Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Guardian of the Empire (2)
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“No way, that can’t be... A guy who’s just barely twenty-one couldn’t possibly have reached the same realm as him...”
Rozanna couldn’t comprehend the scene unfolding before her eyes.
「Grand Aura cannot be inherited genetically.」
That was the common belief.
Most heroic Grandmasters from history had died without leaving children behind.
It was a realm reached only after surviving the brink of death on the battlefield countless times.
That was why the rumor had spread that it couldn’t be passed down genetically.
However, Rozanna, who had shared her body with the sole survivor—the Emperor—knew the truth.
If one’s constitution could support it, aura could be acquired through intimacy.
When beings with immense demonic power mingled, they could share their strength with each other.
That was why the children of Swordmasters ascended to that realm relatively easily.
Leon and Lea, born from her union with the Emperor, had become powerful mages due to this influence.
So she had assumed Veil had coincidentally gained power through Lea.
“This isn’t something gained by chance...!”
The man before her eyes was on an entirely different level from the scraps of aura one might eke out through intimacy with another.
“Power he cultivated himself...”
A realm realized only after decades of bone-grinding pain and life-or-death struggles.
It was on the same level as the Emperor, who had survived countless conquest wars.
“That’s the power.”
Rozanna, who had willingly married him even as an enemy.
Seeing what looked like Leonhardt in his prime—the era she had fallen for—the consort murmured to herself.
“Beautiful...”
Rozanna wasn’t the only one with parted lips.
The princesses, who thought they had watched Veil for quite some time.
They stood side by side in the first-floor judging seats, gazing up at me.
My figure, backlit by the pouring sunlight.
“I didn’t know Veil was this strong...?”
“I knew he was strong to some extent... but I had no idea it was to this degree...”
Lea and Lydia spoke in turn.
They wore pleased smiles, as if proud of having seen through him properly.
“His form is...”
However, only Irina among them hesitated to speak.
Instead, her blue eyes rippled like waves.
“Yes, there’s no way Veil could have been this strong at that time...”
She knew facts the other two didn’t.
My back, reflected in her pupils.
Seeing the brilliant Grand Aura enveloping my body, the princess recalled one scene.
The final moment they had shared, dancing between life and death.
“You were there with me too, after all...”
Irina placed a hand on her chest.
Then, clutching Rosario tightly, she closed her trembling eyelids.
As if realizing a certain truth.
“Is that why you tried to leave my side...?”
The two princesses glanced gently at Irina, whose shoulders trembled faintly.
They didn’t know what was wrong, but a vague wistfulness hung in the air.
“...”
Her blood kin stepped back for a moment to give Irina space.
It seemed affection had grown between them, enough to show that much consideration.
Irina, with her head bowed.
I, facing forward with my head held high.
I stared piercingly at Rozanna and Leon in the VIP seats.
Then, with black eyes absorbing the intense sunlight, I asked.
「Is the Captain still not stepping forward?」
Perhaps due to the aura, my voice echoed like it was in a vacuum.
The sheer pressure silenced even the spectators.
They merely stared down intently at the day the Black Knights’ vice-captain had fallen.
「If he doesn’t step up, the Black Knights have lost to the Guardian Knights, and they must apologize for this incident.」
Apologize.
It might seem like an exceedingly lenient demand for retribution.
However, an apology would mean admitting their actions were deliberate wrongdoing.
And admitting that would lead straight to an investigation of the techniques they had used.
「Afterward, we will investigate the technique used by Vice-Captain Dark.」
I pointed at Dark, kneeling before Irina’s sword.
He glanced up toward Rozanna with trembling lips.
His eyes seeking a countermeasure.
「I sensed it during the fight.」
The proud demeanor of a young vice-captain had long vanished.
He seemed desperate not to get caught in his illicit deeds, even if it killed him.
「That the mana Sir Dark used until moments ago was problematic.」
Moreover, the feeling of tens of thousands of eyes from the spectator seats focused on him.
It firmly punished the man who had craved fame in the light.
「It wasn’t simple mana. I felt a peculiar energy.」
“Peculiar energy...?”
“Surely he doesn’t mean the rumored black mana...?”
The spectators buzzed.
「It’s suspected to be black mana cunningly disguised as blue mana, merely changing its color.」
If they launched an investigation into all this, Rozanna’s side would be in danger too.
It was foul play in a sacred tournament, after all.
Moreover, since the opposing knight had nearly suffered a grievous injury, they would face intense scrutiny.
“...”
Well aware of this, Rozanna closed her eyes gently.
Then, as if signaling someone, she covered her lips with her palm.
Next, she formed the number 2.
「...」
I silently waited for the Black Knights’ captain.
Rozanna’s ultimate force, piled up in reserve.
But the one ascending to the arena wasn’t him.
―――――.
The figures responding to Rozanna’s signal and climbing up.
They were two middle-aged knights who appeared to be in their late forties.
“That’s far enough, Sir Veil.”
Knights I was seeing for the first time entered the arena.
At this, Dark, still on his knees, hurriedly bowed his head.
As if beholding a longtime senior.
“G-Gilbert Captain...!!”
「Captain...?」
I furrowed my brow at the word “captain” he had so desperately wanted to hear.
Then, the two middle-aged knights politely placed hands on their chests.
“We are the former captains of the Black Knights.”
Gilbert Ezekiel.
A man with wolf-like, piercing eyes and brown hair slicked back.
He had a sturdy build draped in a black robe, with a greatsword strapped to his back.
“The current captain is absent at the moment, so he cannot step forward.”
Liam Hodrian.
A man with long black hair tied back and wearing glasses.
His pupils were long and narrow like an owl’s, and two daggers were sheathed at his waist.
“Thus, we shall take his place as your opponents.”
「...」
I stared blankly at the two.
Whether Rozanna’s pre-prepared forces or not, their mana was also a deep blue.
Moreover, one wielded a greatsword, a powerhouse in man-to-man combat.
The other was a technician skilled in support attacks.
“If you wish, we shall humor your youthful vigor.”
I looked at the two former captains in their black cloaks.
Then, I soon let out a smirk.
With sly, elongated eyes.
「As formers, aren’t you inferior to the current captain?」
“...”
The two men offered no reply to my blunt words.
In retribution, I continued.
「It doesn’t seem like a place for those without titles to step in.」
The first to react was the boisterous greatsword knight, Gilbert.
The deeply furrowed brow like a wolf’s twitched.
“You seem overly excited from defeating Dark, Sir Veil.”
“Show respect to your elders.”
Liam chimed in.
He adjusted his glasses while observing me.
“It’s true the current Black Knights captain ousted us.”
Where to strike to make them writhe in pain.
“But you said it yourself, didn’t you? That you’d face all the Black Knights.”
As expected of the cautious technician, Liam.
Instead of the greatsword wielder Gilbert, he invoked justification.
“If you defeat us, you’ll naturally meet Lynn as well.”
‘Lynn... the Black Knights captain’s name.’
「It sounds like you’ll let me meet him if I win.」
The two knights didn’t answer my question right away.
They drew their weapons in reply.
「Very well.」
I raised Irina’s sword high.
Then, staring piercingly at my predecessors, I said.
「In exchange, come at me both at once.」
“...!”
The moment they heard those words.
Gilbert, former Black Knights captain, twisted his features.
“How rude.”
He drew a massive greatsword with one hand.
Its size was majestic, as if several longswords fused into one.
“Liam. I’ll take the first strike.”
“Be careful. He wields the same power as His Imperial Majesty.”
Gilbert bent his knees.
And when he extended them again.
―――――!!
He left an afterimage and closed the distance to me in an instant.
My body, bathed in brilliant sunlight, was instantly shrouded by the leader of the Black Knights.
His enormous shadow blotted out the sun.
Then, the moment he swung down the greatsword one-handed.
Kwaaaang―――!!
An majestic explosion rang out, unbelievable for a downward greatsword strike.
As if a building were collapsing.
「That’s Gilbert, the captain.」
The Emperor spoke while watching the man wield a greatsword as swiftly as a rapier.
As if they had fought side by side in the past.
“Yes, he currently holds the position of elder in the Black Knights.”
Rozanna’s voice had calmed, the tremor gone.
She took a sip of water and answered flatly.
“And with Liam joining in, it won’t be easy for Sir Veil.”
The Emperor glanced at his first wife, seated beside him after so long.
Then, in a leisurely tone, he asked the woman predicting the outcome.
「Is that so?」
“Yes, the two of them together have slain hundreds of Ventacians alone.”
Black mana that grew stronger the more opponents it killed and absorbed.
Moreover, they were former captains who had once reached Swordmaster realm.
“No matter how much Grand Aura Sir Veil possesses, he’ll be overwhelmed by experience.”
Leonhardt stared piercingly into Rozanna’s blue eyes, coldly analyzing.
Her passionate gaze, seen after so long.
Intrigued, the Emperor smirked.
「I think differently.」
Seeing the Emperor’s smile, Rozanna’s eyebrows twitched.
At this, Leonhardt dropped his smile and replied.
「Who do you think would win if I fought those two?」
“Well, of course...”
Rozanna started to name her husband immediately.
But then she grasped the intent of the question and fell silent.
“Surely you’re not saying Veil is on the same level as Your Majesty...?”
The absolute sovereign acknowledging another man for the first time in her life.
At that sight, Rozanna’s lips parted.
「You’ll see soon enough.」