Chapter 26 – Birds of a Feather (3)
A dagger flew toward Ghiin, aiming for his eyes.
He lightly dodged it with just a slight movement of his head, then swiftly stabbed the dagger into Kaor’s side.
“Ugh, you… you bastard…”
Kaor red at Ghiin, grimacing in pain.
‘It must be a coincidence!’
He immediately extended his arm, trying to strike Ghiin’s temple.
But Ghiin effortlessly tilted his head back to evade and, in an instant, spun the dagger in his hand to hold it in a reverse grip.
“You better give it your all.”
With those words, Ghiin shed at Kaor’s arm.
“Argh!”
Realizing that the first attack wasn’t just a coincidence, Kaor gritted his teeth.
He red fiercely,unching a barrage of attacks, but Ghiin blocked every single one. Instead ofnding hits, Kaor’s body umted more and more wounds.
“You bastard!”
In a fit of rage, Kaor suddenly yanked the hand that was tied to Ghiin.
His intent was clear: to disrupt Ghiin’s stance and go for his neck.
At that moment, Ghiin’s body moved uncannily, dodging the attack with ease.
He used his opponent’s strength to regain his bnce, moving fluidly with precision.
It was an artful disy of perfected technique.
While dodging, Ghiin didn’t miss the opening Kaor revealed and shed him with his dagger.
Slice!
“Argh!”
Another crimson gash appeared on Kaor’s chest.
The mercenaries watching the duel were left speechless, their mouths hanging open in shock.
They could tell that Ghiin’s movements were far from ordinary.
Unlike Kaor, who was locked inbat with him, the spectators, viewing from a distance, could see Ghiin’s remarkable skill even more clearly.
“How is he moving like that without using mana?”
“He looks so young, but what are those techniques?”
“Even knights can’t fight like that, right?”
The mercenaries buzzed in amazement, but Gillian wasn’t listening.
His hand, which had been gripping his sword to strike at Kaor, had already fallen away from the hilt.
He had unconsciously rxed his grip, mesmerized by Ghiin’s movements.
‘What incredible technique! How can someone that young move like that?’
This was Gillian’s first time seeing Ghiin fight, and he was in utter shock.
A genius, perhaps?
No, it wasn’t that.
Gillian had also been through countless battlefields, and he could tell.
If a sh of insight was the realm of genius, then Ghiin’sposure and experience were honed through countless drills and trials—through effort and the passage of time.
That’s why Gillian felt even more confused.
Where did the immense experience and wisdom behind every one of Ghiin’s movementse from?
While Gillian wrestled with his thoughts, the duel continued unabated.
The sound of fabric tearing and groans of pain ovepped repeatedly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Ugh!”
Kaor’s attacks continued to miss, while Ghiin’s dagger relentlessly pierced Kaor’s body each time.
“Wh-why! How are you this skilled!”
Kaor hadn’t been able tond a single blow on Ghiin.
The arm holding the dagger was already covered in wounds, and the pain made it impossible to straighten his back properly.
He couldn’t believe that the young noble, who looked like a rookie, had such skills.
He had been confident in his own abilities.
Among mercenaries, he was regarded as one of the strongest. His bravery and viciousness were such that even knights were a step below him.
Yet, none of his skills worked against the young noble standing before him.
“Grrr!”
Kaor, with his already wounded arm, raised it again, aiming for Ghiin’s vital point.
Striking the opponent’s vital points in a single blow was his specialty.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t reach Ghiin’s weak spots.
ng!
Ghiin effortlessly blocked Kaor’s dagger strike.
“Focusing solely on vital points isn’t always the best strategy. Even a beast can do that much.”
Ghiin spoke as if he were teaching Kaor a lesson and thrust his dagger again in all directions.
Each strike cleverly avoided the vital areas of the side, shoulder, chest, and abdomen.
“Grr…”
Kaor, now drenched in blood, finally let his arm fall limp.
But the look in his eyes, filled with fierce determination as he red at Ghiin, remained unchanged.
Even on the verge of death, he refused to surrender. Seeing this, Ghiin nodded.
“Your grit is impressive. I’llmend you for not using mana until now.”
“Don’t make meugh. This isn’t over yet. I’ll kill you for sure.”
“Do you really think you can? One more stab and you’ll die.”
Ghiin sneered, then casually tossed his dagger behind him.
“…?”
Kaor’s face showed confusion. Why would he throw away his dagger after clearly winning the fight?
Could it be that he had already judged the match over and would end it on his own terms?
“You bastard…!”
He couldn’t ept it. This duel wasn’t over until one of them surrendered or died.
Kaor, seething with rage, shouted.
“Are you mocking me right now? Who said the duel is over? Pick up your dagger right now! This isn’t finished yet! I’ll kill you!”
Watching Kaor’s outburst, Ghiin casually scratched his ear before speaking.
“Who said it’s over?”
“What?”
“I don’t n on finishing it yet either.”
“Then why did you throw your dagger…?”
Before Kaor could finish his sentence, Ghiin raised his fist with a grin.
“Now, it’s time for your lesson. You need to learn how to control that temper of yours.”
“What?”
Caught off guard, Kaor couldn’tprehend what Ghiin was saying. That’s when Ghiin’s fist flew toward his temple.
Thud!
“Gah!”
Kaor staggered heavily from the unexpected blow. Even then, he swung his dagger, trying to attack Ghiin.
His reaction speed was shockingly fast.
Ghiin, inwardly impressed, smiled in satisfaction.
But admiration and teaching were two separate matters. He grabbed Kaor’s wrist, which held the dagger and twisted it in the opposite direction.
*Crack!*
“Ugh!”
The sound of bones grinding echoed as Kaor dropped his dagger. Ghiin kicked it up lightly, sending it into the air.
Catching the dagger mid-air, he swiftly cut the rope, binding their hands together.
*Snap!*
Kaor, who had been pulling against the rope with all his strength, suddenly lost his restraint and stumbled backward.
It was only a few steps, but it was enough for him to step outside the ring.
‘Damn!’
ording to the rules, one more way to lose without dying or surrendering was to step out of the ring.
Realizing what had happened toote, Kaor’s face turned grim.
Though he had never feared death before, this… was an unavoidable situation.
“Tch.”
Kaor spat bloodied saliva onto the ground and red at Ghiin.
“Looks like I stepped out of the ring without realizing it. Consider yourself lucky, rookie. Unfortunately, I guess we’ll have to end this here. I’ll concede defeat. Hard to believe a day like this woulde.”
He hadn’t died, nor had he surrendered.
It was only because the rope had been cut, causing him to step out of the ring identally.
He could now end the duel while saving some face, pretending it was due to the rules rather than ack of skill.
For Kaor, it was the best possible oue.
The mercenaries watching from the sidelines had pity in their eyes, but he didn’t care.
‘…To be honest, that bastard’s just too strong.’
Running a hand through his hair, Kaor continued with a smug expression.
“So, as promised, I’ll tell you all about the request you wanted…”
“It’s not over yet.”
Ghiin interrupted Kaor, pulling his fist back.
*Boom!*
With a sound like the air exploding, Ghiin’s fist shot forward.
Kaor, startled, crossed his arms to block the blow, but it was useless.
*Bang!*
“Gahhh!”
Kaor couldn’t withstand even a single punch and was sent flying backward.
The pain was excruciating—far worse than being stabbed or shed with a dagger. His arms throbbed as if his bones had been broken.
Rolling across the ground, Kaor quickly regained his senses and stood up.
But before he could even assume a proper stance, Ghiin’s fist flew at him again.
*Thud!*
“Wait! ording to the rules, stepping out of the ring means—”
“Rules? What rules? Are you going to fight by the rules on a battlefield?”
“But you’re the one who proposed this duel!”
“Don’t try to bind me with rules. I fight when I want to and hit when I feel like hitting.”
With that, Ghiin swung his fist again.
*Thud!*
‘Ah, this guy’s just a total lunatic.’
The “Mad Dog” of the town had genuinely run into a crazed opponent.
“Fine, let’s take this to the end! I’ll kill you no matter what!”
Kaor gritted his teeth andunched a counterattack.
*Whoosh.*
But his attacks nevernded. Every time Ghiin’s body blurred, Kaor’s fists only struck empty air.
It felt like he was fighting a ghost.
“I can’t ept this!”
Kaor red at Ghiin with eyes full of malice.
Thanks to acquiring a decent mana technique and being born with extraordinary talent, he had lived without fear of anything.
But now, he was getting beaten down by a young noble who seemed like a rookie.
“Arrgghhh!”
Kaor charged with a roar, but Ghiin swung his fist without mercy.
“The only medicine for a Mad Dog is a beating.”
*Thud!*
“Guh!”
*Thud!*
“Argh!”
With each blow, Kaor’s consciousness gradually began to fade.
By now, thoughts of the duel or proving himself had vanished entirely from his mind.
‘Why? Why am I getting beaten up like this?’
*Thud!*
‘What was I even doing?’
The blood loss and continued beating made it hard for even a sturdy mercenary like him to endure.
His eyes grew hazy as if he were drunk, and he staggered. The mercenaries watching swallowed nervously.
“Can someone even beat a man like that…?”
“He’s going to die at this rate. Shouldn’t we stop this? The duel’s basically over, isn’t it?”
“He should’ve just killed him earlier… After all, you don’t mess with nobles. I knew this day woulde.”
And this was precisely what Ghiin had been aiming for.
These were the types of men who would always try to overthrow their master if they didn’t establish dominance.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Even then, Ghiin’s punches didn’t stop.
In Kaor’s fading vision, he could see the face of his long-deceased grandmother.
‘Ah, Grandma! When did you get here? I miss that omelette you used to make!’
Seeing the nostalgic look in Kaor’s eyes, Ghiin stopped his assault.
It was impable timing.
“Hm, is this the end?”
*Thud!*
As soon as Ghiin stepped back with a nod, Kaor copsed onto the ground, unconscious.
“Captain!”
The mercenaries rushed over to check on Kaor and shook their heads.
“He’s done for. His breathing is too shallow. He’s going to die soon.”
“To think our captain would die so pitifully.”
The mercenaries cast their gazes down, keeping a close eye on Ghiin.
There wasn’t a single one of them who could stand tall in the face of such overwhelming violence—enough to even make the hot-tempered Kaor kneel.
As he silently observed Kaor lying on the ground, Ghiin spoke.
“Gillian, bring the person I called for.”
“Ah, yes, understood.”
Gillian, having no time to be astonished by Ghiin’s disy of skill, quickly vanished from the scene.
He returned in less than a few minutes, carrying a priest on his back.
It turned out that before Ghiin had even arrived, he had paid a hefty sum to have the priest on standby at a nearby inn.
‘Lord Ghiin really ns for everything.’
At first, Gillian didn’t understand why they needed to call a priest.
But now, it was clear that Ghiin had anticipated this very situation. No, he had likely orchestrated it to happen this way.
The more he saw, the more Gillian realized how far ahead his lord nned and prepared.
“Begin the healing immediately.”
As soon as Ghiin finished speaking, the priest rushed over to Kaor and poured divine power into him.
The wounds healed faster than expected. Despite the numerous cuts and heavy blood loss, Ghiin had avoided striking Kaor’s vital points and organs with precise uracy.
Watching Kaor’s recovery, the mercenaries were in awe.
They had enough battle experience to grasp Ghiin’s intentions and methods quickly.
“How did he avoid all the vital spots with strikes like that?”
“Just how skilled is he with a sword?”
The mercenaries couldn’t stop marveling as they watched Kaor heal.
After the treatment ended and some time had passed, Kaor slowly opened his eyes and muttered,
“…Grandma?”
“Grandma? Get a grip already.”
At the sound of Ghiin’s voice, Kaor snapped his head up and scrambled backward along the ground.
“I’m… still alive? I swear I saw my dead grandmother!”
“There are a lot of guys who im to meet loved ones after I hit them. Anyway, I’d appreciate it if we could sign the contract today. I’m a bit busy.”
Kaor, looking up at Ghiin, who now wore a carefree smilepletely different from when they were fighting—staggered to his feet.
Scratching his head a few times, he spat on the ground and said,
“Let’s… write it now.”
He had no more intention of arguing or resisting. After seeing Ghiin’s handiwork, he could believe this man was a devil rather than a noble.
And since he had lost the duel, he had to abide by the oue.
Seeing Kaor’spliance, Ghiin smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. You won’t regret this.”
This was the moment when Ghiin took control of the Cerberus Mercenary Corps,monly known as the Mad Dogs.