Lion Knight — Part 3
After that, he could never lift his head again.
Blood pooling and spreading.
A body slumping, lifeless.
Skin turning pale and ghostly.
The notary lawyers announced the end of the duel.
“The duel is over! The victory goes to Warrior Kim, the Superhuman!”
Victory!
A murmur of shock swept through the secret dueling arena.
All of Lee Jaeyeol’s people wore expressions of disbelief.
Eyes wide, bodies trembling, they stared only at Oh Dusik—at the corpse of Oh Dusik.
“This… this can’t be…”
“No way! Tell me it’s a lie!”
“Our captain… lost? The captain?”
A refusal to accept reality.
But the truth was brutally clear.
On the other side, cheers erupted.
“Woooo!”
Seo Woojin came rushing over, ecstatic.
He hugged me so tightly it knocked the breath out of me.
“Damn it! That hurts!”
“Teacher! You’re amazing, Teacher! I knew you’d win! You’re the best! Haha! Look at the faces of those cult bastards! Serves them right! Hahaha!”
Though I was the one who won, Seo Woojin was more thrilled than anyone.
He hugged me, lifted me up, and started spinning and dancing in sheer excitement.
“Teacher!”
Baek Sorin came running over, not to be outdone.
“You were incredible! Wow, how did you do it? I thought you were insane! Are you even human, Teacher? Be honest. You’re not human, are you? That was insane!”
Baek Sorin bounced up and down, her eyes brimming with awe and admiration.
Others started approaching as well.
Manager Choi clapped his hands loudly.
“Superhuman Kim! I knew we could count on you! To think you overcame such a level gap! I believed you could do it, but what a spectacular fight. You’ll go down in the annals of Superhuman history, no doubt. I’ll even bet you’ll be in the textbooks someday!”
“Hahaha. Thank you.”
“Superhuman Kim…”
Kim Chulkwon was there as well, his expression slightly complicated.
A mix of awe and admiration, but with a faint hint of bitterness.
There was a time when I had been weaker than Kim Chulkwon.
But now?
Even if he brought his entire Iron Fist Gang, they wouldn’t stand a chance against me.
“We may both be Level 3, but clearly, we are not the same. I, Kim Chulkwon, am truly in awe. It is an honor to know someone like you.”
“Honor? Please. Didn’t I rely heavily on your help this time? We’re just helping each other out.”
“To be honest, I thought it was reckless. But to think you’d win so overwhelmingly… If you ever need anything, just call me. I’ll drop everything and come running.”
The CEO of Jaelboan and other company heads came to offer their congratulations.
Their eyes were gleaming.
Think about it.
A Level 3 had defeated a Level 4.
Not with a surprise attack, but in an open duel, where every ounce of power was exposed.
And the opponent wasn’t an assassin or a sniper, but a Paladin.
Among Superhumans, Paladins were renowned for their toughness.
And I had defeated such a Paladin?
Then, what if I reached Level 4 or Level 5 someday?
Or even set foot into Level 7, the realm of transcendence?
They could hardly imagine it.
The representatives clapped me on the back.
“Haha, congratulations!”
“As expected of Warrior Kim. I knew it ever since you treated my son.”
“Surviving Divine Fever alone is proof enough of your heroism, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, that’s right. Warrior Kim, you’re the greatest Superhuman of our time.”
“Mr. Kim, is there anything you need? If you require support, just say the word. I’ll pull up the foundations of my company if that’s what it takes to back you.”
The atmosphere was that of a full-blown celebration.
On the other hand, the opposing side was in mourning.
“Captain…”
“It’s too late. He’s already gone.”
“How could this happen? He survived even that hellish crusade, only to die here like this?”
“This must be a dream. This is just a dream!”
The Paladins who had served Oh Dusik clutched their heads, pounding the ground and wailing loudly.
The most devastated was Lee Jaeyeol.
He had stood there, face pale as a ghost, staring blankly since the duel ended.
But then, suddenly, a glint appeared in his eyes.
“You!”
Lee Jaeyeol, gripping a hammer, charged at me.
“This bastard!”
Seo Woojin reacted swiftly.
Without even drawing his sword, he simply extended a fist.
A surge of mana shot from his fist, slamming into Lee Jaeyeol.
“Guh!”
Lee Jaeyeol flew back, coughing up blood.
Our notary lawyer called out in a stern voice.
“Are you refusing to accept the results of the duel? Remember the magical covenant! Any rash actions will make the covenant rupture the Crusader’s heart!”
Lee Jaeyeol clutched his chest, his face contorted.
He glared at me with murderous intent, his eyes narrowed like knives.
“You… it’s all because of you!”
“What did I do?”
“It’s your fault the captain is dead! Because of you!”
His voice cracked as he practically spat out the words.
The other Paladins lifted their heads.
As if on cue, they all glared at me.
Their eyes were filled with resentment, anger, and hatred, crossing in their gazes like a web of malice.
“Hmph.”
I snorted.
Accusing me like a thief crying foul.
“Don’t spout nonsense. I didn’t kill Oh Dusik.”
“What kind of crap is that!”
“Lee Jaeyeol.”
I took a step forward, limping slightly.
Slowly, I approached Lee Jaeyeol.
I was completely drained, both of mana and stamina.
I felt like I could collapse at any moment, but I kept walking, unsteady but determined.
Seo Woojin and Baek Sorin followed behind, gripping the hilts of their swords tightly.
Eventually, I reached Lee Jaeyeol.
“What… what do you want?”
Lee Jaeyeol backed away, practically crawling on the ground.
His rage over Oh Dusik’s death had lasted only a moment.
Now, fear overtook his face.
Despite the fact that I couldn’t even swing a sword right now, he was terrified.
This was the true nature of Lee Jaeyeol.
The second son of a Seungcheon Group affiliate, a member of his late father’s crusade team—just a façade to mask his cowardice.
I stood tall, looking down at him, and declared my judgment.
“Oh Dusik died because of you.”
“Lies!”
“Isn’t that the truth?”
I locked eyes with him.
Glaring with a gaze as sharp as glass.
Radiating a fierce, brutal aura.
Oh Dusik had been my enemy.
But even with that brief encounter, I could tell.
He might’ve been a fanatic, but he was a man of honorable character.
A man too worthy to die in such a way.
Which made me even angrier.
Because a scoundrel like this had caused Oh Dusik’s death.
“If you hadn’t sent an assassin after me, would he still be dead? Do you think Oh Dusik would have died if you hadn’t?”
“T-that has nothing to do with this!”
“If the truth had come to light and you’d apologized to me—if there’d been no duel in the first place—would Oh Dusik still have died? Or would he still be alive, Lee Jaeyeol? Oh Dusik’s death is on you. He died because of your mistakes!”
Lee Jaeyeol’s eyes wavered.
The other Paladins walked up, gripping his shoulders and lifting him to his feet, casting hostile looks my way.
“Enough. This is nonsense.”
“Is it truly nonsense?”
“No matter who started it, or how things unfolded, it was your sword that pierced the captain’s heart. We, and the cult, will not forget this day.”
“Oh, so because you tried to kill me and then lost in a fair duel, it’s all my fault? You people really are shameless. Do you expect me to just roll over and die because you want me to?”
“How dare you insult the Old Father!”
“I’m not insulting him; I’m just stating the facts. You know, facts? And I’m criticizing your actions, not your god. Why drag your god into this? If you don’t want people to curse your god, maybe you should act better.”
Does it sting, getting hit with facts?
Just like a gang of hypocrites.
The Paladins glared at me, fury blazing in their eyes.
They reached for the hammers at their waists, neck veins bulging with rage.
The notary lawyers stepped in.
“That’s enough. The duel is over, and Warrior Kim, the Superhuman, is the victor. Do you intend to defy the magical covenant?”
“Urgh…”
Lee Jaeyeol clutched at his heart.
Since my victory had been declared, the magical covenant was now active.
If the Paladins lost their temper and attacked me, the magic would immediately trigger.
His heart would explode, and Lee Jaeyeol would die.
“Damn it!”
“Damn it all!”
They couldn’t let Lee Jaeyeol die.
Grinding their teeth, the Paladins reluctantly dropped their hands.
Seeing this, I almost regretted not letting Lee Jaeyeol try to attack me earlier.
But Seo Woojin couldn’t have just stood by. He’s not the type to stay calm and consider every angle before acting.
The notary lawyers reminded them of the covenant terms.
“According to the duel covenant, Crusader Lee Jaeyeol must deliver a handwritten apology letter and a compensation payment of one billion won to Warrior Kim within the next 24 hours. The content of the apology will be analyzed by magi-tech AI, and if it is found lacking, it must be rewritten within 24 hours. We urge you to write it sincerely to avoid any further issues.”
“…Fine.”
“With this, we officially declare that the duel between Superhuman Warrior Kim and Crusader Lee Jaeyeol has concluded with Warrior Kim’s victory.”
The Paladins retreated, faces etched with humiliation.
Oh Dusik’s body was covered with a white cloth.
It was stained with blood.
But strangely enough, his face, eyes closed in death, looked almost peaceful. Was that just my imagination?
Once Lee Jaeyeol’s party had completely left the dueling arena,
I finally let go of my tension and collapsed.
“Cough!”
“Teacher!”
“Superhuman Kim! Are you all right?”
People rushed over in alarm.
I waved them off, still lying down.
“I’m fine. I’m fine. Just feeling a bit dizzy.”
“Teacher, please take this.”
“Huh? Ah, thank you.”
Seo Woojin handed me a top-grade healing potion.
It was worth an astronomical sum per bottle, but I didn’t refuse.
I uncorked it and drank, feeling a warm, soothing energy spreading throughout my body.
My injuries healed rapidly.
Broken bones knit back together, and my blood replenished itself.
My hazy mind cleared, and the pain vanished like it had never been there.
“Thank you. I’ll repay you for this someday.”
“It’s nothing. I’m just glad you weren’t seriously hurt, Teacher.”
But I was still a bit dizzy.
The effects of the potion had worn off, and I had expended an excessive amount of mana during the duel.
I’d even sacrificed part of my mana circuits; it was no wonder I felt so drained.
Still, there were gains from this.
After colliding shields with my opponent dozens—no, hundreds of times, I had acquired the [Shield Bash] skill.
And after fighting with every ounce of spirit I had, I’d unlocked [Fighting Spirit].
I flexed my right hand experimentally.
The leather glove that had been draining my blood this whole time… I didn’t need it anymore.
I had fully integrated its power in that duel.
Now that I’d acquired the [Fortitude] trait, it would be better to sell it off.
I stood up, swaying slightly, and bowed to the others.
“Thank you all for your hard work. I couldn’t have won without each of you.”
“Teacher, it was your skill that made the difference. I just gave a slight push.”
“You were truly incredible! To overcome such a level gap!”
“It’s a shame this wasn’t a public duel. This could’ve been on the front page of every newspaper, the headline of every news channel.”
“Ugh, I’d hate that. I just want a quiet life.”
“Haha, Superhuman Kim, for someone who says that, you live quite boldly, don’t you?”
“It’s not like people around me let me stay quiet.”
“You’re like a needle in a pocket—naturally bound to poke through. Even if this doesn’t hit the news, those who need to know will hear about it.”
“Just the thought is horrifying.”
Seo Woojin and Baek Sorin suggested we go for a celebratory drink, but I declined.
I felt like I might actually die if I tried to party right now.
We agreed to celebrate another time and parted ways.
I also caught a ride home with Manager Choi.
My beloved home.
As soon as I sank into the mana-enriched bath, I fell asleep as if knocked out.
While Warrior Kim was asleep, a certain rumor began to spread quietly.
In the back alleys—
“Is it true?”
“I’m telling you, it is!”
“How does a Level 3 beat a Level 4?”
“It’s him! The one who wiped out the Cleaner Association’s thugs single-handedly! If it’s him, it’s definitely possible!”
Over phone calls—
[Huh, incredible. His growth rate is impressive. Wasn’t he certified as a Superhuman just recently?]
[Yes, it’s been less than two months.]
[Defeating a high-ranking Paladin in under two months… It was wise to remember him. Keep monitoring him closely.]
[Yes, sir.]
In taverns—
“When that Paladin died, do you know what the cult bastards did? They tucked their tails and ran like dogs!”
“Ha! This soju is sweet tonight!”
“Look at those cult scumbags slinking away!”
“A toast to the Great Warrior, enemy of the cult!”
“To the Great Warrior!”
Posts started appearing online—
[Is this real? Not some fake story?]
[The Paladin corps just posted an announcement. The funeral is in two days, so anyone who wants to pay respects has until then.]
[Wow, holy shit.]
[Seriously?]
[Lion Knight Oh Dusik? I’ve heard of him… And someone beat him?]
[He survived the Divine Fever and took down a Paladin. At this point, he’s basically a cult-slayer.]
[Lol, cult-slayer indeed.]
Even among the higher-ups—
“The younger generation these days is terrifying.”
“Did you hear?”
“Of course. Isn’t he the dark horse we’ve been waiting for?”
“How high do you think he’ll rise?”
“He survived the Divine Fever. At the very least, he’ll reach Level 7.”
“Who knows? Willpower and potential are two different things.”
“Hmm… Shall we test his potential, perhaps?”
“Now, now. Don’t get greedy. Someone’s already laid a claim.”
“Tsk. That person is always so possessive…”
Warrior Kim had no idea.
What people were saying about him, or what was happening around him.
Unaware of all this, Warrior Kim spent the next few days in a deep, exhausted sleep.
He only started moving again a few days later.
[Superhuman Kim! The magical armor is ready!]
The call came from Manager Choi.
–TL Notes–
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