TRSM 09

chapter 09

Elin’s face turned bright red, like a ripe radish.

Out of humiliation at having been defeated, she bit her lip.

“…Ugh!”

From Elin’s perspective, it was a natural reaction.

She had shouted so loudly, yet couldn’t properly use her strength in the duel. Even if it had been someone else, anyone in her position would have felt embarrassed.

“Did Elin lose?”
“What… is this?”

The knights of the Bismarck family were stunned at the reality before their eyes. They muttered among themselves.

“Could it be that the opponent had some kind of trick?”
“If that were the case, the captain would have said something immediately.”

Elin overheard their conversation. She glared at them with a deadly aura.

“Can’t you keep quiet?”
“…”

Although she had been defeated by Noah, it didn’t mean she was not intimidating. At a single word from Elin, the Bismarck knights fell silent.

‘Her mental fortitude is better than I expected.’

Noah found Elin’s reaction surprising. Even after having everything blocked, she had maintained her composure.

‘Her attitude of accepting defeat gracefully is impressive too.’

In Noah’s past life, he had often engaged in duels. Among those he faced were people like Elin, who thought very highly of themselves. Most of them refused to accept defeat.

Some even accused him of using strange magic, or claimed the duel was invalid.

“The artifact… I’ll send it through someone. I don’t have it with me right now.”
“You wouldn’t just bury it like that, would you?”
“I’m different from those fundamentally worthless types.”

Elin bristled at Noah’s remark. Noah smiled faintly and continued.

“That seems to be the case.”

Hearing Noah’s next words, Elin was momentarily dumbfounded. She had expected mockery, but instead, he had subtly praised her.

“There are those who change their tune after losing… but you accepted the outcome. So, as you said, you’re different from those worthless types.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“I really mean it. If you don’t want to believe it, then don’t.”

Elin swallowed hard. Then, clicking her tongue, she rose from her seat. At that moment, the knight captain, Alexandt, who had been silent until now, spoke.

“Among Baron Beratan’s heirs… I never imagined there would be one with such skill.”
“The world is inherently unpredictable.”
“That is true.”

Noah nodded at Alexandt’s words. Alexandt then looked at the Bismarck knights.

“Our knights have acted rudely. I apologize on their behalf; please forgive us.”
“Forgiveness… even I wouldn’t have believed them if I were in your place.”
“Then we are grateful you think that way.”

Alexandt turned his gaze back to Noah and gave a respectful nod.

“This duel is the victory of Master Noah.”

At Alexandt’s declaration, the Bismarck knights fell silent. When the knight captain speaks like that, it means the duel was fair and valid.

And then…

“We’re doomed…”

They realized the magnitude of their mistake. Yet, spilled water cannot be retrieved; all the knights could do was pray for survival.

Meanwhile…

“How satisfying!”
“Should’ve stopped underestimating him earlier.”

The Beratan family’s knights were now brimming with morale. Previously, they had been slightly intimidated. But Noah’s overwhelming victory naturally reversed the situation.

“Alright, that’s enough for you guys.”

Noah restrained the Beratan knights. Almost magically, they all fell silent.

‘They actually listen that well?’
‘We’ve seen them defy Baron Beratan more than once.’
‘What just happened?’

The Bismarck family members watched in amazement. They wondered how Noah had restored discipline among them. But none were bold enough to ask.

“…”
“…”

With the Beratan knights quiet, the training grounds fell silent. Noah was about to speak when…

“Elin, have you been socializing properly?”

The heads of the Bismarck and Beratan families, Lotringen and the Baron of Beratan, appeared.

Tap… tap… tap.

Lotringen, head of the Bismarck family, had come in aggressively, claiming he would crush the Beratan family. Instead, his own heir was the one destroyed, and he left in gloom.

“This is absurd.”

Lotringen couldn’t believe his heir, Elin, had lost. But with Elin herself, Captain Alexandt, and the Bismarck knights all confirming her defeat, he had no choice but to accept it. Denying it there would have been ridiculous.

“I apologize.”

Elin’s expression wasn’t bright either. She hated losing the duel.

‘But… why do I feel so relieved?’

She was frustrated and sad from losing. Embarrassment came naturally from being humiliated by a family she had looked down on.

Yet, it wasn’t all negative. She realized she had poured all her strength into the duel, and finishing it felt like washing away old grime, leaving her refreshed.

It was also an opportunity to rethink Noah.

‘Right now, he’s getting defense funds from the Beratan family… but if Noah becomes the head, that may no longer be possible.’

Elin remembered that Noah was younger than her by one year and had suffered a severe illness at seven. Yet he had not faltered in the duel.

He had even toyed with her calmly, like a senior facing a junior.

‘He’s terrifying.’

Elin felt a growing sense of caution.

‘If this continues, I will definitely lose.’

She realized that at this rate, she could never catch up to Noah.

So she made a vow: she would duel Noah again before the year ended and win in a way that would be undeniable.

After the duel, evening mealtime arrived.

Noah sat down to eat with Baron Beratan after a long time. He had originally planned to eat alone in his room.

‘Why did he call me?’

He was summoned by Baron Beratan. Seeing the table filled with food, Noah realized it must have been for a positive reason.

‘He’s happy I won the duel.’

A smile never left the Baron’s face. Noah looked at him contentedly.

“Let’s eat.”

The Baron began tearing into the meat with relish, and Noah finally enjoyed a satisfying meal.

“Although we couldn’t solve the defense fund issue… I did secure a promise to reinforce defenses in the Monster Forest.”

As the meal was finishing, the Baron looked at Noah and spoke. Noah paid it little mind.

‘It’s understandable that it’s not feasible right now.’

The Bismarck family would never agree to cancel the defense fund, unless the Beratan knights were overwhelmingly superior.

“But I worry it might just remain words.”

The Baron sighed. He wished he could cancel the defense fund, but reality wouldn’t allow it.

Noah sipped his soup thoughtfully, contemplating how to both outmaneuver the Bismarck family and solve the Monster Forest problem.

‘We can’t hire mercenaries from outside either.’

The Beratan family wasn’t very wealthy. If they had the money, they would have resolved it long ago. And the family wouldn’t be in decline now.

‘As expected… the best option is to handle the extermination ourselves.’

Thus, the Beratan family had only one practical choice: grow their strength and subdue the Monster Forest.

“The most practical solution is to exterminate the Monster Forest.”

Noah summarized his thoughts. The Baron nodded but wasn’t overly optimistic.

“That may be the best way… but don’t we lack the means?”
“Why do you think so?”
“Look at your knights… They’ve improved thanks to you, but they’re not strong enough to subdue the Monster Forest. At the very least, they need power capable of overwhelmingly defeating the Bismarck knights.”

The Baron sighed, feeling foolish complaining at a pleasant dinner.

At that moment, Noah spoke boldly.

“So, if I train the knights further, you’ll allow it?”

The Baron shrugged.

“Words alone don’t limit anything.”
“But I’ve succeeded so far. There’s no reason I can’t continue to succeed.”
“…What exactly are you proposing?”

Noah smiled confidently.

“Grant me the authority to train and lead the knights. Then I will exterminate the Monster Forest and reclaim the money that flowed to the Bismarck family.”

“…You?”
“Yes.”

Noah looked self-assured. The Baron thought silently. Could this child really accomplish that?

After a minute of contemplation…

“Then so be it.”

Finally, the Baron entrusted the knights to Noah. His expression brightened even more.

“And you will not regret it.”

The Beratan knights would have been astonished to hear that.

Everything had been resolved.

Just before the Baron rose, Noah asked one more thing.

“Do we have enough practice wooden swords?”
“About 200. Why do you ask?”

Noah smiled and continued.

“Because I plan to use all 200 of them.”

“…?”

The Baron frowned at Noah’s mysterious reply. But he understood one thing:

‘I’ve handed my sheep to a tiger.’

The knights in Noah’s hands were as good as doomed.