Nurulan had completely lost all semblance of noble decorum... The woman he loved had left him, he'd failed in the tournament, his fiefdom was destroyed, and the losses from the hunt had cost him the last of his family fortune...
'Why is my life so hard!'
Henry looked at the humiliated and enraged Nurulan and said, "Fine. After the meeting, we'll have a duel to the death at the army garrison."
This was exactly what Henry wanted. He felt that ever since coming of age and activating the Overlord Personal Panel, his temper had been growing shorter and shorter.
And when he activated the Total War panel, that nameless restlessness in his heart grew stronger still.
After the latest update to his system panel, he felt even more quick to anger. *Sss...* 'There's not something wrong with this system, is there?'
'In any case, this is definitely not my fault,' Henry told himself, hand on heart. 'I'm obviously a great guy. This has to be the system's fault.'
Henry walked back to his seat and said to Glen in a low, cold voice, "This is the first and last time. Don't use me as your weapon. I will kill you."
Glen swallowed hard, feeling an inexplicable pressure bearing down on him, crushing his chest until he could barely breathe.
[Cunning Rogue Disposition Passive Skill Triggered: ① Enemy Fear (Majesty +1)]
"Henry, I meant no harm."
The corner of Henry's mouth quirked up. He narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at Glen. "I know. That's why I'm just reminding you. At the very least, you should have asked me first."
Glen nodded repeatedly. The chilling warning forced him to re-evaluate his relationship with Henry.
Nurulan returned to his seat, head bowed and trembling. All his life's honor and dignity had been lost in that moment. Unless... unless he could kill Henry.
'But is that even possible?' Nurulan knew he was no match for Henry. But he couldn't retract the duel he had proposed—that would be a fate worse than death.
'Damn this noble decorum!'
After that, the attendees began to discuss concrete tactics and strategies: how to organize the army, how to coordinate the various forces, and so on.
No one cared about Boman. All they wanted was to see the tough guy who could take down Centaurs and Minotaurs.
The meeting lasted a long time, only concluding at dusk.
Finally, Count Sebastian made the decision. "Alright, it's settled! We march at dawn the day after tomorrow!"
Everyone rose and left the council chamber.
All eyes turned to Henry and Nurulan. Even the military officers tagged along to watch the show.
A great throng, comprised entirely of nobles and armored officers, moved through the streets. Unsuspecting commoners, thinking some great disaster had occurred, scrambled to get back inside their homes.
When the crowd arrived at the garrison, people immediately began to clear an area for Henry and Nurulan's noble duel.
All the soldiers crowded around to watch, packed several layers deep. Those in the back couldn't see a thing and could only listen to the sounds from the center.
"My lords, should I disperse the spectating soldiers?"
As Bain helped him don his triple-layered heavy armor, Henry stared at Nurulan, a Two-Handed Sword resting nearby. "No need," he said. "Anyone may witness a duel to the death. It is the tradition of the empire."
Once Nurulan had slowly, reluctantly, finished putting on his armor, Henry asked, "Well then, esteemed Baron, as the challenger, tradition dictates you choose the terms. A Knight's joust with Riding Spears, or combat on foot?"
Nurulan grimaced as he looked at the armored Henry. "The joust, of course," he declared. "A noble should die on horseback!"
Henry smiled and said to Bain at his side, loud enough for Nurulan to hear, "Of course. Since the man is about to die, I will grant his wish. Bain, bring me my horse."
The Attendants on both sides helped armor the warhorses. Wasting no time, the officers brought over wooden railings to set up the lists for the joust.
Nurulan mounted his warhorse, tightly gripping a Riding Spear in his right hand. He stared sharply at Henry, a tearful glint in his eyes.
'I can kill this brat. I have to. I am a Warrior of the plains, Baron Nurulan!'
None of the nobles present were willing to act as referee. After a brief discussion, the officers put forward a Champion Banner Knight, an Elite Armored Cavalry trooper, and a shield-bearing Crossbowman sergeant to serve as judges and overseers.
"The duel to the death begins!"
"HYAH!!"
The two spurred their horses at the same time, charging furiously toward one another.
As they charged, Henry leveled his Riding Spear, its tip glinting coldly.
BAM!
Henry's Riding Spear struck Nurulan's shield with pinpoint accuracy. The tremendous impact sent Nurulan tumbling from his horse.
The spear had punched straight through Nurulan's wooden shield, wounding his left arm, which was now bleeding profusely.
The recoil from the impact made Henry sway in his saddle, but he was otherwise unharmed.
The spectating officers and soldiers roared with approval. As far as nobles went, the loser brought shame, and the winner earned glory. Besides, men of the military loved a valiant general!
Henry leaped from his horse, tossing his Riding Spear and Knight's Shield to Bain. He took the broad, thick Two-Handed Greatsword—nearly as long as his arm—and with a roar, charged at Nurulan.
Wailing in pain, Nurulan scrambled to his feet. He took a new shield and Long Sword from his Attendant and clumsily parried Henry's attack.
CRACK!
Cracks had actually appeared on Nurulan's shield. He was aghast. 'What did this man eat growing up?'
Nurulan saw stars. Roaring in fury, he swung his Long Sword at Henry with all his might.
Henry dodged it easily. In his eyes, the attack wasn't even as good as those from the worst student in his class at the Academy.
Henry swiftly swung his sword. The blow was as fast as lightning, cleaving straight for Nurulan's chest.
Nurulan tried to dodge, but it was too late. The sharp blade split his outer iron plate, and the tremendous force of the blow traveled through his Chain Armor and Cotton Armor beneath, slamming into his body.
Nurulan spat out a mouthful of blood and groaned in agony. He lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground.
He lay on the ground, another spurt of blood gushing from his mouth to stain the dirt red.
He struggled to lift his head and gaze at the sky as his vision blurred. His heart filled with bitter resentment and despair, wondering why he could never defeat someone from the Royal Capital Knight Academy.
'Why? Perhaps I never should have resented Boman. I let fear and anger take root in my heart, blossoming into a hatred that made me lose my mind.'
'Besides, what did Boman even do wrong? Love, dignity, honor... It's all over now.'
Henry came to stand before Nurulan. "Are you ready, Baron?" he asked.
"O-Of course, Henry. You should have aimed for my throat."
Henry reversed his grip on the Two-Handed Greatsword, pointing the tip at Nurulan's chest. "My eighteen years of noble education taught me to grant an opponent his dignity, unless we are on the battlefield. At the very least, I can leave you a whole corpse."
Nurulan grunted twice in pain, then gave a relieved laugh. "Thank you, Sir Henry."