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Chapter 57
The Reason That Villainess Picked Up a Sword
Duke Asili felt disappointment as he observed the undergraduates of Artis Academy.
“There’s not a single talented one here.”
Even after looking through the advanced class, there wasn’t anyone whose talent truly impressed him.
‘It’s a shame I couldn’t find the one who killed the monster horde during the last monster hunt.’
If there had been a knight of that caliber, they could have been his match. There were surely many geniuses in the world, and hidden prodigies as well.
He always felt frustrated when he couldn’t meet a worthy rival.
Lately, though, one image wouldn’t leave his mind: Erin’s figure he had seen not long ago.
Her extraordinary aura… At the banquet, the duke had felt a shiver run down his spine when he saw her.
All the knights in the hall must have been startled by Erin as well.
Her presence was far beyond what a mere beginner-level fencing student could emanate. Her aura was even sharper than when they had first met.
Whenever he looked at Erin, Duke Asili felt a strange, inexplicable sensation. Something that couldn’t be put into words.
‘Perhaps this time, I should finally ask her to become my disciple.’
So when he heard the news brought by his chief knight, he felt genuine anger.
“Duke, His Majesty the Emperor has assigned Sir Erin a promotion trial mission.”
“A promotion trial? So suddenly?”
“Yes, and I’ve heard the mission is to be carried out in the western region.”
The duke was utterly taken aback.
“What did you just say? Sending her west for a promotion trial?”
His chief knight nodded seriously.
Usually, promising knights stand out even at the academy. The Emperor often shows an unusual interest in such individuals.
And sometimes, he even assigns them dangerous promotion missions.
‘If she returns alive, she’ll gain tremendous honor…’
But still, to send her west? The duke knew how perilous that land was, and even the Emperor couldn’t be unaware.
A talented knight chosen by the Sword should never be sent there.
“This is absurd. I’ll speak to His Majesty myself.”
The duke rose from his seat, speaking with firm determination. The junior knight scrambled to stop him.
“No, Duke. Last time, during Sir Amon’s promotion trial, you opposed the Emperor’s opinion and displeased him. You must restrain yourself.”
“I cannot let a chosen sword talent die like this. First, I must speak with Erin… No, that’s right. I should talk to her before doing anything. Where is she now?”
Hearing this, the junior knight felt relieved and quickly promised to find her, then left the office.
Not long after, there was a knock, and two presences were felt.
‘I must tell her not to worry.’
The duke did not want Erin to be distracted from her sword training by needless anxiety.
‘Her skills must improve quickly.’
Duke Asili hoped that Erin would one day grow into a knight equal to himself.
She possessed the talent for it.
However, the moment Erin entered the office and answered him, Duke Asili could only sigh.
“Sir Erin, what did you say?”
“I told him I intend to undertake the promotion trial in the western region.”
Why were geniuses all so arrogant? The duke felt pained by this fact.
“The monsters in the western region are stronger than anywhere else. It is not yet suitable for you, especially for a mission meant for the advanced class.”
“…”
“You are to cut down three mid-level monsters’ heads. This is not a mission meant for completion. I know you haven’t held a sword for very long.”
“…”
“Yet I’ve heard you defeated Amon Hedor. Truly astonishing talent. Isn’t it a waste to risk such talent? No matter how glorious the task, wasting your life is foolish.”
Occasionally, overconfident knights would request promotion trials in the west. It was the perfect opportunity to prove their strength.
But Duke Asili considered that foolish.
‘Is Erin Lysis that type of knight as well?’
He closed his eyes, troubled. A proper level of arrogance was necessary, but a knight who overestimates themselves never truly grows.
It pained him that Erin, someone of remarkable talent he had taken note of, was that type.
“I understand your concern. But please give me the chance.”
A chill flickered in Duke Asili’s eyes.
“If you insist, I will give you the chance.”
He had no intention of sending Erin to the western region. Even if she did not yet know her limits, he could not bear to lose a talented knight.
“Draw your sword, Sir Erin. If you can block ten strikes of my sword, I will allow you to go west.”
What the duke did not realize was that this was exactly the response Erin desired.
Corelia, after leaving Artis Academy, did not head to the Lysis marquis house.
She waited for the Emperor in a greenhouse within the imperial palace, a place she used whenever meeting him secretly.
She savored the tea placed before her. The greenhouse carried a thick scent of death.
A greenhouse built atop countless corpses. Corelia snapped the stem of a nearby plant. Its effortless breaking reminded her of Erin.
‘Yes, it must have been like this.’
She tilted her head. When had Erin changed?
“Corelia.”
At the Emperor’s approach, Corelia rose. She saw him enter the greenhouse with his chief knights.
“Caron Lysis has realized the truth.”
“How?”
Corelia explained the events of the banquet.
“We can no longer leave the Lysis marquis house be.”
“After receiving your urgent report, I already commanded Erin Lysis’ promotion trial.”
The Emperor had learned of Erin’s treatment from the reports Corelia sent regularly.
Even though she had been chosen by the Sword, her muscles were damaged, making it impossible to become a Sword Master. But the recent rumors were far from his expectations.
The Emperor did not like situations that did not go according to his will.
Normally, he would have punished Corelia for failing to carry out the order properly.
But it no longer mattered, as Erin’s talent was blossoming and his grand plans were nearly ready.
“Yes. We had planned to handle the west soon anyway. Since I sent Charlotte, everything can be finished decisively.”
“Is that really necessary? Well, do as you wish.”
Normally, this would have happened later, but Corelia’s words accelerated the plan.
“Anyway, only Duke Asili could survive there.”
“Even Duke Asili would suffer great losses.”
“Yes. So Erin Lysis will never return alive.”
“What if the Lysis marquis opposes?”
The Emperor smiled deeply.
“Start taking care of the Lysis marquis house, Corelia. Preparations are complete.”
“…”
“You may act as you see fit.”
Corelia bowed deeply. These were the words she had waited for over many years.
Duke Asili moved with Erin to the training grounds prepared within the academy for his use.
It was a temporary training field set up for his convenience by the academy.
Watching them, the chief knight was filled with excitement.
‘A duel with Duke Asili!’
His heart pounded. And the opponent was Erin Lysis, chosen by the Sword.
Of course, the skill difference meant it would be a guided duel, but the chief knight could not contain his excitement.
It had been a very long time since Duke Asili had dueled anyone.
However, despite the chief knight’s anticipation, the duke felt little interest in the duel.
At some point, he had stopped enjoying dueling. Having reached the level of a Sword Master, fighting others had become meaningless.
The duke’s skill was so high that even two Sword Masters combined would struggle to defeat him.
But knights, especially two Sword Masters, would never cooperate in such a humiliating manner.
Thus, a truly tense duel felt like a thing of the distant past to Duke Asili.
He spoke to his following chief knight.
“Let no one enter.”
The chief knight left the training field with a disappointed expression.
Only then did the duke ask Erin directly.
“Now, speak your truth, Sir Erin. What exactly are you thinking?”
