Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 166 (Part 1)

The first match was won by the knight from the Marquisate of Richmond. Though he achieved victory, he too suffered some injuries.

“Good work, Sir Levin.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

The second and third matches followed in succession. The Marquis of Richmond won all three matches.

And then, the fourth match began.

From the side of the Marquisate of Rotten, one man slowly walked out. He was a man carrying a massive greatsword on his back.

“Hmm? He’s not a knight?”

Just as the Marquis of Richmond said, the opponent’s attire was far from that of a knight. The unfamiliar greatsword was one thing, but the clothes he wore were not full plate armor, but leather armor.

His hair was moderately tidy, but not as neatly arranged as that of a knight. There was also a dagger strapped to his calf and a hand axe hanging from his waist— the typical outfit of a mercenary.

“He’s a mercenary.”

“A mercenary has appeared. Who will show that bastard the terror of a knight?”

“I will go.”

At the Marquis of Richmond’s suggestion, a fourth-class knight stepped forward. His face was calm, showing no thought of defeat.

“Go and show him what it means to be a knight of the Marquisate of Richmond.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The fourth-class knight slowly approached on horseback. At that moment, the mercenary chuckled and rolled his shoulders in a circle.

“A guy not even worth drawing my sword for.”

“What? How dare a mere mercenary… Haah!”

Almost at the same moment, the mercenary and the knight spurred their horses forward. They passed each other at a slanted angle.

Thud!

“Huh?”

“Ah!”

“Green!”

One man fell from his horse. His head tilted to the right, while his body collapsed to the left. With a single clash, his neck had been severed.

The mercenary, standing unscathed, arrogantly glared at the Marquis of Richmond.

“Hmph.”

The mercenary returned to the side of the Marquisate of Rotten. Then, turning his horse again, he slowly approached.

“Who will be my next opponent?”

“Hmm, is it allowed for him to come out continuously like that?”

“Yes, it’s possible… Haa.”

The Marquis of Richmond’s expression was grim.

Losing a cherished subordinate was, of course, a huge blow. But more than that, the bigger issue was that there were no forces left capable of opposing the mercenary.

While coming out continuously was permitted by the rules, if you looked through history, there had been quite a few cases where such situations had occurred.

The current Hurst was not the fourth match knight, but the fifth match knight. If he won again, he would then become the sixth match knight.

In other words, it wasn’t that one man was facing multiple opponents— he himself was successively becoming the fourth, fifth match knight, and so on.

“Hurst. It seems to be that man.”

“Hurst? You mean the mercenary known as the Platinum Badge?”

“He matches the description. His build and weapon as well.”

“Ah!”

Only then did the Marquis of Richmond grasp the opponent’s identity.

Before Benson Tyke and Rodin received their Platinum Badges, he had been the only Platinum Badge holder among mercenaries.

He was a seasoned mercenary who had reached Master level for at least fifteen years. He mainly operated in the Eastern Continent but sometimes crossed over to the Central Continent for commissions.

“Karis, what do you think would happen if you went up against him?”

“I would win.”

“State the probability in numbers.”

“100%. I am practically his natural enemy.”

Rodin thought the same.

Rodin had watched the previous fight through Jito’s eyes. Because of that, he had seen Hurst’s movements quite precisely.

The mercenary Hurst had not even used an Aura Blade. He created a stance with simple yet quick movements and severed the neck with strong force in one strike. That was all.

‘Hurst’s strengths are power and speed, huh? If Karis fights… she’ll win.’

The Aura Blade could be disregarded between them. Karis, too, could use a Mana Blade. Since it would cancel each other out, it didn’t matter.

What remained were abilities excluding the Aura Blade.

Karis was a powerhouse of strength. Even when grappling with a troll, she never lost in a contest of strength.

Against a giant minotaur, she had been overpowered in strength, but that was simply because the opponent was so massive. Within the species called ‘human,’ there could be no being stronger than Karis except for a combat doll.

Speed.

In this, too, Karis had the advantage. Originally skilled in the swift art of spearmanship, if she swung with intent, her movements would be so fast they would be invisible.

“Marquis Richmond, may I take care of that mercenary?”

“Will it be possible?”

“Yes. Karis.”

“I will finish it quickly.”

Karis bowed her head toward Rodin. Jena, smiling faintly, waved her hand.

“Good luck.”

“Understood.”

“Karis, come down from the horse to fight.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Karis’s greatest weakness was her weight, which exceeded 150 kilograms.

Even a warhorse would quickly become exhausted if forced to carry the weight of two adult men for an extended period. It was actually better for Karis to fight after both had dismounted.

Karis and Hurst.

The distance between the two closed somewhat.

“Haah!”

Clang!

Hurst let out a loud shout and charged on horseback. Karis also rushed forward, swinging her spear.

Thud! Neigh!

Karis subtly twisted to deflect the incoming greatsword and struck the horse’s head. Having targeted the horse from the start, Hurst’s steed was immediately left a bloody mess.

Thud!

Hurst’s horse collapsed. Hurst kicked off the horse’s back and safely landed on the ground.

Karis calmly stopped her horse at a suitable spot and leapt down gracefully. It was an astoundingly smooth motion.

“How dare you!”

“The only one who can say ‘how dare you’ before me is the Young Master.”

“Let’s see how long you can keep up that composure! Haa!”

Hurst shouted fiercely, but Karis remained silent. Since she wasn’t someone who gathered strength through breathing techniques, there was no need for her to raise her voice.

Clang! Clang! Clang clang!

The spear and greatsword clashed repeatedly. The spear was supple, the greatsword was strong and heavy.

At a glance, it looked as if the spear was skillfully parrying the greatsword, which relied purely on brute strength.

“Hmm, Sir Karis’s strength is extraordinary.”

“Yes. There are few who can match Karis in strength.”

The Marquis of Richmond, being a sixth-class swordsman, could see what others could not.

Contrary to appearances, Karis’s spear, though wielded smoothly, possessed greater destructive power than Hurst’s greatsword, which emphasized brute force.

“Who do you think will win?”

“Of course, Karis.”

“Is there something I can’t see?”

“In every aspect, Karis is superior.”

Hyung_Otaku2

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