Chapter 82
The match between Shellang Deckard and Mendis Wisdom ended with shocking speed.
A single punch to the jaw.
That was all it took to bring down a swordsman ranked fifth in swordsmanship.
“How strange,” someone muttered.
If a Rank 5 swordsman could be defeated that easily, Deckard had to be something far beyond ordinary.
The outcome was even more shocking to Priana, who had watched the first match.
“That Shellang Deckard guy—was he like that in the first round too?”
“No, not at all. In fact, he barely beat a much weaker opponent after more than a dozen exchanges.”
“Then he’s been hiding his true strength…”
“Where on earth has he been hiding all this time?”
“Good question.”
It wasn’t rare for participants to conceal their power before later matches. No one wanted to give away unnecessary information.
Even Lenny Benat and Garion, who fought right after the first match of the second round, had done the same—holding back their full strength.
If Mendis hadn’t provoked Deckard by spouting nonsense about his “vile red aura,” Deckard might have held back and still won with ease.
The real issue was—
“We don’t even know who he really is.”
That was the biggest problem.
“Anyway, let’s focus on my match first.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Before long, it was my turn.
“Fitz Light—he’s not the quick, agile type like me. He prefers slow, heavy strikes. Rather than going for a direct clash, it might be better to aim for endurance—”
“Yeah, I saw him once before. I think I’ve got a good idea.”
“You’ve seen him before? When?”
“Just in passing. On the road.”
“Ah… I see.”
“By the way, you called him a friend? You two must be close. It’s not often that the top and second graduates from a knight academy are on friendly terms.”
“Haha… you could call it a love-hate relationship.”
“Figures.”
Considering their history, it wouldn’t be surprising if they both wanted to tear each other apart.
One had graduated top of his class and served as a royal guard.
The other, second in class, was the current royal guard.
Still, they’d suffered through the academy together, so a strong bond—of affection or rivalry—was inevitable.
“What do you think? My chances?”
“Heh. Of course, you’ll win, my lord.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Because you always do. You’ve never lost.”
“Puhuhu… that’s true.”
“Then please be careful.”
“Obviously. You think I came this far just to die in the middle of a festival?”
“Of course not.”
I gave Priana a thumbs-up and stepped toward the arena.
“Waaaaah!!”
“Wow…”
From the stands, I hadn’t realized how powerful the crowd’s energy would feel.
The Grand Festival hosted by the United Kingdoms was truly massive in scale.
[Now entering the arena—Isother’s rising star! Count Ian Impera!]
“Ian! Ian! Ian!”
‘Are they… just shouting my name like that?’
It felt weird. I’d gotten used to people addressing me formally, but here everyone was yelling my name like it was a sports match.
Well, I was an Isother noble—but to these folks from Wisselan, I was more like the guy-next-door.
And when else would they ever get to yell a Count’s name like this?
“Not bad,” I muttered with a smirk.
My combination of past scandals and random heroics had made me somewhat of a celebrity.
A young noble who, by sheer luck, stopped a robbery at the Golden Bank and climbed the ranks at just the right time.
Not bad… but not enough.
I needed to prove that I was here by skill, not luck.
Let’s save it as long as possible.
I touched the glass vial of elixir in my pocket.
I only had one bottle. Best to save it for the finals—when I’d need it against a Rank 6 opponent.
“Ian! Ian!”
“Show us what you’ve got, you drunken noble!”
That last cheer made my eyebrow twitch.
“…Drunken noble?”
“Uh…”
I glared in the direction of the voice.
“D-Did he just look at me?”
“No way, man. He can’t hear us from here. Don’t be stupid.”
“R-Right… scared me for a second.”
Sorry, but I heard you perfectly.
I’ll remember that face.
I ran my thumb across my neck in a slitting motion, and the man’s face went pale.
[And facing him—Isother’s Royal Guard Knight, Fitz Light!]
“Wooooaaah!”
The cheers for Fitz weren’t quite as loud as mine, but they weren’t bad either.
The second-top graduate of Zenith Knight Academy, now serving as a royal guard of Isother.
If he were as good-looking as Priana, he’d probably be even more popular.
But instead of being handsome… Fitz looked more like—
“Uooohhh!”
—a beast.
He roared as he entered, a thunderous sound that nearly matched the cheers of the crowd.
“Waaah!”
“Yeah! That’s a knight for you!”
“Fitz! Fitz! Fitz!”
His face was somewhere between a gorilla and a bull, snorting heavy breaths like an animal.
When he stretched his thick neck and cracked his shoulders, he really did look like a bull ready to charge.
The referee stepped forward and addressed us.
“Since the fourth Grand Festival, the use of artifacts and elixirs has been permitted. Do either of you wish to use one?”
“No! I’ll fight with nothing but my sword!” Fitz shouted proudly, gripping his weapon.
‘Hmm… still too early to use mine.’
“Same here,” I replied.
“Very well. Then I’ll explain the match conditions.”
He went over the usual rules—ones we’d already signed off on—but it was a formality to avoid unnecessary deaths.
“Injuries sustained during battle are inevitable. However, any attack after a judgment of defeat will result in disqualification. Do you both agree?”
“Yes!”
“Sure.”
“Then, I wish you both good fortune.”
Fitz scowled. “Don’t expect me to go easy just because you’re a Count!”
“Heh. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
We exchanged brief nods.
Now, only the duel remained.
[The match begins!]
“Haaaah!”
As Priana had warned, Fitz charged in like a raging beast.
Boom!
Normally, the first exchange is cautious—a way to test each other’s skills.
Not Fitz.
He poured his full aura into his first strike, unleashing a monstrous Aura Sword from the start.
An average knight would’ve burned through all their mana and collapsed instantly.
But Fitz wasn’t average.
Bang! Bang!
His blows didn’t weaken—they grew heavier and faster.
“Ho…”
No wonder he was a royal guard. His strength rivaled even Priana’s.
I blocked calmly, studying his rhythm.
Each strike felt like being crushed by a falling boulder.
Can’t just defend forever.
Time to push back.
I infused my Dragon-Scale Sword with aura.
A masterpiece forged by one of the continent’s top blacksmiths—its blade absorbed aura like a sponge and held it firmly like a tree root.
Then I swung.
KWAANG!
“Urgh!”
A Rank 5 swordsman’s full-powered clash.
The explosion of sound and light drew cheers from the stands.
“Waaahhh!”
A battle between high-ranked swordsmen was a rare sight. The crowd roared in excitement.
“Ian! Ian!”
“Fitz! Fitz!”
Fitz, surprised by my strength, broke off and stepped back.
I could see the disbelief on his face.
“Heh.”
I was surprised too.
Back when I sparred with Priana, we always held back.
But this—this was full power.
A Rank 5 knight, fighting with everything he had.
And I hadn’t even flinched.
I can stand toe-to-toe with him now… unbelievable.
“Shall we go again?”
“Of course!”
Even after all that, Fitz didn’t look tired at all. His stamina was monstrous—fitting for his nickname.
Just like Priana the Swiftblade and Crode the Lightning Sword, he too had an alias:
“Fitz Light, the Hibernating Bear.”
A name that had started as a joke, mocking his slow and heavy style—but he’d turned it into a badge of honor.
You could tell he’d worked his ass off to earn it.
“Whew…”
I steadied my breath and raised my sword again.
Just then—
“Fitz! You can do it! For Isother!”
A clear, gentle voice rang from the stands. Princess Eaglen.
Technically, both Fitz and I served Isother—but Fitz was far more closely tied to the royal family.
He gave a short nod in response to her cheer.
But—
‘Huh?’
His cheeks turned slightly red.
Not from exertion…
No way…
A grin crept across my lips.
“W-Why are you smiling, my lord?”
“Oh? Can’t a Count smile if he wants to?”
“…”
I wasn’t laughing at him—it was just… amusing.
It felt like watching a romance drama unfold right in front of me.
To be honest, I kind of wanted to root for him.
Compared to that scumbag Prince Gallen, Princess Eaglen was one of the few sane members of the royal family.
Then a thought occurred to me.
“Wait… don’t tell me you—like the princess?”
“D-Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Did you just tell a Count not to talk nonsense?”
His reaction said it all.
Unless you were the knight commander himself, a royal guard falling for a princess was the kind of dream that could never come true.
Which makes it all the more interesting.
In the original story, Princess Eaglen met a tragic end.
Priana had pitied her, but once Prince Gallen took the throne, she couldn’t help her.
But what if Fitz could change that fate?
What if, instead of that bastard Gallen, Eaglen won in the end?
Maybe the world’s downfall could be delayed—just a little.
For that to happen…
I’ll play the villain.
After all, that’s what I do best.
“Ha! A royal guard harboring feelings for a princess?”
“…”
“How laughable. It’s beyond insolence—it’s pathetic.”
“T-That’s not—”
“I bet after a lifetime in the academy, the first pretty princess you saw made your heart flutter.”
“That’s not true!”
“Oh? So you’re saying she’s not beautiful?”
“…The princess is different!”
“What?”
“She—she spoke to someone like me! She said that as long as I am a sword protecting the royal family, my birth doesn’t matter!”
“Ohh…”
He was rambling now, caught up in his emotions. Clearly smitten.
Well, compared to those slimy nobles, Princess Eaglen was a saint.
“I am the sword of the royal family! No matter who stands before me—if it’s for the princess, I will never back down!”
Damn, I thought. He’s a full-blown princess simp.
“Fine then! Come at me!”
“I will!”
A blazing blue aura erupted from Fitz’s sword—so bright it hurt to look at.
He wasn’t holding back anymore.
Good.
Get stronger. Strong enough to change this damned kingdom’s future.
The Dragon-Scale Sword responded as I poured all my mana into it.
The two auras collided, swirling into a storm around the arena.
“Haaaaah!”
With a roar, Fitz lunged forward—
—and our Aura Swords crashed together.
BOOOOOOM!
