The Genius Mage Who Uses His Fists - Episode 17 (14/201)
Episode 17. The Black Knights (2)
A blue lion emblazoned on armor.
This place, where even the lowest-ranking guards exuded the aura of beasts, was the Bahaar family’s domain.
A clan revered by all knights, standing alongside the Arahan as one of the empire’s twin pillars.
“Summon Torres.”
“Yes!”
Fernando Bahaar, the family head, furrowed his brow as he read the report. Its contents were beyond belief.
When his eldest son, Torres, entered, Fernando’s stern expression melted into a gentle tone.
“You called for me, Lord Father.”
“A task has arisen for you.”
“Command me. I will stake my life to fulfill it.”
Fernando smiled warmly at Torres’s unwavering resolve.
All noble families shared a common concern: the succession of leadership.
A family’s fate hinged on its heir’s qualities and prowess. In this regard, Fernando considered himself fortunate.
Torres, now seventeen, was outpacing every knight in his growth.
“The time has come for you, as Bahaar’s heir, to shoulder the family’s duties. A knight’s sword arm matters, but so does the leadership to command his order.”
“I’ve long been prepared. Only await your command.”
“Review this.”
Fernando handed him the report. Torres knelt on one knee, accepting it with both hands.
His expression darkened as he read.
“Arahan is in the south? A western noble—a mage—evaded Bahaar’s watch to come here? This… cannot be.”
“He was imprisoned in Kerion for years. I kept it from you. Now he’s escaped.”
“Kerion Prison…”
“Reports claim he killed the warden—a 5th Circle mage—and slaughtered citizens in Mota City.”
Though detailed, the words strained belief. That Arahan had been imprisoned in the south, escaped its notorious walls, and slain a 5th Circle warden?
More baffling was the sheer audacity. Even for Arahan, this was Bahaar’s territory. Such acts were tantamount to war.
“My mission—am I to hunt and kill him?”
Fernando chuckled at the fire in his son’s voice. A father could not mistake such determination, even if it courted conflict.
This will temper you.
Torres had a warrior’s spirit but remained an untested beast. Fernando saw a lesson in this chaos.
“I entrust it all to you. As Bahaar’s heir, act as your judgment dictates. Uphold our honor. I will bear the consequences.”
“Your will is mine, Lord Father.”
“Take fifty knights. Depart at once.”
Torres pressed a fist to his chest and bowed.
Fernando watched him leave, eyes brimming with quiet pride.
“Hail!”
“Hail!”
Knights snapped to attention as Torres emerged.
Though only a 6th Circle knight—insufficient to freely command Bahaar’s order—their respect was unwavering. Not from duty, but genuine regard.
A knight’s honor surpassed blade or rank.
One could lose both arms yet remain a knight. But honor lost meant forfeiting the title. This was the creed’s core.
Honor flowed not from skill alone, but character.
Torres, though young, trained harder than any. First to arrive, last to depart. He humbly learned even from juniors, treating knights as both comrades and mentors.
His dedication, swordsmanship, and meteoric growth had earned their loyalty.
“Sir Torres, the map.”
“Thank you.”
A knight unfurled a silk map detailing the southern territories.
Torres studied it, resolve hardening. His tactical mind had already settled on the destination.
“We take the Teleportation Gate to Tamaya.”
“At once!”
No objections followed.
Bahaar’s knights marched in flawless formation, azure armor glinting under the sun.
“This is insane.”
“How much longer will you whine? Walk. Sunset’s nearing.”
“We’re committing suicide!”
Riu’s complaints echoed through the march.
Understandable.
Tamaya—a village clinging to the southern front—was no place for recklessness.
The empire’s borders were fortified against demonic beasts. Beyond lay wastelands, each region guarded by assigned houses.
Arahan defended the west; Bahaar, the south. These two alone shouldered the empire’s most perilous fronts.
“I’ll be the first fool in history to walk to the front. Oh, except you.”
“You know this is necessary.”
Tamaya stank of blood and steel—a de facto outpost where frontline soldiers rested.
It lay opposite Frilda on the map, yet they sought its Teleportation Gate. Exorbitantly costly, but funds weren’t an issue.
“You’ll call it ‘wise’ until beasts rip your guts out.”
“It’s not recklessness. It’s strategy.”
“Then I’ll die a fool.”
“Enough. We camp here.”
I unpacked as Riu lit a fire, handing me jerky and water. His grumbling masked fear, not laziness.
“Eat. Might be your last meal.”
“You too.”
Tonight marked a week since leaving Mota. Three days remained to Tamaya.
Bandits plagued the empire, but none dared this road—another reason I’d chosen it.
“Sleep. Dawn comes early.”
“Every bone’s screaming.”
I ignored his groans and lay down.
After about a week of camping, Riu was thoroughly exhausted. Though accustomed to street life—whether under bridges or in abandoned buildings—he wasn't used to outdoor survival.
'This is why I never did military service. Veterans would handle this easily.'
The fatigue came less from uncomfortable bedding than from constant vigilance against demonic beasts. Like active-duty soldiers catching restless sleep, never knowing when enemy forces might strike.
With just two of us, we couldn't even maintain proper watch rotations.
-Thudthudthudthud!
"Huh?!"
As sleep finally claimed me, faint tremors vibrated through the ground. I initially dismissed it as imagination, but the shaking intensified. I bolted upright.
"Riu! Company approaching!"
"What?!"
The half-asleep Riu snapped to attention. True to his street roots, he smothered our campfire and stashed supplies with practiced efficiency. We crouched behind a tree, eyes locked on the noise's origin.
"Can't be demons... right?"
"Shh! Quiet."
The direction pointed toward Tamaya—demonic beasts remained a possibility.
But causing tremors this strong would require dozens of creatures. No way that many breached the southern frontlines under Bahal's watch.
'Not demons then... What's approaching?'
Our answer arrived as mounted figures emerged.
Though moonlight barely pierced the extinguished campfire's darkness, their snow-white steeds glowed faintly.
White horses from the southern front...
'...Bahal's knights?'
Genuine Bahal knights spelled trouble. Why abandon teleportation gates for this backwater? Only one explanation fit—they'd ported to Tamaya and backtracked.
'Hunting us? But fifty riders? Our only hope's them passing by.'
Each knight held 5th Circle qualifications—equivalent to fifty elite warriors. Remaining undetected was our sole option.
"Halt!"
Damn.
The lingering smoke betrayed us. Bahal's white steeds closed distance alarmingly fast.
'This is bad. Riu, fall back.'
'Mhm...'
Staying meant capture. We hunched low, retreating with painstaking slowness. Each footstep echoed like thunder in my ears.
"Camp traces here!"
"Found them! Comb the area!"
Shiiing!
Blade-unsheathing sounds iced my spine. They were hunting us in earnest.
We crawled desperately, but hope dwindled as searchers closed in.
'Thunder God Transformation might buy escape.' Lightning's power could work.
'The Challenger of Tenacity' responded to resolve—reactivating it might help.
'But the cost...'
Riu crouched lower, tracking approaching knights. He glanced my way, whispering as if reading my mind:
'Run. You still can.'
'What? You?'
'Worrying about me? They're knights. Might spare street trash, but never an Arahant.'
His trembling whisper betrayed fear beneath false bravado.
'I don't abandon comrades.'
'But—'
'This isn't your fault. Or mine.' Strictly speaking, the Black Guards' blunder trapped us here.
The bastards who started this vanished without cleaning their mess.
'Zed—could Black Guards be watching?'
'Uncertain.'
'They're Arahant's secret unit! Shouldn't they be guarding us?'
Plausible—they might've tailed me under lord's orders.
Yet Bahal's knights changed calculus. Even Arahant wouldn't risk war for discarded offspring.
'Let's check.'
'How?'
Their footsteps neared as ours slowed. Against fifty determined knights, capture was inevitable.
If doomed, better face it boldly. Champions shouldn't be caught fleeing.
"What's taking so long to find two men?!"
"?!"
I sprang up shouting—no alternatives remained.
Riu yanked my arm too late. Knights signaled and charged.
"Zed!"
No Black Guards? Fine. Talk first, fight after.
Better die trying than regret inaction.
"I'm Zed Arahant! Let me parley with—"
-Swish!
They outpaced expectations. Blades slashed without hearing me out.
"Tch!"
Near-miss beheading. I backpedaled, shouting:
"Listen! I demand—"
"Ugh!"
A knight blurred forward—inhuman speed.
Before reaction, his face filled my vision.
"?!"
-SHOOOOOM!
Whiteout. A magic circle flared between us as death embraced me.
