Chapter 33 - Traces of a Fallen Angel
Chapter 33 - Traces of a Fallen Angel
I once borrowed a Japanese romance manga my younger sibling was reading.
While the cringe-worthy plot developments were endless, one scene in particular stuck out like a sore thumb:
“Karintos! I challenge you to a duel! Let us fight for Milena’s hand!”
Seriously? Students dueling each other during class at an academy? And the professors not only don’t stop it but actually spectate?
“Professor. I’d like to cross blades with him.”
Little did I know I’d be the one in that position.
“Hmm. Oh-ho.”
The professor’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he glanced between me and Edgar.
“Quite intriguing. Judging by appearances, you don’t seem much older than the students, yet you already possess the skill to face a wyvern in swordplay…”
“Then wouldn’t Theodor here be more than sufficient as my opponent?”
“Hmm. Indeed. Though there is one concern…”
The professor’s gaze shifted toward Parmela.
“Since that attendant belongs to Lady Parmela, we’d naturally need her permission first before proceeding with the match.”
Ah, saved.
There’s no way she’d allow—
“…No objections.”
Excuse me?
When did you suddenly grow so meek? Weren’t you snapping at the Crown Prince just moments ago?
“Excellent. Then let’s proceed immediately. You there, attendant! This way.”
With no other choice, I walked toward the professor and Edgar.
…!
Keeping my eyes fixed on them, I saw it clearly.
The Crown Prince exchanged meaningful glances—first with Parmela, then with the professor.
Parmela immediately lowered her gaze, biting her lip in frustration,
while the professor shot Edgar a knowing smirk, as if telling him not to worry.
‘This bastard Crown Prince pulled some strings behind the scenes.’
The Crown Prince and I faced each other, wooden practice swords in hand.
The other students had already distanced themselves, whispering excitedly among themselves as if settling in to watch a spectacle.
Parmela still refused to lift her head,
and despite the swordsmanship class effectively turning into a gladiatorial arena, the professor made no move to stop it—instead enthusiastically appointing himself as referee.
Not a single ally in sight.
“Let’s have a good match, Theodor.”
“…Of course, Your Highness.”
Edgar raised his sword in a textbook two-handed stance, while I simply stood with my arms hanging loosely at my sides.
“…An unfamiliar stance.”
“Learned swordsmanship haphazardly, without proper fundamentals.”
“Impressive in its own way. I just hope it’s not all bluster.”
“Then… begin!”
Clang—!
In the blink of an eye, Edgar closed the distance and swung down.
Crack!
I barely managed to block his strike.
Our swords locked in a contest of strength.
I whispered to him under my breath.
“…What are you thinking, Your Highness?”
“Exactly what it looks like—eliminating my rival.”
He grinned.
That furious smile bore no trace of the noble grace he always wore as Crown Prince.
“…You seem to be under some misunderstanding. I hold not even a shred of romantic feelings for the young lady.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Creak—
His sword pressed harder.
“What matters is whether Parmela looks at me or not. That’s all. And as long as you’re by her side, her lovely gaze will never turn my way.”
“So first, I’ll crush you utterly in front of everyone.”
Hummm—
“!”
Seeing mana surge into his blade, I hastily retreated.
‘This bastard is serious…!’
But Edgar pursued relentlessly, swinging his sword in rapid succession.
“This is abuse of power!”
“Not to toot my own horn,”
Clang!
“But I’ve lived quite virtuously as Crown Prince until now.”
Crack!
“So even if I let jealousy blind me just this once,”
Whoosh—
“And do something ugly, it’s fine!”
“What kind of dogshit logic is that?!”
Okay. Confirmed—reasoning with him was pointless.
With each clash of swords, the cheers from the spectators grew louder.
…Ah, screw it.
Since things have come to this, might as well proceed with the final phase of the project here.
The Crown Prince’s wooden sword, now clad in aura, swept horizontally toward my abdomen.
I deliberately raised my own sword in a sloppy stance—without reinforcing it with demonic qi, of course.
“…!”
BOOM!!
With a resounding explosion, my wooden sword shattered into splinters, unable to withstand his aura.
“GAAAH—!!!”
The impact sent me flying several meters, tumbling across the ground four or five times before finally skidding to a stop.
“…?”
I hadn’t expected the Crown Prince’s jealousy to run this deep… but this works out even better.
If Edgar intends to interfere between Parmela and me, I’ll gladly play along.
I planned to openly concede defeat to him, then tell Parmela, “I was scared of the Crown Prince…” as an excuse to naturally distance myself from her.
“…”
Cracking my eyes open slightly, I surveyed the situation.
The Crown Prince seemed stunned, blankly staring between the wooden sword in his hand and my crumpled form.
“D-Did I win?”
Please, just let things proceed as I planned…
“Theodor!”
At that moment, Parmela burst from the crowd and sprinted toward me.
Huh? You’re not supposed to come now!
“Theodor, snap out of it! Are you okay?”
She dropped to her knees beside me, cradling my face in her hands.
Her voice trembled with tears.
“…Edgar, you…!”
Then, her blazing crimson eyes, brimming with fury, locked onto Edgar.
“…!”
Meeting her gaze, Edgar froze in shock.
A duel between two men over a woman.
One emerged victorious—yet the woman rushed to the loser’s side, fretting over him.
Now, here’s the question: Describe the emotions of the man left behind.
“How dare… How dare you abandon me for that…!”
Correct answer. Jealousy erupts.
“I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!!”
Ah, damn. Look at this. He’s completely lost it.
[Warning. Energy resembling Vertus’ signature has been detected from the male individual ahead.]
‘What?’
—Just as he said. That Arkesian reeks of mana akin to my own.
Rumble—
The ground trembled around Edgar as a silver whirlwind erupted around him.
“Wh-What the—?”
The professor, who had been idly observing with folded arms, stumbled back in shock.
“KYAAAH!”
“Wh-What’s happening? What is His Highness doing…?”
The students began fleeing in panic.
“…Huh?”
Parmela remained frozen, tears still glistening in her eyes as she stared blankly at Edgar.
“O silver moonlight.”
As he raised his wooden sword, the swirling silver mana coalesced around the blade.
‘…It’s real.’
Just as the system and Vertus said—amid the radiant silver mana, a single thread of black energy intertwined.
The wooden sword in his grasp was no longer just wood.
A colossal silver greatsword, taller than Edgar himself.
“Annihilate the enemy of the royal line!”
Gripping it with both hands, he swung down at Parmela and me with all his might—
‘This’ll wipe us out.’
If left unchecked, not just Parmela and I, but even the other students would be caught in the blast.
[Shadow Moon Step activated.]
Frantically drawing upon the last remnants of demonic qi in my dantian, I channeled it into my legs and lunged toward Edgar.
“Theodor, NO!!”
Parmela’s scream pierced my back.
Shifting the demonic qi from my legs to my arms.
BOOOOM!
The moment Edgar’s sword struck the ground, a massive shockwave erupted.
Before it could spread, I plunged into the epicenter, pivoting on my left leg to spin my entire body.
If my body were a ship, my foot would be the anchor rooted to the earth, and my arms the oars parting the waves.
[Heavenly Demon Fist—Ripple Water Fist activated.]
Guiding the swirling demonic qi in my arms in sync with my rotation.
The mana shockwave threatening to explode outward instead converged around my arms.
To prevent the raging tide from dispersing, I spurred my rotation further, soothing and pacifying the waves.
Though obscured by the surging mana, my movements likely resembled a dance.
Repeating this pacifying dance, the silver waves gradually lost momentum and stilled.
“…”
Finally, Edgar’s aura dissipated completely.
Before me lay the shattered remains of his wooden sword—and the Crown Prince himself, staring at me in utter disbelief.
Step. Step.
Thud!
Walking up to him, I drove my fist into his face.
“…Huh?”
“What ‘huh,’ you bastard. You realize you were about to cross a line just now?”
“N-No, I didn’t mean to—”
Leaving the dazed Crown Prince behind, I scanned our surroundings.
Parmela, the professor, the A-class students—even other students and faculty who had come to investigate the commotion.
Hundreds of eyes were fixed on me.
“Ah, shit. This is bad.”
I won’t bother detailing the aftermath.
The professor overseeing the class was dismissed and sent back to the empire.
The Crown Prince, Parmela, and I were summoned repeatedly for investigations over the following days.
The fallout was inevitable.
The Crown Prince of the empire, blinded by jealousy, unleashed forbidden magic in the middle of the academy.
And a mere commoner attendant subdued him effortlessly.
Even now, a week later, rumors ran rampant—about the love triangle centered on Parmela, the mysterious commoner attendant’s true identity, and more.
I had no idea how to clean up this mess, but that could wait.
With the official investigation and disciplinary actions mostly concluded, I finally had some free time.
Seizing the opportunity, I headed to the Crown Prince’s dormitory, where he was serving his suspension.
His room was on the second floor. Guards dispatched by the empire stood watch at the entrance, so I didn’t bother going through the front.
Tap.
Instead, I leaped lightly onto the balcony and slipped in through the window.
Edgar startled briefly at my sudden appearance but soon gestured wordlessly to a chair, as if he’d anticipated my visit.
“Your Highness, I have questions.”
Edgar kept his gaze lowered, silent.