episode_0019

“What were the results of the duel?”

Lea asked with a furrowed brow.

“It’s still too smoky to see clearly.”

The other guards were also puzzled.

All they could see in the hazy view was…

Just the silhouettes of the three individuals.

Only the two knights facing each other up close could recognize my face.

“You, you’re that arrogant…!”

Bathsu slapped his sword belt.

After confirming my face, his expression twisted in disgust.

“Who are you, do I know you?”

Even Allen seemed irritated, furrowing his eyebrows.

He seemed bothered by my blocking his twin swords with one hand.

I picked up one of Allen’s fallen scabbards from the ground.

Then, I swung it through the air, focusing mana into it.

Recalling the dust that rose when Baths struck the ground with his spear moments ago,

I swung the scabbard downwards with force.

—

Finally, a misty smoke infused with mana rose.

The smoke completely divided the stage and the guest seats like a curtain.

Thanks to this, the guests could no longer see us.

“As you can see, he’s a defense knight.”

The guards looked at me with dumbfounded expressions.

As if they already knew I was a defense knight.

Soon, Baths cleared his throat.

Clearly angered by Allen’s provocation, he warned me with a serious expression.

“Don’t interfere, youngster. Do you think you can meddle all the way up to the royal family as a defense knight?”

It was a valid point.

If aspiring for success, one should not meddle with the nobles’ feelings.

But someone like me, without attachment to ranks, was different.

“In principle, it’s possible. You almost caused harm to the guests.”

Dealing with disciplinary action from the Defense Department is more troublesome than career obstacles.

“So let’s end this amicably, shall we? If we can’t mediate, I’ll face discipline too.”

I explained my position earnestly.

However, they didn’t seem convinced; instead, they wore stern expressions.

“A defense knight?”

Especially the reckless Allen seemed entirely uninterested in helping.

“Oh, don’t tell me, you were the one being scouted as a commander by the Second Princess?”

“So that’s why you were so arrogant at the entrance.”

I didn’t react to their words.

My only goal was to avoid disciplinary action from the Defense Department.

“Apologize for what happened at the entrance. Let’s end it here.”

I intended to just settle the duel.

But…

Allen was even more confrontational than I had thought.

“If you don’t like it?”

He pushed hard against my chest.

And pressed a knife against my throat.

“Will our esteemed ‘Commander’ personally intervene?”

My chin trembled slightly.

Indeed… dealing with a reckless person like him was difficult.

Bathsu seemed sufficiently agitated.

Contemplating how to handle them, I looked towards the royal seats.

Lydia, who had risen in response to the intrusion, descended to the railing.

Irina, hands clasped tightly, gazed at the smoke curtain with a tense expression.

Everyone was worried about their respective aides.

“…”

I turned back to look at Allen and Baths.

Compared to the princesses, they seemed intent on tearing each other apart.

“Allen, do you really think the duel will only end if one of us falls?”

I aimed the scabbard at the two knights.

The reckless Allen stared fixedly at the scabbard.

“Of course. That’s the only way I might feel a bit relieved.”

Soon, he glared with animalistic eyes.

And then, he pointed sharp twin swords towards my throat.

“So, first deal with your arrogance!”

And swiftly, he lunged towards me.

I closely observed Allen’s rushing body.

A simple strike aimed at my throat.

I deftly dodged the blow, twisting my body lightly.

Then, I struck his waist with the scabbard.

Allen’s balance faltered.

He staggered fiercely.

However, he did not fall easily.

Instead, as he fell, he aimed for my arm.

“You fool, did you think you could block a sword with your arm?”

A timing missed due to counterattacking.

He shouted confidently, as if certain of victory.

“Just bear with it as it is…!”

However, the fool couldn’t dodge my arm.

Instead of blood from the collision, only blue mana splattered from our arms.

“…!”

After the duel with Richard,

I too had become quite accustomed to my past body.

Endless hoeing and digging in the vegetable garden.

I trained my body to its maximum capacity through that labor.

Thanks to that, I deflected his sword solely with the strength of my arm.

Then, I grabbed his wrist and channeled my mana into him.

“What… What’s this!”

My mana began entangling in Allen’s arm.

Soon, he lost control of his own arm.

He hastily withdrew his body.

And quickly focused his mind to organize his mana.

However, his mana had already become as muddy as stagnant water long ago.

“What in the world have you done…?”

As his mana failed to gather, his eyes flickered like a frightened animal.

“Is a knight resorting to dirty tricks…!”

“If it’s a technique you don’t know, does that make it all dirty?”

I retorted expressionlessly, swinging my scabbard.

And fiercely struck his head like smashing a watermelon.

Crack-!!

With that sound, red blood burst from Allen’s nose.

Soon, he collapsed on stage with a pained groan.

“He probably won’t be able to get up for a while now.”

Just capturing one fool already calms my mind.

Indeed, a mad dog is easily tamed.

However, it wasn’t over yet.

While confirming his unconsciousness,

A giant shadow loomed behind me.

“Don’t lose focus!”

The knight brandished his spear.

He forcefully struck the stage floor.

But his movements, though powerful, were sluggish.

The fellow who concentrated only on strength couldn’t catch up with me.

“Daring to challenge a commoner knight to a duel?”

In response, he aggressively pressed me with his spear.

The speed was so fast that even the smoke screen I barely managed to create shook.

“If you have habits, you better fix yours first.”

At my firm words, the knight’s confused demeanor turned red.

Unable to shake off the spear no matter how hard he tried, he once again let go of it.

And just like with Allen,

5 years later, fighting the prince’s knight,

he rushed at me by surprise.

At that moment,

I pulled out the blade from the spear.

And as the prince did, I struck his vital points.

Left knee.

Right hip.

I hit all the nerves where mana flowed.

“Arghh…!!”

His massive leg, charging forward, twisted.

Soon, Batsu fell, kneeling with his knee.

“My… My leg…!!”

Experiencing pain for the first time, his face turned pale.

His leg swelled as if stung by a wasp.

Approaching Batsu, who held his leg in agony,

I picked up his spear and drove it into the ground next to him.

“This bastard…”

He glared at me as if to kill.

However, his leg didn’t budge.

As it was back in the days of disgrace.

‘Is this somewhat resolved.’

Although I resorted to violence, I stopped the duel.

Satisfied with the outcome, as I was about to leave,

I halted my steps upon hearing labored breathing from behind.

“Haa…”

The fool, Allen.

Having released the mana injected into him, he stood up again.

“Did you think you could defeat me with such filthy sorcery?”

He raised his sword.

A sharp blue light emanated from the blade.

Unlike the first duel, it was darker and more azure.

Seeing this, I smirked.

Perhaps he had also been honed during the process of filtering my mana.

‘He seems not just famous for madness alone.’

Overflowing arrogance.

Exceptional talent.

It feels like looking at myself when I was young, craving success.

Thanks to this, I’ve come to understand a bit why they chose that arrogant fellow.

Thanks to this, I am certain.

To subdue such a persistent fellow, one must change tactics.

“Just get rid of the stage.”

Without a place to duel, even this fool will quiet down.

With no guests getting hurt at all.

I picked up Alen’s sword from the ground.

And with a sweep through the air, I focused my mind.

Gradually, my blue mana enveloped the sword.

Alen just stared blankly at the light.

As the once pure blue light began to change color.

Soon, he dropped the sword he was barely holding onto, lifelessly letting it fall to the ground.

Just staring blankly at the radiant golden mana.

“Sword Aura….”

He looked at me with a face of incomprehension.

As a rookie defense knight, I truly used advanced skills.

“How can a mere novice like you…!”

I calmly retorted to Alen.

“That’s right. Why choose the path of a defense knight and endure this suffering?”

I swung the golden-tinged sword towards the air.

Then forcefully struck towards him.

“So, just stay quiet.”

Kwaaaang――!!

The condensed golden blade struck the stage.

Thanks to this, the once even floor began to crumble.

To the extent that the next duel prepared by the princess became impossible.

“So that I won’t have to intervene.”

At this sight, the faces of the two princess’s guards turned pale.

Wondering if they could handle this situation.

“You… Do you think you can survive after causing such trouble in the palace?”

Asked quite reasonably despite the chaos.

“It’s fine.”

I replied with a sly smile.

“I’ll make sure to shift all the blame onto you guys.”