Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Noble Competition (2)
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The split sky.
Records state that it was visible even outside the imperial capital.
“You guys, really…!! Give that back quick!!”
Mago, chasing after the orphanage kids who had snatched her oversized witch hat.
In the midst of pursuing the children, she blankly looked up at the sky stretching toward the capital.
“That’s the direction of the arena with Veil….”
She had been busy lately maintaining security in rapidly developing Cornell.
Leaving the hat she had been chasing behind, she broke into a pleased smile.
“Veil did it…!”
The great witch inwardly vowed to go congratulate Veil soon.
And then, she grabbed the kids again to prepare them for baths.
Those who witnessed that beautiful sky were not just Mago.
Two werewolves leisurely strolling through the forest.
Among them, the century-old silver chief looked up at the sky.
“Chief, look at that sky…!”
“Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen power like that.”
The chief seemed to instinctively know who was responsible, wearing a serene expression.
Then, soon after, he muttered to himself with hands clasped behind his back.
“I wonder if he used the ‘medicine’ I gave him well—.”
He chuckled as he descended the mountain.
The sense of loss from his son’s death seemed somewhat eased—his steps were quite light.
「―――――」
The place where the split sky was most visible.
Rustium Arena was also in a festive mood.
White petals fluttering about.
Irina and I standing amid them.
Lea, Lydia, and Miya enveloping the two of us.
“I… I feel like I’m suffocating to death…!!”
I cried out urgently.
However, Irina refused to let go easily, her arms thrust tightly between my armpits.
“No.”
Irina buried her nose into the skin peeking through my torn dress shirt.
And quietly murmured.
“I won’t let you slip away this lifetime….”
A smile naturally formed on my lips at the princess’s earnest whisper.
For the woman who had suffered so much until now, I first stroked the top of her head.
The suffocating hug fest went on for a long while like that.
Fortunately, the award ceremony began right away, allowing me to finally break free.
「Veil Mikhail, come up to Us.」
A luxurious marble floor prepared right below the VIP seats.
There, attendants in splendid platinum dresses stood waiting with wreaths and medals.
I walked silently toward them.
Along the way, Valerian, Camilla, and various high imperial officials on both sides applauded.
‘This feels strange.’
In our past lives, I had fought them with my life on the line.
And after defeating them, I had guarded Irina’s palace, stepping over their corpses.
However, this changed world was different.
Everyone was congratulating me.
“Congratulations, Mikhail.”
Camilla.
The young genius who owed me a debt and even became Irina’s instructor.
“As a reward, you’ll get a ton of money, so… could you cut my debt a bit now…?”
She, soon to become the Imperial Knight Order Captain, muttered with an embarrassed glance.
To her, I replied that I understood, with a playful smile.
“Congratulations, Sir Veil.”
Ekina.
The lady knight caught in my grasp, acting as a double agent.
“Now I don’t have to train those annoying vice-captains anymore, right…?”
She too would soon become the Crimson Flame Knight Order Captain.
To the future captain, I gave a thumbs-up and said she had done well all this time.
“You’ve worked hard, Veil. I believed in you. From the appointment ceremony, your eyes were different—I had high expectations.”
Valerian.
Even the grizzled veteran I had battled to the death with.
“Thank you all for the congratulations.”
Receiving their cheers, I ascended the award ceremony stairs.
And finally….
I faced the emperor, who might become my trickiest opponent.
「Veil Mikhail. Congratulations on becoming the Empire’s Greatest Sword.」
“It was all thanks to Your Majesty’s boundless grace.”
I bowed my head politely to express my gratitude.
Then, the emperor received the golden medal from an attendant and added.
「No. I received full reports of your efforts from Moasian.」
He gently hung the medal around my bowed neck.
The symbol of the empire’s guardian.
「You achieved it all through your own ‘power.’」
He looked down at me with a pleased expression, as if I were his son.
Was it the halo effect?
The emperor’s gaze somehow felt wistful.
「I sincerely ask that you continue serving as our empire’s guardian from here on.」
“I shall obey your command.”
In response to his request, I placed my fist over my left chest.
And together, we looked out at the audience and the princesses standing side by side.
「The one recognized as the Empire’s Greatest Sword shall receive a rank equivalent to marquis.」
Marquis.
The class right below grand duke—practically the position after imperial royalty.
「As it is a glorious seat, I hope you will devote yourself fully to the guardian’s duties.」
I moved to bow my head in response to the emperor’s words.
However, Leonhardt approached first and whispered to me.
「Don’t worry. I won’t assign you troublesome frontline duties.」
“…!”
The continent’s ruler, who knew my temperament well.
Ever perceptive, he smirked with seasoned eyes.
「Instead, I hope you stay in the empire and raise the next generation.」
“Of course.”
I took his words about continuing the lineage to mean training successors.
Teaching a few wouldn’t be hard.
I expressed thanks to the emperor for his generous terms.
“….”
Finally, it was time for the bouquets.
Usually at this point, women close to the winner present them.
「Now, let’s see who will bestow it.」
The emperor gave me a playful eye smile.
His gaze turned greasy, as if he thought I was popular with women.
「Doubtless, a cartload of them are smitten by your valor, conviction, and outstanding looks—.」
No sooner had he spoken than Miya ascended from below the podium.
With her cat-like beautiful eyes, she beamed a smile.
“Our proud junior—.”
Playful tone.
With a friendly manner of speaking, Miya handed me the bouquet.
“Senior…? When did you prepare this?”
I suddenly received a beautiful bouquet mixed with freesia and lilac.
“Hmm—. Because I knew you’d win—.”
Miya turned away with hands behind her back, playing it cool.
“See you at the party later? Just one drink?”
The senior made a gesture of tilting a glass with her fingers.
In response, I chuckled and nodded.
“Got it—.”
「Heh heh…. Yes, yes. So you have a senior from the same knight order.」
The emperor watched us with great appreciation.
Moreover, we shared black hair and black eyes.
He chuckled nonstop, clapping repeatedly.
But soon, his palms went pale and stiff.
「Hm…? That can’t be….」
Next up came a woman.
Her twin tails danced excitedly.
“V-Veil…. You were pretty impressive.”
Lydia, tense as it was her first award ceremony.
In a beautiful black silk dress, she stood hunched, unaccustomed to the mature attire.
“Now you finally look like you’ve shed your commoner vibe.”
However, she didn’t stop.
She approached me slowly and handed over the bouquet confidently.
“Well, congratulations….”
It was a beautiful Eastern-style bouquet.
I accepted it nonchalantly and replied to her with a smile.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
After handing the bouquet, the princess stood on tiptoe toward me cutely.
Covering her lips with her palm, she whispered.
“This is sincere.”
「….」
The emperor froze at the sight of his haughty daughter gifting right before his eyes.
His youngest, so proud and strong like a leopard, rejecting every marriage proposal until now.
Whispering to the fox-like man before her like a shy girl.
Just like a leopard bewitched and chasing a fox.
「Y-Yes…. That can happen….」
But his agony was only just beginning.
“Now it’s my turn, right?”
Irina, who had barged into the arena alone right after the match ended.
She brought anemones beautiful like her own hair.
“Veil. You really worked hard.”
In a pure platinum dress.
Unlike before, matching her newly confident personality, it was a sensual dress with deep shoulder cutouts.
Her beautiful collarbone below sparkled with the rosario.
“Thank you so much for the congratulations.”
Irina handed me the bouquet.
Thanks to her, three were already piling up in my arms.
“….”
The empire’s Second Imperial Princess gazed up at me intently, hands full.
Her eyes held no anxiety or tension as before.
Just relief at my current self.
As if opposite to the miserable way she died in the past.
“I’m glad you look happy now.”
The scene of me dying in her arms, closing my eyes with resentment.
Was that why it surfaced?
Irina’s once joyful eyes began to waver more and more.
“Y-Your Highness…?”
The Second Imperial Princess’s eyes grew moist.
Tears trailed down her beautiful cheeks.
“I’m really glad….”
Of all places, during the award ceremony.
In front of the emperor and everyone watching.
At her sight, I couldn’t hide my fluster.
「My daughter….」
Already uncomfortable from his haughty Lydia’s shy display until now.
Now, seeing me make even his second daughter cry, the emperor’s expression hardened coldly.
Like a plaster statue shadowed heavily on the face.
「Making my daughter cry…?」
“P-Please wait a moment.”
I set down the bouquets I had received from the other women so far.
And gently wrapped my arms around her pitiful shoulders.
Only after I held her did Irina’s trembling gradually subside.
Only then could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.
‘Whew….’
“T-That’s….”
Lydia’s characteristic red eyes flashed at her sister’s sight.
Her lips parted automatically, revealing cute fangs.
“Sorry, Veil…. I ended up crying without realizing….”
Irina sobbed against my chest, her pure eyes flowing with tears.
However, the moment her eyes met Lydia’s blazing glare.
“Pfft.”
She smirked at her like a leisurely victor.
As if showing their fundamental difference.
“…!!”
Lydia burst into incredulous laughter.
And, as if refusing to boast about this, she stretched out the finger she had hidden, showing her sister.
The beautiful ruby ring on her ring finger.
“Hm…?”
Irina frowned briefly at the ring Lydia was showing off.
Then, unease surged from the hard sensation felt from my hand around her.
And at the moment the hug ended.
Irina spotted the identical ruby ring on my ring finger.
“Ufufu—.”
The baby leopard raised her perky nose arrogantly.
In response, Irina fixed her characteristic wolf-like sharp gaze.
“Veil.”
To counter Lydia’s provocation, she pulled out the rosario around her neck.
Her long ponytail hair swayed like a tail in the process.
“This is my congratulatory gift.”
Irina smiled brightly.
Before long, the princess’s smile carried an empress-like sensuality.
“I-I can’t accept this again…!”
I ended up receiving the rosario I had refused at the appointment ceremony.
However, this time the princess wouldn’t back down.
“No, my mother said it’s fine to give it to the man who protected me.”
The necklace the Second Imperial Consort had received from the emperor who protected her.
This time, it hung around the neck of the one who protected the princess.
“No! How dare I, not imperial royalty, accept a national treasure…! Besides, it has its own owner.”
I glanced at the emperor and tried to refuse.
However, Irina drew close and whispered to me with seductive eyes.
“Then, marry and become imperial family…?”
Emerald eyes gleamed amid her radiant silver hair.
“And give it back to your wife.”
I blankly stared at the smiling Irina.
Certainly, the past her always seemed melancholy and tragic, like an unhappy heroine.
However, under the split sky pouring sunlight.
Her face bathed in that brilliant light was completely different from then.
Beautiful like a goddess….
And happy.
“I understand….”
I ended up smiling back at her words.
And carefully touched the received rosario.
“I’ll return it no matter what.”
「….」
The emperor watched us with a dumbfounded expression.
Frozen in his clapping pose.
Pale enough to be shipped straight to a museum as a statue.
However, the finishing blow hadn’t even started for him.
―――――.
Elegant heel sounds from afar.
Someone ascended the stairs following them.
A silk dress wrapping her hourglass figure.
With thigh lines cut open, revealing plump skin.
Above that, a cinched waistline and a body symbolizing abundance.
Evoking the image of an empress.
“Now it’s my turn.”
The empire’s First Imperial Princess, Lea.
She approached me with a mature smile.
“Everyone’s taking so long to give their gifts, aren’t they?”
Unlike the others, Lea held nothing in her hands.
She simply ascended the podium with her beautiful figure.
「…!」
The emperor inwardly sighed in relief at Lea seeming to give no gift.
As expected of the operations commander focused solely on the empire’s welfare, uninterested in men.
But.
“Veil Mikhail.”
Lea approached me leisurely.
And with Irina momentarily apart….
“Achievements deserve rewards, right?”
She pressed close until her ample chest touched me.
“My gift.”
That instant.
Everyone on the podium gaped.
“Mm….”
The empire’s First Imperial Princess pressed her body close to me.
And bit my nape like a lioness.
「Th-This…. Th-This…. Th-This….」
The emperor witnessed his daughter’s act right before his eyes.
Then, his blue eyes rolled back.
「What scandalous…!!」
Thanks to that, the continent’s ruler flashed only whites.
Unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before him, he fainted.