episode_0059

At that moment, the thoughts of the three knights aligned.

They had to sever it.

They couldn’t return to the Duke’s mansion in one piece.

If they were to go back like this, an unstoppable wave would come crashing down on them.

Reluctantly, they had to destroy it properly right here.

Swish-

Two swords were drawn.

“Don’t blame yourself. You drew the first sword.”

“It’s your fault. You bastard.”

Clang! Clang!

Followed by two more swords rushing towards them.

Perhaps if it were just one opponent, Karceine wouldn’t have noticed. But facing three opponents at once, Karceine was visibly starting to tire.

While he had mastered the skills, his physical instability couldn’t be compensated for.

Even if he had accidentally manifested power, he didn’t know how to control it, and they were in a different league altogether.

Nevertheless, the boy with experience from the slums was cunning.

He knew how to bring down those stronger than himself.

He knew how to utilize the training he had diligently undergone.

Having sweated every day without fail, he cleverly incapacitated the two individuals.

One got sand in his eyes and stumbled around before getting knocked out by a blow to the head, while the other couldn’t control his strength and ended up with his sword deeply embedded in a tree, knocked out from a blow to the neck.

The remaining opponent, Teo Ramstair, was a worthy adversary in a one-on-one battle.

“Cough, cough…!”

But his body no longer obeyed him.

It was almost miraculous that he had come this far with a weakened body.

Karceine, who should have stood up, collapsed helplessly.

“You filthy commoner scum!!”

As Teo, who had been hit several times and had his eyes rolled back, pressed the dagger against Karceine’s throat.

At that moment when death seemed imminent.

With a sharp sound.

A spray of crimson blood splattered over Karceine’s body.

“Dorian… sir…”

“La, Diel…?”

“Don’t… move. It’ll be okay if you don’t move, I’ll… take care of them… myself…”

Radiel.

Taking Karceine’s place, she collapsed while holding him in her arms, unable to finish her sentence.

***

The feeling of flesh being cut by Teo’s sword was vivid.

But who did he cut?

“Lea, leader…!”

He had cut Radiel.

Not Karceine.

He had done it.

Once he had cut Radiel, there was no turning back.

If this fact spread within the faction, the official knight position of the Duke’s mansion would be lost, and they would return with such disgrace that they would be expelled from the family.

But.

“Radiel… she can’t move, can she?”

Karceine was the same.

He was also unconscious.

Both of them, had they both passed out?

Teo smiled slyly.

Just when he thought it was over, a better opportunity presented itself.

“Yes. You… you cut Radiel here.”

-Swish!

Another stream of blood flowed from that spot.

The chaos in the training ground was escalating.

As the two streams of blood that had flowed in different directions began to solidify.

The question arose whether Radiel and Karceine had disappeared.

The search began soon after.

“Ugh, seniors.”

“Teo? Blood…!”

“What happened? What happened for things to turn out like this?”

Teo, hiding his sly smile, grabbed onto one arm.

With his testimony, the events in the forest were revealed, and the scene was quickly uncovered.

Extinguished torches.

Traces of a struggle.

Whispers of blood in the forest.

And…

“I’m not sure what happened, but I tried to help and stop her… but Karceine Dorian, in the heat of the moment, ended up cutting Leader Radiel.”

With one man’s false accusation, everything pointed to Karsein’s guilt.

The next day.

A trial was held in the training ground.

Karsein pleaded multiple times.

It was a rightful retaliation against those who were trying to kick him out under the request of Duke Vagrand.

He claimed that it was Theo, not himself, who committed the act.

As soon as he got up from his fall, he appealed to the injustice and insisted that it was a false charge.

However, Karsein was already in an extremely unfavorable position.

“The blood on Lord’s sword has been confirmed to be from Radiel and Theo. The type of blood found at the scene matches completely. Do you still intend to make the same claim?”

“Even the testimonies of the two apprentice knights match. They were on the verge of fainting before Theo cut his arm, but they survived because of his protection.”

Karsein’s sword, which had not a drop of blood on it, was soaked with the blood of Radiel and Theo, and the other two also joined in the false accusation.

It seemed as if everything was flowing too naturally, leading him to become a criminal without any room to maneuver.

The only way to overcome this situation was for Radiel to wake up…

But she couldn’t testify in the trial due to her deep wounds.

“How can I defeat three people with my skills?! That’s impossible…!”

Karsein’s very valid point.

This was an issue that even the jurors could not understand.

If it continued like this, there might be doubts in the courtroom again.

Really, if it continued like this.

“It’s possible. My Lord, you can imbue your sword with mana, can’t you.”

“…What?”

“What nonsense is this. Theo Ramstair.”

“Imbuing a sword with mana is not something anyone can do.”

Theo agreed with the correct statement.

“None of the three apprentice knights, including myself, could imbue mana. We were still in training. However, because you could do that, you were able to gain the upper hand against us.”

“Huh.”

“If that’s true…”

“It might be possible. Because our levels are different.”

From Karsein’s perspective, it was discovered by chance, but the investigation revealed that the mana imbued on the sword was another piece of evidence.

Thus, public opinion once again leaned towards Theo.

Karsein, as a last resort, appealed to reveal the truth about who issued such an order at the Duke’s residence.

However.

“Isn’t it time to admit it? Do you think Theo Kyeong is someone who lies like you?”

“F-Flora… You…!”

“It’s strange enough that such a request was made at the Duke’s residence. But, Theo Kyeong accepting it? Don’t falsely accuse someone serious! You fool!”

One person’s intervention shattered his final resistance.

If the records of the Duke’s residence had been examined, the trial might have turned out differently.

It could have even gone back to square one.

However, due to Flora’s testimony that he was not such a person based on his usual behavior, the investigation was left in disarray.

In the end.

“Karsein. Your access to the training ground is prohibited from today. It is indefinite. Make sure to add a clause that knights should not let Karsein in.”

Ariana, who took over the verdict in place of the mentally ill Isabella, handed down the punishment.

Unjustly. Miserably.

Karsein had to lose everything he had.

Swish-

[ The memorial has ended. ]

With the status message, the scene where the memorial was activated ended. Before my eyes, Radiel and Mark, frozen in time before the memorial was triggered, were visible.

“…”

Miserable.

A guy who couldn’t have anything, who finally had a goal to escape the hellish Duke’s residence.

It was snatched away from him in an instant.

Never to be able to grasp it again.

It was like my old self… -Thud!

“I’m not reminiscing about the past. This is happening in reality, it’s my current situation.”

The focus should be on what Karsein experienced. I must remember that my life could be at stake with just one choice.

Yes. What I need right now is not petty emotions, but thorough information gathering and analysis.

The secret Radial had hidden deep in her heart, and Mark who stumbled upon it.

Karsein’s past and Theoramstair’s perjury.

And Emma, and another person.

Though I narrowly escaped what was planned, my next steps became even clearer.

▶ The memorial effect will disappear in 3 seconds! ◀

▶ Prepare for the resumption of the episode! ◀

3.

2.

1.

As the countdown disappeared, Radial and Mark immediately sprang into action.

I straightforwardly asked Mark, who was rushing towards me, “I’m not asking as a trainee, but as the owner of Bagrand. How much did you hear, Mark?”

Mark, who had stopped in his tracks, replied, “I only heard about Emma Hanayang’s story.”

“That’s enough. You didn’t need to know more.”

“Master!”

Although Radial shook her head as if to say it was not right, unfortunately, she couldn’t. My chilled blood was already speaking.

This man also needs to know the information.

And I will do it in my own way, even if it shocks him.

“Radial, don’t say a word from now on.”

***

Radial knows the whole story of the incident.

That’s why she can’t help but feel uneasy about Karsein’s judgment.

“I could testify… but for Master…”

There is no substantial evidence.

The sword found that day clearly had Radial and Theoram’s blood on it, and the scene with two types of bloodstains clearly proved it.

Is it really possible to overturn the verdict that concluded with a scene that seemed to reveal the truth but was tampered with?

“No. I have to stop this now…!”

Otherwise, Mark might get angry and try to kick Karsein out right then and there.

But.

“Radial, don’t say a word from now on.”

Karsein firmly excluded Radial from interfering in the situation.

“First of all, I can’t tell you the whole story of that day right away.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s obvious that you won’t believe it. You didn’t have any doubts about me even during the trial. I can’t rule out the possibility that you have some prejudice.”

At the mention of prejudice, Mark got angry.

“If there was prejudice, I would have been the first to kick you out like those knights.”

“You would have kicked me out just because I was accused of injuring Radial, right? That’s real prejudice.”

“No. I could have kicked you out several times, but I didn’t directly do it. I remember Radial’s endless plea to trust you until the end!”

Honestly, I wanted to kick him out.

Just the fact that he injured the commander made me want to kick him out like them.

But Mark didn’t overlook Radial’s opposition.

“I believed that you had a reason for bowing your head. That’s why I came to find you in the morning and told you not to run away this time. I still haven’t solved the mystery of that day. Do you think I’m prejudiced?”

The trial ended with Karsein’s ban on entering the training grounds. Although there were attempts to wield a sword in protest of the injustice, I personally suppressed them.

And that was only to ensure that Karsein didn’t get hurt any further.

“Yes. You were that kind of person.”

Just like the memorial said, he followed Radial as well as he followed me.

As such, the sense of betrayal must have been as intense as it could be.

But even so, he kept his loyalty.

He succeeded in suppressing his anger without crossing that line.

It meant that he was maintaining neutrality.

Convinced that Mark had no prejudice against him, Carcine finally brought up the main topic.

“I heard that starting tomorrow, I will also be sparring with the knights. Is that correct?”

“Yes. However, how did you…?”

“It’s not important how I found out. What’s more important is knowing who I will be facing.”

At Carcine’s words, Mark gave him a suspicious look.

“It seems you have guessed that you will be facing the squire knights, but that is decided randomly. You cannot know for sure.”

“Right. That’s under the jurisdiction of the acting commander. However, what do you think will happen if I predict my opponent for tomorrow?”

“That’s absurd…!”

“Then see for yourself tomorrow. My opponent is…”

Bruce.

It must be him.

“And Radiel.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“If you plan to observe, do not intervene no matter what happens tomorrow.”

“What?! B-but…!”

“I said it. Those guys will be crushed by me personally.”

With a chilling gaze, Carcine finished his warning and picked up the sword that had fallen on the grass as he passed by Mark.

And then he handed it to Mark.

“If I am wrong, then tomorrow, use this sword to strike my back as deeply as Radiel’s wound.”

“…!”

“M-My lord!”

“You can still back out here. I am currently a liar in the training grounds. Isn’t that necessary?”

Radiel, terrified, and Mark, bewildered.

In front of the two, Carcine confidently spoke.

“Why are you doing this? Is it necessary to go this far? Do you think that way?”

It was the truth.

Both Mark and Radiel.

It had reached the point where they wanted to ask why he was taking such reckless gambles.

“If you are confident, then it’s different from before.”

Already, a judgment had been made once.

That day, Carcine had cried out in injustice, drawn his sword, and tried to attack with the intention of causing a second round of harm in a fit of rage over an unjust verdict.

There was nothing more to prove.

There were no evidence or witnesses.

There was only the perception of troublemaker in the training grounds and even worse, the bad nicknames.

And…

Even though he knew the truth, there was no one in the noble family who believed him.

But what about the Carcine in front of him?

He was confident. He said it was different from before.

He spoke with a confidence that seemed like he wouldn’t listen to any rebuttals in this process.

Surely they must have thought it was reckless.

But that thought disappeared.

“If your words are proven right with this condition, what do you plan to do then?”

“Oh, that? It’s nothing special.”

Carcine chuckled.

“I will use this key to reveal one of the noble family’s secrets.”

It was the key to the old warehouse that he had found recently.

***

After a hectic day passed, the next day arrived.

The training period had reached exactly half of the 4th day and entered the 5th day.

The training that had been tough was now being managed properly, so they didn’t fall too far behind as before.

But complacency was forbidden. Some of the gazes of those who used to mock and tease were now different.

Those who simply looked down on him had a biased view, but the ones mentioned now were completely different.

“If they see even a slight opening, they will pounce at any moment.”

They must be getting nervous.

As per Emma’s request, he had to drive Carcine out within 7 days.

“But it won’t be easy, will it?”

Even if he just turned his head slightly, he could see the pink-haired girl.

As if yesterday wasn’t frustrating enough with Arina’s visit, Claire was staring at me with her eyes wide open, as if daring someone to touch me.

Just a moment ago, one of the guys who was trying to pick a fight got caught.

And unlike Arina, he was dragged out without a fuss.

They must be feeling frustrated.

They still haven’t been able to drive Karsein out of the training ground, so now they’ll have to report to Emma soon.

The tension will rise.

The anxiety will increase.

They will become more impatient.

And eventually, they will cross a dangerous line.

“You can count on it. I’ll pay back several times over,” he said.