NOVGO.NET Chapter 164 : Chapter 164
Chapter 164. I Need to Get a Little Serious (1)
Patrick’s words silenced the crowd.
‘What did that bastard just say?’
This was probably the common perception of most people there.
In that silence, the first to speak was Count Spike.
“Rip your stomach…”
He said to Patrick with a smile gleaming with killing intent.
“Do you think I can’t do it if you tell me to?”
“You probably can’t.”
“Why do you think so?”
Count Spike growled fiercely.
Patrick then smirked and said.
“You know, for some reason I don’t know, I’ve made quite a few enemies in my life.”
You don’t know the reason?
You really don’t know.
‘It hasn’t even been 30 minutes since we met, but I think I know why.’
Ignoring Count Spike’s dubious gaze, Patrick continued.
“But among all those people, not a single one succeeded in ripping my stomach open. All of their own heads got smashed instead.”
“So you think I will be the same?”
“Why? Do you think you won’t?”
“……”
“Then go ahead and try. Let’s see this through to the end.”
Patrick then spun the swords in both his hands and took a step forward.
At that, Count Spike’s soldiers and knights flinched.
Having already faced Patrick, they recoiled at even his slightest movement.
Count Spike, inwardly frowning at the sight, continued to speak to Patrick.
“This could escalate into an international issue.”
“Oh, the stakes are getting higher.”
“Do you truly want war?”
“If it breaks out, I’ll be at the forefront, smashing everything.”
“……”
“And at the very front line of the battlefield, I’ll fight while shouting, ‘This is all because of that damn geezer, Count Spike.’”
“……”
“I really will do it.”
Uh, that’s true.
This guy really will do it.
***
Most of Patrick’s achievements during his time as the Radiant Dragon Great Master in his past life were established by beating someone up.
But even so, that wasn’t everything.
There were times when he had to negotiate, and times when he had to play tug-of-war with the enemy.
At such times, the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon had only one principle.
When it comes to negotiations….
[If you get scared, you die.]
It was a typical back-alley thug mentality.
But its effectiveness varied depending on who was using it.
Just as two tigers cannot live on one mountain, there could only be one madman in a district.
When the Radiant Dragon Great Master, a madman of the era, decided to go all out, it turned out to be surprisingly effective.
Even Patrick’s friend, the Ugly Dragon Scholar Jaegal Hyeon, praised this Radiant Dragon Great Master style of negotiation….
[They say even dog poop can be used as medicine.]
He did praise it. In his own way….
In any case, what Patrick was doing now was exactly that.
Do we go all the way? Or do you back down?
One of the two.
The choice is yours.
***
‘What kind of bastard is this?’
Count Spike was genuinely flustered.
Originally, he had intended to shed his side’s fault with the lives of his soldiers and then, in turn, hold the other party accountable for their sins.
But….
‘This bastard seems serious.’
“What are you doing? If we’re going to see this to the end, let’s do it quickly. Bring it on.”
At the sight of Patrick beckoning with his fingers, Count Spike bit his lower lip hard.
“For now, let’s just calm down.”
“Huh? Really? We’re not fighting?”
In the end, Count Spike took a step back.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t go to war over such an issue.
Even if they wouldn’t lose a war against the Atronia Kingdom, becoming the spark for a war with a weak justification would be a great political loss.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Although he was a 7-Star knight, as long as he had not transcended worldly interests, Count Spike was ultimately just an adult with too much to lose.
He spoke softly, as if to soothe himself.
“We can’t go to war over such a trivial matter.”
“Come on, what do you mean war….”
Of course, Patrick had no intention of starting a war either.
He had held his ground with a 99% certainty that the opponent would back down out of fear.
War wasn’t child’s play; that was going too far.
Still, even if there was that 1% chance the opponent didn’t back down, he had no intention of going to war.
‘In that case, I’d just cleanly eliminate everyone present….’
[Cheon, you scoundreeeel!]
“Come on, I can at least think about it, can’t I? Just think….”
Patrick muttered an excuse to the scolding of his Master that he heard as an auditory hallucination.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing…. So what are we going to do now?”
Count Spike said to Patrick with a frown.
“State your purpose for coming to my fief and get lost.”
“I told you I came to have a go, didn’t I?”
“……”
“Did I not say that?”
Ah, right. He did say that. He did, but….
“After doing all this, did you think I would accept your duel?”
“Are you planning not to?”
“Of course.”
“I see.”
“There’s a limit to rudeness. For you, who did this in my fief, and….”
“I got it.”
“……”
“Then I’ll be going.”
Huh? What?
Is it okay to do this?
Count Spike was flustered by Patrick’s action of turning his back so cleanly.
Regardless, Patrick sheathed his swords and turned his back to his companions and said.
“Let’s go. He says he won’t do it.”
“He won’t?”
“Yeah. He chickened out.”
At Patrick’s words, Count Spike got angry again.
How dare that bastard say such nonsense about him?
But regardless, Patrick and Matthew only said what they had to say.
“Well then, can’t be helped. Let’s move on to the next one.”
“Who’s next?”
“Count Bereto Ziegler’s fief is the closest.”
“Is he any good?”
“He’s good. The weapon he actually uses is a mace, a type of flail.”
“That man literally hits hard.”
At the sight of Patrick and his companions turning to leave while talking amongst themselves, Count Spike’s insides boiled.
And finally, unable to hold back, he yelled.
“Stop right there!”
“Ah, what is it?”
“Are you making a fool of me right now?”
“Making a foooool?”
“……”
“Meeeeeee?”
Wow, look at that expression. He must be really pissed.
Matthew, who was watching from the side, thought.
Patrick, on the other hand, said as if he had no idea what was going on.
“What’s with the fresh nonsense all of a sudden? You told me to go, right? You said you wouldn’t fight, right?”
“Ahem…. That is.”
“No, I’m leaving because you told me to, so where is this ‘making a fool’ coming from all of a sudden? I listened to everything you said, old man.”
“……”
What is this?
His words weren’t wrong. Not wrong, but….
‘Good heavens….’
Where did he get this ability to piss people off with every single word he says?
That mouth is scarier than a sword.
In any case, this was not good.
That bastard is just going to leave like this?
And he’s even going to duel Count Bereto Ziegler?
‘If Count Ziegler were to win there…’
Count Bereto Ziegler.
He was a contemporary of Count Spike and a man who reached the 7-Star realm around the same time.
Even within the Kaisar Kingdom, the two were constantly compared, and they themselves were intensely aware of each other.
Doesn’t everyone have an opponent they absolutely do not want to lose to?
For Count Spike, that was Count Ziegler.
If he let Patrick go here, that mouth of his would spread rumors all the way to the other side of the continent that he had run away scared.
He could be sure of it.
That much could be dismissed as nonsense.
But if, after that, Count Ziegler were to beat Patrick….
“Damn it….”
Just thinking about it was horrifying.
Count Ziegler would step forward himself and support Patrick’s words.
[I have restored the honor and pride of the kingdom that Count Calvin Spike dropped.]
He would say.
Just thinking about it made the back of Count Spike’s neck stiffen.
It was absolutely unacceptable.
In the end, he decided that he could not let Patrick go like this.
“I’ll do it.”
“Huh? Do what?”
“I will duel you.”
“Suddenly?”
“……”
“What a fickle man. Why are you going back and forth on your own?”
“……”
“Is it middle-aged menopause?”
“Shut up and just decide whether you’ll do it or not.”
One thing he had realized for sure.
Talking to that bastard any further was by no means good for his mental health.
If he kept listening, he felt like the aura in his body would get twisted and he would vomit blood.
Patrick scratched his head and said.
“Hmm, I’m not really feeling it….”
“……”
“Can’t be helped. I’ll do it if you meet one condition.”
“A condition? You’re setting a condition here?”
“Why? Is it strange?”
“Weren’t you the one who came to me for a duel in the first place? And yet you’re setting conditions?”
“Come on, that was the situation until 3 minutes ago. Right now, it’s a situation where you, Count, are begging me to fight when I said I wouldn’t, right?”
Begging? Is that the situation?
Is this that kind of situation right now?
“Cough….”
Count Spike, who felt something rising in his throat, forced his mouth shut and said.
“What kind of condition are you trying to set?”
“If you win, I’ll take responsibility for all the commotion that happened in this city.”
“This is actually your responsibility.”
“There can be some difference in perspective on that part.”
In what interpretation?
To the speechless Count Spike, Patrick continued with a smile.
“Instead, if I win, let’s have you, Count, take responsibility for mismanaging your subordinates and pay for all the repair costs here.”
“Repair costs?”
“Yes. Don’t you see this here? The homes of innocent people destroyed by the aftermath of the battle?”
“……”
“Don’t tell me you were planning to wipe your mouth clean? Wow. How can a lord do that? My father would never even imagine such a thing.”
In fact, Patrick was responsible for over 90% of the city’s destruction.
But Count Spike, who had arrived late on the scene and had no way of knowing that, bit his lip hard.
No matter what he said here, he would only become the evil lord who ignored the damage to his people and tried to get away with it.
And Patrick said.
“It’s good, isn’t it? No matter who among us wins, the fief’s residents will be compensated for their damages, right? Isn’t that so?”
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
“Now you’re starting to get it. So when should we have the duel? Now?”
Patrick’s attitude seemed to say, ‘I don’t care when I fight someone like you.’
And in fact, that was true.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
Count Spike bit his lip hard and said.
“In two days.”
“The place?”
“Let’s do it at the inner castle’s training ground in the fief.”
“Oh, you like things secretive. I get it. I guess you’re at an age where being publicly thrashed would be quite embarrassing.”
“……”
Count Spike thought.
If he could just crush that mouth, he would even sell his soul to the devil.
“Everyone, this is how scary middle-aged menopause is. Everyone, with proper exercise and a healthy diet….”
“I will open the training ground for all to see.”
“Yes. Then I’ll see you in two days.”
Count Spike gritted his teeth and turned his back roughly.
Following him, his knights and soldiers also followed, watching his mood.
The injured also retreated with the help of their comrades, and soon, on the empty street, Patrick shrugged and said.
“Hmm, this must be what those Taoist kids call wu wei ziran.”
No. That’s not it.
“No matter where the rain falls, the water flows and flows, eventually heading to the sea, so in the end…. what was it?”
It seems he doesn’t even remember the original saying completely.
“Anyway, I should be able to achieve my initial goal… huh? Who are you?”
When Patrick looked to the side, a young boy was approaching him.
And that boy bowed his head deeply to Patrick and said.
“Thank you.”
Suddenly? And to this demon?
Matthew and Isabella, who were watching this situation from the side, couldn’t understand what was happening.
But this was just the beginning.
“Haha… hahaha.”
“You’re amazing, pal.”
“I felt so refreshed. It was so satisfying to see you send those bastards flying.”
“You’re going to crush that bastard Count Spike too, right?”
Other people also came up to Patrick, patting his shoulders and back in celebration.
Among them were people who had been drinking with Patrick just a while ago, and also people he had never seen before.
They were all greatly pleased with Patrick’s actions and even grateful.
Isabella and Matthew were dumbfounded by the sight.
‘This is strange.’
‘Is this normal?’
It didn’t seem like Count Spike ruled with benevolence.
But wasn’t he the lord of this land and one of the representative knights of this country?
Was it normal for praises and thanks to pour in for someone who was about to crush Count Spike’s soldiers and even fold the Count himself in half?
Seeing the two who couldn’t understand, Patrick chuckled and said.
“Tsk tsk tsk, this is why you brats don’t know the ways of the world….”
“What?”
“Why us?”
“Didn’t you see how those soldiers were acting earlier?”
“The soldiers?”
Of course, they saw it.
Coming to drink in broad daylight during their duty hours, threatening the people around them…. Huh? Wait a minute?
A thought flashed through Matthew’s mind.
Even before the soldiers got into a squabble with Patrick, the citizens of this city were wary and disliked the soldiers.
That means….
“This land is not assimilated. It’s being alienated.”
“Hmm….”
This city was once the capital of the Kreutz Kingdom, and the citizens living here were the people of that country.
I don’t know how the Kaisar Kingdom ruled after conquering this country, but judging from the soldiers’ attitudes and the citizens’ reactions, it certainly wasn’t a lenient method.
The people of a defeated nation, subjugated by an enemy country.
To them, Count Spike and his soldiers were not an allied army protecting them, but invaders who oppressed and monitored them.
In the midst of that, Patrick appeared and showed them a display of overwhelming power, sending them flying….
‘It must have been satisfying.’
The innkeeper of the pub where Patrick had been eating and drinking heartily just a while ago shouted loudly.
“All the beer in my house is free today! Everyone, drink till you drop!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
“Hooray!”
Just by looking at the people’s reactions now, one could tell.
How much they had been exploited and oppressed all this time.
Then Patrick said.
“The will of the people is the will of heaven, and the heart of a child is a good heart…”
“……”
“If he’s a person who’s been abandoned by both, I think I have a good idea of what kind of person Count Spike is.”
As Patrick spoke seriously, unlike his usual self, neither Matthew nor Isabella could readily reply.
And Patrick said with cold eyes.
“I need to get a little serious for this duel.”