30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?!-Chapter 279: What Justifies a Knight’s Battle? (2)
BOOOOM!
A thunderous roar erupted, shaking the entire space—not just resonating through it, but hammering down as if the very air itself had been struck by a colossal fist.
The weaker monsters collapsed on the spot, their eardrums ruptured, their eyes rolling back as they fainted. The larger and more resilient ones managed to remain conscious, but they trembled uncontrollably, seized with terror.
Lion’s Roar.
According to Buddhist teachings, just as a lion’s roar subjugates lesser beasts, the Buddha’s sermons were said to suppress demonic forces. However, Ihan’s roar did not stem from divine enlightenment or spiritual power—it was raw force and unyielding will, meant to crush his enemies into submission.
It was domination through strength.
Even if he had borrowed the name, this was his own path—his own declaration that he would forge ahead. As long as Ihan continued to grow, so too would his Lion’s Roar.
The proof was undeniable. A year ago, it had only been strong enough to subdue a few cadets through sheer volume. But now—
BZZZT!
[“Grrruk!?!“]
[“Kehhheeehk!“]
[“Sssss....“]
Even high-tier monsters recoiled and retreated.
Tremble...!
Ortos, who had been so confident mere moments ago, now shuddered violently.
Blood trickled from his eyes and ears, his massive body covered in lacerations as if slashed by invisible blades. His enormous serpent-like tail convulsed, retching blood from the sheer agony.
This was the true nature of Lion’s Roar—a concentrated sonic attack that battered Ortos’ entire body, proving that Ihan’s roar wasn’t just brute force, but a refined technique.
“You guys can’t do something like this, can you?“
A sound wasn’t just something that spread through space. It could be focused, hammered into a single target like a sledgehammer, or sliced like a razor’s edge.
This was the realm of technique. One of the many ways Ihan envisioned perfecting Lion’s Roar.
‘Using it like [Sonic Techniques] from wuxia novels is tough, but this much is easy once you know the trick.’
If he practiced enough and honed his instincts, perhaps he’d soon be able to use Whispered Transmission as well.
...But that was for later.
KRAAAAH!
BOOM!
“As expected of a high-tier monster.“
For now, he had to deal with this bastard.
—KAAAH!—
As if his injuries had never happened, Ortos recovered unnaturally fast and lashed out with a vicious kick.
Whoosh!
For a creature that was bigger than five bulls combined, he was terrifyingly fast.
It was cheetah-like speed.
Any normal knight would have frozen in shock, only to have their throat ripped out in the next instant.
Whoomph!
“This is the best you can do?“
[!!]
With a mere step, Ihan used Shadow Step, effortlessly surpassing Ortos’ speed. Then, as if gliding forward, he took position for a counterattack.
[“Sssaaaah!“]
Ortos realized he was too slow to evade. With quick thinking, he used his massive serpentine tail to shield his head—an intelligent decision.
But—
CRACK!
[!?]
—A mistake.
No, his real mistake was thinking Ihan was just another knight.
Drip...
One of his eyes had burst.
Even though he had blocked the attack.
Ortos, an apex predator with intelligence surpassing most monsters, was left utterly bewildered. The pain barely registered—his mind was too overwhelmed by confusion.
“You can make faces like that?“
[Grrrr....!]
“Why are you mad? You’re still a dog, aren’t you?“
SMACK!
[?!?]
Again. His head snapped back.
Even though he dodged.
This time, his fangs shattered.
His jawbone had definitely cracked.
It was an unnatural attack—one that even Ortos, with all his intelligence, could not comprehend. This human... what was he?
And then—
[...]
“You’re not moving anymore?“
[...]
“Smart bastard. Even knights black out when they get hit by Shattering Strike for the first time. You’re better than most of them... though, at the end of the day, you’re still just a damn monster.“
Ortos did not take the bait.
He remained unnervingly calm.
This was what made high-tier monsters so terrifying.
They could strategize. They could learn.
Ortos was one of those creatures—one that could absorb human techniques, adapt, and evolve if given enough time.
That’s why—
FLASH!
“...Huh?“
Ortos suddenly fled.
A being whose instincts were programmed to attack humans on sight, even at the cost of its own life... had chosen to run.
It was an unthinkable decision.
And yet—
[“Sssaaah!“]
Ortos wasn’t finished. He activated his true ability.
Sssss...
As he retreated, his body started turning invisible.
His footsteps faded, his presence erased.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“!?”
[“Kaaaah!“]
He could almost feel the human’s confusion behind him.
Ortos smirked.
For five years, he had used this ability to toy with those who tried to hunt him.
Even if his enemy was ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) stronger, what good was strength if they couldn’t find him?
[“Grrr....“]
[“Kaaaah!“]
One of his heads wanted to kill the human on the spot. But the other head refused.
The invisibility didn’t last long—and if they attacked, they’d reveal their position and end up taking unnecessary damage.
Ortos was too intelligent to make such a foolish mistake.
No... he would escape, get stronger, and return better prepared.
Or at least, that was the plan.
“—There you are.“ freewebnσvel.cøm
CRACK!
[!!?]
[!!]
[??]
Both heads froze in horror.
The human... had caught them.
Even though they were invisible.
Even though they had erased all traces of their presence.
IMPOSSIBLE.
THUD!
“Wondering how I found you?“
Still holding onto Ortos, Ihan squeezed.
The monster’s enormous body was lifted into the air.
A feat no human should have been able to accomplish.
“You hid your presence well... but you forgot one thing.“
Tap.
“You should’ve hidden your smell.“
[...?]
Before Ortos could even process those words—
WHOOSH!
“This move is called—Tombstone Piledriver.“
BOOOOOOM!
Ortos’ massive body was slammed into the ground.
***
CRACK...
Ortos’ massive body slammed into the ground, convulsing violently as his eyes rolled back.
One of his heads had snapped backward, its neck completely broken—dead on impact.
The other head, however, was still alive.
The serpent-like tail, which still retained consciousness, trembled uncontrollably.
[“S-Sssssaaah....”]
Tears welled up in its eyes, shimmering with pure terror.
It looked as though it was begging for mercy.
“Tsk. That wasn’t how a proper Piledriver is supposed to go. Was it because this bastard’s too big?”
Ihan felt nothing.
He wasn’t moved by its pitiful display.
Instead, he was disappointed—disappointed that the technique hadn’t landed as cleanly as he wanted.
The sheer size of Ortos, along with his two heads, made the execution feel clunky. It lacked the precision he was aiming for.
Smacking his lips, Ihan debated trying again—after all, one head was still intact.
But then—
“No need to waste time....”
Ihan knew there was nothing more foolish than overthinking in battle.
For the first time in this fight—
He drew his sword.
SHIIING.
Despite having been submerged in water earlier, the blade gleamed, emanating a lethal sharpness that seemed ready to pierce through flesh and sever limbs.
Ihan wasn’t someone who killed indiscriminately.
But when it came to monsters and spellcasters?
There was no point in showing mercy.
[!!?]
The serpent-head let out a frantic, desperate wail—pleading for its life.
But Ihan’s eyes and blade remained merciless.
“In your next life, try being a rich family’s pet dog or cat instead of a monster.”
SWISH!
His sword swung down—intent on slicing Ortos clean in half.
CLANG!
“...?”
“Ho! That’s an impressive sword strike for a monster!”
“...The hell?”
His blade had been blocked.
Not just blocked—deflected.
“...You—”
Ihan blinked, taking in his opponent.
He had swung with full strength—yet it had been countered with such ease.
It wasn’t arrogance that made him think this.
He was simply used to the average knight’s level—whether it was the White Cats or the nobility’s knights, most of them wouldn’t have been able to react in time.
But this one?
This one was different.
And just as Ihan was taken aback—
“Incredible! To think a humanoid monster could possess such mastery over swordsmanship!!”
The opponent, too, seemed genuinely impressed by Ihan.
...However—
“...What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”
A humanoid monster?
What kind of bullshit was that?
Ihan instinctively furrowed his brows at the absurdity of it all—
“Hah! That overwhelming presence—it’s unnatural for a mere human! I doubted my eyes when I first saw you, but now...!! You’re a monster in disguise! Reveal your true form, you fiend!!”
“...I am human.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! How could a mere human lift Ortos barehanded?! How could you track him through sheer scent, even after he turned invisible?! That’s impossible for a human!!”
“No, that’s just—”
“And no human could make an entire horde of monsters faint just by roaring!!”
“......”
“You’re clearly an ogre or a troll in disguise!! I, Sir Felix de Mordred, shall vanquish you!!!”
“......”
...Why?
Technically, he could refute everything.
So why did it feel like he... couldn’t?
Somewhere, deep inside, something about this knight’s booming voice made Ihan feel a little hurt.
