Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Triplets (4)
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Though he hadn't voiced it aloud, Huran had been inwardly stunned time and again by the tales Aren Eldiad had shared and the feats he'd demonstrated firsthand.
What had shocked him was exactly as his lords had already explained.
The Ninth Prince, who should have had no talent whatsoever, had in a short time gained the skill and mana reserves to cast intermediate spells over ten times in succession. On top of that, his body had transformed beyond recognition.
And all this had happened in less than a month.
'If His Highness Aren had thrown his hat into the race for the throne, it would have caused a massive upheaval.'
But the Ninth Prince had asked his younger siblings to keep it secret from the other princes and princesses.
He had no interest in the succession and didn't want to stir up needless conflict.
If any other prince or princess had said that, Huran would have assumed they were hiding their strength as a trump card. But having witnessed the old Ninth Prince firsthand, he trusted those words.
'Perhaps because he's always been far removed from the throne since childhood, he can view the situation more objectively.'
The throne came with immense power, but also enormous responsibility and an endless flood of duties.
His lords knew that too, which was why they weren't aggressively pursuing the crown.
Huran hoped Aren wouldn't change his mind and would continue his close bond with his lords. With that thought, he gazed at Aren.
'No unnecessary tension in his form. His muscles provide solid, balanced support.'
"Huran, come at me first."
"Is that really alright, Your Highness?"
"It's been a while since I've seen your spearwork up close and personal."
"Understood. Then..."
'Sir Gillek said not to hold back. But I don't know His Highness Aren's level yet...'
As Huran closed the distance with Aren, he thrust lightly with his spear.
Chaeng!
Aren deflected the incoming spear tip to the side and surged forward in one breath to close into close range.
"...!"
Startled by Aren's swift reaction, Huran—who had closed first—retreated while swinging his spear.
Aren dodged the immediate counterattack and pulled back to widen the gap again.
A brief exchange.
But that alone made Huran realize Gillek's words had been sincere advice.
'Is this even possible?'
The clash they'd just shared.
It was something no one could produce after learning the sword for only a month.
But one couldn't just stand there gaping in the middle of a spar.
Huran pressed on with his spear, denying Aren any room to close and keeping up the assault.
Chaeng! Kaang! Kakakakang!
Sword and spear clashed without respite.
One side striving to narrow the distance further.
The other maintaining their advantageous range.
To onlookers, it looked no different from a duel between seasoned experts.
"Amazing!"
"He used to be the brother we could outrun!"
"Bro's insane!"
The triplet princes were stunned by Aren's completely transformed movements compared to their capital days, yet thrilled all the same.
"My lord! You're incredible!"
"Y-Yeah, go for it, Your Highness!"
Tenka and Amelin cheered Aren on relentlessly, while Ridel quietly watched his every move.
Meanwhile, in the midst of sparring with Huran, Aren swung his sword while observing his opponent's movements.
'As expected, different weapons mean different ways of moving.'
In the past, this would have been a blur, leaving him with nothing but "it's fast" as an impression.
But now, Aren analyzed Huran's actions, comparing them to what he'd learned so far.
The distance to maintain, the adjusted stride length to match the spear, how much to shift it when thrusting or swinging.
It felt like discovering new ways to use his body, and Aren's lips curved upward naturally.
'Time to see a secret technique.'
"Huran, no plans to use any secret arts?"
"I can show you if you'd like, but using a secret technique on a prince..."
"Even like this?"
In the midst of their exchange, Aren leaped straight up high.
Just from that motion, Huran realized what was coming—but he could hardly believe it.
"No way!"
Aren's knight order.
The Black Eagle Knight Order's captain, Gillek's secret technique.
Eagle Pursuit.
Aren, high in the air, marked Huran as his prey.
Mana sprayed from his back as he thrust his sword down at his target.
"Hup!"
Judging it too late to retreat in surprise, Huran thrust his spear at the descending sword.
Kaaaaang!
The clash's shockwave sent both Aren and Huran staggering back.
"Your Highness, that technique just now..."
"Learned it from Gillek. Feel like showing me yours now?"
"...Understood. I apologize for underestimating you. From here on."
Huran drew up his mana.
"Allow me to show you my secret art, Your Highness. Afterimage of Starlight."
The moment Huran declared it, three gleaming mana spears materialized above his shoulder and head.
Aren's eyes sparkled at the sight.
'There it is at last.'
"Here I come."
The floating mana spears sliced through the air toward Aren.
Kaang!
Aren batted away the first, but the next followed in rapid succession.
Kaang!
Kaang!
The instant he deflected all three, Huran kicked off the ground and thrust.
A secret art that exploited the opening from batting away three mana spears.
This was Afterimage of Starlight.
He couldn't seriously injure a prince, even at full strength, so he aimed only to graze.
But that spear never reached Aren.
The moment he thought it would graze, Aren's body dispersed like mist.
"What!?"
And then.
"I win, right?"
Huran realized Aren's sword was at his throat—from the side.
"Ha, haha."
Huran couldn't help but laugh dryly.
He'd never even dreamed he'd lose a spar to Aren.
Huran wasn't the only one shocked.
"Bro really beat Huran?"
"What was that vanishing act!?"
"Damn! Bro! What can't you do now?!"
The triplets were floored that their knight order captain had lost.
"Ugh! To think you'd use Cloud Mist at the end! I'm overjoyed our secret art helps our lord, Father!"
"Me too, Tenka!"
The Kirigumo duo wept tears of joy.
"Sigh. That's why I told you to go all out from the start."
'Actually, no helping it. Who could've predicted His Highness's growth?'
Gillek felt a twinge of sympathy for Huran.
My spar with Huran ended in my victory.
But wins like this won't happen again.
'It only worked because Huran doesn't know Cloud Mist.'
If he'd sparred Kirigumo first and learned of it, he wouldn't have panicked and could've countered right away.
Above all, his mindset of not wanting to hurt me much held him back from his full potential.
Still.
A win was a win.
Showing it off in front of my brothers felt great.
I'd proven I was no longer the weakling brother they could outpace.
I approached Huran and offered my hand.
"Good spar, Huran."
"Your skill is astonishing, Your Highness. And I apologize. I entered the duel underestimating you."
"I was counting on that, so don't worry about it. If you'd gone all out, I wouldn't have found an opening so easily."
"Using everything at your disposal to win is the path to victory. You acted wisely, Your Highness."
"Thanks. So, what did you think of my skill?"
"At minimum, among the imperial knights, fewer than ten—excluding the knight captains—could beat you."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm certain."
Imperial knights were the elite of the elite.
Those ten Huran mentioned were probably knights at the next-in-line-for-captain level.
So, my close-quarters combat was at the level of an imperial knight captain?
I'd held my own against Gillek lately, but hearing it from another captain—not my constant sparring partner—felt fresh and confirmed my growth solidly.
"What was that last technique, though?"
"Oh, that was Kirigumo's secret art. Cloud Mist."
"Kirigumo..."
Huran turned to see Kirigumo, teary-eyed with Tenka over my win.
"Fine retainers."
"Yeah, great tutors too."
"May I challenge him to a spar?"
"That's not for me to decide. Oh, right—can you show more secret arts later? I'd love to try copying one if you're okay with it."
"I'm sworn to the imperial family. If you can learn it, I'll show you as much as you want."
"Thanks."
Huran smiled confidently.
"But my arts won't be easy to mimic. Your Highness Aren."
"I'll give it my best."
And the next day.
I'd mastered Huran's secret art, Afterimage of Starlight.
"How... in one day..."
"I understand, Sir Huran."
Gillek placed a hand on the incredulous Huran's shoulder.
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