CHAPTER 19
CONFRONTATION
Naturally, I always had doubts about my plan, after all, there were several uncertainties and it was risky. Although after talking with Commander Jemur, I knew. I will succeed, as long as everyone fulfills their role.
The first time I spoke with the director something strange happened. At one point, he began to emit something like a slight red glow, which nobody seemed to notice. This happened after I revealed as a nobleman and he showed his respects ... It was when he stopped being honest with me. I suspect it was caused by << Scammer's Terror >>. It's not like I need it to read people, but with this fooling me is impossible.
Because of this and my own ability, I know that the commander completely bit the hook.
"Of course, it's a bit complicated to accommodate several thousand men at the site of the confrontation".
"No problem, only 300 of my men will accompany us to Galia, another hundred will stay on the way up, ensuring the watchtowers to make sure they let the rest pass when I win".
"Then I hope that when I WIN, you will do your part and leave this territory. I would also like to be given free passage".
"Do not worry".
This man doesn't even contemplate the possibility of losing.
Going forward, I ordered the guard of the first tower not to intervene and sent someone to pass the message to the others. I also told him to give notice to people in Galia. Although it's just to support the director, who at this time must have already spoken with the mayor and city guards.
If going down the mountain was tiring, climbing it is even worse ... this wicked armor weighs a lot, luckily there's some distance between the men of Iren and I, they won't notice that I strive just to walk. It is a key factor that they see me as someone strong.
Everything I've done so far, even my own life, depends on what happens in the next few hours. I will let you see that the winner is not the strongest, but the smartest.
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The admirable man, Argent Makoto, has kept his word. My men and I passed the road to Gaul without problems, even if they try something now, we have already taken the towers and secured the path.
Once up, we met about a hundred or more people watching us, fearful. Simple flies fluttering. You are about to see me kill the only worthy among you.
In the place which Argent Makoto refers to as "The Arena", some platforms with people in them surround a large circle of lawn. Among them strange columns that look like street lamps, but are large and without candles or fire, but crystals instead lit the place completely. As I approach I find the golden armor on the floor in front of me.
"I present this gift for accepting this confrontation, if you wish you can use it for combat or not".
Even without their armor, the clothes he wears are splendid, they look even more valuable than the armor, even if it's made of gold, the metal with high corrosion resistance.
I don't have to think about it, I was going to take it after beating him, there is no difference in having it now. But it amazes me that he is not going to use it, or that he did not wear other armor in its place.
"Take it".
By sending my men for the armor, I see that even with two they find it difficult to lift it, another soldier go help them and between three they hardly take it out of the arena ... This man went down and back up the mountain using that armor and it did not even seem to bother him. Maybe he's stronger than me ... I have no doubt about it.
"Commander Jemur. To make this a fair fight, I would like us to use the same weapon. These spears you see here, they were made with a substance that is still in development, but the current product has a terrible deficiency, it's toxic. Minimal contact with the skin is a death sentence".
A young woman who wears the clothes of academics approaches with a cart that contains half a dozen spears, but instead of the typical sharp metal points, on the wooden rods there is something black, which does not resemble anything I has seen before. It does not look sharp, but if it's poison, then it won't matter.
"Normally we would not use something like this as a weapon, but upon learning that you were coming, we had to prepare ourselves with what we had".
"So it is a warning that if we fight them, we will face spears or maybe even arrows impregnated with an unknown poison. Threatening".
"Being something prepared quickly, not even I am used to its use, so it will be something new for both of us. If you don't mind, I'll let you choose which ones we should use".
"Truly, a fair fight".
Without much thought I choose two of the spears, one for me and another I handed to the girl who brought them, who nervously took it and trembling slightly takes it to Argent Makoto. I am not surprised that is nervous, is carrying something that can kill her if she touches what she should not.
"I hope it doesn't bother you if she takes care of giving the signal to start".
"I have no problems with it".
"I imagine your men will not interfere in the fight, no matter what".
"As long as yours do not, they would not interfere even if it was a king of Iren who ordered it. A combat is a sacred act that bears the honor and pride of those involved".
Even if they were the king, they would be executed by my men if they tried to interfere. Rather, no one who did something like that would become king.
"Alright then".
Taking the spear and standing in front of me, separated by a distance of 12 and a half meters, Argent Makoto looks at me with an air of superiority, while the girl runs out of the arena.
Then, to the surprise of all present. Including the girl, her guards, the rest of the people of Galia, but above all, to my surprise, he drives their spear into the ground next to him. Completely unarmed, he crosses his arms and looks at me with disdain.
"Anytime, Zera".
What is this man thinking? I knew he was suicidal from the moment they challenged myself to a fight, but this borders on stupidity. Even the girl hesitates to announce the start of the fight.
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"Wh-L-Let the confrontation begin!"
Without wasting time, Jemur shoots forward by the impulse of his legs, cutting the distance between him and Argent in an instant. As soon as the fight started Argent extends his hands. But it's too late to take his spear now.
"You are mine!"
Suddenly, far from the arena, behind Argent's back a great explosion occurs. All eyes point in its direction, except those of Jemur. An experienced warrior knows that he must never look away from his opponent.
"Such an absurd trick doesn't affect me!"
Convinced that his adversary's source of confidence came from knowing that the explosion would occur at the right time to blind him, Jemur savored the victory by not being affected by such nonsense.
"It's all over".
The light of the explosion had not yet subsided when Jemur reached the distance of attack, but the weight of his weapon, which he held with practiced firmness, had vanished.
As the blinding light disappeared, the people in the arena again focused their attention on the two men facing each other.
To everyone's surprise, Jemur was motionless, with the black tip of a spear just inches from his neck. A spear held by Argent.
"As I said, it's all over."
The spear Argent had previously stuck to the ground was still there. The spear in his hands was none other than Jemur's, who was unarmed and stunned.
"I am the winner".
"...I accept my defeat".
After these words, Argent lowers the tip of the spear and nails it to the ground next to the other.
From the beginning to the end, Argent remained in the same place. Jemur couldn't understand what happened, he did not even notice the moment when the spear was taken from him, but then he understood the strategy of his enemy.
"He had it planned from the beginning ..."
In a combat with poisoned weapons without a sharp edge, there is no difference between a suit or an armor, since one dies on contact. He took off his armor and bet everything at speed. When he left his spear on the ground, it was to free his hands and thus snatch Jemur of his spear, something unexpected and therefore, with some margin of effectiveness.
But why would anyone want to bet everything at speed when he obviously had confidence in his strength? After all, someone capable of wearing heavy armor made of gold as if it were nothing, of course doesn't doubt his strength.
Fight without counting on the factor that is your advantage ... Certainly a fair fight. Jemur could not help but admire the man in front of him. He was the second to defeat him in an incomprehensible way, just as the General Demon of two horns did.
"Now, I'd like to know what that explosion was".
"What did you say?"
Surprisingly, it seemed that Argent didn't know the cause of the explosion. No, a man like him would certainly not try a cheap trick like that, there is no doubt that he is not related, thought Jemur.
Then who?
An idea crossed Jemur's mind.
"The Mercenaries maybe?"
While scratching the idea, a man dressed as an academic came running to the arena.
"Mr. Argent, this is bad, the explosion happened in the academy. Apparently the cave began to collapse and the outer academy is on fire".
"What !? Quick, we must put out the fire, turn to the water crystals, do not allow it to spread to the city!"
"As Mr. Argent says!"
After seeing the academy for a moment, Argent looks at Jemur.
"Right now there is an emergency".
"If so, allow my men to help".
"... All right, I won anyway, so you won't attack us right?"
"...That is right".
After arriving at the site, where a lot of academics and several citizens were carrying buckets of water, which were filled by one of the academics who carried a blue crystal from which water flowed. Argent approaches the nervous girl from before.
"What happened?"
"M-Mr. Johan ... he says the explosion seems to have originated deep in the cave".
"Johan. What do you know about this!?"
Another academic, Johan, approaches Argent, wearing a desperate look.
"Mr. Argent ... I think this is my fault. The explosion ... Probably happened in the room where we stored the mineral".
"The one that was going to be used to illuminate the city?"
"Tha'ts right".
Without wasting time, Jemur brings out his doubts.
"They talk about the big lamps that were in the arena?"
"That's right, those lamps are called <
"So this was just an accident?"
"It seems".
With everyone's work, the flames were contained, but the damage to the academy ... The losses were total.
Every citizen in Galia had gone through a storm of emotions. First they learned that they were invaded, then they would live since an Aristoi fought and won in their name and finally, after the surprise of the explosion and the exhaustion of fighting with the flames, they were contemplating the ruins of what was the magnificent AS Academy of Galia, the pride of all.
The most affected without a doubt, were the academics, all of them were looking at the floor where they had sat down to rest after putting out the fire.
"Thank you for helping with the fire."
"...Is nothing".
"I know it is impolite. But I would like you to do your part of the deal now".
"So it will be, my men would leave the territory of Galia immediately, it would damage my honor if we did not comply. I will not lose my honor to take prisoner a city of men of letters".
"Don't forget. ALL intruders must leave Galia, that was the agreement".
Argent's words were sharp. Jemur soon understood that the man next to him was undoubtedly extraordinary. Even maybe more than ...
"Men! All those who are here under Iren's order. I order them to retire!"
The strong words echoed in the city streets. Upon confirming that one of the mercenaries had heard him, Jemur undertook the withdrawal, followed by his army.
...
"As planned".
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Days after the confrontation. Having confirmed that the "Refugees" had left Galia. The Academics, my guard and I meet on the outskirts of the city, next to a forgotten house. The same one Ryuuji was living in.
"It worked, as Mr. Argent said!"
"Did you have any doubt? Mr. Argent is a genius".
"But Berta, you also feared they would discover us".
"D-Don't be ridiculous, I always trusted Mr. Argent would make it, n-not for a second I thought he would die stabbed by Iren's man".
"Are the artifacts safe director?"
"That's right, young Ryuuji take good care of them".
"Even so, the academy ..."
"The cave doesn't matter, the important thing is us, the academics and the artifacts of AS ... I wish I could have saved them all and maybe some of the books."
"Sorry if my plan was not able to preserve the valuable artifacts that the academy take care of".
"You don't have to apologize, Mr. Argent. Anyway, all the artifacts of the academy were already studied a lot, especially the large ones that I couldn't take without being discovered. It's a blessing to have saved these, not just that, even that the city is now safe and stay free".
"Sorry to bother you, but could you explain what happened?"
"Ah, Andreu right?"
"Yes, the captain also doesn't seem to be aware of exactly what happened, if it doesn't bother you, could you tell us?"
"Sure. First you must know that the city had been infiltrated for a long time, you may not know it because you were with me since your arrive, but many came saying they were refugees from Galatea. Actually they were men working for Iren".
"What? How did you know?"
"Well, they looked rude to be simple villagers and the truth didn't look like they had run for their lives for days to get to Galia. In addition some of them possessed the aura of warriors".
"Oh. You're amazing, but how did you know we weren't enemies too?"
"Because of Ryuuji. He recognized you as his saviors and as people from the city where he was. Ryuuji is a nobleman and speaks a language that no one but I could understand, so there is no way he would be manipulated to lie. His word was the truth".
"I see. After all, you didn't trust us unconditionally".
"I'm sorry if that bothers you".
"On the contrary. I am honored to know that the lord I now serve is an intelligent man and not a naive one".
"Thank you. The second is that I only told the director about the infiltrators to avoid any possibility of them discovering how much we knew. He could gradually take out the small artifacts from the academy without anyone noticing. I arranged for this place I bought to be our hide, I asked Ryuuji to take care of this house and live in it".
"Wasn't that very dangerous? Leave him alone ..."
"If he was alone, it was more difficult for them to suspect that he was taking care of something valuable".
"I see".
"Third. I commissioned Johan to accumulate the mineral knowing that it was explosive, although Johan didn't know anything about my plan".
"You really made me believe that it was all my fault".
"Excuse me for that. I arranged everything for the explosion to happen while fighting in the arena while everyone was watching us, so that there would be no one near the explosion. After losing the academy and artifacts, there was no good reason for Iren to conquer us, so I hoped that the army commander would not throw away his honor in vain".
"No doubt a risky bet, but considering that we talk about a commander of Iren. Perhaps he would have kept his word even if the academy was still here".
"Even so, I preferred to give him help to decide".
"You certainly had a great weight on your shoulders".
"Even so, I didn't know you was such a powerful warrior. You defeated an Iren commander! And he was from a legion of the Demon of two horns, those troops are entirely Acme Soldiers, the apex of the military world, the perfect soldiers". Said a very hyped captain.
"That also surprised me, I knew he was smart, but he is also stronger than I could imagine". Interceded the director.
"Mr. Argent is the best!"
After raising his voice to praise me, Zera blushes completely and bends down to hide his face.
"Well, it's all over. I'm glad I helped. I think my duty is done. I will leave enough money for the construction of a new academy and to finance the projects for years to come. It is time for me to continue on my way".
"Honestly, I'm sorry I doubted you. I don't know how we could pay you" Apologized the director.
"Don't worry".
After all. I already charged my fees.