Episode 13 : The Battle of Nosferus (2) - Part 5

 My oldest buddy said.

Gandalf of Kumu is a fighter whose name is known not only in the Three Kingdoms of Gora, but throughout the Middle Kingdom. He has been called the Immortal King of Fighters, the man who could lift two horses with his bare hands, and so on. It is said that there will not be another fighter like him in half a century. Of course not. In the first place, there are no challengers who want to challenge Gandalf, and Gandalf has no choice but to show his skills against bearmen and snakes. Well, there are not many fools in their right mind who would dare to challenge Gandalf.

I don't know.

 Suddenly, someone called out to us from below, and we jumped out of our skin.

Do you really think so? then you must be tourists who've only recently arrived in Rouen.

 When we looked at him, we saw a small, poor, shabby man, who at a glance we knew to be a pedlar or a money-grubber, looking up at us, licking his lips with his tongue, and pulling at the sleeves of his armor.

"What is it? Even in our own land, we've heard that the Gandalfs have grown so strong that they have no challengers and are in trouble. The way you say it, it's like...

 I was just about to say that,

"Gandalf! Gandalf!

"Gandalf the Champion!

"Martial Arts King!

 We stopped talking as the carriage with Gandalf slowly passed over the bridge we were on, amidst a huge crowd of people, cheering wildly.

 On top of the carriage, Gandalf stood arrogantly, his hands in iron cuffs, his hands on his hips and his other fists on his chest, standing tall and proud, without even holding the railing. He was indeed a big man, with a full-body strength like a spring, shiny black skin and long hair like a lion, so big that I, who was tall as you can see, felt myself as if I were a dwarf wandering in a giant country. He also had a fearsome face, as the rumors had it, and the old scars all over his face made him look like a terrible machine that only knew how to fight.

You're right, he's a hell of a guy.

 A colleague of mine said.

I don't want to be asked to hang myself for being drunk. So, according to you, there's a new madman who wants to challenge the Gandalf? I don't believe it.

I'm not saying that.

 The pedlar bared his teeth and said.

'If that were the case, I'd bet on that man first and foremost to make a fortune! I'm just saying that the world is a big place and I can believe that there's a fighter who can beat Gandalf.

 That was the moment he finished.

"Hey.

 Suddenly, a terrifying voice came from the top of the carriage.

What did you just say?

 Unfortunately, Gandalf, who was just passing by, overheard what he said.

No, no, nothing, um...

 The pedant was in a daze. He looked lifeless. It must have been so, because when the fighter looked down at him, his ghastly face and the light in his eyes were so great that it was as if a huge lion had suddenly opened its mouth in front of him.

"No, I heard you say it. There's a fighter out there who's better than Gandalf-- that's what you said.

 As soon as he had said this, the big man, with iron bands around his arms and shins and a tanned leather loincloth, jumped down with all his might before the poor pedant.

That's who you're talking to. Interesting. Bring him out here. I'm Gandalf. I want a fight with a fighter who can outrun Gandalf. I wanna know if he's really as good as Gandalf. Who is it? Where is he? You!

 Suddenly Gandalf was staring at us. His eyes were full of color. We rushed to deny it and return the honor.

"So it's you.

 Gandalf glared at the little pedant. The poor, unfortunate little man was about to faint.

"That was just a figure of speech-- please, please, please-- Master Gandalf. ...

No, now that you mention it, you know a fighter who's better than me. Tell me. I'm sure the Manchurian audience has had enough of watching Gandalf fight bears and snakes. Tell me. You don't say. Take him to my lodge.

"Help me.

 As soon as the pedlar turned his head and tried to run away, a thick arm reached out and caught him by the neck.

 It's like treating a cat like a child. We were indeed disgusted. But we had no confidence in our ability to stop the great Gandalf, so we watched helplessly as the big man twirled the poor pedant around.

 That's when it happened.

"Don't do anything immature. You are Gandalf.

 There was a thick, rumbling voice in my stomach, and the door of the inn behind us at the foot of the bridge opened.

 We were startled by the sight of a huge man, probably Gandalf's equal in size.

 The massive muscles that armoured his entire body were of the utmost magnificence, and his long cloak of travel gear, covered in dust as if he had come from a faraway place, was not the only thing that made the onlookers gasp. Rather, it was because of the strange black hood that wrapped around his head, making him seem for a moment to be headless.

 But when we looked closely, we saw that it had its head completely wrapped in cloth, and only its eyes were showing. When we saw those eyes - yellowish and glowing with a terrible power - we knew without being told that this was the man the pedant had told us about.

 It seemed to Gandalf that this was immediately apparent. He dismissed the pedant and looked at the newcomer as if he were begrudging him something, and a look of joy came over his face, as if he had suddenly found rain in a drought.

"Mm, you look strong. You're strong.

 Gandalf barked.

Fight me. Fight me, please.

"I am not a fighter.

 was the answer of the other.

"I don't care about that. I want a strong partner and I want him now. Fight, draw your sword, now.

"Dueling in the streets of the capital is a felony.

We'll see you in the arena. Let's go.

No, I'm not going.

 His adversary did not seem to be afraid of Gandalf, or even to be afraid of him. Gandalf sensed this and was eager to challenge him, but as soon as he saw that his opponent was not on board, he was not.

"I'll make you fight.

 As soon as he had shouted, Gandalf drew the dagger from his appendage and drew out the point with uncanny rapidity.

 Not only that, but the upper part of his loose-fitting robe, which he wore under his cloak, was cut off roughly in the shape of an X, just about here on his chest. The upper part of the loose-fitting robe that he wore under his cloak was roughly cut in the shape of an X, and blood spurted out from it.

 Rather than Gandalf's outrageous provocation, what we were astonished at was the sheer audacity of Ai, who could have surely dodged the sword and drawn his sword in response if he had wanted to, but instead of doing so, he remained silent and let Gandalf hurt him.

 Knowing this, Gandalf's face became as white as paper, and suddenly he approached the fighter with his hand like a vise on his arm,

It's useless. I'm not in a position to be fighting you right now. But I would very much like to fight a man like you. We'll have a chance to meet soon. When I'm not on such important business as I am now.

 That's what I told him to tell you.

"You're not trying to run away, are you? ...

 Gandalf's words were notably lacking in color. Then he said,

"If you're so worried, let me tell you something. My name is ....

 Only Gandalf could have heard it. For he had pressed his mouth to Gandalf's ear and whispered after him.

 Immediately, Gandalf's face became even more pale than before, and he even began to tremble.

"Oh no--oh no ...

 The next moment he disappeared into the inn, not even bothering to wipe the blood dripping from the wound on his chest.

 And we were left with nothing but an unfulfilled curiosity and a sense of intense wonder."

 El is done speaking.

"Fumu..."

 It was only after a few moments of silence that Count Mars let out a long breath.

"It's hard to tell from that. But--but if it is Mako and that leopard man,..., then this is--"

"..."

"This will not be easy, Garance. So far, we've associated him with Paro, and we've associated him with Shem. If it should happen to be Kumu and the man who appeared to him ..."

"After that, I became suspicious and went to the innkeeper's house to investigate, but the man had already left. The man had already left, and not a single name was recorded in the inn book."

 and El .

"Hm."

 Count Mars snorted again, this time looking at Argon's El with a different interest.

"All right. I'll keep that to myself for now. And what about you, El? You're smart and you're good at what you do. You're good at what you do. I'm not sure I want you in my company. You could be useful to me in the SS.

"I'm honored, sir."

 Elle put the hilt of her sword to her breast and made a formal bow.

"No objections. Then take the horse and get into line. I'll tell the company commander."

 Obviously, Count Mars was very impressed by this jovial young man who spoke so well.

"I didn't know a young man like that was in Argon's squad, Garance."

"Huh."

"Have you noticed? That young man, he kind of looks like Little Asturias."

"There is a certain resemblance to Viscount Marius of Torus."

"Actually, I thought so, too."

 The old Earl looked at the back of Elle's face as if he were thinking of his son who was far away.

"You're a good young man. I'm sure he'll respond well to the selection."

 Nodding and muttering a few times.

"Garance. That, and Argon later."

"I understand."

"We should get going. Oh, the message came through."

 The less pleasant duty of advising the Princess of Amneris of the previous concern, both from the heart of Count Mars and of old Garance, seemed to have been forgotten.

"Departure--departure!"

 The voice of the messenger rang out. In the rush before departure, the faithful Garance drove his horse to the Argon company behind him, before he forgot.

"The company commander..."

"He's getting ready.

"I see."

 Garance thought for a moment. The roar of the bears, the clash of swords and armor, was loud all around.

"Then tell Argon. Tell him that your company's ell has been transferred to the bannermen by Count Mars' own order."

"Yes, sir."

 The farmer bows his head graciously.

"Elle--?"

 Evan suddenly recognized it.

"I don't know if there was such a guy-- you mean Eck. I don't see him. Maybe Eck was wrong."

"Hey, line 'em up."

 Evan, a good-natured man, was shouted at roughly from behind and jumped on the horse in a panic. The Mongol expedition, which had been reduced to 10,000, was beginning to move again, slowly, like a gigantic, extremely colored worm slithering through the white sand.