Vol 4 Chapter 80: “The Three Kings” (Vol 4: The Otherworldly Battlefield Arc)

“This is quite comfortable, isn’t it?”

The town of Polivity, located just before the Demon King’s castle, served as a frontline base for those exiled as punishment. Exiles faced deportation through treacherous, dangerous regions, with many losing their lives along the way.

“Indeed.”

Despite the grim circumstances, Sukui and Horo were enjoying an exceptionally comfortable journey.

Before their exile, the two had spent nearly all their remaining wealth to properly equip themselves. After all, the fortune they could no longer use in their homeland, or in Polivity, had no further value.

As a result, they acquired a highly luxurious means of transport—a magic vehicle.

A “magic vehicle” was an advanced and exceptionally expensive magical artifact, often referred to as a “compound magic tool.” It combined multiple magical tools, which stored and channeled magic to produce this unique form of transport. Among magical tools, which were already costly, such a compound tool cost as much as a mansion.

The interior was spacious, divided into three sections within a large, circular space. The front portion served as a living area, complete with a table and chairs, and provided an open view of the road ahead.

The rear half was divided into a sleeping area and a storage space, arranged in a T-shape.

While the vehicle consumed significant amounts of magic due to its complexity, taking turns to provide magic power made it a non-issue for them. In fact, it was easier to operate than a horse-drawn carriage, as it required only the user’s presence and focus to channel magic.

“There were warnings about the dangers along the way, but dealing with monsters and bandits of this level hardly counts as a real threat. It’s not a bad opportunity for some practice either,” Sukui remarked, accepting a cup of tea poured by Horo.

As they neared the Demon King’s castle, the monsters grew stronger. However, this region was also a haven for extreme criminals exiled from the three nations.

Even though exiles were sent to Polivity, many chose not to head there, as there was no strict enforcement. Polivity, being a town, was generally safer than the surrounding wilderness, so most hurried to reach it.

But exceptions always existed. Many criminals, who either fled the three nations or refused to abide by exile orders, roamed this region. Some even banded together to form organized groups.

“These are no match for you, Master.”

Indeed, the enemies they had encountered so far were of a level that Horo could easily handle on her own. Wishing to minimize Sukui’s involvement, Horo insisted on dealing with any threats she could manage, resulting in Sukui not participating in battles since their departure.

At her current level, Horo’s combat abilities were comparable to those of an A-class mage in certain aspects. It was only natural that she faced little difficulty.

“You’ve become quite strong, Horo-san. I see you’ve been consciously integrating martial arts into your magic.” 

“Yes. After our last battle, I realized the importance of conserving magic power. I wanted to practice ways to win while using minimal magic,” Horo replied.

Sukui had heard about their battle with the priest of Mistral. That experience had clearly sparked new ideas within her.

Sukui saw this as a positive development. While danger itself was undesirable, it often served as a catalyst for growth.

“That’s a good idea. Just as I’ve tailored martial arts techniques to complement my knife fighting, you could develop combat movements that enhance your magic.”

“Understood!” Horo replied cheerfully, her expression lighting up at Sukui’s suggestion.

Initially, Sukui had doubted whether martial arts would suit Horo. However, her diligent efforts had changed his perspective.

He took pride in seeing Horo grow, consistently surpassing his expectations.

“Of course, it’s difficult to reach Master’s level.”

“There’s no need to be the same as me. Martial arts are profound and diverse. It’s better to find movements that suit your style rather than mimicking mine,” Sukui encouraged.

Sukui’s own techniques were a blend of martial arts knowledge he had gained as a child and the practical experience he had accumulated on the battlefield. He had studied a variety of disciplines, from traditional martial arts to modern combat techniques, pushing himself to his limits. However, only a fraction of those techniques became part of his actual repertoire.

Sukui believed this was natural. While exploring a wide range of techniques was essential, the ones a person truly mastered were those that suited them best.

This principle applied not only to martial arts but to all areas of life. It was why Sukui taught Horo so much, knowing it would broaden her potential.

“The techniques I admired and the ones I use now are often different. The most practical moves tend to be the simplest.”

“Is that so?”

Sukui pictured Horo’s martial arts skills.

The image of her moving with flair was vivid, and Sukui couldn’t help but find it impressive.

“Yes.”

He recalled battles against Felte and the Reaper. While there were flashy movements in those fights, he believed that fundamental techniques were far more crucial.

As he was about to explain, his gaze shifted forward.

“An enemy?” Horo immediately asked, noticing his change in focus. She was already in a battle-ready stance, her heightened alertness reflecting the level of an experienced veteran.

“Yes. I’ll handle this as well.”

Finishing his tea in one swift motion, he decided that demonstrating would be easier than explaining.

“Understood.”

Horo caught on to his intent and turned off the magic power fueling the vehicle. Sukui stepped out and extended his hand as she cut the power.

“A noble?” one of the three men, likely bandits, asked, squinting at Sukui’s graceful descent.

Sukui waited for Horo to take his hand as she exited the vehicle. Once she was down, he smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes and approached the bandits with a calm smile.

“No, we’re heading to Polivity.”

His movements were elegant and composed. His finely tailored, high-class attire—chosen with Polivity in mind—gave him the appearance of a noble.

“Ah, so you’re tourists, then.”

To the bandits, Sukui didn’t appear to be one of the powerful criminals capable of surviving Polivity. Instead, he seemed like a wealthy outsider.

“Sorry, but around here, we have a rule: we let you pass if you hand over half your cargo.”

“How remarkably fair of you.”

It became clear that these three were part of a larger group. A rule like “half the cargo” implied organization and a sustainable long-term strategy, rather than a short-sighted, day-to-day survival mentality.

He also examined their appearances. The one speaking in the center was a small man with a villainous face and a knife concealed in his cloak. The large man to his left carried a greatsword in front of him, likely for intimidation. The man to the right carried no visible weapon, standing half a step behind the others as though waiting for an opportunity.

“Truly, you are considerate.”

Sukui smiled as he calmly walked toward them. There was no sound from his movements. He carried no visible weapons.

“Well, we’re bandits, sure, but we don’t go around causing trouble all the time. Can’t let the local area fall into chaos, you know.”

As the man talked boastfully about their supposed restraint, Horo narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. Sukui nodded lightly in understanding and even clapped his hands as he continued to approach.

“You—”

“Ambushes require precision and the shortest path.”

The moment the central man opened his mouth to speak again, he collapsed, clutching his neck. Sukui’s raised hand smoothly transitioned into a strike, landing on the man’s throat with pinpoint precision.

His seemingly casual gesture was all it took to subdue the man. Observing Sukui’s actions, Horo decided to hold back and simply watch, treating it as a learning opportunity.

“You—!”

“Panicked attacks from weapon-wielders tend to be wide and sloppy.”

The large man on the left raised his weapon. Sukui spoke softly, just moments before, causing the man to falter slightly. However, the man did not believe that Sukui, who appeared to rely on sneak attacks, could avoid the swing of his greatsword.

Without hesitation, the large man brought his sword down. Sukui, raising one hand, pointed a finger toward the descending blade.

“When dodging a two-handed downward swing, the key is to stay still until just before impact.”

As he finished speaking, Sukui dodged at the last possible moment. He then showed Horo a finger with a shallow cut.

“If you dodge too early, they’ll adjust the swing toward your new position. Once the swing is complete, the opening is large enough to allow for various counterattacks.”

Sukui gently placed his hand under the large man’s chin.

“Utilizing the force of their own upward motion is one option.”

With that, Sukui lifted the man’s body and hurled him toward the other bandit. The second man dodged the incoming body by stepping back and raised a hand toward Sukui.

“When they retreat, prepare for magic. For ranged attacks, confirm the origin and direction of the projectile before evading.”

The man launched sharp wooden spikes, which Sukui casually avoided by walking. At the same time, he picked up a nearby stone and threw it.

“The basic strategy is to aim for the eyes, to block their vision.”

Rather than aiming to blind, Sukui used the projectile to obscure the man’s sight. He immediately closed the distance between them.

“As with the earlier ambush, it’s good to have several methods ready to instantly disable an unguarded opponent.”

He delivered a knee strike to the man’s face, followed by a kick as his head recoiled backward.

“These are fundamental techniques. Combat is a matter of knowledge and experience.”

“Yes!” Horo responded cheerfully, pleased with his teachings. She appreciated that the techniques he chose were ones she could realistically use herself.

“What… what are you? No, that’s not important.”

The first bandit, clutching his injured neck, coughed and managed to speak.

“We’re subordinates of the Martial King, one of the Three Kings. Are you looking to draw the attention of the Three Kings?”

His gaze was filled with disbelief. Sukui tilted his head slightly, puzzled.

“You don’t know? This area is ruled by three mighty kings.”

The bandit explained further.

The “Martial King,” once the strongest man’s apprentice, surpassed his master and left his country.
The “Feathered King,” with overwhelming magical power and mana, prevents anyone from approaching.
The “Playful King,” whose very existence is proven only by the corpses of their enemies, remains a complete enigma—even to their subordinates.

“We serve the Martial King. If you don’t pay the toll, you’ll pay the price. Are you planning to wage war in this place?”

The bandit laughed mockingly. The mention of the Three Kings intrigued Sukui. Such powerful villains couldn’t be ignored.

“A war? Perhaps. This place seems to be a den of criminals. It is my role to save them all.”

Thinking the place was referred to as “the jar,” Sukui spoke calmly and returned to the magic vehicle.

“Running away won’t help. Our defeat must already be known. More subordinates will come for you soon.”

Ignoring the man’s words, Sukui rummaged through the vehicle’s storage. He pushed aside expensive items purchased with their wealth—like a monocle to detect magic and a teleportation gem—until he retrieved a shabby leather bag. Returning to the bandit, he spoke.

“At this point, handing over our cargo is pointless. Soon you’ll realize how reasonable we actually were.”

“Are these the Three Kings you mentioned?” Sukui asked, carefully removing three severed heads from the leather bag.

The man froze, staring silently at the heads.

“We encountered frequent attacks along the way, so we took the initiative and eliminated them. Though, I personally did nothing.”

On their journey, they had encountered numerous bandits. Upon learning of the large organization, they forced information on its base out of captives and launched an assault.

“While their potential was remarkable, they severely lacked training. Perhaps the nature of banditry didn’t push them to hone their skills. Leadership has its drawbacks, it seems.”

The bandit, stunned, took one step back, then another.

“W-what is going on!?” he shouted, then turned and fled at full speed.

“Shall we pursue him?”

“No.”

Sukui raised a hand, signaling Horo to stop.

“He won’t survive for long. Giving him time to reflect on his crimes and accept his fate is worthwhile.”

Adjusting the wrinkles in his clothing, Sukui returned to the vehicle.

“Let’s brew some fresh tea. What should we have as a snack?”

“Oh, we have candied fruit. Let’s have that.”

“That sounds wonderful. Which fruit do you like best, Horo-san?”

Laughing and chatting once more, the two continued their comfortable journey.