Chapter 11
Chapter 11: Panda, Not Panda, Panda (2)
Kane ground his teeth and growled at the provocative remark.
“This bastard’s really lost it, huh? Get ready to lick my shoes while you’re crying.”
The two moved towards the training ground.
Upon hearing about the duel, people flocked to the training area.
The foul-tempered Grand Duke was about to get beaten up; the crowd was eager for the spectacle.
Even some knights on duty showed up. Among them, Ghislaine’s face lit up when he saw a drunken knight.
“Oh, Skoban’s here too.”
The drunken knight with a red nose was Skoban.
He recounted his exploits from the suppression squad to the crowd, but nobody believed him.
Instead, he was accused of trying to curry favor with the heir of the territory by claiming all the credit.
Before long, he had become known as a flatterer to the Grand Duke.
The nicknames he picked up included “Lying Knight” and “Dishonor Knight.”
From that point on, Skoban lived in a drunken haze.
Nobody believed his words, and having lost his honor as a knight, he had no choice but to drown in alcohol.
Ghislaine, aware of all the rumors, looked at him with pity.
“This disgraceful title will eventually fade. Just hold on, Skoban.”
Ghislaine and Kane waited before starting, allowing enough people to gather.
It was customary to give the audience time to assemble before a duel.
In the underwhelming Perdium, such duels were events not to be missed and were a form of entertainment.
Once a decent crowd had formed, a knight stepped forward and said,
“Alright, looks like everyone’s here, so let’s get started.”
People began to place their bets on who they thought would win. The problem, however, was that everyone was betting on Kane.
“This doesn’t really create a fair wager, does it?”
“It’s unavoidable since the outcome is so obvious.”
“How about we change the wager?”
“Let’s bet on how long the Grand Duke can hold out.”
Hearing the commotion, Kane smirked arrogantly. Just from the people’s reactions, it was clear who would come out on top.
“Then let’s change the criteria. The standard is….”
“Wait a minute.”
Just as the knight was about to change the rules, someone interrupted with a slurred voice.
“Skoban?”
Skoban, looking annoyed, didn’t even reply and dropped his bottle.
He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch full of coins, tossing it onto the table.
Thud!
The knight, catching the heavy pouch, asked with a strangely mocking smile, “What’s this? Why is it so much? You can’t be serious?”
Skoban ground his bloodshot eyes and replied through clenched teeth.
“I’m betting my entire fortune on the Grand Duke. If he’s scared, then let him die.”
The knight, hearing this, brightened.
“Great! Now that’s a bet worth making. But it’s a bit lacking in quantity.”
No matter how much Skoban scraped together, how much could a knight from a poor territory possibly earn?
Moreover, he had spent most of that on booze recently, so it wasn’t a lot to begin with.
“Hey, is there anyone else who wants to bet on the Grand Duke?”
Since everyone else bet on Kane, if he won, they would all just be splitting the money Skoban staked.
While Skoban’s contribution was no small amount compared to the others, it was still too little for everyone to be satisfied.
“Aww, that’s a shame, but I guess we have to proceed like this. Then….”
At that moment, the training ground doors swung open, and Elena entered with her maids.
With a haughty expression, she stood before the knight and gracefully placed her pouch of money on the table.
“I’ll bet too.”
The knight flinched for a moment at the shadows under Elena’s eyes and asked to confirm, “Who exactly are you betting on?”
“On my mother’s son.”
“Understood.”
The knight, chuckling, took her money.
Given Perdium’s poverty, Elena didn’t receive much in terms of maintenance costs.
Still, being a noble, her funds combined with Skoban’s made for a satisfactory amount for everyone.
Sitting on a chair set up by her maids, Elena’s eyes suddenly met with Skoban’s.
As if they understood each other’s pains, the two shared a silent moment of empathy.
Elena was also being branded a liar for using Ghislaine’s credit.
It was so frustrating not to be believed that she hadn’t been able to sleep properly lately.
“Lady, it’s unfair.”
“I feel like I’m going crazy from the injustice too.”
As the two exchanged looks, the duel at last began.
Ghislaine swung his sword through the air and aimed at Kane.
“Come at me.”
“What?”
“We’re fighting, right? Step up. No skilled fighter charges at a rookie first, that’s just pathetic.”
“You bastard!”
Kane raised his sword and charged at him like a madman.
Ghislaine stood a head taller and was much bulkier, making their duel look like a bullfight.
Clang!
The two swords clashed loudly.
Kane glared at Ghislaine as if he wanted to kill him, pouring all his strength into the swing.
“I’m gonna turn you into a fool.”
How dare Ghislaine challenge him out of nowhere! He couldn’t let that slide.
As rumors had suggested, that bastard had truly lost his sanity.
“A madman needs to be beaten into submission.”
Kane genuinely believed that. He had never seen anyone who wouldn’t listen when hit.
The issue was that the opponent felt the same way.
“Are there things strength can’t handle? Then you have to consider if your strength is lacking.”
Ghislaine assessed Kane while locking swords.
“Indeed, his strength isn’t bad. His size implies a good stamina too. I can afford to fight him without worrying about the aftermath. If he can curse well, he would have made a decent bandit, but…what a pity.”
Kane had grown up well, with both size and strength far surpassing his peers.
In terms of pure strength, even average knights wouldn’t stand a chance against Kane.
“Let’s see how his swordsmanship holds up.”
Clang! Clang!
The two swords clashed continuously and rapidly.
The crowd gasped as they watched Ghislaine handle his sword with ease, shocking Kane as well.
“W-what?! How did he level up so much?”
When they had sparred earlier, Ghislaine had struggled to block even a single blow.
Yet now, it was entirely different—every attack was effortlessly blocked or dodged.
As Kane grunted and swung his sword, the spectators couldn’t hold back their admiration for Ghislaine’s performance.
“Our Grand Duke has improved so much!”
“Is it possible that Kane is just weak?”
“They both look impressive from here!”
“Typically, it’s the untalented who make the most noise.”
Hearing the murmurs from the onlookers, Kane’s face flushed red.
He intended to crush Ghislaine in one swift blow, yet he hadn’t landed a single hit.
“Why isn’t anything connecting?!”
As his frustration boiled over, Ghislaine lightly stepped back and smiled.
“Want me to make it a bit more fun?”
“What?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Ghislaine with curiosity.
Click.
Ghislaine casually sheathed his sword and then waved his hands.
“I’ll fight barehanded. The difference in our levels is too great, so I should concede some for it to be fun, right?”
“And hitting you just wouldn’t hit the spot otherwise.”
Kane turned beet red at the sudden provocation.
“Y-you bastard!”
Ignoring him, Ghislaine raised his arms, encouraging the crowd to cheer.
“Wahaha! This is fun!”
“Wow! Our Grand Duke’s skills have really improved!”
“Anyone can win now!”
Duels between knights or nobles are usually solemn and serious.
While such gravity can be entertaining in its own way, Ghislaine’s showmanship provided more joy for the spectators.
Surveying everyone, Ghislaine shouted again.
“If I win, I’ll buy everyone here drinks and meat!”
“Waaah! How spicy!”
“Grand Duke, win!”
“Truly, the heir of Perdium!”
They didn’t have money, but they decided to go all in regardless.
This was Ghislaine’s approach, shaped by his mercenary years.
In fact, such bouts are typically fought this way among mercenaries.
Showcasing one’s skills, drawing attention, and strategically maneuvering the atmosphere.
Though nobles may find it vulgar, the crowd finds such antics all the more thrilling.
As the cheers for Ghislaine erupted, Kane glared around in frustration.
“This crazy bastard! How dare you make a mockery of a sacred duel!”
In an instant, the atmosphere around them changed, feeling as though he were merely a gladiatorial slave on display.
Seeing Kane’s panic, Ghislaine clicked his tongue and said,
“It’s just a fight; what’s sacred about that? Did you perhaps receive coin from the temple or something? Why the sudden nonsensical rant?”
“Have you no dignity as a noble!”
“Eh, none at all. Are you going to keep flapping your mouth? If you’re scared, I can take you down with just a finger.”
As Ghislaine waggled a finger, the crowd burst into laughter.
They felt an affinity for a fight that resembled common thugs more than nobles.
“Wahaha!”
“It seems our Grand Duke’s changed quite a bit?”
“But this is certainly entertaining!”
The shameful image of Ghislaine in the past briefly faded from the crowd’s minds.
Instead, they began to look forward to what he would display next.
Amidst the clamor and Ghislaine’s provocation, Kane lost control and bellowed.
“I will definitely kill you!”
“Ah, even as I warned you, you still flap your lips.”
Wham!
Ghislaine darted towards Kane, swinging his palm directly at his head.
Bam!
“Kuh!”
Kane couldn’t even mount a counterattack against the sudden strike and let out a painful groan.
Getting hit with just a palm felt as if his skull was being rattled.
He clutched his head, staggering back, then charged Ghislaine like a bull, bellowing.
“You arrogant brat!”
But Ghislaine easily dodged and immediately began to rain blows upon Kane.
Bam!
“Ugh! This bastard!”
Bam!
“This damn punk… agh!”
Bam!
“You dare… Kugh!”
Bam!
“Just wait a moment!”
Bam!
Kane was unable to counter Ghislaine, let alone curse, only taking hits.
The onlookers’ eyes sparkled with amazement.
“Grand Duke’s movements are…”
“Wow, so cool!”
“Was he always this skilled?”
Ghislaine’s movements were sometimes elegant, sometimes beautiful, and often intense.
Every action he displayed carried an exceptional finesse—one not achievable at a mere Grand Duke’s age.
Comparing himself, even he found it hard to claim superiority confidently.
“Waaaah!”
“Grand Duke, you’re the best!”
“So amazing!”
As the crowd watched, they unconsciously burst into cheers.
The more brutal Ghislaine’s punches became, the freer everyone felt inside.
Besides, seeing Kane get hit was enjoyable.
Nobody liked the guy who constantly came around to bother them.
“Now, shall we get this started?”
Feeling the atmosphere shift entirely to his favor, Ghislaine decided to drive the final nail.
He looked at the swollen, tearful Kane and smirked.
“Hey.”
“…?”
“Better bite down hard. You might cut your tongue if you’re not careful.”
Boom!
The moment Ghislaine’s fist hit Kane’s stomach, a thunderous sound erupted.
The spectators jumped back in shock.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kane flew at lightning speed across the training ground, crashing hard against the wall. When he fell, a crack marked the wall that had never been there before.
It was the result of just one punch.
The knights watching were expressing disbelief.
“H-how is that possible?!”
“I didn’t even feel any mana!”
In truth, Ghislaine had rapidly infused mana into his punch and then called it back.
However, to the surrounding people, it appeared as though Ghislaine exerted tremendous force without any mana.
For anyone who wasn’t a master, manipulating mana that finely was impossible.
“Waaaah! It’s over!”
“The Grand Duke won!”
“Unbelievable! The Grand Duke actually won the duel!”
The crowd cheered, but for Ghislaine, it wasn’t over yet.
If he had a heart generous enough to end things here, he wouldn’t have survived in the rough world of mercenaries.
“But he still isn’t dead. Not surrendering means we have to keep going.”
Ghislaine approached the fallen Kane, who was struggling on the ground.
Kane, barely managing to open his mouth, gasped out.
“S-stop… h-h….”
“Huh? What? I can’t hear you.”
“H-h….”
“I didn’t catch that.”
Just as Kane was about to declare his surrender, Ghislaine’s fist slammed into his upper lip.
Bam!
