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Chapter 18
You Can’t Just Leave As You Please!
“Oh, indeed. That face is as pretty as a girl’s. No wonder he’s so popular.”
Whale studied Himena carefully, then nodded with a smile.
“What?”
Kailian stared at Whale, utterly dumbfounded.
This blockhead! Just a wig and a single mole on the chin, and he can’t recognize her?
“Haha, right? Not only is he good-looking, but he’s got real skill too, Vice-Captain. He’s especially excellent at grappling. Despite that small body, he keeps slamming full-grown men to the ground—his grit is no joke. And that other one, Rolex—he’s huge, but surprisingly quick. I hear the two of them grew up together in the same town as brothers.”
“Hm, no wonder their hair color’s similar. I thought they looked like siblings.”
While Whale and the sergeant chuckled and chatted, Kailian struggled to untangle his thoughts.
So, she ignored the excuse of “visiting a patient,” disguised herself as if she’d gone to Anatole, and then snuck into my fortress? Himena… what in the world are you thinking?
“Brother, sorry!”
“For what?”
“I blinked once! Tears came out!”
With bloodshot eyes, Royce let a tear trickle down his cheek.
“It’s fine! I blinked twice! See, Rolex? If you stare boldly, they can’t recognize you.”
“You’re right, brother. If they had, they’d have said something. Guess the disguise really worked. That single mole was the masterstroke.”
“Then let’s head naturally to the next match. Don’t get tense—just move naturally, okay?”
“Yes, brother.”
But contrary to that instruction, the two waddled sideways like crabs and disappeared into the crowd.
Kailian’s scarlet eyes narrowed as he watched where they vanished.
Lady Himena. You may have entered as you pleased, but leaving? That won’t be up to you. Not until I uncover your purpose and whatever scheme you’ve brought with you.
“Now! The fifty contestants who advanced to the final round, line up here in a single file!”
It was the morning of the third day—the last round, when only ten would be chosen.
Ugh! Damn it. That glancing blow on my wrist still throbs. What do I do?
Yesterday, during the sword trial, Himena had been struck on her right wrist by her opponent’s wooden blade.
She had hoped rest would heal it, but by morning it was swollen badly. She’d wrapped it thick with bandages to compress it, but even the slightest movement sent sharp pain shooting through.
“Hermes, what’s wrong? Did you get hurt?”
“Ah, nothing, Rolex.”
As Royce approached, Himena quickly pulled down her sleeve.
If he found out, he’d nag her to quit and go home for sure.
“Anyway, Rolex, it’s lucky we both made it to the finals. We did well, huh?”
“Haha, true. But you’re the amazing one, brother. At this rate you’ll outshine even the Marquis and become the most famous man in Acticos!”
“Eheh, don’t say that! That’s… a big problem!”
Because her true purpose here was to stop Ines—possessed by the culprit—from targeting Kailian. To do that, she had to stay close to him and watch discreetly. If she became too famous, she’d lose freedom of movement and risk exposure.
Well, once the matches end, the attention will die down. For now, I just need to stay sharp till the end.
“Attention, everyone! Listen carefully. The final round is not you contestants competing against each other. Instead, you’ll each face one of your seniors—the Red Moon Knights—in a one-on-one sword duel! Your results will be judged on that basis!”
The sergeant explained the rules.
“As in the main round, the match ends if you step outside the ring, drop your sword, or force a forfeit. Even if you lose, the overall performance will be judged before selecting the final ten. So stay in camp until the announcement!”
At the mention of dueling Red Moon Knights, the contestants murmured nervously.
“Good luck, Rolex! Let’s both win and pass!”
“Yes, you too, brother!”
They pumped fists in encouragement.
“Now, Red Moon Knights—stand before the contestant number you are assigned! Number 9—Albert something. Number 123—Raphael something. Number 308—Abella something. Number 411—Miguel something…”
The knights, clad in black uniforms embroidered with gold thread and a red moon crest, stepped forward one by one. The citizens cheered wildly, and the knights waved back with calm grace.
“…Number 600—Andoni something. Number 776—Manolo something. And lastly, Number 777—Captain Thermos!”
“What?”
Himena, idly scuffing the ground while names were called, froze solid the instant she heard Kailian.
A towering shadow strode forward, backlit by the sun, overwhelming all around him. His large boots stopped before her. Slowly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
“Pleased to meet you, Number 777.”
“Heeeek!!”
“Uwaaaah!”
As the lord of Acticos revealed himself, the people erupted into cheers. Himena’s horrified shriek was drowned beneath the roar.
“Wha-why-why-why…”
She stammered like a broken doll, while Kailian gazed down at her with an icy stare.
“Congratulations, Hermes. It is our tradition that the highest-scoring contestant faces the Captain himself in the final trial. Haha.”
The sergeant’s cheerful congratulations buzzed in her ears like a death curse.
She was once again reminded of life’s harsh truth—
That the nail sticking out gets hammered down.
“I’ve watched your splendid performance, Hermes. Meeting again like this, I am truly… de-light-ed.”
Kailian smiled coldly.
Himena swallowed hard. “I-I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“In the duel… do people ever die?”
“I can’t say never. Why? Are you afraid?”
He raised a brow.
That last jab snapped her reeling mind back into place.
Afraid? Ha! Do you know what I was most often told in my past life? That I’d lost my damn fear!
She glared at him, then suddenly shot her hand up.
“Judge! This isn’t fair! The Captain is not only in a completely different weight class but also the strongest swordsman among all these knights. Isn’t it absurd to fight him like this?”
For all her bravado, it sounded like a desperate plea to spare her life.
“Don’t worry, Hermes. I’ll impose a handicap so you feel it’s fair.”
He stepped to the edge of the ring, placed his right hand behind his back, and held the sword in his left.
“I won’t move a step from this circle. And though I am right-handed, I’ll wield my sword with the left. If you force me to move even one part of my body outside the ring, the victory is yours.”
“Ha! Such arrogance wounds my pride… but I accept gladly!”
Relieved, she grabbed her sword and entered the ring.
“The finals will use blunted steel swords, not wooden ones. Both knights and contestants will wield the same weapons. Matches will be fought one at a time, in sequence, for fairness and focus!”
By chance, Himena’s match—drawing the most attention—was set to be the very first. She gulped and hefted the heavy steel blade with both hands.
While she nearly toppled forward under its weight, Kailian twirled his sword one-handed as if it were a toy.
Damn it. Same sword, but in his hand it looks like a twig. Ridiculous.
“Ready, be—”
“Wait!”
Himena cut off the judge, then suddenly pointed at Kailian.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
“…Paper.”
He instinctively threw his right fist forward, then froze, staring in disbelief.
“Hm. So you are right-handed. Just wanted to check.”
“Hmph. I don’t lie, Hermes.”
“Yes, Marquis. But don’t be embarrassed if the match ends too quickly. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.”
“You talk too much. Begin.”
“Now then—Hermes versus Captain Thermos. Duel, start!”
“Hyaaa!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Himena lunged with a flurry of attacks. She had to finish quickly before her stamina or her injured wrist gave out.
“Taah! Haa! Hyah!”
But no matter how hard she thrust, slashed, or swung, Kailian deflected them all effortlessly without even blinking.
“Huff… huff… what the hell? Did he glue his feet to the ground? He hasn’t budged an inch. Ugh, I’m dying here…”
She staggered back, gasping for breath. The shocks from each clash only worsened the pain in her swollen wrist.
Meanwhile, Kailian’s breathing remained steady.
“Is that all, Hermes? Perhaps you should surrender.”
He smirked, lifting one corner of his lips.
Really, Marquis? I came here to protect you, and this is how you treat me? You just want to crush me?
“Hah, are you jealous, Marquis? Bitter that I’m more popular? Is that why you singled out the flashiest contestant? Childish, don’t you think?”
“…What?”
For the first time, Kailian’s icy composure cracked.
