Not a barbarian warrior.

The tactics of the Shadow of Steel from Glamis were simple. In the center, comrades with the best stamina and wearing the thickest armor would maintain confrontation with the opposing side. Meanwhile, the core forces deployed on the flanks would attempt breakthroughs from both sides. The plan was to gnaw away at the opponent starting from the edges.

However, now that one of their comrades, who was key to the central confrontation, had been taken out by Eugene who shot out like an awl, their plan went awry from the very beginning. Astonishment was etched on every face hidden behind helmets. What on earth just happened? Why is he flying? What is this? What’s going on?

“What are you all doing! Get a grip!”

Sir Silas, who was watching this situation from outside the arena, shouted sharply. At this, their thoughts, which had stopped due to confusion, surprise, and fear, returned to their places. The players positioned in the center hurriedly began to move to subdue Eugene, who had broken out of the formation.

“Bl-Block him! Block him at all costs!”

“Subdue that bastard first! His strength is no joke! Swarm him together!”

Meanwhile, Eugene’s comrades, including Clea, were equally dumbfounded. Was this what he meant by saying he’d break through the center somehow? What is that? How is that even possible?

A situation unexpected by both the enemy and allies. Clea, who had been blankly watching the opposing players rush forward, turned her head and urgently shouted to her comrades.

“Run! Protect Eugene! Go and kill all those bastards!”

“Let’s go-!”

Belatedly, Clea and her comrades followed behind Eugene with battle cries. The difference in morale was clear from the beginning of the battle. The Brotherhood of the Sword was in high spirits, while the Cunning Steel guys were visibly shrinking back.

Meanwhile, Eugene’s movements weren’t over yet. There was still time left to enhance his body with mana. Calculated in time, about five minutes left. During that time, Eugene planned to rampage as much as possible.

Two opposing players immediately rushed at Eugene from both sides, towards Eugene who had just sent the large opponent flying. Eugene took a big step to the left while raising his sword. After lightly deflecting the incoming attack, Eugene’s sword immediately rotated and rushed towards the opponent’s head.

Then came the sound of metal caving in. It was because the helmet hit by Eugene’s sword had dented and caved in. Another Shadow of Steel collapsed, losing consciousness.

“…You monster!”

The remaining one spewed words mixed with fear and anger as he lunged at Eugene. Eugene ducked to avoid the attack, then dove in, put his hand in the opponent’s armpit, and rotated his waist greatly.

“Uugh…! Kuk!”

The opponent, losing his balance and going over Eugene’s back, spun once in the air and was slammed down. He fell, breaking the paving stones on the ground, and didn’t get up until the end of the match.

“Waaah-! Crush them!”

Before the two sides rushing to the center could even collide, three of the Shadow of Steel had fallen, and the morale of their comrades was truly sky-high.

Afterwards, forty members of the Brotherhood of the Sword and thirty-seven members of the Shadow of Steel clashed. As swords collided with swords, and armor with armor, a series of loud noises rang out and a melee ensued. Screams and shouts, groans of pain, metallic sounds, and the cheers of spectators from outside the arena – it was truly nothing short of chaos.

Even amidst all this, Eugene didn’t stop. He rampaged like a madman to widen the small hole he had punctured in the center. He swung his sword, rammed into enemies, and if that wasn’t enough, he punched and kicked them in the groin.

Clang-!

In the midst of swinging his sword numerous times in the melee, Eugene’s sword finally couldn’t withstand his strength and broke in half. Having lost his weapon, he urgently looked around and found a sword lying on the ground. It was the sword of the guy Eugene had taken down first.

Compared to a normal longsword, it was much larger and longer. This sword, which seemed to weigh several times more, looked like it couldn’t be handled unless one was exceptionally strong. But Eugene lifted it as lightly as a feather.

“You crazy bastard! Are you some kind of troll!”

Whoosh-! Bang!

“Kuk…!”

And he swung it heavier than any sword in the world. With a dull sound of cutting through the air, another opponent nearby was knocked down. Eugene’s appearance was like that of a lion rampaging among a flock of sheep.

“Well done! Kill them all!”

“Brotherhood of the Sword! Brotherhood of the Sword!”

The spectators, captivated by Eugene’s performance, cheered and shouted the guild’s name every time he took down an opposing player. If they had known Eugene’s name, they might have chanted it. Even Lorena, who had been watching with a worried face among the spectators, eventually became one with them and shouted.

“Eu-Eugene…! Kill them all…!”

Although not much time had passed since the tournament began, the outcome was becoming increasingly clear. The Shadow of Steel, with their center broken through, gradually began to be surrounded while split into left and right. They tried to resist by somehow forming ranks and retreating to the corner of the arena, but the situation was already too unfavorable.

Count Leopold, watching this from the spectator seats, unconsciously clenched his hand holding the glass. He had hosted numerous matches before, but it had been a really long time since one excited him this much.

He stared at Eugene, who was rampaging in the middle of the battlefield. How could a mere trainee of a guild, not even a knight, show such an overwhelming performance? It was truly remarkable prowess.

As the number of fallen comrades exceeded half, the remaining Shadow of Steel players began dropping their weapons one by one and shouted:

“Su-Surrender! We surrender!”

Hearing this, Eugene stopped the iron club… no, sword he was swinging midway and asked:

“Huu… Surrender…?”

It had been quite some time since the magic spell enhancing his body had worn off. As Eugene asked while breathing heavily, the opponent nodded. Just as he was about to quietly put down his sword and retreat to the back of the arena, someone ran up and kicked the chest of the one who had surrendered.

“Kek…!”

“Huu… Who gave you permission to surrender? You wanna die!”

Clea, who had suddenly intervened, shouted while opening her visor. Her eyes were mixed with excitement, elation, and a bit of madness.

“Eugene! Don’t spare them, kill them all! There’s no mercy in our Brotherhood of the Sword!”

“…”

Eugene tilted his head. Didn’t the priest pray before the match started, wishing for mercy for the victor and humility for the loser? Even after observing a moment of silence… Moreover, ignoring and kicking an opponent who’s surrendering? Isn’t this against the rules?

As Eugene was about to say something, Clea closed her visor again and ran towards the other remaining enemies. She shouted while raising her sword:

“Drop your weapons and surrender if you don’t want to die! Otherwise, I’ll kill you all!”

“…?”

Watching her shamelessly urge surrender that she wouldn’t accept anyway, Eugene thought. Isn’t it actually our Brotherhood of the Sword that’s cunning, not the Shadow of Steel? Eugene shook his head and picked up his sword again.

Before long, all the remaining Shadow of Steel had fallen. Only the Brotherhood of the Sword was left standing. It was the moment when it became clear who the winner of this match was. The game master, who had climbed onto the platform, shouted towards the spectators watching the tournament:

“Finally, today’s winner has been decided! The winner of this tournament held in Carlisle is… the Brotherhood of the Sword! Let’s give a big round of applause to them for showing us a brave and honorable match!”

The spectators all applauded together with thunderous cheers. They chanted the name of the Brotherhood of the Sword and expressed their gratitude to the players who had shown such an excellent match.

Usually in such situations, the winning players would greet the spectators or wave their hands, enjoying the joy and glory of victory. But the Brotherhood of the Sword had no such thing in mind right now.

“Guys! Grab them!”

“Let’s go! Strip off everything they’re wearing!”

They approached the fallen opposing players and began stripping off their armor one by one. Clea robbed not only weapons and armor but even clothes like gambeson and tunic worn underneath. Seeing this, Eugene muttered:

“Was she serious about stripping them down to their underwear…?”

Clea didn’t care about others’ gazes at all. Regardless of what anyone said, she was busy avenging their defeat from last time.

“Wh-Why are you even taking off the pants!”

“It’s ransom! Let go of this! Won’t let go? You want to get hit and then let go, or just hand it over obediently?”

“Kuk… How can there be such humiliation…! Does the Brotherhood of the Sword not know the victor’s mercy!”

“Shut that mouth! Have you forgotten how you guys stripped us of all our equipment last time? We’re just returning the favor!”

As Clea growled, the opponent lying down trembled and finally handed over everything except for his underwear. She approached Eugene carrying loads of spoils she had obtained. Clea’s face, with her visor lifted, had a bright smile.

“Eugene, hurry and go collect too. You played a big role this time, so even if you strip two, no, three guys, no one will say anything.”

“Couldn’t we do that a little later…”

“Hey, now’s the time to do it. Look, everyone else is enjoying it too.”

“…”

The spectators outside the arena roared with laughter watching the Shadow of Steel, who had become the losers of this match, being stripped.

“Serves them right! They should have just taken a reasonable ransom last time!”

“Haha! Look at that! That guy’s been stripped of everything except his underwear!”

Even the Count and his vassals sitting in the spectator seats had put aside their dignity for a moment and were guffawing. Eugene, wondering if this was right, looked at Sir Bernard who was outside the arena. Bernard silently closed his eyes and nodded.

“…!”

His tacit permission had been given. Eugene hurriedly moved his feet and enthusiastically joined in collecting spoils. Like Clea, Eugene also thoroughly collected ransom, leaving only one piece of underwear. It was beyond comprehension how much all this would add up to.

Meanwhile, Sir Silas gritted his teeth and glared at Eugene and Clea as his trainees became laughingstocks in their near-naked state. These bastards without even a rat’s tail worth of honor! How could creatures wearing human masks commit such uncivilized acts!

However, there was nothing Silas could do. His honor simply wouldn’t allow him to interfere with those exercising the victor’s rights. After the Brotherhood of the Sword had harvested all the spoils, Count Leopold, who had been sitting, stood up and climbed onto the platform.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen such an impressive and excellent match as today! Today, the Brotherhood of the Sword has wonderfully proven the nobility engraved in their souls! Let me give them another round of applause!”

As the Count clapped his hands, everyone including the spectators gave another ovation to the Brotherhood of the Sword. After it subsided a moment later, the Count opened his mouth again.

“Also, there was a player who proved unparalleled nobility in today’s match! The one who caught my attention and everyone else’s from the beginning to the end of the match with his dazzling skills! Come forward!”

At the Count’s declaration, everyone’s gaze focused on one place.

The one who had instantly taken down three opponents at the start of the match, breaking their formation, who had swung a sword as large as his own body showing overwhelming power, and who had extracted more spoils than anyone else as ransom after the match ended.

It was Eugene.