NOVEL NEXT Chapter 68: The Two Swordsmen
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—“At last, it begins. The battle of the Swords. Jin, it must be complicated for you.”
“Yeah. But both sides are competing with their lives on the line. Whatever the outcome, I will accept it.”
(Even if one of them has to die. Yes, Father.)
Jin and Zoids watching from the spectator’s seats, here in the spectator’s seats reserved for the students of the Valhalla School.
But their eyes are not on spectating, because what is about to begin is a genuine killing contest.
And on one side is a father. On the other a friend.
It is impossible to be in a state of mind to call it spectating.
That is why Jin intends to watch seriously and accept whatever the outcome.
“Ken is strong. Much more than me and others. But still, I can’t imagine my father losing.”
“He’s one of the Three Heroes and the strongest in the Empire. I, a mere Holy Knight, can’t even begin to estimate either of them.”
“Well. Let’s sit here.”
Then Colonel Star sits down next to Jin and the others.
“I never thought that that transfer student would end up like this. A duel with the Empire’s most powerful knight. …… hmm? Is Reelbert-kun not here?”
“Yes, I don’t see him. Colonel Starr, are you not drinking today?”
Normally, Star would have drunk alcohol and been finished.
Today, however, he is not drinking at all, and his expression is still very serious.
“I don’t feel like drinking when my own students are killing each other. And with Osiris as the opponent. Osiris the Sword Saint, do you know the legend of him being called the Sword Saint?”
“No, no. …… only two names.”
“Osiris was fighting on the battlefield, surrounded by enemies and out of ammunition. It was already a matter of time before he surrendered and was to be tortured and killed. He changed that with a single sword. I heard that he killed 50 enemy KOG at that time.
From that day on, he was called the Sword Saint, and reached a realm where no one could stand against him, as if he had awakened. …”
There are numerous legends and myths about Osiris.
The most famous one, however, is the story of how he single-handedly slew 50 KOGs of a large enemy force with a single sword.
It is hard to believe at first hand, but many soldiers who were present tell the story.
It was no longer a human being.
He was a saint who loved the sword and had mastered it.
Therefore, he is a sword saint, an incarnation of the sword that no one can beat.
He is a man outside reason who has slaughtered many enemies with only that one sword.
“So …… can the Ken…… win? Against father.”
“I don’t know, but I have never seen Ken lose, not even in a hard fight, which means it must be the same that he has never faced a defeat.”
“Well, that’s true, but ……”.
“Either way, today, this day, will decide who is stronger. Who is truly the strongest in the Empire will be decided.”
Then they both look at the central stage.
A huge battlefield of cobblestone, a field so large that two KOGs could rampage through it with no problem.
For now, there is still no one there on the battlefield.
***
“Excuse me, Sieg-San, …… can you carry me to the cockpit?”
“…….”
Sieg then carries Kenya on his back and takes him to the cockpit of the Takemikazuchijin.
Kenya was so exhausted that he could not even climb the ladder on his own.
“It’s big, isn’t it, Papa’s back is …….”
“I’m surprised you still have the energy to make jokes. Kenya. I’m sorry, I couldn’t do anything for you.”
“Then please give me Reina as a bride when this is over. Then I feel like I can do my best.”
“Huh. You can still …… ask her when this is over, it’s your problem.”
Kenya laughs a little as she realizes what he means.
It feels like he’s been acknowledged, and it’s so warm here.
I feel so safe that I almost close my eyes.
It was such a big father’s back.
“I’m going to drop you off, do you think you can do the controls?”
“Yes, it doesn’t take much strength to do that. ……”
“Mitsurugi. …… I can only say this ……, but do your best, son.”
At these words, Kenya returns with a wrecked smile.
“Yes.”
It was a word of acknowledgement that Sieg approved of Kenya, not as a fake son, but as a son-in-law.
“Kenya, please.”
Rhode tells Kenya in the cockpit to keep up the good work.
“Kenya, good luck!”
Tanaka does the same.
“Go! Give it your last ounce of energy! I believe in you, my son!”
Sieg clapped Kenya forcefully on the shoulder and dismounted from the Takemikazuchijin.
The cockpit is then closed.
By Kenya’s controls, and slowly, he moved forward.
At the same time, an announcement was made to the audience.
“Then, it is time for both knights to enter! First, the east side!”
As soon as they are called, red and black KOG come out.
The exclusive KOG of Osiris, which can even be called Destroyer.
Name.
“Here it comes! Our Empire’s most advanced and strongest aircraft! Its name is Gungnir, named by Odin-Sama himself! The Empire’s most powerful swordsman, who pierces all his enemies with a single sword like a giant spear! Enter Sir Osiris Halberd!”
A KOG appears with a huge, long sword, like a spear, the same size as the KOG itself, just like the sword that Japanese swordsmen use.
The KOG, a mixture of red and black, has a powerful, yet somehow intimidating appearance.
And against.
“And the West! As Rhode-Sama’s knight, many of you may have seen that broadcast after his knighthood ceremony last week! The youngest Knight-in-Chief of the Holy Knights in history, the strongest student in the world! Sir Ken Sylphid!”
Slowly Kenya and Takemikazuchi step forward.
“Beautiful …….”
When his KOG emerged, a sigh of admiration escaped from the audience.
All white KOG.
A beautiful KOG, pure white, yet without any stain at all.
It holds two swords and no long-range weapons.
Kenya’s partner, with a sword in both of his right hands, designed with the dual swordsmanship of a master swordsman in mind.
“The name of that beautiful white KOG is …… Takemikazuchi? It is Takemikazuchi!”
The two then face each other to cheers.
The two talk over the KOG.
“Ken, are you ready? And ready too.”
“Of course I am, I will do my best to defeat you.”
Kenya remains strong, not showing any sign of weakness.
Because it would be the same if he cried out here.
Odin wins, and the world belongs to Odin.
Then I will do my best to show strength.
To deceive even myself, for the sake of my tiny pride.
“Very well, then I will say no more.”
Osiris Halberd does not know, Kenya’s condition.
Odin decided that it would be a bad thing for Osiris, who is a chivalrous man, and that it would affect him negatively in battle.
For a week, Osiris has been just sharpening his claws, continuously training, and not engaging in business affairs.
So Odin made sure that Osiris was the only one not to be informed of any developments regarding Kenya, and he isolated him thoroughly.
Of course, Odin knows that he is not a man whose sword would be dulled by that. But he still does his best.
“We are the swords of the royal family. Let the rest speak…”
Two knights, two swordsmen face each other.
“With this sword!”
The only thing that makes Kenya stand still is his willpower.
If he relaxes even a little, his consciousness will be taken away, and even so, he cannot fall.
To lose here today would mean that Odin would take the empire and a world war would break out.
We don’t know how much blood will be spilled.
So use all your deadly power.
“Yes, with this sword, with KOG, because I must accomplish what I want for myself.”
***
“There you are, Rhode. How was your knight?”
Odin knows the answer.
And yet here he is, grinning at Lord, as if agitated.
And next to Odin, Reelbert and Catherine also stands.
“We will win, my knight. Don’t think you can reason that one out with common sense.”
Rhode glances at Reelbert and then quickly shifts his attention to the audience.
“Ha ha ha ha! Don’t be strong. The men you trusted have betrayed you, and all the power is mine! You have nothing left. Hey, Catherine, Reelbert!”
“Yes, Odin-Sama. There is no doubt that Osiris-Sama has already won, I think. It is a miracle that he is still in control. Maybe he’s already dead inside, he was vomiting so much blood… oh, dirty, dirty.”
“I’m sorry Ken-Kun, but I don’t think he’s going to make it out alive from there.”
Odin and Rhode sit on two thrones and look at their respective knights.
“I still have some things left in me.”
One has a relaxed expression on his face.
The other just straightens up and continues to believe in what remains.
Gong, gong.
The 12 o’clock bell rings.
And that meant the gong for the fight was about to ring.
“Then both sides are ready, three, two, one…… Fight!!!!”