The double life of a count’s bastard

Episode 19

“…… vs.?”

Kevin looked at Janssen, wondering if he hadn’t heard correctly.

Janssen explained the situation to Kevin in such detail that he didn’t need to be told twice.

“You’re completely insane.”

Kevin summarized Janssen’s lengthy explanation.

Rousseau challenging Colin, a fifth-ranked knight, to a formal duel was, to anyone watching, the equivalent of screaming ‘Kill me.

It’s not even an opponent.

In short, even if Colin fought with a sword in his left hand instead of his right, he would be able to handle Rousseau like a toy.

“What was Count Slater’s reaction?”

“All I heard was that Rousseau was summoned to Count Slater in a hurry.”

“I’m sure he’s screaming at him, asking him what the hell he was thinking, and as if he didn’t already have enough to worry about with the failed expedition, now he’s got his little bastard to worry about!”

Kevin thought that if he were Earl Slater, he would have broken both his legs and put him in the corner of the room.

“So when and where is the showdown?”

“The showdown is at ten o’clock tonight, and he said he’d let me know the location beforehand.”

“That late, and they haven’t even decided on a location?”

Kevin’s brow furrowed as he wondered if there was something up his sleeve since the duel would be held at Count Slater’s training grounds.

But.

“Well, whatever he’s up to, there’s no way Colin’s going to lose to a bunch of wimps!

A firm belief.

The difference between Colin’s and Russo’s skills was too great to compare, so Kevin decided not to worry about it anymore.

“I’m going to see for myself what happens to an asshole.”

Jansen shook his head as if that would be difficult.

“Each side is allowed one observer for the showdown, and I’ve been chosen to be Colin’s observer.”

“You’re limiting the number of observers?”

“It was Rousseau’s will.”

It’s not uncommon in knightly duels for the contestants to choose their observers.

The purpose of limiting the number of observers was to keep the outcome of the duel a secret, but there were also many other reasons for doing so, such as to prevent emotions from flaring up between the two sides depending on the outcome of the duel.

In addition, it was not uncommon for people to withhold their fights from the public for reasons of honor and pride.

“They don’t want to be humiliated?”

I nodded in understanding, knowing that even as Kevin, I couldn’t just sit back and be an observer.

“But I can’t help it if I have a shred of pride. Make that clear to Ser Colin. Make sure the wretch gets his ass kicked.”

Kevin, whose relationship with Lily had been ruined by Rousseau’s shenanigans, did not doubt that Colin would be a hotbed of vicarious revenge.

* * *

“…….”

The night was pitch black.

Called out at a time when even the moonlight was obscured by clouds, Jason peered into the darkness to find Russo.

“This way.”

Russo’s silhouette came into view from the direction his voice had come from.

Quickly approaching, Jason sucked in a breath of air.

“Master Russo?”

As he drew closer, Russo’s form was unlike anything Jason had ever seen before.

Russo is in full body armor.

“Where did you get the …… armor, did you buy it?”

Jason groaned at the thought of buying an expensive full-body armor to face Colin.

“You’re telling me you’re going to take on Sir Colin with a suit of armor?

No one in their right mind would do that.

No matter how strong the full-body armor was, the difference between Rousseau’s and Colin’s skills was obvious.

“What do you think? It’s a bit old, but it’s still pretty good, right?”

Rousseau’s giggling as he spun around in a circle with his arms outstretched to show off his armor made Jason’s skin crawl.

“Master, even the finest armor is useless against Sir Colin’s sword. You should tell Ser Colin you’re calling off the duel now.”

I’ll be humiliated.

You’ll be laughed at.

Still, it’s better than having your limbs broken.

As an aside.

“What difference does a little humiliation and ridicule make when you’re already being called an asshole every day?

In the cold light of day, this is a confrontation Russo should avoid.

“This armor is expensive, Colin, and you’re no match for his sword!”

Jason sighed heavily at the pretentious bastard’s words.

No doubt he’d been called to Count Slater’s office and told in scabs on his ears that he’d have to cancel the match.

Still, Rousseau seemed to be preparing for the duel with such nonchalance that Jason couldn’t help but shut up.

“We’re running out of time, so let’s move.”

Rousseau set off at a brisk pace, Jason following closely behind.

“Isn’t the sound of the armor moving too silent? How can it be so silent? Is it…… defective??

Normally, full-body armor would make a metallic clanking, clanking, clanking sound with every movement.

No matter how good the technology and magical treatments were, it was impossible to hear anything in the silence of the night.

Naturally, Jason’s first thought was that Rousseau had bought a defective product.

Jason shook his head and muttered to himself, “This man is hopeless.” Rousseau was now getting scammed again and again.

He quickly arrived to find Colin and Jansen standing side by side, lightly dressed in no armor and carrying only a single sword.

“Good, you were the first to arrive, so I’ll give you extra credit for that!”

Rousseau’s voice recognized Collin’s appearance and snorted.

“You’re going to trust your full body armor to fight me?”

“Why, why not?”

Rousseau’s naturally virtuous response left Colin speechless for a moment.

As a knight, Colin knew better than anyone the defensive power of full body armor.

“You should have brought a club or a mace.”

Why hadn’t I realized that a club is a medicine for a madman or an unruly rampaging wretch?

Colin would have switched weapons if he could, but even with a sword, he was confident that he could inflict extreme fear and pain on Russo.

“We’re running out of time, so why don’t we get started? I’d rather have a bastard come at me than a wimp, right?”

Colin gritted his teeth at Rousseau’s utter lack of nervousness in the face of a confrontation that could break any number of bones.”You crazy bastard. Do whatever you want, I’ll make sure you can’t even crawl out of this seat!”

“That sounds good!”

Rousseau retorted, kicking the ground and lunging at Colin.

Just then, the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, causing the blade of Rousseau’s drawn sword to flash.

Flinch!

For some reason, the sight of Rousseau charging and the blade in his hand made Colin’s heart pound.

‘He hasn’t held a sword since he was ten years old, there’s no way I’m going to lose to him!

Colin didn’t even draw his sword and swung it at Rousseau quickly.

Boo-boo-!

The swiftness of Colin’s sword struck Rousseau’s side with the hilt.

It was an attack that was more than half a beat faster than Rousseau’s, who had charged and swung his sword, so the difference between the two of them was obvious.

‘You fool! Did you only think that your full body armor would protect your limbs from being burned? Why don’t you know that your bones would shatter from the blow?

Colin, who was ashamed to draw his sword against such a fool, was quite pleased with the situation.

He viciously planned to beat Rousseau all over the body without even drawing his sword, so that he would be unable to walk or stand for at least a month.

Boom!

It went in.

Colin knew he had hit Rousseau in the side by the strong recoil he felt at his fingertips.

He should have been screaming and staggering.

Shhhhh!

“Hmph!”

Boo-ak!

By a split second, Colin managed to avoid a deep gash in his side.

However, his clothes were torn and his flesh split open, leaking blood.

“Bar, you fought back?!”

And the pain in his side?

The blow was so hard that most people wouldn’t even be able to breathe.

To fight back in such a situation was way out of Colin’s comfort zone.

“A little shallow? Lucky?”

Rousseau’s frown made Colin’s head spin.

He couldn’t understand how she could be so unharmed.

“Ah! I should warn you, my armor is rather strong. I warned you last time, and you did something stupid, so I’m warning you again, my armor is very, very strong, so you’d better…… get your shit together!”

Rousseau’s steps quickened.

His entire gesture was so light and fluid that it was impossible to believe that he was wearing full body armor.

“Isn’t the material of the full body armor…… metal?!

Although the feeling when he landed a successful blow was different than usual, Colin never thought that the armor was made of metal.

It was a special material that looked like a full body armor made of metal that caught him off guard.

“You’ve chosen this time of night and this place with no lights to play tricks on me!

Colin’s eyes glowed with cold fury at Rousseau’s dirty trick.

“Do you think I’ll fall for such a shallow trick!”

Feeling that he had made a mess of the divine knight’s confrontation, Colin drew his sword and charged at him, as if he had nothing to lose.

“Colin’s skill is rank 5, Excalion’s defense is more than enough for now!

The shock on his side confirmed that Rousseau could withstand most of Colin’s attacks.

The problem was not blocking, but attacking.

Even if he could withstand Colin’s attacks with Excalion’s defense, if he couldn’t land his attacks, the matchup was likely to be Russo’s to lose.

Knowing that he would have to defeat Colin within Excalion’s duration, Rousseau naturally thought back to his bloody duel with Hans.

‘The Slater Family’s swordsmanship is the best in the continent. However, no matter how good a swordsman you are, you will never be able to defeat a sword wielded by an unskilled human.

“Even now, I’ve never heard of anyone with more talent than me… Talent? You’ll have to wait and see, I’m sure it will increase day by day!

‘Are you talking about when you were a snotty kid, because that’s what I grew up hearing, and I’m sure quite a few knights grew up hearing? And what if you don’t have the skills right now, and you meet a strong opponent, are you going to beg to fight later?

‘……So what! So what!’

‘I’m just saying that if you don’t have the skills right now, you need to substitute something else. I don’t think you’re as smart as you think you are…….’

If you don’t have the skills right now, you should try to close the gap with your opponent by any means necessary.

‘That’s not Orthodox!’

Orthodox knights never talk like Hans.

They’re more like mercenaries and warriors who will do whatever it takes to win.

“What good is chivalry when you’re about to get your head cut off!

Rousseau completely agrees with Hans and believes it’s the surest way to win.

In that sense, Colin is a knight.

He was also an orthodox knight, so his sword was honest and upright.

Whereas.

‘Hans, that man was far from orthodox, far too far!

Hans annoyed Rousseau with his unorthodox style until he couldn’t understand why he lived as a free knight instead of a mercenary or warrior.

‘Thanks to you.

‘I’ve learned a lot!’

Rousseau, who was in a hurry to block Colin’s attack, calmly took advantage of the opportunity.

Kaang!

Rousseau let out a short groan as Colin’s sword stabbed into his right armpit, but his eyes flashed.

Thwack!!!

Rousseau grabbed Colin’s blade with his left hand.

“……!!”

Colin’s eyes widened as Russo grabbed his blade as if he’d lost his mind.

With a slight twist of his wrist, his fingers would be sliced off.

But.

“What the hell!

He twisted his wrist as if it were pinched by something, but the blade in Rousseau’s hand didn’t budge.

Rousseau’s fingers were perfectly protected by the Excalaeon, which covered his entire body from toe to hair.

Unaware of this, Colin was momentarily taken aback, and Rousseau used this to his advantage, gripping Colin’s blade as tightly as he could with his left hand while quickly swinging the sword in his right.

Just in time, the moonlight shone down again and Rousseau’s blade flashed sharply.

Aaaah!

Jansen, who had been watching Rousseau’s sword head towards Colin’s chest like a thunderbolt, let out an involuntary shout.

“Colin!!!”