Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 184. This Brat Drives Me Crazy (2)

Patrick looked into Cierion’s desperate eyes and continued.

“I will not help you.”

“Double Dragon….”

“I have a rough idea of what you expected from me. But you see.”

Patrick looked intently at Cierion and drew a line, saying.

“I am different from you.”

At those words, Cierion bit his lower lip hard.

And he said to Patrick.

“Then are you saying it’s okay for you to stay as you are?”

“……”

“Are you saying you will just turn a blind eye as the peace of this continent is maintained by the deaths of the powerless, as the wall of corpses is piled up layer by layer for all eternity? Is that it?”

At Cierion’s words, Patrick shook his head and said.

“I, too, am a man born on the front lines of the East. There is no need for you to explain to me what it means to live next to the Great Forest. It’s old news.”

“In that case….”

“I, too, have a plan to improve the current shitty situation. However, it is a different path from yours.”

To protect the people of the East from the Great Forest, he would attack other countries to unite the power of the entire continent and stand against it.

It sounds good at first glance.

However….

“The blood you shed in the process of unifying the continent is also the blood of the powerless and weak. You know that, don’t you?”

“So? Are you planning to preach some idealism?”

“And what if I am?”

“What?”

“I asked, what if I am?”

“……”

Cierion’s expression crumpled wretchedly.

That was something Cierion had truly never expected.

But Patrick, with a expression devoid of any bluff, spoke calmly.

“Brat.”

“Who do you think you’re….”

“Even if the intention is good and the purpose is for all people….”

“……”

“If the path is wrong, then everything is wrong.”

“That’s just pretty-sounding bullshit.”

“Yeah. Maybe it is.”

Patrick let out a smirk.

He couldn’t deny Cierion’s words.

Patrick himself had tried to learn and follow it his whole life, but he had never been convinced in his heart.

But….

Still….

“At least, that’s what I was taught.”

He would just try to walk that path.

Even knowing that it didn’t suit him.

“Haaa….”

Cierion let out a sigh.

‘It’s not going to work.’

He had expected it to some extent since the topic of black mages came up, but now that the result was out, he was indescribably devastated.

Would it feel like this to be rejected by someone you love?

The disappointment Cierion felt was immense, as much as his hopes had been earnest.

However….

‘I can’t go back empty-handed.’

Cierion, composing himself, looked at Patrick and continued.

“Patrick Schneider.”

“What? What now?”

To Patrick, who replied indifferently, Cierion said with a faint smile.

“After defeating the knights of the Decator Kingdom, you headed for the Kaisar Kingdom instead of coming to our Yusef Kingdom.”

“Isn’t that obvious? Do you really see me as an irrational human who would go to a country in the middle of a civil war and challenge someone to a duel?”

For a moment, Cierion almost unconsciously said, ‘Yes.’

But he barely controlled his lips and said what he had to say.

“No, that’s not it.”

“……”

“Isn’t it that you just ran away in fear?”

“Hoooh….”

The corner of Patrick’s mouth twisted up.

And Cierion began to fan the flames relentlessly.

“You may be called the strongest swordsman of our generation, but in truth, I cannot accept that.”

“Is that sooooo?”

“Think about it. You…”

Cierion looked down at Patrick with an arrogant expression and said.

“You have never fought me, have you?”

“Hoo…. Reallllyyyyyy?”

Now, the emotion of ‘How should I mess up this fearless brat?’ was clearly etched on Patrick’s face.

Cierion, seeing that, felt sweat trickle down his forehead, but he said what he had aimed for until the end.

“Double Dragon. As a fellow swordsman, I challenge you.”

“Hmm….”

“If you are not afraid, do not avoid it.”

“Hmmmmmmmm….”

The corner of Patrick’s mouth twisted up.

“Of all the things you’ve said today….”

“……”

“That’s the one I like the most.”

Patrick Schneider VS Cierion Baisus Yusef.

The destined duel that had not come to pass at Arcana was now realized in this unexpected place.

* * *

When they heard that Patrick and Cierion were going to duel, the reactions from both sides were different.

“Right. So it comes to this in the end.”

“Now he’s even beating up kings.”

“Logically, I thought this was highly probable.”

At his companions’ reactions, Patrick’s jaw dropped, and he said as if he were greatly wronged.

“Hey, it wasn’t me who wanted to do it first. Really.”

“Did you hear that?”

“Looks like he sweet-talked him into it.”

“How can a human be so wicked?”

“He’s a demon, isn’t he.”

At his companions’ reactions, Patrick said with a genuinely wronged expression.

“No. It’s not like that. We were talking, and suddenly he was the one who suggested it! For real.”

“The credibility….”

“Isn’t there.”

“Logically, that is too unreasonable a demand.”

Wow, this is unfair.

Truly unfair.

Patrick felt greatly wronged, but in truth, looking back at his past deeds, he had nothing to feel wronged about.

Anyway, the reaction of Patrick’s companions was mostly along the lines of ‘I knew it would come to this.’

And in fact, they weren’t even worried.

‘Looks like another victim is about to be made.’

‘Living with a madman, I get to see a king of a nation get beaten up.’

‘Logically, this is intriguing.’

There are people to worry about.

Worrying about Patrick Schneider?

Neither Matthew, nor Isabella, nor even April did such a meaningless thing.

“Young Master. Here are your weapons.”

Seeing April preparing his twin swords, Patrick let out a sigh.

* * *

Unlike Patrick’s side, which had an ‘I knew it’ atmosphere, the atmosphere on the Yusef Kingdom’s side was different.

“Your Highness, are you really going to do it?”

“Having come this far, I can’t back down now, can I?”

“But Your Highness….”

“It’s alright.”

Cierion raised his weapon and said.

“Having come this far, I can’t go back empty-handed. I have to at least get paid for my trouble.”

Saying so, the knights of the Yusef Kingdom watched Cierion’s back with worried expressions as he walked forward.

Cierion was strong.

He probably wouldn’t fall behind anyone of the same generation.

In fact, hadn’t he achieved victory against Antorius of the Holy Theocracy at Arcana?

However….

‘Of all people, against that monster….’

‘Why was such a man born in the same era as His Highness?’

‘Damn it….’

They knew it too.

No matter how strong Cierion was, if his opponent was Patrick Schneider, it was practically impossible.

How many 7-star knights had been broken by Patrick’s twin swords until now?

Recently, he had even fought against the regular army of the Kaisar Kingdom and won.

There were even stories that he had overwhelmed multiple 7-star knights during that process.

Even if they believed only half of those rumors, Cierion had no chance of victory.

The hearts of the knights watching their lord enter a duel with a decided outcome were devastated.

To those knights, the middle-aged knight who had first guided Patrick’s group spoke.

“Do not worry and just watch.”

“Sir Karvan.”

Matias Karvan.

That was the name of this middle-aged knight.

He was Cierion’s secret trump card, unknown to the public, his closest confidant, and also the master who had taught Cierion the sword in his youth.

All the knights present here knew this man’s skill.

So, they asked with a sliver of hope.

“In your view, do you think His Highness has a chance of victory?”

“No, that would be difficult.”

“Pardon?”

“The Double Dragon… I’ve heard his name many times, but I thought many of the rumors were exaggerated.”

Matias grumbled and, looking at Patrick stepping forward, narrowed his eyes and said.

“These rumors are insufficient. How can such a monster….”

At that, a loyal knight flared up and shouted.

“His Highness is also strong.”

Matias readily nodded at those words and said.

“That’s right. If it’s Prince Cierion, he could certainly win even if he fought the grandson of the Imperial Sword Saint.”

“In that case….”

“Still, not that one.”

Matias sighed and shook his head.

That was no genius.

It was a monster to the point where it was incomprehensible how such a thing could exist.

“Perhaps, His Highness will not be able to win. It is normal not to win. However….”

Matias paused for a moment and then said to the knights of the Yusef Kingdom.

“His Highness is probably not hoping for victory either. Yes. He must have another aim.”

“Another aim, you say?”

“For now, just watch. How our king will face that monster.”

And so, under everyone’s gaze, Patrick and Cierion stood facing each other.

“You still use a monstrous sword.”

“It’s because I have more occasions to face monsters than humans.”

The sword Cierion used was a two-handed sword.

And among them, it was a two-handed sword so large it was freakish.

Honestly, if an ordinary knight were given that to use, they would have grabbed the blacksmith who made it by the collar and shaken them, asking if they were playing a joke.

However….

Fwoosh!

Cierion swung this massive, freakish sword with great ease.

Seeing him lightly swing this huge sword with one hand, Patrick nodded.

“Well, it’s good for a weapon to fit your hand. Even if it’s an unconventional weapon.”

“You’re not in a position to say anything to me about weapons, are you?”

“Huh?”

“In the whole continent, the only one who uses twin swords is the Double Dragon. You. Ah! It has increased a bit lately, but in reality, that’s all just imitating someone.”

“Hoooh…. So you’re coming at me like that.”

“Admit it. Twin sword style is much more unconventional than a two-handed sword.”

At that moment, Matthew and Isabella, who were standing far away, shook their heads and said.

“Ah… he’s done it now.”

“Tsk tsk tsk….”

Seeing the two of them, Riman, who was beside them, asked.

“What is the matter?”

At Riman’s question, Matthew sighed and said.

“It’s the twenty-third.”

“…What is?”

The one who answered that question was not Matthew, but Patrick, shouting from afar.

“Insulting the twin sword style is the twenty-third thing I hate. You bastard!”

Patrick Schneider was a man who hated many things.

Kwaaang!

The first move was Patrick’s attack.

Patrick’s attack, leaping forward and striking down.

Cierion swung his huge sword to block it.

No, he tried to block it.

However….

“Keuk….”

Even though the weight difference between the weapons was more than 20 times, the one that was pushed back when they clashed was Cierion’s sword.

Cierion braced his lower body, regained his balance from being pushed back, and extended his sword again.

“Haaap!”

A disciplined thrust that was hard to believe came from a sword so huge it could be mistaken for a small pillar, cut through the air.

A precise thrust that forcibly pushed aside Patrick’s opposing sword and advanced.

Patrick, seeing that attack, grinned and thrust his other sword to meet it.

Kakakak.

The three swords intertwined and stopped.

Immediately after, Patrick, a smirk playing on his lips, said.

“Gotcha, you bastard.”

And Patrick’s sword slithered up Cierion’s sword like a snake.

Cierion was horrified.

By the time he came to his senses, Patrick had closed the distance and was in front of him.

With his left sword pressing down on Cierion’s sword to subdue it, and his right hand in a swinging posture, Patrick muttered softly.

“Your neck.”

With that short warning, the sword in Patrick’s right hand became a thin ray of light and flew towards Cierion’s neck.

An absolutely unstoppable move.

Cierion momentarily let go of his sword.

And he retreated backward.

Swish!

Cierion, who had narrowly escaped the sword’s range.

Patrick’s attack passed by, cutting a little of his red hair.

It was an attack that might have taken off his head, not just his hair, if his decision had been a moment later.

And Cierion, no sooner had he dodged the attack, than he leaped forward again and threw a punch.

Fwoosh.

Patrick slightly tilted his head to dodge Cierion’s fist.

But Cierion’s aim was not that in the first place.

He grabbed his sword, which had not yet fallen to the ground, again.

And then….

“Wooooooh!”

Poooow!

An explosive aura shot up from the ground to the sky.

Against that attack, like a volcano erupting from the ground, Patrick did not resist.

He yielded to the force and leaped back greatly.

And the moment he elegantly landed on the ground after a full rotation in the air….

“An opening!”

With Cierion’s shout, his attack had reached right in front of Patrick.

Cierion had seized that golden opportunity, having slipped out of his opponent’s sight, and had closed in without a sound or trace.

The optimal move that seized a golden chance.

‘I got him!’

‘He did it!’

The knights of the Yusef Kingdom clenched their fists.

And they saw it clearly.

They saw Cierion’s huge sword unhesitatingly cleave through Patrick’s waist.

Fwoooosh!

He did it.

He defeated that monstrous Double Dragon.

The moment cheers were about to erupt from the mouths of the Yusef Kingdom’s knights….

“Your Highness!”

Matias urgently shouted first.

And immediately after….

A small voice was heard from behind Cierion.

“Talking about openings, are we.”

Baaaaam!

“Keuuuk….”

From behind Cierion, Patrick’s kick slammed into his back.

Cierion was sent flying more than 5 meters forward and tumbled.

And he hastily regained his posture and stood up.

In front of him, Patrick, with an indifferent expression, was looking down at him.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said.

“Is this perhaps….”

“Perhaps what?”

“The technique you showed Garcia in the Arcana finals?”

“Yeah. Why, you get it now?”

At that time, Cierion couldn’t participate in the finals due to an injury, but he had watched the match.

Back then, he couldn’t understand how Garcia was so completely fooled by Patrick’s technique of leaving behind a double.

However….

‘Experiencing it firsthand, I can see why he fell for it.’

Patrick’s Form-Shifting Position Change did not give off any sense of being fake in the afterimage.

The afterimage’s unique traces were so clean that no wavering could be felt, and by leaving a remnant of his qi in the double, the attacker felt no sense of being deceived at all.

In fact, even Cierion hadn’t noticed anything until the moment his sword passed through the afterimage.

“Impressive, as expected.”

“Ahem!”

Seeing him acting all high and mighty even in this situation, Cierion wanted to say something, but he treated it seriously.

“It’s not just about speed. I felt a presence from the double that was no different from the real thing. Right?”

“……”

“You’re not a magic swordsman, but you’re not a pure swordsman either. Something is different. Yes. Different.”

Seeing Cierion muttering and analyzing, Patrick smirked and said.

“You have room for other thoughts?”

“Ah, it’s more manageable than I thought.”

“Really? Is that sooooo?”

“Is this all you’ve got? It’s rather….”

“Rather?”

“Underwhelming.”

“Ha….”

A hollow laugh escaped Patrick’s lips.

But that laugh was neither a sign of contempt nor an expression of bewilderment.

Rather, it was more like?

‘This kid’s got some serious grit.’

Praiseworthy?

Admirable?

It was a laugh tinged with that kind of emotion.

That provocation was not a bluff to protect his pride.

It was to deliberately get on Patrick’s nerves to gain even a little more from him.

Even if it meant suffering the humiliation of being beaten to a pulp in front of his own subordinates.

“I’ll give you credit for your grit.”

“Soon you’ll be acknowledging my skill too.”

“How long do you think you can keep that mouth of yours running?”

“Shut up and….”

Cierion extended a hand towards Patrick and gestured with his fingers, saying.

“Come at me.”

“……”

Wow… so this is how it feels.

It’s the first time I’m on the receiving end, so this is what it feels like.

Patrick smiled contentedly and said.

“You need a good beating.”