Episode 147: Knight Commander
“Gu—!”
Beatrice, slammed into the ground by Zefard’s powerful strike, somehow managed to break her fall and immediately stood up.
However, she wasn’t even given a moment to catch her breath.
“I’m entrusting command of this area to Knight Battalion Commander Major Commander Ozniel! We’ll proceed to take down the enemy’s knight commander!”
After delegating command to his subordinate battalion leader, Zefard spurred his horse and charged toward Beatrice.
“Zeaah!”
A strike infused with battle spirit roared as it slammed down. Beatrice blocked it, but the impact sent her flying deeper into the alley.
It was fortunate for her that the alley was narrow, making it impossible for a mounted pursuit.
But Zefard wasn’t the type to give up the chase over something like that.
Dismounting his horse, he advanced toward her with unwavering steps.
“—Every attack was meant to kill. You blocked them well. As expected from Felix Nightray’s daughter.”
“You… know my father!?”
“What? Felix didn’t tell you anything?”
Even as they exchanged words, neither side relaxed their combat stance, of course.
If anything, amid their verbal back-and-forth, their killing intents clashed as they probed for the slightest opening.
“It’s been about twenty years now—back in the era of the previous king, His Majesty Almadius.”
Beatrice’s father, Felix, once belonged to a small mercenary group based in a northern country.
But in one battle, the mercenary group’s leader was killed in action. The group disbanded.
With nowhere left to go, Felix headed to—the Kirchhen Kingdom.
Why did he choose that place? It was because he’d heard rumors of a swordsmanship tournament being held in the kingdom.
Anyone who passed the qualifiers could enter the main tournament. If he could demonstrate his skills there, it might open the door to serving the kingdom.
Not wanting to miss this opportunity, Felix decided to challenge it. He passed the qualifiers and eventually crossed blades with Zefard in the main event.
Zefard was in his twenties back then. Rough around the edges, but already starting to be called the kingdom’s strongest.
Felix, on the other hand, was a nameless mercenary. The outcome seemed obvious to everyone.
However, contrary to expectations, the two fought on equal footing.
“Felix was… strong.”
Zefard continued quietly, as if tracing a distant memory.
“But the victor wasn’t your father. It was me.”
“…I see.”
“After that battle, I reached a new realm. And as a result—Felix had his arm severed by me.”
In Beatrice’s memories, Felix was missing his left arm.
She’d always thought he’d lost it while wandering battlefields as a mercenary.
But the reality was different. —It had been taken from him in the aftermath of his battle with Zefard.
Having lost one arm, Felix could no longer be a top-tier swordsman.
Still, his valiant performance in the royal tournament was recognized, and he was barely permitted to serve the Kreving Earl family as a knight.
Though in the position of a low-ranking knight, he lived with pride, and then—when Beatrice was still young, he fell to illness and quietly passed away.
But doubt lingered in her heart.
“In a match held before the king, injuring an opponent shouldn’t be allowed.”
They couldn’t have a bloody battle spilling out in front of the king.
That’s why the swords used in royal matches were dulled blades without killing power.
Unless infused with magic, they couldn’t cut human flesh. And infusing swords with magic was forbidden in royal matches.
But Zefard had crossed that line.
With a slash imbued with his full magical power, he severed Felix’s arm.
“Why… did you take my father’s arm?”
“Because there was no other fitting way to settle things between him and me. Tearing the flesh of a worthy foe, severing their bones, taking their life. That’s what elevates my sword to greater heights. Though, in the end, I couldn’t take his life. Even so, as a swordsman… he died in that battle with me. That man became nourishment for my growth.”
In the end, Zefard incurred the king’s displeasure by violating the ban in the royal match and severing his opponent’s arm.
Despite being hailed as the ‘kingdom’s strongest’ at a young age, his promotion to knight commander grand master was delayed—solely because he failed to earn the previous king’s trust.
But Zefard had no regrets.
Because through that battle, his swordsmanship had ascended to even greater heights.
Taking Felix’s arm, accepting Lugdura’s power into his body—all of it was in pursuit of strength.
“Come, Beatrice Nightray. Show me your power! The valor recognized by the Kreving Earl! Your abilities as a vampire! The swordsmanship inherited from Felix—show it all!”
Magical power has a unique ‘color’ for each individual.
Normally invisible, but when vast amounts are unleashed, that color takes on a distinct outline.
Zefard’s magical color is red—but now, behind him, an alien and ominous white was beginning to mix in.
“From here, I’ll unleash Lugdura’s power. You should give it everything you’ve got too. —And become the nourishment that elevates me to even greater heights!”
