Volume 4 Chapter 11 I Don't Feel Like the Match is Decided
I moved to the left and back to dodge the greatsword swinging overhead.
Miloslaf took a big step forward, and the horizontal slash came at me, but I quickly retreated to escape.
The greatsword tried to slice me like a normal one-handed sword, moving freely through the air.
It was obvious he wasn't giving his all just moments ago.
If I'm going to counterattack, I need to get used to this strike first.
Well, even if I do get used to it, death waits if I jump in close.
So, what I'm aiming for is──
"Are you just going to run away again? Come on, at least try to hit me!"
Miloslaf shouted in frustration as I continued dodging narrowly.
Still, his strikes showed no change in intensity.
I guess he won't be thrown off by little things like that.
Finally, the moment arrived.
A strike came down like a hammer, aiming for my skull.
"Hah!"
I dodged the slash just in time, took a breath, and delivered a light right hook to the belly of the greatsword.
The sword barely missed me as it shifted just a bit to the left; that was fine.
"...What the?"
Oops, I noticed something off right away; it seemed to have had an effect.
I could tell Miloslaf was starting to worry about the greatsword in his hands, and his attacks lost their momentum.
"What's wrong? Is that all your attacks? Then──it's my turn!"
I stepped forward with my left foot, ready to charge at Miloslaf.
Without showing any panic, he grinned confidently and raised the greatsword high above his head.
But I won't miss the way that greatsword is shaking.
It seems the Shock Magic Stone is doing its job.
I finally got into the black knight's personal space, and then── I stomped down hard with my right foot, cracking the stone floor, while pushing my palm against his solar plexus.
It looks like the Defense Barrier from the Magic Stone of Great Absolute worked too, as a metallic sound rang out above us, and Miloslaf was blasted away with a deep rumble.
His heavy armor-clad body lifted up and slammed down onto the stone floor in an arc.
"Gah!?"
With a groan, Miloslaf became still.
* * *
While Miloslaf was passed out, I quickly called Suzu to cast a binding magic on the black knight.
After all, he has incredible strength.
I thought if I tied him with a rope, he would easily cut through it, so I needed to use magic to bind him.
By the way, Miloslaf was wearing an ancient artifact necklace that had Anti-Magic effects, so at first, the binding magic didn't work on him.
Even if Lene tried to interfere with magic, it wouldn't have any effect at all.
"...Huh?"
"Are you awake?"
After being dragged to the corner of the warehouse and sat down, Miloslaf finally opened his eyes about 3 hours later, staring blankly at my face, Lene's, and Suzu's.
I thought maybe he was still drowsy, but a man like him wouldn't show such a pathetic face.
He's probably just trying to grasp the situation.
"...Hmph, heh heh heh... ha ha ha ha!"
"What's with you? That's creepy."
Suddenly, Miloslav burst into laughter, starting with a chuckle.
I want you to understand why I feel this way.
"No, no, you think you can defeat me? And you're an enchanter? Hehe, it's been ages since someone rolled me like that! The world is really big!"
...Ah, so you're the type who gets even more fired up when you lose.
A battle maniac, huh?
That's so annoying.
I'm really glad I restrained you early on.
"Hey, Count Huntwerker, you did something to my sword, didn't you? What did you do? That hit you landed on me wasn't a punch, it was a palm strike. What was that thing that knocked me back while I was in armor?"
"...I don't have to answer you, but I guess the one doing the questioning is us..."
"Just tell me! In return, I'll share all sorts of info about the organization!"
He was an older man with innocent, sparkling eyes.
W-What...?
I didn't expect him to just hand over information so easily, but is it really okay for a temple knight to do that...?
I instinctively glanced at Suzu, but she just replied with her usual blank expression, "I think it's fine."
Maybe this man isn't the type to think about profit and loss.
If that's the case, it's better to keep him in a good mood.
"Well, if that's the case... First, I gave your sword the power of the 'Magic Stone of Vibration' to keep it vibrating strongly──"
"I see, Enchant magic usually enhances physical abilities, but it never lowers them. So you thought if the sword vibrated, it would be harder for me to wield, and my attack power would drop."
Without me explaining it all, Miloslaf carefully guessed why he did such a thing.
Just by talking about the effects, he understood my true intentions.
I can only say it's impressive.
How did I manage to beat someone like him?
"...So, the strike I used on you is called a 'Sunkai (Short Punch).' It's a technique from Eastern martial arts. It delivers a explosive shock from almost direct contact, one of the 'Hakkai (Power Burst)' techniques, and it's very effective even over armor, which is why I used it."
As I politely explained to Miloslaf, the black knight muttered, "Eastern martial arts, huh... I see, I see..." while staring off into the distance.
He seemed excited by the existence of this unknown martial art.
I wonder if he understands my position or not.
"So, Count, you're from the East? That's unexpected."
"I'm from the Sakura Empire. It's already fallen, though."
I answered calmly to the black knight who was very interested.
The Sakura Empire, worn down by a long civil war, was crushed by a great nation that crossed the sea 4 and a half years ago, and now it seems to be a vassal state of that nation.
Well, it's a story about my hometown that I left long ago, so I don't feel particularly emotional about it.
"Ah, I know about that. The one who destroyed it is the Quechua Empire, located to the west of here."
"...West?"
What does 'west' mean?
I heard that the Sakura Empire was destroyed by a great nation across the eastern sea.
Besides, how could this Quechua Empire in the west attack the far Eastern Sakura Empire?
"...Can you tell me more about that?"
I said this and decided to keep questioning the somewhat strange Miloslaf.
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