Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 167. It Would Have Been the Same. No, It Would Have Been Worse (2)

That particularly cold and hungry winter.

A young beggar, who had been soundly beaten for failing to steal a dumpling, wrapped himself in a worn-out straw mat and groaned in pain.

The cold winter wind felt like it was carving up his body.

The pangs of hunger were so severe it felt like he could chew and eat human flesh if he could only get his hands on it.

The boy was a weakling, groaning and dying from the cold and hunger.

The people passing by ignored him, simply walking past indifferently.

Then.

A young girl approached him.

Wearing fine flower shoes, beautiful silk clothes, and with delicate hands, the girl came up to him and….

“I’ll give you this.”

She said, taking a money pouch from her bosom and holding it out to the boy.

“Buy new clothes and food with this.”

“…Ah… ahh….”

The boy reached out with a trembling hand to take the pouch.

His fingers, stiff from the cold, wouldn’t even straighten, but he tried to grasp it somehow.

But….

“Miss, stop it.”

A woman came and, shielding the girl, lifted her up.

The money pouch, his only hope, moved away.

And the woman, frowning, looked down at the boy and said.

“I told you not to deal with dirty beggars, didn’t I?”

“But, Nanny, he’s so pitiful.”

“Our young miss is so kind. But it’s alright. Beggars are tough, so he won’t die.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“……”

“So let’s go home. I bought the sweets you like, miss.”

“Wow. Thank you, Nanny.”

And the girl left, held in the woman’s arms.

Watching them grow distant, the young beggar wrapped in the straw mat withdrew his hand.

The hope he had held for a brief moment had vanished.

In its place, resentment began to well up.

The boy spoke, his voice laced with killing intent towards the world.

“I will become strong.”

No one listened to that vow.

But the boy, with all his sincerity, made a promise as if engraving it on his soul.

“I will become strong, no matter what it takes. And I will make a lot of money. I will do everything I want. I will eat everything I want. I will have everything I want.”

In the midst of the harsh pain where even the tears rolling down his cheeks froze his skin, the boy made a vow.

“I will definitely do it.”

In the boy’s eyes, who vowed he could do anything to keep this oath, malice, and even killing intent, overflowed.

But then….

“Child.”

An old man in shabby clothes stood before the boy.

The old man, with two swords at his waist, looked at the boy and said.

“Do not look at the world with such eyes.”

“……”

“If you bare your fangs at the world, the world will bare its fangs at you. So abandon your hatred. Do not let your life wallow in hardship and hatred.”

“…Hah….”

He had heard such words countless times.

Passing monks or Taoists would often spout nonsense and then feel proud of themselves.

Anyone could say righteous words without offering any help.

Just like this disgusting, hypocritical old geezer.

The boy forced his head up and said in a cracked voice.

“Hey… old man.”

“……”

“G… go… die.”

The old man did not get angry at the boy’s curse, which was filled with hatred and malice.

Instead, he smiled benevolently and extended his hand.

“Come with me.”

“…What?”

“The day is very cold, is it not?”

“……”

“You might freeze to death like this. So come with me.”

“Old man… are you… rich?”

“Hahaha. Do I look rich to you?”

“……”

No, definitely not.

Except for the two swords at his waist, this old man looked like the second poorest person on this street after the boy.

The old man’s attire was that shabby.

But….

“I may not be rich, but I can offer you a bowl of porridge to warm your body.”

“……”

It was the first time in the boy’s life.

An unconditional act of kindness.

The boy stared, mesmerized, at the hand extended to him simply because he was young and weak.

And he took it.

***

‘If not for Master back then, I would have become a person like this too, wouldn’t I?’

Well, nine times out of ten, he would have frozen to death.

But if, by some chance, he had survived that winter and was later spotted by some Unorthodox Alliance riffraff, and started to roll around and adapt under them….

The martial world of the Central Plains would have had to face an unprecedented catastrophe.

‘It’s horrifying even when I think about it.’

And at the same time, it was disgusting.

The sight of Count Spike, who divided people into high and low based solely on the presence or absence of power and abandoned the duty of the strong.

This was wrong.

It was the image his Master had taught him he should never become.

And it was also the image he would have surely become if he hadn’t met his Master.

Thinking about it….

‘I really want to beat the living X out of him.’

But any more beating and he might really die.

Besides, it was questionable whether beating him would fix the twisted sense of superiority and base perception engraved in that trash’s mind.

In the end, the violence would only serve as a way for Patrick to vent his anger.

Patrick himself would be fine with ending it like that.

But….

“Hah…. I’m really not good at this kind of thing….”

Fixing people was something his Master was good at.

Patrick didn’t think he could do it well by awkwardly imitating him.

But he had to.

Since he had learned that he should, shouldn’t he at least try?

Patrick glared at Count Spike and said.

“Count Spike.”

“……”

“Listen carefully. From now on, I will periodically watch the situation in Andemion.”

“What do you mean?”

“Listen to the end.”

“……”

“If I hear that you continue to neglect your people and oppress them with exploitation and violence….”

Patrick said, as if warning him with chilling eyes.

“I will appear before you again.”

“Ugh….”

“And I assure you, that day will be the last moment of your life.”

“……”

Count Spike gritted his teeth.

How dare he threaten him?

A brat who hadn’t even lived half his life.

A noble from a weak country with no significant title, how dare he…. how dare he, how dare he….

“You bastard….”

“……”

Count Spike, who was about to burst into a furious roar, shut his mouth.

Patrick’s menacing gaze, looking down at him, stopped his mouth from running any further.

Lowering his head to avoid that gaze was all he could do.

Count Calvin Spike, one of the nine 7-Star knights of the Kaisar Kingdom.

Above his bowed head, Patrick spoke.

“Remember this.”

“……”

“This is your only warning.”

And the sound of Patrick’s footsteps turning and walking away was heard.

Only then was Count Spike barely able to lift his head, and he chewed his lip until it bled, glaring at Patrick’s back.

“Patrick Schneider….”

This humiliation and disgrace would never disappear until that man was dead.

The veins on Count Spike’s hand, which was gripping the battle-axe, bulged.

***

The duel was over.

As Patrick defeated Count Spike and returned, Matthew and Isabella were about to welcome him enthusiastically.

But there were others who rushed to Patrick before them and greeted him with fierce joy.

“Hahaha. Amazing. Truly amazing, pal.”

“You didn’t just win, you completely thrashed him.”

“And… that… anyway, thank you. Thank you so much.”

The citizens of Andemion surrounded Patrick, patting and touching his head and shoulders in delight.

“It was nothing….”

Patrick was modest with the people, but inwardly he was pleased.

Seeing people so happy made the effort worthwhile.

They were happy that Patrick had defeated Count Spike.

And even more so, they were happy that he had scolded Count Spike.

Patrick had vented the words and resentment they could not.

He had become the voice for those who wanted to shout but could not.

That was what made them truly happy.

And as happy as they were, they welcomed Patrick fiercely.

“Ah, that hurts. Don’t hit me…. Why are you pulling my hair, you crazy people!”

Patrick got angry, but the people still held onto him, crying and laughing, sharing their joy.

Isabella and Matthew also approached Patrick and smiled warmly.

“You did well for once.”

“What do you mean, for once? For once?”

“You did well this time.”

“I always do well.”

***

The cheering citizens and the Double Dragon surrounded by them.

Some of the knights watching the scene let out a deep sigh.

‘To see them so happy….’

‘Have we lost the people’s hearts to this extent?’

Andemion was the land that had resisted most fiercely until the very end in the past.

So even now, it was a place with strong resistance to the Kaisar Kingdom.

The Kaisar Kingdom ruled such an Andemion by suppressing it with powerful force.

The knights rationalized that they were just following the will of the state.

But….

Ten years had passed since the war ended, yet the citizens’ reaction was like this, which was certainly a problem.

‘Perhaps things will have to change from now on. If the Count also saw that sight….’

One of the knights turned his gaze to Count Spike.

But….

“Huk!?”

What the knight saw at that moment was Count Spike pulling his battle-axe back with all his might, aiming at Patrick’s back.

“My looooord!”

He shouted at the top of his lungs, but it was already too late.

Count Spike threw the battle-axe with the Aura Blade formed on it and shouted.

“Dieeeee!”

The battle-axe flew towards Patrick’s back, emitting a terrifying momentum.

***

“You crazy bastard….”

Dangerous.

Patrick reacted immediately to Count Spike’s surprise attack.

It was an unexpected ambush, but Patrick could have easily dodged it.

But….

‘No.’

Right now, Patrick was surrounded by the citizens of Andemion.

If he dodged, it would be a major disaster.

Blocking it was not an option either.

The aftermath of the aura collision alone had enough power to kill ordinary people.

So….

Swoooosh.

The ultimate Willow Sword.

Patrick’s sword moved gently.

And the moment it touched the flying battle-axe, he moved the sword diagonally with minimal intervention, without disturbing the flow of its power.

As a result….

Whirrrrr!

The battle-axe, which had been flying with terrifying power straight ahead, soared up into the sky.

Perfect control of soft over hard.

It was not Patrick’s specialty, as his forte was speed, but he had succeeded.

The battle-axe deflected by Patrick soared high up for a while before losing its power and slowly falling down.

Thud!

Those who watched the battle-axe slam hard into the ground swallowed hard.

If Patrick Schneider hadn’t blocked that….

“Uh… uh-uh….”

“I… I’m alive.”

The people who realized they had just survived death collapsed a beat later.

They had almost died.

But Patrick Schneider had protected them with his marvelous swordsmanship.

“Th-thank you… Huk!”

The one who was about to say thank you shut his mouth.

The moment he faced Patrick’s face, his mouth wouldn’t open.

There was the face of the truly enraged Radiant Dragon Great Master.

“Calvin Spike.”

Count Spike’s name was spat out from Patrick’s mouth.

A genuine killing intent surged from the depths of his heart and overflowed from his entire body.

Is this what a knight should do?

Is this how a noble should act?

No, Patrick had never learned such behavior from his Master or his father.

Patrick’s icy gaze pierced through Count Spike.

In that instant, Count Spike flinched and took a step back.

And then….

“Ki… kill him!”

He ordered his knights.

To kill Patrick.

It was the order of a man who had been utterly and perfectly defeated in a duel, who had failed in a surprise attack without regard for his own people.

To kill Patrick Schneider.

The knights were so dumbfounded by the order that they stood there blankly.

Is this really happening?

To them, who were frozen in a daze, Count Spike shouted again.

“What are you doing? It’s an order! Kill him. Kill that bastard!”

The knights and soldiers reacted to the word ‘order.’

A few of them raised their weapons and moved to block Patrick.

But….

“Go ahead and try.”

Patrick’s small voice sealed them.

“I’ll kill you all.”

No one had the foolhardiness to draw their sword against Patrick after hearing those words.

Patrick, without any interference, walked step by step and reached Count Spike.

“Uh… ugh….”

In Count Spike’s eyes, Patrick appeared as an absolute god of death.

And Patrick said.

An indifferent and cold, but unwavering voice reached Count Spike’s ears.

“Having lost the pride of a martial artist, the duty of a noble, and the decency of a human being….”

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”

“The harm you would cause to the world by living is too great.”

In that instant, Count Spike’s heart sank.

But he gritted his teeth and shouted.

“So what? Do you dare to kill me?”

“……”

“Do you think a brat from a minor country can get away with killing a Count of a great nation? Your country will also be held accountable….”

Slice.

Count Spike, who was shouting vehemently, could not open his mouth any further.

A single streak of light had pierced through him.

The identity of that streak of light, which had split him exactly in half, was….

“Ha… hahaha….”

No, it can’t be.

Surely not that far….

To Count Spike, who was denying reality, Patrick’s cold voice was heard.

“Farewell. Trash.”

That was the last thing Count Spike heard while he was alive.

Simultaneously, his body split exactly in two, left and right, and collapsed to the ground.

Count Calvin Spike.

Deceased as a result of the duel with the Double Dragon.