200. Grandmaster (4)
“Waaa―――!!”
Allen’s counterattack was so spectacular that the audience was delighted.
Everyone praised the sight of him taking the blow while giving up his wrist.
They all clapped as if they expected Allen to win.
But.
“….”
The stadium soon became quiet again.
The vice-captain of the Dark Knights, who obviously thought his mana would be shattered by a strong blow.
Because even though his uniform got cut, he calmly stood up again.
“Indeed….”
The rule of the match is who breaks the mana shield first.
In other words, Dark took a gamble by giving up his own flesh to the point where his uniform got cut.
He was not defeated because he kept his mana shield intact.
Only the abdomen was slightly cut.
“The next general manager is different, is this?”
As Allen fought back by sacrificing one of his wrists.
He also sacrificed his flesh to protect the Mana Shield, the goal of victory.
‘You certainly have a lot of practical experience….’
I internally acknowledged his cool-headed judgment.
No matter how much it is a regular sparring, the goal is to cut down the mana shield.
Such a sacrificial play was only possible after countless war experiences.
“It was definitely a threatening attack a little while ago. I’ll praise you….”
Dark thoughtlessly brushed off his torn collar.
Then, Allen also responded leisurely.
“I think so. “Seeing you, the guy who pretended to be calm, talk like this.”
Allen chuckled.
I don’t know who he learned it from, but his sly smile was quite impressive.
“Now you seem to be just like us.”
Allen raised his dual swords again.
However, contrary to his relaxed expression, one wrist was already swollen.
“Our Black Knights are just like you… ?”
Dark looked coldly at Allen’s provocation.
He has outstanding skills, but his career is still short, and he responded with an odd sneer.
“This is absurd.”
He unleashed deep blue mana to his heart’s content.
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As if to prove the difference between himself and Allen.
“Are you still not aware of this difference in power?”
Dark blue mana, reminiscent of an elite knight who has trained steadily for almost 20 years.
It was like seeing a veteran war hero on the battlefield like General Balderian.
“Then I’ll show you. You who enjoyed all kinds of honor in sunny places….”
Dark wears a flashy white uniform and has a smooth face.
I stared at Allen, who was receiving praise from all the people.
“The difference between us, who did all the dirty work throughout our lives but had no honor whatsoever.”
After joining the Black Knights.
Vice-captain Dark, who hid his existence and skills his whole life.
He was envious of knights such as Allen and Richard, who were respected by everyone in the sunny region.
As if to relieve his anger, Dark wanted to show off his skills to the fullest in front of everyone.
“Come…” !!”
Allen stared straight at the black-haired knight who was running at him at breakneck speed.
Then he was struck straight by the rapidly rushing huge blade.
Kaaang!!
He crossed his hands and struck them together in the shape of scissors.
However, because one wrist was injured, the body of the blade shook violently.
“You foolishly sacrificed your wrist.”
As if to punish him, Darc then cut off the left side of his neck.
Left side.
Finally, up to the left knee.
He tenaciously attacked Allen’s injured wrist.
“This is the limit for those of you who grew up gracefully and without experience!”
To finish, she spun around his body and landed a kick that stung Allen’s solar plexus.
At her pain, Irina’s knight was pushed back, letting out a soft moan.
“Ugh… !!”
However, Allen also did not break down easily.
If Darc was full of anger, hatred, and youthful spirit toward the knights of the Sun.
Because he had a sense of duty.
It’s about repaying everyone who believed in you.
He is no longer the count’s bastard, but the ‘princess guard knight.’
This point was often emphasized to me, and he decided to do his best as a noble being.
To repay Irina for taking care of me when I was a useless person and raising me both materially and spiritually.
“I won’t back down!!”
That sense of duty became a painkiller for the pouring pain.
Her wrists were so swollen that it looked like she would scream if you even touched her.
He struck down all of Darc’s swords with a determined expression like a noble pilgrim.
―――――!!
It was like a battle between light and darkness.
“….”
But, I looked at him with great anxiety.
Before the game, I clearly told you to give up if you get tired.
“Huh…” !!”
Although he had already shown impressive performance, Allen was pushing himself too much.
Just like I died after protecting the princess for my whole life.
Kaaang!!
As expected, Allen was gradually collapsing due to Darc’s persistent left attack.
His wrists were shaking to the point where it was difficult for him to even manage his expression.
“Allen, abstain!! “You did your best!!”
I, who was inferior, shouted.
However, Allen did not back down.
“….”
He glanced at me, smiled, and tried to reassure me.
The moment I see that disciple’s expression.
“… !”
I made a confused expression with unfocused eyes for a moment.
Because the appearance of Allen facing me….
“No, I haven’t done my best yet.”
Because they seemed like juniors who died protecting Irina with me in the past.
“Isn’t a guard knight supposed to protect his lord no matter what happens?”
The look in his eyes was no longer that of a young master who had grown up in noblemanship.
He was a true guard knight who realized his mission and did his best.
“I want to be like that, just like you said.”
These are beings who pounce like moths to an enemy they cannot defeat and make their master shine.
「Where are you looking until the end… !!」
Dark’s long sword approaches right in front of you.
The huge mana surrounding that long sword was like a tidal wave hitting the island.
「I will give you the end… !!」
A strike similar to that of Bakal’s elite knight, Berk.
The audience looked satisfied, as if they thought that kind of level was common even in articles exclusive to the imperial family.
The same goes for Rosanna and Leon.
“It’s over.”
They looked proudly at their peak power with raised eyebrows.
However, the princesses were different.
“….”
Overwhelming level of Dark Knights.
I swallowed deeply as if I was watching the punishment of a divine being.
“Come…” !!”
Allen tried to confidently face the disastrous force that attacked him.
If the opponent is a god, like a human hero challenging him.
―――――.
The damn knight, Allen.
He is a symbol of the arrogance that was finally eating away at him.
I threw away my dual swords.
The sound of cold metal falling echoed throughout the stadium.
Soon, he tightly grasped one sword with both hands.
Like, purge day.
Like me in the past, who protected Irina alone.
I stared at that sublime figure.
‘Was this the point of view when Irina looked at me?’
Strong opponents that cannot be defeated before your eyes.
However, the guard knight proudly steps forward alone to protect the people behind him.
When I saw that, a part of my heart sank.
Even I, who wanted to give up everything in this life and rest.
「What do you think will happen if you throw away the dual swords now? ?」
Dark was drunk with black mana and even his voice was discolored.
It became majestic, as if speaking inside a cave.
「However, we do not show mercy to others.」
The Black Knights are sure to get the job done as they take on all kinds of dirty work.
They have dealt with their targets with resolute black eyes.
Of course, even now.
「Don’t be proud anymore!!」
Dark raised his sword into the air.
And, he gathered all his strength to crush Allen’s weak will.
After that, it hit hard.
――――――!!
Two flashes of light swirled between the men.
The light spread to all directions of the stadium, emitting intense light.
“Ugh… !!”
A loud wave echoed throughout the vast stadium.
The audience all squinted their eyes and covered their ears with both hands.
“….”
Soon, the dazzling center of the sparring grounds began to fade.
Afterwards, their eyes sparkled at the situation they faced.
“Wait a minute, over there… !!”
“The number of people has increased?!”
Dailyeonjang seen in the distance.
‘Two’ silhouettes appeared between the fallen man and the man holding the sword.
「It’s finally come out.」
Only then did the emperor’s expressionless face become alive.
As if the current situation was expected.
“….”
On the other hand, the expressions of Rosanna and the crown prince were quite different.
Leon immediately recognized the man he was facing and frowned.
Apparently, I thought he was an ordinary baron I met a few months ago.
Because his appearance was very different today.
A brilliant white aura that surrounds the body.
His lips parted as he witnessed the same power as his father.
“Hmm-.”
Compared to her son, Rosanna looked relatively relaxed.
She soon smiled again, probably because she thought it was an opportunity to measure the exact power.
“The veil has finally moved.”
“Yes.”
“Now it’s truly unstoppable.”
The princesses spoke in order.
However, their expressions were all the same.
As if a bound instinct had been released.
I felt like a mare, with the starting line finally open and free to run around.
The princesses each looked down at a man with their own ambitious eyes.
「You…. The knight who met Rosanna earlier….」
Dark’s sword was held upright in the air.
He stared at me as I grabbed his wrist.
“….”
However, I didn’t even pay attention to him right away.
Rather, I turned my head and looked towards Allen.
“The general stepped forward.”
Another man blocking Allen’s path, Balderian.
He intervened in the heated match as one of the match referees.
“Okay. “Vail, you came forward too.”
The general raised his arms and wrapped solid mana around his entire body like a giant shield.
The sturdiness was like looking at a majestic lump of iron.
“Could you please step away from Allen for a moment? “I will take charge of Lord Darc.”
Balderian stared at me as I blocked his sword with one hand.
Then, he nodded his head.
“Okay, I’d like to ask you a favor.”
Only after seeing him so dependable, I was able to focus on Darc again.
He had the same black eyes as mine, but I looked at him coldly, full of an evil energy.
“Are you happy?”
I have never had a disciple in my life.
In the past, all the juniors I taught died on the day of the purge.
The sense of duty of a guard knight to protect his lord was too much emphasized to them.
Because of that, they disobeyed my orders and stood up to the crown prince until the last moment.
I definitely told you to run away.
They turned to me and said.
The belief in protecting the master.
He thanked me for sharing his beliefs and said that thanks to him, he realized why he should live.
However, I regretted saying those words.
‘If I hadn’t said that…. ‘I guess they all survived.’
I lived with that feeling of guilt.
When Allen showed a similar appearance in this life, I couldn’t bear it any longer.
I will no longer repeat such mistakes.
‘I will protect everything I wish for in this life.’
「It’s fun…. “What do you mean?”
Dark, whose wrist was being held, asked me.
Then, I answered calmly.
“That black power that was absorbed by maliciously killing others.”
「… !」
When he found out that the power he was currently using was black mana, the guy was silent for a moment.
Then, he smiled and shamelessly came out to me.
As if someone had ordered me to act like this when I was suspected.
「It’s black… What does that mean? Can’t you see this deep blue mana in your eyes?”
“….”
I strained her fingers just as he broke Allen’s wrist.
And then, I pushed him like he was crushing clay.
「… !」
Is it because of that twisting pain?
Or is it because of the white aura that is transferred to him?
Dark instinctively took a step back.
Thanks to this, there was only silence for a moment in the now chaotic sparring hall.
――――――.
Intense sunlight fell on the vast amphitheater.
I am standing alone there.
I looked around calmly.
Everyone is looking at me.
The Crown Prince and Rosanna also wanted to hide my existence.
All the people of the empire.
I began to recognize my existence.
However, I no longer regretted it.
People who truly loved me.
In order to repay them, the country decided to announce its existence to the empire.
And, the thing I chose for my candidacy ticket is….
“I dare to speak to the great emperor!”
He raised his finger to the sky.
And then, as if making a sentence, he pointed to Dark Knights’ vice-captain Dark.
“I, Bale Mikhail of the Capital Defense Knights, will challenge Lord Darc.”
Everything was repeated like in the past, during the knighthood ceremony.
Every incident started with my challenge.
“We will challenge all ‘black knights’ including the knight commander!!”
The huge Rastium fell silent at my shout.
Originally, there was a system called ‘challenge’ in regular sparring matches that had been held until now.
Even if the opponent is not selected for the competition, a challenge is claimed at an official event.
If the opponent agrees, a special match could be organized.
Furthermore, the opponents are the Empire’s strongest force, the Black Knights.
If you dodge when challenged by a warrior knight, you will be in great trouble.
Rosanna’s expression became cold because she knew that well.
After seeing a glimpse of my skills, she gave me a cold look at my declaration that I would punish all the black knights.
“Oh my….”
She has enjoyed my lukewarm response so far.
She looked quite embarrassed, like a lioness picking at a beehive.
“Dark soon picked a beehive.”
「….」
On the other hand, Emperor Leonhard was different.
He stretched out his huge hand as if he was satisfied with the entry of another Grand Master.
「Yunheohaji.」
The emperor smiled as if looking at his younger days.
As if I had been waiting for this day.
「I look forward to your outstanding performance.」