After nearly a year of simple living, Farnese was now completely unaccustomed to sitting in the VIP seats and wearing a long noble dress. Especially with Lord Mozgus nearby.
She had heard the name "Bloodstained Holy Book" and, through her practice of magic with Schierke, had become acutely sensitive to the emotions of those around her.
The aura emitted by Mozgus and the disciples behind him was not at all a holy light, but a cruel darkness. It was extremely terrifying.
Therefore, when Mozgus smiled at her, instead of relaxing, she felt fear.
Moreover, Mozgus now managed the Holy Iron Chain Knights in her place. But the Holy See had not explained the true reason for Farnese's removal from the post of leader for the sake of the Vandimion family.
Mozgus was curious about the reason and kept asking in a gentle tone.
Farnese was already a bit overwhelmed. She was afraid that if she said the wrong thing, she would reveal the thought that she was already practicing pagan magic.
She wasn't sure if her identity as the daughter of the Vandimion family would allow her to escape the fate of torture and burning at the stake.
Federigo, Zulchio, and Polidiaro sat nearby with the municipal officials of Vritannis, who had gathered around them and were talking, ignoring the meaning of this side.
Serpico managed to shield Farnese.
It's just that after Mozgus glanced at him, he ignored the herald officer and guard and didn't take him seriously at all.
Mozgus sensed something strange and decided to extract some secrets from Farnese, who was already panicking. So he smiled more and more often and more widely.
At that moment, Madame Vandimion, who had been watching the hall below, suddenly put down the small fan covering the lower part of her face and laughed softly.
"Lord Mozgus, alas, the leader of the Holy Iron Chain Knights has always been a woman. This tradition has never changed. But my youngest daughter will eventually marry. How can she continue to appear in public?"
"Farnese is no longer young. Other girls her age are already married, right?"
"It's not that Farnese lacks faith in the Holy See. It's that we, as parents, truly want to see our children start a family, so that our hearts can be at ease. Don't you think so?"
After Madame Vandimion finished speaking, she raised her small fan again, covered the lower part of her face, and laughed.
Mozgus looked at Madame Vandimion, then at Farnese. After a while, he laughed.
"So that's it. We don't interfere with believers getting married. But if the position of leader of the Holy Iron Chain Knights affects Miss Farnese's marriage prospects, that is our fault."
Farnese felt that Mozgus was still skeptical. But Madame Vandimion had already said this, and he couldn't ask any more. So he gave up.
She sighed softly with relief.
Suddenly feeling a light tap on her shoulder, she turned her head and saw her mother turn her head and wink at her.
Farnese nodded gratefully. Although her mother didn't care for her as much as her father did, she still helped her sometimes.
At that moment, a commotion arose at the other end of the VIP seats.
When everyone looked around, they saw that it was Magnifico standing up and helping a man with a ponytail and bandages to take a seat.
Farnese immediately understood that this was the final match of the knightly joust, the loser to Grumblebundo, the Ys "Navigation Prince" who was also her brother Manifico's college friend.
These two now lived in the north, so they often kept in touch and had a good relationship.
Nordic had also registered for the team competition. But he was injured and, naturally, couldn't continue. So he had to take a VIP seat at Magnifico's invitation after some treatment.
By the way, Nordic was already the best of the knights who had fought against Grumblebundo. He had only broken his arm and would probably recover in a few months.
DING—!
At that moment, with the sound of a gong, the circular arena below, which had been cleared, opened its gates. A large group of armored knights, nearly a hundred people, all participants in the team competition, entered.
The team competition required fighting on foot. Everyone could wear armor, bring their own weapons, and these could be varied.
As long as you participated, it was equivalent to signing a life-and-death waiver. In the end, there could only be one winner.
However, now everyone's attention was drawn to Grumblebundo's heavy armor and weapon.
His helmet, armor, and war hammer were too similar to a silver dragon's. Even his shield was shaped like a roaring dragon.
Everyone could see that this Grumblebundo intended to go further and further down the path of imitating the legendary "Fire Dragon Knight."
In the VIP seats, Polidiaro straightened his slightly plump body, seeming to have a slight interest. He said with a smile:
"Father, mother, elder brother, Lord Mozgus, who do you think will be the champion of the team competition? Who do you think will be the most powerful knight?"
The one who was supposedly the strongest candidate for the next Pope always had the bad habit of not being too reserved. But few dared to criticize him.
Everyone in the VIP seats fell silent. They first looked at Federigo and waited for the "Master of the Scales" to speak.
Federigo thought for a moment and said, "It must be Grumblebundo. It's enough to see from the knight's joust that his strength is outstanding. I'm afraid ordinary people cannot withstand him."
"Father, I think so too," Zulchio followed suit.
Mozgus smiled and politely declined to answer. Being a fanatic in the Holy See, he didn't participate in such playful judgments.
Polidiaro asked one by one, including the municipal officials of Vritannis, Magnifico, Nordic, and even Farnese.
As for Serpico, he was ignored.
Everyone in the VIP seats was talking. But without exception, they all thought Grumblebundo would become the champion of the team competition.
They weren't all trying to please Federigo. Grumblebundo had shown extraordinary bravery, just like the legendary "Fire Dragon Knight" with the same name.
Farnese also wanted to follow everyone and say it would be Grumblebundo.
It's just that she thought about Nidhogg. She hesitated a little. Then she remembered that Nidhogg definitely hadn't registered. It was impossible for him to play against Grumblebundo.
Thinking this way, the answer Grumblebundo was the most reliable. So she definitely gave Polidiaro the name "Grumblebundo."
Polidiaro suddenly felt bored. If everyone supported the same person, then what was the point?
It seemed that the championship of this team competition had lost its suspense in advance.
At that moment, Madame Vandimion, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.
"I don't think the champion will be Grumblebundo."
Everyone looked at her in surprise.
Polidiaro asked even more curiously, "Mother, then who do you think will be the champion?"
"I don't know. I just don't think the champion necessarily has to be Grumblebundo."
Madame Vandimion once again showed her habit of being a little stubborn. Everyone could only smile helplessly upon hearing this and didn't take it to heart anymore.
However, Farnese clearly noticed that when her mother said this, her eyes were looking at her. She couldn't help but tense her expression.
Mother, she... why is she looking at me?
Did she notice something?
And indeed, when the second and third gongs sounded and the team competition officially began, with a lot of noise around, Madame Vandimion turned sideways and spoke quietly into Farnese's ear.
"Farnese, why did you hesitate just now? Why didn't you answer 'Grumblebundo' immediately? Do you have another answer?"
"Mother, I..."
Farnese didn't dare speak.
Madame Vandimion looked again at Serpico on the other side of Farnese.
She knew very well that Serpico was her husband's illegitimate son.
It's just that many years ago, she and Federigo had separated. She had no reason to blame Federigo for having a lover or anything like that. And that was that for the rest of her life.
She simply looked at this illegitimate son. Just now, on this matter, not only had Farnese hesitated, but even this illegitimate son seemed to hesitate.
Although the illegitimate son was well-hidden, he could not escape her eyes.
Serpico had no choice but to show his habitual smirk to Madame Vandimion.
"It seems this is related to your long disappearance... By the way, what about that knight named 'Nidhogg'? What do you think of him? Can he compete with Grumblebundo?"
"Mother, Nidhogg didn't register for the team competition."
"Oh... he only denies participating in the team competition, but doesn't deny that he can compete with Grumblebundo... This is a little interesting. But it's a pity he didn't play. Otherwise, I would really like to see what kind of person he is. And he's got your attention again."
Hearing the first half of the words, Farnese was only shocked and worried. But the second half of the words surprised her.
"'Got my attention again'? What does that mean? I, I've always been this way..."
Madame Vandimion said nothing more. She simply fanned herself and smiled at the bloody and burned battlefield below.
---
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH—!
Another knight, overestimating his strength, fell. Blood flowed profusely. The surrounding knights subconsciously retreated, not daring to approach him.
Grumblebundo was clad in heavy silver armor. In one hand, he held his war hammer; in the other, his shield—the weapon he was most comfortable with, not a lance.
But when the difference in strength was too great, even with a weapon he wasn't skilled with, he could still easily defeat his opponent.
However, today's so-called "Holy King's Martial Arts Competition," which was said to have gathered heroes from throughout the Holy See's circle, had completely disappointed him.
Is there really a message about the 'Holy Eagle' in such a place? Is it possible to meet the 'Holy Eagle' I have been searching for for hundreds of years?
Benedikt, if you were alive, you could show me the direction of the prophecy, right?
Grumblebundo had long believed in the witch's prophecy. When he first met her, the other party had foreseen his fate. But he hadn't believed it then and decided to defy fate, until the inevitable sacrifice came.
Benedikt's last prophecy to him was—"Find the Holy Eagle. This is your fate." He had always remembered it and silently journeyed in search of the "Holy Eagle," but so far had found nothing.
Hearing of the reputation of the so-called "White Eagle" Griffith, he rekindled his hope and rushed to the Kingdom of Midland. But he received bad news.
Griffith had become a traitor to the Kingdom of Midland. Some said he was dead, others that he was still hiding. In any case, Grumblebundo could no longer find any trace of this man.
Like powerful Apostles such as the Daredevil and the Magic Archer, he had not been interested in participating in the Eclipse demonic feast. So he didn't know that Griffith had ascended to become the "Dark Wings."
Only after the "Dark Wings" were reincarnated as the "Holy Eagle" at the Tower of Conviction did he receive this news. He immediately rushed to the Kingdom of Midland, swearing allegiance to the "Holy Eagle."
When Grumblebundo, returning again disappointed, heard about this "Holy King's Martial Arts Competition," he tried to see if there would be any news about the "Holy Eagle."
Honestly, in the jousting competition, Grumblebundo hadn't used his full strength. The man struck by his shot was indeed either dead or wounded. But if he couldn't even catch that shot, how could he be the prophesied "Holy Eagle"?
Looking at this team competition again, he was even more disappointed.
What kind of knights are these?
For example, the leader of the Dawnfang Mercenary Company, who had just died by his hand. He was said to have commanded this company and defeated the Baldyan heavy knights in the War of Independence of the Republic of Landil.
So what? One hammer, and his brains were splattered.
There were also the heavy knights from the Tudor Empire. He hated the knights of the Tudor Empire the most, so he was ruthless. These knights couldn't create any obstacles and would die.
Grumblebundo hated the Tudor Empire so much because of his previous experiences.
Hundreds of years ago, Grumblebundo was already the leader of the Fire Dragon Knights of the Grand Duchy of Grant, a small northern country.
He led 3,000 men to hold a fortress called the "Fire Dragon's Lair" against the invasion of tens of thousands of soldiers and horses from the Tudor Empire, holding out for over ten years.
Unexpectedly, his friend Edward betrayed him at a critical moment and defected to the Tudor Empire. This led to the fall of the castle fortress, and he, the witch Benedikt, and his childhood friend Sieg were besieged.
At that moment, Grumblebundo had to sacrifice Benedikt and Sieg to reincarnate himself as an Apostle, incarnated as the "Fire Dragon" in Benedikt's prophecy, satisfying the law of causality and fatalism!
Then he crushed the invading enemy forces and killed the mad Edward. After that, he left the Grand Duchy of Grant and journeyed everywhere in search of Benedikt's prophecy.
But looking at the group of people before him, who among them looked like the so-called "Holy Eagle"? If the "Holy Eagle" was this fragile, he would rather go against his fate again than bow his head.
Grumblebundo sighed. In the pool of blood where he stood, no enemy dared to intervene anymore. The so-called knights were either dead or had retreated, hiding.
In the end, he completely lost interest in this team competition.
Until another knight approached him.
He saw that although the opponent's armor was old, the cloak on his body was new. It seemed to be crossed with the iron lock crest of the Holy Iron Chain Knights of the Holy See.
"Heh, I advise you not to come up and seek death. Although I don't like fighting weaklings, if you take the initiative to deliver yourself to my door, I will also send you to my gods."
Grumblebundo sneered.
Nidhogg simply raised his visor, revealing his true face. He stared intently at Grumblebundo, stepping forward. Bloodhound's Fang and his brass shield were ready to move.
The knights present, as well as everyone in the hall, watched in surprise as this knight advanced towards Grumblebundo. They couldn't quite believe it.
Hadn't he seen how strong this man, calling himself the "Fire Dragon Knight," was? How ruthless he was? Yet he dares to step forward and challenge him?
Magnifico, sitting in the VIP seats, smiled and said to his sister Farnese, "Look at that cloak. That should be your Jerome from the Holy Iron Chain Knights, right? Is he that brave?"
Many laughed upon hearing this.
However, Federigo, Zulchio, Polidiaro, Mozgus, and others connected to the Holy See did not laugh.
They knew how terrible it would be if Jerome, a member of the Holy Iron Chain Knights, were beaten into meat paste on the field. But now it was too late to stop it. They could only silently curse Jerome for his madness.
Farnese and Serpico did not laugh. They didn't even make a sound. They just looked at each other, because both recognized the familiar armor and back.
But how could Nidhogg be on the field? What had happened to Jerome?
"You want to die? Then I'll grant your wish."
Grumblebundo on the field snorted impatiently. He took his war hammer and swung it at Nidhogg's head.
Nidhogg's brass shield was covered in the white light of "Iron Wall." He suddenly raised it and, with a loud CRASH!, caught Grumblebundo's war hammer.
Grumblebundo crashed down, and Nidhogg was not knocked down. He didn't even move. Grumblebundo's eyes widened in surprise.
At the same time, with a loud CLANG!, a silver arc struck!
Grumblebundo subconsciously raised his shield, blocking Nidhogg's fang. It made a loud clang, sparks flying!
The force transmitted through this shield surprised Grumblebundo even more!
The entire hall—whether the knights on the field or the spectators—was quite surprised by this scene.
Up until now, this was the first time they had seen anyone who could block Grumblebundo's hammer, let alone counterattack.
What is the origin of this man?
Many behind the VIP table looked at Farnese and Serpico with shocked eyes, thinking: This is Jerome from your Holy Iron Chain Knights? This guy is this strong? Why don't we know?
Manifico, who had previously mocked Jerome, had a hot, red face.
Only Madame Vandimion, observing the expressions of Farnese and Serpico, frowned. She looked again at the knight, thought of something, and smiled behind her small fan.
I see.
What a wonderful show!
Grumblebundo took the initiative to withdraw his war hammer and shield, took a few steps back, and looked Nidhogg up and down with interest.
This man... Could he be the 'Holy Eagle' I am searching for?
Grumblebundo removed his helmet and threw it to the ground, revealing his bright red hair and piercing eyes. He looked at Nidhogg with an oppressive intent.
Nidhogg met his gaze, not giving in, not falling behind in momentum for a single moment.
And the center of the entire team competition arena was also empty.
Many knights remaining on the field retreated to the sides. Only those standing at the edge of the whirlpool felt the vortex blowing across the arena!
╔══════════════════════╗
📘 Want more?
Join me on Patreon for bonus chapters
and early access!
🔗 https://www.patreon.com/cw/OverlordD
╚══════════════════════╝