episode_0003

The commoner knights who had been overlooked until now.

The voice of one knight filled the grand hall with authority.

“I am Veil Mihail.”

Perhaps due to the lack of challengers so far.

The princesses looked at me with interest.

“Hmm….”

Especially Leia.

She raised an eyebrow at my bold stance against the man I marked.

“Good, showing courage by not discriminating against opponents.”

The princess graciously granted my request.

Thanks to her, I could step forward confidently instead of Cain.

“Are you… sure you’ll be okay…?”

Cain looked at me with trembling eyes.

“Don’t worry.”

A reassuring look from a colleague.

I patted his shoulder and moved forward.

“I know how to handle such guys.”

It wasn’t just for Cain’s sake.

If this situation wasn’t just a formality.

After this appointment ceremony, I have to go back to the northern front.

“I have to face him to prevent such situations.”

And this time, I must win.

“…”.

As the duel was confirmed, Richard slowly approached me.

He shrugged as if annoyed while walking towards me.

“Why are you stepping up only now?”

He furrowed his eyebrows as things didn’t go as planned.

The unlucky bald head remains the same as ever.

“Just that. Isn’t it better for the top two swordsmen to compete?”

He chuckled at my words as if they were amusing.

“Are you planning to gain the princesses’ attention by facing me?”

Soon, Valderian approached to explain the rules of the duel.

Under the deep shadow of his eyes, his fierce black pupils flashed.

“Richard, restrain your aggressive behavior in this duel.”

Valderian warned him, perhaps having witnessed his actions before.

“Understood. I will try to ‘restrain’ myself as much as possible.”

Richard replied with a relaxed smile to the serious face of the general.

‘Restrain, huh.’

Even if you’re ranked first, joining the knighthood means starting from scratch.

Moreover, lacking experience on the front lines adds to the challenge.

Valderian then looked at me.

His face softened compared to when he looked at Richard.

“Mikhail, boldly stepping forward deserves praise.”

The general seemed pleased with my confident stance despite Richard’s reputation.

However, I shouldn’t be too happy just because he noticed.

The general knows well how strong Richard is.

“Just don’t overdo it. If you get injured in the duel, you’re the only one at a loss.”

His words were both advice and warning.

I nodded calmly, promising to keep it in mind.

“Let the duel begin. Give it your all in front of the great ones!”

Only Richard and I remained in the spacious hall.

The sunlight reflected off his hair.

Creating a dark shadow under his eyebrows.

“…”.

His gaze towards me is menacing.

Commoner knights who usually crumbled when faced with overwhelming displays.

But my unwavering demeanor seems to have angered him deeply.

“Such arrogance.”

His main weapon is a two-handed sword like mine.

However, Richard handles his massive sword skillfully as if it were a dagger.

‘Ignorant strength remains the same, then and now.’

Yet, I have no intention of backing down.

If this were reality….

‘I wouldn’t want to go back to the northern front.’

I will defeat him and stay in the capital.

“There have always been those like you. Those who strive to stand out no matter what.”

I calmly observed Richard, rolling my eyes.

There was little difference between him now and five years ago when the bloodshed began.

Having consumed numerous potions even before becoming a formal knight.

“Do you think the world is yours just because you’re good with a sword in the commoner knights?”

A subtle provocation, inviting an attack.

In the past, I would have fallen for such taunts and swung my sword.

‘And my reputation suffered.’

By baiting the opponent into attacking first, I adapt my tactics fluidly.

Noble inspectors who have learned a lot often use this strategy.

“It’s not the commoners’ group, it’s the second knight candidate group. Do you not even know the terminology?”

He slung the sword that should be drawn towards his shoulder instead.

Then, with narrowed eyes, he smirked at him.

“This time, I’ll use his own method against him.”

“…?”

Richard’s eyes twitched at the unexpected provocation.

However, he soon clenched his teeth and maintained his composure.

“Are you mocking me as a commoner? The official candidate group is only us. Your second knight group was forcibly created by lower-class commoners like you…”

“Ah, it’s so noisy.”

I yawned while glancing towards the princess.

Then, with a playful smile, I said, “Let’s get started quickly. Can’t you see the princesses are getting bored?”

The first princess I met eyes with was Lydia.

She laughed amusedly at my confident attitude towards Richard.

“Did you say ‘veil’? That’s bold.”

Lydia mumbled with a candy in her mouth.

Thanks to that, her cheeks puffed up roundly.

“But how will I defeat Richard?”

She asked, chin resting on her hand, staring intently at me.

“….”

I glanced briefly at the third princess who showed interest in me.

She seemed annoyed by the sound of her sister mumbling with candy in her mouth, so she tightly pressed her lips together.

“Fine, it’s embarrassing to fight with commoners…”

Realizing that provocation wasn’t working, Richard raised his sword.

And, to confirm my skills, he firmly gripped the hilt of the sword.

“Finish this quickly.”

The atmosphere in the training ground changed.

Richard took a step forward, assuming a proper combat stance.

And then.

――――――!!

With a speed that seemed insane for his build, he rushed towards me.

He swung the longsword with just one hand.

The thick blade curved like a snake due to his overwhelming strength.

The curved blade descended towards my shoulder.

“It’s definitely fast.”

A speed and trajectory that others would never experience.

Fueled by elixirs and potions.

But compared to the barbarian warrior’s axe clashing on the front lines, it was painfully slow.

And rough.

It wasn’t effort but artificially absorbed power.

I firmly grasped the sword with both hands.

And, I deflected his strike towards the handle.

Clang―――――!!

Red sparks erupted from the clash of swords.

However, with a determined expression, I steadfastly withstood his sword.

Even though he was much larger than me.

“…?!”

Everyone’s eyes widened at my effortlessly enduring his overwhelming strike.

Especially Richard.

His relaxed smirk turned into a grin.

“Why. Surprised that I can withstand it?”

He chuckled as if to show off.

At his leisurely laughter, a nerve popped on his forehead.

“Where did you learn these tricks…!”

It’s not just about wielding the power of the sword.

The strength varies depending on the point of contact.

‘You’ll understand when you face a barbarian’s axe.’

I twisted the clashed swords diagonally.

Thanks to that, his immense force dispersed sideways.

“Argh…!”

Both our swords slipped simultaneously.

The loud friction made the palace windows shake.

Richard was the first to release our swords.

As our swords fell, he aimed directly for my side.

The typical nobleman’s technique.

I quickly parried his thrust by pushing my sword against his.

Richard’s ambush was undeniably fast and sharp.

However, I had changed since my past self.

If he had sparred with his master a few times…

‘I’ve clashed swords with real enemies hundreds of times.’

“Huff….”

Richard’s thick eyebrows furrowed.

As all his attacks were thwarted, he distanced himself from me again.

He glared at me as if he wanted to kill me for interfering with his plans.

“Where did you learn these tricks…?”

His pomaded hair, once firmly fixed, now flowed down in front of his face.

I gazed at his disheveled face and calmly responded.

“This little trick of yours shows you still have a long way to go.”

A provocation he so dearly loved.

“….”

Richard blew his fallen bangs aside and swept them to the side.

Then, gritting his teeth, he grasped the hilt tightly with both hands.

“Now you’re getting serious.”

He realized that mere swordsmanship wouldn’t be enough to defeat me.

Running out of patience, he was ready to strike in earnest.

And that level…

Signified mana.

“….”

I tightened my grip on the handle even more.

Focusing on Richard’s blue eyes.

Mana began flowing from his eyes, a significant amount overflowing from his body.

So much mana it seemed almost ignorant.

The mana that flowed out soon spread throughout his entire body.

“Intermediate Sword Expert.”

A technique that enhances the body and weapon by expelling mana.

After enhancement, one could deflect arrows with ease due to increased strength and speed.

“Of course, I can do the same.”

However, not everyone has the same mana capacity, especially compared to noble knights who augment theirs with elixirs.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford such luxuries in these times.

One low-grade elixir cost half a commoner’s six-month living expenses.

That’s what separates us.

If there’s any solace, it’s that I’m quite different from my past self.

“Hoo….”

I focused my mind once again.

Enveloping my body with emanating mana.

But compared to Richard, mine was faintly colored.

A blurry sky blue against his deep azure.

Noticing the stark contrast, Richard smirked.

“You’d better dodge. You might end up being cut along with your sword.”

His solemn final words.

After that, he rushed towards me even faster than before.

――――――!!

Wielding his two-handed sword like a rapier without hesitation.

Thanks to his swift movements, the thick blade swayed like a whip.

I knew.

The moment that whip strikes, it’s instant death.

However, having more mana doesn’t guarantee victory.

What matters is how well you handle the quantity.

Concentrating all my mana into my arms for a split second, I parried his attack!

Kaaang―――!!

Followed by a series of slashes.

The sound of air tearing as his crude blade relentlessly descended assaulted my ears.

“At this rate, we’ll both end up injured…!”

I thrust my sword into the shattered ground.

And as he continued to swing his sword relentlessly.

“….!”

I scooped up the dust from the ground and scattered it over his face.

“You despicable commoner!”

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, he quickly stepped back.

Breathing heavily, he wiped his face.

His once fair complexion now no different from ours.

“Using cheap tricks because you lack skill…?”

The knight’s son glared at me defiantly.

His blue eyes now bloodshot, struggling to control the surging mana.

“What’s lowly about fighting smart?”

I casually remarked, meeting his gaze.

“What…?”

“Aren’t you the one using cowardice as an excuse for your lack of skill?”

I shrugged.

And firmly believed that he would never utter such words if he stood on the battlefield.

“You uncouth fellow….”

Richard, unable to bear my words any longer, raised his sword towards the empty space.

Concentrating his overflowing mana solely into the blade.

“Today, I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget.”

At that moment.

Red energy began to emanate from Richard’s sword.

“….”

My relaxed eyebrows furrowed as I understood his intentions.

Condensing red mana in his sword.

It meant he intended to truly kill his opponent.

In other words, it was a death blow.

“You guys never change, do you?”

Through that unsettling red glow, I realized.

Now, this situation is not just a simple coincidence.

This is not a fantasy but reality.

“Thank you for making me realize it properly.”

Thanks to that, I was able to make up my mind.

The power I gained from the hardships of my past life…

I will use it to the fullest.

In this lifetime, I will not be dragged into the front lines.

I will start anew in the capital of this empire.