Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend

T/N: Author has used [Sir Gramlich] for the opponent facing Welner while [Count Gramlich] for count of the Gramlich house. As mentioned before, [Sir Gramlich] is the brother of [Count Gramlich].

…

After a few moments 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 time 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 overwhelmed 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 time it was a duel, the number of times would not be counted today. Even if the jousting were to move from a joust to a ground combat, it would be the same, and it would continue until one of us admits defeat or becomes 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, ‘I’m not sure how much credit I should award him for all this,’ others began to comment on the situation.

Baron Kretschmer responded to Viscount Davlak’s 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 Kretschmer)

“I agree. Sir Gramlich may be stronger in a simple battle, but he can’t handle the horses as well as Viscount Zeavert.” (Viscount Mittag)

Baron Kretschmer’s statement was followed by Viscount Mittag. Compared to Welner, who was able to parry attacks with minimal movement and reaction, Sir Gramlich’s horse was more fatigued because of the knight’s constant large movements on horseback and more weight than Welner.

Moreover, horses were repeatedly running at full speed and stopping, carrying something as heavy as a human wearing armor. This further fatigued two horses than simple running.

Welner’s Skill minimized the burden of the spear’s weight, but his opponent did not have such Skill. By now, Sir Gramlich’s arms must be beginning to feel the fatigue.

“I suppose it was also a tactic when he provoked him.” (Viscount Mittag)

“I’m sure it was.”

Grand Duke Seyfart said in response to Mittag’s comment.

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 same time, he deliberately let his opponent gain the upper hand at first, and then counterattack when his opponent was caught off guard.

Welner’s 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 mean he was untalented or less committed, but he was even better at deceiving his opponents, as Seyfart assessed.

“He’s 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 immediate retainer approached and reported something 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 doesn’t 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 same time, 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 something.

Seyfart gave a short order to eliminate the suspicious group that seemed 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 ‘Come at me again’ to his opponent, but he stopped doing so after the third exchange.

And this time, when he moved his horse somewhat 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 opponent’s spear.

At first, Sir Gramlich was aiming at his head in anger, but Welner knew inwardly that it was time for the other side to become calm.

Sir Gramlich started to run, and Welner responded with a kick to the horse’s 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 other’s attack range, and although I had never been in a direct battle with a spear for this long, it seemed that my Spearmanship Skill added the advantage of allowing me to clearly grasp the range of my opponent’s spear.

Confirming that Sir Gramlich’s 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 Gramlich’s stance was called “boar’s 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 opponent’s spear came to the side of Brave Disbelt’s face, Welner lifted the tip of his spear with great force and smashed it into his opponent’s spear. The opponent’s stance was shaken by the spear strike.

At the same time, 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 opponent’s spear, as if aiming to rub the spear handles against each other. The handle of the opponent’s spear became a guide rail for his thrust.

Following that move, he used his opponent’s spear to turn the angle of the spear towards his opponent’s body. After a gulp, Welner tightened his grip on his horse’s 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 opponent’s 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 same time, Welner heard the sound of something heavy falling to the ground. Pushed by the momentum, the object fell to Welner’s 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 opponent’s fall from the horse.

Brave Disbelt galloped straight to the edge of the venue and was then held back by Neurath. Sir Gramlich’s horse also galloped to the edge of the venue, and a knight held him there as well.

A moment of silence.

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