episode_0068

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I wanted to hide you.

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I wanted to hide you from his sight.

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So that I don’t find you, so that I don’t fall for you… .

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Why?

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I know.

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Any man… can’t help but fall for you.

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I won’t be able to escape from your beauty, because you are such a clear and lively heroine. I will absolutely… unconditionally… definitely fall for you.

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I can guarantee it.

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If I were a man… and possessed by Carl, I know I would choose you without hesitation.

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I don’t know the details of the novel I read before coming here, but now that I’ve come here and gotten to know you, I can tell you.

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Chloe, I think you might be the real heroine… .

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therefore.

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The country wanted to hide you in the dark, so that the sword would not see you.

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… .

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But just as the darkness of the night sky cannot hide the stars, I ended up revealing you.

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Even in the vast universe, stars shine.

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Even if you are with me, who is dark inside, the light of the heroine called you will eventually be directed towards the main character… .

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Follow the light, the sword will find you.

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*

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“K, Chloe?”

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Carl’s voice is heard in confusion.

He opened his eyes wide in surprise and looked at Chloe. He seemed to see the bright energy emanating from Chloe. He also had the illusion that he could smell the scent of flowers.

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different.

Chloe has changed.

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This is not the image of a weak princess crying in my arms.

She is a warrior, a heroine blessed by the stars… she is a formidable opponent if you fight her.

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Swish-

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Chloe turned her head for a moment to examine the knife, then immediately turned her gaze to me.

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He faced me from a distance, not many steps away.

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“Let’s stop here, I can’t look at this anymore.”

“……”

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A star-shaped ornament can be seen pinned to Chloe’s head.

It’s an accessory that I’ve never taken off my body since the moment I first encountered it.

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On that special day, she was all dolled up in a bold mint-colored dress, but she didn’t take off that piece of jewelry. Even though it didn’t really go with her outfit…

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Artifact.

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Now we know that the trinket is her artifact.

It is so clear that you can see it at a glance.

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She gained the ability to resonate with the power of the stars she was born with and neutralize my power.

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… .

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I couldn’t answer rashly.

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The one who takes the initiative is Chloe.

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How powerful she is, what her abilities are, what her intentions are.

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You can’t be sure of anything.

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“Okay? Be… .”

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It was really cute how he covered his own mouth while trying to call my name without thinking. He blinked several times in surprise before lowering his hand to his mouth.

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“Talk to me, Mr. Hwang.”

“……”

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The royal family.

I almost laughed at the absurd title.

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I hoped that Carl wouldn’t hear this adorably stupid woman’s voice. Fortunately, it wasn’t loud enough for Carl to hear.

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Still, it seemed clear that she intended to keep my identity a secret.

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Chloe’s actions now were the epitome of clumsy, but looking into her clear and refreshing eyes, it seemed as if her lips were saying that she would keep the secret to the end.

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Instead of answering, I raised my arm.

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Saaak-

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I gathered my magic energy with my fingertips. Very slowly. As if it were nothing.

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He tilted his head, aiming the knife at Chloe’s back. He hoped she would notice. At least he couldn’t talk nonsense in front of the knife.

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She looked at me tilting my head, then said as if she realized what I was trying to say.

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“Knife-! It’s dangerous.”

“…?”

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It was very clumsy.

It seems like Chloe doesn’t have any talent for acting.

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bang-

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A weakly shot magic exploded in front of the sword.

But the knife was intact.

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A shield appeared surrounding the sword.

It was a beautiful shield with a mix of yellow and pink.

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Chloe’s abilities.

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It was the power of the warrior.

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“It’s dangerous. Stay there.”

“What, what did you say? Chloe, wait-!”

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The comfortable shield was safe, but it was also a cage that held the sword.

Under the pretext of his safety, measures were taken to prevent him from hastily leaving the shield.

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Chloe reached out and made her shield stronger. Then she started walking towards me with a stepping stone.

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It was a figure that showed off a fascinating beauty different from her usual image. However, it did not catch my eye.

Strangely enough… all I could see was Karl’s bewildered face behind her.

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The sword struck the light surrounding him desperately, but it did not budge.

It would be impossible for him, who doesn’t yet have the Holy Sword, to destroy Chloe’s power. He was also exhausted from the continuous fighting…

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Watching the expression on the sword change from moment to moment gave me a strange feeling.

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I hated it until just a little while ago.

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I wanted to slap you on the cheek… .

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I almost burst into laughter at the sight of Carl struggling inside the shield.

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Ah~ You look so good~. You need to get scolded there.

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Look forward to it.

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Because I’ll make it the best spectacle.

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*

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At the same time, a fierce duel was unfolding inside the palace.

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visor-

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The sound of intersecting blades filled the hallway. The empty space left by the sound of metal clashing against metal was filled with a suffocating tension.

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The ultimate in swordsmanship.

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The clash between the excellent knights was thrilling to watch and hear.

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The Duke of Maynor had no connection with Mu.

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Because he had neither innate talent, will, nor motivation. He was a man who knew how to distinguish between what he had and what he did not have.

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However, his position as the de facto head of the Imperial Intelligence Service often brought him the opportunity to witness the battlefield and the power of talented knights.

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“……”

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However, the sight he was seeing was an unfamiliar sight even to him. It was none other than the Empire’s strongest sword, Louis, fighting with all his might.

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Of course, Louis was in a position to defend himself as much as possible while caring about the Duke’s safety, but even taking that into account, there were few opponents who could fight on equal terms with Louis.

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As a friend of Louis’, I was able to know more clearly because I had been with him for many years.

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Guardian Knight.

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The Duke thought.

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That woman is a guardian angel.

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A fairly powerful faction among the Guardians. Perhaps a faction that has continued its power since the days of the Green Emperor.

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It was really so strong.

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It wasn’t just that she was strong, but that Louis was desperately trying not to give her any distance. He knew that if he gave her any distance, she would definitely launch a wide-range attack targeting even the Duke.

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Black ink.

A powerful sword energy mixed with the power of the clan.

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It seemed that Louis had no time to fight while protecting the Duke. So this was the best he could do. Louis’ only option was to press on with his swordsmanship without giving him a chance to use his sword skills.

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“What are you doing!? I told you to run away?”

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Louis shouted urgently.

It seemed like there was some irritation mixed in.

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Of course. Louis wanted to fight with all his might against his long-awaited opponent. Without any interference.

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“That can’t be happening, Louis.”

“Damn, are you finally going crazy? That’s right, work less and work out-”

“Oath… It’s time to keep the oath. The princess must have shown up too. We have to confirm it. You and me together!!”

“……”

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Louis made a hissing sound and put strength into his swords, putting more distance between himself and his opponent.

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widely-

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While the masked knight hesitated as his opponent was pushed back, Louis leaped at an astonishing speed and approached the Duke.

Then he put the peacock behind him and adjusted his posture again.

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He seemed to be obsessed with protecting the duke. It took priority over fighting. It seemed as if protecting the duke was more important than defeating the enemy.

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“We have to get out of here together somehow.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“That kid just stopped when he heard the word ‘princess’.”

“…I’m sure. Unknown is her daughter.”

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Louis and the Duke met eyes for a moment, then nodded simultaneously. Louis prepared to fight again. He probably had to block the sword energy that the masked knight would unleash.

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“?”

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But the opponent did something unexpected.

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The masked knight, also known as Blair de Dahlia, walked slowly and silently.

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Louis was shocked when he saw her. The way she walked seemed sly.

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“You’re going to use psychological warfare? You’re like a clever old lady.”

“I guess this is an opponent you didn’t expect.”

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The Duke calmly consoled Louis, who was laughing in vain.

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“The sword is simple but honest, that woman is pressuring me by using psychological superiority, not swordsmanship.”

“They’re slowly tightening the reins so that we can fight while holding each other.”

“I know, that’s why I told you to run away. Well, now we have a reason to stay together-!”

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Percussion-

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As soon as Louis finished speaking, he rushed towards the Guardian Knight.

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Kang-!

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Once again, cool swords crossed and a fierce battle unfolded.

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Ki-ki-kik- Then, at that moment, as they were facing each other with their swords facing each other and feeling each other’s strength, the question of the Duke who was watching was heard.

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“Hey, Guardian Knight.”

“……”

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Tress, Blair turned her eyes away for a moment and looked at the duke. She had never expected him to recognize her as a Guardian Knight. She could guess it if she saw her power, but in this day and age, few people know that.

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As Her Royal Highness warned, Duke Christopher Maynor knows too much.

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Blair once again recalled the princess’s orders and vowed to herself that she would eliminate the Duke without fail.

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“Well, you can feel alive even outside the mask?”

“Wait, Louis. I have something to ask you.”

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The man who had crossed swords with her was strong despite his light-looking appearance. No, he was so strong that it was hard to describe him as strong. Even by Blair’s standards, who was regaining his original strength due to the princess’s awakening…

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A man who lived up to the reputation of being the strongest in the empire. I had heard a lot about him, but when I actually fought with him, I quickly realized that the rumors weren’t unfounded.

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Swish-

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Louis shrugged his shoulders and put away his sword, indicating that they should stop fighting for a moment.

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Blair wanted to attack while waiting for an opening, but he thought it would be a good idea to catch his breath, so he put his sword away and waited for the Duke’s next words.

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“She’s a prickly woman, so she doesn’t talk much. You have to understand, Chris.”

“……”

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Blair regretted his choice to put away his sword. He wanted to shove it into his pierced mouth. But now that it had come to this, he wondered what the Duke of Maynor would say.

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“…Guardian Knight, who do you serve?”

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The Duke of Maynor tried to ignore Louis’ joke and asked Blair, who was wearing a mask.

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“Are you asking because you don’t know? I only serve the master of the empire and the savior of humanity.”

“No, that’s not what I’m asking.”

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The duke shook his head as he listened to the distorted voice coming out of the mask.

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“I wonder who… ‘what’ royal family they serve.”

“…!?”

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As the embarrassment seeped out of his mask, the Duke took the opportunity to ask further.

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“…Do you know about ‘Isabel Green’?”

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Slowly-

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Blair was so surprised that she took a step back without realizing it. It was a shocking name. She really didn’t know that there was anyone who remembered that name until now.

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“Is the person you are currently serving…Isabel Green’s child?”

“……”

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Blair was silent.

No, I couldn’t say anything.

Because the shock of being hit in the head was confusing her.

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“I asked. Senior- No, is Isabel Green’s daughter alive?”

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The duke was already clenching his fists and speaking in an unusually trembling voice.

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It also sounded a little angry.

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As he listened to her voice and watched Blair, Louis’ face filled with loneliness and sadness.

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Likewise, he did not answer.