Ch.83The Empire’s Circumstances (3)

“Do you understand now? The power that a small child you all look down upon possesses.”

Ruide bit Irene’s arm and wouldn’t let go. He was even chewing on it stubbornly.

“…She certainly seems to have power.”

List remarked with a sour expression. Ruide was hanging onto Irene just by the strength of his bite. His jaw strength appeared quite impressive.

“And Irene, you haven’t changed at all, from before until now.”

“Rui, big sister is sorry. Are you very angry?”

“You’re still hoping for conflict. If that magic had continued, the system would have been destroyed. You’re not normal, wanting and wishing for such a disaster.”

“Hmm. You look cute, like a kitten using all its strength.”

List’s brow furrowed.

“When someone speaks, listen to them!”

“Ah.”

Only then did Irene look at List. Or more precisely, past him.

Irene walked past List. His expression hardened at her obvious dismissal.

“It seems inappropriate for someone who isn’t directly involved to speak. The person who should take responsibility for this situation seems to be someone else.”

Karon’s expression was fearful, still not recovered from the recent shock.

Irene bent down in front of Karon with a smiling face. Her blonde hair fell forward, creating shadows. Even within those shadows, her blue eyes held a subtle glow.

“Did you say you were strong, magician?”

“……”

“You seem to be referring to magic that Rui wrote half-asleep—remember this.”

White breath came from Karon’s mouth. This was happening even though she had withdrawn her magical power. What would have happened if she had gone all the way?

‘This can’t be reality. An individual couldn’t possibly possess that much power. This must be a bad dream.’

Irene whispered.

“The Windsors don’t bare their teeth at just anyone. You simply weren’t qualified.”

“Have I done something so wrong? Wrong enough to deserve this kind of treatment? This is excessive!”

Irene’s eyes turned cold.

“A child with no remorse.”

Amelia approached with a stern expression.

“Sister, I’ll handle this myself.”

“I don’t mind either way.”

Irene smiled brightly.

“That’s why I came here.”

“…I promised a duel.”

Irene stared blankly at Amelia. Her face seemed to say, what does that have to do with me?

‘As expected, it’s useless.’

Amelia knew Irene very well.

Talking about prior appointments or fighting for honor wouldn’t work at all.

But there was one thing that worked well with Irene. That was—

“You can’t fight while carrying Ruide, can you?”

Using Ruide as leverage.

Irene seriously touched her lips, then nodded twice.

“That’s true. I’ll step aside for now.”

Irene said coolly as she turned and walked away, still carrying Ruide.

“Thank you.”

Though the situation was somewhat absurd, Amelia felt like things were back in their proper place.

She drew her sword and assumed a proper stance. It was time to show the results of her practice.

**

Pretending to be dead was really too much.

Really, too much.

In truth, if he had been able to maintain his composure, he would have noticed immediately. There was no way Irene would lose to such people.

But seeing Irene collapsed, he couldn’t think of anything else.

It was a sight he never wanted to see again if possible.

Anyway, as soon as he realized it was an act, a mixture of shame, anger, relief, and other emotions made him bite Irene’s arm without even realizing it.

‘…When should I let go?’

His jaw was starting to hurt. Whether it was the coat that was hard or her arm, it felt like chewing on rubber.

Instead, he was being patted on the head while being held.

This strange comfort and feeling of losing his human rationality was clearly that feeling.

The reassurance of being cared for.

“…!”

Ruide suddenly came to his senses and released Irene’s arm.

Irene stared down at Ruide. Her expression showed disappointment.

“I don’t mind. You can bite me forever if you want.”

Irene whispered softly.

“I’ll take you to the castle like this and raise you well. Forever—”

That was almost halfway to madness.

Ruide imagined a future that seemed like it might come true.

-Rui, you need to wear your leash properly?

…He didn’t have that kind of preference.

He shook his head quickly to dispel the fantasy.

“No.”

He looked toward Amelia.

The duel was already in full swing there. The situation was similar to before. Karon was barely managing to defend himself.

But—this was only the beginning.

‘Amelia’s skills are still lacking.’

However, Karon was severely injured. In contrast, Amelia was perfectly fine.

‘This way—they should be roughly equal.’

Even with Ruide’s calculating abilities, it was difficult to judge who would win.

The only certainty was that if Amelia were to get hurt, he would destroy everything.

‘Just try touching even a strand of her hair. From that day, it’ll be an ice age.’

Ruide burned with hostility. At that moment, List approached, crossed his arms, and stood beside him.

“What will you do if she wins the duel?”

Irene answered with a smiling face.

“Nothing will change.”

The implication was that she would kill them all.

List’s face clouded over.

“With my life—”

“As I said earlier, that’s not possible. Rather, you need to stay alive. The Teuton Knights are an important force for His Majesty.”

List wore a bitter smile.

“I appreciate your consideration.”

“Well, the Windsors have always been loyal subjects.”

“…For His Majesty’s sake, reconsider. I am old. The old exist to be surpassed by the young. It’s time to pass the torch.”

“Someone listening would think you’re at least 70.”

Irene stared at List.

“Even if those five joined forces, they wouldn’t be a match for you. It’s strange. Why are you so obsessed?”

“I would lose.”

“I’m not talking about strength.”

Irene raised the corner of her mouth while watching Amelia fight.

“They lack the virtues necessary for knights. Judgment for their lord, etiquette, honor, and so on.”

“Do you know how long it takes to train a common knight into a proper knight?”

“I wonder.”

“At least three years, even at the shortest. That’s how the Teuton used to be.”

List spoke intensely.

“Today’s Teuton is different. They’re solely focused on power.”

Clang!

Karon’s sword deflected Amelia’s. Seeing an opening, Karon began attacking for the first time. At that moment, the dynamic changed. Amelia was struggling to defend.

“Do you see? The heir of the Windsor family, the most powerful house in imperial history, is being pushed back. That’s the price of abandoning knightly virtues. They’ll develop further in the future. By the time they reach my age, I guarantee it. Each member of the Teuton will have become a monster.”

Ruide finally realized the discrepancy he had been feeling.

No matter how different witnessing things firsthand was from the content of the story—something felt off.

The current Teuton seemed undeniably immature. But List’s words made him understand.

‘…In the story, the Teuton appears in the final chapter. Three years after academy graduation, so about seven years from now.’

List bowed deeply toward Ruide and Irene.

“They are the future of the empire. Please, accept my life in exchange.”

**

His physical condition wasn’t good.

The previous injuries hadn’t fully healed.

His left arm was completely unusable, and even his right arm felt heavy.

But what was even more serious—

‘I…’

Was his mental state.

Karon had never bowed his head to anyone in his life.

Everyone had praised and welcomed him for his great talent.

Perhaps that was why.

He didn’t know there were people with greater power than his.

He didn’t know there were people with greater authority than his.

Karon’s perspective had been confined to the Teuton since he was 13.

He was reflecting now. If he could go back, he wouldn’t act the same way.

He wouldn’t do anything that would cause massive damage to His Majesty, his lord.

‘What’s the point of regretting it now?’

Karon roughly shook his sword and said.

“You’re not using one hand.”

At first glance, Amelia appeared to be holding her sword with both hands, but Karon, having directly faced her, noticed. One hand wasn’t actually gripping the sword.

“I wanted to fight you at your best. Otherwise, it would be meaningless. But since things have turned out this way, I have no choice but to fight with one hand.”

“Even with both hands, you’d struggle to defeat me. That’s the difference in our skill levels. You’re being needlessly stubborn.”

“I’d prefer you say that after you’ve won!”

Amelia swung her sword in a straight line. True to her character, her swordsmanship was honest. And an honest sword cannot reach Karon.

Subduing Amelia wasn’t difficult. He had defeated her once before. But what came after?

Karon deflected her sword with a pained expression.

How could he face that monster-like woman and that small child who could destroy humanity with a single spell?

‘Oh no.’

Amelia’s sword penetrated the center. There were two options: dodge or deflect.

Karon chose to dodge. It was his old habit. He leaned his body to the right.

However, Amelia’s sword had already reached the right side. As if she had anticipated it.

‘…Was I read? She wasn’t this skilled before.’

Karon had no choice but to try to deflect Amelia’s sword. But—

“Your sword carries too many thoughts.”

“……”

Somehow Amelia’s sword was already at his neck.

“I’ve lost.”

Karon said indifferently.

Amelia’s face contorted.

“This isn’t what I wanted to see when I called for a duel.”

Karon gritted his teeth.

“Then what should I do here? If I win, do you think your sister and your brother would stand by quietly?”

“…I apologize. Not only your physical condition but the situation itself was unfair.”

Amelia withdrew her sword. Then with a serious face, she said.

“If you win this duel, I will take responsibility for everything the Teuton has done until now. I promise on the name of Amelia Windsor.”

“…!”

It was then that a ray of light struck Karon’s face, which had lost its fighting spirit. His dark complexion changed instantly, burning with fierce determination.

“I accept.”

For nobles, a vow on the family name is absolute.

If the vow is broken, one is expelled from the family.

‘So I just need to win? If I win, will all problems be solved?’

Karon’s attitude changed.

Amelia calmly looked at Karon.

‘…That’s good.’

Red lines spread along Karon’s sword.

‘Fortunate that my opponent is weak.’

Whoosh—

Amelia also wrapped her sword in blue magical power.

As if to signify that she would never use both hands, she held the sword with one hand and let it hang.

Karon calmly observed Amelia. Amelia lowered her stance, twisting her front foot. Just as she was about to move—

“—!”

Karon moved first. Amelia hurriedly changed her stance. It was a defensive position.

And that meant a stationary state.

The corner of Karon’s mouth curved upward.

Karon’s dispel doesn’t only apply to magicians. It nullifies magical power itself. That is, if it’s a ‘stationary state,’ it works on a knight’s sword energy as well.

Karon swung his sword, sensing victory. Amelia brought her sword to the point of impact.

Kwaaang!

A thunderous sound erupted as their magical powers intertwined. With a massive explosion, Karon’s sword advanced relentlessly.

Amelia was flustered when her powerful sword energy failed to do its job. It felt like throwing a punch underwater. She simply couldn’t put any strength into it.

‘If that’s the case, I just need to swing with greater force.’

Amelia bit her lip.

“Haaap!”

‘Has she noticed?’

Amelia was trying to push Karon back with sheer force. It was a wise choice. If the stationary state broke, dispel couldn’t be used.

‘Quick-witted. But it’s already too late.’

The position was already disadvantageous. No matter how strong she was, moving the sword from this state was impossible.

‘My victory, Windsor.’

But then.

“Sister—! Fighting!”

At Ruide’s shout, Amelia’s expression, which had been sweating nervously, changed.

“Hnngh—”

Kugugung—!

The ground surged up in a large circle.

“!”

Karon’s eyes wavered as he watched his arm gradually being pushed back.

‘What strength…!’

And at that moment—

“Haaap!”

Thud!

Amelia’s arm drew an arc.

Karon flew high into the sky.

Twinkle.

Amelia wiped the sweat from her forehead with a satisfied expression as she watched Karon disappear like a star.

Meanwhile, Ruide, who had been enthusiastically cheering with his lit staff.

“……”

He made a strange expression watching Amelia, who had sent Karon to the moon with pure human strength. She had even done it with one hand.

‘Better not mess with big sister.’

It was beyond brute strength—it was awe-inspiring.