Novel Full Chapter 251 : Chapter 251
Chapter 251. You Think I Don’t Know That? (1)
Patrick rushed in a single step and stamped his foot on King Derius’ face.
And as the King spun on the spot like a top, he landed an uppercut.
The King soared into the sky and then fell to the floor with a thud.
Patrick climbed on top of him and drove his fist down.
“You!”
Thwack!
“Educate your child!”
Thump!
“Like shit, which is why this whole mess happened, right? You son of a bitch, you bastard!”
It seemed he really had a lot pent up this time.
Normally, he would save face to some extent, as there was much to gain from the king of a nation, but he was not in the mood for that now.
The knights, who came to their senses a beat too late at the unbelievably absurd sight, rushed at Patrick. But….
“Won’t you get lost?!”
Boom!
“Kuaaak!”
“Aaargh!”
Patrick, having sent the knights flying with a single palm strike, glared at the king pinned beneath him with madness in his eyes.
“Hehehe, first, let’s beat you to an inch of your life and then have a calm conversation.”
“Wai… Wait, Double Dragon.”
“There is no ‘wait’ during a sacred assault!”
With a declaration that felt like a firm conviction, Patrick’s fist went up again. But….
“Stop, please stop.”
Someone threw themselves forward to protect King Derius.
“Who are you?”
“I am Alexander Krupa. If you have a grudge from the war, please take my life to resolve it.”
“This….”
Patrick, who had his fist raised, stopped his hand. And then….
“You’re Duke Krupa?”
“That is correct.”
“So, you’re the one who made me feel what it’s like to be in a shitty situation by luring me into a dog-like trap?”
It seemed Patrick’s grudge was deeper towards him than the King.
Knowing this, Duke Krupa squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
“That is correct.”
In that moment, Patrick’s expression became ambiguously hard to read. And then….
“Hoooo….”
He let out a deep sigh.
At the same time, the anger that had clouded his face faded, albeit slightly.
Then, he got up from on top of King Derius and spoke.
“Mister, let’s talk later.”
“……”
It seemed he had something else in mind.
And Patrick, grabbing King Derius by the collar, growled and spoke.
“Will you continue the war? Or will you surrender? I’ll give you three seconds. Choose. 3, 2….”
“I… surr… I surrender….”
The King declared his surrender with a swollen face.
Only then did Patrick release the King’s collar and speak.
“Follow me quietly. Don’t get on my nerves….”
No one dared to disobey.
Patrick Schneider, leading 1,000 soldiers from his fiefdom, participated in the civil war of the Harbor Kingdom.
He led the Dwarf clan to victory.
This fact became another achievement that spread throughout the continent.
***
Unconditional and complete surrender.
The King of the Harbor Kingdom officially acknowledged it.
Consequently, the soldiers who had been besieging the Dwarves’ home in the Iron Mountains withdrew like the tide, and the Dwarves finally regained their freedom.
Hadi and the other leaders of the Dwarf clan personally came to Patrick, held his hands, and expressed their gratitude.
“I don’t know how we can ever repay this grace.”
“If you don’t know, is your life over?”
“……”
Isn’t it common to politely refuse, saying it’s okay?
Hadi broke out in a cold sweat as he looked at Patrick’s eyes, which clearly demanded repayment.
Just then, Klaus, the left hand of the Dwarf clan, stepped forward and spoke.
“You saved our clan, so of course, we will pay the price. And personally, I will make sure to repay my debt to you.”
“Can I look forward to it?”
“Of course, we Dwarves are different from those petty Elves. When we do something, we do it with flair.”
“I’m looking forward to that.”
Although they joined hands out of necessity, putting the Dwarf clan in his debt was a good outcome.
Unlike humans, they were the type who couldn’t live with debt.
Whatever form it took, they would surely repay the debt.
***
After the matter with the Dwarves was settled.
Patrick began to deal with the post-war affairs in earnest.
Although he had captured the King of the Harbor Kingdom and taken the capital, the Harbor Kingdom still had plenty of strength left.
The force deployed to blockade the Iron Mountains was a staggering 70,000, and among them were four 7-star swordsmen.
This war was won because Patrick had mobilized only a minimal elite force and captured the king in a surprise attack.
As it had ended so swiftly, the Harbor Kingdom’s national power was almost unspent. However….
“Is that true?”
“Yes. That is what I’ve heard.”
“Hah….”
Patrick was dumbfounded.
According to Sanson’s report, this information was definitely advantageous to him. That was true, but….
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either.”
“Why did they do it?”
“How should I know?”
Neither Sanson nor Patrick could understand the situation.
The news they had just heard was that absurd.
Patrick, who was pondering with his arms crossed, spoke.
“This won’t do. I should ask a local about local matters.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I was planning to meet him anyway.”
Just as Patrick was about to get up….
“Young Master.”
“Knight A, what is it with you now?”
“Please just call me Oliver instead.”
“But I don’t waaaant to?”
“……”
If you’re not better at fighting than me, then Young Master or whatever, you’re just….
Oliver tried his best to control his anger and spoke.
“Marquis Noah Gregory wishes to see you, Young Master.”
“I’m busy right now.”
“He said you’d say that, and asked me to tell you this.”
And Oliver continued to speak….
“‘Remember the third condition.’ is what he said.”
Patrick frowned.
“Tsk, I have no choice.”
He had made a promise, so he had to keep it for now.
Patrick decided to postpone his other business for a while and meet Noah Gregory first.
***
Noah was up on the highest of the turrets on Latenop’s outer wall.
There was no place for people to hide around the narrow turret, making it the perfect spot for a secret conversation.
And next to him, a man in a black robe was waiting.
A moment later.
“Why did you ask to meet in such a high place… Ho?”
Patrick frowned as soon as he came up and saw the man in the black robe.
If it was a human who wore a black robe like that and exuded demonic energy, there was no need to question it.
“I see a little bug.”
Patrick gathered his energy.
At that, the man in the black robe bowed his head politely and spoke.
“My name is Lust.”
“……”
“I wanted to meet you at least once. O great hero….”
Kwaaaang!
Before he could finish his words, Patrick’s sword qi struck the man. But….
“Your greeting is quite rough.”
Lust was unharmed.
Although he was pushed back slightly, Patrick’s attack could not penetrate the faint purple barrier.
‘What? He blocked it?’
It wasn’t an attack meant to kill, but it was intended to subdue him.
He hadn’t expected it to be blocked so easily.
‘This one’s pretty skilled. Is that it.’
He couldn’t see the man’s whole face because of the hood, but just by the condescending smirk on his lips, he could tell the man was mocking him.
“Attacking suddenly in the middle of a greeting? You lack manners.”
“Since I’ve already been rude, shall I be a little more spectacularly rude?”
“I have no reason to refuse.”
“Hoooo, is that so?”
A crimson energy began to rise from the man called Lust.
And the corner of Patrick’s mouth twisted up. The moment he was about to swing his sword again….
“Young Master Schneider. Didn’t you come here to listen to my business?”
Noah stepped forward and came between them.
A suffocating killing intent was swirling between Patrick and the man named Lust, yet he had brazenly stepped in between them.
‘He’s quite a character. Tsk, what a waste….’
Patrick let out a sigh and withdrew his killing intent. Then he spoke calmly.
“Hurry up and tell me that third condition. I’ll at least hear you out.”
At Patrick’s words, Noah Gregory smiled brightly and spoke.
“I will make a formal proposal.”
“Go on.”
“Patrick Schneider. I recommend that you pledge allegiance to our Yusef Kingdom.”
“……”
“……”
After a long silence.
Patrick opened his mouth and spoke.
“Are you nuts?”
Patrick even made a gesture of twirling his finger next to his head, to which Noah responded.
“I am perfectly sane.”
“Crazy people never know they’re crazy.”
“That is true.”
Noah said so while looking at Patrick with a pathetic gaze.
‘That bastard….’
Patrick scratched his head roughly.
This was just a waste of time.
Not wanting to drag it out, Patrick spoke firmly.
“No.”
“……”
“There, happy now? In the first place, I was allowed to refuse after hearing the third condition.”
“That is true. However…. would you not listen to me a little more?”
“If I say no, are you going to stop?”
“Please at least listen.”
Without waiting for Patrick’s reply, Noah continued with what he had to say.
“As you know, if I hadn’t come, your army would have withered and died under Duke Krupa’s scheme.”
“……”
Patrick did not deny it.
That much was true.
Right before Noah Gregory appeared with a large amount of food, Patrick had certainly sensed defeat.
“I think I know what kind of person you are. Although it’s hidden behind your violent tendencies and rough behavior, the essence of you as a person is that of a hero who cannot turn away from justice.”
“……”
“Duke Krupa was also able to deal with you strategically because he realized your true nature. Exposing a weakness is like that, after all.”
“So?”
Patrick said with an indifferent face. Then Noah spoke.
“If you continue like this, you will fall.”
“……”
“People like me or Duke Krupa, who know your weakness, can bring you down at any time.”
“……”
Patrick did not answer. Because it was the right thing to say.
No matter how strong one is, if their weakness is known, they can be defeated.
Come to think of it, his death in his past life was like that too.
If he hadn’t jumped into the inescapable net where the elite of the Unorthodox Alliance had set up their formation to save his allies, the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon would not have died.
He jumped in knowing that.
Prioritize righteousness over your own safety. Hesitating for self-preservation is not true righteousness.
That was the life of the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon, as taught by his Master.
As a single martial artist, it was a dazzlingly righteous and splendid life. But….
“You are not suited to be a lord.”
“……”
“A person like you, who is obsessed with righteousness to the point of being immaculate, can never be a lord. No, you should not be.”
“……”
“But you are the greatest sword. There is probably no swordsman in this era superior to you.”
“……”
“And my lord is the only true king who can wield a sword like you correctly.”
“……”
“I hope you will think carefully about what position suits you.”
Noah tried to persuade Patrick with sincerity. And Patrick, after listening to all his words quietly….
“I was wondering what obvious thing you were saying….”
Patrick let out a sigh first. Then, he looked at Noah with sad eyes and spoke.
“To summarize, I’m not capable of leading and ruling others. So, I should just come to a position where I can fulfill my duty as a single swordsman. That would be better. Isn’t that it?”
“…That is correct.”
He’s good at summarizing.
To Noah, who felt that way, Patrick spoke with a look as if he were looking at the most pathetic person in the world.
“You think I don’t know that?”
“……”
Noah’s expression changed.
He hadn’t expected him to admit it so readily.
Patrick let out a weary sigh at Noah and spoke.
“The fact that I’m not fit to stand above others, to rule and lead them, is something I know better than anyone else.”
Patrick knew.
He knew that he was not suited to be a lord who could lead someone.
He didn’t have the virtue of his Master or his father.
He wasn’t wise with an abundance of knowledge and wisdom like the Seven Sages.
He hated to admit it, but he also didn’t have the charisma that captivated people like Cierion.
Basically, a lord is a person who can unite people.
Whether it’s a small sect or a large nation, the head of a group must know how to act as a focal point.
Of course, there could be kings who were not like that.
King Derius, who led this Harbor Kingdom.
If he had to compare, Patrick felt a sense of kinship with him.
‘For an ordinary man, he wasn’t bad. He did the best he could.’
King Derius, although an ordinary man, was someone who acknowledged his own ordinariness.
That was why he fully trusted the extraordinary talent, Duke Krupa, and entrusted him with the important affairs of the state.
And even at the most crucial moment, he delegated full authority to him.
Although Duke Krupa ultimately failed.
But his strategy had driven the world’s Double Dragon to the brink of defeat.
In that sense, King Derius was a lord who had chosen the best possible path as an ordinary person.
Even if one is an ordinary person, if they can assess themselves coolly and objectively, they are already in the realm of the extraordinary.
And Patrick also knew himself well.
“I know well that I am not fit to be a lord. But.”
“……”
“How can a person live life only doing what they want to do?”
“What did you say?”
“As a person lives life as it comes, even if it’s a job that doesn’t suit them, they have to do their best to somehow get it done.”
“……”
“That’s life. Kid.”