Episode 18
Episode 13. Become a disciple of Duran Jacques (1)
Duran rode down the hill on horseback.
The weapon he chose today to destroy the kingdom of Ahmad was a demonic sword named ‘Starbuster’. It was a sword with the majesty that could cut or break anything.
Duran drove the horse while turning the starbuster with one hand.
“Get your ranks in order!”
When Duran shouted, the knights commanded the scattered troops with Jung-gu Heating.
The soldiers followed the orders of the knights and generals and moved busily to line up. Yuma also gathered nearby subordinates.
Some of the Ahmad kingdom army had abandoned the castle and were fleeing. Enemy fugitives running everywhere for their lives fell to Randell.
Randell ordered the archers on standby to aim and fire.
The elite archers of the empire never wasted their arrows. The fugitives running without taking cover were no different from practice targets.
At the same time, Randell started moving with a few knights and some cavalry.
It was to catch the enemy royalty and nobles escaping through the secret passage of Ahmad Castle.
When he reached right in front of Ahmad Castle, Duran got off his horse and passed between the lined up soldiers.
As Duran walked towards the outer castle gate, enemy archers poured arrows at him.
Woo woo woo!
Before the first of hundreds of arrows even hit the ground, Duran swung his Starbuster. A golden aura erupted in all directions.
It looked as if lightning had been scattered in the direction the Starbuster was swung.
The aura shattered the falling arrows and crashed into the castle walls. As if a huge whip had hit the wall, stone dust fell and left marks.
Yuma was staring at Duran in dismay.
A man who is not lacking in being called a god of war. Together with Hugo, the world’s only two Grand Master King of Knights, Duran.
Before becoming a eunuch, he heard only the news from the fishing village of Ferol and set himself as a target.
It was the first time I had seen Duran fight in person.
I’ve only heard rumors passed down like legends.
During his time as a eunuch, Yuma always worked at the imperial castle, and Duran was out on the battlefield without a break.
Until he was killed during the Dragon Horse War, Duran was a knight who had never been defeated.
‘Either Hugo or that human is far from common sense.’
Duran was swinging his starbuster and smashing the entire castle gate. Every time Duran swung his greatsword, the ground seemed to vibrate minutely.
The chaotic war between knights and soldiers was settled as soon as Duran appeared.
It was not an exaggeration to say that it was a force capable of dealing with one country.
In fact, the kingdom of Kozel was destroyed by just one Duran Zak.
“Listen to the Ahmad Kingdom army in the castle! Those who surrender before the gates are destroyed will be spared.
I will also give rewards to those who bring the supply and demand of the royal family!”
Duran stopped attacking for a moment and shouted. Duran thought that the enemy soldiers would obviously decide to surrender while groaning inside the castle.
This is because the heads of the Ahmad kingdom have never staged a spectacle of dedication to the soldiers.
They were truly incompetent rulers.
Yuma found it amusing to unintentionally stand at a historical moment.
Even though it was a one-sided battle, I felt that I had made a remarkable contribution.
Above all, it was clear that he had caught Duran’s attention. The reason why Duran chose the sword himself was to show his ability once.
Yuma was sure that he stood out far above the other knights who had taken part in the battle.
With the intended purpose accomplished, all that was left was to finish roasting Duran.
Bang bang bang!
Duran started pounding the gates again.
If earlier it was a performance for surrender, this time it was real.
The outer and inner gates were soon completely destroyed, like a sandcastle collapsing.
Not a single arrow flew from the wall until all the gates were destroyed. There would be no point in shooting arrows or magic.
Inside the castle, the enemy was waiting with some of the royalty and nobles of the kingdom of Ahmad arrested.
“If you’re royalty, act like royalty. They’re like idiots who are only born with blood.”
Duran broke the bound royal family as if sweeping fallen leaves, and walked to the castle to find the throne.
While Duran was sitting on the throne, the Imperial Army quickly cleared the inside of the castle.
Yuma did not participate in the collection and arranging the loot and moved towards the place where Duran was.
The centurion was not a class that could voluntarily deviate from post-war arrangements.
But no one stopped Yuma. In fact, he was guaranteed more autonomy than a regular article.
Duran sat comfortably on the throne of Ahmad Castle.
“I knew you would come.”
Yuma, who followed his will after realizing his will, had many corners that he coveted the more he saw them.
As they talked all night in the commander’s tent, Duran doubted several times that he was really talking to a sixteen-year-old boy.
He was actually talking to a sixty-year-old eunuch, so it was not unreasonable to be mistaken.
Duran was a person who liked to talk differently from the image known to the world, such as the King of Warlords and Knights.
He had talked to many people over the years, but none he could communicate with as well as Yuma.
It feels like knowing and understanding yourself in advance.
It was unknown how such a boy could have rotted until he was sixteen in a rural village.
“He picked out a good sword.
Thank you, Commander.”
Yuma said while holding out the bastard sword that had been cleaned of blood.
“It’s a rough-looking sword with no decorations.”
“yes. But it was a sword made of Seluka steel. I am here to give it back.”
“How did you know it was Serukasan?”
“If you don’t know that it is Seruka’s steel even after using it yourself, you are not qualified to use the sword.”
All of them were Yuma who picked out Duran’s favorite words and put them out.
Serucian steel looked no different from ordinary steel, but it was an extremely rare steel.
It is a mineral found in very small amounts only in Celuca in the East, and to all the warriors it was like a dream.
There is nothing that Seruka steel weapons cannot cut or break. It was a famous proverb among the uninitiated.
It wasn’t enough that I recognized it, so I came to return it.
Duran noticed that there was no greed in Yuma’s eyes.
“The bastard sword you are holding is far more valuable than this castle of Ahmad. Do you know?”
“I expected that.”
“Take it. This is the sword I deliberately chose to give you.”
“There must be many people in the Zach family who want this sword. Sir Randell is there right now.”
“You can’t know more about swords than I do.”
“you’re right.”
“Then take it without hesitation.
A famous sword becomes nothing more than a lump of iron if it meets the wrong owner. Whether it is a sword made of Seruka or a sword made of dragon bones.”
“All right.”
“The name of that sword is Ascalon. A sword with a history of killing two dragons. We’ll see what else you add to Ascalon’s record.”
Yuma slightly lowered her head and held her lead sword. Duran was convinced that Yuma valued Ascalon only for its value as a weapon, not its monetary value.
“You fought incredibly well for the first time.”
“In my head, I have fought thousands and tens of thousands of times.”
“Reality and imagination are different.”
“It’s not as big of a difference as I thought.”
Duran chuckled and looked down at Yuma.
“It’s true that you are huge for your age. I am not one to be generous with the expression ‘extreme’ on someone.”
“I have heard a similar story from Hugo.”
“Hugo. He’s a friend I’d like to hang out with someday. Who do you think will win?”
“I think Hugo-sama will win.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Duran laughed for a while.
I expected Yuma to speak his mind without hesitation, but I couldn’t help but feel sad inside when I heard it in person.
“why?”
Duran said without hiding his expression.
“I thought of that when I saw the Commander today. Maybe someday it won’t be a level that I can reach.”
“You have a knack for making bold statements so casual.”
“It is because I like Sir Duran.”
“Have you ever seen Hugo fight?”
Yuma paused for a moment.
“It’s an area where you don’t have to look to know. Even if I polish my whole life, his domain is unreasonable.”
“I saw Hugo fight. If it hadn’t been for His Majesty’s request, we would probably have had a fight. As far as I can see, you can be as strong as Hugo. It has a lot of potential.”
When Yuma didn’t answer, Duran continued.
“If it becomes my adopted son.”
“I said no to both.”
Yuma had already taken the initiative in the conversation. It was only natural that Duran was the one who was infinitely regretful.
Duran was struggling to come up with a proposal that would somehow tempt Yuma.
I hated it even if they gave me a rare sword, I hated it even if they raised me to the strongest, I hated it even if they gave me all the privileges that a great aristocrat would enjoy.
Malone before the return just gasped at the quantum proposal and liked it like a puppy, but it wasn’t Yuma.
“How is your disciple?”
said Yuma. Duran pondered for a moment.
‘Wouldn’t it come over if I kept filming him as a disciple and asking him to come in at any time?’
Duran lifted his shoulders as if he had lost.
“good night. student. There is only one condition.
Do not point a knife at the Zachs for any reason.”
“great. I would also like to offer some gifts to the Zach family. Puang Sang Dan never passes favors over.”
“Damn bastard. Did you put your aura on the floor?”
Duran rose slowly from his throne. It was to perform the ceremony of Yuma, master and disciple.
Duran put the Starbuster on the floor. Yuma bent on one knee in front of the Starbuster, showing the manners of a disciple.
“I swear by Dobiaf, god of sun and chariot.”
“The disciple will grow up watching the teacher’s back.”
“The teacher will look into the pupil’s eyes and think.”
As Yuma bowed five times to Duran, slowly glowing letters were engraved on the lower part of Starbuster’s sword body. It was Yuma’s name.
At the same time, Duran Jacques’ name was engraved in the same place on Yuma’s Ascalon.
“The reason I even did this ritual was because I wanted you to never swing your sword at the Zach family.”
“I am well aware of the power of an oath.”
Yuma stood up and checked Duran’s name engraved on Ascalon.
It was an imprint that would prove that Yuma was the only disciple of Duran Zach.
“I will make you the strongest. and you probably won’t Hugo would beat me? I’ll show you my true self, so fight until the next battle. As my orderly and disciple.”
“Are you also working as an orderly?
I like the centurion, Master.”
“Go and make the royal bed.
I will sleep there tonight.”
Yuma smiled and went to find the soldiers under her command. They were the perfect people to wipe the master’s bed today.
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