Chapter 101
Whatever others murmured, Karl was just looking at the system window that appeared before his eyes.
[Quest: Enter within the top 3 overall in the Somerset Knight Grand Tournament]
Karl’s brow furrowed slightly at the clean and straightforward quest.
To demand a newly formed knight order to enter the top 3 in such a large tournament.
‘The possibility exists, though.’
Karl nodded after checking the faces of the knights, full of anticipation.
“From now on!
The preliminary rounds for the mounted combat will begin.
Knights participating in the matches, please proceed to the waiting rooms for your assigned groups!”
Following the guidance of the venue staff member, Karl and the Lighthouse Knights also moved towards the location of the Group C waiting room.
While waiting in the room for a short while, it wasn't long before a guide led the Lighthouse Knights to the mounted combat training ground.
‘The scale is quite considerable.’
Starting from the obstacles, the entire space was structured optimally for mounted training.
Somerset probably possessed several such training grounds.
It made one realize the underlying strength of one of the continent's top duchies.
Perhaps hosting such a tournament itself held the intention of showing off their influence and power.
Plus, it would be easier to find and recruit skilled knights.
Just as not all counts were the same, not all dukes were the same either.
Duke Ellenhower of Somerset possessed a foundation so strong that he could establish an independent kingdom right now without administrative or financial problems.
“It’s incredible….”
Perhaps it wasn't just Karl who felt that way, as Rogério, standing beside him, let out a pure exclamation of admiration.
“Is there a difference from the Marquis’ power?”
“If Marquis Baltimo had properly grasped Somerset’s true strength, perhaps he wouldn’t have moved so recklessly as he is now.”
“Wouldn’t the Marquis also have dispatched many informants to Somerset?”
“Seeing directly and hearing are entirely different matters.
Depending on the person in the middle, it can be downplayed or exaggerated as much as one wants.”
Although it was said there was no exchange between the two, the thought crossed Karl’s mind that perhaps they had never even visited each other's domains.
“Anyway, the preliminary matches will likely end relatively quickly.”
The group mounted combat was a match that ended when one knocked an opponent off their horse using bladeless weapons or rendered them incapable of fighting to elicit surrender.
Rogério looked towards the Adolf Knights lined up opposite them.
“Please entrust the vanguard to me.”
“Do so.”
Thanks to Karl entrusting the lead without a moment's hesitation, Rogério’s expression brightened.
“First squad, to the front.”
“First squad, to the front!”
The five members of the first squad stood at the forefront of the Lighthouse Knights, and at the very tip, the most projected point, stood Rogério.
It was the moment the knights collectively gripped their weapons.
Peeeeep!
With a whistle tearing through the sky, a flag fluttered, and the preliminary match began.
A total of 60 knights, 30 from each order, began charging towards each other, kicking up clouds of sand.
“One-point breakthrough!”
The knights, led by Rogério, pierced straight through the center of the enemy knight order and rapidly penetrated towards the opposite side.
The moment the Lighthouse Knights used the one-point breakthrough formation, the opponent spread their knights out in an encirclement formation.
“Disperse!”
At Rogério’s single word, the knights instantly scattered in all directions this time.
They each moved against a single knight, knocking several to the ground and neutralizing them.
The commander of the Adolf Knights, witnessing his knights collapsing in an instant due to the dispersal formation, deemed this unacceptable and quickly rallied his knights together.
And at that moment, Rogério’s hand went up once more.
“Rally!”
The members of the Lighthouse Knights, who had spread out in all directions, instantly merged into one as if they were a single body.
At the forefront of the Lighthouse Knights, who had reorganized their formation faster than the Adolf Knights who had ordered a dense formation first, Rogério raised his sword high and shouted.
“Charge in a wedge formation!”
Like an awl, the Lighthouse Knights pierced through the very center of the opposing knight order and came out on the other side.
“Turn!”
Simultaneously emerging on the opposite side, they turned their horses' direction as smoothly as flowing water and charged towards the Adolf Knights once again, just as the Adolf Knights' flag fluttered and fell to the ground.
Peeeeep! Peeeeep! Peeeeeeeep!
With three whistle signals, the Group C preliminary match concluded the fastest.
And every other knight order knew which order had competed there.
“So they aren’t just empty fame, is that the story?”
Someone muttered so.
“Good, very good.”
Those clad in golden armor spoke thus.
In this way, the preliminary rounds began to wrap up quickly.
***
“Why on earth did you lean your body sideways off the horse trying to show off and fall off?”
“No! It wasn’t showing off, I was trying to avoid the horse charging from the side, that’s how it happened!”
Inside the tavern, Kelvin and Diogo were raising their voices, discussing the results of the horsemanship competition that took place a few days ago.
The Somerset Knight Grand Tournament could broadly be seen in four categories:
-Group Mounted Combat
-Group Horsemanship
-Group Flag Capturing
-Individual Match
The results of the four competitions were converted into a total score to determine the outcome, with the weighting being 5 points for Group Mounted Combat, 2 points for Group Horsemanship, 2 points for Group Flag Capturing, and 1 point for the Individual Match.
So, ultimately, the Group Mounted Combat was the most important, and for the rest, maintaining a decent rank was sufficient.
“Thanks to you, we’re 3rd in Group Horsemanship.
We should have gotten 2nd for 1.5 points, but we only got 1 point.”
“Come on, even without me, it would have been tough for us to get 2nd in horsemanship anyway!”
Watching the two bicker, Rogério turned his head to look at Karl.
“For the individual match, if the Commander participates, it’ll be first place, so the problem will be the flag capturing and the group mounted combat.”
The Lighthouse Knights had smoothly secured victory in their first main round match after the preliminaries and had now entered the quarterfinals.
-Nautilus Knights
-Golden Knights
-Iron Lion Knights
These three were considered the closest contenders for the top ranks.
In any case, to place within the top 3, it meant they needed to secure many points in the Group Mounted Combat at the very least.
“If we do well, we might even be able to win the championship.”
Rogério seemed to be considering even the championship, but Karl judged it realistically impossible.
Based on watching the matches of other knight orders, the strength of the Lighthouse Knights was still significantly lacking compared to others.
Especially, the gap between them and the Nautilus Knights or the Golden Knights could be considered quite large.
‘At least 10 or more were Superiors.’
Even when the commander didn't participate and the vice-commander did, the vice-commander level knights were all Master-grade knights.
Moreover, their mounted tactics and execution ability were truly overwhelming.
In contrast, despite their efforts, the Lighthouse Knights hadn't completely shed the mark of a newly formed order yet.
This was an issue of experience, something only time could resolve.
“We’ll have to do our best.”
It was a tournament they ended up participating in anyway.
It was also Karl’s first official step after actively jumping into this world by his own will.
Even if it wasn't for the quest, the goal was victory.
***
From the quarterfinals of the Group Mounted Combat onwards, spectators were allowed, so people wanting to watch had flocked outside the tournament venue.
Many couldn't get seats in the stadium stands and set up camp outside the venue, and there were even storytellers relaying the news from inside the stadium to them in real-time.
The area around the stadium was filled with people from all over the continent, and street vendors seemed busy selling food and alcohol.
Amidst this, the knights participating in the quarterfinals began arriving at the stadium one by one.
The crowd gathered nearby pushed each other and shouted, trying to catch even a glimpse of the passing knights' faces.
Separate from that chaos, the competitors inside the stadium waited in quiet silence for the match to begin.
Since the Lighthouse Knights were in the first match of the quarterfinals, the tension doubled due to the cheers heard from the surroundings.
“What are you so nervous about?”
Watching Karl ask the question with the same expression as always, the knights’ gazes all turned towards him.
“Are you not nervous, Commander?”
“It’s not a fight where lives are on the line, so why be nervous?”
The knights fell silent at that perhaps obvious answer.
In a way, it felt arrogant, and in another way, it was absolutely correct.
“It’s not a matter of life and death anyway.
Failing here doesn’t mean tomorrow won’t come.
You’ve worked hard until now, so just do your best and aim to learn, that’s all.
There’s no greater fool than letting nervousness turn past efforts into nothing.”
His words, spoken as if there really wasn't anything to be nervous about, strangely eased the knights' tension.
“Yeah, well. The result doesn’t matter. We just do our best.”
As everyone spoke as if it wasn't a big deal, it seemed the preparations in the arena were soon completed.
While standing in the waiting position, the Iron Lion Knights took their place on the opposite side.
They were facing skilled opponents predicted to reach at least the semifinals, but that was fine too.
Because they were opponents they would have had to face eventually anyway.
“I will take the lead.”
For the first time since the group matches began, Karl stood at the front.
His black hair fluttering despite the helmet, and his brightly shining appearance beneath it were enough to instill firm belief in the members behind him.
Thus, the mounted knights charged towards each other.
With a sound that shook the earth, the knights from both sides dashed straight towards each other.
A contest of strength against strength, without any variations.
Kuuuuuung!
The moment the two groups of knights collided, the surroundings were filled not with cheers but with silence and the sound of swallowing saliva.
Due to the dust cloud, the scene after the knights' clash was not clearly visible.
Just then, stirring up the dust like a whirlwind, a group of knights was seen quickly circling the outskirts of the arena, reforming their ranks.
“Waaaaaaah!”
The moment the crowd's cheers were heard, Karl's figure was revealed, leading the knights with his black hair flying.
And behind him, the Iron Lion Knights, clad in plate armor and holding swords, were following.
The number of knights unhorsed in the first clash seemed to be three from the Lighthouse Knights and five from the Iron Lion Knights.
Since the Iron Lion Knights wore full plate mail, their defense might have been high, but they couldn't keep up with the Lighthouse Knights in terms of speed.
“Turn!”
At Karl’s shout, the knights simultaneously turned their horses to the left and rapidly turned around.
The pursuing Iron Lion Knights found it difficult to turn their horses as quickly as the Lighthouse Knights.
As they tried to form a formation, Karl, who had already approached their rear, attempted a breakthrough.
Just as they were about to clash, three Iron Lion Knights surrounded Karl.
“Knock him off his horse!”
The swords of the three Iron Lion Knights flew towards Karl almost simultaneously.
Since Aura couldn't be used and they used bladeless swords, the three swords flying in at once could be threatening even to Karl, a Master-grade knight.
Karl first dodged the incoming sword by leaning his body sideways, then struck the neck of the first opponent's horse with his sword.
“Kuaap!”
The moment one knight was unhorsed, Karl fiercely struck away the opponent's sword that flew in simultaneously and caught the sword flying from the opposite side with his gauntlet almost at the same time.
“!”
The fact that the swords were bladeless meant such maneuvers were possible.
Moreover, it was an extremely advantageous environment for Karl, who had become proficient in physical combat thanks to Khan's Throwing Manual.
With just a slight shift of his center of gravity, he deflected the sword caught in his gauntlet to the side, causing another opposing knight holding the sword to be unhorsed.
Having eliminated three knights in an instant, he charged forward again.
“Block him! Subdue Karl Meyer first!”
It was the moment the Vice-Commander of the Iron Lion Knights, feeling threatened by his fierce momentum, focused all their forces on Karl.
Kuuuung!
Just as their attention was diverted to Karl, Rodrigo and Kelvin charged in from the left and right sides, leading their knights.
“Keoheok!”
In an instant, 5 or 6 knights tumbled to the ground, and soon the Iron Lion Knights were surrounded by the Lighthouse Knights.
“Huh… So futilely like this.”
Lorenzo, the Vice-Commander of the Iron Lion Knights, glanced around, realized there was no possibility left, shook the flag a few times, and threw it to the ground.
“The winner is! The Lighthouse Knights!”
With the announcer's declaration, huge cheers erupted from the surroundings.
“Waaaaaaah!”
The Lighthouse Knights savored the afterglow for quite a while, enjoying the cheers of the crowd.
Thus, the Group Mounted Combat proceeded, eventually reaching the final match.