My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 176

§ 176. The Betting Match (1)

Jackson lowered his head.

“It’s okay. You did well.”

Cyan comforted Jackson.

“Don’t be discouraged, Jackson! You did great!”

“You did amazing against a Royal Knight!”

Following Cyan’s words, his fellow soldiers and territory residents shouted.

And Cyan fully agreed with them.

From the start, his opponent was a trainee knight of the Royal Knights.

Even if he was just a trainee, a knight is a knight.

Considering his affiliation with the Royal Knights, he was as good as any formal knight.

Jackson was a quasi-knight, surpassing the level of a regular soldier, but he still lagged behind a formal knight.

Still, it was a fight worth trying.

And watching the match, Jackson really lost by a narrow margin.

It was a difference of two or even just one point.

It was a shame, but Jackson fought well nonetheless.

“What is this…?”

“Is that the level of an ordinary soldier…?”

As expected, the Royal Knights who watched the match were all wide-eyed with surprise.

It was a natural reaction, as an ordinary soldier had put up such a close fight against a trainee knight.

Of course, they had seen and experienced enough to acknowledge Ruben’s level to some extent.

But this was beyond their expectations.

An ordinary soldier was not supposed to put up such a close fight against a trainee knight of the Royal Knights.

With the match between the two sides concluded, the atmosphere was heating up.

-Prepare for the next match immediately!

The second match began right away.

And if the first match was between a soldier and a trainee knight.

The second match was none other than a duel between knights.

The Royal Knights sent out a knight named Jayden.

Rumor had it that he was a promising prospect within the Royal Knights, called the next commander.

And Ruben’s knight to face him.

“Duras! Are you ready?”

It was none other than Duras who stepped forward.

Duras, who had risen from a mere soldier to a knight of Ruben.

“Just leave it to me! Lord! I’ll crush both the White Wolves and the Royal Knights!”

Duras shouted confidently, pounding his chest.

His solid black armor made a dull sound.

Cyan nodded in satisfaction.

Ruben’s knights were still lacking compared to the Royal Knights.

Even more so against a promising knight called the next commander.

But Duras had Cyan’s heavy investment.

S-rank armor and sword.

And tremendous growth buffs [enhancements to his abilities].

Even with slightly inferior skills, it was a fight worth trying.

“Go, Duras! Go and seize victory!”

“Yes, sir!”

Duras confidently stepped onto the dueling arena.

Thus, a black knight and a golden knight faced each other in the arena.

Duras in his jet-black armor.

Jayden in his golden armor.

A strange tension flowed between the two facing each other in the arena.

The cheers that had been erupting subsided into a tense silence.

-Begin!

Leia’s shout cut through the air.

Whoosh!

Clang!

At the same time, the distance between the two closed in an instant.

Clang!

And sword met sword.

“Wow!”

“Ooh!”

Exclamations erupted from the surroundings.

Indeed, the level was different from the first match.

Clashes of auras.

Strikes that could cause serious injury with the slightest mistake came and went.

Clang! Clang!

Boom!

Duras and Jayden fought without giving an inch.

Cyan and the Royal Knights, as well as the territory residents, watched the match with sweaty palms.

Soon, the outcome was decided.

The result was…

-Royal Knights win!

Another defeat for Ruben.

#

Waaaaaaah!!

A tremendous roar erupted.

Elena blankly stared at the surrounding scenery.

A dueling arena and a festival ground where each camp’s pride was at stake.

Inside the arena, a festive heat was rising.

Of course, it wasn’t that Elena hadn’t experienced festivals before.

Regardless of Elena’s will, her status as a princess meant she was invited to numerous festivals and events.

Like the founding day celebration in the past.

Or the merit ceremony not long ago.

Especially the social gatherings or balls between nobles.

Elena had countless experiences attending such events.

And those places were more splendid and more elegant than this.

Looking at the concept of a festival alone, Ruben’s festival couldn’t really be called a festival.

It was just a chaotic gathering of people talking.

But… why?

“Duras, you bastard! How could you lose that?!”

“Tsk, I knew it from the way he confidently spoke!”

Elena liked this place more.

She felt that the festival in Ruben was a true festival.

The banquets and balls of the nobles were splendid and elegant.

There was laughter and excitement there too.

But it wasn’t genuine.

A space where people wore masks and hid their true feelings.

They were smiling, but they weren’t really smiling.

It was a festival that made her feel suffocated for some reason.

But this wasn’t the case. Not here in Ruben.

“Still, Duras is amazing to fight against a Royal Knight like that, right?”

“Yeah. I honestly thought he’d be completely overwhelmed.”

“I heard the knight he fought is a promising prospect in the Royal Knights?”

They were purely enjoying the dueling arena, the festival ground.

“Dad! Can I become as strong as Knight Duras?”

“Of course! Our son can definitely do it.”

“Me! Me, Dad?”

There was an untainted purity here.

There were no people wearing masks.

A warm scene that made her smile for no reason.

For Elena, this kind of festival was… honestly, a first.

“I knew it… It was strange that Cyan suddenly made such a proposal.”

At that moment, Conrad’s voice came from beside her.

Looking over, Conrad was letting out a hollow laugh.

“What do you mean, brother?”

“This betting match. I thought it was a bit strange that Cyan suddenly made such a proposal.”

Conrad slowly turned his gaze to look around.

What Conrad saw was the bustling scene of the festival.

It was the same scene that Elena had been looking at just a moment ago.

Conrad gave a small smile and continued.

“The betting match is one thing, but it seems he also intended to create this kind of festive atmosphere. To bring vitality back to Ruben.”

“You mean…?”

At Elena’s question, Conrad looked at Elena and said.

“The clash with Kai and the White Wolf Knights. The result was good, but… as you saw, the people of Ruben were afraid because of it.”

Elena nodded slightly.

As Conrad said, the people of Ruben were uneasy.

Of course, perhaps because of their strong trust in Ruben and Cyan, they didn’t panic.

But unknowingly, a small fear was etched on the faces of the territory residents.

“Maybe that’s why he made that proposal to me.”

“Ah…”

Elena could finally understand the meaning.

The reason Cyan proposed the betting match.

It was to show the strength of Ruben’s soldiers through the duel with the Royal Knights.

And to dispel the lingering fear by holding this festival.

At first, she thought he was simply trying to use the Royal Knights as practice tools.

He was truly… a deep person.

But on the other hand, Elena subtly watched Conrad’s reaction.

Because Cyan’s hidden intention.

In a way, it was like using Conrad and the Royal Knights without saying anything.

So Conrad might be upset.

“Are you… not upset?”

“Haha, you might think so, but I don’t know…”

Conrad gave a small smile and continued.

“When I think about it, there’s nothing in it for me.”

At Conrad’s words, Elena tried to say something but closed her mouth.

When she thought about it carefully… it was really like that.

The intention of this betting match.

The intention of creating this festival.

There was nothing in it for Cyan himself.

It was all for his knights, his soldiers, and his territory residents.

It wasn’t just this time.

Cyan, as Elena had seen him, was always like that.

Cyan didn’t gain anything.

He didn’t move for his own sake.

He didn’t even care about people’s insults in the process.

If his territory residents and others could be helped, Cyan didn’t hesitate.

Sometimes that choice seemed foolish and stupid.

And sometimes she wondered why he was doing that.

Honestly, he seemed like an idiot… sometimes.

But why?

She didn’t dislike it.

It was strangely captivating.

With an unknown momentum, with some expectation.

Elena blankly stared at the festival scene.

And a blond man came into Elena’s eyes.

Cyan was comforting a knight named Duras who had just competed.

#

‘I’m screwed…!!’

Cyan couldn’t shake the thought that he was screwed.

“I-It’s okay. Duras. Y-You did well…”

He was comforting Duras.

But his mind was filled with only one thought.

‘I’m really screwed…!!’

He was screwed.

He had screwed up big time!

Cyan’s eyes trembled without him realizing it.

His hand, which was holding Duras’s shoulder, unconsciously tightened.

He only needed to win twice.

If he won just twice, Kendrick would have taken care of the rest.

That way, he could turn the Royal Knights into machines that helped with practice.

So, practice helpers… no, practice tools.

No, practice machines.

No, I mean…

Anyway, he could have made them that.

But instead of winning twice, he lost both times!

‘I-I’m screwed…!’

It was truly a screwed-up situation.

But it wasn’t completely screwed up.

There was still a chance.

He had two chances left. If he won both of them, it was still possible.

He lost the first and second matches, but he could win the third match.

And if the first match was a duel between a soldier and a trainee knight.

And the second match was a duel between knights.

The third match was none other than a duel between executive-level talents from each camp.

The Royal Knights sent out a knight named Gain, the vice-commander of the 3rd Knights.

And Ruben’s knight to face him.

“Lucas!! I’m counting on you!”

It was none other than Lucas, the captain of Ruben’s guard.

Lucas, the knight who had protected Amelia.

Although he was currently serving as the captain of the guard, Lucas was originally an excellent knight.

He was skilled enough to be selected as a knight of Ruben, but at Cyan’s request, he took charge of Ruben’s soldiers.

And in the past, Lucas had reached the intermediate level of Expert with the S-rank Aura Cultivation Method [a technique to enhance one’s inner energy].

Since then, Lucas had been steadily growing, receiving teachings from Kendrick.

And perhaps thanks to that steady training.

Lucas was now looking beyond the advanced level of Expert to the highest level.

No matter how much of a vice-commander of the Royal Knights he was, Lucas was not someone to be taken lightly.

This was a fight that was really worth trying.

‘If we lose this time, it’s over!’

No, he had to win no matter what!

“Captain! Good luck!”

“Show the power of Ruben!!”

Numerous cheers poured out towards Lucas.

Lucas received those cheers and slowly stepped onto the dueling arena.

Gain, the vice-commander of the Royal Knights, also slowly stepped onto the dueling arena.

And the two faced each other.

“I am Lucas, the captain of Ruben’s guard.”

“I am Gain, the vice-commander of the 3rd Knights of the Royal Knights.”

The two exchanged light greetings.

Soon, they slowly drew their weapons.

With that, a tense atmosphere was drawn.

It was nothing to say about Duras’s match earlier.

The momentum of the two knights who had reached the realm.

-Start…

And before Leia’s words to start were even finished.

The figures of the two knights disappeared from sight in an instant.

And in the center of the arena.

Clang!

Their swords collided with a dull roar.

Clang!

Intense sparks flew from the colliding swords.

Was the first clash to narrow the distance and gauge each other’s level at the same time?

Lucas adjusted his grip on his sword and took a step back.

Accordingly, Gain, the vice-commander of the Royal Knights, also gathered his sword and stepped back.

Soon, their eyes met.

And those eyes were saying this to each other.

‘You are not below me.’

Whoosh!

The distance between Lucas and Gain narrowed in an instant.

At the same time, Boom! Lucas and Gain’s swords exploded.

The tips of the swords that lunged out were sharp, but the explosions that collided were not of cutting power.

Lucas raised his momentum and swung his sword.

Clang! Clang!

Gain’s sword shook slightly each time it touched Lucas’s sword.

It wasn’t a difference in strength.

The shock that erupted when sword met sword.

Lucas’s timing to deflect that shock was too perfect.

Gain’s shaken sword momentarily cut through the air.

At that moment, Lucas’s posture was lowered.

Lucas’s eyes gleamed.

Lucas’s sword was once again fired at Gain.

It was as if a lion was preying on its prey.

“…”

“…”

A silence fell over the arena at Lucas’s strike.

Not only the Royal Knights but also the territory residents of Ruben did not utter a word.

“Please…! Please…!”

Only Cyan clenched his fists and cheered for Lucas.

A breathtaking battle.

A clash that didn’t even allow for exclamations continued and continued.

And the result at the end was…

-Lucas wins!

It was Ruben’s first victory.

Waaaaaaah!!

At the same time, a tremendous roar covered the arena.

That was because the duel that Lucas and Gain showed.

It was a duel that was enough to ignite people’s hearts.

That’s why this roar was sent to Lucas, who had won.

It was also a roar sent to Gain, who had lost.

“Yes!!!”

Cyan clenched his fist and shouted.

A betting match with a best-of-five format.

After the previous two losses, this was virtually the last possible duel.

But was it because it was Lucas?

“Good job, Lucas! Really good job!”

With this, there were two wins left.

No, it could be said that there was virtually one left.

That’s because Kendrick was competing in the next fourth match.

Kendrick’s opponent was Philip, the commander of the 3rd Knights of the Royal Knights.

He was a tremendous master-level expert, but… it didn’t matter.

There was no way he could win against Kendrick.

And as expected.

-Kendrick wins!

The result was as expected.

#

With Kendrick’s victory, the score was tied at 2:2.

And the betting match was a best-of-five format.

So, only the last match remained.

And for that grand fifth match.

Yale competed on the Royal Knights side.

Yale, the commander of the 2nd Knights of the Royal Knights.

He was the Crown Prince’s direct bodyguard and a master-level expert.

And Ruben’s knight to face such Yale was…

“Lord! Fighting!”

“Please win, Lord!”

It was none other than Cyan.

Cyan slowly stepped onto the dueling arena.

And Yale also came up to the dueling arena through the stairs on the opposite side.

To be honest, this duel didn’t make sense.

A betting match where representatives who matched each other’s level competed.

That’s why Cyan shouldn’t have faced Yale.

No matter how much Cyan had grown, he wasn’t master-level.

So, a match with Yale, who was master-level, shouldn’t have been established.

Nevertheless, there was no other reason why this battle was established.

If that were the case, Kendrick shouldn’t have competed either.

Kendrick, who was master-level.

Even though he was the commander of the Royal Knights, the difference in level was clear.

That’s why it was like they had conceded the victory to each other once.

‘That’s why I told you to win only twice…’

That’s also why Cyan was obsessed with the previous two battles.

But in the end, it had come down to the fifth match.

It was a situation where the outcome of the betting match depended on Cyan’s victory or defeat.

And in fact, the outcome could be seen as decided.

There was no way Cyan could beat Yale.

Most of the people gathered here thought so.

But.

-Are you both ready?

At Leia’s words, Cyan nodded lightly.

Yale also nodded back.

And the gazes met.

Cyan drew his sword and raised his momentum.

Yale was a master-level expert.

Cyan had a desire to grasp his own realm in the duel with Yale.

But that was something that could be done at any time.

If he won this duel, he could do it anytime.

So, the most important thing was the outcome of this duel.

‘I’m going all out.’

Darkness endlessly rose from Cyan’s entire body.

Looking at Cyan’s appearance, Yale also raised his magic power.

The swordsmanship that Cyan was currently unfolding.

The oppressive feeling that pierced the skin was telling him how powerful that swordsmanship was.

And Yale had once seen the power of that swordsmanship in the clash with Kai.

It was truly a swordsmanship with amazing power.

But it wasn’t a level that he couldn’t respond to.

Also, the match was just a match.

Yale intended to give his all in this duel.

Yale prepared for Cyan’s strike that was about to come.

But.

Kwaaaaaaa!

The power he felt… was different from what he expected.

It was completely different from the power in his memory.

It wasn’t just different, it was beyond his expectations.

This… this…

He mustn’t block it.

No, he can’t block it.

A distant power that he couldn’t dare to touch.

“…!!”

Yale’s eyes widened.

And in an instant.

A huge strike grazed Yale’s body.

Demon Soul Asura Sword (魔魂修羅劍) [A powerful and dark swordsmanship technique].

Form 1 (第 一式) [The first stance or move].

Extreme (極) – Asura Heavenly Slaughter (修羅天殺) [The ultimate execution of the first form, a devastating attack].