Ch. 146: The Knights and the Wizard
“So you must be Igni! We’ll be at your service!!”
The Captain of the Knights, though Igni expected a gruff, burly man, was actually a friendly looking gentleman.
“I’ve heard your tales. You apparently saved the Lady Saint at the Principality, right?”
Igni: “Yes.”
“And on top of that, you captured a [Transgressor]. And you’re also good friends with her Imperial Highness, Lady Alicia, so we’re looking forward to seeing what you do in the future!”
And the Captain of the Knights patted Igni’s back gruffly.
Igni: (I wonder what he expects me to do in the future?)
And Igni tilted his head to wonder if the Captain was implying something other than strength, but as soon as he saw the young Knight with the huge smile on his face stand in front of him, the thought disappeared.
“I heard that you are incredibly strong. Is that right?” Igni: “Yes, I am strong.” “Then let’s have a good match!”
Igni: (………why……is everyone here smiling so much….?)
Igni glanced towards Alicia’s way looking for an explanation, and she only shrugged before she answered.
Alicia: “Igni, you know that ‘the strong govern the weak’ in the Empire, right?” Igni: “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told.”
Alicia: “In other words, being strong gives you higher status.”
Igni: “And how does that connect to what we’re doing now?”
Alicia: “Can’t you see? If you fight someone strong, you can get stronger too, right?” Igni: “Ohhhh, I see now…….”
Igni: (So are their only battle-hungry, fight junkies within the Knights?)
“Igni, c’mon! Let’s start the match! Let’s start it right now!!”
And the person yelling out ecstatically was the newest recruit of the Knights.
He will be Igni’s opponent.
Igni: (Looking at him being so excited, it reminds me of Miss Miko……)
ーーwas the thought that crossed Igni’s mind as he stepped into the practice field.
The practice field here was slightly larger than the one at the Rolmod Wizard’s Academy.
This is not a field that students would use, but fully grown men and women.
Igni: (These are men who have honed their skills in [Fighting] and not Spells. Let’s see what they can do.)
Igni begins to concentrate on the match and switches his mind to combat mode.
“Then, begin!”
The Captain of the Knights signaled the beginning of the match, and Igni immediately stepped back.
At the same time, the Knight had already stepped in, and swung down his sword where Igni was a moment ago.
To defeat a Wizard, you just need to knock them out before they can use their incantations.
That is how you fight a Wizard, and thus, Igni <was expecting that> just now.
Igni: “........(exhale)”
With a short breath, he created 5 {Fireballs} around him and pointed it at the new Knight.
Igni: “[Launch] {Fire}.”
He shot the fireballs!!
“Sey!!” (*yell)
But the new Knight yelled and with a sword enchanted with his magic, he deflected all five of Igni’s fireballs.
“Is that all you have, Igni!?”
Igni: “Of course not.” <DODOH!!> (*sfx)
And the deflected fireballs strike the ground and explode.
Explosive wind and fire engulf the practice field.
Igni: “[Equip Flame] {Ignition}!”
And Igni produces one {Fireball}.
Its colors turn from red to blue.
As more magic is poured into it, the colors shifted, and no fighter would have missed such an obvious change.
The new Knight stomped hard as he stepped forward, and the wind and flames around him were blown away as he dashed forward.
Igni: “The weakness of a swordsman is that their range is short.”
What Igni spoke of is a weakness that every swordsman carries.
Putting aside the monster, the [Extreme] of [Sword], who can reach anything she can perceive with her senses, this is a law of physics that limits every swordsman.
So Igni purposefully invited the Knight to charge.
As the Knight tried to slice with the wooden sword, Igni directed the fireball ready to fire at the new Knight’s chest andーー
Igni: “[Launch] {Fire}”
<DON!!> (*sfx)
An explosive sound erupted as he fired the {Fireball} and the new Knight’s body flew backwards.
“Oーーuch!! That was an amazing {Fireball}, Igni!!”
Igni thought the match would be over with that, so it caught him by surprise to see the Knight stand up.
But these Knights are famous for being able to take many hits.
With their amazing stamina and ability to withstand blows, they are the citizen’s shields.
Igni: “.........you can stand even after taking this?” “Yeah!!”
Igni: “Impressive. [Equip Flame] {Ignition} : [Anti-Armor] {Pierce}.”
Igni: (Then I’ll just have to hit him with something even harder.)
Before Igni, a fireball that was bigger than the one before appeared, and the new Knight caught on quickly to Igni’s intentions and began instantly closing in the distance.
“Sh!!” (*exhale)
And as he blew a short breath out, he drew and swung his sword.
But Igni was no longer on the ground.
[Equip Flame] {Accel Boot}.
By creating thousands of fireballs underneath his feet, he is able to float up into the air, and he looks down to strike the Knight from above.
Seeing how his sword cut just air, the Knight looked and for an instance, he crossed gazes with Igni.
Igni: “[Launch] {Fire}!”
<KYUDO!!!> (*sfx)
He fired the cannon ball that squealed as its outer perimeter rubbed against the air.
The new Knight tried to block it with his sword, but the sword was easily demolished as the fireball struck the Knight.
The Knight was unable to stay conscious after the impact.
Igni: “Good!”
Igni landed on the ground after a moment. The Healing Team who was on the sidelines on standby began treating the Knight’s wounds.
But even then, he had a slight burn, and no other noticeable injury.
Igni had gotten used to going easy when fighting against another human opponent.
“Well done! That was marvelous, Igni!!”
The Captain of the Knights walked towards Igni who defeated one of his subordinates in an instant.
Now, he seemed to be even more excited than before.
“You’re strong! Yes! Very strong!!”
Igni: (Why are all the Knights of the Empire so loud when they speak…….?)
“Such strength at such a young age! I envy you!!”
The Captain continued to smile broadly though Igni just knocked out one of his subordinates.
Igni: (Am I the only one who is creeped out by these guys?)
The thought briefly crossed Igni’s mind.
Igni: “Was that enough?” “Yes! That was more than enough! Let us get the horse carriage ready.”
Igni: “Hm? Did you say horse carriage?” Igni: (It’s not a Dragon Carriage?)
Igni found that strange whenーー
“Dragons’ are weak to cold temperatures! Besides, they won’t move when there is a stronger Dragon around!!”
ーーis what the Captain of the Knights told Igni.
Igni was a little shocked at the simple weakness the Dragon Carriages had.
Sebastian: “Sir Igni, it is about your reward.”
Igni: “Hm? Reward?”
With a very cheerful smile, Sebastian walked over to Igni.
Sebastian: “Yes, if it was known that we asked a foreigner to help us defeat a Dragon that descended upon our land, not compensating you would tarnish the name of the Empire.”
Igni: “............a reward, huh….”
Since it was a girl’s request…….and on top of that, Alicia’s request, Igni accepted it without ever thinking about a reward.
Sebastian: “Yes, is there anything in particular you desire…..?”
Sebastian asked, trying to dig out some information from Igni.
Igni: “What did you have in mind as a reward?” Sebastian: “Most commonly, it would be money.”
Igni: “Money, huh……”
Igni still carried a large some of the Tournament’s winnings still in his pocket.
So money did not entice him one bit.
Sebastian: “I see. So you have enough money at the moment. Hmmm, then what shall we do….?” Sebastian thought deeply for a moment.
But Igni mumbled quietly….
Igni: “.......beast girl.” Sebastian’s ear flinched ever so slightly.
Igni: “A girl, soft and fluffy.”
And as soon as Igni’s mumbling continued, Sebastian reached out his hand.
Sebastian: “Yes, please leave everything to this old fellow.”
The exceptional butler smiled warmly as he puffed his chest out with confidence.
