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Chapter 32: A Parting Gift (Part 1)

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Smoke filled the horizon,

Bodies covered the muddy ground.

Rain visited, showering them mercy,

Yet flames of war seemingly had no end.

…

A distance away from the frontline;

“Warrant Officer Krone Kozak, reporting in,”

“Enter!”

As he heard the command, the young man flipped through tent’s entrance, walking in.

Marred with mud, sweat and blood, he was haggard, bruises and patches all over. He had no armor, since he had taken those pieces of junk off.

Eyes bloodshot, with dark circles around them, he suppressed his still fresh killing intent.

He had no need for it here.

The man was Krone, in his 20s.

Within the tent, thirty odd people were present, with several standing by a table, solemn. One person, in full armor and clearly ranked above the rest, glanced at him.

A knight, the only one there.

“You’re late, Krone,”

“Sir! My unit’s being attacked on the way,”

“And?”

“Lisha and Higgins had fallen. Worry not, I made them pay,”

“Lisha, I see, so that’s why your eyes… Nevermind, my condolences.”

“…”

Observing the fellow officers in the tent, he wondered.

All officers in their brigade had gathered, recalled from the frontline. They were all gloomy, as if they had just received news of a family member’s demise.

To Krone, it was weird.

It was just yesterday they had scored victory against a Grand Beast, slaying that accursed Worm, one which kept digging the ground, destroying military columns.

Even if the whole operation left their brigade in a mess, they ought to be pleased, taking down that monstrosity with just a minimum casualty.

A feat no other brigade could easily repeat.

Yet;

“…What’s this about?”

He asked his Commanding Officer, Sir Regart Merr Vyrusha, a knight a little older than him.

Graduating from a Knight Academy in the central region, and with over ten years of leading experience, he was an excellent commander. Always calm and collected, and able to issue proper commands even in dire circumstances, all officers had high respect for him.

Yet similarly, he had a dejected look.

“I guess news didn’t reach you yet, that’s good, it didn’t spread,”

“What news? Bad news? Another Grand Beast?”

“Worse,”

“Drop the dramatic suspense, will ya? I still need to tend to my unit,”

“…Krone, a Knight Beast, in Aurenburg,”

He turned silent.

“…What of Sir Padre?”

“He took it down,”

“That’s good, then,”

“—With him,”

“…”

Krone shut up.

Sir Padre Armaine, the Iron Wall of Aurenburg.

As the Knight Commander of Kharlussian 7th Corps, he was responsible for the land defense of the city, and did an excellent work despite the overwhelming circumstances.

At the young age of thirty or so, he had replaced the fallen senior commanders two years ago. It was a dire situation where senior commanders were taken out all in one night.

They had fallen prey to a Knight Beast, taking them by surprise. With a sudden lost in Aurenburg’s High Command, it was a devastating military loss. A young knight, him, had to take command.

Yet he was able to mend it somehow.

He worked tirelessly, like a horse, patching up the land forces together.

…

Yet now, even the Iron Wall, was pierced through.

By the same accursed, Knight Beast.

Hearing this, Krone’s bloodshot eyes turned redder.

The Iron Wall of Aurenburg, Padre Armaine, commanded Aurenburg land forces very well for over two years. So very well, that respect for him was high.

Especially so for local defenders, grateful for his work.

And him, he was one of them.

‘You couldn’t defeat him in battle, you resort to assassination? Admirable, very admirable,’

At the time, he had the urge to just go out and kill some beasts to vent his anger.

Kill, kill, and kill.

Yet he did not.

There was no such luxury.

“When, where, did it happen?”

“This morning, early morning, at six, his office,”

“Those bodyguards of his, were they sleeping or what?”

“…His deputy, and his six knights had fallen. General Shurran had issued an order,”

Sir Regart paused, making sure everyone was ready to receive the order.

Krone and the rest, stood straight.

Eyes on him, solemn.

“17th Brigade of the 7th Corps will move into Aurenburg, taking over command of the 7th Corps. I am assigned as Acting Commander until proper replacement could be arranged. All of you, make preparation. We’ll also investigate the whole event,”

He paused, turning to Krone.

“Krone, you are to report to General Shurran by 1500 tomorrow. I’ll have your unit with me. Here’s your letter,”

He handed him a sealed envelope, with red wax.

“I got detached? Why?”

“His Excellency needs more knight. A knight just like him, just like Sir Padre Armaine,”

“…I see. I propose to all of us, to honour him, before anything,”

He paused. The rest of them stood still, silence.

Regart held his hand on his chest, the rest followed suit.

Eyes down, almost close.

It was a gesture of solemn respect.

Respect, to an Immortal Hero of Kharlussia.

Padre Armaine.

===

…

The memory flashed through him as he heard Medron calling that one particular name. The time was brief, yet to him all the details were clear, as if he had just gone through it yesterday.

Prior, the old knight had asked him what it was about, so he mentioned that he was itching for a good fight. In addition, his Master instructed him to do so, an excuse he found convenient.

Should they entertained his challenge, he had prepared a suitable gift, from his Master.

He was his own master, so he did not consider that lying.

Hearing this, Medron smirked, simply called out that name.

A simple name.

Padre.

A seemingly normal name, nothing imposing. Nothing like the name Medron, or Krone.

Padre, meant the one who patched things up, it was a rather humble name.

Yet to Krone, shivers ran through his being.

‘He’s here, for real? Darn, I didn’t even notice! How low-key can he be?’

Tak!

Someone stepped onto the platform.

Medron gave a smile. A confident, even prideful one;

“Your challenged us knights, yet we could not accept. No worry, someone close enough, could.”

He eyed the squire standing on the platform, just beside the lines of knights.

It was his own squire, Padre. When his name was called, he stepped onto the platform.

“Padre, you’re up for it?”

“Give me the command, Sir. I’ll teach this young upstart a lesson or two.”

“Very well, go.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The young man slid through the air, green line trailed. He stopped, two metre from the young boy.

As their eyes locked, the boy startled.

“Padre Armaine, Twenty One. Sir Medron’s squire, accept your challenge, on behalf of the knights.”

“…Krone Kozak, Fourteen, a mere candidate. Forget the knights, honored to be your opponent.”

‘Honored, to meet in you in person.’

He was trembling.

A trembling of excitement.

===

“So that’s what Master want,”

Through the infirmary’s window, Arnea was watching him. Recalling what he had instructed her, she laid back on the bed, closing her eyes.

Soon, her eyes opened.

“Uh? Did I, fall asleep?”

It was Julia.

Looking around, there was no one. When she noticed commotion outside, she looked over the window. A mass was moving toward the field, following two people.

One of them, she was familiar.

“Krone?”

===

In the middle of the field.

Krone was standing opposite to him, around five metre away. The young man was wearing green light armor, eyes sharp. On his hand, a wooden spear.

Medron had ruled that they would just use wooden spear, to prevent whatever accident possible. While many might see this as overly cautious, the old knight did not care.

Safety first.

Nearby, Natalia stepped to Medron’s side.

“Sir, are you sure about this?”

“Well, it won’t disturb our schedule. We didn’t have much to do anymore. Plus, it’s a good demonstration. Audience’s itching to see a worthy fight.”

“No, I didn’t mean that. Don’t you think it’s overboard? Having Padre, other squire’s better,”

“It’s fine, he won’t go overboard. Speak no more.”

“…Yes Sir.”

She was worried.

Not because Krone was inadequate, but because of his opponent. She did not know why, but the boy sure made her angry and worry all the time.

Something a judge like her, should not entertain.

And he kept surprising her with his antics, that boy was a troublemaker.

‘Really now, Krone Kozak, I’ll teach you a thing or two later, ahh.’

…

The audience in the grandstand stood up, all interested.

Soon, those from Aurenburg Magic Academy channeled the view into the four orbs in front. Observation orbs flew around the field, four of them, channeling four different angles.

“What’s happening?”

“It seemed a demonstration of sorts.”

“You blind, ah, you? That boy just issued a challenge!”

“Is his opponent a knight? Is he?”

“He’s not wearing a cape, so he should be a squire,”

Amist the murmurs, Kristine stood up. She noticed the one in focus, was her little brother.

She gripped her fists.

“What are you up to, Krone, seriously,”

She did not know what he was thinking. From the time he showed his skills in the obstacle course, till the team match, she had this feeling that her little brother was not the same one she knew.

Since she witnessed unbelievable things, she had fainted, twice.

Yet this time, she refused to faint again.

“Just what have I been missing, all this time?”

Nearby, the twins had a worried look.

His demeanor puzzled them. They knew he was a bit weird, but to challenge the knights like this?

“What’s up with Krone? And why’s he in review, Sis?”

“It’s just my guess, but he’s holding some secrets from the knights, that’s why,”

“Secrets?”

“Like I said, it’s just a guess.”

Beside them, Doran was rather enlightened.

He had failed, but he soon realized that was not the end of it. He could still try for next year, and with Krone’s instruction, he believed he could do a lot more than normal.

Because his action, from the start till now, had impressed him over and over. He knew he had to stick close to this treasure vault. At the moment, Krone’s fight with a squire, he knew it would be valuable.

Thus, he was excited.

Athea had a solemn attitude.

She wanted to know more of his goal, why would he challenge the knights? Plus, why was it that he seemed more excited, even when his opponent was a squire?

‘Was he not confident, is that it? ...No, it felt like there’s something else,”

She wished to consult him about what to do, but that can wait.

For now, she focused her all into the fight.

…

As everything seemed set, Medron raised his large sword. Its scabbard slammed the ground, mana dissipated, gaining everyone’s attention.

“One on one, as requested by candidate Krone, will be answered by my squire, Padre Armaine. Both are allowed to use Artes, but any deadly Arte or attacks are forbidden.”

As he said so, both Krone and Padre paid attention.

The audience, both near and far, was trembling in excitement. It was a pity not to be able to witness a knight’s ability, but this was as close as it could get.

Medron stood in the middle of the audience, acting as referee.

“Show us your skills, future knights,”

Both were holding a spear, they bowed.

Swirling their spear, both got into fighting stance.

“Begin!”

Krone moved.

Sliding through the air, he moved in a circular motion, audience could barely see the white lines coming through.

Padre still in his position, spear moving to his side.

The spear landed, meeting another.

His spear started to move away, he noticed it.

He knew. It was The Flow.

His hands moved, soft grip, he swirled his spear, his body lowered. Krone noticed, backing away.

Just like that, he broke his Flow.

‘His skill, strength, enough to broke my flow. Barely twenty one, he’s…’

“A genius,”

Truly, having this fight early on in his reincarnation, he felt gifted.

Not to mention, against him, Padre Armaine.

Against the Legendary Immortal Hero of Kharlussia, Iron Wall of Aurenburg?

Truly, a gift!

As such, he ought to return the favor.

‘No holding back,’

White mana came out, in all its splendor.

Shining, mixing with the red sunlight.

Aurelian Arte, aura of mana covered him, his weapon, all over.

The thickness of his aura, filled their view.

Tentacles of mana flying around, a squall rushed through the field.

The view, as if a monster awakened, screaming at the audience, candidates, squires and knights alike.

Sir Medron, Kent, Natalia, all wide eyed.

Krone’s team, Julia’s team, could not believe their eyes.

Even now, they realized they did not put the boy in a proper place.

Seeing this, Padre smirked.

Being the closest, he sensed dread, yet he was excited.

“…Damn, a monster,”

He did not step back.

Instead, he stepped forward. Eyes refusing to blink, for what he was seeing, he wished to burn into this mind… This image, in his front.

The image, a legend in the making.

…

== Chapter 32 A Parting Gift (Part 1) End ==