WeTried Translations

Translator: Dawn

Editor: Dawn

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Genius Knight of a Fallen Race

Chapter 9

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A Deep Understanding of Archery and Horsemanship

As Shan stepped out of the tent, he felt that the way people around him looked at him had completely changed from before.

“As expected…”

Unlike before, when they had only seen him as a child with a sword at his waist, now their gazes clearly held caution or even contempt. It was probably because of his faintly glowing eyes. Snorting, he headed toward the city gate and saw Roden leaning against the wall, holding a torch.

“You’re late! Didn’t the show end a while ago? I was worried,” noticing Shan, he brightened and spoke.

“Sorry. I lost track of time talking with the troupe.”

As Shan briefly explained the conversation he had with them, Roden looked quite surprised.

“That’s impressive. It wouldn’t be easy for that many Altos to gather here in Libert.”

“They asked me to come with them, but I refused. I’m going to become a knight in Pendia.”

As Shan said proudly, Roden looked at him with approval and reached out to ruffle his messy black hair. A strand got caught in the joints of his metal gauntlet and was yanked out, making Shan cry out.

“Ow!”

“Haha, sorry. I got carried away. Let’s sleep in the borrowed tent tonight. Looks like the gates won’t open.”

“Why?”

“This city supports Duke Moraen. Which means they were on the losing side of today’s battle. They think the winning army might push forward and invade here. If there’s even one spy among the people outside the walls, it could get dangerous.”

Shan didn’t fully understand, but he could tell it was something complicated. Seeing his confused expression, Roden chuckled.

“Well, don’t worry. I’ve already asked around and figured out the route to Pendia. Starting tomorrow, we’ll each buy a horse, so it’ll be easier.”

“I’ve never ridden a horse.”

“You can learn. Don’t tell me you’d struggle with that now?”

“That’s true.”

It was hard to imagine failing at any skill involving controlling his body.

“But aren’t horses really expensive?”

“I told you, I’m rich. If I sell all my gems, I could buy ten horses. Though warhorses from Horais aren’t something you can just buy with money.”

Horais warhorses were strategic assets carefully managed even in the Horais Kingdom, famous for its many fine steeds. Even knights from other kingdoms would serve Horais' nobles just to obtain one.

After chatting, the two entered the tent Roden had rented, unpacked their belongings, and wiped themselves down with damp cloths. While doing so, Roden looked at Shan’s upper body revealed in the candlelight and spoke.

“It was dark when you washed yesterday, so I didn’t notice, but now I see you’ve got quite a few scars. From fighting?”

“No. I used to get beaten a lot. They’re from back then.”

It wasn’t just simple beatings either—there had been more malicious abuse. They burned him with torches or stabbed him with sharp skewers until he bled. Sometimes they forced him to endure bee stings or to eat poisonous mushrooms.

Such abuse often came more from peers than from adults. The more ignorant and pure they were, the easier it was for them to cross the line. Looking back, it was a miracle he hadn’t been crippled or killed.

Hearing this, Roden looked at the countless marks on Shan’s body and sighed deeply.

“If we get the chance later, let’s ask a high-ranking priest to remove them all. There’s no reason to keep them.”

“Wouldn’t that be expensive?”

“I told you, I’ve got money. Well, technically, my father does.”

His father, the head of the merchant guild in Pendia’s capital, was wealthy enough to rival most nobles. After cleaning up and changing clothes, Shan lay down on the straw-covered ground and voiced a lingering question.

“Roden.”

“What?”

“You want me to succeed as a knight, right?”

“Of course.”

“Is that because you want me to help you after I become a great knight or even a lord?”

He asked this because of what he had heard earlier from the troupe. They said that no one would help an Alto orphan like him purely out of goodwill. And remembering what Roden had said before, it seemed he might even feel some jealousy toward Shan’s talent.

So Shan wanted a clear answer about why Roden was helping him. The idea of being helped for no reason, and of this connection might disappear like an illusion, made him feel uneasy. After a moment of silence, Roden spoke from behind him.

“I’d be lying if I said there was none of that… but it’s not just that.”

“Then?”

“Well…”

“Do you remember when I first saw you and prayed to the goddess?”

“I don’t really know how to explain it, but… I felt something like a revelation.”

Struggling to organize his thoughts, Roden continued.

“When I saw you, I thought... You’re like a raw gemstone that could become anything depending on how it’s carved. If I just leave it or shape it poorly, it could turn into something worthless... or something terrifying that everyone fears. But if it’s shaped well, it could bloom into the most brilliant gem.”

It was a metaphor befitting the son of a jewelry merchant, despite his rough appearance.

“I’ve already failed at becoming a proper knight. But if I can help you grow into a great knight, or something even greater, then my life will have meaning. Imagine it written in an epic: ‘Sir Roden, the first companion and squire of Shan, the greatest knight who rivaled the emperor.’ Wouldn’t that be amazing? I even thought that even my fear of blades might just be part of the goddess’s plan.”

As he said that, Roden coughed awkwardly and gulped down water from a leather flask. Shan could tell it was his way of hiding embarrassment. Thinking about it, just as Roden said, the reason they were together now was because of his fear of blades. If not for that, Roden might have stayed in Pendia training or attacked Shan when they first met.

Then… I would have killed Roden.

Shan’s exceptional battle sense allowed him to vividly imagine the fight. Though Roden was stronger, he was slower. Shan could have dodged the flail, circled behind, and stabbed the back of his knee. After crippling his movement, he would have circled him, striking exposed joints, neck, and face between the armor with sword and axe.

As he imagined it, the weapons that had once felt like a part of his body suddenly felt frightening. The thought that he might have brutally killed someone who already felt as close as Celina or Priest Ador, perhaps even closer, haunted him. That terrifying thought was cut off by Roden’s awkward voice.

“Well, something like that.”

“I get it now, so you can stop.”

“Hey, you’re the one who asked…”

At Roden’s grumbling, Shan silently smiled and buried his face. After all, they were together now.

Before falling asleep, Shan muttered softly.

“You’re too big to be a squire, Roden.”

For the first time, Shan truly wanted to become a great knight—stronger and more renowned than anyone else in the world. Since they were staying in a tent rather than a proper building, the two took turns keeping watch that night. Though unlikely, it would be troublesome if thieves were to come.

Unlike the previous day, Roden took the first watch, and halfway through the night, Shan took over while Roden slept. Sitting still made him sleepy, so Shan stepped outside to stretch a little. If someone ran into him like this, they might think they’d encountered a wild beast. But he didn’t care.

If anyone tried to strike him like before, he’d teach them a lesson. Though remembering what he had said to Roden, he decided breaking wrists would be too much. Just beating them up would be enough. Unlike before, now that he had grown and put on some weight, that was easily within his ability.

As he lightly bounced in place, loosening his body while lost in idle thoughts, he suddenly heard a noisy commotion from afar.

“What is that?”

It was the army he had seen earlier in the day—more precisely, a small portion of it. The number wasn’t exact, but roughly sixty to seventy men. Among them, one who seemed to be the leader was shouting loudly at someone beyond the city walls.

Only after noticing the blue plume on his helmet did Shan realize he was one of the knights from the battlefield earlier. He couldn’t hear clearly from this distance, but it seemed the knight was threatening to burn the city if they didn’t swear loyalty to some count, while those on the wall mocked him.

“Should I wake Roden?”

After a brief moment of thought, Shan decided it wasn’t necessary, seeing that the others nearby were still sleeping. If that army were truly dangerous, they would have fled first. As expected, the knight with the blue plume and his forces didn’t dare attack the city and instead began setting up camp nearby. Likewise, the city didn’t seem strong enough to drive them away. After sunrise, Roden got up, saw the encampment in the distance from the walls, and let out a small sigh.

“I didn’t think they’d actually come this way… Well, our tent is close to the walls, so we should be fine. I’ll go buy some horses, so wait here.”

After Roden left to negotiate with horse traders, Shan lazed around in the tent before stepping out. His destination was the monster troupe of Altos he had met yesterday. Once they bought horses, they would head east immediately, so this was his only chance to speak with them.

Since the performance started in the late afternoon, there was enough time to say goodbye. Because of the attention they drew, the Altos’ camp was set up a bit away from the walls. As he approached the red tent, unexpected screams and pleas came from ahead.

“Please, sir! Have mercy!”

“Ahh!”

A woman with butterfly wings on her back—Debi—was being dragged out by her hair by a mercenary. Her brother Pen knelt on the ground, begging, but the mercenary only scoffed.

“It’s not like it’ll wear out from use! We’ll play with her and bring her back. Acting pricey when who knows how many have already had her…”

The army stationed in the city was meant to block defeated soldiers from entering. Since there was little chance of an immediate attack from the city, the knight had let his mercenaries roam freely. As usual, they used that freedom in the worst way possible. One of them tossed a silver coin at Pen’s head with a grin.

“There, we paid. It’s a deal. If you complain later, we’ll kill you.”

“Are these wings real? Mind if I snap one?”

Another mercenary twisted Debi’s delicate butterfly wing with a cruel smile, and she let out a piercing scream with the same voice that complimented Shan’s eyes yesterday. Shan was too young to know the details of prostitution, but he could tell they were tormenting her and that something terrible would happen if she were taken away. Looking around, the bystanders pretended not to see, and the troupe members trembled in fear, unable to step forward. Then he had no choice but to act.

“My pants are about to fall off, idiot!”

After kicking Pen away, the mercenary turned and noticed someone blocking his path—a boy with messy black hair and strikingly vivid green eyes. Pointing his sword at them, Shan spoke quietly.

“Let her go.”

“What?”

“Let her go, before I cut you.”

The informal tone he had struggled to use with Roden came out effortlessly here. The mercenaries looked at each other, then burst into laughter.

“What is this crazy brat?”

“Picked up your dad’s sword and came out to play? I’ll give you a chance, so get lost.”

“These guys are Altos. If you’re trying to act like some righteous knight, at least learn—”

Before he could finish, the mercenary suddenly realized Shan was already in front of him and staggered back in shock. At the same time, a burning pain shot through the hand that had been gripping Debi’s hair. When he instinctively raised his right arm, everything above the wrist was gone.

“M-my hand!”

Before the others could react, Shan’s sword moved faster and more precisely than ever before. Blood burst forth. A body split cleanly in half at the waist, another cut diagonally from collarbone to side, and another with half its head severed. What the onlookers saw was only flashes, followed by pieces that had once been human, scattering everywhere. Screams and shouts far louder than before erupted.

“Y-you lunatic!”

“He killed them!”

Those who had just been laughing fled in terror. Not only were they afraid of what the boy might do next, but they also feared being mistaken as his allies by the nearby army.

As they ran, Shan looked down at his bloodied sword, cooling his heated mind. For the first time, he had swung his blade not to survive or defend himself, but out of pure rage. It felt different from before.

He couldn’t quite grasp it yet, but something had changed. Shaking off the thought, Shan approached Debi, who was still in shock, and removed the severed hand from her hair.

“Can you stand?”

“I… I… Yes...”

She responded reflexively, barely conscious. Pen rushed over and supported her, bowing deeply to Shan.

“Thank you so much! I don’t know how to repay this.”

“No need. Just take her and go. Stay close to the walls if you can. Those guys said they’re enemies of the city.”

“O-okay. But what about you?”

“I’ll figure that out now.”

He had acted on impulse, with no plan whatsoever. Even so, if he went back in time, he would do the same thing again. Fortunately, the troupe quickly packed up their red tent and loaded everything onto a cart pulled by two horses. It seemed they had already been preparing to leave after seeing the army, and had just been caught in the middle of it. As they moved, the troupe leader, Roxy, bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Shan. If they had taken Debi… who knows what would have happened…”

His wrinkled face was filled with both relief and worry. Before, it had been a question of Debi’s safety, but now, all their lives were at risk. Nevertheless, the reason they did not question Shan about this was not only a matter of decency, but also because the display of power Shan had shown just moments ago was simply too terrifying. The other members of the troupe were also in mixed feelings in many ways. Only Pen expressed his gratitude purely. As they reached the base of the wall, Roden came running, holding the reins of two horses.

“Shan! What happened!? I heard you killed Count Barlic’s mercenaries—”

“It just happened. Looks like I’ll have to fight them. You can’t help, right?”

In the distance, mercenaries were already pointing and shouting, having discovered the deaths. At the sight of their weapons, Roden let out a strange choking sound. Just the sight of blades made his legs tremble.

“Just give me one horse and stay with these people. I’ll drive them off somehow.”

Staying near the wall wasn’t truly safe. They could be shot from afar, and they couldn’t remain there forever. Someone had to step forward to defeat them.

Instead of scolding him, Roden asked with concern,

“Can you win? I heard there’s a knight among them.”

“If it’s just one, I can handle it.”

“Damn… I should’ve gotten you some armor…”

After sending Roden to the troupe, Shan mounted one of the horses—a gray one with a light mane and a relatively small frame.

“Easy…”

Though it was his first time riding, balancing wasn’t difficult. He could stand on a narrow pole with one foot, after all. Fortunately, the horse was well-trained and didn’t resist its inexperienced rider. Following what he had learned the night before, Shan stroked its mane to calm it, then lightly pulled the reins.

“Let’s go. That way… Faster.”

As he tapped its sides, the horse picked up speed. His body bounced with the motion, but he instinctively adjusted and matched the rhythm. If he had time, he would practice properly. But unfortunately, the enemy was already close. Letting go of the reins, Shan took out a bow from the saddlebag and drew it. It was taken from one of the mercenaries he had just killed.

“Hey, kid! You’re the one who killed my men—!”

As the leader shouted, Shan released an arrow. Combined with the horse’s speed, it grazed the man’s cheek and pierced the head of the one behind him. Shan turned the horse and muttered,

“Ah. I missed.”

After one shot, he realized that shooting from horseback was entirely different from shooting on the ground. Even if he was already getting the hang of it, the fact that it took multiple attempts proved just how difficult mounted archery was.