik, but the point of impact was mistaken.
Because there was a difference in the reach of Luzard and Luan.
Of course, Delak could not have missed this loophole.
After lightly dodging the sharp blow, a pure white flash of light appeared.
The moment I felt an eerie murderous feeling that my arm might get cut.
Fit.
This time too, only a slight scratch was left on the scales.
‘what are you doing?’
Are you underestimating me?
Or is this also some kind of punishment?
An uneasy feeling stirred between my heart and my throat.
I’d rather get cursed at and beaten than be ignored like this, like tap dancing on my sore spot.
When you start to feel feverish all the way to your head… … .
I realized that my thinking was a misunderstanding.
“damn…….”
The swear words that suddenly came out were not mine.
A prisoner standing a little way away. He came out among the bystanders who could do nothing but watch.
Did that swearing open the floodgates?
“…cheer up.”
The muttering became encouragement.
“cheer up……!”
The cheers became shouts.
“Cheer up! Cheer up, Luzard… … !”
It wasn’t long before the shouts became passionate cheers.
Only then was I able to observe the current situation from a slightly backed up position with a bewildered expression.
My skin scales were cut, and I was suddenly covered in blood, struggling desperately.
A mere lizardman, in order to save a prisoner of a different race who is treated as trash by the Empire, is fighting against the Iron Blooded Sword, also known as the Emperor’s Sword, without backing down, even with his whole body covered in blood.
however.
‘No. It’s not that bad… … ?’
My current condition may seem like it would be strange if I collapsed at any moment, but in reality it’s not like that.
As I said, Delak’s precise swordsmanship only slightly cut through the skin scales, causing blood to flow.
Especially for someone with excellent regenerative powers, even if I practice for just one day under the sun, it will disappear without even leaving a scar.
‘Surely not this gentleman… … .’
Only then did I realize Delak’s intentions and feel disappointed, but it wasn’t easy to accept this fact.
Really? Really? That Iron Blooded Man?
As the battle continued with questions, a weak point was discovered in Delak.
Although this was probably an intentional gap and would have been a warning sign, at this moment Delak’s chin was faintly visible shaking.
I immediately raised Myeongryong-ah and Delak pulled Michael in to defend as if he had been waiting.
Kyaang!
The sound of metal rubbing against metal.
And then the sword Michael flew through the air and crashed into the ground.
“Ugh… … .”
Delak frowned and took a step back.
The bursting sound suddenly stopped.
The strange heat that the prisoners had been radiating also disappeared for this moment.
“… … .”
“… … .”
After a brief exchange of glances between me and Delak, Delak grabbed my wrist and spoke in a different tone.
“Tell me your name again.”
“… Luzard.”
“Luzard. You will be the first and last person in this empire to disobey me twice.”
“… … ”
“Once a word is spoken, it is like an outstretched sword. It is not easy to take it back, but it can be struck down with another sword of equal power. You have proven your worthiness to disobey with swordsmanship that is no less than my assertion.”
Delak nodded, seemingly satisfied, and disappeared without saying a word of farewell.
Michael, who had been blown away, had also disappeared.
It was a secret exit that was hard to believe even though I saw it with my own two eyes.
Meanwhile, I stood there dumbfounded, not knowing how to react to this father’s first-ever awkward performance.
“Waaa …
It’s a surprise.
What brought my spirit back to me was the cheers that had been suppressed for so long.
“Luzard hit the Iron Blooded One!”
“I believed in you!”
“This is the victory of our different race!”
“You idiot! There are humans here too!”
“Of course! I survived! I survived! Hahahaha!”
“Luzard! Luzard! Luzard!”
“Mom! When I grow up, I want to be a Luzard!”
“… … .”
No, that’s not it, you idiots.
I stood there for a moment, dumbfounded.
* * *
It wasn’t my job to calm down the excited prisoners.
Kurururur… … !
Immediately afterwards, another unusual earthquake occurred outside.
I opened my mouth at the moment when those who had been cheering closed their mouths at the same time.
“The current situation outside is not good.”
As I watched the crowd of prisoners, whose heat was quickly dissipating, I took in the sights I had witnessed on my way here.
“Earthquakes occur intermittently but without stopping, and the number of monsters that appear together is at least in the thousands. The only consolation is that they do not have any musical instruments. However, that does not mean that the level of the monsters that appear is low.”
The leader of the expedition, the boar Suin, was named Quaven?
Anyway, this guy asked.
“What’s the situation at the headquarters of the labor camp? Do you have any idea?”
“We assessed the situation and requested reinforcements from outside. The troops stationed here also participated in suppressing the monsters, but it won’t be very effective.”
I looked around and said.
“Of course, it’s natural since the experts in monster subjugation were our prisoners, not them.”
“… … .”
“Now you have two choices. One is to stay here and hide until the situation is over.”
Their physical condition is not good either.
I don’t know for sure, but it seemed like they suffered a lot of damage in the process of subduing the monster in the basement.
“The other one?”
“It’s a foolish and stupid thing to do. To abandon this relatively safe place and go outside, risking your life to subdue monsters. Sometimes you might even save the guards who persecuted you.”
“… … .”
“The choice is yours.”
As I spoke, my tone became a bit harsh, but there was nothing I could do about it.
It would be convenient for me if these guys joined, but I can’t force them. I have no means of controlling them.
Only voluntary will is required.
There these guys have already fought and won, risking their lives.
It is impossible to force those who are not even healthy themselves to risk death once again.
But Quaven asked a rather unexpected question.
“What are you going to do?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Luzard, you are.”
I felt that the one who had asked the question, as well as all the other prisoners, were looking at me with a strange longing.
I open my mouth, feeling a strange sense of burden.
“I’m going out.”
“why……?”
I was too lazy to explain everything one by one, so I just gave a vague answer.
“Because that place still needs me.”
“… … !”
At that moment, the entire bodies of the prisoners surrounding me trembled as if an electric current was running through them.
Some even staggered, calling out the name of the god they believed in.
What’s wrong with these kids?
