Battle Race in the Fantasy World

EP.125 We Decided to Call This a Disaster

Indeed. This is no polite request.

Nor is it a subtle plea for cooperation.

“This, my lord, is a notification.”

If it were an imperial official, or someone acting on the emperor’s orders,

They would worry that their actions might strain relations between the empire and the southern independent territories.

Thus, they wouldn’t even think of doing or considering such a crazy thing.

“…Does the empire truly intend to swallow us as well?”

“No? The empire has nothing to do with this. Didn’t I tell you? I’m here on personal business.”

But he is different. Jonathan is different.

He has no reason to be mindful of the empire. If he likes it, he can just quietly exercise.

And if he doesn’t like it, he can simply pick up his staff and step forward.

“Hand over our drug dealers.”

People cursing and looking down on you? Yeah, that can be overlooked.

It’s just the pitiful self-consolation of those who have no strength and make no effort.

That’s a part that can be tolerated if you think of it positively.

But he can never tolerate actions that insult that effort.

How dare they render sacred training futile in the name of some safety?

“Do you realize that what you’re saying right now is extremely disrespectful?”

At the lord’s words, Kyle thought for a moment and then confidently answered, ‘Yes.’

Thanks to that, the lord wore an expression of bewilderment, but Kyle remained confident.

It’s only natural. He’s only disrespectful in words, not in actions.

“The fortunate thing, my lord, is that I’m the one here.”

The thought of his brother or sister being here sends chills down Kyle’s spine.

Unlike him, who exercises out of a sense of duty, those two truly love working out.

If there were people nearby trying to take away the fruits of those sweat drops with a single bottle of drugs.

If someone who hides and remains silent about those hateful bastards were standing right in front of them.

‘They’d be beaten to a pulp. Or become like gum stuck to the floor.’

Kyle quietly waited for the response of the lord of Pardal Island.

It’s fine if he complies willingly, or if he refuses saying he can’t do that.

If things go well, that’s good, and if they don’t and it comes to a fight, that’s good too.

“…”

Meanwhile, the lord of Pardal Island was frantically racking his brains.

‘I heard that this young man named Kyle defeated Mathieu Philibert, one of the Alliance’s Three Heroes.’

That means he’s at a similar level to the empire’s much-boasted Top 10.

In contrast, he himself is merely someone who can handle mana slightly better than the average person.

There’s only one option left. To buy time until the ‘Wave Tamer’ arrives.

‘They said it wasn’t true. I heard rumors that Mathieu Philibert had already colluded with the empire and lost on purpose. Right. It doesn’t make sense. How could a young man like this defeat one of the Three Heroes?’

The lord recalled the words of the Alliance’s hardliners who had fled this far.

Believing it could very well be true, he waits for his trump card.

It was truly unfortunate. The hardliners had said such things simply because they hated Mathieu.

They just wanted to say something nasty, so they spread rumors about collusion and intentional defeat.

And the lord of Pardal Island took it as fact and incorporated it into his judgment.

The human nature of wanting to engage in wishful thinking no matter what.

When combined with distorted information, it resulted in the worst possible choice.

‘…Somehow, I feel like I’ve made a terribly bad choice.’

Rough thoughts, anxious eyes, and Kyle watching it all.

It’s all visible. What decision this person is making now, what scheme he’s plotting.

A situation where he’d have no defense even if accused of cheating.

But Kyle waited patiently. For that scheme to be completed quickly.

He can faintly sense it from afar. Something approaching that will entertain him.

It feels just like surging waves crashing in. No wonder they call him the Wave Tamer.

‘On par with Lord Mathieu. Is it that Logan I saw last time? About equal to those Top 10 too.’

To be honest, really honest, this is exactly what he was hoping for.

He was worried about what he’d do if the lord cooperated, saying, “Understood! I’ll hand them over right away!”

If that happened, catching the drug dealers would be good, but it would feel somewhat unsatisfying.

He’d be so disappointed that his irritation would grow rapidly.

‘Here it comes, here it comes. Oh my. It’s flying in.’

True to Jonathan’s nature, Kyle looks at the lord with a contented smile.

“My lord. Just for your information, this is His Majesty the Emperor’s mercy.”

“…What?”

“I’m saying we won’t kill you. Instead, you’ll have things broken here and there. You won’t be able to serve as a wave anymore.”

===

**

===

Arcane, the Wave Tamer who had been patrolling the surrounding waters, rushed to the lord’s castle.

He had heard news of a suspicious person arriving from the Empire, and it felt ominous.

‘Recently, the Empire’s actions have been showing that tyrannical tendency from the past.’

Pardal Island is the central axis of independent lords who view the Empire unfavorably.

Until now, the Empire hadn’t shown much interest in taking control of the entire south.

So they had been maintaining a peaceful time, engaging in moderate trade with the Empire.

But suddenly, the Empire might have changed its mind and decided to dominate all the remaining areas.

They had already heard news from the castaways, or more precisely, the escapees from the Alliance.

That the Empire had finally drawn its sword and swung it at the Alliance, which had collapsed due to traitors.

That they had resisted with all their might, but they had no choice after suffering a decisive defeat!

The Empire has settled the west. Then next would be the east or the south.

In this situation, suddenly someone claiming to be from the Empire went to the lord’s castle?

No matter how strange the person might be, no matter how much investigation was needed, and even if it was the lord’s order!

How could they just bring someone of unknown identity to the lord’s quarters?!

‘Stupid fools! What if he’s an assassin?!’

Arcane had spent quite a long time as a pirate.

Therefore, he knows better than anyone about dirty tactics.

At times like this, one should be careful about everything, but it’s frustratingly maddening!

“Lord Arcane? Wh-when did you return?”

“Where’s the lord!”

“He’s with a young man we brought in earlier.”

“Alone with him?”

“Well, I’m not sure. But they put handcuffs on him, and knights are right beside…”

Clicking his tongue, Arcane hurriedly moved his feet.

He could sense it. Faint, but definitely the aura of a powerful individual.

Could it be that instead of a secret assassination, they’re planning an outright elimination?

Pushing aside all the knights and soldiers standing in front, he opened the door.

“My lord!”

Arcane shouted loudly at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

It’s clear at a glance that this is no ordinary young man. He’s someone who could tear a lord apart with a smile.

Quickly inserting himself between them, he faced the opponent who was threatening the lord’s life.

“So, this is what you were planning, you disgusting Imperial scum.”

“Huh? No, wait. Right now…”

“You incited betrayal in the Alliance, caused internal strife to make them collapse on their own. And now you’re going to assassinate important figures in the south and devour us in the ensuing chaos?!”

At Arcane’s outburst, Kyle blinked his eyes a couple of times before breaking into a smile.

“What the hell are you talking about, you fucking bastard.”

The words that came out were absolutely not in harmony with his smile, though.

‘What? Assassination? In broad daylight, and after barging in so openly? Is he crazy or what?’

What kind of insane assassin would attempt an assassination like this?

If one had any sense, they wouldn’t carelessly say such things. No, they wouldn’t say them at all.

Until just a moment ago, he was in a truly joyful mood, but suddenly he felt extremely irritated.

He came with good intentions, only to be served a bowl full of insults right off the bat.

Kyle quietly turned around. And he takes a step.

“You scoundrel! Where do you think you’re…”

“Shut your trap.”

Usually, he shows respect to his elders.

Being from the land of Eastern courtesy, shouldn’t he at least use honorifics?

But insulting ‘Jonathan’ like this isn’t respecting elders, it’s attacking elders.

How could they utter such a vile and horrible word as ‘assassination’?

A proper fight should be head-on, fair and square, with a bang!

“Let’s have a little beating.”

When he fought with Mathieu, it was truly enjoyable.

In an Alliance where drug addicts run rampant, even his comrades were using drugs.

Only he, as a conscientious human being, did not do so.

And the way Mathieu treated him was very admirable.

He didn’t look down on him for being young, nor did he automatically antagonize him for being from the Empire.

Although wary and not fully understanding, he still acknowledged him as a strong opponent.

He showed at least minimal respect to the clearly perceptible aura of ‘one who has worked hard’.

‘But this bastard starts with informal speech and yapping as soon as he sees me.’

Was it because he had only imagined Mathieu’s demeanor? He was considerably disappointed.

He had hoped to engage in another splendid battle and witness a worthy strong opponent.

But what he saw now was nothing more than what could be called an ‘old fogey’.

“The Empire’s filthy… How dare you use such vile methods as assassination…”

Look at that. Even now, with a deeply furrowed brow, going on about the Empire this, assassination that.

Kyle emptied his mind at this behavior that was naturally provoking anger.

Ah, whatever. From this moment on, there’s no such thing as His Majesty the Emperor’s mercy.

“…Therefore! I shall not forgive you!”

“Well, well. Fuck. Sitting there spouting bullshit.”

Anyone watching might think they were seeing a magic girl show.

Why? Why not strip and transform right there? That would be perfect.

He didn’t know or care what story made him so hostile towards the Empire.

He had entered with all due courtesy, but what he got in return was rudeness.

So, as a form of reciprocation, he was thinking of forcefully inserting some violence.

Clang!-

“Haaah!!”

Watching his opponent charging at him with a sword in hand, Kyle slowly clenched his fist.

And he puts just a little bit of sincerity, the heart of a wounded warrior race, into it.