The Opportunist in Crisis (4)
Bang! The deafening sound of a slender spear clashing with a broad greatsword was almost unbelievable.
However, since a spear is a thrusting weapon, not one for parrying, Raul quickly took a few steps back. After the clash, the positions had shifted, and before I knew it, Leonardo was standing in front of me, with Raul opposite him.
I wanted to press Leonardo more about the story of
Meanwhile, Raul, twirling his spear, narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Leonardo. It was a quiet, assessing look.
"….."
Since Leonardo didn't make the first move, Raul glanced over his shoulder, looking at me.
"Owner, this hospitality is pretty poor, don't you think?"
"That's a hurtful comment. Why don't you open up and accept the kindness of our inn?"
"Hah!"
Raul laughed dismissively. Then, he angled his spear and charged forward. Facing the direct assault, Leonardo twisted his body slightly and swung his greatsword down.
Clash!
The harsh, ear-piercing screech of metal scraping against metal rang out as Raul's spear collided with Leonardo's greatsword. The weight of Leonardo's blade slid down toward the tip of Raul's spear, causing it to dig into the ground. At that moment—clank!
Raul quickly detached the joint that connected the two parts of his spear, then gripped the remaining shaft like a club and swung it toward Leonardo's head.
"!"
Caught off guard by the quick, clever move, Leonardo instinctively recoiled. But he had already anticipated it. With a swift tilt of his head, he avoided the blow and, using the momentum from his large swing, kicked Raul in the chest. Raul stumbled back and fell to the ground.
"Ugh! Damn it."
Raul, lying on the floor, angrily brushed aside his tangled long blond hair, cursing thickly. "I'll skin you alive and turn your hide into shoes…" The moment made it clear that Raul's background was likely far from ordinary.
It was a deadly scene.
Despite the palpable danger before him, Leonardo remained silent and composed, standing still without launching an attack on the vulnerable Raul. This was a directive I had given him in advance.
[Right now, you're in Leonardo's form. No matter what you say, he probably won't believe it easily. And from what I've gathered, it seems like he really dislikes nobles.]
「Ah, that's true. Raul has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He's been banned from entering the royal palace. He says he can't stand nobles, and he has a habit of cursing whenever he sees one. He's been dragged to the dungeon three times for insults.」
[He's totally messed up… Anyway, I doubt that suddenly approaching him as the 'second son of the Count of Ertinez' would get us anywhere. He probably won't listen at all. So, let's change the approach.]
「Change the approach?」
[I'll explain later. But first, let's make sure he understands that you're actually Leovald.]
The warrior speaks through battle, or so they say. It made sense. Raul had already begun to question things when he recognized traces of Leovald in Rilke. According to Leonardo, the First Army had frequent sparring sessions, so there was enough potential for recognition.
Leonardo's appearance was completely covered in black, his face especially well-hidden.
To make his build resemble Leovald's more closely, Leonardo draped an additional thick cloak over himself, speaking only through his sword. He made it clear with his presence: 'Look at who you're really facing.'
Raul, blinded by anger, muttered curses under his breath. His words didn't seem to resonate, his fury clouding his mind. However, after swiftly rising to his feet, Raul reassembled his black iron spear with a sharp click. Despite its weight, he wielded it with the dexterity of a seasoned frontline knight, showcasing his remarkable skill.
"….."
Since speaking would betray his identity, Leonardo remained silent, simply flicking his fingers in a subtle gesture. It was a silent provocation, but one that clearly had an impact.
Raul, clearly enraged, launched himself forward, securing the spear tightly against his side and charging with the intent to pierce his opponent's lung.
Clang!
The tip of the spear glistened, reflecting the lantern's flame in a dangerous crimson hue. But once again, Leovald's skills were evident as Raul's attack was effortlessly blocked.
'So, how's it going? Is he a worthy opponent?'
As I watched the intense clash unfold before me, I asked the question, and Leonardo whispered back into my ear.
「It seems like he hasn't been able to fully release his anger, so he's exhausted. He's only operating at about half his usual strength. This is more than enough to handle him.」
It was a relief.
The clash between the spear aiming for a decisive strike and the sword that parried it continued. With each successive attack, Raul's expression subtly shifted. His face, initially full of rage and caution, began to show signs of doubt.
He moved as if he already knew all of Raul's attacks, skillfully countering each one. Raul, although he left openings, didn't see his opponent take the chance to strike. And then, crucially…
"Damn it… this movement… it's just like…"
Leovald's swordsmanship.
I wasn't an island-dwelling warrior nor a knight of some fantasy world, so I couldn't speak to the significance of the weapons themselves. But from the things I observed and the stories in my scenario notes, it was clear that Leovald's sword style reflected his life. It wasn't a swordsmanship that others would easily imitate or consider exemplary, but it was a reflection of how Leovald had lived and fought.
Raul's spear and Leonardo's great sword clashed again. The spear, weaker in terms of resistance, was briefly sent flying into the air—clank! This time, Leonardo extended his hand and detached Raul's spear. The tip of the spear separated, momentarily soaring through the air before plunging down into the ground.
The tip of the spear, driven down between Raul and Leonardo, struck the ground with a force that split the air. But instead of immediately charging again, Raul muttered in a tone laced with disbelief.
"No way… is it… the commander?"
At last, the moment had come when the subordinate recognized his superior. That's right. I smiled and clapped my hands. Raul's gaze snapped toward me.
"You came looking for someone, didn't you? I thought I'd extend a little hospitality… so tell me, do you like our inn now?"
"This… is impossible. A dead man… alive? No way…"
Raul furrowed his brow, muttering in disbelief.
"Better to think the commander's corpse was eaten by… that thing!"
"I had a feeling you'd say that," I replied nonchalantly. "That's why I arranged this place for our duel, and gave you the opportunity. Still not recognizing it, Raul?"
Teasingly, I responded, and Raul, in a confused tone, asked again.
"Who… the hell are you?"
It seemed like everyone asked me that question at some point. At first, it made me uncomfortable and uneasy, but now, I had the answer.
"Call me Isaac."
It was clear that Raul wasn't asking for my name directly, but the situation had quieted down. Raul, still on edge, opened his eyes wide and retrieved his spear.
He neatly concealed the two parts of the spear—one with a blunt end and the other with the sharp tip—by tying them to his shins and hiding them in his pants cuffs. He was meticulous, and not a trace of the weapon was visible.
"Please, make yourself comfortable," I said with a smile, offering him a seat.
Raul pointed toward a chair with restraints attached and asked skeptically, "You want me to sit in that? Right now?"
"Please, don't be shy. Sit comfortably," I responded.
"Comfortably?" he scoffed, but I wasn't worried. I had sat in that chair myself, and while it didn't look particularly comfortable, it wasn't as bad as it seemed. He could sit without much issue.
In the meantime, Leonardo had locked the basement door to prevent Raul from escaping. Raul, looking uneasy, glanced toward the exit, but it didn't matter. Even if he was anxious, there was no way out.
'The gambling den owners really did a great job setting up this place.'
It made setting the scene much easier. I lit a few more torches on the walls to brighten the dark basement, and now the entire room was fully illuminated. The basement, designed to intimidate those in debt to loan sharks, always had a grim atmosphere. Every time I saw it, it felt cold and oppressive.
Raul's face grew even more pale as he surveyed the room.
"Seriously, who the hell are you?" he asked, his voice tinged with dread.
"I told you, I'm just the innkeeper. You can call me Isaac if you prefer," I replied casually.
"I'd rather not," he muttered.
"Suit yourself," I shrugged.
After a brief moment of pointless chatter, a heavy silence settled over us. Raul, his expression darkened, turned to face Leonardo.
"So, what's this all about, Commander? Weren't you supposed to be dead? Why don't you say something?"
Leonardo remained silent. He was waiting for my signal. We had agreed beforehand that this was my show. I stared at Raul quietly for a moment, then leaned in and spoke, my tone sharp.
"I bet you have a lot of questions. But you know, Archbishop Butier isn't exactly known for explaining things in detail, is he?"
"…! How do you know that? Are you spying on me?" Raul asked, his voice shaking with frustration.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Haha!"
Maybe it was time to stop teasing him. I had gotten a bit addicted to this game of shadowy manipulation.
I pulled my lips into a tight smile, silently calling out to Leonardo.
'Let's get to the point now.'
「Right.」
With that, Leonardo unfurled his cloak.