The Grand Duelist

Chapter 26: Each Having their Own Intentions

Joseph felt nervous.

The scene that he was witnessing right now invalidated what he thought as common sense.

When the Great Wandering Bard's hand descended on his ukulele...

Those that stood before him, all collapsed as if they were puppets that had their strings cut.

"What happened?" Joseph sucked a mouthful of cold air as he murmured in shock.

He stared at the ukulele that the Great Wandering Bard held and he remembered that not a sound came out of it when it descended.

And yet...

How did everyone collapse?

Joseph's mind quickly spun.

As expected of someone that fought dozens of times against stronger enemies back at the Festival of Battles. His experience told him that it was impossible that a ukulele wouldn't produce any sound when it was strung. Because of that, Joseph realized what happened.

But just because he realized it so easily doesn't undermine how shocking it was.

"He condensed all the sound that came out from his ukulele and directly attacked their minds using that soundwave and vibration? What a monster!" Joseph's exclaimed in shock, but his eyes glittered with excitement.

He felt delightful regarding his future if he managed to transform such an NPC into his subordinate.

At this moment a voice full of desperation rang out.

"You can kill me sir, but please. Spare my brothers."

The tone of the speaker and the message that he said silenced Joseph's excitement. Afterward, he stared at the Great Wandering Bard. Whatever the NPC did next would decide whether what Joseph would do against the NPC.

The Great Wandering Bard possessed a power that could manipulate sound itself. Such an attack couldn't possibly be guarded against, and if he became Joseph's subordinate in the future...

Who would dare stand up against Joseph?

Joseph wished to have such a powerful subordinate. But he didn't want a subordinate that could easily kill those that do not have the capabilities on fighting against him.

Joseph wanted someone that felt mercy against the weak, not contempt. Joseph knew that he could be an existence that overlooked everything. But he wasn't a dictator.

He wanted to lead everyone under his banner with proper mercy and punishment.

Through the way of carrot and stick.

But of course, that doesn't mean that the bandits shouldn't be punished from what they attempted on doing against the Great Wandering. But Joseph found it unreasonable that they should still be executed. After all, they had already surrendered and had lost all their will to fight.

Not only that. But earlier, when the bandits pre-emptively attacked. One of them targeted the Great Wandering's kneecap instead of his heart. In other words, they aimed to incapacitate him. Not killing him.

Joseph nodded his head and he stared ahead with expectations in his eyes. But what he heard dumbfounded him.

"Nah, all of you shall suffer the death sentence."

The Great Wandering Bard sentenced them all to death in a cold, yet cheerful manner.

Shocked for a moment, the bandits awakened from their trance, then...

They realized that asking for mercy wouldn't bring them any results.

One of them moved finally moved. His dagger looked ghostly and imperceptible within the darkness as it aimed at the Great Wandering Bard's heart.

"What a futile struggle."

The Great Wandering Bard's hand descended at his ukulele once again and an invisible sound wave was unleashed from his ukulele.

The bandit who attacked flew backward, struck a wall and cough a mouthful of blood. Judging from how he sat on the ground unmoving. It was evident that he suffered tremendous damage from that attack.

"Interesting, you're still alive after that? You really are tenacious. As expected of a bandit that only lives within the darkness. If not for that mental fortitude and that strong body of yours. How could you possibly maintain your sanity while living in such conditions?"

The Great Wandering Bard said in a sarcastic manner before readying a stance with his ukulele.

Joseph's figure slightly moved. Sweat formed on his forehead and complicated emotions flashed on his face.

A part of him believed that the Great Wandering Bard didn't want to kill these bandits...

Why?

It was because the Great Wandering Bard had the power to end them all in one attack, yet he didn't do that on his first strike. Instead, he tormented them all as if teasing a child.

In that case, there could only be a single explanation.

The Great Wandering Bard was buying time.

He was waiting for something...

Joseph didn't believe that the Great Wandering Bard recognized and idolized by the masses had such a dark and sadistic attitude.

But...

Apart from Joseph who was hiding behind him.

Who could he be waiting for?

Joseph finally realized what was going on, but he felt conflicted about helping those bandits.

It was because the bandits led a life of crime and they knew that those who wield the blade for a living would soon die under the blade.

He only took pity on their plight due to the fact that they were about to be killed by the Great Wandering Bard even though they had already surrendered.

But still...

Joseph hesitated on helping them because Joseph didn't know if they were truly kind in nature.

After all, what if the bandit deliberately didn't aim for the Great Wandering Bard's life earlier just so he could torture the Great Wandering Bard and make him endure great humiliation?

Even though Joseph felt like he was jumping to conclusions...

It was much safer for him to assume that than to regret everything in the end.

But Joseph still didn't turn his back towards the bandits. It was because a part of him still believed that they were kind, deep inside. This idea was reinforced by that particular bandit who offered himself as a sacrifice earlier, just so his brothers could live.

Such altruism in the world of bandits was extremely rare and noteworthy.

Joseph was sure of that bandit's character.

But what about his comrades?

What if his comrades were the opposite?

Joseph hesitated because of that, but soon...

His hesitation disappeared.

It was because one of the bandits shouted something that thoroughly shook Joseph's heart.

"Kayn! If there's a second life. I hope that we'd be sworn brothers again! I'll see you in my next life!"

That man started shouting but others soon followed. In a few moments, every one of them was crying and shouting their regrets at each other as they promised that once they met once again in their next lives, they would definitely be sworn brothers once more.

But before they could prepare themselves for their inevitable death...

The Great Wandering Bard interrupted them with clear contempt and mocking in his voice.

"A bunch of men crying like babies? What a tearjerker."

Hearing this, Joseph finally couldn't hold himself back.

He moved.

Running towards those bandits.

But the Great Wandering Bard's hand was faster.

It was descending in a rate visible to the naked eye and it looked incredibly slow. Yet, it was far faster than Joseph.

"No..."

"You're not gonna lay those hands on them!" Joseph screamed to himself. 

His speed, limited by his movement speed in the game almost surpassed that limitation, and when the Great Wandering Bard was finally within his range...

"Sound Wave Art: Relentless Sou-"

"The Grand Duelist's Dash!"

Bang!

Joseph cried out while the Great Wandering Bard channeled his attack.

Joseph instantly arrived at the Great Wandering Bard's side.

"Thrust!"

He sent an attack at the Great Wandering Bard's ukulele and it instantly shattered from the force of the attack.

"You finally couldn't hold yourself back?

The Great Wandering Bard had a smile on his face.

He looked like everything that happened was within his plans.

He stared at Joseph as if he expected his intervention...

"So, you were really waiting for me," Joseph replied with a smile.

"Since you knew that I've been waiting for you? Shouldn't it be better that you intervened in this battle earlier? I mean, I could feel you hiding behind me all this time." The Great Wandering Bard asked.

Joseph glanced at the fallen bandits before replying.

"I just had to check something..."

"Hahaha..." The Great Wandering Bard suddenly laughed. Amusement could be seen on his expression as he continued: "Yeah, I know what you were thinking. You hesitated on saving them because you were afraid of releasing tigers to a mountain, right?"

Joseph didn't confirm nor deny the Great Wandering Bard's allegations.

"Now, what are you going to do? You want to save them, right?"

"But do you really think that I will let you save them that easily?"

The Great Wandering Bard stared at Joseph and mocked: "Someone as weak as you is mere nothing but an ant! You are like them too!"

The smile on Joseph's face deepened. Amusement could also be seen on his face. Since he knew that even though the Great Wandering Bard was mocking him. It was clear that what he said weren't really his true feelings.

But why was Joseph so sure about this?

Well...

It was because of the appearance of several system notifications.

[A hidden quest is generated!]

[The Grand Duelist's Vestige(Class-Specific Quest)

Quest Difficulty: ???

The Great Wandering Bard has always been a believer of those considered as myths. He worships them and he's been traveling through the entire continent ever since he came of age just for the sake of spreading the glory of the myths.

The Grand Duelist, in particular, is a myth whom he truly loved. Ever since he realized the greatness of the Grand Duelist.

He grew to love his existence and he's incomparably familiar with the Grand Duelist's aura and features.

Today, he detected that you had a similar aura to that of the Grand Duelist. But he refuses to believe that someone as weak as you is the one and only Grand Duelist of the myths.

Prove him wrong. Show him the power of those considered as myths.

Defeat him and you will earn great rewards!

Note: If you managed to defeat him without suffering any damage. An incredibly precious reward is awaiting you!

Quest Clear Conditions: Take at least 10% of the Great Wandering Bard's Health Points.

Quest Rewards: ??? Conditional.

Quest Failure: Everyone will be killed by the Great Wandering Bard. Penalty upon death by the hands of the Great Wandering Bard is quadrupled. He will no longer glorify the name of the Grand Duelist. Your Reputation will go into minus values, and Divinity Stat will be temporarily locked.]

[This is a Class-Specific Quest and cannot be refused!]

[Quest is automatically accepted!]