Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Royal Guard
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Year-end exams for each grade.
The duel between Wolfram von Loengrin and Rudika Hassan Shadow drew an enormous amount of attention from those around them.
It was to the point where even second-year Knight Division students, who had absolutely no connection to it, were buzzing about the match.
The reason was simple.
Wolfram von Loengrin's recent actions were like a storm sweeping through.
He hadn't been expelled, he'd joined the Student Council expedition, he'd elevated a failing first-year to top of the grade, and he strode through Jefrin leading the Black Iron Horse and the Red Wolf.
These actions were more radical than anything the Student Council President had done. Were they tyrannical outbursts carried out under the name of imperial blood, or the realization of bold plans that couldn't be attempted during her term?
Since all students could view each other's status windows, Wolfram's stats were updated daily and posted publicly at least once a week.
However, everyone who saw Wolfram von Loengrin's status tilted their heads in confusion.
How did he even get admitted with stats like that?
Of course, his recent growth was frightening. But still, he was only level 14.
Moreover, under current rules, the Student Council President's stats were always listed at the very top, drawing plenty of malicious glares.
And now, this guy was facing off against Rudika Hassan Shadow, a third-year Magic Division student whose pure total stat sum placed her easily within Jefrin's top ten.
Just the matchup alone was enough to get hearts racing.
Rumors soon split into three factions.
One was the Wolfram total defeat supporters.
The opponent was too strong for Wolfram to pull off a miracle.
How could someone with Talent 21 possibly lose? That number 21 was one for the history books.
These were the people who harbored ill will toward Wolfram—those who maliciously envied him. The trash Student Council President who'd sown discord between the Knight and Magic Divisions to maintain their power last year was now fighting an assassin. Naturally, they hoped for a crushing defeat.
The other side was the opposite: supporters who backed Wolfram's radical moves and heroized him as a villainous hero.
They believed that even if his Talent was 8 and he was hopelessly outmatched in every other stat, Wolfram von Loengrin could still show something extraordinary.
Even knowing it was a futile hope, they were enthusiasts—or radicals—who yearned for the emergence of the 【Villainous Hero】.
The last group was the neutrals. More precisely, those claiming a sneering neutrality.
Think about it. Rudika was part of Wolfram's crew. Why would they fight for real?
This was all political theater. A win was political maneuvering, and a loss was just a way to divert attention.
They figured the two wouldn't duel seriously from the start.
This matchup was between the lady of the Shadow family—called the king of the underworld centered in the south—and the incompetent prince, who were already bound as one crew.
In any case, it was obvious this duel would bring a storm to Jefrin, and now everyone was scrambling to gather even scraps of info, seeking out other crew members to drag their imaginations into reality.
"What do you think, Nefthelian?"
"About what?"
"Come on... You're part of Senior Wolfram's crew, right?"
"...Ah. Yeah, if we're talking factions. But it's hard for me to say anything given my position. Haha."
"Right, you're in the Royal Guard special class... Sorry, I didn't think about your position."
Of course, the second-year Knight Division top student Nefti was bombarded with endless questions too.
She didn't have to give answers just because she was a Royal Guard candidate, but if she hadn't, it would've been exhausting.
In truth, the one most curious about this duel was Nefthelian herself.
Nefthelian had dueled Rudika before.
And the result had been, predictably, disastrous.
"I couldn't even land a single hit on Senior Rudika."
That speed was impossible to track with the naked eye.
So predicting Senior Wolfram's defeat wasn't hard.
But...
"I don't think Senior Wolfram will just lose quietly."
He might put up a fight.
And if he did, another question arose.
If Wolfram von Loengrin beat Rudika Hassan Shadow, whom she couldn't even touch...
Then...
"Would I even qualify as a Royal Guard, Senior?"
If her senior was that strong, couldn't he handle everything alone?
A strange anxiety bloomed in Nefti's chest.
And Nefti used her own authority to watch Wolfram's duel from the front row.
Everyone there was speechless.
The aura emanating from Wolfram made it feel blasphemous to even look up at where Wolfram von Loengrin sat, as if it embodied a great bloodline gazing down imperiously.
After the initial forced provocation, there had been grumbles and complaints from the audience.
But once that intense aura spread from his body, no one could lift their heads.
Wolfram seemed to declare as much.
A moment later, the true clash between Wolfram and Rudika began, and those who'd adapted to the pressure could finally take in the fight.
Was it a fight?
A duel?
Or... a scene from myth?
The emperor's jade throne towering as high as the heavens.
Sitting there was none other than Talent 14, Vitality 2 Wolfram von Loengrin.
And below him, the crawler who had to gaze upward like staring at the sky.
The era's strongest assassin with Talent 21: Rudika Hassan Shadow.
The stats were completely reversed.
In this scene of the weak looking down from the heavens upon the strong, the audience couldn't even make a sound.
"...Ha! Wolfram!"
A massive fist of mana slammed down upon the earth. The assassin couldn't even approach that gigantic throne.
The great bloodline permitted no profane entry.
In this moment, dominating this area—this space—was only the pinnacle of humanity, the sole inheritor of that bloodline.
"Ah... Aah..."
"That's... the imperial scion."
Some could only utter a few inarticulate syllables mixed with tears.
Those a bit more eloquent managed to voice their awe in just five syllables.
Behold that lofty throne.
Perceive the infinite stairs stretching below it.
Etch into your mind who here stands closest to the sun, nearest to the heavens.
Watching the imperial scion propping his chin with one hand, occasionally tapping the armrest with the other, everyone thought the same.
"...It's Senior after all. Hehe."
"Yes. Wolfram... Incredible."
The cute junior and that lady's fiancée exchanged words of pure admiration.
But Nefti couldn't share their feelings.
"......Standing side by side with him. No, standing by his side."
A strange heat welled up from the depths of Nefti's chest.
Royal Guard.
The sole existence guarding the imperial scion at his side.
Nefti had learned about the Royal Guard's position in a special etiquette class prepared just for her.
'In a way, the Royal Guard is more than family.'
'Boasting? No. Royal Guards, as guardians of the imperial family, are uniquely permitted to wear weapons in their presence.'
'That's the contract between Royal Guard and imperial scion. Their trust.'
'And it's also the imperial scion's final freedom of choice.'
'What do I mean? Think about it. Accepting an outsider into the imperial family brings unavoidable political elements.'
'But for the guardian, full authority is delegated to the imperial scion. That's why everyone reveres the Royal Guard as great.'
'There's no typical political power dynamic between Royal Guard and imperial scion. Only trust. A strong bond. A relationship beyond family.'
For that one person, betrayal by family was impossible.
Even so, the words 'a being that surpasses family' made Nefti's face flush.
Senior Wolfram.
That one descending from the heavens to rule the earth.
He'd never once doubted her qualifications or trust for becoming his Royal Guard.
On the contrary, he'd accepted no one else.
"...Senior."
This place.
The number of people looking up at his majesty.
Over a thousand, easily.
Yet only Nefti had the right to ascend that throne and raise her sword at his side.
"......I get it now. So that's what it was."
It wasn't a sense of superiority over others.
Nor a desire to taste omnipotence standing atop the heavens.
Nothing so petty.
"I want to see it."
She'd thought she was slowly fading away in this academy.
She'd come to Jefrin to protect her family, aiming one day to become a guard in Gluco Village.
But was that truly her dream?
She wanted to protect her family. Her siblings were precious. She wanted to protect her mother too.
But if permitted—if she could be forgiven...
"From that lofty heaven, facing the same direction as Senior, at the same height."
She wanted to gaze at the dreams he dreamed.
She wanted to walk beside the path he trod.
She wanted to guard the weakest imperial scion who casually defied the heavens, spoke his dreams plainly, walked beyond the skies, and brought all to their knees—and dream those dreams alongside him.
"That would be...
Really."
Really thrilling, wouldn't it?
A giddy breath escaped Nefti's flushed lips.
Amid the sea breeze blowing in.
Nefti's words rang clearly in my ears.
Clear and vivid.
Conveying unmistakable meaning.
Without any embellishment.
She said she wanted to become my Royal Guard.
"Will you accept my sword, Senior?"
Nefthelian.
Nefti's hands trembled as she reverently offered her sword to me with both hands.
"......"
"I know it's too late. You've waited far too long. But... I've finally made up my mind. I want to become your Royal Guard, Senior."
Nefti squeezed her eyes shut.
Nefti as my Royal Guard.
Even during my 20,000 hours of playtime, Nefthelian never once dropped below friendly trust.
She always believed in me, a comrade I could rely on.
Not a heroine, but... no, more than the branching heroines, she'd been in my party.
However.
"Nefti. I have an ideal vision of the bond between sovereign and Royal Guard."
"......Yes?"
"Lift your head. Chest out. Straighten your back and look me in the eye."
"Yes."
"The Royal Guard and the imperial never betray one another. We face the same direction, walk the same path, confront the same trials. You know this."
"I do."
"In other words, there is rank between us, but no subservience."
"......"
That was the relationship between Eve and Kelters in the Eve route I played.
I'd envied that bond and friendship.
I never had someone like that, or the chance.
Nefti's awkward posture straightened. As always, her bright eyes and warm smile met mine. Her hands shook slightly, but that endearing clumsiness was pure Nefti.
The moment I gripped Nefti's sword in one hand, a system window appeared before my eyes.
There was no hesitation in pressing 'Yes'.
"Looking forward to it, Nefti."
"Yes! Senior! Likewise!"
That day, Nefti became my Royal Guard.