Vol 2 Chapter 60 – Altruistic Charity Hero vs. Knight of Judgment【Vol 2 – The Condemned Knight Edition】

Erik and Miriam walked toward the location Eleonora had designated.

They knew of the old, abandoned arena.

It was a true relic. The spectator stands, which must have once held great crowds, were partially collapsed and heavily weathered.

In the center of that arena, Eleonora stood waiting for them quietly.

“…You came. I’m surprised you didn’t run.”

Perhaps, from Eleonora’s perspective, she had been hoping they would flee.

Of course, she wasn’t consciously thinking that, but it was likely some deep-seated part of her that felt that way, which was why she had declared she would pass judgment after a day’s delay.

But that no longer mattered.

Erik was standing before her, smiling.

“I could never turn down an invitation from a lady.”

“…Hmph, you seem to have room for jokes.”

Though slightly irritated, Eleonora couldn’t help but laugh at Erik’s unchanging demeanor.

From Erik’s perspective, of course, ignoring a rendezvous with a woman (who would surely beat him to a pulp) was simply out of the question.

Eleonora’s smile vanished as she looked at Miriam standing beside him.

“…You don’t have to be here, you know. You are Erik’s partner, but you have not actually committed any evil.”

However, Miriam refused Eleonora’s consideration with a shake of her head.

“…The place I belong is by Erik’s side.”

“…Is that so. Then I have nothing more to say.”

Eleonora closed her eyes for a moment, then snapped them open again.

The gentle light that had lingered there moments before was gone, replaced by the cold glint of the Knight of Judgment, whose sole purpose was to destroy villains.

“…Do we really have to fight? We… Erik thought he could get along with you.”

“Yes, I thought so, too. But that is now in the past. Erik… no, he protected a criminal. That is an evil act. He is a being that I, as justice, must destroy. A future where we do not fight is impossible. Now, Miriam, please stand back. If you do not wish to be caught in the crossfire.”

Eleonora replied as she equipped those terrifying, spiked gauntlets.

Watching her, it was easy to understand that there was no chance she would let Erik go.

Realizing that a peaceful resolution through discussion was impossible, Miriam cast a worried glance at Erik before heading toward what were once the spectator seats.

After confirming she was a safe distance away, Eleonora slammed her gauntlets together.

CLANK!

“I will fight to kill the evil… to kill Erik. So, tell me, Erik, what do you fight for?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

It was difficult to state his true desire—his perverted wish to be beaten to a pulp—out loud.

Erik thought for a moment before answering.

“In that case, I would like to change your way of thinking, Eleonora. I want you to have the kindness to grant even villains a chance at redemption, so long as their crimes are minor.”

“…Spoken like a true Hero. How very kind of you.”

Eleonora laughed softly.

“But—”

THUD!

Eleonora leaped high into the air.

Her movements were impossibly light for someone wearing such heavy armor and gauntlets.

At the apex of her descent, where she prepared to slam her fist down, was, of course, Erik.

“—criminals… evil… have no need for redemption. They need only be destroyed.”

Her gauntlet-covered fist came crashing down.

KRA-KOOM!

An incredible roar echoed through the arena.

The idea of a woman’s fist pulverizing the ground is a foolish tale that anyone who hadn’t seen it with their own eyes would laugh at.

But, in reality, Eleonora was a woman who could do just that.

“Hmph…”

The wind-up for this attack had been large, so Erik was able to roll out of the way.

What’s more, he drew his sword even as he rolled.

It seemed like a simple, reflexive action, but he had survived countless life-or-death battles to be able to pull it off.

“Haaaah!!”

Having taken the attack, it was now Erik’s turn.

He brandished his sword and brought it down in an overhead strike.

Eleonora blocked it with her gauntlet.

SCHRING!

A high-pitched shriek of metal rang out as the sword failed to reach her.

The two were locked in a stalemate, muscles straining.

However, despite being a grown man pushing down with all his might from an overhead stance, Eleonora didn’t budge an inch. There wasn’t a trace of panic on her face.

In terms of pure physical strength, she was superior to Erik.

Having blocked the blow with a single arm, Eleonora swung her free gauntlet.

Erik raised his sword to block, but the tremendous force sent him flying backward.

“…That is a sturdy sword. To think it didn’t break when I struck it with my gauntlet.”

“Indeed. It was a gift from a certain someone.”

That “certain someone” was, of course, Debora.

Erik was active as the Hero, but his rewards were so dreadfully low they were disproportionate to his deeds.

He didn’t have the funds to buy a masterwork sword capable of withstanding the combined impact of Eleonora’s strength and her reinforced gauntlets.

But he was also Debora’s Knight of Fealty.

He had received it from her on the condition that they continue adventuring together.

It’s a side note, but King Rei’s feelings toward Erik soured even further when he found out she had given away a sword belonging to the royal family without permission.

“Is that so. …But if I strike it enough times, it will eventually break.”

Having made that judgment, Eleonora braced herself and shot forward, kicking off the ground.

Her movements were impossibly fast for someone in heavy armor.

But they were not so fast that Erik’s eyes couldn’t follow.

“Hmph…!”

He dodged the fist aiming for his face with a wide movement.

WHOOSH!

A violent gust of wind tore past, whipping Erik’s hair up.

He was dodging so dramatically for a reason: Eleonora’s gauntlets.

It was because of the spikes, which were clearly affixed for the purpose of killing her enemies.

Because of them, he couldn’t risk a narrow dodge to land a counterattack.

“Not yet.”