30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?!-Chapter 282: What Justifies a Knight’s Battle? (5)

Ortos was furious.

[Kiing, kkiing!]

In the end, to be reduced to this childish form!

Miraculously, one of his heads survived, and he managed to revive, but now he had truly reached his limit.

He had used up all his remaining nutrients, and if he took any more significant damage, he would die on the spot.

Now reduced to the size of a puppy, Ortos felt tears well up in his eyes and glared at the massive knight with hatred.

It was because of that knight that he had ended up like this.

[Krung!]

However, Ortos, knowing how insignificant he had become, could not bring himself to attack the knight.

So for now...

[Kkiing.]

[Piing.]

[Krung....]

He needed time to regain his strength for revenge.

Though he was now only a little puppy, if he hunted for food and grew strong from scratch again, that would be the moment he could take his revenge on that massive knight who had humiliated him.

[Krung!]

A decade was not too slow for revenge.

Ortos, for the first time in his life, dreamed of a ten-year plan.

Snap!

...But, despite the grudge he carried, Ortos was pitiful.

"I've been wondering where you were hiding, and here you are," the voice called out.

[!!?]

Right now, he couldn’t escape from that ‘monster’... it was just too much.

"Don’t we still have some unfinished business?"

[....]

"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to send you off painlessly."

[Kkiing!]

Ortos, with teary eyes, looked at the one who had grabbed the back of his neck.

A monster of a human.

Not only had he knocked Ortos down, but he had easily overpowered the massive knight as well...!

Ortos tried to make himself look as pitiful as possible, pleading for mercy with a cute, helpless expression.

Humans liked cute things, so this had to work...

"Two heads and a snake's tail? Quite cute, I must say."

[....]

How did he know what I was thinking?

Ortos even began to suspect that this human might actually be a transformed monster from his own kind.

But whether Ortos suspected it or not, the axe in the human’s hand was proof enough that there would be no mercy.

The aura of the axe itself was foreboding, and the stench of blood that reeked from it made Ortos tremble.

Drip...

He was terrified.

This human was someone so frightening that Ortos couldn’t even dream of taking revenge.

Just then...

"Wait a moment."

"?"

"I think it might be better not to kill you."

[!]

For a moment, Ortos saw hope.

As he saw the monster faltering at the words of the slightly older human, Ortos felt a surge of relief.

[Krung!]

Old human, I like you!

For the first time, Ortos felt fondness and affection for the human race.

"Ortos' blood can be used to make high-grade potions. It has the same or even superior properties to a potion made from the purest troll blood. If you grind the fur well, you can make a remedy for burns. The venom from your tail can also be used for joint pain and gout treatment. Keeping you alive and drawing from you over time would be beneficial to you as well."

"Oh."

"Also, the heart and liver are considered delicacies. According to the family’s records, they are considered the most delicious meats in the world. And even if you take the heart or liver, if the head remains intact, the organs regenerate, so you can keep taking them."

"Oh!"

[....]

"Heh, are you starting to find this interesting?"

"Not just interested... I’m starting to salivate."

"Well, that's good."

[Keuhh...]

Ortos let out a pitiful scream.

These cruel bastards, just kill me already!

...But no one heard his cry.

Ortos cried like a dog.

***

...Knights are, at the very least, individuals with at least one flaw.

It may be a narrow viewpoint, but at least the knights Ihan had encountered were like that.

Some were obsessed with one thing, while others were mentally broken.

Well, it's not hard to understand. They're supposed to protect honor and the nation, but in reality, a knight’s job is always to risk their life against monsters, criminals, or even knights from other nations.

Just like soldiers sent to war who often come back with severe mental disabilities, knights also ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) live lives soaked in blood, and it's only natural that they have psychological flaws as a passive consequence of their lifestyle.

Thus, if you want to live a life on top of a sword, as a knight, you need a solid ego.

In other words, stubbornness and a kind of unshakable madness are required.

...In that sense,

‘This guy’s off the charts.’

Ihan was sure that the knight in front of him was the craziest knight he had ever met.

“A lion or a tiger rules the plains and mountains with their own claws and teeth, and those born as strong should fight by maximizing their own purity and essence!”

“But lions and tigers are beasts.”

“Humans are animals too!!”

“...The temple would have a fit hearing you say that.”

“Because it’s true! I am confident!!” ƒreewebɳovel.com

“Fine, just lower your voice. You're so loud.”

“Understood!!!”

“....”

At least, Ihan understood what he was trying to say.

With innate talent and physical strength, on top of that learning martial arts, wielding armor, swords, and spears, knights are supposed to be warriors. But going further and using techniques in battle? That’s just cowardly...

“Should I understand it like this?”

“Amazing, to interpret such a ridiculous theory so calmly.”

“Well, there are a lot of weird people around here.”

“I can tell it’s not just someone else’s problem. You seem to have your fair share of troubles.”

“.......”

Ihan felt sorry for the old knight.

How did he end up with a disciple like that, causing him all this trouble?

“Heh, but you do have talent.”

“Did it show?”

“Didn’t you ever hear people say you’re easy to read by your expression?”

“.......”

“I guess you've heard that a lot, heh.”

At first glance, the knight seemed like just an average neighbor, but to be called [Knight Commander], maybe this level of demeanor was required.

The quiet yet unmistakable presence he exuded wasn’t ordinary, and his tone and perception were both serious and sharp.

He wasn’t just a strong knight, but one with the wisdom that came with experience.

‘...That other guy was just a layabout though...’

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Ihan shook his head as he thought of the only other knight commander he knew.

Well, that guy didn’t need any of that wisdom. If he set his mind to something, nothing was beyond him.

As Ihan continued his thoughts, a noisy disciple was still hanging off the veteran knight’s shoulder, talking incessantly.

“Master! I think we should increase the training time!”

“...What would increasing your weight class even do?”

“More strength! More powerful muscles...!”

“Just shut up. I’m about to lose my temper.”

“That’s a big problem, isn’t it!? Did you injure yourself!?”

“...Why did I take this guy as a disciple in the first place? What a headache...”

“I respect you, Master!!”

“.......”

Ihan wondered if the knight commander had chosen to live the way he did because he had such a problematic disciple.

‘Better than stressing over someone like that...’

Ihan silently promised to run far away if anyone ever tried to put him in a role like knight commander.

And then,

“But didn’t you lose to me with brute strength?”

“.......”

“Granted, I defeated you with techniques toward the end, but in the middle, I overwhelmed you with pure strength. So, your theory must be wrong, right?”

“.......”

“Even if your theory is correct, I’m still naturally stronger, so aren’t you the weaker one?”

“Ugh...!”

Like a stubborn dog, Felix closed his mouth, deep in thought, chewing over Ihan’s words.

It meant that he had finally been silenced.

“...Thanks. That felt good.”

“It’s nothing. But hasn’t anyone ever told you this before? You seem stronger than that guy.”

“Well, in terms of ability, I could probably beat him. But no one, including myself, can defeat that guy with just strength alone.”

“Wait....”

“I’m treated like the weak one.”

“.......”

“And terrifyingly, this theory alone has won him 198 out of 200 one-on-one duels. He lost the rest badly.”

“...Wow.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, he set a new record for defeat! And this time, he met his match, heh! That’s what he gets, the bastard!”

“.......”

Despite his seemingly dignified appearance, this man seemed to take some strange pleasure in his disciple’s misfortunes. Ihan felt a little sorry for the disciple, wondering how much trouble he must have caused his master.

But then,

“Ah, by the way, you said your name was Santa Ihan, right?”

“...I’m not someone who deserves to be called that.”

“You are now. There’s a presence that can’t be hidden, even if you try. Also, who else but someone like you could be called a knight?”

“?”

“Hm, right. You’ve done something really good. No, actually... you’ve done more than just good. The entire Mordred family owes you a debt.”

“???”

What was he saying?

Ihan tilted his head as he watched the man suddenly tear up while talking to him.

...Wait, was he talking to me?

‘Who is he talking to?’

As Ihan realized the knight was speaking to someone in the air, it suddenly became clear...

Thud!

“Thank you so much. You saved my granddaughter, really... thank you...”

“......”

“I may not be able to repay you properly, but all the vengeful spirits attached to you will be cleansed. Oddly, there are many mage spirits, huh? From the looks of it, they seem like mages who did terrible things, so they probably deserve to be destroyed. But there’s an awful lot of them—maybe over a hundred... Have you been carrying any burdens or nightmares?”

“.......”

“Hm? Why that look?”

“...Do you think you missed a lot in your explanation?”

“??”

“...This guy’s not right either.”

Ihan started to suspect that maybe the Mordred family wasn’t so closed off as they seemed, but more like a family shunned by others.

‘Why would someone suddenly curse at me for having ghosts attached? Who would like that?’

Being left alone for five years probably had a reason, but he couldn’t shake that reasonable suspicion.