The victory of Chris was shocking.
As they gazed at the head of Yanson rolling on the ground, people accepted the reality, thinking that it was only possible because Chris was known as a genius swordsman.
After all, Chris was a disciple of Jonathan.
While it was something that could not be understood logically, it was not entirely impossible if Jonathan's teachings were involved.
The problem lay in this duel.
Although the match between Chris and Yanson could somehow be rationalized, the cold body of Homeros left people feeling as if their thought processes had come to a halt.
Homeros was not someone who could simply be described as strong.
He was an extraordinary master who had ranked even before entering the realm of the fourth star, and now he was truly a divine being of Cairo, aiming for the 30th position among the demons.
He was dead.
Without even having the chance to unleash the aura of the fourth star, he was split in two by Roman's single strike, blood spraying everywhere.
"How could this happen?"
"Am I seeing things?"
People were left speechless.
Roman Dmitri.
They had thought he was a dead man walking.
Even knowing he was up against Homeros, they believed that his refusal to forfeit was merely bravado, and they never thought he would win, not even by one percent.
They could not utter a single word.
Regardless of the importance of the duel, they blinked repeatedly, trying to confirm if this was truly reality.
Only one person, Roman, accepted the reality before him as a matter of course.
"How could someone who hasn't even reached the peak act so arrogantly?"
Homeros.
His aura was powerful.
Among those Roman had encountered on the Salamander continent, he was the strongest.
However, Roman's standards were based on his past life.
In the martial world, where masters like shining stars were abundant, even as the Heavenly Demon Baek Jun-hyeok, one had to be prepared for death if they let their guard down.
In contrast, the martial arts here were inefficient and seemed worthless.
Homeros's strike.
While people admired the aura he had unleashed with fervor, Roman sighed at the leaking flow of energy.
Thus, he ended the duel.
Knowing it was his victory.
Homeros was not a match for Roman, and the burning desire to win extinguished in an instant.
Roman spoke.
"Judge, please declare the result."
Only then did people realize the truth.
Roman's victory, following Chris.
In the best-of-five matches, the Lawrence family had already secured their position as winners.
Gulp.
Chris swallowed hard.
Watching the duel between Roman and Homeros, his palms were drenched in sweat.
"So this is the true strength of my lord."
In truth, he could not clearly grasp Roman's abilities.
When they first sparred, Roman had certainly not been as strong as he was now.
He had appeared unable to use aura and had suffered the humiliation of losing to Roman in a purely swordsmanship duel.
Afterward, he learned the truth.
Roman handled mana in a different way, and contrary to the public image of being called Dmitri's fool, he had already reached a considerable level.
The problem was that the exact level was unclear.
Was the extent of his power merely enough to defeat Chris, or was there something more beyond that which he himself did not know? The truth remained elusive.
Thus, this war was a good opportunity to confirm Roman's true self.
When he slaughtered a dozen soldiers, Chris understood.
If it was the Roman he knew, it was entirely possible.
And when he swiftly severed the neck of Berge, a second-star swordsman, and shattered Flare, Chris was honestly a bit surprised.
Finally, he overwhelmed Homeros.
Although Homeros had not unleashed the aura of the fourth star due to his carelessness, Roman split him in two with his sword, even as Homeros unleashed the aura of the third star with fervor.
It was an overwhelmingly shocking scene.
Even Chris, who thought he knew Roman well, could not help but be stunned by the breaking of common sense.
"Had my lord possessed this level of strength since our duel? Or has he achieved remarkable growth since then? Either way, it defies common understanding. If it were the former, my lord was certainly not strong enough to overwhelm Homeros back then, and if it were the latter, the time frame is too short to make sense. How could this be possible?"
His mind was in turmoil.
He could not even dare to guess the truth.
About two months had passed.
For ordinary people, it was a short time where even the aura of the first star could not be manifested, but for Roman, it was different.
After defeating Chris, Roman had successively improved himself.
He underwent a transformation and unleashed the Flame Flower Divine Art, stepping into a realm that Chris could not even dare to approach.
It was a growth rate so fast that one could hardly find a similar example in the martial world.
It was something only the Heavenly Demon Baek Jun-hyeok, known as the best in the world, could achieve, and it was only natural that Roman's growth was beyond comprehension.
"Hoo."
He let out a deep breath.
Having won against Yanson, Chris thought that perhaps the day he would surpass Roman would come soon.
However, that was a misconception.
Now that he had confirmed Roman's true strength, Chris felt a mixture of awe and an inexplicable sense of frustration.
"Perhaps my determination was premature."
The thought of being loyal until he surpassed his lord.
Now, Chris was gradually realizing how hasty that judgment had been.
The duel was over.
The victory of Lawrence.
There was nothing more to see, but Count Ertes, who presided over the duel, had a duty to oversee it until the end.
"The battle of the great warriors must proceed through three duels. Since the outcome has already been decided, both sides may agree to send out a new warrior."
It was a concession for the defeated.
There was no reason to waste manpower in a fight where defeat was certain, so he gave Barco the opportunity to choose between practicality and pride.
Even with Count Ertes's words, Baron Barco could not regain his composure.
From the moment Homeros fell, bleeding, it felt as if the sky had collapsed on him.
"It’s over."
His mind became hazy.
The conflict with Lawrence.
For that, Barco had exerted all his efforts.
He had deliberately manipulated documents to provoke a fight with Lawrence and had spent an astronomical amount of money to bring Count Ertes into the fray using connections within the central government.
That money did not belong to Barco.
Unlike Lawrence, who had fertile lands, and Dmitri, who printed money from iron mines, Barco was not from a wealthy family and had borrowed all the funds for the war from the Golden Bank, using credit as collateral.
His legs trembled.
He understood the meaning of credit loans.
He knew that without any collateral, enormous interest would soon befall him.
"How could Homeros lose? Homeros is a fourth-star swordsman. Unlike the riffraff of the northeastern region, he is a true swordsman who has faced strong opponents throughout the kingdom. It makes no sense for him to lose like this. This must be a conspiracy of the mercenary guild. They must have sent someone disguised as Homeros to me, and that fake must have been killed by Dmitri's fool."
He turned away from reality.
He did not believe it.
Knowing the enormous price he would have to pay.
The anxious, trembling eyes of Baron Barco could not accept the reality even after seeing Homeros's face.
"…My lord. We must send out our warrior."
One knight cautiously spoke up.
According to the original plan, a second-star knight was supposed to take the third turn.
However, with Barco's warriors having been killed twice, they could not afford to sacrifice another knight.
Practicality and honor.
Baron Barco did not hesitate for a moment in his choice.
"We cannot lose our last hope. Send out Benson in his place. Since he was the one who tarnished Barco's honor at the social party, let us give him a chance to redeem himself in this duel."
"Understood."
The knight stepped back with a slightly stiff expression.
It was a discard.
It meant to die, and Benson had no justification to refuse the battle of the great warriors.
At the last social party, Benson was the knight who had clashed with Kevin.
It was fine to look down on Dmitri, but the problem was that he had been unilaterally beaten by Roman in front of everyone.
That incident had become a huge issue among the nobles.
It was a demonstration of the difference between Dmitri and Barco, and Benson had been disciplined and demoted for that responsibility.
It was his last chance.
To survive as a knight of Barco, he could not avoid the battle of the great warriors, even knowing he was a discard.
"I am Benson of Barco."
In the final duel, as Benson stepped forward, there was a commotion in Lawrence's camp.
Benson was a non-class knight.
He was an opponent that the knight of Lawrence, who was supposed to take the third turn, could definitely defeat, but before he could step forward, someone suddenly jumped out.
"I will take on the challenge."
A small child.
Wearing a helmet that did not suit him, he looked up at Roman with a determined expression.
It was Kevin.
The sudden intrusion drew a stern response from Lawrence's knight.
"How dare a mere common soldier step forward! Even if the opponent is a non-class swordsman, you are not someone who can face him. The battle of the great warriors is a sacred contest that bears the honor of Lawrence. I will forgive you this once for the sake of young master Roman, so step back at once."
Kevin's sudden action was something that should have been punished according to military law.
The knight of Lawrence spoke rightly, but his lord, Lawrence, silently observed the situation.
Everyone knew.
Even Lawrence and Flora.
That Roman Dmitri, who had led the battle of the great warriors to victory, had the authority to accept Kevin's request.
With a glance, Roman looked down at Kevin.
"What a foolish child."
It was reckless.
Although Kevin had been rapidly developing lately, fighting against a robust adult swordsman was a dangerous choice.
Yet, Kevin declared he would fight.
Whether it was to repay the debt he owed to Benson or to prove his worth, the reason remained unclear.
What was certain was,
"Go ahead."
Roman was pleased with Kevin's choice.
In a world of the strong preying on the weak, the rights of those who lost without strength were never granted.
At the social party, people spoke of how Roman had beautifully avenged his subordinate, but behind that was a weak subordinate who had been humiliated and beaten without retaliation.
People took it lightly.
Kevin was not Chris, and they thought a mere boy soldier could do nothing.
Therefore, Kevin had to step up.
Staying by Roman's side, he learned what Roman valued.
"I will be back soon."
As he stood up with a fierce expression, the people of Lawrence could not stop Kevin's steps.