Chapter 23

Knights and duels are bound by a destiny that can never be unraveled, no matter the era.

Whether it be for a comrade, for the pride of one’s motherland, or for oneself, challenging another to a one-on-one match with live blades is the glorious path of a knight. While the Imperial Matches are a type of duel, the ones that appear in stories are often far more foolish—yet, for the individuals involved, they are deeply personal battles where neither side can yield.

Feelings that cannot be surrendered even at the cost of one’s life.

A heat of battle that is utterly stupid, yet more human than anything else.

Things that simply cannot be confirmed except through combat.

And so, as a foolish child, I adored the sight of knights burning with passion for such intangible things. However, as you know, my hometown was full of people with such mild temperaments that a slight push would make them immediately back down, meaning a match could never be established. Thus, I spent a lonely childhood where the only thing that would accept a young boy’s burning passion was the scarecrow at the local kendo dojo.

Well, looking back, if that’s what made me as strong as a demon, I suppose it’s a decent enough memory.

There are things one only understands after becoming an adult.

The emotion I currently feel toward the “something” resembling a duel in front of me can be summed up in a single, simple sentence: “What do you two think you’re doing?”

“Guh! That was a heavy blow with your weight behind it!”

“Don’t preach to me from your high horse!! Horyaa!!”

“Muu!! Don’t poke at such a nasty interval! That was dangerous just now!”

“Well, sorry to disappoint! I’ve still got plenty of secret techniques left!!”

“I look forward to it! Provided, of course, you have the leisure to unleash them!!”

There was Nagi, the younger brother, unleashing a storm of fierce, pursuing strikes from a high position, and Senior Garmon, who parried them while launching precise counterattacks to keep him at bay. The exchange of long-armed blades, delivered in rapid succession like a choreographed performance, was staggering; it felt as though one would truly meet their end if they wandered too close.

However, after a while, I got the impression that their movements were strangely practiced.

They felt no sense of abnormality in the fact that they were pointing blades at their own flesh and blood.

In other words, this was not the first time these two had crossed blades.

‘So that’s it? This is like a bullfighting festival—dangerous, but a regular, habitual event?’

Both of them were sufficiently skilled, and they were likely duelists who knew each other’s habits well.

In that case, while I would keep watch just in case, I could assume no fatal mistakes would occur.

‘Still, the senior looks like he’s having so much fun. If I’m not mistaken, doesn’t he actually adore his little brother?’

“Oraaa!! Sei-sei-sei-seiii!!”

“Oh! You’ve even mastered the multi-stage thrust that was unfinished last time! Then… how about this!”

Evading the spear with what looked like a hair’s breadth of timing, Senior Garmon ducked and delivered a horizontal sweeping blow from a low position. Nagi avoided it with a minimal jump, and the two immediately put distance between themselves again.

As expected, Nagi’s skill was far higher than that of some pampered knight from a good family.

‘But I don’t get it. If someone with that much talent was in the family, that old badger of a Commander wouldn’t have stayed quiet. Did one of them refuse to join the knight order…?’

Senior Garmon showed Nagi a smile, but as for Nagi himself, the more they crossed blades, the more his scowl intensified. That difference in expression seemed to tell the story of the temperature gap between them.

“That smug look on your face… I hate it!! For once, let me see you make a pathetic, crying face!!”

“I cannot do that. I have my honor as an older brother to maintain! If you truly wish to see it, then snatch it away with your own strength!”

“I’m saying I hate that way of talking!!”

Having a family member in the knight order is a national honor, something to be proud of.

And yet, Nagi didn’t seem to harbor good feelings toward his brother.

His spear, which was laden with plenty of resentment, still failed to reach Senior Garmon.

I had been noticing it for a while, but while Senior Garmon seemed serious, he wasn’t truly going all out. He was fighting solidly, but he was always playing the passive role, waiting a beat instead of launching sharp counterattacks against Nagi’s onslaught.

Letting Nagi do as he pleased while intentionally loosening his own offensive to make it look like their skills were balanced—this was neither a duel nor training; it was just a “courtesy match.”

Eventually, perhaps having grown tired, Nagi shouted, “That’s enough!” and turned on his heel. Matching him, Senior Garmon lowered his spear, and the storm-like battle subsided.

“Some weird spectator showed up, and the shitty big brother is the same as always… wait, you’re that weirdo knight from this afternoon!!”

“Now, Nagi. It’s rude to call someone a weirdo the moment you see them. This is Varna-kun, my subordinate and a future candidate for the executive ranks… wait, hmm? Why are you here, Varna-kun?”

“Weren’t you noticing…? It affects the unit’s morale if the Squad Leader acts suspiciously, so I came to check on things. The Vice Captains were staring holes through the maps; if you act too erratically, the subordinates will get confused, so at least give us a heads-up next time.”

“Hmm, I suppose I was a bit reckless… I understand, I’ll head back now. Nagi, it’s as you heard, so I’m going now.”

“Do whatever you want, you wandering brother.”

At the younger brother’s response—his mouth curved into a frown as if to say he had no interest—Senior Garmon didn’t show a single sign of displeasure. He just smiled and left the scene. That man is capable of making a very scary face when he’s being looked down upon by his juniors, so I wondered why there was no lecture regarding his brother’s less-than-stellar attitude.

“What a strange pair of brothers.”

“Look who’s talking, you weird knight… fine. You’re the big brother’s subordinate, right? Come with me for a bit.”

Nagi, having confirmed his brother was out of sight, approached with a high-handed attitude, his spear still hooked over his shoulder. The downward gaze from his height—which was taller than mine—emitted a pressure that would make a faint-hearted person collapse on the spot.

However, if I were intimidated by something like that, I wouldn’t be able to survive in a knight order filled with monsters and ghosts.

“Fine. No point in just standing here; let’s go somewhere we can sit and talk. Can I go to your house?”

“Are you my best friend or something?! How did you decide to take the conversation in such a familiar direction from that current flow!?”

“Just hurry up. My curfew is at nine, so I only have about two hours of free time left.”

“Like I care, you moron!! Argh, you’re so annoying!! Fine, we’ll talk at my place! Don’t expect any tea or snacks!!”

“Eh… and here I was looking forward to some local tea cakes…”

“You’re awfully cheeky for a knight!?”

This was something I only just learned, but while this man looked like a delinquent, he seemed to be the only one with any common sense.

Nagi’s house was a private residence on the edge of town, big enough for a single family.

Nagi unlocked the door with a practiced hand and entered. Relying on the light from the streetlamps, he lit a lamp and hung it from a hook in the center of the room. Illuminated by the flickering lamp, the full layout of the room was revealed.

The bare minimum of furniture, small items, a fishing rod, and handmade-looking training equipment like a punching bag.

It was a blunt room, the very picture of a man living alone.

“From the outside, it looked like a reasonably large house, but do you live alone? What about your family?”

“Things are a bit… complicated with my parents. This is me and the big brother’s house. About ten years ago, we lived here with the old man and old woman—four of us—but they both kicked the bucket from old age. Didn’t you hear from the big brother?”

“No, not at all. Now that I think about it, that man never talked about his family at all.”

“Hmph, typical. He’s a brother where you never know what he’s thinking, so I guess he doesn’t give information to his subordinates either.”

Nagi, looking fed up, leaned his spear against the wall and sat heavily at the table.

I took a chair as well, and Nagi opened his mouth.

“You… what did you think of the match between me and the big brother just now?”

“What did I think? It was a meaningless courtesy match. Honestly, I don’t understand why the senior went to such lengths to hold back.”

“…So it looks that way even to a professional. Tch, looking down on me…!”

Apparently, he was aware that his brother was holding back.

Nagi, brow furrowed, kicked the floor in irritation.

“Can I ask something too? Why are you fighting like that with real blades?”

“Hah? Why the hell should I tell a guy like you anything?”

Nagi laughed through his nose with a provocative expression.

I see, true enough. However, it would be boring to just back down quietly here. Let’s see if I can bait him a little.

“I see. Well, it doesn’t really matter; I can just ask the senior about it later anyway.”

“…You really are a man with no fighting spirit. Is everyone in the knight order like this?”

“Our order is famous for having thick skin. We’re adaptable when it comes to both provocations and complaints.”

“Talking to you is like punching a hanging curtain… it’s exhausting.”

Sure enough, Nagi, having failed his provocation yet again, slumped onto the table with a weary expression.

After a short silence, he began to let the answers to my previous question trickle out.

“…We started with wooden poles at first. It just escalated until we began using the real thing.”

“What kind of terrifying escalator are you climbing? Just so you know, if you did that in the city, you couldn’t complain if you were hauled off for ‘duel-related crimes,’ you know?”

“Like I care. When I suggested using real blades, the big brother agreed without a second thought. He’s always like that. He always treats me dismissively, like he has no interest in anything I say…”

Those words weren’t the cheap provocations from before; they were mixed with a heavy, cold sentiment that had settled deep in his gut. His speech cut off there—and after a brief pause, Nagi looked up with a hateful grin plastered on his face, like a brat who had just thought of a wicked prank.

“If you want to hear any more, you’ll have to duel me and win. A duel where a knight breaks the rules—that ‘duel-related crime’ you mentioned. Otherwise, I won’t acknowledge you, and I won’t give you any answers. You can ask the big brother if you want, but I bet my side of the story and his won’t match up.”

“Hm, so that’s how it is…”

He’s unexpectedly shrewd, I noted with a hint of internal admiration.

This man knew I was starting to get interested in him. While there was information I could extract from the senior, I wouldn’t be able to see the true nature of their relationship without comparing the two accounts.

Furthermore, the quickest way to achieve my other goal—probing the inner thoughts of the vigilante group—was to earn this man’s trust. If I dodged the proposal here, Nagi would use it as an excuse to ignore me or cause a scene to kick me out. That wouldn’t be a desirable outcome for the knight order either.

And then there was the proposal of the duel itself.

Demanding a knight break the law personally, and dangling the bait of withholding information if the law wasn’t broken—it was a clever tactic. A knight who held great pride in always being a model citizen as a servant of the state would normally have no choice but to give up.

…However, his follow-through was weak.

“Alright, let’s do it. A duel. Is a one-hit rule with pulled blows fine?”

“Wait, HEEEEEY—!? You’re breaking the law way too easily, no matter how you look at it!!”

Nagi’s eyes nearly popped out as he delivered the retort, but we in the knight order—famous for our thick skin—specialize in jumping onto provocations we think we can ride, just to stir up the situation.

Besides, I had a loophole for the law ready.

“The only witnesses are you and me. If we both keep our mouths shut, the violation practically ceases to exist!”

“Mugugugugu… F-fine!! If you can’t beat me, there’s no sequel anyway!”

Judging that he had the advantage in reach since I was carrying a sword, Nagi immediately stood up with a fearless smirk. His appearance of unwavering confidence in his own victory was reckless in a way, but if you start off hesitant, you’ll lose even the fights you could have won. I liked his spirit.

‘…Now, if this were the upper-class crowd, another two or three layers of complicated bargaining would follow. But I guess it’ll be fine with this guy.’

I had no particular evidence, but I was certain.

It wasn’t just because he was the senior’s brother; Nagi was definitely not a bad guy.

The impressions people from the city hold toward those from the countryside can be broadly divided into two types.

The warmth of being “kind and friendly,” and the coldness of being “exclusive toward outsiders.”

In particular, people like those in the knight order, who are far removed from their own sphere of life, are distinct “foreign objects” that have intruded into their daily routine, unlike mere travelers.

Outsiders acting without thought and ravaging the land—in a sense, that wariness might be a natural defense. In fact, it’s quite possible for people from elsewhere to unintentionally trample upon spaces locals don’t want disturbed because they don’t know the way of life there.

However, when wariness goes too far, it hinders dialogue itself.

As proof of that, upon entering the tavern I was brought to as a makeshift dueling ground, I was greeted by a group of sturdy men displaying blatant discomfort and vigilance.

“…Captain, who’s that behind you?”

The man speaking was downing a drink at the counter.

He was a tough-looking man with a shaving pattern like tiger claws on half of his head, and a sword hung at his waist.

Moving only my eyes to scan the room, I saw the other members had their weapons nearby as well, and almost without exception, they were glaring at me. “Unwelcome guests should leave” was written all over their faces.

“You’re the Captain, then… which means the people drinking here are the vigilante group.”

“That’s right. Even so, you aren’t surprised at all… I’m starting to get used to you.”

Nagi gave a wry smile at my nonchalant reaction—I wasn’t the type to be intimidated by a tough face at this stage—and called out familiarly to the man with the shaved pattern.

“He’s supposedly the big brother’s subordinate, so I thought I’d test his skill. Come on, clear some space.”

“…Well, if the Captain says so.”

“Hey, grab that side.”

“Tch, why do we have to do this for some knight…”

Without taking their suspicious eyes off me, the men pulled the tables—along with their drinks—to the left and right, leaving a hollow space about five or six meters in radius. Apparently, this was their version of a dueling ground.

The tavern master continued polishing a glass without looking concerned, as if they did this often for brawls or tests of strength.

The hostility in the air was painful.

In every whispered word, a distaste for the knight order seeped out.

It felt like it would be better to just make a run for it if the atmosphere became truly dangerous.

I wondered if it was a tactic on Nagi’s part to drag me into such an overwhelmingly “away” space as a dueling ground. Nagi raised his hand as if ordering his favorite drink.

“Alright then… Hey, the longarm and the wooden sword!”

“Yes, Captain! I’ve polished the usual one to a shine and kept it ready!”

“Here, you knight bastard, use this one!!”

A man who had been holding a wooden training pole, which had apparently been sitting in the corner of the counter, respectfully handed it to Nagi and took his spear in exchange. Another man threw a wooden sword my way, but looking closely, someone had spat on the hilt, and it smelled foul.

When I instinctively grimaced, the man’s face twisted in ugly pleasure.

“Heh, that’s the only wooden sword we have, so you’ll just have to deal with—”

“I’ll use my sword’s scabbard instead, so I’m giving this back. Sorry to make you bring it all the way over.”

“Eh?”

If I didn’t want to use something, I simply wouldn’t.

I grabbed the wooden sword by the tip of the “blade” and politely returned the spit-covered hilt toward him. The man immediately recoiled, beads of greasy sweat forming on his face.

“N-no, use it. We went through the trouble of preparing it for you.”

“No, no, I’d feel bad borrowing it. It’s fine, I’m used to handling a scabbard, see?”

“Uwah! Hey, don’t push the handle toward me!! Alright, alright, I’ll bring a replacement!!”

The man tried to grab the wooden sword cautiously, clearly not wanting to touch the spit he had likely produced himself, but because I was “accidentally” letting the hilt of the wooden sword wobble around, he was forced into a series of strange evasive maneuvers.

Eventually, Nagi, fed up with the low-level skirmish, tossed another wooden sword my way.

“Argh, how long are you going to keep up this pathetic exchange of harrassment! Here, use this one!!”

“Oh, thanks. I’ll return this other wooden sword, then.”

“I don’t want it! Just throw it somewhere… Uwaaaah!? Don’t try to stick it on me!!”

The man, who had retreated in a great panic after grabbing the blade part of the wooden sword, ignored the incredibly cold stares from those around him and approached Nagi with a deadly serious face.

“Captain! That guy, he’s no ordinary person!! Be careful!!”

“You’re the one who’s an extraordinary idiot!! Don’t let him set the pace so easily!!”

Spaaaaaaan!! A crisp sound of a slap to the man’s head echoed through the tavern.