As both of them were sit
Barderrossa spoke first.
"So. How was the territory inspection? Anything out of the ordinary?"
Peruguis did not need long to think before answering. His expression remained calm, but there was a faint tension in his eyes.
"Nothing unusual," he replied. "Only some… disgusting things."
Barderrossa raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly intrigued.
"Disgusting?"
Peruguis turned his gaze toward the friend he had known for his entire life. They had trained together, fought together, and survived countless battles side by side.
"I mean the Beastmen."
"Oh," Barderrossa said after a brief pause. He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms thoughtfully. "If it is their smell, I can understand that much. I spent some time with their so called shamans. I learned how they use magic through mediums. Unfortunately, those mediums are often monster remains, so the stench is difficult to ignore."
"I am not speaking only of their smell," Peruguis said flatly. "They are uncivilized beasts. Yet the lord intends to appoint their leader as a knight order captain."
"What?" Barderrossa shouted, nearly rising from his seat. "Are you getting fired?"
"No," Peruguis snapped back sharply. "Are you an idiot? The lord is forming a second knight order under whatever they call their warrior. Noktar, or something similar."
"Ohhhh."
Barderrossa released a long sigh of relief and sank back into his chair.
"For a moment I thought you had displeased the lord and were about to be dismissed."
Peruguis stared at him with an unamused expression.
"Do you think I am stupid?"
"A little."
"You truly wish to die today."
Barderrossa immediately raised one hand in surrender and quickly changed the subject.
"So the lord is strengthening the territory. What problem do you have with that?"
Peruguis's expression hardened. His posture straightened, and his voice became controlled but sharp.
"Barderrossa, we are great demons. It is our birthright to serve overlords. Yet the young lord plans to appoint a Beastman, of all races, to a position traditionally held by great demons."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"A Beastman whose lifespan barely reaches sixty years. I could accept an elf, as they are a magically adept and noble race. I could accept an undead such as a vampire or even a lich. I could even understand a human. Though short lived, they are undeniably strong."
His gaze narrowed further.
"But a Beastman who has developed no true civilization. Do you not find that absurd?"
Barderrossa's expression grew serious. The playful tone he often carried vanished completely.
"Peruguis, I may be your friend, but you must remember this. If you go against the overlord's will, you become my enemy, and the enemy of everyone in this territory."
The room grew tense, the air heavy with unspoken warnings.
"You may be dissatisfied with the lord's decisions," Barderrossa continued, "but keep those complaints within these walls. If you voice them elsewhere, there will be consequences."
"Do you think I would ever oppose the lord?" Peruguis asked quietly.
He leaned back in his chair and looked up toward the ceiling, releasing a slow breath.
"Hah… I am simply uncertain. That is all. I will still comply."
"That is good," Barderrossa said, his tone easing slightly.
After a moment of silence, Peruguis spoke again.
"There seems to be no recent monster activity in the Demonic Forest."
"That is good news," Barderrossa replied.
And so the rest of the meeting passed quickly, covering minor reports and routine matters.
As Barderrossa rose from his seat, he asked, "Anything remaining?"
"Yes," Peruguis said. "One more matter."
"What is it?"
"Make time for your mages to train with my expert level knights. I must elevate at least five of them to elite rank to fulfill the lord's order. Their training will be strict, but your mages will gain experience as well."
Barderrossa nodded in agreement.
"That would be beneficial. I will send some of my mages once they are free."
With that, Peruguis and Barderrossa parted ways and returned to their usual duties.
Once Peruguis reached the knights' quarters, he saw the knights training vigorously in the yard. Steel clashed against steel, and the sound of exertion filled the air.
Nare noticed Peruguis watching and quickly approached him.
"Captain, what is the occasion? You normally train by yourself."
"I am simply searching for suitable candidates for elite rank," Peruguis replied.
"Then how about you spar with them?" Nare suggested eagerly.
"Me?"
"If not you, then who else? The knights would be thrilled to spar with you."
At that moment, every knight training in the yard felt a sudden chill run down their spines.
"Then tell them," Peruguis said calmly. "Call them to the arena. I will be waiting."
"Yes, yes, Captain."
Peruguis left the yard and headed toward the arena. As he walked through the monotonous stone corridors of the castle, his thoughts remained fixed on the lord's decision.
When he arrived, he noticed someone already present.
It was the Beastman warrior.
As Peruguis entered the arena, the Beastman turned toward him with visible excitement.
"Oh, you are Knight Captain Peruguis, right? Nice to finally meet you. I am Nokthar."
"I see."
"Man, you know, I wanted to meet you earlier, but I could never find the chance. During the purge you always led the knights, and I had no time to breathe. And in the territory you are always busy."
"…"
"But it is really good to finally meet you face to face. I heard you were a master knight, but honestly you are closer to a grandmaster from the aura you are emanating."
Peruguis thought to himself, Why does this guy talk so much?
"I am busy now," he said curtly.
With that, Peruguis walked to the other side of the arena. Nokthar, clearly dejected, returned to his own training.
Five minutes passed.
Nokthar approached again.
"It seems you have time now. Want to spar with me? I always wanted to spar with you. Everyone says you are the strongest knight in the territory, so…"
"No. I am busy."
Nokthar walked away once more.
Five more minutes passed, and still no knights had arrived.
"Won't you spar with me, Lord Peruguis?"
Peruguis was about to reject him again when Nokthar spoke words he should never have said.
"Or are you scared?"
Peruguis suddenly stiffened.
"What weapon do you use, Beastman?"
"I do not need a weapon. I am one."
"Then get ready."
"For wh…"
Before Nokthar could finish his sentence, Peruguis leaped forward. His sword was already unsheathed, its tip breaking the sound barrier.
Nokthar barely managed to dodge, missing the blade by mere millimeters. Blood dripped from his cheek.
"Are you actually trying to kill me?" Nokthar shouted.
"If you die, you die," Peruguis replied coldly.
Peruguis thought, If the master intends to appoint this man as a knight captain, then at the very least he must be able to match me. If not, he will simply die.
Without giving Nokthar time to recover, Peruguis leaped again, this time reinforcing his legs and sword with aura.
But Nokthar was not weak.
Beastmen, unlike other races who use mana to strengthen themselves, possessed another ability known as beastification. Most Beastmen could only transform parts of their bodies, gaining immense strength and speed. A rare few could fully transform into divine beasts such as Fenrir or the Nine Tailed Fox.
Nokthar was not among those rare few, but he could still use beastification.
His hands and feet were quickly covered in fur, claws forming as his muscles swelled. Beastification did not consume mana, as it was an innate ability, but it drained tremendous physical energy.
Nokthar grabbed the sword that was racing toward his neck faster than sound itself.
"Slash."
Though he managed to stop it, the blade still cut into his flesh.
Peruguis did not relent.
Knowing he could not overpower a master Beastman in raw strength, Peruguis channeled aura into his free arm and struck Nokthar's abdomen.
"Takk."
Nokthar was sent flying across the arena.
Peruguis followed instantly, crashing into him with his full body.
"Ackh!"
Just as Peruguis raised his sword to finish it, Nokthar shouted, "Got your leg, buddy!"
Peruguis's fury exploded.
This beast dares.
He poured all of his aura into his legs, determined to crush Nokthar.
"What?"
The sheer force began destroying both Peruguis's leg and Nokthar's hand that held it.
As soon as Nokthar loosened his grip, Peruguis intended to kick his head and crush his skull.
But Nokthar did not loosen his grip.
Instead, he strengthened it.
With no aura left in Peruguis's sword, Nokthar's free hand flew forward.
Peruguis tried to block, but he was too slow.
The punch struck his abdomen.
Unlike Nokthar earlier, Peruguis did not fly back. He remained held in place as Nokthar punched again and again.
"Enough of this!"
Peruguis finally released a burst of aura powerful enough to shatter Nokthar's hands, though it cost him his own leg in the process.
Now free, Peruguis raised his sword, utterly determined to end the Beastman.