episode_0004

Blue flames enveloping the confronting two knights.

The clearly contrasting mana quantities displayed their respective levels.

The princesses gazed intently at the flames.

Soon, they reluctantly shook their heads in resignation.

“As expected, there’s no way around it in this main game, right? It’s a shame, that commoner knight-.”

Lydia said, rustling a candy wrapper.

Agreeing with her words, Leah set down her quill.

“No matter how excellent one’s swordsmanship is, if there’s a lack of mana, the limits become evident.”

One princess rested her arms on the table.

With her index finger against her cheek, she watched the two knights.

However…

Second princess Irina was different from the others.

“Combat isn’t just about mana.”

She spoke casually while looking at the sky-blue mana of her veil.

“That child is different.”

Lydia found Irina’s self-assured words irritating.

She chuckled and crossed her arms alone.

“Why, do you feel camaraderie just because we share commoner blood?”

“If you can’t believe it, then make a wager.”

At the second princess’s nonchalant provocation, the third princess’s candy crunched.

“My dear-? It’s obvious, Richard will win.”

The second princess smiled leisurely at Lydia’s casual demeanor.

“Well, you bet on Richard then.”

With half-closed eyes, she kindly remarked.

“I’ll bet on Vale.”

Lydia spat out the half-eaten candy, finding her smile unsettling.

Then, wiping her lips with the tissue provided by a guard, she asked, “So, thinking about your depleted treasury, care to wager 500 gold?”

The price of a whole carriage.

Lydia shook her head dismissively and handed over the sum.

Turning her head, she asked Princess Leah, “Aren’t you betting?”

To the youngest princess’s inquiry, Leah remained silent for a moment.

She had long stopped analyzing the differences between the two.

“Well, I don’t invest in uncertain deals.”

Lydia smirked at the first princess’s words.

Her braided hair tilted to the side.

“So, you’re saying that unheard-of kid could win too?”

Leah shrugged, indifferent to the outcome of the duel.

She elegantly picked up the paper on the table with her fingers.

“I don’t know.”

Irina glanced briefly at Leah’s document.

The paper listed the names of candidate knights.

And…

Leah hadn’t written anyone’s name under the first nomination yet.

“….”

I stared fixedly at Richard.

He aimed his longsword at me, breathing heavily.

“Huuu…!”

And at the moment he bent his knees.

With a strong thrust that almost shattered the marble floor, he leaped forward.

Kaaang―――!!

I could respond promptly due to my quick reflexes.

However, the consecutive ignorant slashes were taxing as blocking each felt like striking with iron bars.

‘Fool… didn’t you learn that brute strength won’t work here?’

A metallic taste of blood seeped through my throat.

Perhaps thanks to that acrid taste.

I realized that my body wasn’t in the condition it used to be when I was active on the front lines.

At this moment, I was merely a 21-year-old commoner.

“…!”

Without hesitation, he continuously aimed deadly strikes at me.

As if hoping I would cower and surrender.

If Cain were subjected to such a technique, his arm would surely break.

And then, he would mock it as another mistake.

Nobles always did that.

So….

‘Today, I’ll correct his habits properly.’

At that decisive moment, Richard charged towards me, cutting through the air.

“How long do you plan to just defend…!!”

When he swung his sword towards the empty space.

Shrouded in sunlight, a deep darkness loomed over me.

The faces of those watching me from that massive shadow turned serious.

The moment I allowed his strike, I thought I was going to die.

But as the darkness deepened, my pupils dilated even more.

The perfect timing to completely overpower him is now….

“…!”

My forehead’s every nerve was taut.

I focused all my concentration into my arms and sword, to the point where my pupils shrank.

At that moment,

My feeble blue mana turned golden.

I mixed vitality into the mana, amplifying its power.

“Sword Aura.”

A technique only Swordmasters or those close to them could use.

I swung the greatsword along with the golden aura.

And boldly clashed with the descending foe’s blade.

――――――!!

“Keep spinning like this!”

The loud sound of clashing blades echoed.

Following that sound, I deflected the sword and spun it widely.

Thanks to that, Richard’s massive longsword twisted noisily.

“Argh…!”

As my full-force strike missed, the foe staggered.

In that instant,

I landed and swiftly slashed his side.

Soon, red blood stained Richard’s white uniform.

“What is this…?”

A combat technique I had never seen before.

Experiencing it, the foe clutched his side.

“Blood, blood…!”

And stared intently at the blood on his hands.

“….”

The Knight Commander’s son’s pupils trembled as if he were seeing blood for the first time.

Understandably so.

Being cut in a duel meant imminent defeat.

A perfect judgment loss.

“I lost…?”

His lineage had produced Swordmasters every generation.

Historically, no one had ever been defeated in the ceremonial duel.

Therefore, Richard from a past life did his best to win against anyone.

Yet this time, choosing the weak ended up making him a laughingstock.

“….”

Watching him waver, I sheathed my sword.

“He didn’t notice the Aura, did he?”

I wanted to prevent the color change in the mana by any means necessary.

However, due to my unstable strength, a subtle golden hue circulated in the mana.

It’s a technique that can only be used when close to being a Swordmaster.

If people knew I wielded such power as a novice, they would send love calls as if possessed.

Five years later, as the unwanted escort of the Crown Princess who was destined to be humiliated, the worst scenario would unfold for me.

I turned my head with a worried heart.

But, in that moment,

The loud cheers of my comrades drowned out even my worries.

“Bael! Bael!!”

The ground of the Imperial Palace shook from their voices, so loud that not even the Royal Guards could silence them.

They were simply admiring the technique I displayed.

“….”

Especially the princesses.

Their expressions turned dumbfounded by the surprising outcome.

Oh, except for one person.

“What… just happened?”

Lydia’s arm trembled as she rested her chin on it.

She looked astonished by the duel she had never seen before, her eyes even quivering under her gaze.

Lea placed her hand on Lydia’s trembling shoulder.

“I told you. It was uncertain.”

Lydia stood firm, her earring shaking with determination.

She was angry at the fact that they alone held information even they didn’t know.

“This is all staged, right? A commoner candidate using a veteran’s skill!”

She couldn’t fathom that even Irina, whom she usually ignored, knew this fact.

“I told you he’s different.”

The Second Princess paid no heed to her sister’s resentment.

She merely looked down haughtily at her sister who had belittled herself.

“How do you even know that!”

Ignoring the Third Princess’s question, Irina turned her head towards me.

I soon met her gaze.

“I’ve been watching that knight for a long time.”

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, I coughed lightly.

And when I looked back at her….

“Bael…!!”

Irina’s sudden urgent expression change.

The tender voice that called me in my dreams.

Her previously expressionless face transformed, and my eyes flickered.

“….!”

A chilling sensation down my spine.

Following my instincts, I quickly turned my head.

――――――!!

Richard.

He was charging at me without hesitation.

As he drew closer, a fierce heat made it hard to breathe.

His once blue mana had turned crimson.

“It’s not over yet…!!”

Mana eruption.

The phenomenon that occurs when unable to control the massive outburst of mana.

“Raise your sword, Veil…!!”

Emotions intensify, and in severe cases, it consumes vitality instead of mana.

The black sheep’s sword had completely turned against him.

Blame pouring from his father and clan members.

Branded as a loser by the family’s honor.

Unable to accept this, he wielded his sword with a fierce expression.

Even Valerian, who had been silent until now, rose to action.

The general began to rush towards us to stop the rampaging madman.

Realizing the severity of the situation, his comrades even shouted.

“I will never lose…!!”

He raised his sword.

Thanks to Irina’s guidance, he could find the opportune moment to defend himself.

Clang――――!!

A chilling friction sound emanated from the clash of swords.

Richard thrust his sword more forcefully than ever before.

“That goes for commoners too!”

A voice tinged with madness as if losing his sanity.

Numerous vulnerabilities created thanks to this.

“Now the tables have turned, Richard.”

I released my grip on the sword hilt held in both hands.

As a result, the countered sword swiftly tilted towards my neck.

However, I did not flinch.

It was all part of the plan.

“That commoner, commoner. I’m tired of this.”

With my free hand, I grabbed the blade of his sword.

Twisting my body, I disarmed him.

Wrestling.

A close combat technique used by knights on the actual battlefield.

When nobles overwhelm their opponents with mana they’ve cultivated.

Those of us thrust into the frontlines rely on firsthand experience to win.

“…!!”

I dropped the stolen greatsword to the ground as if to show it off.

The people of Gryffindor were left dumbfounded by the sight.

Because ‘Richard’ had been subdued barehanded.

“Aaargh!!”

The fallen man on the ground screamed out.

As he rose, he tried desperately to grab the sword somehow.

“Noble sir, you look quite ridiculous.”

I calmly rolled up my sleeves.

Approaching him, still showing signs of life.

Continuing to deplete mana like this would eventually cost him his life.

Thwack―――!!

I struck his noisy face with my fist.

Just like how he had tormented commoner knights like punching bags.

“You commoner scum, are you also going to ignore me…! Raise your sword…!!”

I continue to strike until he regains his senses.

Valerian, who had approached nearby, silently observed his actions for a while.

As if trying to instill a sense of caution in the arrogant noble knights.

Wham―――!!

His neatly styled hair became completely disheveled.

His fair skin swelled unevenly.

“Isn’t that a bit much?”

“Shouldn’t someone stop this…?”

As the brutal sounds of impact continued, his comrades gradually murmured.

However, I paid no attention to their words.

After all, they had never apologized to the commoner comrades they had tormented.

People don’t die easily in the first place.

Having experienced it on the Northern Front, I know better.

Richard’s blood gleamed brightly on my fist.

In that state, I looked back at the noble knights.

“….”

They could no longer ignore me.

They simply avoided my gaze fearfully.

“Grrr….”

Richard’s groans echoed from the ground.

I intended to engrave the fear of death in him.

But soon, I stopped.

“Veil, that’s enough.”

Valerian had walked over from a distance.

“If it’s gotten to this point, he must have come to his senses.”

Only after hearing his voice could I properly assess the man.

The raging mana dissipated soon after.

Only then did I release my grip on the man’s hair.

“I apologize, General.”

I bowed deeply to him in apology.

“I have dared to cause trouble in the sacred duel.”

His footsteps drew closer.

Finally, beneath my lowered head, his boots appeared.

“I will accept any punishment.”

Without a strong patron or a proper lineage, I would undoubtedly face disciplinary action.

Perhaps I might even be driven back to the frontlines once again.

“Punishment…? What does that even mean?”

However.

If it’s Valderian, it’s different.

“How could calming down a fellow whose mana has gone wild be considered a reason for punishment.”

I slowly raised my head following his cheerful voice.

The eyes of the encountered general were as dignified as usual.

Yet, somehow, the corners of his mouth seemed subtly lifted.

“Vale, you’ve behaved well according to the manual.”

He valued the code of chivalry more than the nobles’ opinions.

“Is that really true…?”

I asked him with a bewildered expression.

However, his mouth seemed subtly lifted like that.