Was it due to the Sword Aura’s ripple?

    The smoke screen began to gradually dissipate.

    Hastily, I picked up Allen’s sword and Basch’s spear.

    Then, first, I approached the fallen Allen next to the giant rift.

    “Kkuhuk….”

    Allen murmured alone as if in resignation.

    His madness had long since disappeared due to the overwhelming difference.

    Even his foolish disease had been properly cured.

    “What a turn of events…!”

    Kwaaah――!!

    At the moment he muttered.

    I slammed the spear he was holding down on the ground.

    Allen thought that spear would pierce him.

    However, Basch’s spear tip merely stuck at the starting point of the sword aura I unleashed.

    “What, what is this? What trickery are you trying to pull…?”

    Allen looked up at me with a face of incomprehension.

    But I didn’t say a word to him.

    I just faced Basch with his twin swords in hand.

    The sacred eastern deity who held onto his two legs.

    I stood before him, brandishing my sword.

    “Did you use paralysis poison? You cowardly brat….”

    As he gnashed his teeth.

    I decisively swung my sword.

    ―――!!

    Allen’s sword crashed down to the stage floor.

    Thanks to that, it shattered into pieces and scattered around Basch.

    “If it’s not poison, then shut up and stay still.”

    I walked calmly behind Basch.

    And with my fingers, I checked the angle at which the two of us would be visible to the audience.

    “Alright, since everyone has a good view, the picture looks pretty.”

    The knights gazed at me with expressions of incomprehension.

    To them, I responded with a broad smile.

    “Just wait comfortably.”

    After the setup was complete, I slowly stepped back.

    And hiding my body in the dim stage shadows, I spoke.

    “I will make you all the strongest in the empire.”

    With my last words, the smoke screen completely descended.

    Thanks to that, the appearance of the stage was vividly revealed to everyone.

    ―――.

    Two fallen heroes.

    And the battlefield turned into ruins.

    The eyes of the nobles and aristocrats widened at the sight.

    As if they could hardly believe it, everyone’s mouths fell open.

    “The stage collapsed…?”

    “What on earth happened inside?”

    The gentlemen hidden behind the overturned table.

    They rose and stared intently at the stage.

    The stage cracked as if from an earthquake.

    The grandeur of the eastern deity firmly embedded on the rift.

    Underneath lay the knight Alen of Irina, fallen.

    He breathed heavily, wearing a decadent expression.

    Perhaps his good looks played a role.

    The ladies who saw Allen, even in his defeat, stared at him intently.

    In their eyes, Allen appeared like a blond beast who had done his best in combat.

    However, there was something more important.

    The ruined stage.

    The massive spear stuck at the beginning of the rift.

    “B-Basch! Basch’s spear caused the stage to collapse like that!”

    An imperial official hiding behind the table exclaimed.

    Pointing at the spear, he drew everyone’s attention.

    “It must be the power of the eastern deity! Who would have thought he harbored such strength!”

    “With that level of power, isn’t he almost on par with a Swordmaster?”

    The gentlemen marveled at the official’s words, inspired by the collapsed stage.

    However, he shook his head, indicating there was something more crucial.

    “The most astonishing thing right now is not just the sheer power!”

    The official turned his gaze full of admiration.

    And kneeling, he looked at Basch sitting majestically.

    “The smoke screen that unfolded a while ago. That was a barrier he cast to protect us before using his skills!”

    Basch, who had constantly stirred up dust with his wind during the fight with Allen.

    Thanks to that, the nobles were convinced that he had cast the smoke screen.

    “Ohh….”

    “Not only skill but also chivalry… Princess Lydia truly raised an exceptional knight!”

    The official clapped with excitement.

    Inspired by his words, the nobles rose and began to applaud.

    Looking at the royal box together, they started to cheer.

    At their cheers, Lydia wore a puzzled expression.

    “Eh-?”

    Like a cat spacing out, her fangs protruded.

    As if caught off guard by an unexpected turn of events.

    “You truly are magnificent, Princess!”

    Repeated compliments ensued.

    In the end, she placed her hand on her hip and laughed heartily.

    “Yes, indeed! This is the power of our Eastern Knights. Did everyone witness it well?”

    Even Irina, who had followed her down, looked admiringly at the Third Princess.

    However, soon her expression mirrored Lydia’s.

    “Princess Irina, you are truly remarkable as well.”

    Now it was her turn.

    At Jae-sang’s words, the guests all turned to look at the Second Princess.

    Suddenly changing the target, Irina pointed at herself with her finger and asked, “Me…? Me too, sir?”

    “Yes, you elevated that rascal to fight on par with Batsu.”

    Jae-sang began to jump with overflowing joy.

    “We were worried about you having a knight order, but you prepared so well….”

    He received a handkerchief from his participating wife.

    “His Majesty the Emperor will surely be proud as well…!”

    Moved by his words, the expressions of the gentlemen also softened.

    They began to applaud Irina even more.

    “Oh… Thank you, everyone. But I haven’t done anything. It’s all Alan’s achievement.”

    Irina said, smoothing her voice as if embarrassed.

    “To think such promising knights for the empire have emerged! This old noble can now rest without worries.”

    Jae-sang, moved, slowly took his seat, Mo-shian.

    He is a founding merit who has served the Emperor and his descendants for generations.

    If anyone would cherish the princesses, he knew he would be the first to show such a reaction.

    Thanks to this, interest in the uninvited guest who intruded during the contest had long disappeared.

    Now, it was as if nothing had happened as they joined the guests’ seats.

    Quietly passing by the two knights.

    And as I quietly descended the stairs.

    Alan and Batsu, who had become the hope of the Empire, stared up at me intently.

    To them, I left one warning.

    “In the future, take care of yourselves; aren’t you the faces of the princesses?”

    The guards had a bewildered expression, seemingly not understanding my words.

    Leaving them behind, I calmly left the stage.

    Guests cheering for Alan and Batsu.

    I casually passed by their table.

    As if completely unrelated to the stage.

    “Irina’s knight order is better than expected, isn’t it?”

    “Yes, seeing how she elevated Alan, she seems quite sincere.”

    With wine glasses in hand, the gentlemen exchanged information.

    The moment her previously unnoticed knight order was mentioned among the upper class.

    I listened to the sound like music, gently closing my eyes.

    Then I returned to Miyah’s side.

    “Hey.”

    Miyah pursed her lips like an animal.

    Approaching me as I returned, she lightly tapped my shoulder.

    Could it be that she realized what I had done?

    Indeed, even her intuition is as sharp as a diligent magician….

    “Why did you interfere when you couldn’t stop it?”

    Miyah brushed off the dirt and dust on my back.

    Seems like she doesn’t know what happened inside the tent.

    “But it’s best not to provoke angry seniors. Just request support next time.”

    “Yes, when a senior capable of supporting us appears.”

    However, that is unlikely to happen.

    There won’t be any support given to the new recruits of the Su Bangsa.

    In the end, I will have to deal with the aftermath alone after causing trouble.

    So, wouldn’t it make sense that I don’t want to leave the office?

    I forced a smile and sat at the table.

    However, thanks to the mess caused by the two knights, there was nothing left on the table.

    In the end, I could only stare at the peanuts scattered on the floor.

    Having long forgotten about the contest, my bigger dilemma was whether to pick up the peanuts meticulously grown by Lydia.

    However, that worry quickly dissipated.

    Because someone’s dark shadow loomed over me.

    “Vale Mikhail Kyeong?”

    A dignified voice.

    It was the secretary who had given me the Third Princess’s assignment a few days ago.

    “Nice to see you again.”

    The secretary, with a subtle smile, extended their hand.

    I shook hands with them.

    “The princesses are requesting your presence for a moment.”

    At the mention of the princesses, Miyah, who had been deeply engrossed in her work, raised her head.

    Then, as if checking the situation, she whispered to me.

    “What? Why are they suddenly calling you?”

    “Well, I’m not sure.”

    Did they notice my intrusion into the competition?

    “I’ll go and come back first.”

    I put on my formal jacket.

    And I concealed the shirt covered in a lot of dust.

    “Is it okay for you to go alone?”

    Misha looked at me with a worried expression.

    To her concern, I subtly asked,

    “Well, if my intrusion into the competition was the issue, wouldn’t it result in being expelled from the party?”

    Even though I had prevented the princesses’ competition, I had only fulfilled my duty as a guard.

    I might just have to face the consequences of being kicked out of the party.

    “Right, would you be questioning what I did as a guard?”

    It’s probably for the best.

    Let’s get out of this uncomfortable place quickly now.

    And take a nap on the office sofa.

    Thinking like that, I raised the corners of my mouth.

    “Why are you smiling when going to be scolded?”

    My senior looked at me strangely.

    “It’s amusing. It’s so scary and sad that it makes me laugh.”

    I forced a grim expression, looking gloomy.

    Then, Miyah still stared at me with a blank expression.

    Soon after taking a deep breath, she said to me,

    “I’ll go with you.”

    The senior got up from her seat.

    And her figure clad in a snug dress stood out.

    “It’s less scary to go together than alone, isn’t it?”

    “What? No. It’s my decision, how can I accept help from a senior?”

    “It’s okay, I made plenty of mistakes when I was young too.”

    She confidently stated that I should trust only myself.

    “Every time I made a mistake, seniors helped me, so I should do the same.”

    No, it’s really fine.

    I wanted to explain to her earnestly.

    However, she had already taken the lead long ago.

    I reluctantly followed behind the senior.

    As we climbed the stairs together,

    Before leaving, I glanced down at the noisy first-floor guest seats.

    Then, I locked eyes with Lord Jaesang, who was raising a toast.

    He smiled and raised his glass towards me.

    As if suggesting we have a drink together later.

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