Chapter 295
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Two Grandmasters (3)
“Huff…!! Huff…!!”
「You bastard…!! Get over here!!」
The old man, over sixty years old, began chasing after me, his entire body radiating brilliant aura.
His energy was so ferocious that the back of my head twitched like mad.
“Father-in-law, please hold back just a little…!! This is the imperial palace…!!”
The rough clatter of military boots echoed through the palace corridors, usually traversed only by the dignified elite.
Ministers passing by with solemn expressions were invariably startled into twisted grimaces at the sight of me sprinting toward them.
Among them were the Prime Minister, Mosian, as well.
“What… what is that…?”
“That looks like Marquis Veil…? Whoa…!!”
The two of them hid behind corridor pillars in shock at the lightning-fast speed.
Afterward, they blinked in disbelief at the sight of the Emperor following behind.
“Have you ever seen His Majesty so enraged…?”
“It’s been since the Epina Kingdom’s ambush, I think….”
The two elderly ministers gulped deeply and clung tightly to the pillars.
“But why is he chasing the marquis like he wants to kill him?”
“I heard all the princesses are pregnant with the marquis’s children….”
When the Foreign Minister spoke cautiously, Mosian nearly dropped his monocle.
“What…?! All three of them?!”
“That’s right…. Heh heh….”
The exasperated Foreign Minister stared slack-jawed at the man fleeing with skillful footwork.
His fox-like elongated eyes and swift speed made one shake their head in admiration.
“Marquis Veil has some real talent. To get that close with such haughty princesses.”
“But still, isn’t he going to get killed by His Majesty…?”
Mosian chuckled at the Foreign Minister’s question.
“You know how much His Majesty dotes on his daughters, right?”
“Of course. He might not show it outwardly, but he takes care of them wholeheartedly behind the scenes.”
Having served the Emperor as his closest aides, the two ministers nodded at each other.
Then, they simultaneously gazed at the Emperor’s burly back and spoke.
“Do you think ordinary men could handle daughters of a man like that?”
“Ah….”
The Foreign Minister nodded in agreement at Mosian’s response.
“Only someone like Sir Veil, the Empire’s second Grandmaster, could manage it.”
“Indeed, that makes sense.”
Arms folded behind their backs, the two watched the boisterous palace with fond smiles.
Their ears rang from the clamor of boots, but even that noise didn’t feel unpleasant.
“It’s good, isn’t it? His Majesty looks invigorated after so long.”
“True. A lively atmosphere like this is nice once in a while.”
They no longer watched the two Grandmasters’ pursuit with fear.
Deciding to view it as a father’s cute tantrum over losing three daughters to one man, they strolled leisurely down the corridor once more.
But.
From my perspective as the one being chased, was it really just a cute tantrum?
No, this was entirely different.
It felt like a massive god from myth was sincerely pursuing me to punish me.
「You’re disgustingly fast, you fox-like bastard…」
“Are you finally in the mood for a conversation…?”
The Emperor and I asked, keeping a good distance between us.
The Conquest King replied, breathing heavily.
「Do you think this is a situation that can be resolved with words?」
We had circled the palace once and returned to the training grounds.
The Emperor pointed at the arena and said,
「When a threat like this arises, do you plan to abandon my daughters and just run away?」
“Of course not. I’ll always stay by the princesses’ sides.”
Leonhardt snorted, still unable to believe me.
「Then step into the arena. Prove your strength to me!!」
At the Emperor’s earnest words, I halted my steps abruptly.
And I realized it wasn’t just because he wanted to beat me.
Entrusting three daughters to one man as a father.
Even if that man had a renowned reputation, the unease remained the same.
So, he wanted to test it himself.
“Understood.”
Realizing the Emperor’s feelings, I calmly accepted the Conquest King’s proposal.
Finally stopping my flight, I ascended to the training grounds alongside him.
“If Your Majesty is proposing a duel out of concern for that point, I humbly accept.”
By then, word had spread of the Emperor’s rage and pursuit, drawing countless people.
The princesses watching with prim expressions, of course.
Starting with Miya, then Consort Rozanna, Third Imperial Consort Vanessa, and even the knight order captains.
They gathered to witness the historic clash of the one and only two Grandmasters.
Thanks to them, the once-empty arena quickly filled up.
‘At least with all these witnesses, he won’t kill me…?’
I swallowed hard and reached to draw Hector, personally bestowed by the Emperor.
Then, my gaze drifted to the three princesses sitting side by side on the imperial dais.
“…”
Just like at my knighting ceremony, seated in a row, watching me with keen interest.
That déjà vu brought a smile to my lips unbidden.
A solemn reverence washed over me, as if starting anew from the beginning.
Thus, I decided to sheathe Hector back at my waist.
Instead, I drew Irina’s treasured sword, my companion from my past life.
「Are you prepared, Veil Mikhail?」
“Yes, Your Majesty. You may begin.”
Even after becoming a marquis and the empire’s greatest swordsman, I held a humble beginner’s heart.
With that heart, I would serve the three princesses.
So thinking, I assumed the salute stance.
Positioning the longsword’s blade at my face’s center, I gave a serious eye-greeting to the Emperor.
Seeing this, the Emperor seemed to calm down, exhaling deeply.
Then, raising the grand spear Eclaire—his comrade in continental conquest—he returned the salute.
At last.
――――――.
Squires, arrived unnoticed, blew horns to signal the duel’s start.
Hearing that majestic sound, I felt transported back to before I became a true knight, to my green rookie days.
「I won’t demand much from you. You’ve already achieved plenty.」
The Emperor gripped Eclaire with both hands and raised it skyward.
His expression was gravely serious, as if acknowledging all I’d proven thus far.
But.
That was the extent of it.
No matter how much I’d accomplished at such a young age, compared to his myriad achievements…
It was merely cute.
「Just endure for five minutes.」
With those words, he concentrated grand aura into the massive gold-plated spear.
The energy was so intense that the ministers and princesses watching from afar felt their hair stand on end.
「Endure five minutes, and I’ll acknowledge you…!!」
‘He means he’ll beat me until he feels better for five minutes…?’
My eye twitched, but I quickly steadied my breathing.
Regaining my beginner’s solemn mindset, I raised my sword.
In that instant.
――――――!!
The Emperor spun the spear expertly with one hand before slamming it down at blinding speed.
The arena floor tore apart like claws had raked it.
Simultaneously, a massive lightning bolt surged toward me.
So dazzling an ordinary person couldn’t even gaze upon it steadily.
But an ordinary person couldn’t handle three princesses either.
Thus, even if it blinded me, I had to face the bolt head-on.
Defy it boldly and counter boldly.
Krrrack―――――!!
The clashing lightning wrapped around Irina’s longsword.
It traveled down the hilt, electrocuting my arm.
Yet I voiced no pain.
With veins bulging at my brow and temples, I bit my lip hard.
Then, I swung the lightning-infused sword skyward, hurling the bolt away.
Rumble――――――.
The soaring lightning struck the massive cloud bank overhead.
Thunder roared as if rain were imminent.
But I couldn’t afford to care.
Right after blocking the lightning strike, the Emperor’s overwhelming spearwork followed.
The burly Emperor wielded Eclaire, matching his stature.
As he swung it fiercely, a deadly wind howled, the spearhead aimed at my throat.
A direct hit would sever head from body.
Better to duck than parry, sacrificing only a lock of hair.
At the same time, I targeted his side with my two-handed longsword.
“My apologies, Your Majesty!!”
Normally, such a wide-arcing attack would leave the opponent full of openings.
But.
If the Emperor were susceptible to basic theory, he wouldn’t be the Conquest King.
Sensing the low, swift strike at his side, the Emperor twisted his body aside, deflecting the perfect ambush.
Then, as if to show off, he released the spear—only to whip his elbow before it hit the ground, smashing my wrist.
“Guh…!!”
A technique that might remind one of Batsu, who’d once dropped his spear similarly.
But unlike that young Eastern knight, who never considered what came after discarding his weapon,
The Emperor, post-elbow strike, swiftly snatched the falling spear with agile movement.
In the same motion, he thrust to impale me.
“……!!”
I twisted my body too, clashing my blade against the spear’s shaft.
Sliding off it, I aimed for the Emperor’s hand.
――――――.
The chilling scrape of blade on spear echoed.
It sounded eerily like nails on metal.
「Impressive adaptation speed, Mikhail!!」
Leonhardt noticed and released one hand.
But his remaining grip on the spear’s rear held firm.
He swung the colossal weapon—weight of dozens of spears—with one hand.
Whoosh――――――!!
Slower than a two-handed swing, certainly.
Yet wielding such heft one-handed with mastery.
Pushed back with my sword, I spun sideways and barely landed.
The watching ministers looked at me with concern.
“What if the marquis gets hurt…?”
“He deserves punishment, but isn’t His Majesty being too harsh…?”
Anxious, fearing the empire’s precious second Grandmaster might perish.
But the princesses and consorts remained relaxed.
“He’s not the type to lose to this. Don’t worry.”
At Vanessa’s knowing gaze, the ministers swallowed hard.
Rozanna added her piece.
“Vanessa’s right. The man before us now…”
With a sensual smile piercing all things,
“Reminds me of Leonhardt in his youth.”
A man akin to the Emperor’s younger self.
Convinced, the ministers held their breath and watched the epochal duel.
The princesses nodded silently in agreement with their mothers.
「How long do you plan to just go along with it, Mikhail…?」
Indeed.
The Emperor had noticed I was holding back.
「What, because I’m that damn father-in-law or whatever, you’re going easy on me…?」
Leonhardt quelled his rising excitement.
Placing a hand on his left chest, he spoke.
「I’ll say it once more. Land even a single vital point on me, and I’ll concede defeat. However…!!」
His “however” shook heaven and earth.
The lightning-laden clouds flinched, swelling larger.
「Show any more leisure before me, and you might get seriously hurt.」
Under the dimming sky, the Emperor raised Eclaire with one hand.
Aiming at me like a god-king hunting beasts.
Targeted, I looked up squarely at Leonhardt.
As he said, I wrapped my body in grand aura and replied.
「Is that for real?」
A single phrase: concede defeat and yield all three daughters.
My fox-like elongated eyes gleamed roundly in response.
「I hope you won’t regret those words.」
Having secured even “permission” from father-in-law at last.
I fully embraced the sword’s pure white aura.
At length.
The two Grandmasters charged at each other simultaneously.
To conclude their final bout.