T/N: Author has used [Sir Gramlich] for the opponent facing Welner while [Count Gramlich] for count of the Gramlich house. As ntioned before, [Sir Gramlich] is the brother of [Count Gramlich].
After a few monts of silence, the voices from the audience rose high to match the speed of the running horses, and the two of us clashed for the fourth ti amidst the echoes of horse hooves and cheers.
Since both of us were using actual weapons, our weapons did not break from the fierce clash, but the dull, weighty sound overwheld the surroundings, followed by loud, air-shaking cheers from the spectators seats.
In most instances, a jousting match was a three-round contest. However, since this ti it was a duel, the number of tis would not be counted today. Even if the jousting were to move from a joust to a ground combat, it would be the sa, and it would continue until one of us admits defeat or becos incapable of fighting.
Again both horses moved to the edge of the venue and the next round began.
Grand Duke Seyfart looked over to see His Highness Prince Louwen literally sweating in his hands as the two horses moved to the left and right sides of the venue. At that age, it was not surprising for him to be impatient.
When I moved around to look at Lily, she was silently closing her eyes and clasping her hands. She did not look frightened or anxious about victory. She looked concerned only about my injuries, and depending on how you look at her, she could also be praying.
While Seyfart was inwardly shrugging his shoulders and thinking, Im not sure how much credit I should award him for all this, others began to comnt on the situation.
What do you think about it, my Lord? (Viscount Davlak)
Baron Kretschr responded to Viscount Davlaks question, who had been watching the match so far with interest.
I think Viscount Zeavert will win the horse battle. The Viscount is very good. (Baron Kretschr)
I agree. Sir Gramlich may be stronger in a simple battle, but he cant handle the horses as well as Viscount Zeavert. (Viscount Mittag)
Baron Kretschrs statent was followed by Viscount Mittag. Compared to Welner, who was able to parry attacks with minimal movent and reaction, Sir Gramlichs horse was more fatigued because of the knights constant large movents on horseback and more weight than Welner.
Moreover, horses were repeatedly running at full speed and stopping, carrying sothing as heavy as a human wearing armor. This further fatigued two horses than simple running.
Welners Skill minimized the burden of the spears weight, but his opponent did not have such Skill. By now, Sir Gramlichs arms must be beginning to feel the fatigue.
I suppose it was also a tactic when he provoked him. (Viscount Mittag)
Im sure it was.
Grand Duke Seyfart said in response to Mittags comnt.
Welner was a good actor, but he was also a good player. By making his opponent mad, he would be able to exhaust him faster. At the sa ti, he deliberately let his opponent gain the upper hand at first, and then counterattack when his opponent was caught off guard.
Welners personality could be described as not having a high self-esteem. He was aware of the fact that he was not strong, so he chose to fight in a way that would maximize his chances of victory. This did not an he was untalented or less committed, but he was even better at deceiving his opponents, as Seyfart assessed.
Hes good, but he runs the risk of being manipulative. It would be nice if he learned to be a little more subtle.
Your Excellency.
Seyfart muttered again, and his imdiate retainer approached and reported sothing in a whisper, to which Seyfart responded with a raised eyebrow and an exasperated look on his face.
Understood. Please handle it in a way that doesnt cause too much trouble.
Yes, sir.
When his Highness Prince Louwen, expressed his desire to go to the venue to watch the duel, his father, the Crown Prince, said that it would be fine if he went in a disguise, since he did not want it to look like the royal family was favoring one side over the other.
At the sa ti, however, he also ordered a large number of security personnel to be deployed in disguise to protect the Prince, who was also disguised as a commoner. Naturally, the security network deployed would detect any suspicious person who was planning sothing.
Seyfart gave a short order to eliminate the suspicious group that seed to be preparing weapons, and stroked his chin as if he was no longer interested in who would win the duel.
Now then, unless those people are stupid enough to reveal their connection, they will probably not approach anyone that could directly link them to those giving them a direct command, but I wonder how many preys would take the bait we set up.
After the first exchange, Welner waved his spear widely as if saying Co at again to his opponent, but he stopped doing so after the third exchange.
And this ti, when he moved his horse sowhat hesitantly, keeping the spear tip down, his opponent turned to face him without declaring that he would change horses, as expected. Unlike earlier, however, Sir Gramlich also moved slowly to the point where their horse would start galloping.
In this duel, changing horses was not prohibited. It would be possible to change horses if desired, but Welner was careful not to change horses.
Sir Gramlich was a larger knight and more heavily armored, which put a greater burden on his horse. Welner, on the other hand, was conserving the strength of both his horse and himself, and was only passing the impact and force by placing his spear against the opponents spear.
At first, Sir Gramlich was aiming at his head in anger, but Welner knew inwardly that it was ti for the other side to beco calm.
Sir Gramlich started to run, and Welner responded with a kick to the horses belly. Perhaps noticing the difference in the strength of the kicks, Brave Disbelt started to run at a faster pace than before.
After four rounds, both of us could grasp each others attack range, and although I had never been in a direct battle with a spear for this long, it seed that my Spearmanship Skill added the advantage of allowing to clearly grasp the range of my opponents spear.
Confirming that Sir Gramlichs stance was different from before, Welner kicked the horse once more in the gut on his way out. He increased his speed and closed the distance at once.
After four confrontations, there was almost a 100% chance that the opponent had regained his cool. Being sure of it, Welner no longer made an appeal that he was fine, and instead he showed that he was exhausted with his spear tip lowered.
Sir Gramlichs stance was called boars tusk, with the spear tip pointing straight at the opponent. Welner was convinced that Gramlich was not aiming for his head, but for his body, and that he was trying to knock him off his horse.
When his opponents spear ca to the side of Brave Disbelts face, Welner lifted the tip of his spear with great force and smashed it into his opponents spear. The opponents stance was shaken by the spear strike.
At the sa ti, his horse, which was fatigued, lost its footing, making him lean so far back that he could barely stay on his horse.
Welner slid his spear along his opponents spear, as if aiming to rub the spear handles against each other. The handle of the opponents spear beca a guide rail for his thrust.
Following that move, he used his opponents spear to turn the angle of the spear towards his opponents body. After a gulp, Welner tightened his grip on his horses belly, and as if understanding his intentions, Brave Disbelt galloped off with force.
What?
Ouryaaaah!
A different sound echoed through the venue, and a strong shock struck the opponents arm. Even Welner, as the attacker, leaned back from the impact and almost let go of his spear. Barely regaining his stance, Welner stopped his horse after turning around.
At the sa ti, Welner heard the sound of sothing heavy falling to the ground. Pushed by the montum, the object fell to Welners side rather than to the position of the collision. Silence reigned in the venue as Welner dismounted from his horse in accordance with the rules due to his opponents fall from the horse.
Brave Disbelt galloped straight to the edge of the venue and was then held back by Neurath. Sir Gramlichs horse also galloped to the edge of the venue, and a knight held him there as well.
A mont of silence.
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