Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 297. Ah, Why Again? (2)

Naturally, the Holy Theocracy now had no reason to go to war with the Empire.

The Pontiff, freed from the black mage’s brainwashing, gave a direct order.

[Withdraw the troops from all front lines immediately and send a delegation to the Empire to propose a ceasefire.]

he said.

The military of the Holy Theocracy, where the Pontiff’s authority was overwhelmingly high, followed the order without question the moment it was given.

All troops were withdrawn from the front lines, and the war stopped immediately.

And the Pontiff once again announced his official position.

[I will reveal everything about the whole story of this war. Everything happened due to my own foolish mistake. First of all…]

Thus, the Pontiff revealed the whole truth.

That he had been brainwashed due to a black mage’s conspiracy and that the war had broken out because of it.

That this war was wrong from the start, and he deeply apologized for his foolishness that caused this situation, and said he would accept any compensation to the Holy Empire.

And at the end, he added that he hoped that, even if it was late, they would stop the war that was causing innocent people to shed blood due to the mistake of this foolish man.

[Kuh…. Still, he admitted everything he needed to admit cleanly.]

Reading the proclamation announced by the Pontiff, Patrick also nodded.

He had been worried that he might make the problem more difficult by adding lies or sophistry, but it was a relief.

[Thanks to that, the old Pontiff’s jaw will be safe.]

[Hahaha. You’re joking…]

Antorius, who was listening from the side, laughed.

It was probably proof that he still didn’t know what kind of person Patrick was.

Anyway, the Holy Theocracy, which had attacked first, had retreated, apologized, and even stated that they would provide compensation if necessary.

Wouldn’t it be safe to say that the war was over at this point?

But….

“No, why is the Empire acting like this again? Do they have black mages there too?”

At Patrick’s question, the Pontiff, with a pale complexion, said.

“I have no idea. But at this rate, the war will not end. No, it will get even more serious.”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

Patrick scratched his head roughly.

He thought that since they had driven out the black mages and the Pontiff had come to his senses, the war would naturally stop.

But what was this absurd situation?

Patrick looked at the Pontiff and said.

“What are you going to do?”

“Whatever the reason, if the war continues, we cannot just stand by and be beaten.”

The Holy Theocracy would mobilize all its forces to fight back.

If that happened, a lot of blood would stain the ground again.

“So you’re saying that even though we drove out the black mages, nothing has changed.”

“I am ashamed.”

“Hah…. This is driving me crazy.”

Patrick scratched his head and thought.

In fact, the Pontiff had done his best.

He had admitted all his faults and had stated that he would provide compensation.

But he didn’t expect the Empire to show such an attitude.

Moreover, for even the Sword Saint, who had been passive and defensive on the front lines until now, to come out so actively.

‘Wait, the Sword Saint?’

Come to think of it, it was strange.

He had heard that the old man was not very active in the war, so why had he suddenly taken the lead so actively?

“I guess…. I’ll have to meet him once.”

In the end, Patrick lifted his heavy butt and stood up.

* * *

The main camp of the Imperial Army.

The Venator Imperial Army, which had maintained a defensive line until now, had preserved almost all of its forces.

Excluding the minimum defensive troops from them, when they organized the elite troops, their number reached a whopping 200,000.

Not only was the number 200,000 enormous, but the quality of the army was also overwhelming.

The number of knightly orders included in this army alone exceeded 50.

Since each knightly order had 100 knights, this alone was 5,000 knights.

On top of that, the number of mages belonging to the Empire also exceeded 100, and their level was that of those with skills equivalent to the 4th~6th floors if expressed in terms of the mages belonging to the Tower of Truth.

And even the number of 7-star knights who had set foot in the supreme realm included here was over thirty.

It was truly a terrifying force that showed why the Empire was an empire.

And above all….

The person leading this army at the very front.

The Sword Saint, Duke Carlos Dante Reynardo.

The weight of this one name had an overwhelming presence that surpassed all the forces listed before.

The strongest knight on the continent.

The idol of all swordsmen.

His name was so brilliant that even those on the same side found it difficult to approach the Sword Saint.

Was that why?

“I have no idea what he’s thinking…”

“How would I know?”

Even the knights on the same side just sighed as they looked at the Sword Saint.

Right now, the Sword Saint was closing his eyes as if in meditation, and they were guarding his surroundings.

And those who were guarding the Sword Saint were members of the Glory Knightly Order.

The Glory Knightly Order was a temporary knightly order formed for this battle, and the Sword Saint himself had taken the position of knight commander.

And the qualification for the knightly order was that it was composed entirely of 7-star knights.

In other words, a group where over 30 knights who had pioneered the supreme realm were concentrated.

A knightly order with truly absurd power was created.

Although they had become members of a magnificent knightly order that might be remembered as a legend in the history of the continent, their joy did not last long.

Because the Sword Saint leading them was not taking any action.

After leading the army south and capturing one of the Holy Theocracy’s camps, he was just passing the time.

Even when they asked the staff, they said there was no plan.

The Sword Saint had set up a camp on the border of the Holy Theocracy and was just silently waiting.

“It would be more comfortable to just fight.”

“That’s what I’m saying…”

“Hey, rookie. Haven’t you heard anything?”

The man called the rookie was a young man with blonde hair and light green eyes.

The youngest 7-star swordsman of the Empire and the grandson of the Sword Saint, Garcia Reynardo.

He too had joined this knightly order with the qualification of having pioneered the 7-star realm.

However….

“I haven’t heard anything either.”

“You mean it’s a top-secret plan that he won’t even reveal to you, his successor?”

“My grandfather is not the type to leak a plan just because I’m his grandson. But…”

“But what?”

“Tell us. If you have any idea, tell us.”

At his seniors’ urging, Garcia thought for a moment and said.

“Usually, when my grandfather shows unexpected behavior, it’s often when that man is involved.”

“That man?”

“The Double Dragon.”

“Ahhh…. that brat?”

“The Sword Saint cares about a brat like that?”

“Nah, no way. Who would care about a brat full of hot air like that?”

These were all knights of the Empire.

They were the knights of the strongest country on the continent, and they were the ones who had set foot in the supreme realm through fierce competition within it.

Naturally, their pride was not ordinary.

Of course, it was undeniable that Patrick had achieved great accomplishments and was gaining fame.

But from the perspective of the knights of the Empire, they thought that if they had been in his place, they would have easily achieved such accomplishments.

That was the pride of those who had reached the top in the strongest country on the continent.

Garcia smiled wryly at such seniors and thought to himself.

‘I knew you wouldn’t believe me anyway.’

Yes. He too was like this in the past.

Before being miserably broken in the Arcana finals, he had the pride of being the best.

He thought that if he was the successor of the Sword Saint….

If he was a knight of the Empire, he should have that much pride.

It was the Double Dragon who made him realize that it wasn’t pride, but arrogance.

‘In that sense, I would like to see him one more time.’

Just as Garcia was having that thought….

Kwaaaang!

“Huh? What’s that?”

“Is it an attack?”

With a tremendous explosion, a considerable surge of power was felt from one side.

The moment the entire Glory Knightly Order’s eyes flashed and looked in that direction….

“It seems he’s here.”

The Sword Saint, who had been meditating, also opened his eyes.

* * *

A moment ago.

A man approached from the front of the Imperial Army’s camp.

Seeing the identity of the man who was approaching, with two swords on his back and a bottle of alcohol in one hand, which he occasionally drank from, the Imperial soldier naturally did his job.

“Halt!”

As he spoke threateningly, aiming his spear, the approaching stranger stopped for a moment.

“Yo, you’re working hard.”

“Who are you? State your identity, name, and purpose of approach.”

“Patrick Schneider of the Schneider Duchy. My purpose of approach is to have a chat with the Sword Saint.”

“……”

At the words of the unidentified stranger, Patrick, the opponent was momentarily dazed.

So a drunkard came wandering over alone from somewhere, claimed he was the Double Dragon, and had come all this way alone to see the Sword Saint?

Hmm, after gathering the information, there was a very reasonable and proper conclusion that could be logically drawn.

“Get lost. You crazy bastard!”

Yes. Anyone would say this.

This was normal, but….

“What? Crazy·bastard?”

Patrick’s aura slowly began to rise.

And then….

“Hey. Imperial Soldier A.”

“This crazy bastard, after letting you get away with it?”

Patrick finished the remaining alcohol in the bottle and said.

“Just so you know. Calling me a crazy bastard to my face is the eighteenth thing I hate.”

“What’s with all the things you hate so much? You crazy beggar, delusional patient, son of a…”

Before he could finish his words, a flash of light flickered.

Kwaaaang!

That was the last thing he remembered.

* * *

“Enemy attack! It’s an enemy attack!”

“All hands, to your stations!”

Should it be said that they were elite troops?

The actions of the Imperial Army in surrounding Patrick were swift and precise.

In no time at all, the soldiers had formed an encirclement, aiming their weapons, and the knights began to join from behind.

And within that encirclement, Patrick was….

“Ooh, the atmosphere is good.”

He was like this.

Just like this.

Lying down leisurely in one spot, he took out a new bottle of alcohol and, while sipping it, just looked at the Imperial Army surrounding him.

As expected, a crazy person is different in some way.

To such a Patrick, a knight of the Empire approached and said.

“Who in the world are you?”

“Me? I’m Patrick Schneideeeer.”

“……”

“A pleasure to meet youuu.”

No. It’s not. It can’t be.

No matter what, there was no way that the Double Dragon, whose fame was spreading throughout the continent, could be such a complete hooligan.

No, more than that….

‘It doesn’t matter who he is.’

The knight gritted his teeth and aimed his weapon at Patrick, saying.

“I will take you into custody immediately. If you do not cooperate obediently, I will suppress you with force.”

“Oh, a knight who does his job well and diligently.”

“Drop your weapon and slowly raise both hands above your head.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“I will just suppress you by force!”

And the knight kicked off the ground and shot forward.

‘Oh, not bad.’

He seemed to be a knight of about the 5-star level, and the discipline of his forward charge was clean.

But Patrick didn’t even bat an eye as the opponent charged into his range.

No, he didn’t even draw his weapon.

The moment the opponent was about to stab him with his spear, he quickly took something out from his bosom and held it forward.

At that….

“Keuk…”

The knight who was about to sharply stab Patrick with his spear flinched.

What he saw was….

“The… the Sword Saint’s crest? Why do you have that?”

“Because I received it.”

Patrick said calmly.

“That can’t be.”

“Hey? I’m telling you it’s real. A long time ago, at the Arcana, the Sword Saint’s rude and world’s-most-arrogant-and-self-righteous-and-opinionated-and-annoying-grandson…. uh, what was his name? Hans? Mark?”

“It is Sir Garcia Reynardo!”

To the opponent who roared, Patrick slammed his fist into his palm and said.

“Ah, right, him. That was his name.”

“……”

“Anyway, I had personally corrected that brat’s manners, and at that time, the old Sword Saint was so moved that he shed tears and said he was grateful. He held both my hands tightly and said he didn’t know how he could repay this grace, and gave me this plaque of appreciation…”

“I never went that far. Double Dragon!”

“Oh, you’re here.”

The ones who appeared, cutting off Patrick’s words, were the Sword Saint and the knights of the Glory Knightly Order who followed him.

The Sword Saint looked at Patrick, sighed, and said.

“Now that I’m hearing it, you’re completely fabricating memories.”

“Really? I thought I was just telling it as it was.”

“……”

The Sword Saint let out a deep sigh and said.

“What brings you here?”

“Why do you think I came?”

At Patrick’s blunt words, the Sword Saint paused for a moment and then said.

“Would you care for a cup of tea?”

“Alcohol!”

It was a single word that felt as firm as a belief.

“…Come in.”

The Sword Saint shook his head and guided Patrick into the camp.