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Chapter 6
Zelus was startled. Until the moment she grabbed him, he hadn’t even sensed her approaching presence.
The training ground wasn’t particularly noisy, either. He had simply been so focused on sparring that he’d lost awareness of his surroundings.
Once his surprise faded, irritation rose from the grip pressing down on his forearm.
What was even more absurd was that Kata looked just as angry as he did.
“What are you doing? Let go of my hand.”
Kata slowly released her grip—but her hostile gaze did not soften.
That sudden hostility made Zelus boil over instantly.
“What’s your problem? Who do you think you are?”
“Anyone has the right to stop violence.”
“Ha? A coward who was trembling on the first day suddenly acting up. Do you even understand how useful real combat training is in actual battle?”
“A strong person? You?”
At her genuinely confused expression, Zelus felt his vision go white with rage.
Before he even realized it, his hand moved first.
Bang!
Splinters of the wooden sword flew. Zelus’s pupils slowly widened.
The wooden sword had been cleanly broken.
Sword aura—manifested in open space like tearing reality itself.
Only second-awakeners could release pure sword aura without a medium.
“……”
When he turned his head, Xenon Korer stood there with a faintly displeased expression.
He was someone you did not want to make an enemy of. Rumor had it that a knight had already marked him as a candidate squire.
Xenon’s face stiffened slightly in discomfort. The sword aura he had released dissipated quickly, as if nothing had happened.
He looked between Kata and Zelus, then reluctantly dragged his feet forward.
“Don’t cause trouble here. If you don’t want disciplinary action.”
His tone was flat.
Zelus glared at him but didn’t dare escalate further. Just seeing that brief release of aura had sent a chill down his spine.
Monster bastard.
Zelus turned sharply toward Peter, eyes burning.
“Peter, you tell me. Wasn’t that a fair sparring match? Did I even have a handicap or something?”
“Ah—no.”
“Then why are you keeping your mouth shut? Don’t tell me you’re scared of fighting me too. What a damn coward—”
At that moment, Kata stepped forward as if shielding Peter.
“Zel—”
“Zelus.”
“……Zelus.”
Correcting herself, Kata continued firmly.
“Sorry, but you’re not strong enough to make someone afraid. If he was afraid, there must be another reason.”
Zelus’s eyes flared.
He looked down at her and said quietly,
“You talk a lot for a coward.”
A cruel smile twisted his lips.
“So you fainted the moment you saw a monster, right? While your mother was fighting bravely until she died, you were lying safely—”
“Zelus.”
Xenon placed a warning hand on Zelus’s shoulder. His gaze was ice-cold.
Behind him, Katarenia Donovan’s expression looked even more dangerous.
Zelus brushed Xenon’s hand away and sneered at Kata.
“Still get the urge to piss yourself when you see monsters? I heard you even wet yourself back then from fear. The people who died trying to protect a coward like you must be so pitiful—”
Bam!
In an instant, Zelus was sent flying. He hit the ground with a heavy thud. Hot blood streamed from his nose.
“……”
He blinked blankly.
Honestly, being hit by Xenon would have been less shocking.
But the blow had definitely come from Kata’s solid fist—far stronger than her slender frame suggested.
“Sir—Zelus!”
Peter’s voice felt distant.
Had he been careless?
No.
He had expected a punch. He’d seen her rage building.
But his body simply hadn’t been fast enough to react.
He pushed himself up from the ground.
“You damn—”
Wiping the blood under his nose, fury surged like a tidal wave.
He lunged forward—but Peter grabbed his arm urgently.
“Zelus! Let’s go to the infirmary first!”
“Get off!”
He shoved Peter away violently, curses spilling out. His fingertips tingled with murderous intent.
Then—
Xenon stepped in front of him like a wall of ice.
“You heard her. Infirmary first.”
“…Move.”
“If you leave it, it’ll heal worse. Go.”
“….”
“Not going?”
Their eyes met. Xenon made no effort to hide the contempt in his gaze.
Damn bastard… relying on nothing but his sword.
Zelus clicked his tongue.
“Donovan. I’ll remember this.”
He turned sharply away. His clenched fists trembled with rage, but he did not look back.
Kata opened and closed her fist.
Maybe I shouldn’t have hit him.
“…You fainted the moment you saw a monster.”
He wasn’t wrong.
And that was what hurt.
The Demonic War two centuries ago had ended in humanity’s victory, thanks to the legendary knight Sir Weber.
The Demon King and his three apostles were sealed away, and the Donovan family—longtime imperial vassals—was entrusted with guarding one of those seals.
But in the winter of Imperial Year 874, the seal in the Donovan territory broke for the first time. Later, a second apostle was released in the south.
Only two seals remained.
Once again, war loomed over the empire.
“What were you even protecting all this time with a sword?”
Kata closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again. The joints of her clenched fist ached.
“Um… you didn’t have to do that… thanks.”
At the hesitant voice, she looked up.
Peter was watching her cautiously.
“I’m Peter. I already know your name—Katarenia.”
“Ah, right. Just call me Kata. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ve got a tough body.”
Peter smiled while rubbing his side.
Xenon suddenly spoke.
“Why didn’t you counterattack?”
“Huh?”
“I know Zelus’s skill level. He barely understands basic swordsmanship and only got lucky with a first awakening. A spoiled brat who relies on status and picks fights everywhere…”
His evaluation was harsh.
Xenon cut himself off, then continued with visible irritation.
“I don’t know your exact skill level, but he’s not strong enough that you couldn’t counter. You know that better than anyone.”
Peter’s eyes widened. After hesitating, he answered,
“Well… I’ve been Zelus’s servant for a long time. I’ve been his sparring partner since I was young.”
Xenon nodded as if understanding.
“So you didn’t counter because it’s a habit.”
Peter only smiled gently without answering.
Xenon turned his gaze away.
It lingered on Kata’s face—then drifted down to the hand that had struck Zelus.
Kata immediately understood what he was implying. A soft smile appeared on her face.
“I’m fine, Xenon.”
“……”
If he had been eleven years old again, he would have snapped that she hadn’t even asked.
But now they were adults.
And the bond they once had was far beyond repair.
“…The time when you could do whatever you wanted is over.”
“I know.”
The conversation drifted apart.
Xenon looked at her calm face—still smiling despite his cold words—and turned away.
Somehow, seeing her unchanging smile after such sharp insults left an uncomfortable feeling in his chest.
