Heavenly Inquisition Sword - Chapter 1456



Only Noblemtl

Episode 1456. Rejection is rejection.

Marquis Charles Bernardo was momentarily shocked when Count Elio Lagoa suddenly approached him.

‘What? I apologized, so why are you acting like this? What did I say?’

But no matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t miss anything.

He was very apologetic about what he had done.

But why is Count Lagoa charging at me like an angry beast?

‘Even so, I, the Marquis, should not be afraid of the Count.’

The Marquis Bernardo did not avoid being in front of other great nobles.

Finally, Count Lagoa reached the Marquis Bernardo.

When Marquis Bernardo looks at Count Lagoa with a look that says, ‘Why?’

Elio’s hands, holding leather gloves, moved quickly from side to side.

Clang! Clang!

With a brisk striking sound, the face of the Marquis Bernardo turned from side to side.

For a moment, silence fell on the conference room.

Elio said, throwing his leather glove at Marquis Bernardo’s chest.

“Marquis Charles Bernardo, you have caused my subordinate commanders to rebel, and have tarnished not only the discipline of my troops, but also the honor of my friend. Therefore, I, Elio Lagoa, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Army, challenge you to a duel. If you refuse, you will be refused. If you refuse, the tip of my sword will be turned against the Marquis Bernardo.”

“… … .”

The Marquis Bernardo’s face flushed with shame, but soon he could not help but feel extreme fear.

A duel with the Grand Master?

You refuse to accept the rejection?

Even the threat of hitting the Marquis Bernardo if he refused made his mind go blank.

The great nobles of the Marquis Bernardo family were also surprised.

Count Lagoa’s extreme move showed no way out.

In most cases, there is room for compromise using withdrawal as a weapon, but a request for a duel is different.

Right now, I have to choose between ‘Marquis Charles Bernardo’ and ‘Marquis Bernardo’.

The words of a great nobleman carry weight.

Moreover, since it was a declaration of a duel in front of the great nobles of the kingdom, it was practically decided.

None of the nobles in the conference room opened their mouths.

It makes sense that if you make one mistake here, you’ll face the full wrath of the Grand Master.

Count Matthias Codrantes and even Duke Stauros Escatos only watched Count Lagoa’s every move.

If it had been before the duel request, then it wouldn’t have been different. After the duel request, there was almost nothing the two could do.

Marquis Bernardo, who had just come to his senses, said with a look of shock on his face.

“Why? I apologized for that in front of the nobles.”

“The apology should have gone to Baroness Ashley Nelson.”

“I will do it!”

The Marquis Bernardo was willing to go to great lengths to avoid a duel.

But Count Lagoa’s return reply was cold.

“It’s too late. You had a chance to correct your mistake. But you didn’t. What you do when the blade is at your chin is meaningless.”

“Is that mistake so great that the Marquis should fight a duel? No! That can be resolved with a few words. Are you using that as an excuse to attack me? Are you trying to get your hands on the Western Army? If so, I will not respond. I can refuse a duel for an illegal and improper purpose according to the laws of the kingdom!”

Marquis Bernardo turned his head to Duke Eschatos.

It is a look of hope for support.

But the words that came out of Duke Eschatos’ mouth drove him into despair.

“Certainly, duels between nobles are subject to such a pretext. However, I do not see any evidence of such a thing.”

The Duke, who was already thinking of replacing the Marquis Bernardo, did not respond at all.

Even Count Cordrantes nodded and stepped forward to help the Duke.

“To my eyes, it seems far removed from any illegal or improper purpose.”

When Duke Eschatos and Count Codrantes revealed their true intentions, the other nobles nodded.

If it is a duel approved by the great nobles, there is no way to avoid it.

Count Soulis Scarid, the commander of the knights, spoke to Marquis Bernardo, who was gnashing his teeth in betrayal.

“Your Majesty, I think you must accept the duel.”

When even his trusted confidants turned their backs on him, the Marquis Bernardo began to stagger as if he was feeling dizzy.

But none of the Marquis’ retainers supported him.

Marquis Bernardo, who had regained his balance only after holding onto the chair, asked with a dejected look on his face.

“Is it permitted to build a temple?”

“I wonder if there is a knight who would be willing to fight as a champion in a duel that is not honorable. I don’t care. Then, I will now state the conditions of the duel. If you lose, kneel before Captain Nelson and apologize. If you have any conditions of your own, then tell me. If I lose, I am also prepared to kneel before you.”

If someone heard it, they would say that it was a fairly fair condition, but it was said by a Grand Master, so it was all in vain.

“… … I, haa! None.”

If you set a condition for victory in a duel against the Grand Master, who even slaughters Demon Lords, it would only lead to more ridicule.

The duel date was set for the next day at noon, and the location was set to be the Western Army’s camp.

When the duel was set, Duke Eschatos declared the meeting adjourned.

***

Kingdom of Alex.

Western Army camp.

Marquis Bernardo, who returned to the Unicorn Corps, summoned his vassals.

To prepare for the duel with Count Lagoa tomorrow.

As soon as his vassals gathered, the Marquis Bernardo spoke first.

“As you all know, that’s how it turned out. It’s a shame that Duke Escatos and Count Codrantes turned their backs at the last minute… … but there was no choice since our opponent was Count Lagoa. The duel is tomorrow, so we’ll need to find a great warrior in the camp… … . Who would like to volunteer?”

The vassals’ gazes were all turned to Count Soulis Scarid, the commander of the Phoenix Knights.

That’s because he is the last remaining swordmaster of the Marquis Bernardo family.

But Count Scarid did not move an inch.

Chief of Staff Viscount Cotton Bernardo, who could no longer stand to watch, said a word.

“Your Majesty, since the knights are so humble, how about making a recommendation?”

It means that we should push them because they won’t step forward on their own.

“That sounds like a good idea too.”

“I would prefer a recommendation.”

Marquis Bernardo also nodded at the words of his men.

“Then give me your recommendation. Which knight would you recommend as the Grand Master?”

Although I suggested that we do it as a recommendation, the people who went were cautious and kept quiet.

It’s called a recommendation, but it’s just a way to corner Count Scarid.

In the end, this time the Chief of Staff, who was the Marquis’ right-hand man, stepped forward.

“I recommend Count Scarid, the commander of the Knights of the Phoenix. He will be able to protect the honor of the Marquis.”

The Chief of Staff emphasized his position as Commander of the Phoenix Knights.

In fact, it was true that the Knights of the Phoenix, the Marquis’ personal guard, should come forward.

Marquis Bernardo’s gaze turned to Count Scarid.

However, Count Scarid immediately expressed his intention to refuse.

“I’m sorry, but I will not step forward as a warrior.”

The chief of staff asked on behalf of the bewildered marquis.

“Commander, excuse me, but may I ask why?”

“Why? I cannot accept this duel because it is not honorable for me. You, as Chief of Staff, would know better why.”

“… … .”

The vassals looked back and forth between the Marquis and the Knight Commander.

Anyone who looked at it could tell that the Marquis’ strongest knight commander had rebelled against him.

A cool tension hung in the conference room.

The face of Marquis Bernardo turned red and blue, but no one came forward to rebuke the commander.

Even the knights currently guarding the conference room are all members of the Phoenix Knights.

The Marquis suppressed his anger with superhuman patience and said:

“The Knight Commander said he cannot do it due to personal reasons, so please recommend another knight.”

Count Scarid’s eyebrows twitched for a moment, but he did not correct the Marquis’ statement that it was ‘personal matters’.

After Sword Master comes Sword Expert.

If a sword expert goes up against a Grand Master, the duel itself becomes ridiculous.

That’s why the people couldn’t bring themselves to recommend the great warrior.

Then a nobleman broke the silence and stepped forward.

It was Baron Simon Bernardo, the younger brother of Marquis Charles Bernardo.

Although he was lower in the line of succession, he acquired the title of Baron early on after becoming a Sword Beginner.

“If the Knight Commander cannot do it, I think it would be honorable for His Majesty the Marquis to personally take part in the duel, rather than as a Grand Knight.”

“… … .”

An odd silence fell over the room.

In the unlikely event that the Marquis dies from the aftereffects of the duel, his second son, Simon Bernardo, will inherit the title.

The Marquis Bernardo glared at his brother with eyes that seemed ready to devour him.

But for some reason, the gods don’t object?

The Marquis Bernardo examined his vassals one by one.

The people who went around quietly avoided eye contact, but in the end, no one objected.

The Marquis Bernardo said with an angry face.

“It seems like there are many people who want me to die in this duel.”

“no!”

“Your Majesty, there is a misunderstanding!”

“It is simply disrespectful to Count Lagoa to put forth a sword expert as a grand warrior.”

Marquis Bernardo shouted at the obvious excuses of his men.

“Isn’t that disrespectful to Count Lagoa? He has no respect for me, so why should I be respectful to him?”

Then Baron Simon Bernardo said in a nonchalant tone:

“That’s because Count Lagoa is the Grand Master, brother.”

Baron Bernardo’s words were the deciding factor.

The meeting called by the Marquis ended without saving the great warrior.

Marquis Bernardo, who had sent away all his retainers, asked his chief of staff.

“How about assassinating Count Lagoa tonight?”

“It’s impossible. We won’t be able to break through the Western Command’s escort.”

“What about pressuring Count Lagoa with the withdrawal card?”

“That is impossible. You saw today how worthless he is. If you withdraw, he will frame you for disobedience and kill all of you.”

“Are you saying there is no way?”

“Yes.”

“Hehehe! Keuhehe!”

Suddenly the Marquis Bernardo began to laugh and shrug his shoulders.

The chief of staff watched him silently, knowing the Marquis’s miserable state of mind.

After a while the laughter died down.

After a while, Marquis Bernardo muttered to himself.

“It seems I have done many wrong things. When I am weak, I try to bite others, but no one covers my shame. Go out. I want to be alone.”

The chief of staff bowed and left quietly.

That evening.

An uninvited guest arrived at Count Lagoa’s barracks.

He was sent by Baron Simon Bernardo, the Marquis’ brother.

“You are Baron Simon’s agent? What brings you to me at this hour?”

The agent spoke quietly to Count Lagoa.

“I know you are very upset about what happened to Marquis Bernardo. I have come to see you to make a suggestion before the duel tomorrow.”

“What?”

“The Marquis has decided to fight the duel himself tomorrow since he was unable to find a great warrior.”

“So, please consider the situation?”

“No, on the contrary. You won’t kill him if he accepts an apology, will you? Inflict serious injuries on the Marquis that will make it difficult for him to recover. If you do that, Baron Simon has promised to cede Enarke and its territory to you.”

Elio frowned at the man’s words.

How dare you use me in a fratricidal feud?

I felt an urge to open the minds of the nobles and the Marquis.

“I have listened to Baron Simon’s offer. I will spare your life, so shut your stinking mouth and get out of here.”

Elio muttered with a tired face as he chased away the agent.

“What kind of world is this, full of crazy people?”

Now, the Marquis Charles Bernard is actually being pitied.