Chapter 42

"Attention!"

Rimer climbed onto the platform and clapped his hands. The trainees, who had been engrossed in their practice, all lifted their heads.

"Can you see them?"

He pointed to the knights of the Owen Kingdom standing on the right side of the training ground.

"The guests from the Owen Kingdom have requested a sparring match with us."

"A, a sparring match?"

"So suddenly?"

The trainees were taken aback by the unexpected word "sparring" and opened their mouths wide.

"Suddenly? What's sudden about it? Haven't I always told you that a swordsman must be ready to wield their sword even if they wake up from a deep sleep?"

Rimer clicked his tongue and muttered, "You still have a long way to go."

"Hmm!"

"Still, they're from the Owen Kingdom…."

"Wouldn't it be better to prepare a bit before fighting?"

Despite Rimer's advice, the trainees' tense expressions did not ease.

However, one trainee had a completely different thought.

Balen and Martha looked at the Owen Kingdom's training knights with the predatory eyes of a hunter eyeing its prey.

Lunan continued to practice, ignoring the commotion around him.

"Hmm!"

Rimer, who had been enjoying the trainees' confusion, turned his gaze to Raon. His eyes seemed to ask, "What about you?"

"Hmm…."

Raon turned his head and scrutinized the training knights from the Owen Kingdom.

'Sparring, huh…'

While there might be a knight among them, none of the training knights seemed to have reached his level.

However, the prince at the center might be a decent opponent to practice the harmony of the Garan Step and flexible sword techniques.

He slowly nodded, and a broad smile spread across Rimer's face.

"Since everyone agrees, we can start. There will be 20 participants. And…."

Rimer lowered his voice so only the trainees could hear.

"I've bet my entire salary on this. You must win. If you lose, you'll really be in trouble."

"Eh?"

"Wh-What do you mean…."

"Prepare for the sparring match!"

The trainees gaped. They wanted to argue, but Rimer turned his body and gave instructions to the instructors.

"Yes, sir!"

The instructors, who seemed to have known about this beforehand, dispersed the trainees and began setting up the sparring area in the center of the training ground.

"Huh."

Raon smiled at the sight.

'So that was it.'

Rimer's unusual behavior over the past few days had all been for this sparring match.

He must have been preparing for this since he heard about the delegation from the Owen Kingdom.

'Impressive.'

Even if they were just trainees, sparring matches between Six Princes were not common.

To arrange such a match so smoothly, Rimer was indeed not an ordinary person.

"Gather."

Raon turned and called everyone together.

"Okay."

Lunan, who had ignored everyone's words until now, stopped his sword practice and was the first to approach.

"Tsk."

"…."

Balen and Martha, along with the other trainees, stood beside Lunan. With Raon at the center, all the trainees from the 5th training ground formed a circle.

"As you've heard, the sparring match is already decided. We need to select 20 participants, so those who want to participate should raise their hands."

"I'm definitely going."

"Same here. I'll go even if I have to knock everyone else out."

Balen and Martha raised their hands simultaneously.

"Will you participate, Raon?"

"Sure."

"Then I'll go too."

Lunan nodded and raised his hand. About ten other trainees followed suit.

"…."

"Hmm…."

However, the other trainees hesitated to raise their hands, looking at each other.

'Are they scared?'

The training knights from the Owen Kingdom were wearing armor even though they hadn't received formal titles.

The overwhelming presence of the training knights, who stood confidently despite their lack of clear skill, seemed to have stiffened the trainees' bodies and minds.

"Tsk."

Although it was troublesome, as the top student, it was his responsibility to motivate the trainees.

"Do they look confident to you?"

Raon pointed to the Owen Kingdom's training knights preparing for the sparring match.

"Well, they do."

"They look dangerous too."

The trainees nodded, glancing at each other.

"Look closely at their hands."

"Huh?"

The trainees followed Raon's finger and looked at the training knights' hands.

"Hmm?"

"Are they, trembling a bit?"

"Not just a bit, they're trembling…."

"The others are the same."

The trainees widened their eyes as they looked at the other training knights' hands.

"They may be wearing impressive armor, but they're just trainees like you, trembling and nervous before the sparring match."

"Ah…."

"They're just kids around your age, with similar thoughts."

Raon turned to look at the trainees.

"There's no need to be afraid. You've undergone training that rivals other Six Princes and even Omae. If you fight as you've been taught, you won't lose disgracefully."

"Hmm!"

"Well, who else has trained as much as we have?"

"The blood and sweat we've shed in training are unmatched by anyone."

Raon's earnest words ignited a spark of determination in the trainees' eyes.

"I'll ask again. Who wants to participate in the sparring match?"

With a whooshing sound, all the trainees raised their hands.

Raon nodded and selected 20 trainees, including Balen, Lunan, and Martha.

The selected trainees, as well as those not selected, looked at the Owen Kingdom with a completely different aura.

'Troublesome.'

Taking care of children was more troublesome than he thought.

However, after spending time and sharing space with the trainees, he had developed a slight fondness for them. He wasn't entirely annoyed.

"Then I'll decide the order. First, Martha. Can you do it?"

"I'll take care of it."

Martha nodded vigorously. The lead position was crucial for boosting the morale of the trainees, so it was right for Martha, the second strongest in the 5th training ground, to go first.

"Next…."

He decided the order one by one. Lunan was 18th, Balen 19th, and he himself would be last.

"Once you're ready, gather in the center."

"Let's go."

Raon walked to the center of the training ground, hearing Rimer's annoying voice.

* * *

Martha tilted her head as she looked at the training knight who stepped onto the sparring ground. His polished silver armor and large build made him look like a seasoned knight.

However, she wasn't afraid. Compared to the bastard who had once crushed her with sheer strength, he didn't look intimidating at all.

"Tars."

The large training knight placed his hand on his sword hilt and bowed slightly.

"Martha Zighart."

Martha introduced herself and stood with her feet shoulder-width apart.

"Your underdeveloped body is frighteningly well-trained. I hope for a good match."

"A good match? You're going to get beaten up anyway, so don't put on airs and just come at me."

Martha snorted and wiggled her fingers.

"Hmm."

Tars exhaled through his nose and drew his sword. A broadsword, thicker than a typical knight's sword, was revealed.

"You're quite talkative. I hope your sword skills match your mouth."

"Enough chatter. If you don't come, I'll go to you!"

Martha leaped forward, drawing her sword. The white blade cut through the heated air.

"Stupid!"

Tars' eyes glinted coldly as he brought his broadsword down. A powerful wind pressure surged from the blunt edge of the sword.

Whoosh!

As the heavy wind pressure pressed down on Martha, her eyes flashed.

Boom!

Martha stepped with the Garan Step and swung her sword upward. Like a salmon swimming upstream, she cut through the wind pressure and clashed with the broadsword.

Clang!

A deafening sound like a metal block exploding echoed, and Tars' broadsword was deflected and stuck into the ground.

"Huff!"

Tars was startled and stepped back, but Martha didn't miss the opportunity. She followed up and struck Tars' abdomen with the flat of her sword.

"Gurgle!"

Tars spat out foam and fell backward.

"Fighting with brute strength and not putting everything into one strike is pitiful."

Martha smiled coldly, sheathed her sword, and turned around.

"Martha wins!"

Rimer raised his hand toward Martha with a satisfied smile.

"Hmm…."

Raon tapped his fingers as he watched Martha's back.

'She's changed, but not really.'

After losing to him, he thought Martha would add softness to her sword skills, but that wasn't the case.

Instead of adding softness, she increased her power and speed to enhance her strength. It was absurdly simple.

'Unyielding will, perhaps.'

Martha's uncompromising nature would undoubtedly lead her to greater heights.

'Quite interesting.'

-Interesting? Do you find it amusing to watch the fights of young ants? To me, it's just boring.

'Ants aren't always young.'

-Pathetic. When I was in the Demon Realm, I never saw such mediocrity even when I called young demons for sparring matches… *cough*!

Raon silenced Las by touching the flower bracelet and waited for the next sparring match.

'I find it interesting, so be quiet.'

* * *

Despite Martha's excellent start, the training knights from the Owen Kingdom were not to be underestimated.

They seemed to be an elite group, alternating victories and defeats with the 5th training ground's trainees in a fierce battle.

After 17 sparring matches, the 5th training ground's trainees had a record of 8 wins and 9 losses, and it was Lunan's turn for the 18th match.

"Lunan, it's your turn."

"Okay."

Lunan nodded and stepped onto the sparring ground.

On the sparring ground, a female knight of similar height to Lunan stood with her hand on her waist.

"Edelie."

"Lunan Slieron."

Lunan and Edelie exchanged formal greetings and faced each other.

"…."

Lunan didn't even draw his sword, looking at Edelie with his usual blank expression.

"That blank look is unsettling."

Edelie wrinkled her nose and charged at Lunan. A red flame shot up from the tip of her sword, which she held like a spear.

Whoosh!

Flame Aura. This move demonstrated why Edelie, despite her small stature, was one of the later participants.

"I don't like fire."

Lunan extended his lips slightly, almost imperceptibly, and drew his sword.

Whoosh!

A frost whiter than the silver blade covered the air.

Sizzle!

The flame sword and the cold sword clashed, sending up a white mist.

Lunan used the Garan Step to hide his body in the mist and cold air.

"I'll just erase this cold air!"

Edelie swung her sword, which was engulfed in flames, like a torch, dispelling the cold air and mist simultaneously.

"There!"

She didn't miss the ripple in the cold air and struck with her sword.

"Huh?"

Edelie's eyes widened. Her sword hit nothing, and the empty space where it had pierced was completely vacant.

"Ugh!"

She swallowed hard, feeling a chill near her neck and turned her head.

Sizzle.

Lunan, with a piercing gaze, pointed his sword at Edelie's neck.

"…I lose."

Edelie bit her lip and dropped her sword.

Lunan removed his sword from her neck and sheathed it.

"Good fight… huh?"

Edelie extended her hand, but Lunan didn't look back and went to stand in front of Raon.

"Did you see that?"

"Your step has improved. Well done."

"Okay."

Lunan nodded and sat down next to Raon.

Raon smiled faintly, sensing the cold aura from Lunan.

'Using my step in a real fight.'

The step Lunan used this time was the concealment form of the Garan Step he practiced alone.

With just a little advice, Lunan had created a unique application of the step.

Seeing how well he followed, even without proper instruction, made Raon feel proud.

"The score is 9-9. This is getting interesting. Let's start the 19th sparring match."

Rimer grinned and called Balen and a training knight.

"Hmm…."

Raon licked his lips.

'Quite strong.'

The stance of the training knight facing Balen was stable, and his eyes shone with a sharp light. He was the strongest among the training knights Raon had seen so far, excluding the third prince.

Their strength was similar. The outcome could be decided by a momentary mistake. It seemed the Owen Kingdom had sent out a secret weapon.

"I am training knight Sethun Kazel."

"I am trainee Balen Zighart."

The training knight and Balen exchanged formal greetings and placed their hands on their sword hilts.

"Let's start the 19th sparring match!"

As soon as Rimer finished speaking, the two disappeared from the sparring ground simultaneously.

Boom!

Balen and Sethun, using their steps, clashed swords in the center.

'They know.'

Both knew that their strength was evenly matched and that a moment of carelessness would end the match.

Clang! Clang!

Balen's sword was fast and accurate, while Sethun's was heavy and powerful.

Both swordsmen used their strengths to the fullest to overpower their opponent.

It was a fierce battle. Not only the trainees but even the swordsmen were engrossed in the sparring match.

Squish!

Blood spurted from Balen's shoulder, and Sethun's chest armor cracked.

The swordsman and the knight didn't drop their swords even as blood flowed and flesh was torn.

They struck at their opponent's weaknesses as if facing a mortal enemy.

Crack!

Balen, pushed back by Sethun's heavy sword strike, gritted his teeth. He raised his sword and summoned all his Aura.

"Huff!"

Sethun, sensing Balen's aura, gathered all his Aura from his dantian.

"Haah!"

Balen used the wind to propel himself forward, and Sethun, planting his feet firmly on the ground, brought his sword down.

Boom!

A sound like the sparring ground being crushed echoed, and gray smoke rose.

The sound of pebbles cracking was heard, and the two stopped moving.

Whoosh!

Rimer hummed a tune and extended his hand. Green wind blew, dispersing the smoke from the sparring ground.

Balen and Sethun stopped at a distance where they could touch each other with their fists, and their swords were split in half, stuck in the ground.

"Huh?"

"Does this mean…."

"It's a draw."

As the trainees said, the two were no longer in a state to continue fighting. They were trembling, having used all their strength and Aura.

"The 19th sparring match is a draw!"

Balen, hearing Rimer's declaration, forced himself to stand and left the sparring ground.

"Damn…."

He clenched his teeth and frowned.

"Well done. That training knight was the strongest from the Owen side."

"What's the point? If I had gone with the Zighart name, I had to win!"

Balen punched the ground in frustration. His skin tore due to the lack of strength.

"Hmm."

Raon looked at Sethun, who had fought Balen. His composed expression was now as wrinkled as tree bark, showing his frustration.

'Honor…'

In his past life and this one, he had been too busy surviving to fully understand the concept of honor.

"Then let's start the final sparring match to decide the winner!"

Raon stood up, hearing Rimer's cheerful voice.

"Don't worry."

Raon turned to look at Balen, who was pouting.

"I'll win."

"…."

Balen didn't say anything. It seemed to be his way of showing trust.

Raon turned and stepped onto the sparring ground. He didn't care about honor, but since everyone was united, he wanted to win. No, he wanted to win.

"Are you a direct descendant of the Zighart family?"

The third prince, who had been waiting on the sparring ground, turned his head and tapped his sword hilt.

"No, I'm a collateral descendant."

"Tsk, fighting a collateral descendant and a talkative one at that."

The third prince's forehead wrinkled. He still hadn't recognized Raon's strength.

"I have a proposal."

The third prince turned to Rimer without looking at Raon.

"What kind of proposal?"

"Those two over there."

He pointed to Lunan and Martha, who were watching the sparring ground.

"They don't seem to have used their full strength. How about a rematch if I defeat this one?"

"Hmm…."

Rimer scratched his trembling chin. His expression clearly showed he was trying to suppress a laugh.

"Sure, if you win."

"Then tell them to warm up. It'll be over soon."

The third prince turned with a satisfied smile.

"It will be over quickly."

A cold glint flashed in Raon's eyes.

I will win.