Chapter 17
Panis sighed inwardly.
“If a bloodbath breaks out among the Knights we invited, what will become of the city's reputation? What if the Piranian Family demands blood money?”
“Send all the bills to me. Whether it’s infamy or a blade of vengeance, I’ll take it all.”
Karas said calmly.
He had been invited precisely because of his skill, despite his unruly nature. But to cause trouble on his very first day...
“I will somehow smooth this over. Please, I beg you, exercise more restraint in the future.”
“Thanks. I’ll try.”
The office door swung open.
“Oh!”
“You...!”
Karas looked surprised. It was indeed the Samurite who had caused a commotion at the Tavern two days prior.
“We meet again. It’s good to see you.”
“You were an invited Knight too. I certainly thought you might be.”
Karas rubbed the back of his head, as if a bump had formed from the incident.
Judging by his behavior at the Tavern, he seemed ready for a fight, but surprisingly, he bore no grudge.
Instead, a competitive spirit, and an even greater curiosity, made his eyes sparkle.
“I arrived two days ago, by invitation. I am Eugene Meyer. May I address you as Sir Karas?”
Karas, who had been quietly observing the easygoing Eugene, took a step back and bowed his head.
“I apologize for earlier.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“There’s so much, I don’t know where to begin.”
Karas stroked his bristly beard as he spoke.
“Calling you a coward at the Tavern, not believing you when you said you were about to step in, and rudely raising my fist—all of it.”
“I’ve already forgotten about it. Though it was violent, there was no malicious intent. Besides, those ruffians were an eyesore to me too.”
Eugene recalled Marcus and his companions.
“The Dhampirs I met recently were quite gentlemanly fellows, but then again, people are all different.”
“Gentlemanly Dhampirs? That’s a joke I’ve never heard before.”
Karas looked incredulous. A Dhampir is what you get when you mix the arrogance of a Vampire, the inferiority complex of an Illegitimate Son of a Noble, and the brutality of a Mercenary.
Realizing the atmosphere outside was unusual, Panis emerged. His silk robes and plump physique were the stereotype of a wealthy Merchant.
He was flustered to see the two Knights conversing.
“You two know each other?”
Having been tipped off by Sorin, he immediately recognized Eugene. It wasn't common to see a Knight accompanied by a tall Beastfolk woman with a unique tail.
“Something of the sort occurred. It was nothing unpleasant, and there will be no issues with us coexisting, so rest assured, Magistrate.”
Unlike Sorin, Eugene used honorifics as Panis was one of the city's leaders.
“That’s fortunate.”
Panis was pleased by the politeness of the Knight he had just met. While his position as Magistrate here wasn't inferior, it was almost impossible to be addressed with such deference by a Free Knight.
“Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Panis, the City Magistrate. Sir Eugene, I sincerely thank you for honoring our invitation with your esteemed presence.”
Though he held the title of Magistrate, he wasn't a man of exceptional martial prowess or leadership.
The defense of a Free City involved maintaining a modest City Guard and hiring Mercenaries as needed. Therefore, the Magistrate's virtues lay elsewhere.
Namely, recruitment and hospitality! These two abilities were truly paramount.
It was the knack for gathering capable Mercenary Groups and Knights, negotiating their pay at a fair price, and constantly placating them so they wouldn't harbor resentment.
“This works out perfectly. If it’s alright with both of you, might I offer you hospitality elsewhere?”
If Boneyard's strongest cards turned out to be old acquaintances, it was a boon. Panis was the kind of man who knew how to inflate such good fortune even further.
Eugene was quick to pick up on such cues. Was this not an opportunity for a free meal and drinks?
“I can hardly refuse the Magistrate’s hospitality.”
“Thank you!”
“Sir Karas, will you join us? It seems we’ll be seeing a lot of each other for a while.”
And if he could even put the Magistrate in his debt, all the better.
“My earlier apology won’t be enough, so I suppose I’ll have to drink a penalty drink.”
Karas, shedding the aloofness he had shown Panis earlier, also nodded.
*Hooray!*
This situation, where a terribly tangled knot was untangled in one go. The tired Magistrate’s face brightened for the first time in a long while.
* * *
Panis was considered a big shot in Boneyard’s liquor industry. His current position was attained through the connections, wealth, and intelligence he had accumulated there.
Once alcohol flowed, any man was bound to become a chatterbox. In the city's web of interconnected interests, such information became a powerful weapon.
“Please, have a drink.”
A beautiful woman smiled gently as she poured wine into Karas’s cup.
She was dressed in the traditional attire of women from the hot southern regions. The difference was that they were more elaborately decorated and revealed more skin.
Samurite rice wine and snacks were laid out on the black marble table.
“This drink is good, but it still can’t compare to what we have in my homeland.”
Karas, longing for the taste of home, drained his cup in one gulp.
“I’ve served countless Knights in my time as Magistrate of this city, but this is the first time I’ve felt such reassurance.”
Panis rubbed his hands together, smiling, his plump cheeks jiggling along.
“I’m not sure if these rather exotic dishes will suit Sir Eugene’s palate.”
Panis glanced nervously, feeling he might have tailored the food too much to the Samurite style. Unlike the dignified Eugene, Karas was an uncontrollable type, and he wanted to appease him as much as possible.
“Not at all. Everything is wonderfully fresh. I’m the type who finds new foods more intriguing than familiar ones.”
“You are as generous as they say!”
Fortunately, Eugene harbored no complaints.
*This tastes similar to sake?*
He, too, was pleased to taste rice wine after a long time.
“You’ve called quite a lot of Knights from all over, haven’t you?”
Karas remarked.
“Given the circumstances, yes. Esteemed Knights like Sir Eugene and Sir Karas might refuse an invitation, might they not?”
“I understand your intentions, but you should have filtered out the trash from Barsia. I cannot tolerate the Piranian Anthem being sung in this magnificent city.”
Karas popped a Date into his mouth and chewed.
“The hospitality is appreciated, but now I’d like you to be completely honest with me. I understand the city is in danger. So, what do you want from me? I can roughly guess, seeing Sir Karas.”
At Eugene’s question, Panis swallowed hard, as if expecting what was coming.
“The Gord Nobles sent an ultimatum recently.”
The explanation that followed was as Eugene had surmised.
The Gord Kingdom was a nation occupying the western Continent. It was originally known as a land of Merchants, but one day, raiders appeared from the sea and began to gnaw away at the entire country.
As this continued for a long time, at some point, their bloodlines became so intermingled that the two Ethnic Groups assimilated into one.
Thanks to this, a unique Ethnic Group was created, possessing the contrasting characteristics of both Merchant and Warrior.
“Until now, paying annual tribute was sufficient. They were content with being treated as elder brothers, but eventually, they drew their axes.”
“That’s not particularly unusual, is it?”
Karas said, peeling an apple.
“By birth, they are raiders who sailed far and wide, stirring up trouble everywhere. How long can they pretend to be Nobles after settling down? A Merchant’s blood might cool when touching silver, but what happens when a raider’s blood boils?”
“It would only cool by shedding someone else’s blood. Perhaps their targeting of the city isn’t just about greed, but also about venting their frustrations.”
Karas laughed as Eugene responded appropriately.
During their conversation, a perfectly peeled apple was placed on a plate. It was shaped like a crouching rabbit.
“Oh my!”
“How cute.”
The serving women giggled.
“Still, thanks to this, we get to host such esteemed Knights, so it’s not entirely unfortunate. Hahaha!”
Panis rubbed his hands, flattering them. He was impressed not only by Eugene’s martial prowess but also by how well he got along with the difficult-to-control Karas.
Though he was a man of some standing in the city, only another Knight could control a Knight. And Karas, being a Scion of a prestigious family, was beyond control.
“To continue my earlier explanation, the Gord also have no intention of mobilizing their Army. Oh, thank you.”
Panis accepted the apple Eugene offered on a fork.
“If they intend to take the city without using an Army, they must be using Champions. That’s why you’ve gathered Knights from all over.”
“Yes. The Hall War will begin soon.”
An era where disputes between individuals were settled by fists rather than law. When this occurred between Knights or Nobles, they conducted a dignified Trial by Combat.
When the scale of a Trial by Combat grew to the level of city versus city, or nation versus nation, it was called a ‘Hall War’.
A clean resolution, decided by representatives fighting, without needlessly shedding hundreds or thousands of lives!
Naturally, the glory gained from it was immense. The name was given because the Duel Arena was akin to a hall of fame.
Since such significant interests were at stake, it was rare for there to be only one Champion; usually, both sides sent out about three.
“Our three representatives from Boneyard and three representatives from Gord will compete in a Dismounted State.”
“What happens if Boneyard loses?”
“Major interests will be transferred, such as exemption from City Tolls and the exclusive right to trade goods designated by Gord.”
Panis trembled as if the thought alone terrified him.
“What about autonomy?”
“Fortunately, that is not among their demands. If it were, it would simply be war.”
If that had been demanded, this city would have been recruiting a large number of Mercenary Groups instead of Knights.
“But merely having our trading partners and goods restricted is painful enough.”
“It seems many lives are at stake, including yours, Magistrate.”
“Yes. The Executor, myself, and anyone whose title ends with ‘-ist’ will be dragged into the streets and beaten with clubs. Our families and homes won’t be safe either.”
“Conversely, if you win?”
“Then our freedom is guaranteed. The tribute we paid to Gord will also cease.”
Eugene tilted his head.
“It seems the stakes are unfair. One side is wagering their limbs, while the other is merely wagering a lock of hair, isn’t that so?”
“It can’t be helped. That’s the difference in power. If we were on equal footing, we would have rejected such an absurd demand.”
Panis cautiously observed Eugene.
“Sir Karas has already sworn to draw his sword for us.”
Eugene looked at Karas, who raised his cup as if in a toast.
“Then my decision remains.”
“Yes. There’s still time, so you don’t need to rush your decision.”
Panis explained the rewards the city had prepared.
Beyond the money, valuable privileges were promised, such as limited immunity, the right to enter and exit the city through its sealed gates at night, and tax benefits on trade.
*This is better than I thought?*
Fatalities are rare in a Hall War. A Knight’s status is determined by their armor, and no Knight participating in such an event would be poorly equipped.
While deaths were not uncommon in Trials by Combat, as even poor Knights participated, a Hall War, fought by well-armored combatants, usually ended with surrender or incapacitation before death. The fact that accepting defeat without killing further elevated a Knight’s honor also played a significant role.
“My decision is already made.”
He was already looking to earn money as a Champion, and with such favorable conditions, there was no reason to refuse.
“Knight Eugene Meyer. I will be Boneyard’s Champion.”
A one-on-one duel was better than a Battlefield rife with arrows and sneak attacks. No matter who his opponent was, he didn’t feel like he would lose.
*No one stronger than a giant boar will appear, and no one more skilled than my Master.*
Having had such a spectacular Knight's Initiation, he was confident in duels.
“Phew!”
As if all the tension had suddenly released, Panis sank into the sofa like a puppet with its strings cut.
Then, with a look that said, ‘Oh, this is no time for that!’, he sprang up and clasped Eugene’s hand.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“Isn’t this bond a precious thing? This is the first city I’ve set foot in since embarking on my Knightly Practice into the wide world.”
Eugene clenched his fist and thumped his chest.
“I swear on my—my sword—I will not allow this jewel of a city to be ravaged.”
“Oh! You are truly trustworthy. You are indeed worthy of being the Successor to the Knight of Prophecy!”
Panis bowed repeatedly, his face filled with emotion.
Sorin’s testimony was one thing, but the additional information his Confidant provided during the journey here gave him decisive confidence.
-Sir Eugene subdued Sir Karas with one blow at the Tavern.
-Is that true? Can you swear on your life?
-I’ve confirmed it multiple times, and it’s true.
Karas was by no means a weak Knight. Before his wanderings, he was one of the best Knights in his homeland, Samur.
With both Knights by their side, the city would surely be safe!```