Chapter 95 –
Evelyn had said to leave it alone, but there’s no harm in trying something.
If she’s really hiding something, she’ll reveal her true identity when her life is in danger.
If not, I’ll just have to beat her with force.
Raven stared coldly at the knights’ training building where Tinya had entered.
“No magic allowed, no mana usage. Tinya’s a civilian, so you can only use physical strength and swordsmanship against her.”
“Of course. I’m definitely stronger than her physically. I’ll let her go first,” Raven said with feigned generosity at Evelyn’s explanation.
“It’s fine! I haven’t been just playing around since I came to the North!”
Tinya exclaimed confidently as she emerged in her training uniform.
“Ooooh!”
The knights cheered loudly.
“The mage isn’t so weak either.”
Raven had a surprisingly solid build for a mage.
“He looks a little frail during training, but hmm…”
“Tinya’s been doing well lately, so don’t underestimate her.”
One knight mumbled, and another quickly rebutted.
Raven’s jaw tensed at the knights’ gaze, which compared him to a skinny maid.
I’ll prove myself right now.
While I’m at it, I’ll show the clear difference in our abilities so they’ll never say such nonsense again.
Receiving a wooden sword from a knight, Raven casually swung it.
“He’s hopeless.”
Watching Raven, Evelyn clicked her tongue. Even his grip on the sword was wrong.
Of course, Raven’s aura was comparable to that of a seasoned knight—but so was Tinya’s.
In fact, her stance, holding the sword tightly with a focused face, looked better.
“Then I’ll go first, if you don’t mind,” Tinya said, and Raven gave a slight nod.
“Hyaaaah!”
With a loud yell, Tinya swung her sword as she had been taught. Her movement, sliding into Raven’s left flank, was decent.
“Oh, not bad.”
Even Leonel widened his eyes in surprise at Tinya’s skill.
Clack!
Raven quickly blocked the sword and struck hers away.
Then his own blade thrust straight toward Tinya’s heart.
Thud.
“Huh?”
His waist hurt?
Raven looked down blankly. Tinya’s sword had landed on his waist.
He had assumed he would easily corner her. The reversal left him stunned.
Whack!
“Where do you think you’re aiming!”
Her next strike landed on his shoulder. Pain flared in his right side. Tinya, having landed two clean hits on the mage, looked visibly more confident.
“Nice, Tinya! Go for the neck next!”
“Hey! Whose side are you on?!”
Raven shouted as he frantically blocked Tinya’s sword.
“I’m on Tinya’s side, obviously!”
Evelyn replied firmly, shouting swift directions:
“Left! Left! Now horizontal slash!”
Wham!
This time it hit his thigh.
Rage welled up in Raven’s crimson eyes. Am I losing to this woman?
Crack.
“Whoa, whoa. No magic allowed.”
The knight acting as referee hastily calmed Raven as they sensed a surge of mana.
“I know.”
Raven took a slow breath, trying to hold back the shame of becoming a laughingstock in front of others.
Then he recalled Evelyn’s movements.
Was it the left foot forward, and then a thrust?
Crunch!
“Are you insane?!”
The wooden sword shattered in Evelyn’s hand.
“Your Grace!”
Knights hurried to Evelyn, who had jumped in front of the mage’s attack.
“I’m fine. Tinya, are you okay?”
“Haaah. Yes!”
Tinya nodded furiously, thinking she was surely about to die. But just as Raven moved, she felt she could avoid it.
“What are you doing going that hard on a beginner?!”
Tinya fell silent at the Grand Duchess’s furious scolding. She felt a bit disappointed but was also proud of how far she’d come.
“I mean, she said she’d trained a lot, so I thought she could handle it!”
Raven couldn’t admit he’d gone too far to test her identity, so he started making excuses.
“But how was that last move?”
“For you? Not bad at all.”
Evelyn had been about to scold him more but remembered the strike that had nearly hit Tinya’s heart—it had been sharp.
“As expected, I’m a genius. If I had truly learned swordsmanship, the world wouldn’t be able to handle me.”
Raven brushed back his hair arrogantly and turned his gaze to Tinya.
“You’re alright, right?”
“Yes! I’m not hurt at all!”
“Sorry for scaring you.”
Tinya blinked in surprise as the arrogant mage actually nodded and apologized.
“Sir Raven can apologize?”
She’d watched him for a long time beside Evelyn but didn’t think he had manners like that. Raven glanced at her sincere, surprised face and suddenly turned around.
“Let’s go.”
And he dragged Evelyn away with him.
As soon as they left the training yard, Evelyn, gesturing for Tinya to go to the parlor, asked,
“What was that about?”
“I suspected Tinya.”
“What?!”
“If she’s hiding her skills, she’ll show her true self when in danger.”
Evelyn sighed deeply. Raven never listens the first time she says something.
“She’s been in the North for a while now. If your suspicion was correct, something serious would’ve happened already, don’t you think?”
“You don’t suspect her at all?”
Evelyn didn’t answer.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t.”
Raven ruffled his hair in frustration.
“Should I just kill her for real?”
“Do you want to die by my hands?”
As Raven muttered nonsense on the way to the parlor, Evelyn finally raised her fist.
Whack!
“Shield.”
Raven summoned a shield just in time to block it.
“You’re no fun.”
“You think killing people is fun?!”
Evelyn stormed into the parlor and glared.
“No, but the people close to us seem suspicious. I just thought—maybe I should try poking around.”
“And if you poke everyone?”
“As if I’d be that stupid.”
He had been planning to, but Raven lied shamelessly. If he killed everyone before the evil god revived, wouldn’t the traitor be revealed that way?
The thought popped up out of nowhere, and even he had to laugh at how crazy it sounded.
“Some bad things have happened, but in the end, they’ve turned out well…”
Evelyn had also felt uneasy whenever incidents occurred around her.
But it was hard to think of anyone near her as the evil god’s apostle without clear evidence.
“Seril’s shoulder was healed after it got injured, and Jahal got promoted quickly.”
One by one, what had seemed like tragedies ended up bringing positive results.
“Fine. I’ll stay put.”
Raven raised his hands in defeat.
“Oh, but can I use mind control?”
His red eyes sparkled with mischief at the sudden idea.
“Are you insane?!”
That was forbidden magic. Mind control allowed one to read someone’s thoughts and past memories.
It also let the caster manipulate the target’s will, so it was severely punished by both the Mage Tower and the Imperial Court.
“You think they’ll catch me?”
“Who’s going to arrest me if I don’t get caught?”
Raven’s shamelessness made Evelyn shake her head.
“I don’t want to find out at the cost of you being in danger. When the evil god revives, the truth will come out. Just go do some research or circle training.”
“You’re calm.”
“I mean it more than anyone.”
Evelyn shook her head at Raven’s sarcasm.
“I told you—I don’t want to suspect the people close to me just because I feel uneasy.”
She exhaled deeply.
“I’ve been treated like someone cursed. I won’t treat others the same way. Raven, that’s truly painful.”
Evelyn spoke firmly. She knew how awful it was to be baselessly doubted.
So she didn’t want to judge others without clear evidence.
That uneasiness toward someone felt disgusting—as if thorns were piercing her heart every time she doubted.
“A hero isn’t a god.”
But Raven shook his head. He thought Evelyn was too soft. If he were the hero, he’d have killed everyone already.
Was she chosen because she had a gentle heart? Maybe the gods wanted to spare as many lives as possible.
“I don’t want to be perfect like a god. I just don’t want others to go through the pain I did.”
“If things go wrong later, I won’t help you.”
“Please. I’ll take care of it. So back off.”
Evelyn nodded at Raven’s childish sulking. Whoever it was—if their identity was revealed later, she would handle it then.
Until then, she wouldn’t torture herself with doubt or recklessly judge someone.
Evelyn made up her mind firmly.
