“Hoo, hoo…”
The Vengeance Knights kept capturing flags one after another.
It was all thanks to their relentless forced march, pushing beyond their limits.
“There’s nothing the mind can’t overcome! Everyone, get up!”
“Yes, sir!”
Yuri and Jared were bringing in certain victories, and among Simon, Guiness, and Tirbo, at least one always won. Briol had yet to suffer a single defeat.
Now, more than ten of them carried flags.
Their sight—knights moving with all sorts of banners—drew attention. Every time the Vengeance Knights appeared, the people of the Small Nations Alliance couldn’t help but watch.
Children from the villages even trailed behind them.
Yuri tossed a piece of jerky to a little kid following behind and glanced back.
“Everyone tired?”
“No, sir!”
They all shook their heads.
Yuri smiled.
“Good. That’s the spirit of the Vengeance Knights.”
Sometimes, a group’s name can change the mindset of its members.
The very word “vengeance” resonated deeply, already transforming the entire order.
And with Yuri, their leader, never exempting herself and always leading by example, no one dared complain.
“We’re almost there. Tonight, we’ll stay inside the castle.”
“Yes, sir!”
The sun was setting.
If they arrived at the next country on time, they wouldn’t have to sleep outdoors and could rely on the hospitality of the host nation. But that had rarely happened before. So the Vengeance Knights welcomed Yuri’s decision.
This time, their destination was a place called Konjed.
“There it is.”
In the distance, a castle bathed in the reddish glow of the fading sunset came into view.
Its spires were unusually tall, casting long shadows that stretched from the battlements all the way to where the Vengeance Knights stood.
It looked like a dark path leading straight to them.
“Beautiful, but ominous,” Jared remarked.
Yuri agreed silently.
Though unspoken, a dark energy seemed to emanate from within.
Perhaps the knights sent by the Empire were already inside.
As the Vengeance Knights approached, the castle gates opened naturally, as if they had been expecting them.
“Welcome.”
A man stepped forward and greeted them politely. He wasn’t a knight but one of the king’s aides in Konjed.
He studied Yuri’s face carefully and smiled.
“We’ve been expecting you. Here to request the Conqueror’s Challenge, I presume?”
“Yes. And who might you be?”
“I am Rail, an aide to Konjed’s king. Though humble, I serve as his chancellor.”
The chancellor was a position not found in Briol, usually second only to the king in authority.
“Your Majesty, your journey must be tiring. Shall we begin the Conqueror’s Challenge immediately?”
At Rail’s words, Yuri’s eyebrows twitched.
“Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
Other small nations they’d visited had all seemed reluctant to hold the challenge. Unless Yuri pressed, they never brought it up first.
But Konjed was different.
“Very well.”
Rail maintained a relaxed smile. Even seeing the knights on horseback didn’t faze him; instead, he gestured grandly with wide arms.
“With such formidable knights here, should we really delay? You have a long road ahead.”
“Indeed.”
Yuri nodded.
Though darkness was falling, it wouldn’t interfere with the duel.
“However, may we stay the night? It’s getting late.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
“The challenge is ready? The knights are waiting?”
“Yes.”
“And the king?”
Yuri deliberately spoke with a hint of arrogance.
“Where is His Majesty?”
“His Majesty…”
Still, Rail showed no sign of unease.
“He’s unwell and resting. He won’t be able to watch the challenge.”
“I see.”
“I will oversee the proceedings. Ha ha…”
“Understood.”
Rail led the way, and Yuri followed without a word.
Inside the castle, the soldiers’ faces were expressionless. They showed no hostility toward the Vengeance Knights, nor any particular interest.
“From here, please proceed on foot. We will take care of the horses.”
Yuri handed over the reins to a Konjed soldier and looked around.
The castle was well maintained. Unlike the relatively lax defenses of the other small nations they’d visited, this place seemed ready to withstand a siege at any moment.
The soldiers stood firmly at their posts.
Yuri tilted her head.
“Either they have capable leadership, or there’s another reason…”
“Why do you say that?”
“The defenses are impressive.”
Jared nodded.
“Maybe they hurriedly prepared because they knew we were coming. Some people care deeply about their reputation.”
“I hope that’s the case.”
Yuri glanced up. The dark energy she’d sensed outside still prickled at her nerves inside.
“But I doubt it. Stay alert. Konjed doesn’t seem like a place we can take lightly.”
“Why?”
“Just a feeling.”
Yuri spoke as she watched Rail ahead.
“Insisting on a duel at night is suspicious, too.”
“Maybe they just want to lose quickly and be done with it.”
Yuri chuckled.
“I hope that’s really the case.”
Soon, the Vengeance Knights reached the dueling grounds.
Inside the castle, a wide training field was lined with Konjed’s knights.
Dozens of torches blazed fiercely, illuminating the arena.
Yuri frowned.
“They’re not using magic to light the place?”
“Ah, yes…”
Rail answered from ahead.
“His Majesty doesn’t care much for magic. Since torches suffice, he sees no need to use magic.”
“Is that so?”
“Doesn’t it have its own charm?”
Though the torches kept the area from being too dark, the flickering flames made it different from fighting in broad daylight.
Yuri looked up at the lined-up knights. The shadows cast by the flames made their expressions seem grim.
Everyone was silent, and only the footsteps of the approaching Vengeance Knights echoed around the arena.
Rail spoke.
“Let’s begin immediately. No need to drag this out. Everyone should get some rest.”
At his words, a knight stepped forward to the center of the arena as if waiting for the signal.
His appearance between the torches was solemn.
“This is Dustin, a knight of Konjed.”
Yuri called the other four who would fight.
“Shall we draw lots?”
“No.”
Yuri shook her head.
“There’s no need to decide the order. Tirbo, you go first.”
“Yes. Heh heh…”
“Tirbo.”
Yuri glanced back and continued.
“I don’t like the feeling I’m getting. If it gets dangerous, forfeit immediately.”
“Huh?”
“If it’s too risky, just give up.”
“Ah, understood.”
Tirbo nodded firmly.
Yuri crossed her arms and watched as he stepped into the arena.
The opposing knight’s eyes flashed sharply at the sight of Tirbo.
At that moment, something changed.
“…”
Yuri immediately entered the realm of spirit and focused on the arena.
In the glowing white vision, she saw the flow of a more primal energy.
Among the lined-up knights, a black mass lurked.
As Tirbo stepped forward, the dark shape suddenly rose and was drawn into Dustin’s body.
Then, a black aura began to ripple around Dustin.
He had changed.
Dustin was now far stronger than before.
Yuri scanned the surroundings further. No other dark energy was visible—only the one inside Dustin.
Watching the two knights face off with swords, Yuri approached Rail.
“Ah, Your Majesty?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t think we agreed properly on the order.”
“Ha ha, no matter. Do as you please.”
“Are those the knights who will fight in the Conqueror’s Challenge?”
Yuri pointed toward the knights where the dark energy had been.
Rail nodded.
“Yes.”
“Who’s the strongest among them?”
“Huh?”
“As you know, I’m the strongest on our side. We should know the order of strength on Konjed’s side to keep things fair.”
Rail thought for a moment, then smiled.
“There’s no need to reveal that. It’s part of the rules of the Conqueror’s Challenge. If you want to complete the flags, you’ll have to accept that.”
“I see.”
Yuri nodded.
“Understood. By the way, is His Majesty alright? He hasn’t appeared at all.”
“Yes. He’s resting due to illness. You should be able to meet him briefly before you leave tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
Yuri looked back at the arena.
Tirbo was being pushed back, but not by much. The fight was close, with only minor hits landing here and there.
But through the spirit realm, Yuri understood the situation very differently.
“The rules of the Conqueror’s Challenge…”
Yuri said to Rail.
“You seem well versed.”
“I had to study quickly when the challenge was suddenly announced. Thanks to you, Your Majesty, the Small Nations Alliance is gaining momentum.”
“I see.”
Yuri smiled and returned to her group.
She looked again at the arena.
The duel, once close, now tilted in Tirbo’s favor.
He pressed forward relentlessly.
Konjed’s knights wavered, and the Vengeance Knights cheered.
Dustin kept retreating.
At least, that’s how it appeared.
But to Yuri’s eyes, it was different.
The black aura bloomed like a flower, waiting for Tirbo.
And Dustin, attached to it like a puppet, swayed, drawing Tirbo deeper into a trap.
Dustin stumbled.
Seizing the moment, Tirbo took a long step forward and swung his sword to strike.
“Briol forfeits!”
Yuri’s voice thundered across the training ground.
For a moment, Tirbo froze in place.
At the same instant, a pitch-black aura tore through the empty air right in front of Tirbo and vanished into the sky.
It was brief, but the strike was so fierce and brutal that everyone watching could hardly believe their eyes.
If Yura hadn’t stopped, Tirbo’s body would have exploded on the spot.
Tirbo staggered backward, dazed.
“Wow… I almost died just now…”
The Knights of Vengeance murmured among themselves. That strike carried a power far beyond anything Dustin had shown so far.
Yura nodded.
“You’ve won. Congratulations.”
“……”
Rail fell silent for a moment. Yura glanced at his face and smirked.
“Alright, shall we move on to the next match?”
Between Simon and Guiness, Yura chose the more cautious Guiness.
“Guiness.”
“Yes.”
“Keep your ears open. If I say ‘forfeit’ like before, pull back immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. You’ll probably have to forfeit anyway, so if it ends early, don’t take it the wrong way.”
“Understood.”
Guiness, sensing something was going on, nodded with a serious expression.
Yura shifted his gaze.
As the duel ended, the black aura slipped away from Dustin’s body and returned to the knight it had been inhabiting earlier.
Then, when two knights stepped into the arena, the aura was instantly drawn back to the knight on Konzed’s side.
It was the same as before.
The black energy shimmered within Konzed’s knight’s body, targeting Guiness.
“Now I get it.”
Yura nodded.
“They’re dirty little cheats.”
“Huh?”
Jarred tilted his head in confusion. Yura called over Jarred and Simon.
“Guiness is going to lose.”
“But it looks like he’s winning.”
“They’re pulling some dirty tricks. I’ll explain the details later.”
Yura lifted his chin toward the remaining knight on Konzed’s side.
“You confident you can win?”
“Of course.”
“All three of us have to win.”
“I’m confident.”
Even Simon showed determination.
Yura nodded.
“Good.”
He looked back at the arena. Guiness was on the offensive again, while Konzed’s knight, drawn by the black aura, was falling into a trap.
Yura didn’t push himself and forfeited once more.
“Briol, forfeit.”
The Konzed knight, who had been waiting with the black aura fully unleashed, lowered his sword in confusion.
That’s how Konzed was winning this round.
For the third match, Yura stepped up himself.
“……”
But this time, the black aura didn’t move at all—it remained hidden inside the knight’s body.
Yura smirked.
They were playing a shallow game.
Using that mysterious entity that could move from body to body, they planned to ignore opponents they couldn’t beat and wait for a relatively weaker knight to appear, then strike to weaken Briol’s strength.
If things went on like this, even if Yura won, the entity would reveal itself during Simon’s turn.
“Pathetic tricks.”
Yura looked at the knight standing before him and slung Guilty over his shoulder.
The knight looked extremely tense.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“You know the rules of the Conqueror’s Tournament, right?”
“Rules…?”
“Most accidents are allowed. Like unexpected deaths, for example.”
Yura lifted Guilty.
“Be careful.”