Sir Neumann, senior knight of the Frontera barony, was not the best swordsman. He was just good enough to be treated as a capable knight in this rural fiefdom. However, he was much more interested in advancing his social status than in improving his swordsmanship. He valued money over loyalty to the lord of the manor, seeking a rapid rise in status over knightly honor. He would do anything to reach his goals.
In fact, he achieved those goals by selling the Frontera's inside information to a swindler.
Lloyd remembered the start of the novel The Knight of Blood and Iron. The fall of the barony was the first ordeal suffered by the main character, Javier. Sir Neumann was behind it.
He sold information about the barony to a crook. The scam artist approached the baron based on that information and sweet-talked him into making a huge investment. In the end, he took the money and ran, bringing financial ruin to the baron.
Sir Neumann's betrayal was the trigger for the downfall of the barony.
"So obviously, you're subject to removal too," Lloyd gently bit his lip. This was the reason he couldn't comfortably live a lazy life after becoming a rural noble's oldest son. He was busy helping this family resolve their pile of debt. It was all the fault of this man.
However, Lloyd didn't rashly show his emotions. When he turned to Sir Neumann, his face had already mellowed into a nonchalant expression.
"Sir Neumann? What did you mean just now?"
"It's just as I said." The corner of Sir Neumann's mouth twitched. "I came here because I have something to say about the unjust violence you used against Sir Ulrich this morning."
"Violence? Unfair? Well, what can I say?"
"Yes."
"Then talk. Go ahead and chatter away to your heart's content."
Lloyd laughed leisurely. Sir Neumann's face hardened more.
"As young master Lloyd knows, Sir Ulrich is undeniably the lord's knight. He took his oath and is entitled to the protection of his rights and honor as a knight. He is not someone you can treat carelessly based on personal feelings."
"Am, right."
"Despite that, you did not respect Sir Ulrich's honor and rights this morning in the slightest."
"Hmm, I didn't."
"Therefore, as the fiefdom's senior knight, I would like to hear your official answer. Do you feel nothing at all about the situation?"
"Hmmn, probably."
He must have gotten angry. Sir Neumann's face turned red all the way to the back of his neck. On the other hand, Lloyd's face was still shamelessly nonchalant.
"Do my words sound like a joke to you, young master Lloyd?"
"No. They sound correct. Painfully correct."
Sir Neumann's eyes trembled. Lloyd put on a brighter smile. What's up with this guy? Is he riled up just from this? A snort came out of Lloyd at seeing Sir Neumann's reaction.
Honestly, this was only a low-level provocation by Lloyd's standards. But he was already angry beyond belief. This man would die in a fit of anger if he ever played in a multiplayer online battle arena in South Korea.
It was true. He regularly frequented the world of online combat games since he was young. That was basically the battlefield where the chaos of the century tap danced. If you made even the smallest mistake in your position, all sorts of insults would pour out of your teammates. It was a feast of curses and barbs hurled at your character. Jokes about your parents were a given. But if you got angry over every little comment? The person who got angry lost. You would tremble with anger and endure further ridicule until your damage meter exploded.
It was a cold and cruel world where you could only survive by laughing off nearly any insults toward your family and responding with something worse. He was an elite veteran who trained in that hell. Actually, most gamers in Korea were.
So, the insult he threw at Sir Neumann just now? It couldn't even be considered a sly greeting. Sir Neumann, however, didn't feel that way. For him, this was one of the greatest insults he had received in his life. Who is this guy?
It was so absurd; Sir Neumann was at a total loss for words. He fully knew from the start that Lloyd was a truly troublesome piece of trash. Still, he thought that he wasn't this bad before. Now, he realized he had been mistaken. It seemed that this insane troublemaker even looked down on him.
"Are you saying now that you will even insult me too?"
"Yes, of course."
"Do you not care about my honor and rights at all?"
"Yes, of course."
"Aren't you worried about the consequences?"
"Yes, of course."
It was only natural. Sir Neumann was someone he needed to get rid of anyway. He was a man who sold out his lord to a swindler by the back door. Yet he was the same man who stood in front of him, speaking of his honor, rights, and so forth.
A snort escaped Lloyd. Neumann was like a phishing scam call.
Soldiers were bound by their oath to their lord. They didn't take an oath of loyalty to the baron's son. Thus, you couldn't just recklessly treat the soldiers just because you were the baron's son. It seemed Sir Neumann was trying to stir up the other soldiers using that point.
Of course, Lloyd wasn't worried about this situation at all. They would all be removed anyway… except Javier and Sir Bayern.
Senior knight Sir Neumann, and his junior officers Sir Ulrich and Sir Conte. They would turn their backs on the barony once it started to crumble. He didn't need to worry about them just because they were lashing out right now.
It was more important at present to find an excuse to get rid of them. Lloyd looked around. Everything had quieted down. Was it because there was no one else? No, it was the opposite.
The artisans, who were cleaning up the site, had stopped working and were watching what was happening in his direction. They would frantically look away and pretend to work if their eyes met. But they still kept their ears open to what was happening nearby.
Of course. A fight between the baron's son and the senior knight is a rare sight, after all. It was a fact that the best spectacle to watch was a brawl or fight. With that truth in mind, Lloyd looked at Sir Neumann.
"Then let me ask you one question."
Sir Neumann furrowed his brows.
Lloyd asked, "You know I never learned how to handle a sword, right?"
"I am aware."
"So can you be considered a knight if you lose a duel to me?"
"What…?" Sir Neumann's brows twitched. Lloyd burst out laughing at that sight.
"I'm asking if you can call someone who got beaten by a complete beginner in a sword fight a knight."
"That is…"
"They don't have the right. It's a fact. What is a knight's duty? To guard the domain using sword-fighting skills they painstakingly hone every day. To protect the territory and its people in times of crisis. Isn't that a knight's duty and purpose?"
"If he lost a duel to someone who never learned any swordsmanship before, could I really trust that kind of knight and let him remain employed?"
"What does that…"
"I'm saying I question his qualifications."
"But young master Lloyd…"
"I won't hear any more protests about Sir Ulrich. Right now, I'm wondering if there's a need to suspect and question your qualifications too as you continue defending Sir Ulrich."
"What does that mean?" He must have guessed what Lloyd meant. Sir Neumann's face completely hardened.
Lloyd laughed even harder at that sight and confirmed his suspicion. "What you're guessing is most likely correct. You defend Sir Ulrich to an unreasonable degree, Sir Neumann. I have fostered some doubts about your qualifications as well."
"You can't possibly be saying that you will challenge my skills."
"Now you're talking."
"There's… no way you are challenging me to a duel."
"But that's correct."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
"So, will you or will you not?"
Sir Neumann's eyes appeared nervous for the first time. He was just trying to make a complaint to the reckless young master. He was just trying to use that as an excuse to establish his own authority. He never imagined that Lloyd Frontera, who never learned any swordsmanship, would propose a formal duel with him.
Lloyd grinned. Sir Neumann was filled with rage. The man's response surpassed his expectations. He faithfully helped Sir Neumann make his decision.
"Is this the response of the senior knight? You can't possibly be scared to fight me, right? If you were confident, you would have already accepted the duel."
"But young master Lloyd, you're the baron's successor and eldest son. Considering that, I can't raise my sword at you on the pretext of a duel…"
"Is that your excuse? Your excuse is flimsy. If you're confident in your skills, you should easily and safely be able to overpower me. Do you not even have the confidence to do that? I'm disappointed. This is why I can't help but have doubts about your qualifications."
"Have you finished speaking…?"
"No. I'm not done."
"I think people like you are the most pitiful. Senior knight? A man who won't prove his abilities, nor has the courage or confidence to do so, hangs onto his title to wield power. Isn't that embarrassing even when you think about it?"
"What does everyone else think?" All the attention turned toward Sir Neumann, who had his mouth closed. Lloyd loudly asked the soldiers nearby the question.
At that moment, Sir Neumann made a cackling sound.
Lloyd laughed inwardly. Of course, he received the insult right to his face. But the fact that people around them heard it was more humiliating. That was how people thought. It was the same when someone was being reprimanded. If they were scolded in a quiet place, that was the end of it. But if it happened in front of everyone, especially their subordinates? They would promptly break down.
And right now, that effect was showing. "Understood…" Sir Neumann reluctantly answered.
Lloyd's mouth stretched into a smile as if he was waiting for this.
"You will do it? The duel?"
"Yes."
"Good decision. You should resolve your disputes like a man. When would be a good date?"
"Young master can decide that."
"One month from now. The location is the estate's training hall. How about it?"
"That is fine." Sir Neumann nodded his rigid face. "Then is there anything you would demand, based on the outcome of the duel?"
"Of course there is."
Lloyd put forth his preplanned answer. "I will banish you if I win our duel that day."
"What?"
"I will remove you from your position and drive you out."
"Do you have any reason to dispute?"
"No, I don't. However."
"However?"
"Young master should get a corresponding outcome."
"All right. I will bet on my position as well."
"Your position?"
"My inheritance to this barony as the eldest son, I will give that up."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course." Lloyd nodded his head without hesitation. "Don't worry. I speak the truth. The soldiers here will stand as witnesses. You should just train hard, so you don't get wrecked like Sir Ulrich."
"Those words, I hope you don't come to regret them."
"Not at all."
That was how the duel was arranged. Of course, he had no regrets. He had already found his secret to victory. To say it directly, he was going to ruthlessly get rid of everyone who stood in his way.
****
Two hours later.
"So do you have confidence that you can win?"
"No, not much."
"I see." Javier nodded his head. He had been unusually absent from Lloyd's side all day. It couldn't be helped. There was an order from Lord Frontera. He had called him in the morning and then ordered him to stop escorting young master Lloyd for just today.
He didn't know exactly why, but he could guess from what he heard that Lloyd did in his absence today. Something like he made an excuse to assault Sir Ulrich, then proposed a duel with Sir Neumann who had come to protest what happened.
He wondered if Lloyd pushed him away today to do those things. That's what Javier was speculating. He felt a strange emotion. Why?
He couldn't understand. Why did he agitate the soldiers who weren't doing anything? Why did he assault Sir Ulrich and propose a duel with Sir Neumann? Is he just causing trouble again?
That might have seemed like the case at first glance. Although Lloyd had been acting differently recently, the truth was people didn't change easily. Considering that, it could look like he was throwing a fit because of his bad temper. However, Lloyd didn't think that was it. His actions were too intentional to say he was just throwing a fit.
Lloyd pushed him away from his side. After he assaulted Sir Ulrich, he entrusted Sir Bayern with the construction site. When Sir Neumann came to him in a fury, he challenged him to a duel like he was waiting for him. But what was Lloyd's attitude after causing all this commotion? He was shamelessly nonchalant. It was an attitude he couldn't have unless he intentionally caused these events.
Furthermore, he certainly had an agenda, considering his recent actions…
That was when Javier stopped thinking. Lloyd's voice broke his train of thought.
"Hey, you. What do you mean, 'I see'? That's all?"
"What do you mean, 'that's all'?"
"What else would I mean? Your reaction."
Lloyd, who was having dinner, looked up and slightly tilted his head to one side.
"You wanted to know whether I'm confident of winning a duel against Sir Neumann. What was my answer?"
"You said you were not confident."
"Right."
"And you're only replying to it with, 'I see'? Seriously? You don't have anything to say, like how you're worried about something, why would I ever do this, and so on?"
"I'm not sure why I need to show that sort of reaction."
"You're my guard."
"That is correct… however."
"However?"
"I believe you were the one who proposed the duel, young master."
"Humph, so you mean a duel isn't included in your services as a guard?"
"Of course." It was only natural. What was a duel for, after all? "A duel is the most fair and direct method to resolve a conflict where the disputing parties are stripped of their normal social status and position to stand on an equal playing field to fight each other. As such, I don't have the power or duty to interfere with the duel between the young master and Sir Neumann."
"Hmm, I suppose that's how it is, right?"
"Yes."
"Well then, how about you teach me swordsmanship during the month before the duel?"
"Are you asking if I will teach you, young master Lloyd?"
"Yes."
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not personally inclined to."
It was an honest answer. Whatever happened, he was just his guard. He had no duty to teach swordsmanship to a rowdy young master he didn't particularly like. And he might go around causing bigger trouble if he pointedly taught him how to wield a sword. Thus, he felt more strongly that he shouldn't teach him. So, he wondered why the young master, who he just sharply turned down, had a wicked smile.
"Really?"
Something felt off. An ominous feeling spread through Javier's body. Lloyd's expression was disquieting. His eyes somehow looked like they knew something about him. His smile seemed to say Javier would act as he intended.
In the end, the ominous feeling became a reality.
"If you give me lessons on swordsmanship…"
Lloyd's eyes glinted.
"I will cure your insomnia." Lloyd smiled brightly. "How about it?"
Javier swallowed dryly without Lloyd knowing. Severe chronic insomnia. It was his hidden weakness and a secret that had been torturing him for several years.
Translator: https://bettertranslation9.wordpress.com