CHAPTER 170: ACT 17: CLEANING THE BATTLEFIELD

"Knight challenge?" The silver-haired girl set down her teacup and couldn’t help but laugh. It really was the kind of trick a Black Knight would come up with to buy time. However, she soon sighed softly. The princess couldn’t help but turn her head, staring blankly out the clean, bright floor-to-ceiling arched window.

Her gaze passed through the dust floating up and down in the sunlight slanting in from the tall window. A trace of worry flashed in her pale silver-grey eyes—Is it for the Black Rose blooming in Bradamant? What could rally people on this land that has been wrought with chaotic wars for thousands of years, or is there something unknown happening in that Dark Kingdom across the way?

The girl did not expect that her casual speculation would become a reality. She turned back, suddenly finding herself speechless towards Ou Fuwei’er.

"The common ancestor of the Eruein, the wise Eck led the people to independence from Kruz to resist the Empire’s endless exploitation of the Southern lands. Our foundation of establishing the nation was to end the arrogance and greed from the Imperial Nobles."

The princess softly said, "But to this day, our nobles have become equally greedy and arrogant. Have we lost that sense of advancement and the honor of defending justice, to the point where we’ve lost the ability to rally the hearts of the people?"

"I dare not speak indiscriminately, but although the nobles are rotten, at least the people still believe in the Royal Family," Ou Fuwei’er answered.

The girl nodded, feeling a bit better.

Seeing the girl’s thoughts, Ou Fuwei’er continued to answer, "Even under a rotten layer of soil, new buds can sprout. Princess, since the Ancestor King Ansen X, the kingdom has trained militia and formed guard teams to plant seeds. The young man I met could likewise abandon his own pride, proving that the young generation of Erune is not much worse than Madara."

Neither the elderly nor the young person pointed out that Brand actually belonged to the Highland Knights’ faction and had no real connection with the Royal Family.

The princess couldn’t help but wonder what supported Brand so that he could abandon his honor. Wasn’t he a knight? How could a knight refuse a challenge from a rival?

*********

The future Regent Princess did not foresee that Brand was not a knight at all. The Black Knight Sasar didn’t expect it either, which led to his humiliating death amidst the chaotic army—Brand completely ignored him. As Brand passed by, he merely struck the knight off his horse with one sword, then turned around—at the moment they crossed paths, this rising star of Erune and Madara’s outstanding youth saw each other’s eyes.

Brand saw the pursuit of true honor and faith burning in the Soul Fire within the Black Knight’s eyes. He knew that a single person could never be powerful, but the hearts of millions united together could create a terrifying strength. Madara, which was just a geographical concept for thousands of years, was experiencing such a rise right now.

It was a process that even the cold Undead Creatures would feel glory and recognition from within, but unfortunately, Brand could not participate, nor did he wish to partake in this segment of history.

On the contrary, Sasar saw only the cold, pragmatic eyes of the young Human Knight on the horse. Perhaps, for the young people who have lived through this history, all fantasies are no longer suitable—for the nobles, for the Royal Family, Brand preferred to trust in his own Strength.

Even if it means saving Erune, saving the Valkyrie and everyone else, he could only rely on himself.

Brand knew the future but also knew that no one would want to believe in this future. Therefore, he needed to become stronger, to gradually feather his wings, so that this world would have to take his opinions seriously. Compared to that, all other empty fame was just fleeting clouds.

How naive for that Black Knight to think he could change Brand’s mind with a little trick?

So childish.

Brand turned around. Even on the battlefield, a knight duel requires a notary, assistants from both sides, the venue, and a series of decorum and rituals. As long as he wasn’t completely insane, he would never agree to such an absurd proposal. Perhaps in the eyes of people of this era, ’knight’ should choose mutual respect. Certainly, this was still a society that adhered to classical spirit, but Brand was more than just Brand—he also had half a soul representing another world.