The Eul of Relationships

As I stared at Claire glaring at me, I took out a spear from my spatial storage. Her cool gaze changed to one of interest.

As Claire drew her sword, Bella said.

,”The time limit is 5 minutes. I think this is appropriate, don’t you agree?”

As I nodded, Bella waved her staff and summoned an hourglass onto the table.

,”Then… begin.”

No sooner had Bella finished speaking, I, who was preparing to end it in one blow, immediately created a dimensional entrance at the spatial coordinates I had recognized and thrust my spear.

The spear emerged from the dimensional exit behind Claire, attempting a surprise attack, but.

The spear, which was about to pierce her back, seemed to be blocked by something invisible and was instead pushed back.

,”What…?”

As I muttered in bewilderment at the recoil transmitted from the spear shaft, Bella chuckled.

,”Did you think I wouldn’t have investigated you, who ranked 3rd in this practical exam? Your abilities have already been fully analyzed.”

I bit my lip at Bella’s appearance, leaning back in her chair with a snakelike smile and an arrogant expression as if declaring checkmate.

As I retrieved my spear, Claire swung her sword as if she had been waiting for it. I swung my spear to block it, but feeling the difference in power at the tip of the spear, I quickly retreated.

If so….

I took a step forward with my left foot and thrust my spear, simultaneously creating a dimensional entrance at the tip of the spear and a dimensional exit next to Claire’s left neck.

To pierce her snow-white nape, the sharp tip of the spear that emerged from the dimensional exit stabbed in instantly, but.

Again, the spear was blocked by something and bounced back. This time, I forcibly gripped the spear shaft tightly and tried to stab as hard as I could, but the strong recoil, as if tearing my palm, pushed the spear shaft back.

I immediately released the spear and kicked towards Claire. Claire avoided the attack by taking a step back and launched a counterattack.

Seeing her bring down her sword, I hurriedly created a dimensional entrance above my head, creating a dimensional exit above Claire’s head.

Claire ended up attacking herself, but this time as well, Claire’s sword was pushed back, blocked by something invisible.

Although it was invisible, I clearly felt as if something like a barrier was surrounding Claire’s body when I attacked.

Was she momentarily emitting mana to push it away? It could be an artifact or a secret technique unique to her family.

The opponent is an Imperial Knight. I can’t win with normal methods. Then, I have no choice but to keep fighting without giving her an opening.

As advised by Lakar, I tried to aim for Claire’s back while maintaining distance, taking advantage of the spear, but no attack worked.

It’s not a barrier or a shield. Those things reveal themselves when attacked.

To confirm, I pretended to stab the spear behind Claire once more, this time aiming not for her back but for the empty air.

I realized that I didn’t feel the strange recoil from the spear shaft and looked at Claire. I noticed the dust under her feet being pushed out and realized.

Whether it’s a barrier or mana emission, I don’t know what it is. It’s not continuous, but it activates and blocks just before being attacked.

I desperately racked my brain. If it activates right before, I have to induce carelessness.

What is a way to fluster a knight who always maintains composure during battle, just like a mage?

I smiled, picked up the spear that had fallen to the ground, and shot it towards Bella with all my might.

Surprised by my sudden action, Bella instinctively raised her arm.

As expected of an Imperial Knight, she predicted my actions. Claire, who had moved at the same time as I threw the spear, swung her sword to block it, but.

The spear that was shot through the dimensional entrance created in its path disappeared, and the spear appeared from behind, aiming for Claire’s back.

But this time as well, the spear failed to reach Claire’s back and fell to the ground in vain.

The moment Claire tried to regain her balance, I rushed in and threw myself at her.

,”Kuh…!”

Claire twisted her body with instinctive senses and kicked my chest.

Kicked in the chest in mid-air, I fell back greatly. I heard Bella’s mocking laughter, but….

Thwack-!

The sound of something hitting the back of Claire’s head filled the lab.

,”What…?”

I coughed dryly and got up, looking at Claire, who was bewildered that she had been hit in the back of the head, and Bella, who had a dumbfounded expression as if she didn’t understand what had happened.

,”I can make more than one dimensional passage, you know.”

Bella wouldn’t know that thanks to Nelson’s improvements, I can create up to two at once.

During the practical exam, there was no need to create two dimensional passages, so I only created one. She must have mistakenly thought that I could only use one passage, like during the Destin Village incident.

Using that point, I created a dimensional passage for misdirection with the javelin towards Bella.

Claire blocked the javelin, and as I, who had been kicked in the chest, fell backward, she lifted her shield for mana management.

Pretending to brace myself on the ground as I fell backward, I created another dimensional passage, put my hand into the dimensional entrance created on the floor, and hit the back of Claire’s head with another dimensional exit created behind her head.

It was the result of inducing carelessness by using false information and a dimensional passage for misdirection.

As I brushed the dust off my clothes while looking at Claire, who had a resentful expression, I heard Bella’s cold voice.

,”The test is passed.”

As if she didn’t like it, she glared at Claire and kicked the box on the floor.

I put the spear that had fallen on the ground into my spatial storage and approached Bella to check the contents of the box.

It was a very black spear that seemed to absorb even light, with a single blood-red gem embedded in the middle of the blade.

,”I guess that’s the Spear of Destruction?”

I asked suspiciously. Bella wore a scornful expression.

,”Did you think I would lie?”

,”I have to be able to trust you.”

At my answer, Bella stood up from her seat, approached me, and said as if whispering.

,”I keep my promises. Don’t worry.”

The phrase ‘I keep my promises’ bothered me, but I didn’t provoke Bella any further.

To be honest, Bella’s actions were unforgivable. If I didn’t have unwavering courage, I wouldn’t have been able to leave the interrogation room alive in the first place.

But I couldn’t kill Bella either. Bella is needed to create the Hero Party and to keep the trashy nobles, princes, and princesses in check.

Even now, Bella, the Fourth Princess and Crown Princess, was a fairy compared to the insane Sixth Prince who kidnapped young children from villages near the capital and used them as sacrifices, or the Fifth Princess who colluded with nobles and plotted a rebellion after being taken over by the cult.

I sighed at the bleak future of the empire I had created, put the Spear of Destruction into my spatial storage, and left the lab.

As planned, I got my hands on the Spear of Destruction. I won’t be able to fully unleash the spear’s abilities, but with the Spear of Destruction’s inherent abilities alone, I should be able to break through simple shields or barriers.

As I thought about wanting to test the Spear of Destruction quickly and headed towards the dormitory, someone wrapped their arms around my waist from behind.

,”Ross!”

A voice I hadn’t heard in a while. Just hearing her call my name, a smile naturally formed on my face.

As I turned around, Ellie met my gaze with a beautiful smile.

Was it because I hadn’t seen her in a while? The thought that she had become a little more beautiful filled my head stupidly.

,”It’s been a while.”

At my greeting, Ellie drooped her shoulders and wore a tired expression.

,”Yeah, with practical exams and everything…. I suddenly got so busy that I didn’t even have time to see your face?”

Seeing Ellie say that as if she was disappointed, I felt a little happy for some reason. Like rain falling in the desert, just looking at Ellie made me feel like the negative emotions I had felt a little while ago were melting away.

,”I couldn’t even keep my promise to eat something delicious together…! It’s late today, so let’s definitely eat something delicious next time!”

As I nodded happily at Ellie’s words, Ellie, who had been smiling brightly, leaned slightly towards me and asked.

,”By the way, Ross, have you decided on a dance partner for the ball?”

Seeing Ellie looking up at me like an affectionate cat, a strange sense of anticipation filled my heart.

,”No, not really.”

,”That’s great. Then, will you go to the ball with me?”

My heart started beating wildly at Ellie’s words, said with a happy expression.

It was a completely unexpected proposal, and I felt a strange urge to cheer loudly at the thought of going to the ball with Ellie.

,”I’d love to, but…. Why me?”

,”Well, because I don’t have any male friends who are close enough to go to the ball with?”

Ellie tilted her head and answered as if she was asking something obvious, and I almost scratched under her chin without realizing it.

I felt Ross’s emotions running wild to the point where I couldn’t control them for the first time in a while, but it felt like even unwavering courage didn’t work in front of Ellie.

,”Then, shall we go to the ball together…?”

,”Great!”

As I asked again to confirm, Ellie smiled brightly and linked arms with me. I praised myself in my heart, thinking that I had done well to go buy a ball gown today.

As I was feeling as good as if I was floating in the sky, Ellie cautiously asked me.

,”By the way… is Roel oppa also participating in the ball?”

I felt a dizzying sensation as if I had fallen from the sky and plunged into the abyss in an instant.

Seeing Ellie avoiding my gaze and asking cautiously, I could understand the real reason why she had asked me to go to the ball with her.

Because Roel’s dance partner was always Flavia.

Even so, I pretended not to know anything and looked at Ellie and said.

,”He probably will.”

At my answer, Ellie looked up at me again with a bright smile.

,”It would be fun if the three of us hung out for the first time in a while.”

Even as I smiled and nodded…. I could feel a sense of inferiority rising from deep within my heart for the first time in a long time.

As if I had a duty to answer Ellie’s words while struggling, mixed with negative thoughts and all sorts of emotions swirling in my head.

I forcibly suppressed the rising sense of inferiority and pretended to be calm, answering.

,”That’s right. It will be fun.”

Because I knew she would smile at me….