At that moment, Baron Paulo realized that he had stepped back, and his face turned red in shame. He was also a man who lived as a warrior until he took the position of Lord, so he couldn’t accept the fact that he was simply overwhelmed by force and resigned.
But even if Valhalla was a closed and racist nation, their attitude of accepting defeat in a battle wasn’t different.
“… I accept defeat. As promised, I will put other priorities aside and guide you directly to the capital.”
He had to hold back his anger. The order of his superior was out of the question. They had a duel with conditions, and if they lost, doing their part was the right outcome. Baron Paulo knew that.
Then the normal soldiers came forward to take away the Beast Men, who couldn’t come to their senses.
‘To defeat the Beast Men this mercilessly. Roman Dmitry, he might be more than what we know.’
In the upcoming fight, everyone was confident about Barbossa’s victory. No matter how famous Roman Dmitry had become recently, Barbossa had been on the lips of people on the continent for ten years. So they didn’t expect that Roman Dmitry would agree.
Valhalla revealed their intentions to get their revenge openly, yet Roman Dmitry didn’t back down.
A being with a tendency like Valhalla—it was odd. Being from a small nation, he was born with an odd disposition.
Baron Paulo said,
“First, we will guide all of you to a new accommodation. While you are comfortably resting there, we will figure out the schedule for the Warp Gate that connects directly to the capital and send you on your way as soon as possible. And I apologize for the mistake before. As Mr. Roman Dmitry said, Valhalla is a racist nation. However, if you knew about Valhalla’s past, I think you would understand us.”
A long time ago, during the days when Valhalla was called the ‘Savages of the South,’ there was a time when other people on the continent invaded Valhalla’s territories without rights and attacked them to get the resources of the southern jungle.
In reality, the fact that Valhalla was equipped with power was revealed, and the situation changed. Still, the memories of the pain accumulated in the memories of their ancestors left them with antipathy toward other nations.
As of now, even though the Valhalla imperial family is seeking drastic changes by accepting outsiders with talent, not everyone has agreed to it.
What did this national power mean?
Still, for Valhalla, the opinion of the common people who were ‘born in Valhalla’ was that they should be the ones to get nurtured into talented people rather than the ones outside.
Conservative forces that pursued their existence and progressive forces that wanted to change—that was the reality of Valhalla.
At the sight of Paulo walking forward with a changed attitude, Roman Dmitry didn’t say anything.
To end a grudge with victory and defeat—that was also the method of the Demonic Sect that Roman Dmitry was familiar with.
Baron Paulo was a man of many words and actions. He guided them to a lodging that was one hundred times better than the last one, where Roman ordered his men to rest.
In the large room, Roman Dmitry sat on the sofa and carefully organized his thoughts about the Valhalla Empire.
‘Valhalla, unlike Kronos, is a fairly fighting nation. While Kronos spoke of its ambition to conquer the nation, Valhalla seemed to be satisfied with the present state of the warriors forming its core. The problem is that the outside and the inside of the empire are different. Valhalla has similar ambitions to Kronos.’
In the past, Valhalla’s actions had made it clear. While they always seemed to be criticizing Kronos, they never once thought about stopping the wars that were happening all over the continent. They also hoped that other nations, except for Valhalla, would just crumble.
Actually, Valhalla’s ambition was obvious. Some people fantasized about the title of the nation’s warriors, but the so-called Savages of the South would need brains to defy the conspiracies before they could form an empire.
In fact, Valhalla seemed to be good at conspiracies. That was why they planted their own minion named Count Denver inside Cairo. Although they weren’t making any active moves toward conquering the continent, they were always looking for opportunities.
And with just one look, Roman could tell. To avenge Count Denver, they chose a very clever way to invite him to a fight instead of assassinating him.
‘Valhalla chose a way to rile me up before going onto the stage. If I defeat Barbossa, will the outcome be accepted? Maybe the conservative forces, but the progressive forces leading Valhalla might not. In the end, whatever the outcome, moving inside Valhalla is bound to be risky.’
The moment he set foot in Paulo, he was closer to danger. This was a place of death, and from now on, anything could happen.
For the empires, those with power didn’t need any excuses. Even if people criticized them for harming Roman Dmitry, it would fade over time.
‘Just like in my previous life.’
The life of the weak. He was used to it. The man named Baek Joong-hyuk took a risk in an environment worse than now to gain power.
So it didn’t matter what Valhalla meant.
The more they responded, the finale, which brought the end, would inevitably shine more brightly.
On the next day, Baron Paulo sent someone.
“I am Sanchez. I will guide you to the capital.”
It was a man in his mid-30s. With sun-tanned skin and his hair tied back, he told them that they had to move to a nearby city with a Warp Gate.
All the members of Roman’s party were prepared, and they followed Sanchez to Paulo. Soon, the atmosphere of a natural conversation began on the boring path.
“I have heard rumors about Mr. Roman Dmitry. It is said that when you defeated Butler, the Ranker, you were just in your mid-20s, and when you defeated Count Nicholas, the entirety of Cairo turned into a mess as you went up in order starting from the 100th rank. I felt so much admiration when such a story came up. Even though I was born in Valhalla, it feels like you are a warrior from Valhalla’s history.”
He was a talkative man. He showed respect at first, but as the travel time got longer, he began to touch on sensitive topics.
“… But is it true that you defeated Knight Gustavo alone? I am asking this since rumors are always exaggerated, so I don’t really believe what people say. And the man we are talking about is Knight Gustavo. In a situation where the soldiers of the Kronos Empire were swarming, would it make sense for you to be able to cut through the crowd and kill one knight? Well, in the absurd stories in history books, a single swordsman splits the ground and cuts down the sky, but isn’t Roman Dmitry human?”
He was speaking in an odd manner, as if in a roundabout way. At the remarks that continued to come, Chris’s expression began to change.
“Be careful with your words.”
“It is fine. Did you say it was Sanchez? It looks like you have something to say, so get straight to the point.”
At Roman’s words, Chris suppressed his anger. In the nation of Valhalla, from start to finish, no courtesy towards their guests could be found.
Sanchez grinned. In the first place, Roman Dmitry’s guide was brought by someone else, but he inevitably decided to act on his own.
“I will be honest with you while talking. Roman Dmitry. What qualifications do you have to be chosen as the opponent of Mr. Barbossa?”
From his words, the aggressive attitude of Valhalla, which was only heard in stories, was seen.
Sanchez—he was a disciple of Morales, the number 12 rank holder in Valhalla.
Morales and Barbossa—they were famous for their bad relationship.
Born in the same region, they had been competing since childhood, but Morales was always left behind by Barbossa’s talent.
Morales wasn’t lacking in skills. He was someone born with talent worthy of being called a genius in Valhalla, but Barbossa’s talent was unrivaled.
Half a year ago, Morales was singled out as a warrior for the festival. The festival honoring the souls of warriors—there was a saying that those who died there went to Valhalla regardless of victory or defeat, so Morales said that he would stand on the stage with joy.
Besides, when he heard that the opponent was Barbossa, he sincerely thought that the God of Warriors had created a perfect stage for him.
If Barbossa were defeated, it would be a chance to end their bad relationship. But even if he died, there was nothing bad about dying for Valhalla.
However, the arrival of Roman Dmitry upset everything. Morales strongly protested against Valhalla’s decision, but there was no way to reverse the decision already made.
Sanchez said,
“Roman Dmitry, the chance you have stolen is the wish every warrior of Valhalla wants. So what qualifications do you have to go on stage? The leaders of Valhalla say that you are the right person because of your reputation on the continent, but I do not believe the rumors. Isn’t it too absurd? Even Morales, whom I serve, didn’t reach that level in his mid-20s. The continent’s first sword is the same. You were not validated and snatched the position we all hoped for.”
Since being disqualified, Morales lived in pain. Looking at that scene, Sanchez developed ill feelings toward Roman Dmitry.
“You don’t know the value of the position you have been given. There are many warriors in Valhalla who would give up their lives to stand on that stage. Please tell me. Do you think you are qualified to deal with Barbossa on behalf of Morales? If you die without being able to receive Barbossa’s sword, what will you do to the broken hearts of the Valhalla warriors who were waiting for such a day?”
His words. They were the same as the Valhalla Empire. He had a firm belief that Barbossa wouldn’t be defeated. Just as they spread rumors about Roman Dmitry, they devalued Roman Dmitry from beginning to end. At that moment….
Neigh.
Roman Dmitry grabbed the horse’s reins and stopped.
From start to end, he didn’t like the attitude of the people in Valhalla. People who didn’t talk about surrender and people who said that Valhalla was the best—such foolish things.
Was it even the right thing to do? In the world of the strong that eats the weak, it was natural to admit defeat and bow their heads. If a sheep exposes its teeth to the teeth of a beast, people won’t applaud it. However, the people of Valhalla took death so lightly to the point of stupidity.
Valhalla—Roman didn’t think such a place would exist, but out of their self-doubt, Roman asked.
“Sanchez. What is your basis for that judgment?”
In his past life, as he lived as the son of the Heavenly Demon, he didn’t tolerate being ignored by people. If he allowed people to look down on him, in a wild world, that would be the end.
Valhalla’s attitude, the words of Sanchez, and the reaction of the people being disappointed with Roman Dmitry being chosen—they touched a spot.
Sanchez said,
“… No evidence is needed. The reputation you have speaks for it.”
“Is that so?”
Then, in the situation that matched the picture he desired, Roman had the scariest smile.
“If you have doubts about me, let me show you that the results in Cairo and Valhalla aren’t so different. There are a few days left for the festival. Tell the warriors of Valhalla, including Morales. If there is a warrior who wants to visit me before the festival, I will gladly deal with them. It would be good to challenge me yourself too. If you draw your sword, I will deal with you right here.”
Hearing those words, Sanchez’s mind went blank.
