There was a duel event in the kingdom to prove the qualities of royalty.
This was called a festival.
As time passed, the frequency decreased markedly, but the presence was still there.
“… … Lesser Morgan’s confrontation with the other two princes?”
“okay. Rumors circulated in secret, but this time they announced it.”
Something similar happened when the three princes were young.
Morgan had sparred with two other princes.
Everyone knew very well that this confrontation now was very different from back then.
“Listening to it, it seems that Lord Morgan has grabbed each one and moved.”
“Yes, it is said that he openly pressured the two lower ranks… … .”
There were quite a few people who expected Morgan’s one-sided victory because of the difference in level.
Even if it ends like that, the effect will be obvious.
Whatever the situation, the important thing is the ripple effect of the result.
“Poor Cruz, please reconsider.”
“This is so reckless.”
That’s why right now, not to mention Duke Leon, who is my closest aide and my strongest supporter.
Other than that, all of my followers came and strongly opposed it.
“I already told my brother that I would do it, and I even announced it. But what do you mean?”
“Everybody knows this showdown isn’t fair.”
“Yes, if you ask Her Majesty to intercede on this basis… … .”
“If you do, you’ll tarnish my reputation by mentioning this over and over again.”
“It’s better than when you lose one-sidedly.”
It was Duke Leon who spoke strongly as if he had made up his mind.
It’s been quite a stir lately with Hones and my talent.
Me and the look he showed in the proof of struggle.
And the fact that I accepted the S-class elixir and became a 5-star intermediate at once.
These incidents were enough to plant a positive impression on not only the royal family but also the nobility and common people.
Although more than 100 years have passed, the ruler’s might and talent were still important factors to them.
But while these rumors are spreading, the two attack and lose to Morgan?
There were surprisingly few people who thought it was a natural result because there was a difference in realm.
Most will accept only this result, and if that happens, they will blow away all the good impressions they have built up.
Perhaps, in return, the perception of Morgan would be better.
“I say it out of disrespect. This confrontation has to end somehow, my lord.”
That’s why Duke Leon and his followers were actively blocking it.
“What do you think of the Marquis of Brisman?”
The Marquis, who had been silent for a long time, answered cautiously with a difficult expression.
“I, too, have the same thoughts as Duke Leon. but… … .”
“but?”
“Because of his old age, he does not reach the skills of his youth, but his senses remain.”
In an instant, Marquis Brisman’s eyes changed.
It was the kind of look I had never shown to anyone, not to mention myself.
“My intuition tells me that there will be a chance of winning unexpectedly.”
“That sounds good.”
The complex emotions of those who watched this were revealed on their faces.
I knew very well that the Marquis of Brisman was not the kind of person who would say such things to flatter me.
“I am well aware of your concerns.”
“Lowering… … .”
“But nothing will change this decision. So, please trust me and follow me.”
“… … All right.”
In response, the Duke of Leon no longer objected.
When he did this, the others simply kept their mouths shut and bowed their heads.
After the meeting ended, Alan approached and asked quietly.
“Hey, are you going to do your best this time?”
I didn’t say anything specific, but I figured out what Alan was asking.
It must be a question of whether to reveal the spirit’s power.
“okay. No matter how much I do, it’s an opponent that I can’t win without doing that.”
“When you say that, you can feel the difference in the realm.”
Because he always lost to me, who was at a low level, there was also a part where Alan couldn’t feel the superiority caused by this.
“I can’t use artifacts according to the rules, but I think it’s worth a try.”
“You’re too self-confident. I wish you luck, my lord.”
“Tell the duke not to worry.”
And so the day of the duel came.
The venue was Tujeon (鬪殿), an official dueling ground in the west side of the royal palace, within the Yonseiwon.
It was a building reminiscent of an amphitheater.
Not to mention the influential bureaucrats in it.
Most of those who are mentioned when naming influential people, including nobles, were gathered.
It wasn’t enough even after filling up the vast battleground seats.
In addition to the people inside, there was also a device that could see the inside.
Unless you were in a very remote province, anyone could watch this fight on video.
‘It’s really grand.’
Although it might be considered disrespectful to view a duel of princes in this way.
Since it was a country that was established after overcoming aggression, there was little such recognition.
It was more so because the royal family, the Alexander clan, had a warlike tendency rather than a noble one.
“That’s the famous low-class Cruz these days…” … .”
“As rumor has it, all three of them are tall. Among them, the evaluation that Prince 2 is the best is correct.”
Sreung!
The murmur of the crowd died down.
It was a reaction that happened when the knight standing in the center of the arena pulled out his sword.
It was eaten because it was the action of one of the kingdom’s strongest warriors, the guard commander.
“I will hold a festival from now on.”
As soon as the words of Heurant, the leader of the Guard, ended, the princes appeared on the field.
Me, Hones, and Morgan.
All three were dressed in pious robes, not for battle.
This is because this confrontation is not just fighting recklessly, but with a holy will and reason.
It was a sign that it was one of the royal duties.
“Today, three princes inheriting the blood of the wise and great Queen will prove their qualifications before the people of the kingdom.”
At this, those who were sitting in the audience stood up in unison and clapped politely.
After going through a few more procedures like that, I went inside Tujeon to change clothes.
Before parting, Morgan spoke to me with cold eyes.
“I will prove my qualifications as the first prince by defeating you.”
Morgan went in after finishing his words one-sidedly.
‘It’s not the eyes that look at the brothers.’
It was a lifelike look, as if looking at an enemy to be killed.
I felt that my feelings were hurt quite a bit in our last conversation.
iron, iron, iron.
Hones and I were wearing armor in the same space.
From nob le mt l dot com
Like the previous sparring, there was no device to protect the opponent.
Of course, inflicting irreparable wounds or taking the life of an opponent was forbidden.
For this, talented people like the captain of the Guard were waiting in the arena.
“Then let’s go out first.”
“okay.”
when he was about to go out.
“Hones.”
“yes?”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“… … I always do my best.”
* * *
Morgan was the first to enter the arena.
I could feel the sharp fighting spirit from him as he entered the battle stance.
It was absolutely not the atmosphere you would see in a friendly match.
A state of six stars that those who are general-purpose or lack talent cannot even set foot in their entire lives.
Although he was evaluated as the least talented among his siblings.
Morgan’s results were enough to overturn this.
“You’re here.”
Morgan greeted Hones, who came up with a ferocious voice.
“How long ago did you reach 5 stars? At this level, it may not be a level that you can’t even compete with.”
“… … I would like to ask you a favor.”
Jiying.
At the same time, a protective film was laid over the entire arena.
It was a device to prevent the aftermath of the attack from reaching the audience.
The moment the protective film is all over, the festival begins.
cooong!
Hones stepped on the advance and jumped out.
Although the body that reached 5 stars and became stronger boasted a faster speed than before.
Roaring!
A rising flame stopped Hones.
At first glance, it seemed like a low-power magic for light containment.
Normally, this level of mana could be pierced by attaching mana to the body or weapon.
Hones did not.
‘Dangerous.’
It was a judgment made by a sharper sixth sense as the level rose.
If you are fooled by the outward appearance, you will be cornered in an instant.
That’s why Hones didn’t dare to break through and repeatedly evaded.
This spectacle made the spectators feel puzzled.
“Isn’t that enough to break through the Hones deterioration?”
“I mean, even if the realm is low, that level shouldn’t be a big threat… … .”
Of course, not everyone noticed.
‘Did you notice that only with your sixth sense, without directly confronting it?’
‘It’s unbelievable judgment for an unmanned person who has just reached 5 stars.’
Morgan repeated the same attack two or three more times.
Hones did not respond, only evading.
“It’s quite a process, even among the high-ranking civilians, the dull ones didn’t notice it at once.”
damn
When I bumped my fingers, an unusual magic power flowed over me.
A storm of flames blooming in all directions at the same time.
It was a magic different in scale from the wizards Hones had dealt with so far.
Quarrr!
The storm of flames stirred as if it had a will.
And one of them hit Hones.
“Kuh… … !”
Even the sword strikes he wielded in a stance did not completely knock out the flames.
‘It’s a level that I barely blocked.’
cooong!
Honess quickly retreated and distanced herself, but was unable to escape from the encirclement of flames.
At this point, it was a win-win situation for anyone to see.
I couldn’t get out of it with my body movements, and I couldn’t even collide head-on.
However, Hones did not panic, and calmly sharpened his senses.
‘The scale is large, but the essence is the same as back then.’
He remembered the fire magic used by Cruz the other day.
A flame that moved as if it had a will.
It was not difficult to catch the opponent’s movement with senses and attack as if predicting.
‘If it was an opponent with a difference in strength, I would have just pushed… … .’
It was difficult even for an opponent of the same level, so there was nothing to say about Morgan.
‘To destroy this, I have to read the flow of magic.’
It was a conclusion he made while reviewing his sparring with Cruz.
After all, the attack direction of magic is determined by the magic formula built into it.
Therefore, you must read the flow of that magical power and confuse the opponent.
Roaring!
As if the time had come, the flames raged fiercely.
The moment the storm of flames rushing in like an siege entered Honess’ gap.
“Haa-!”
He kicked the ground with a spirit.
I moved to the left where no attack came.
As if expecting this, the flames moved almost simultaneously with Hones.
It looked like he was about to swing his sword in response.
Quaang!
Hornes kicked the ground once again.
The direction was a surprising fire, but he was sure.
‘It’s the loosest here.’
The flow of magical power was concentrated on the left side where I had moved earlier.
This meant that the flames here were not affected by the user.
Chow-!
The flames that were not easily slashed earlier were easily slashed this time.
That sword strike instantly created a path to Morgan.
“… … !”
Some of those who watched this were quite surprised.
It was because I knew that the series of situations that had just happened were not a coincidence.
‘A soldier who has just reached 5 stars caught the flow of magic?’
If this is possible, it is possible to thrust a sword into an opponent with a difference in strength like the present.
Because it means that you can stab the part where the other person’s consciousness has not reached.
This was enough to raise the expectations of the audience.
If this is… … .
Kwaaang-!
However, as if to blow away such expectations, the place Hones stepped on exploded.
Without a chance to dodge, he invoked earth magic.
“Do you think I wouldn’t expect that number of you?”
Morgan’s voice, as if he was thinking of something disgusting.
At the same time, a towering pillar of earth aimed at his torso, but Hones managed to escape.
Because of being caught in the explosion, his armor was damaged and his leggings could be seen crushed.
It was clear that he was in a state where he could not move easily.
‘… … Prediction, I guess.’
I couldn’t help but think so.
The previous explosion wasn’t written while he was charging through the flames.
It was in a state where even the traces were completely erased so that Hones would not notice.
It was right to see it as a magic that was ready to be used a long time ago.
The others were surprised that Honess noticed the flow of magic power and broke through.
On the contrary, Morgan had anticipated and prepared for this.
“The time we have been waiting for has arrived.”
Roaring!
Stems of flame coiled towards Hones.
Hones responded and moved, but it was a move that was clearly behind than before.
“Kuh… … !”
Hornes moaned in pain but did not give up.
The stems of flame spread as if they were restrained.
It turns into a bullet and attacks you.
Occasionally a large ball of fire shoots out like a cannon ball.
All of them forcibly rolled over, barely avoiding it.
“Nice, Hornes.”
Quaang-!
An intense fireball flew in as if to taunt Hones, who was desperately rolling on the ground.
However, he managed to block it by turning all his magic power into defense.
I didn’t see any movement to evade or counterattack like before.
It was a situation that, no matter who saw it, Morgan could end it at once.
“… … Whoop, whoop.”
But Morgan didn’t.
He tricked Hones by scattering weaker and weaker flames.
Morgan laughed a little and showed joy.
“Hones, I’m fed up with you.”
Whoop!
Fireballs adjusted to a level that Hones, who could not move properly, could avoid, were fired.
Then, he spread the wide-spreading flames as if to play with them.
Hornes struggled with pain and managed to get it off.
Being at a low level and with an injured body, this heat was too heavy.
Besides, it wasn’t decisive, but the shock was accumulating as if it was subtly harassing her.
The appearance of digging up wounds from time to time seemed to be harassing the other person.
It was to the point that the audience felt cruel and frowned at this appearance.
Morgan laughed happily.
“He stood up to me every time, saying things he didn’t know about, saying he couldn’t acknowledge me.”
“… … .”
“I never give up even in a situation where I can’t see a win like now.”
“… … What do you want to say?”
“Nothing. just… … .”
Morgan’s mana, which had been loosely controlled, rose intensely.
“I just wanted to see how long I could do that.”
Kurrr!
The ground shook in response to magic.
The shaking was clearly targeting Hornes’ legs.
It was a counting of basins where he had already been injured once.
Hones noticed this, but his body did not follow.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.”
The moment when the waves of the earth with the momentum to crush them were activated.
Whoa!
A sudden spring of solid earth enveloped Hones.
A sign of magical power that had never been seen before in the arena.
“Do you enjoy teasing children? older brother.”
At this, Morgan’s ferocious eyes twisted, and the corners of his mouth were raised.