Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation - Chapter 247 : Chapter 247
Chapter 247. Are You a Villain? Or a Hero? (2)
A clear refusal.
From beyond the communication sphere, the sound of grinding teeth could be heard along with King Derius’ voice.
-Even if it means paying the price of making an entire nation your enemy?
“Yes.”
-…….
“Why? You don’t think I can?”
‘Of course not.’
For a moment, King Derius bit his lip hard.
Only then did he remember.
That Patrick Schneider was a man with experience fighting a nation already.
The most famous of Patrick’s past deeds.
That was the battle with the Kaisar Kingdom.
Even as a 7-star knight, he had fought a nation alone.
This was something far beyond common sense.
Why did Patrick make such a choice?
Why did such a battle occur?
The reason was revealed some time later.
Not long after Patrick collapsed….
The Kaisar Kingdom pulled a dirty trick.
Upon hearing the news of Patrick’s collapse, they subtly brought up the past battle and demanded compensation and an apology.
The Double Dragon unilaterally attacked our country’s military facilities and killed numerous knights.
We demand an apology and compensation for the battle that occurred as a result.
That was the content.
“These sons of bitches!”
At that, Matthew became tremendously enraged.
Matthew, who was generally of a moderate disposition, completely lost it this time, as they say.
And he immediately took action.
He revealed the truth to the world.
At the time, Patrick, who was on his knight’s training journey, was greatly angered upon seeing the people of Andemion suffering under tyranny.
And in the dueling grounds, he sternly rebuked Count Calvin Spike, the person in charge of Andemion.
But Count Spike, unable to bear the humiliation of defeat, cowardly launched a surprise attack from behind even after losing the duel.
Enraged by the surprise attack that almost embroiled the innocent citizens of Andemion, Patrick struck off Count Spike’s head.
After that.
The Kaisar Kingdom, angered by the death of Count Calvin Spike, dispatched four 7-star knights and 10,000 elite soldiers against Patrick.
Thus, a battle broke out, and Patrick single-handedly faced that battle and won a dignified victory.
This is the truth of that day.
Matthew spread this fact throughout the entire continent.
Using the information network of the Elbador Merchant Guild, spreading rumors was not difficult.
There was no need to manipulate the information.
It was enough to simply reveal the truth that Matthew had seen with his own eyes, in detail and without embellishment.
The Kaisar Kingdom completely denied this fact.
But Matthew refuted it by securing the testimony of Princess Isabella, who had witnessed the scene, and numerous testimonies from the residents of Andemion who had watched the duel at the time.
In the end, the Kaisar Kingdom could no longer refute the truth and had to back down.
And as a result.
“Hey, did you hear the rumor?”
“You mean about the Double Dragon’s battle?”
“Keeuu…. I was truly speechless.”
“To fight an army of 10,000 alone. And against an army that included four 7-star knights.”
“And he even won.”
“Moreover, to think it was all for the sake of the weak suffering under tyranny….”
“Why don’t we have a knight like that in our country?”
“I know, right. Damn it.”
“Anyway, he’s an amazing person.”
“A true knight.”
Patrick’s fame soared tremendously.
A knight who bravely stood up for the oppressed weak.
A knight who would not bend his justice and would fight to the end, even if the opponent was a nation.
On top of that, a righteous knight who ultimately triumphed over evil.
This was a hero’s tale.
Many bards wrote poems and sang songs about Patrick.
Due to that incident, Patrick was regarded as a symbol of chivalry.
The hero whose fame was renowned throughout the continent now spoke.
“I’m the type of person with a righteous heart who doesn’t look back and sees things through to the end once I get pissed off, you see?”
Was that what justice was?
I don’t think so.
“So please cut the bullshit.”
-…….
King Derius’ mouth fell open.
He had never imagined there would be a human who would use the word ‘bullshit’ to his face.
It was a big shock, but regardless, Patrick continued with what he had to say.
“If you truly want to stop the war, then lift the siege on the dwarven clan and recognize their free migration.”
When Patrick finished speaking, Hadi and the other leaders of the dwarven clan showed deeply moved expressions.
Although they had formed an alliance, they had thought of it as a temporary deal made out of necessity.
But the Double Dragon had shown them an unwavering loyalty, as firm as steel.
‘Right. There are people like that. There certainly were.’
‘There was a time when the royalty of the Harbor Kingdom showed such loyalty.’
‘The Double Dragon….’
King Derius Michael of the Harbor Kingdom put his hand on his forehead, sighed, and muttered under his breath.
“What kind of bastard is this?”
There was no getting through to him.
Even after proposing conditions the other side couldn’t help but accept, he refused and insisted on continuing the war to the end….
It was irrational.
What could they possibly gain by siding with the dwarves to act like this?
And King Derius spoke to the man in front of him.
“What are we to do now? Duke Krupa.”
At the king’s question, Duke Krupa remained silent with heavy eyes before speaking.
“Your Majesty, would you entrust this meeting to me?”
“You will step in yourself?”
“Yes. I believe I must.”
The king readily nodded.
In fact, although he had been the one speaking in the recent conversation, he had mostly just been relaying Duke Krupa’s words.
And above all….
‘I do not want to deal with this lunatic.’
That was his strongest feeling.
Duke Krupa, having taken over the communication sphere, spoke.
“O Double Dragon. I am Duke Alexander Krupa of the Harbor Kingdom.”
-Heeh…. Is that you, old man?
“It is an honor to speak with the great hero whose name resounds throughout the continent.”
-Ahem!
Despite Patrick’s show of arrogance coming through the communication sphere, Duke Krupa remained unshaken.
He spoke in a calm voice.
“I would like to ask you three questions now. They are important, so I ask that you answer them sincerely.”
-Of course. Sincerity and trust. Those are the very words that symbolize this Patrick Schneider.
Not destruction and chaos?
“First, I will ask the first question.”
-Not bad.
Seeing that this man was not swayed at all by Patrick’s provocation, he was a considerable figure.
Duke Krupa spoke calmly.
“You are now clearly participating in a war with another country and engaging in combat.”
-That’s right.
“If our country questions the Kingdom of Atronia about this, can you take responsibility?”
-Of course.
The answer came without hesitation.
Duke Krupa’s brow twitched slightly.
And Patrick continued to explain.
-Our Schneider fiefdom has been granted the special privilege of being able to engage in independent diplomatic negotiations with foreign powers.
“Even if it is war?”
-War is a bit of a gray area, but… in the first place, we are not the main party in this war, are we?
“……”
-We have simply participated in this war as mercenaries at the request of the dwarven clan. We have even written a formal contract.
“I see.”
-Yes. Surely the Harbor Kingdom, which prides itself on being the descendant of the Mercenary King, wouldn’t have a problem with this, would they?
“You are more thorough in your preparations than I thought.”
-Ahem!
“I will ask the second question.”
This old man really doesn’t waver.
Patrick didn’t like the calm voice of Duke Krupa, but he acted calmly.
The common point between negotiation and gambling is that one must maintain their composure.
“If you continue the war with us, how far do you intend to go? Do you really plan to advance on the capital and wage an all-out war with us?”
-It’s not like we can’t, right?
“So you intend to capture the capital of a nation with a mere 1,000 troops.”
-I said it’s not like we can’t.
It’s possible. I can do it.
At Patrick’s voice, filled with firm confidence, Duke Krupa calmly fell into thought.
Logically, this should be a bluff. But the problem was….
‘It doesn’t sound like a bluff.’
The opponent was the Double Dragon.
A man who had actually left a track record that went beyond common sense.
As long as such a man said he could do it, one should not vaguely think of it as a bluff.
“The third question.”
-Go ahead.
“Are you a villain? Or a hero?”
-…….
Patrick’s previously unhindered responses came to a halt for the first time.
Duke Krupa did not rush Patrick, but calmly waited for his answer.
After a long silence, Patrick opened his mouth and said.
-Is that important?
“Extremely important.”
-…….
“Why, can you not answer?”
-…….
At the lack of a response, a clear smile appeared on the corner of Duke Krupa’s mouth.
“Then that is answer enough. I shall see you on the battlefield.”
And without waiting for an answer, Duke Krupa cut off the communication.
Towards Duke Krupa, King Derius spoke.
“Alexander….”
“Your Majesty, from this moment on, please entrust the entire authority of this war to me.”
“……”
“If you do so, I will surely offer you victory.”
After asking a strange question with no basis, he now asks for full authority over the war.
If an ordinary person had made such a proposal, he would have thrown them into the dungeon without a second thought. But….
‘When this fellow comes out like this, there must be a good reason for it.’
King Derius knew.
When Duke Krupa came out like this, he would undoubtedly produce results.
“Very well. I will immediately delegate all authority to you.”
“Thank you.”
And Duke Krupa quickly mobilized messengers to move the reserve forces stationed in the capital.
***
“Tsk, cutting me off unilaterally, what an ass.”
Patrick grumbled.
Those watching Patrick around him had strange expressions.
It was because they did not understand the thread of the conversation between Patrick and Duke Krupa at all.
In the end, Oliver couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.
“Young Master. Why didn’t you answer the last question?”
Are you a villain? Or a hero?
The moment he received this question, Patrick’s expression had hardened seriously.
In the end, he couldn’t even give a proper answer.
Oliver couldn’t understand that.
“Couldn’t you just have answered straightforwardly?”
Patrick scratched his head, sighed, and said.
“It’s not that simple.”
“What isn’t? What?”
“……”
“The next time you meet Duke Krupa, puff out your chest and tell him proudly.”
“……”
“I am the Great Demon from Hell, Patrick Schnei… Kaawoool!”
Poooong!
He knew he would get hit.
Patrick, who had kicked Oliver away, said with a sullen expression.
“Acting up. Acting up….”
Patrick just grumbled, but the others were also curious as to why he couldn’t answer the last question.
‘Wouldn’t it have been fine to just say he’s a hero?’
‘Why would a guy who lives on his own self-importance hesitate?’
‘I don’t get it.’
Well, putting aside his personality and character….
The achievements and footsteps Patrick had left in his life were not lacking to be called a hero.
He fought against the Kaisar Kingdom for the suffering weak, defeated the demonic tribe threatening the elves, pioneered the Great Forest of the East, and produced immense amounts of food from the Moana River basin.
If it weren’t for the food coming from the land Patrick had pioneered, there could have been millions, or perhaps over ten million, deaths from starvation across the entire continent.
So wouldn’t it have been fine to just say he was a hero?
He had the achievements.
But Patrick, with a hardened expression, did not say he was a hero.
Nor did he deny being a villain.
Patrick, hesitating and unable to answer carelessly, and Duke Krupa, who had induced such a question.
The others who watched from a step back could not understand the underlying intention of this exchange.
Even Matthew, who had watched Patrick for a long time, couldn’t.
‘Was this such a serious question? To the point that you had to hesitate?’
Matthew simply could not understand.
And after thinking for a moment, Patrick said.
“I don’t think this will work.”
“What won’t?”
“How many days did you say it was from here to Latenop?”
“If we march normally, it’s a week’s journey.”
“We leave immediately. And we will arrive in three days.”
“What? Hey?!”
“I will not accept any objections. Before that insidious old man can pull any tricks, we will crush him with a swift, decisive battle.”
Hearing Patrick’s words, those around him hurriedly tried to stop him.
“No. It’s impossible.”
“You mustn’t, Young Master.”
“How can we arrive in three days when it takes a week? It is logically impossible.”
“I get it now. Big-Brother is dumber than an orc.”
At the fierce opposition from his allies, Patrick smiled warmly and said.
“Everyone, I will give you a choice.”
“……”
“Will you do as you’re told? Or….”
Patrick said with a terrifying face.
“Do you want to die?”
Usually, this is not a choice.
Sanson and the others looked up at the sky with sorrowful expressions and shed tears.
And a short while later.
“Three days. Three days!”
“The Young Master said he’ll kill us all if we don’t get there in time.”
“A great warrior might actually do it!”
“Uwooooooooh!”
Patrick’s force, which had occupied Grenburg, began a frantic race northward at high speed.
The destination was Latenop.
