Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 131

Three days after the fall of Sherwood, King Luke of Symphonia visited the expeditionary force.

Luke summoned the generals of the expeditionary force headquarters to commend their achievements and also met with Count D’Arlang, who had surrendered.

‘Thank you for making a difficult decision,’ Luke said.

‘Not at all. I am simply moved by the fact that you are treating a defeated general with such respect,’ D’Arlang replied.

D’Arlang’s expression, as he responded to Luke’s words, was more somber than expected.

It wasn’t because of the shame of surrendering.

Luke knew why he was uncomfortable. Before meeting him, he had learned about D’Arlang’s personal situation from Count Ferrero.

‘You don’t need to worry about your family back home. I will have our intelligence agents safely rescue them,’ Luke assured him.

At Luke’s words, D’Arlang’s face immediately brightened.

‘Is that really true?’ he asked, hope in his voice.

‘Of course. I am faster and more resourceful than Emperor Rudolf,’ Luke stated confidently.

It was a simple matter for the Baroque Empire’s intelligence department to retrieve D’Arlang’s family using their messenger steeds. Even if they were being taken to the Imperial capital, they could be rescued along the way.

‘So, don’t worry about anything and focus on persuading the prisoners. I have no intention of antagonizing and subjugating anyone other than the Baroque Imperial family,’ Luke explained.

‘Understood, Your Majesty. I will do my best,’ D’Arlang pledged.

Around the time the meeting with D’Arlang ended, the headquarters became noisy. Seeing messengers hurrying back and forth, and knights and soldiers scattering to their respective positions, Luke called Belik and asked,

‘What’s going on, Grand Duke?’

‘It’s the Baroque Imperial Army. Reinforcements from Nemesis have arrived on the north side of the river,’ Belik reported.

As he said, Baroque reinforcements appeared north of the city. They set up camp on the hill across the river, maintaining a cautious distance and not attacking rashly.

Upon receiving the report that the enemy had appeared, Luke led Belik and several commanders to the watchtower.

Luke used his Hawk Eye magic to see far away, while the other expeditionary force commanders used the telescopes they had been given to observe the enemy camp.

After a while, they expressed their disbelief.

‘I don’t know what those guys are thinking, coming all the way here,’ one commander said.

‘I agree, Your Majesty. Our forces are clearly superior, and we even have the geographical advantage,’ another added.

The Symphonian Royal Army outnumbered the enemy several times over. Moreover, they had occupied the city of Sherwood, so they only needed to defend themselves by relying on the river and the walls.

‘Could they be relying on the Imperial Guard? Or has Emperor Rudolf decided to send more reinforcements?’ Luke wondered aloud.

At Luke’s mutter, Belik shrugged and said, ‘Well, whatever the situation, isn’t it good for us? If we defeat those guys as well, the Baroque Empire won’t be able to pay attention to the south for a while.’

‘That’s right,’ Luke agreed.

In planning this war, Luke and the Symphonian military leadership had put as much effort into reducing the enemy’s war-fighting capabilities as they had into occupying the city of Sherwood. That was the only way to stably defend the newly annexed southern territories, and it would also cause other countries, including the Kingdom of Livia, to turn against the Baroque Empire.

‘Anyway, let’s send out our troops and wipe them out,’ Luke declared.

Unlike the south of Sherwood, the bridge to the north was intact. Therefore, they could send out troops and Gigants [large, humanoid war machines] without having to cross by boat.

At Belik’s suggestion, Luke asked, ‘Right away?’

‘Well, is there any need to wait? If we attack when those guys are tired from their journey…’ Belik began, but then stopped talking.

Suddenly, a Gigant from the enemy camp advanced and approached the riverbank.

‘What is it?’ Luke asked, puzzled.

‘Well, it doesn’t seem to be an envoy since it’s not carrying a white flag…’ Belik observed.

Luke, Belik, and others looked on with puzzled expressions when a loud shout came from the Gigant’s communication device that had reached the riverbank.

‘Listen, you leaders of the rebels! How can you turn your swords against your master, despite having received the Imperial family’s grace for generations? Even the demons of the demon realm know the grace of those who raised them, but you…’ the voice boomed.

Whoever the rider was, he began to hurl accusations and insults at the Symphonian Royal Army’s command. His voice was quite coarse, which infuriated the Symphonian generals on the wall.

‘Hmph! Grace, my foot,’ one of the generals scoffed.

‘Your Majesty, just give the order. I’ll blow that nasty guy away with artillery right now,’ another said, eager for a fight.

‘Leave him be. A cowardly dog barks loudly,’ Luke said, stopping his excited subordinates, intending to listen to what the guy had to say until the end.

Thanks to that, the Baroque Imperial Army’s rider was able to finish his speech.

‘I, Curian, a high-ranking knight of the Baroque Imperial Guard, request a Gigantic Duel!’ he declared.

After all that long-winded speech, it was just a request for a Gigantic Duel.

‘I thought he was coming out for some grand negotiation…’ Luke said, slightly deflated.

While Luke was making a slightly deflated expression, the soldiers and knights on the wall poured out jeers and insults at the rider.

‘Get lost, you moron!’ one shouted.

‘If you want to do a Gigantic Duel that was abolished a long time ago, go to the Holy Empire!’ another yelled.

‘Are you scared? Are you afraid now that you’re about to fight? Right?’ a third taunted.

Curian, the Baron, inwardly sighed at the Symphonian Royal Army’s fierce jeers. In fact, he also thought that a Gigantic Duel was absurd.

A Gigantic Duel, where the outcome is decided by a one-on-one duel between the riders of both armies, was a battle method with a strong preliminary nature, and it was a classical battle method that was now rarely seen except in the Holy Artenian Empire. Moreover, it was only valid when the forces of both armies were similar, and there was no reason for it to take place in a situation where the Symphonian Royal Army was advantageous in every way, as it was now.

However, Marquis Vanden, the commander of the Baroque reinforcements, had urged him to somehow make the enemy accept the Gigantic Duel.

‘Since there’s little chance of retaking Sherwood, is he trying to cut off the head of the enemy’s high-ranking rider? He’s doing everything he can to avoid His Majesty’s wrath,’ Curian thought, dumbfounded by Vanden’s obvious ploy.

But on the other hand, he hoped that the enemy would accept the Gigantic Duel. Due to the nature of the Imperial Guard, who were the closest to the Emperor, they rarely participated in battles. As a Sword Master, and as a knight with a strong pride in his skills, he had been itching to fight, and he had come all the way here with the other Imperial Guards after receiving orders to support the southern army. Even if they had to retreat, he wanted to fight the enemy once.

‘When I went to Luke’s inauguration ceremony last time, I saw a lot of strong-looking guys, so there must be a few here too, right?’ Curian thought.

With that thought, Curian raised his voice even louder to provoke the Symphonian Royal Army.

‘Will you not accept the Gigantic Duel? I thought those who follow the bloodline of heroes would know honor, but the rebels are still the same! They are cowardly and shameless!’ he shouted.

At Curian’s words, the knights and soldiers who had pride in serving the descendants of heroes went wild. Some soldiers aimed their cannons at the Gigant that Curian was riding, as if they were about to fire a cannonball at any moment.

Belik and the other commanders looked at Luke. They also thought that there was no need to have a Gigantic Duel, but Curian’s words were too hateful. So, they secretly hoped that Luke would accept.

As if reading their expectant eyes, Luke gathered mana and shouted loudly towards the enemy camp.

‘Listen, you mad emperor’s watchdogs! You who follow the descendants of a traitor who usurped the country, and a parricide who assassinated his father, dare to talk about honor! I will teach you what true honor and chivalry are, so wash your necks properly and wait!’

‘Kuaaak, what did you say!’ Curian exclaimed, enraged.

‘How dare you speak to His Majesty like that…!’ another Imperial Guard shouted.

At Luke’s words, not only Baron Curian, but also the other Imperial Guards who were waiting behind him, flared up. But they did not rush towards the city gate. After all, the Gigantic Duel had been accepted. They could vent their anger then.

2

As soon as Luke accepted the Gigantic Duel, the expeditionary force commanders and riders began to clamor to be sent out.

‘Your Majesty! Please send me! I will go out right now and tear off that arrogant guy’s tongue!’ one rider exclaimed.

‘No! I am the right person. Please send me!’ another insisted.

‘Hey, what are you talking about? Who is more of an expert in Gigant battles than me? Of course, I should go,’ a third argued.

In addition to Philip and Count Ferrero, even Belik, who had been quietly commanding until now, was eager to go out with fire in his eyes. They were excited by the enemy’s provocation, but a Gigantic Duel was an opportunity to show off a knight’s prowess in front of many people. There was no coward in the Symphonian Royal Army who would refuse that opportunity.

It seemed like a big fight would break out if they were left alone, so Luke quickly settled things.

‘First, I will entrust the vanguard to Sir Philip,’ Luke announced.

‘Thank you, Your Majesty!’ Philip replied, pleased.

‘And second, Grand Duke Belik will take charge,’ Luke added.

Belik, who had been deprived of the vanguard by Philip, made a sullen expression, but soon cheered up. In fact, the later you went in a Gigantic Duel, the stronger the opponent would be, so it was not a disadvantage to go out a little later.

‘The third will be designated after seeing how things progress. So, everyone, be fully prepared to go out at any time,’ Luke instructed.

‘Yes, Your Majesty!’ the commanders and riders replied.

At Luke’s words, the commanders and riders immediately ran to the Gigant maintenance area to check their Gigants and warm up lightly. A Gigantic Duel usually continued until one side admitted defeat or a full-scale war broke out, so they thought that their turn would come soon enough.

At the same time, in the Baroque Imperial Army’s camp across the river, Vanden was holding a strategy meeting about the Gigantic Duel.

‘Is that certain?’ Vanden asked.

‘Yes, it was definitely the voice of the rebel Luke,’ Baron Curian confirmed.

At Baron Curian’s report, Vanden inwardly rejoiced. He had requested a Gigantic Duel with the intention of creating an opportunity to take the head of the enemy’s commander-in-chief, but the enemy had accepted it more easily than he had expected. Moreover, it was said that Luke de Rakan, the King of Symphonia, was in Sherwood Castle!

‘Luke, do you think he will come out?’ Vanden wondered aloud.

‘Judging by the fact that he said he would teach us what true honor and chivalry are, it seems like he will come out,’ Curian replied.

‘Hah, that’s good! I will face that guy myself!’ Vanden declared, bursting with confidence.

Vanden, who had recently reached the upper level of Sword Master after being taught a lesson by Rudolf after betraying his father-in-law, Duke Butler, was bursting with confidence.

‘Your Excellency, Luke de Rakan is not an easy opponent,’ Curian warned.

‘I know. A Rune Knight [a knight who uses magic], right? He is said to be skilled in both magic and swordsmanship, but he won’t be a match for me, who has reached the upper level of Sword Master,’ Vanden scoffed.

Curian had met Luke at his inauguration ceremony. At the time, he had felt an enormous sense of intimidation from him, who had thrown away the Emperor’s letter without any fear. He was not as strong as Emperor Rudolf, who had reached the level of Sword Emperor, but he seemed strong enough to easily subdue a Sword Master like himself.

‘Moreover, although it is a recent rumor, there is also a story that he captured a high-ranking demon,’ Curian added.

‘Hmph, that’s just nonsense! His Majesty also struggled and barely chased away a high-ranking demon. And you’re saying he captured one?’ Marquis Vanden shook his head, scoffing as if it was absurd.

In fact, many people who had not directly witnessed Brenden’s military parade did not believe the rumors, like Vanden. That was because demons were recognized as strong and terrifying beings. How could they believe that he had captured one when it was hard to believe that he had even defeated one?

‘Baron Curian, I will take your words as advice not to be careless,’ Vanden said dismissively.

‘Your Excellency, please reconsider. You must not face Luke one-on-one. We must cooperate with our Imperial Guards,’ Curian pleaded.

Despite Curian’s repeated warnings and dissuasion, Vanden did not care. Rather, he seemed to suspect that Curian or the Imperial Guards were trying to steal his chance to gain merit.

‘What an idiot! Is this really Marquis Vanden, who is rumored to be skilled in geography and military strategy?’ Curian thought.

No matter how intelligent you are, if you are blinded by greed, your vision narrows and you fail to look around. That was exactly what Marquis Vanden was like now.

Anyway, Curian had no intention of watching Vanden’s recklessness. As soon as the strategy meeting ended, he called the Imperial Guards and prepared a separate operation. Because he could not miss the opportunity to punish the rebel who was making the Emperor anxious.

Two hours later, the Gigantic Duel between the two armies began.

The Symphonia Kingdom forces opened the gates of Sherwood and sent out their vanguard.

Philip, riding the hero-class Gigant Orion, nicknamed Milena, which had been modified to be sleeker and more streamlined to his tastes, went into battle.

He crossed the river via the bridge connected to the north gate and shouted towards the Imperial army formation.

‘I am Count Philip, the commander of the Symphonia Kingdom’s 1st Army and the vice-commander of this expeditionary force! If anyone has the guts, come forward. I’ll chew you up and spit you out.’

‘Hmph! A guy who was kicked out of the Royal Knights is all talk!’

No sooner had Philip finished speaking than a hero-class Gigant Atlas sprang out from the Baroque Empire army camp.

The rider inside was a member of the Imperial Guard who had come down with Curian.

‘I am Baron Arquil, a knight of the Imperial Guard. The traitor will offer his head at once!’

‘You madman! If you want my head, come and get it!’

The two exchanged words for a moment.

Philip was the first to attack.

He charged at his opponent and swung his greatsword down.

Swoosh— KABOOM!

Philip’s Milena, modified to be sleeker and faster, with an output of 3,700 fight [a measure of power], unleashed a fierce barrage on Arquil’s Atlas at tremendous speed.

Clang! CRRRRR!

The sound of greatswords imbued with impact aura [a type of energy] clashing echoed like thunder, scattering sparks and aura fragments around them.

Soldiers watching from afar staggered from the shockwaves or dropped their spears after being electrocuted by the sparks.

The fierce battle between Philip and Arquil gradually began to tilt in Philip’s favor as time passed.

‘What’s wrong? Is that how you’re going to take my head?’

‘Ugh! You were kicked out of the Royal Knights, yet you’re quite skilled!’

‘I wasn’t kicked out! I left of my own accord!’

Philip, who had launched a fierce attack from the start, continued to press Arquil without showing any signs of fatigue.

This was because the Atlas’s output was inferior to Milena’s, and Arquil’s skills were also inferior to Philip’s.

‘T-This can’t be! I, who learned swordsmanship directly from His Majesty, the strongest on the continent, cannot be pushed back by him!’

Arquil denied reality, but that didn’t change the situation.

Unbeknownst to him, Philip had often sparred with stronger opponents like Luke and Hwangbo Seong, gaining a variety of combat experience.

Moreover, he had recently learned the latter part of the Gold Sword technique from Luke, and his skills had improved dramatically.

On the other hand, Arquil, who had been building his skills somewhat comfortably under Rudolf’s wing with the title of Imperial Guard, was like a flower in a greenhouse in comparison.

KABOOM!

Philip, who had been deploying phantom swords erratically, unleashed a Gold Sword technique in an instant.

Then, the Atlas’s breastplate was torn apart as if it had exploded, revealing Arquil in the cockpit.

Arquil, covered in blood from the fragments that had flown from the previous attack, stared with wide eyes in disbelief.

‘N-No way. I, to a piece of junk like you…’

‘Hmph, even junk can be useful if recycled.’

Philip coldly retorted and thrust his greatsword into the cockpit.

Thud!

With a single blow, Arquil met his end.

The Atlas, having lost its master, slumped down like a puppet with its strings cut.

‘Wow! The vice-commander won!’

‘Long live Count Philip!’

Unlike the gloomy Baroque Empire soldiers, the Symphonia Kingdom soldiers on the walls cheered enthusiastically.

Some artillerymen even fired celebratory shots.

‘Ugh! To lose in the opening battle!’

Marquis Vanden frowned, but the Imperial Guards, including Baron Curian, were even more displeased. They thought Arquil had tarnished the reputation of the Imperial Guard.

If he had lost after a close fight, it would have been somewhat acceptable.

However, Arquil had been losing the entire time, greatly demoralizing the allied forces.

‘Erase his name from the Imperial Guard’s list of casualties. Who’s next to go?’

‘It’s me, Sir Curian.’

A neat and refined-looking Imperial Guard stepped forward.

‘Crenil? Remember that such a disgrace as Arquil’s is unacceptable.’

‘Don’t worry. You know my skills well, don’t you?’

Baron Curian nodded as Crenil gave a confident smile.

Crenil was one of the younger members of the Imperial Guard, but he was among the top five in Gigant piloting skills.

In particular, his sense of control was outstanding, and even Emperor Rudolf, the strongest on the continent, had praised his sense as being better than his own.

He was a talent who was certain to become the strongest rider in the Imperial Guard if he gained a few more years of experience.

‘I know your skills well, but still, don’t be careless.’

‘Don’t worry. When I return, please have the wine ready for a celebratory toast.’

Crenil, having boarded his Gigant, went to the battlefield.

Curian felt a strange sense of unease at his overly confident appearance, but he quickly shook off the ominous thought.

He didn’t think there would be a knight as skilled in Gigant piloting as Crenil among the rebels.

3

Clang! ZIIING!

Thud! Thump!

The sound of greatswords clashing in the air echoed loudly, and the ground shook as if an earthquake had occurred due to the Gigants’ movements.

The second match was different from the first.

Crenil unleashed a one-sided attack on the Symphonian rider who had replaced Philip.

‘Good job, crush him!’

‘Show those rebels a taste of our might!’

Unlike the knights and officers of the Baroque Empire who were cheering excitedly, Marquis Vanden and the Imperial Guards were anxiously watching the match.

Clearly, Crenil was leading the attack.

However, his opponent hadn’t allowed a single effective hit and didn’t seem to be shaken at all.

Most shocking of all, the Symphonian rider was just spinning in the same spot.

In other words, he wasn’t being pushed back at all.

‘Have you shown all your tricks, you brat?’

‘N-No way!’

Crenil’s face turned pale.

Just now, he had even used his secret technique called Red Squall.

Emperor Rudolf was the only person who had ever completely blocked that technique, which unleashed 27 consecutive impact aura strikes in an instant.

But today, another person had appeared.

‘You have a decent sense, but you’ve met the wrong opponent.’

The second Symphonian combatant was none other than Grand Duke Belik.

He was a figure who was so skilled in Gigant combat that he was called a Gigant Master.

In other words, Crenil had met an opponent who had superior piloting skills, senses, and even experience than himself.

Clang—!

‘Gasp!’

With a single strike that Belik had launched as he approached in an instant, Crenil’s greatsword was cut in two, and his breastplate was split open.

Belik’s Orion was clearly visible through the gap, and a chilling and imposing aura permeated through.

‘I’ll ask you directly. Do you have any intention of surrendering? If so, I’ll take you as my disciple.’

‘Ugh, you madman! Don’t try to trick me, just kill me if you’re going to!’

Crenil firmly rejected Belik’s offer.

No matter how inferior his skills were, he had no intention of betraying his lord and personal mentor, Emperor Rudolf.

Moreover, if the fact that he had betrayed him became known, his family would surely be destroyed.

‘Tsk, what a pity. I was going to pass on all my know-how to you if you became my disciple.’

‘Long live His Majesty the Emperor!’

As Belik lamented, Crenil imbued his broken sword with impact aura and tried to stab the core engine.

He was planning to self-destruct with his opponent rather than lose in such an ugly manner.

However, Belik’s actions were faster than Crenil’s.

Shu-gak—!

The moment a cross-shaped flash of light cut through the air, Crenil was cut into four pieces along with the Atlas he was riding.

The Atlas, which had barely avoided damage to its core engine, fell to the ground, and another cheer erupted from the Symphonia camp.

‘Damn it! I can’t stand to watch this anymore!’

Marquis Vanden, his face flushed red from the successive defeats, boarded his Gigant. He looked like he was about to rush onto the battlefield at any moment.

‘Your Excellency, please hold back! Now is not the time for you to step forward!’

‘Surely, there will be a chance to make up for it! So please!’

Vanden, suppressing his anger at the pleas of his adjutant and several subordinates, opened the hatch and came out of the cockpit.

He glared at the Imperial Guards, who had grim expressions, for a moment before opening his mouth with a mix of annoyance.

‘Send the next rider! But exclude the Imperial Guard!’

‘What? Then we won’t be a match at all.’

The adjutant shook his head as if it were absurd.

There were no riders in the Baroque Empire’s support army who had skills surpassing the Imperial Guard, which was composed of sword masters.

Apart from the Imperial Guard or Vanden’s personal Gigant, there were no hero-class Gigants.

If they were forced to go out, they would be ‘instant-killed’ or ‘brutally murdered,’ as the young knights these days like to say.

This was everyone’s judgment, but Vanden hadn’t ordered the exclusion of the Imperial Guard without any thought. He had a plan of his own.

‘Gigant or skill doesn’t matter! Send a young rider full of fighting spirit!’

Thus, the third rider went into battle.

It was a 23-year-old lower-level sword expert riding a warrior-class Gigant.

He walked forward, and after paying his respects to the dead Crenil, he pointed his greatsword at Belik.

‘I am Ruzal, a rider from the Baroque Empire’s Central Army! The traitor will receive my blade!’

‘Haa, what is this?’

Belik stared at the young man who had pointed his greatsword at him with a dumbfounded expression.

Once you reach the level of a sword master, you can roughly gauge your opponent’s skill just by reading the aura that emanates from their body or Gigant.

However, the young man in front of him was nowhere near his level, from his swordsmanship to the performance of his Gigant.

The saying ‘a puppy doesn’t know how scary a dragon is’ perfectly described this situation.

‘I don’t want to fight against fools or patients with swollen guts.’

‘Die, traitor!’

Ruzal charged bravely and swung his greatsword down.

The greatsword, which didn’t even have a normal Gigantic aura, let alone an impact aura, was no match for Belik’s Orion.

Still, Belik only dodged to reduce the workload of the engineers who were repairing the Gigants.

However, as Ruzal kept persistently attacking, he kicked the Gigant he was riding away.

‘Ugh! This traitor!’

‘Seriously, what’s with this guy?’

Belik, grumbling, returned to Sherwood Castle.

There was no honor or fun to be gained from defeating someone like Ruzal.

Rather, he could be criticized and ridiculed for being too harsh on a weakling.

‘The traitor has turned tail and run away!’

‘Sir Ruzal has won! Long live the Baroque Empire!’

Some knights and officers in the Baroque Empire camp incited the crowd, but naturally, there was little response.

The Symphonia Kingdom soldiers on the walls jeered at their shameless actions.

‘Boo-oo-oo!’

‘The opponent is using a cheap trick. In a normal battle, it might be different, but in a Gigantic Duel, a skilled person like Grand Duke Belik can’t help but step back for the sake of his reputation.’

Luke, who was smirking, decided to send out a knight of similar age and skill to Ruzal as the third opponent.

“Is there any knight who can match that reckless fellow?”