The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 253: Master of Swordsmanship (1)

A sweeping victory in the territorial battle fought through a captain’s duel. While Basker territory was now under his control, Kai remained vigilant.

Those guys look like dark knights too.

There were about fifty knights Baron Basker had brought along, and since Kai had already taken out three, there were forty-seven left. The knights, who had been lined up like machines, started murmuring to each other as they exchanged glances.

“Hey.”

“Eek...!”

When Kai rattled the Holy Chain and called out to him, Baron Basker shrank back in fear.

“I’m not going to eat you, so just answer.”

“Y-yes, of course!”

“Are those guys all dark knights too?”

Baron Basker’s eyes darted around nervously as he tried to figure out how to answer. But when Kai glared at him, the baron hesitantly lowered his gaze and nodded.

“Y-yes, they’re all dark knights from the Church of Muldine.”

“And do you have command authority over them?”

As Kai pointed at the dark knights with his chin, Baron Basker nodded frantically.

“Of course! The Church of Muldine entrusted me with full command over them.”

“Then tell them to get out of my sight. They’re a hassle.”

“... Understood.”

After a moment of thought, Baron Basker quietly agreed. He had likely done a quick mental calculation to determine whether giving them such an order could get himself killed.

And he probably realized he’d be the first to die if it went wrong.

That realization must have helped him make his decision.

“Everyone, leave the battlefield and return to a safe location!”

The dark knights began murmuring even more at his words. For a brief moment, they hesitated—then, all at once, they drew their swords and advanced.

Kai looked at the baron with a disdainful expression and said, “You said you had command authority.”

“Huh...? Huhhh...? Th-this shouldn’t be happening...”

Baron Basker’s eyes trembled as he realized the dark knights weren’t obeying him.

Preparing for the upcoming second fight, Kai muttered, “Things will be embarrassing if this drags on and my tea gets cold...”

***

With even one overwhelming factor of level, equipment, or stats, even higher-grade monsters could be defeated. Such was the nature of games.

In Kai’s case, all three were overwhelmingly high, and he also had exceptional skill.

[Level increased.]

[Acquired 5 stat points.]

That was why Kai had been able to deal with all forty-seven dark knights with relative ease. Of course, saying it was over in the blink of an eye would be an exaggeration.

About fifteen minutes, I’d say.

Forty-seven knights, forty-seven swords, and forty-seven skills—all aimed at Kai’s body. Yet not even his clothing had been touched. It was a No Hit All Kill.

The players who witnessed this rare scene live couldn’t hold back their awe.

“Man, as expected of Unknown.”

“Why’d they even bother challenging him?”

“They just made fools of themselves.”

When a festival ends, only an empty, desolate street would remain. The plains where the battle had taken place was no different. After looting the spoils left behind by the dark knights, Kai carried Baron Basker on his shoulder and ran toward the castle wall.

“Did the tea get cold?”

Prescott, still holding a teacup with steam rising from it, stared wide-eyed. He seemed to be seriously questioning whether the scene he had just witnessed was real.

“W-what in the world...?”

Sip.

“Ah! It’s still warm.” Kai smiled brightly, seemingly more pleased that his tea hadn’t cooled than the fact that he had defeated fifty dark knights.

Finally coming to his senses, Prescott called out to Kai. “M-my lord...”

“Yes, Prescott?”

“By any chance, my lord... are you a famous swordsman?”

“Umm. Fairly famous and quite strong, yes.”

“Oh! Just as I thought... Watching you defeat the knights of the renowned Basker territory, I wondered if you might be on par with the Royal Knights.”

The Royal Knights. They were the elite royal guards who followed only the direct orders of King Rashion. Not only did they need exceptional martial talent, but they also had to demonstrate unparalleled loyalty to the king. The Guardian Knights and the Ironblood Knights were part of the Royal Knights.

The Royal Knights... Come to think of it, I need to visit Bach too.

Bach, the commander of the Ironblood Knights, had once promised to spar with him.

Now might be a good time to take up that challenge.

Even if he were to lose, he would surely gain something from the experience.

After sorting through his thoughts, Kai shook his head. “I’ve never faced them, so I can’t be certain, but I doubt I’d fall too far behind.”

“Y-you’re that strong...”

Prescott looked at Kai with a deeply moved expression, finding his lord far stronger than he had imagined. Just minutes earlier, he had been consumed with anxiety.

What a relief. Truly, what a relief.

Prescott felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing that this young lord before him hadn’t been injured.

As Prescott was calming himself, Kai spoke, “Alright, let’s go.”

“... Go where?”

“To the newly acquired territory. We should at least take a look around.”

“B-but what about Arkan territory and your mansion? Are you just leaving them unattended?”

“There’s nothing left to take anyway.”

“Even so...”

Leaving a territory without any troops was unthinkable.

As Prescott spoke in a bewildered tone, Kai muttered with an indifferent expression, “Now that I think about it, they should be arriving soon...”

As soon as he finished speaking, a radiant light burst forth in front of them.

“Oh, perfect timing.”

“Hey! It’s our lord!”

“Wow, just as they said, this territory really is in shambles.”

“You’re planning to turn the entire territory into an educational city?”

“Hahaha, that sounds like an interesting project! Not just a single building, but constructing an entire city!”

They were a group of dozens of dwarves dispatched from Libertia, particularly renowned for their exceptional skill in architecture. Using the magic of the merfolk, they teleported in an instant, each armed with their tools, and boldly entered the city.

“Shouldn’t we start by fixing up these shabby walls?”

“Fixing? Did you just say fixing? Look at these walls—they make my eyes hurt just seeing them! And you just want to fix them? Are you insane?”

“He’s right. Let’s tear them all down and rebuild from scratch!”

The dwarves quickly coordinated their opinions and sprang into action.

Rumble, rumble.

Kai watched the crumbling walls and said to Prescott, “Alright, shall we get going now?”

“Y-yes...” Prescott replied in a dazed voice.

***

The Basker territory was much more refined than Kai had anticipated.

At this level, it doesn’t seem like it needs much management.

As Kai toured the city, he looked visibly satisfied. The territory was rated B-rank. It was a city that, even with a professional manager placed as a substitute lord, would surely generate at least tens of millions of won in monthly revenue.

Of course, if I personally managed it, it could easily bring in hundreds of millions...

However, doing so would result in more losses than gains. Above all, he was better suited to fighting monsters on the front lines than managing an estate.

“Not bad.”

Hearing Kai’s brief evaluation of his former territory, Baron Basker looked sullen.

Meanwhile, the residents, excited about the change in leadership, were holding festivals throughout the streets.

“Yeaaahh!”

“The wicked lord has stepped down!”

“I just hope the new lord lowers the tax rate that greedy man raised...”

“Come on now! I’ll bow deeply if they just stop raising it every month!”

“Closing shop for the day! Free beer for everyone!”

“Woohoo!”

Watching them, Kai smiled in amusement and asked, “Pretty popular, huh?”

“H-how dare they...!” Baron Basker’s voice trembled with rage as he pulled his hat low over his face.

Of course, that was the extent of the anger he could express.

“They’re my people now, so don’t pay them too much attention.”

At that brief warning, Baron Basker nodded, his body trembling. It was the influence of Dragon Fear naturally emanating from Kai.

“Now, shall we have a constructive discussion?” Kai asked, having arrived at the lord’s mansion, which now belonged to him.

“C-constructive discussion...?” Baron Basker looked at Kai with resentful eyes.

He had already lost the territorial battle and the territory.

“Don’t give me that look. You’re the one who got greedy first.”

“A-ahem.”

“I’ve done a bit of research.”

Kai pulled out a document he had retrieved from his inbox earlier. It was something Minerva had sent, a fresh report obtained from the information guild.

“Baron Basker, aside from Basker territory, you have four other territories, correct?”

“Yes...”

“So, what are you gonna do?”

Baron Basker silently blinked, unable to grasp Kai’s intent.

Seeing his expression, which suggested he hadn’t fully grasped the situation yet, Kai clarified things for him.

“To get straight to the point, you’re going to lose your noble title.”

“Wh-what are you saying?!” Baron Basker shot to his feet, shouting.

At that, Kai’s gaze turned cold. “Sit.”

“Okay.”

With the rebellion swiftly subdued, Kai said in a softer voice, “Collaborating with the Church of Muldine can only be seen as conspiracy.”

“C-conspiracy? That’s absurd!”

Baron Basker made the most pitiful face he could make. It was, of course, ineffective.

“Your opinion doesn’t matter. What matters is that you commanded dark knights and were acquainted with the Church of Muldine’s assassination squad commander. The royal family will undoubtedly consider this treason.”

“B-but I had no choice. They threatened me...”

“Ah, so you didn’t want to but had no choice, is that it?”

“Exactly. I’m truly a victim.” Baron Basker lied effortlessly.

Kai then smirked and handed over the document. “Seems like the Church of Muldine has been struggling financially. Raising the tax rate every month, huh?”

“Th-that’s...”

“Enough nonsense. Let’s keep this simple. You have two choices.” Kai raised two fingers. “Option one. You lose your noble title, get dragged off by the Royal Knights, and spend the rest of your life in a sunless underground prison.”

“Ugh...” Imagining such a fate, Baron Basker shuddered.

“Option two. You give up your noble title but take the money you’ve stashed away and run away as best as you can.”

“... Huh?” At Kai's proposal, Baron Basker’s expression turned intrigued. Licking his lips, he cautiously asked, “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“... But you’re a priest of the Solarian Church.”

“I’m not so free as to worry about discarded pawns of the Church of Muldine.”

Discarded pawn. It was the most fitting term for Baron Basker’s current position.

“You’d better decide quickly. Before I change my mind.”

As Kai urged him to answer, Baron Basker made up his mind.

If I’m losing my noble title anyway, it’s better to live as a fugitive than rot in an underground prison.

Besides, without Basker territory, his title was already meaningless. The other territories he owned were managed by the Church of Muldine anyway.

“Well then...”

Baron Basker confessed everything he knew. His explanation was so thorough that Kai found himself clapping in admiration.

“That’s all I know.”

“Not bad. Good work.”

“Th-then I’ll get going now.”

“Alright. Run as best you can, and don’t get caught.”

“Thank you. I will never forget the grace of your kindness for the rest of my life.”

“Kindness? Hardly.”

Baron Basker gave a polite bow and left the lord’s mansion.

Watching him leave, Kai checked his watch. “Hmm. About five minutes should be enough before I go after him.”

Kai had told him to run as best he could, but he never said he wouldn’t chase him. The only reason he went to the trouble of lying and carrying out such a tedious task was simple.

It’s easier to officially strip him of his noble title myself to claim the poetic justice rewards.

As a bonus, he had gained valuable information on the Church of Muldine—two birds with one stone.

“Seems like I’ll be busy with the Church of Muldine for a while.”

Exactly five minutes later, Kai’s figure disappeared from the lord’s mansion.