Chapter 156 : Chapter 156

Chapter 156. What Kind of Nonsense is That? (1)

Matthew and Isabella crawled to the edge of the training grounds.

They were so exhausted they didn’t want to lift a single finger, but they had to move now.

Because the main event was about to begin.

“Well, then….”

Patrick went to the center, drew his sword, and spoke.

“Shall we begin today as well?”

“Let’s.”

An explosive aura erupted from Marquis Raines' body.

It was a sincere fighting spirit that was completely absent when he was facing Matthew and Isabella just before.

Furthermore, he was fully armed, even holding the kite shield he hadn't used against the two.

Seeing Marquis Raines with his eyes full of strength, Patrick shrugged and said.

“Whoa, whoa. Let’s relax. This is just a spar.”

“……”

Although Patrick told him to relax, Marquis Raines had no intention of listening.

His gaze towards Patrick was filled not just with seriousness, but with a spirit reminiscent of a real battle.

‘Today is the day….’

For the past week.

He had sparred with Patrick every day.

And the result was a complete and utter defeat.

Beyond winning or losing, his sword had never even touched Patrick’s body.

Marquis Raines was also a powerhouse who had reached the 7-star realm.

So he had known from the beginning that Patrick was stronger than him.

But he hadn't known it would be to this extent.

Power, speed, technique.

He had tried to challenge him in various ways, but not a single one had worked.

To Marquis Raines, the existence of Patrick was a colossal, insurmountable cliff.

But….

“Huuuuu…. Let’s go.”

That’s why it was actually good.

His aura rose even further.

It was better to be in front of a clearly visible cliff, no matter how desperate, than the past years when he could see nothing before him.

That cliff was whispering to him.

Come, try to strike me.

Then you can become stronger.

Patrick grinned and beckoned to Marquis Raines with his finger.

“Bring it on.”

“Haaap!”

KWAAAAANG!

With the clash of the two, the training ground began to be destroyed again today.

In an instant, an exchange of over 100 moves ensued.

Patrick calmly defended against the rough and violent attacks led by Marquis Raines, occasionally launching a counterattack to keep him on his toes.

Marquis Raines' flow of attack was broken every time Patrick’s sword thrust at him, but he did not give up and continued to charge.

It was clearly the sword of a challenger.

Patrick could have easily subdued Marquis Raines, but he played along as much as possible, continuing the exchange for over 300 moves.

After playing along for about an hour.

“Let’s end it now.”

With those words, Patrick’s sword drew a large semicircle and flew towards Marquis Raines.

Unlike Patrick’s usual swift sword, it was a somewhat slow and even heavy sword strike.

Marquis Raines did not take it lightly and concentrated his Aura Blade on his kite shield to block it.

And the moment Patrick’s sword touched his shield….

TUUUUUUUNG!

“Keuk….”

A sound like hitting a giant drum rang out.

And Marquis Raines could feel a certain impact rushing towards him, passing through the shield.

As a result….

PEEEEONG!

With the sound of something exploding, Marquis Raines was sent flying as if kicked by a horse’s hind legs.

He flew all the way to the corner of the training grounds.

“Keuk… Keueuk….”

Marquis Raines staggered, trying to get up.

But his body wouldn't listen.

His head was dizzy as if he had terrible motion sickness, and the aura inside his body was in turmoil.

To such Marquis Raines, Patrick spoke.

“Don’t force yourself to get up, organize your aura first.”

“Hyuuuu…. I understand.”

There was no choice.

Marquis Raines admitted defeat and wiped the bloodstains trickling from his mouth, first calming the aura in his body.

And after calming his aura for a few breaths, he forced himself to stand up and said.

“What kind of technique is this? I clearly blocked it with my shield, but the impact penetrated?”

“It's Hitting a Cow Through a Mountain.”

“What is that?”

“Well, you don’t need to know. It’s a hassle to explain….”

“……”

Marquis Raines let out a sigh and shook his head.

‘How is something like this possible? How?’

It was the same today and before.

Sparring with Patrick felt like seeing a new world.

It was mesmerizing to see the swordsmanship he unfolded while saying incomprehensible things like ‘flexibility overcomes strength’ or ‘grafting flowers onto a tree.’

Was this also possible with a sword?

Why couldn't I think of this?

He showed a series of strange techniques that made him think such thoughts.

There was no doubt that Patrick Schneider was a genius.

But….

‘Is this possible just by being a genius?’

It didn’t make sense.

Each of the techniques Patrick had shown so far was the kind of technique that a once-in-a-generation genius would have to devote their entire life to training to establish its system.

No matter how much of a genius he was, was it possible to create dozens of such secret techniques?

‘If he were older, I might understand, but….’

Patrick, standing before him, was now nineteen.

Marquis Raines had also been called a genius at nineteen and was ahead of others.

But he couldn't even dare to compare himself to Patrick.

The word ‘genius’ was too modest to describe the abilities of that monster.

“Huuuuu….”

‘I must learn as much as possible while he is here.’

While Marquis Raines was thinking such thoughts, Patrick spoke.

“We’ll be leaving now.”

“I see… what?”

“We’ve stayed as long as we needed to. The wine cellar is almost empty too.”

“All of it?”

“Yes.”

Marquis Raines didn't particularly enjoy alcohol.

So his wine cellar was full of liquors gifted by other people.

Gifts that had been accumulating for over 30 years.

‘He emptied that in a week?’

At this point, he thought that his drinking capacity might be more impressive than his level of swordsmanship.

No, more importantly….

“Is there a need to leave so soon? Why don’t you stay a little longer.”

“I don’t want to.”

A firm refusal.

But Marquis Raines was also desperate.

“Half a year, no, just two more months. If you face me for just that long, I might be able to grasp something.”

He was not just earnest, but almost servile.

Considering the status Marquis Raines held in the Decator Kingdom, this was no ordinary matter.

Patrick looked at Marquis Raines and thought.

‘This old man is also incredibly starved.’

It wasn't that he didn't understand.

For those who had risen to higher realms, the difference between vaguely seeing a goal and not having one at all was overwhelmingly large.

But….

“If you overeat, you’ll get indigestion.”

“Keeeung….”

Marquis Raines could only swallow a groan at Patrick’s words.

Although it was a short time, Patrick had already shown him more than enough.

He had opened up a new world to him by showing various techniques he had never even thought of in his head.

And now, if Patrick….

[Do you understand the techniques you’ve been subjected to by me so far?]

If he were asked that, could he really answer?

‘There’s no way.’

The sparring sessions of the past week were things that Marquis Raines would have to ponder over and over again for the rest of his life.

And it was questionable how many of them he could even salvage and make his own.

In the end….

“It is my greed.”

At Marquis Raines' resigned remark, Patrick said with a grin.

“It’s good that you’re a quick learner.”

“……”

Patrick’s gaze was like that of a senior looking down at a junior, with a feeling of ‘Atta boy, I’m proud of you.’

“Are you sure you’re more than thirty years younger than me?”

“Ahem, what kind of outrageous remark is that to a spry 19-year-old youth?”

“……”

Something was subtly suspicious.

Marquis Raines let out a sigh and said.

“In any case, I’ve received a lot, so I can’t just let you go. Is there anything you need?”

“A lot.”

Not just ‘there is,’ but ‘a lot.’

For a moment, Marquis Raines wondered if he had spoken unnecessarily, but there was no way Patrick would miss such an opportunity.

“Aigoo, our marquis is so generous. First of all, you’ll provide plenty of travel money as a basic option, so I won’t say anything about that.”

“How much is plenty?”

“Hey, I’m not a materialist, how can I put a number on it? I’ll just accept it as a gesture of your sincerity, marquis. Your sin-ce-ri-ty.”

“……”

Just tell me the amount, you bastard.

As Marquis Raines' neck tensed, Patrick spoke.

“First, you’ll write me a border crossing permit, right?”

“I can do that.”

“And a letter of guarantee, too.”

“A letter of guarantee?”

A truly ominous word had come up.

To the wary Marquis Raines, Patrick said with a smile as if it were nothing.

“Hahaha. It’s nothing. It’s just a document stating that Marquis Raines will take responsibility for and guarantee my actions within the Decator Kingdom.”

“How is that nothing?”

“Ahem, Marquis, don’t you trust me? You trust me, right? You do trust me, right?”

“No, that’s…”

“If you trust someone, you can co-sign for them, mortgage your house for them, and do all sorts of things. That’s a beautiful world where we help each other live.”

“……”

It sounds more like a world where it’s easy to be financially ruined?

Ignoring Marquis Raines' strange gaze, Patrick continued to speak.

“But the most important thing is not that.”

“There’s something more important?”

“Yes. Please write me a letter of recommendation.”

“A letter of recommendation? What kind of letter of recommendation?”

“Dustin Robski, and Leona Maybus.”

A person’s name suddenly popped up.

Hearing that name, the color of Marquis Raines' face changed.

“Wait, are you perhaps….”

“I’m planning on having a bout with them too.”

“……”

“It seems like it would be a bit more convenient with the marquis' letter of recommendation rather than just showing up unannounced.”

“Are you serious?”

The two people Patrick mentioned were the other 7-star knights existing in the Decator Kingdom.

One was Marquis Dustin Robski, called the Spear of Decator.

The other was Duke Leona Maybus, the Queen Knight, who was an idol respected by all female knights in the Decator Kingdom.

“Are you planning on fighting them too?”

“Of course.”

At Patrick’s answer, Marquis Raines thought for a moment, then let out a sigh and shook his head.

“It will be difficult.”

“Why do you think so?”

“There is no guarantee that the other 7-star knights will readily accept a duel like I did. Because from their perspective, they might value honor more than practical gain.”

“Well, that’s true.”

They were people with a lot to lose by being beaten by a knight from another country, no, to be precise, by a brat who hadn't even received a knighthood.

But it wasn't as if Patrick was making such a plan without knowing that.

“That’s why I need your letter of recommendation, Marquis.”

“It would be better than showing up empty-handed. But there’s no guarantee it will work.”

“It will work. Because for them, it’s a no-lose situation.”

“What do you mean by that?”

At Marquis Raines' question, Patrick said with a wicked smile.

“Marquis, there are two other 7-star knights in the same country, so why haven’t you been able to have a duel?”

“That’s because…. we each have our own positions, don’t we?”

“That’s right. There’s face and position to consider, and in fact, if one of the two were to get injured, it would be troublesome, so the state wouldn't allow it either.”

Marquis Raines nodded his head.

If the 7-star knights within the country were to duel each other and one of them got seriously injured or even died, from the country’s perspective, there would be no greater loss.

Would they be crazy enough to allow a duel between 7-star knights?

“Normally, a duel between 7-star knights would be impossible. But what if I were in the middle?”

“Hmm….”

“I’ve already beaten you, Marquis.”

“That is true.”

“In that case, the moment that person beats me, they prove that they are stronger than you, Marquis.”

“……”

“Even if they lose, it’s not that big of a loss. Because you, Marquis, have already lost.”

“Ah….”

Marquis Raines had no choice but to nod his head.

This was clearly a valid point.

But….

“You have overlooked an important point.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Do not underestimate the loyalty of my knightly order.”

“Why are those people suddenly being brought up?”

“They will never speak of my defeat elsewhere. So how will the rumor spread?”

It was a guarantee from Marquis Raines, who had absolute confidence in his subordinates.

But….

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

He still did not know the person known as Patrick Schneider.

“I’m going to spread it? All over the neighborhood.”

“You son of a bi—.”

A rather crude word almost came out of Marquis Raines' mouth.

But he managed to hold it back and touched his forehead with his hand.

Seeing him, Patrick whispered like a devil.

“Think about it. Don’t they say that joy doubles when monopolized, and sorrow or embarrassment should be distributed?”

“I don’t think that’s the saying?”

“Ahem, this is correct. Tsk tsk, to be so ignorant of the ways of the world.”

“……”

“Anyway, people who were raised gently don’t know the world even when they get old. The world…. Aish, this is why you have to seek out hardship even by paying for it when you’re young.”

“……”

Why am I being lectured by a nineteen-year-old brat?

‘Life is truly bitter.’

To Marquis Raines, who was in a daze, Patrick continued.

“I’m going to spread the rumor all over the neighborhood, so do you think it will end with just you losing, Marquis? What do you think other people will think?”

“Umm….”

It was obvious.

People would emerge who would judge Marquis Raines as the weakest of the 7-star knights in the Decator Kingdom, or perhaps even on the continent.

It was obvious that people who knew nothing about the monster that was Patrick Schneider would talk nonsense.

“Can you stand that sight? No, should you have to stand it? Not only you, Marquis, but your honor will fall to the ground.”

I can’t stand it.

How can I stand that.

Just thinking about it, a hot rage crawled up the back of his neck.

“How should I write the letter of recommendation?”

“I’ve already prepared it. Ace.”

“Here it is. Young Master.”

Marquis Raines' name and signature were added to the form that Ace had prepared in advance.

And Patrick quickly took the letter of recommendation and said.

“Well, I can’t guarantee it, but if they’re too pathetic when I fight the other 7-star knights, I’ll subtly drop a word.”

“What word?”

Patrick cleared his throat and said.

“Tsk, just because they’re 7-star doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Marquis Raines was a bit better. is what I’ll say.”

“Keheum, why would you say such a thing to create discord.”

“Ah, then should I not?”

“Confirming each other’s positions through an accurate evaluation could be a healthy and good driving force for both sides.”

“……”

This old man also subtly takes care of his own interests.

***

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