A Stuffed Cheonma in my Head - Chapter 121



Only Noblemtl

Episode 121. Tree Seeds

The silence continued… the two knights clashed.

The auras brightly colored each other’s swords.

Zzz!

-Wow!

The crowd cheered.

Among them, there were many voices cheering for the Count in particular.

From what I’ve heard, there were people who supported the Black Prince after seeing Lord Walpole’s fierce fighting in the previous battle.

There were also those who seemed to have known Count Starvanger from before.

There were also voices of support mixed in, calling him the Knight Commander of the Starvanger Knights, the head of the household where the golden flash was.

I listened to the voices of the audience, then quickly turned my gaze to the stage where the battle was in full swing.

The Count, living up to his nickname of the young Hermann, was suddenly showing off bold and rough swordsmanship as if possessed by a ghost.

Stefan was on the defensive, focusing on dodging or blocking the Count’s sword.

He seemed more cautious than when he dealt with Walpole.

“… … .”

I watched the scene and then looked at Sir Ashley as he came out of the waiting room.

“What do you think?”

Ashley answered with a sharp exhalation, an exhalation that seemed like a sigh of relief.

“I’m safe.”

“Your arms?”

“I pasted it.”

“hmm.”

“You won’t be able to move right away, but if you continue to receive treatment and undergo rehabilitation, you will be able to move like before.”

I nodded.

“That’s fortunate.”

“yes.”

I suddenly remembered the sight of a brown aura exploding and burning.

How could a dying candle suddenly ignite such a flame?

Is it because of the breakfast?

Or maybe it was just some wall breaking down and the potential dormant within him exploding.

It was something unknown.

I turned my gaze up to the stage with that thought in mind.

Two knights were clashing their swords.

The Count was pushing forward, swinging his sword so hard that his opponent’s opening was completely exposed.

Stefan seemed worried that the gap might be a trap. Naturally, he had no choice but to focus on defense.

The appearance of the impetuous count was quite unfamiliar to me.

As I watched the man who had always seemed kind smile so fiercely and swing his sword so boldly as if he had no concern for death…

I can now somewhat understand what it means to be possessed by a ghost.

With the addition of a ghostly blue aura, it really seemed like the ghost possessing the Count was swinging the sword.

The seemingly tight fight was finally broken when Stefan thrust his sword at the Count’s opening.

The cautious Stefan calmly blocked and deflected the Count’s sword strikes, eventually stabbing him in the shoulder.

The Count’s attacks were becoming more and more intense, and the gap between them was getting bigger. It seemed that the calculation was that the gap was so wide that even if it was a trap, it would not cause any damage.

Honestly, I felt like I couldn’t hold it in any longer and would have stuck my sword in. Of course, I wouldn’t have waited until then and would have stuck my sword in long ago.

In any case, Stefan’s stab of conversion went through without any hindrance and pierced the Count’s shoulder.

But the count was not embarrassed.

No, rather, as if he had been waiting for that, he kicked Stefan’s thigh hard without hesitation.

It was the place where Walpole was wounded by a thrown sword.

“Huh!”

Stefan’s posture collapsed.

But Stefan did not give up. He retrieved the sword he had been thrusting with as if to tear the Count apart, and swung it with all his might.

The count confronted the sword strike head-on.

The ghostly blue aura surrounding his sword darkened for a moment, and he struck Stefan’s sword with all his might.

Wow!

That was the end of it.

Stefan’s sword flew away and fell far away.

The Count held his sword to Stefan’s neck, blood dripping from his shoulder.

“Surrender. There is no second chance. I am not as kind-hearted as you are.”

Stefan smiled bitterly and raised both hands.

“… … I surrender.”

Aaron shouted.

-Wow!

The audience, who had been holding their breath, suddenly cheered.

“… … .”

I looked at the Count who had finally won without causing any injuries to Stefan.

A winner with fatal injuries, and a loser with no major injuries.

… … What is this irony?

It seems like he had this in mind from the beginning.

He boldly gives up his greed to win against Stefan without any injuries and willingly sacrifices one shoulder to bring about victory.

A very bold and classic tactic that involves giving flesh and taking bones. A very dangerous method that can result in giving away your own flesh and bones if you make a mistake.

Count… … Was he originally such a bold man when fighting?

Cheonma explained.

[This is a strategy that only those who can look at themselves with a completely objective perspective can use.]

“hmm.”

[Of course, you also need to have the insight to accurately gauge your opponent’s skills. You need to be able to objectively calculate the skill gap between yourself and your opponent, and choose a method to narrow that gap… … . You’re quite an experienced person.]

Just because you’re stronger than your opponent doesn’t mean you’ll always win.

Listening to Cheonma’s words, it was a thoroughly calculated boldness.

Now that I think about it, it seems like all the gaps I had exposed were around my shoulders.

He must have had great pride as a former royal knight. It seemed impressive that he humbly acknowledged his own shortcomings and chose such a strategy.

Clap clap clap… … .

I applauded the Count with all my heart.

‘Count, please accept my respects.’

I could find myself naturally thinking about what it would have been like to be a royal knight.

Sir Ashley, who was standing next to me, also followed suit and gave a round of applause to the great lord of the Starvanger family.

But the winner’s condition didn’t look so good.

Look at that blood flowing from his shoulder.

Stefan’s sword was also very sharp.

The Count stood upright on the field, even though his shoulder was pierced by Stefan’s sword.

As if there was no problem at all.

Cheonma said.

[Hmm. I don’t think he’s the type of person to come down like that. What do you think?]

“… … That’s right.”

“yes?”

“No, sir.”

“Oh, yes.”

While we’re on the subject, I asked Sir Ashley.

“Do you think the Count will come down?”

“… … .”

“This time, I asked Kyunghan.”

“Oh, me? What did you say?”

“I asked if our brave and fearless Count would give up the match and come down even though he was not in a condition to fight properly.”

“Uh… … Well.”

Sir Ashley, who had been tilting his head at the Count, soon spoke in a confident tone.

“You look determined. It doesn’t look like you’re going to come down.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The master is a gentleman, but he is stubborn and sticks to what he has decided. I think that’s exactly what’s happening right now.”

“I see.”

Even though he was in good shape, he gave up one shoulder and won.

I was afraid of what I would give up in the next game, when I was at a much greater disadvantage.

If I continue to fight like this… … .

In the worst case scenario, I might even have to give up my life.

“Your Majesty, Lady Bok-sil. Come here.”

I immediately summoned the Black Prince and Bok-sil.

* * *

Under the thunderous cheers and applause, the two knights conversed calmly.

The Count, who had returned to his usual kind face, extended his hand to the fallen Stefan.

“You worked hard. Your skills are better than I heard.”

Stefan looked at the Count’s outstretched hand, smiled, then took it and stood up.

“… … I thought you were an old, toothless tiger. You’re a seasoned tiger that’s been through a lot. I’m learning a thing or two.”

“You are flattering me.”

“then.”

After exchanging a brief anecdote, Stefan picked up his sword that had fallen on the floor and limped down to the platform.

He stood before the first prince who had been waiting.

The prince looked at me with a stiff expression.

“Sir Stephen.”

Stefan bowed his head.

“… … I have no face.”

The first prince, who had been looking at him for a moment, said:

“No. It’s enough to have captured Count Hermann. I thought you had dropped your sword, but I guess not.”

The first prince, muttering as if talking to himself, patted Stefan on the shoulder.

“There is nothing more pathetic than talking about the past, Sir Stephen.”

“yes.”

“You fought well enough. Go in and get treated.”

“……yes.”

.

.

.

The count, left alone on the platform, dispersed the aura that was swirling around his sword and put it back in its scabbard.

Then he stared blankly at the sword stuck diagonally in the floor over there.

It was a trace of Walpole’s last strength being thrown away.

The earl walked towards the sword, stumbled for a moment, and fell forward, grabbing Walpole’s sword.

Blood was dripping from his shoulder, where it had been pierced by Stefan’s sword.

“Phew… … .”

The count let out a heavy sigh.

“I guess time cannot be defeated.”

I know that saying “If it were like the old days… ” has no meaning, but I couldn’t help but feel regretful.

Is this the vexation of time? My body doesn’t feel like it used to.

“… … It’s overwhelming to fight such a talented young knight.”

The earl took a moment to catch his breath while holding onto his sword, then used the sword as a cane to raise himself up and drew Walpole’s sword.

Aaron approached him like that.

“Thank you for your hard work, senior.”

The count looked at him with deep eyes.

“Aaron Horvath… was it you?”

“Yes. It hasn’t been long since I enlisted.”

The count glanced at him again.

“You’re amazing at such a young age.”

Aaron laughed.

“There are also seniors who joined at a much younger age than me. What?”

“……yes.”

The count looked towards the first prince.

There, a knight with a particularly small physique was looking this way while wearing a helmet.

When her eyes met the count’s, she bowed her head slightly.

The count smiled gently and bowed his head in return.

That’s what I thought.

‘There are so many excellent knights.’

The youngest genius to join the Royal Knights in his 20s appears.

Aren’t there ignorant people who fight to the end in a fight they know they will lose, risking their lives?

Wouldn’t a monster appear that could easily defeat that knight of the cold?

A new era was dawning, brighter than ever.

“… … .”

Now, it saddens me to realize that I am too old to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

The count laughed in vain, seeing himself now without any sense of triumph.

“… … I’ve gotten really old too.”

There were times when I too would clash swords with the strong and burn my heart… … .

A look of regret appeared on his face.

But soon he shook his head and shook it off.

His time has already come to an end.

If you don’t admit it, it’s just an old man’s blunder.

All I can do is pave the way for them.

“Senior.”

Aaron asked.

“Do you want to continue the game?”

The count nodded without hesitation.

Even though my body is injured, I can’t go down like this.

The opposing knight was already walking out from far away.

This person was no pushover either, as his eyes were sharp.

‘Even if you don’t win, you have to hurt someone somewhere… and then your face will be better.’

The face of Walpole, who had volunteered for this mission, came to mind.

He had just returned from his mission, so he responded with a determined look to the Count’s words to rest.

‘I really want to participate.’

His eyes were clearly shining as he spoke like that.

It’s a bit of a strange metaphor, but the eyes were shining just like the seeds of a tree.

If it were a normal day, he would be relaxed, drinking beer with his colleagues and telling stories of his bravery on missions.

Why did I suddenly become so motivated that I refused to rest?

The count could easily guess the reason.

Walpole’s expression as he looked at the back of a man of similar age.

Shock. Fear. Awe. Reflection. Regret. Respect. Realization. Competitiveness.

I saw so many emotions pass by in a moment.

The egg is breaking and a new one is being born.

It’s trying to fly up while breaking and shattering.

The guy who might be the protagonist of the new era is wriggling and moving with all his might.

This is the moment when a great knight is born.

If so, then what you have to do is clear.

Providing the foundation for it.

If we lose here, the land will be engulfed in fire.

The count closed his eyes.

“Phew… … .”

I took a deep breath, evened out my breathing, and concentrated my mind.

I decided to forget about the pain in my shoulder.

There’s something more important than that.

Flash.

When the Count opened his eyes again, a ghostly smile appeared on his face.

Aaron said to him,

“Senior, please come down to the stadium.”

The count looked at him.

“Didn’t you say you would continue?”

“Yes, it was.”

“But?”

Aaron said, looking behind the count.

“There is nothing we can do about it due to regulations.”

When the count looked back, the red-eyed man was already on the stage.