The Lord Of Sinal (1)

Liris tried her best not to blink. If she missed even a moment, she wouldn’t be able to tell what was happening, so she had no choice.

Huung—!

The sword aura of the fabled sword Pluto casually sent Haris’s heavy halberd and its wielder flying into the air. Pluto’s blade tip doggedly pursued the leg that barely kept its balance without letting go of the weapon. In front of that stood Ban’s tower shield, and taking advantage of the interrupted sword technique, Zik and Nel launched a pincer attack on Kaiston’s rear.

Peobuk—!

The scabbard that had been in Kaiston’s left hand suddenly struck Zik’s shin and Nel’s shoulder.

“Ugh!”

Ban, who had blocked Pluto’s technique, was also not unharmed. He was sent crashing backward, and Haris followed, rolling on the ground. Even with his subordinates tumbling, Kaiston gave no opening. The captains desperately moved to fend off the terrifyingly charging sword strikes which seemed determined to cut their breaths off.

Although the duel had been going on for half an hour, those watching did not budge. They only watched with wide eyes to see how the captains would defend against and avoid the commander’s brutally relentless swordsmanship, no different from real combat.

“Still, this time, they are certainly lasting long. Their harmonized techniques have improved.”

“Is there no chance the captains can win?”

Saik laughed softly, eyes still fixated on the group.

“That’s impossible. The Commander isn’t even unleashing his full abilities. He’s only showing power on the level of the strongest monsters that can invade the Red Moon.”

“Monsters… is it…”

If a monster of that level appeared, many of the regular knights would surely die, she thought.

“Still, if this were real combat, while the captains hold off the attack, the knights’ spears and bows could deplete the monster’s vitality. That’s the most important duty of the lieutenants and captains.”

“Ah…”

Indeed, the captains focused not on dealing damage to Kaiston, but on diverting his attention and buying time with minimal losses. Even so, it was obvious they were growing tired as time passed. The once-clear sword aura often faltered, and the number of times the scabbard struck them increased. Still, their persistent tenacity was impressive.

Kaiston seemed pleased with those captains. A faint smile touched his lips.

“Tired?”

“Ah, no!”

“We’re still fine, Commander!”

Gasping, the captains nevertheless forced themselves upright.

“Is that so? Then shall I get more serious?”

“Uh… th-that…”

“Commander, I think this is already enough…”

Seeing a clear sword aura begin to coalesce even on the scabbard in his left hand, the captains’ faces went pale. One proper hit now would drop them.

Pluto aimed first at Nel’s triple-sword guard and struck upward; Nel, having thrown a sword to avoid losing his hand, quickly slipped away and went behind Ban.

“Hey, you…!”

As a result, Ban unexpectedly became Pluto’s target; he barely gathered sword aura on his tower shield and stomped out with both feet.

The tower shield, split into two for the price of blocking the blade, buzzed and flew out of the combat area, causing the knights to scramble to catch it.

Zik abandoned his longsword, which had been crushed while aiming for the ankle, and rolled nimbly aside. Haris’s halberd, which he tried to hook and pull, could not withstand the force and slipped from his rough hands, embedding upside down at Kaiston’s feet.

“Ah, Commander! What are you doing splitting only mine!”

When Ban whined, Kaiston answered indifferently.

“Who told you to use such cheap trash?”

Kaiston bent, picked up the longsword and halberd, and tossed them out of the combat area. He also kicked Nel’s triple swords out without mercy.

“Now. What will you do?”

“Ahaha…”

Watching Kaiston sweep his smiling gaze over the captains who slipped back, Liris suddenly felt a chill.

“Wow… scary.”

Saik snorted with a laugh.

“You only noticed that now?”

Saik said calmly as he watched Kaiston, who had thrust Pluto into the ground and was casually trampling the captains with nothing but a scabbard devoid of sword aura.

“Fear is, by nature, overcome in the face of a greater fear.”

“Yes?”

“The Commander is so terrifying that even the most grotesque monsters only make a sour face when they rampage. Sometimes it’s almost pitiable.”

“Ah…”

From the first moment she met him, Liris had never thought Kaiston was that frightening, but his presence before his men felt different. The reason he displayed such overwhelming prowess, enough to send chills down the spine, was surely to make clear who it was that led and protected them.

“By the way, Liris.”

Saik asked without taking his eyes off Kaiston.

“Are your feelings for the Commander sincere?”

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Liris involuntarily turned to him.

“Yes?”

“I’m asking if you fully understand what you’re doing right now.”

Saik’s reddish-brown eyes narrowed. He looked like he was smiling, but somehow it was chilling.

“If you don’t want to turn me and the Red Moon knights into enemies, treat the Commander well.”

“Saik.”

“It makes me angry because I feel like everything is being taken away even when you make him smile, but if you ever make him cry…”

This time he looked straight at Liris as well.

“I might truly want to kill you.”

‘Oh. This is somehow, a bit… like a love triangle over a woman…’

“Saik. I don’t want to make my Master cry either. Though I’d like to see that side once, I do like him. Truly.”

At her words, Saik’s expression softened as if mildly relieved, and he turned his gaze back to Kaiston. The match was winding down. Zik was the first to yield just before the scabbard touched his sternum, and Nel was finally struck on the back and collapsed.

“I’ve seen the Commander cry a few times.”

‘Huh? Is he bragging now?’

“Not just his crying, but many facets. We’ve been together for over ten years.”

Liris blinked rapidly in confusion. This person was strange. Yet for some reason, a sudden urge not to lose welled up inside her.

“I also know many sides of my Master that Saik doesn’t.”

“What kind of sides?”

Liris was mortified by her own childishness, but still, she stubbornly provoked.

“I can’t be specific, but whatever you imagine, it’s beyond that.”

Saik emitted an enigmatic hum—“Kuung”—worrying he might have needlessly sparked imaginations, but it was done now. Ban finally cried out “I yield! I yield!” clutching his neck; only Haris remained. Kaiston could be seen sheathing Pluto and turning toward them.

“…The ones going to Sinal are the Butterfly knights. The captains who will accompany are decided as Haris and Ban.”

“Saik, are you not coming?”

“I’m the only one the Commander can trust to leave this fortress with.”

Ah, once again, it felt like boasting.

“Saik.”

Kaiston, having stepped down from the combat area, nodded.

“Make the arrangements.”

“Yes, Commander.”

When Saik stepped forward to confirm the duel’s result and the Butterfly’s accompaniment, a tremendous cheer erupted from the Butterfly knights.

“Looks like it’s very good.”

“It’s a rare opportunity. Regardless of rank, it’s almost like taking a week’s leave.”

“Ah… I see.”

Liris stared at Kaiston, who showed barely any signs of fatigue even after around forty minutes of sparring with four knights. Even his clothing was hardly disheveled. The Red Moon captains’ skills seemed on par with the imperial captains’. Just how strong was this man?

“…By the way.”

Kaiston looked down at her, who was staring straight at him.

“Liris.”

“Yes?”

“What were you talking about with Saik? There were some heated glances.”

‘When did he notice that?’

Though spoken jokingly, worry lay in his eyes.

“Did that fellow act ill toward you by any chance?”

“Oh? Ah, no… no, Master.”

Liris widened her eyes and waved her hands.

“He only said that you both have shared a passionate friendship for over ten years.”

“……”

Kaiston looked somewhat displeased, but he did not deny it.

“If anyone treats you badly, be sure to tell me, Liris.”

Liris readily nodded at his request. In fact, she didn’t think Saik’s behavior was excessive; on the contrary, it seemed rather lenient.

A sex slave of unknown origin securing the seat of lawful wife would not be readily accepted anywhere in the Empire, to be honest. Liris herself had been stunned by his proposal. How would others react?

Still, because Kaiston showed no worry, Liris resolved to trust him. It had long been said that the Duke of Sinal and the head of the Red Moon was a very clever man.

A week of reorganization for the knight order and a week of preparations to depart for Sinal were complete. Occasionally monsters crossed the border, but not in numbers worth worrying about. This was the slowest time for monster activity. At Kaiston’s remark, “Civil servants tend to be touchy around the year’s end,” Liris cocked her head. When she asked, “Are there civil servants in the Demon King’s territory too?” Kaiston merely said there was something similar. She couldn’t help but laugh at the image of a demon lord rounding up his monsters to drill them like soldiers along the border with the Red Moon.

Because over a hundred seasoned knights were moving, they allotted three days to Sinal to account for rest and meals. The knights all carried magic bags, so their baggage was light.

Still too inexperienced to ride alone, Liris rode with Kaiston again. Riding warhorses for three days rather than a carriage was grueling, but consistent practice over the past weeks paid off; her thighs and buttocks didn’t ache much. It was also thanks to Kaiston positioning her in the most comfortable posture.

Thus, after a somewhat arduous journey, on the afternoon of the third day after leaving the fortress, the majestic ramparts of Sinal began to appear in Liris’s view in the distance.

On a cold winter day with four days until the new year, Sinal, dressed in white, welcomed its lord returning after half a year.