Chapter 296
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Two Grandmasters (4)
“You’ll have to give it everything you’ve got, Mikhail…!!”
The emperor no longer addressed him as marquis.
The massive muscles beneath his dress shirt writhed.
“I don’t want to be the one to end my empire’s line…!!”
The continent’s ruler gripped his spear tightly with both hands and swung it down with all his might.
The moment that lethal spear tip pierced the training ground floor.
Rumble rumble rumble—————!!
The arena floor shook wildly, as if an earthquake had struck.
Tiles shattered into pieces, rippling outward with the shockwave.
Amid it all, he clenched his teeth to keep his balance.
‘At this rate, he’ll bring down the entire palace…!!’
The fury of a father who had lost the purity of his three daughters was immense.
But.
He felt just as wronged.
‘It was the princesses who seduced me first…!!’
He hastily turned his head to look at the three princesses huddled together on the bench.
The moment their eyes met, they all clasped their fists in encouragement.
‘This is insane.’
“Where are you looking?!!”
Riding the churning debris of the training ground, the emperor leaped into the air.
His massive frame soared high enough to blot out the sun, plunging the world into shadow.
And then, the instant he thrust his spear toward the crown of his head.
“Huh…!!”
He raised Irina’s longsword to meet the spear tip.
Claaaaang————.
A deafening sonic wave erupted from their clashing weapons, threatening to burst their eardrums.
The ministers and princesses winced at the noise.
But the emperor and he were unfazed.
Especially Emperor Leonhardt IV—his expression was closer to exhilaration than rage.
“Impressive… overflowing with power… Yes, you need this much to make it worth fighting…!!”
It had started as one-sided fury over his daughters, but the more he wielded the spear after so long, the more his youthful vigor surged.
Like a retired warrior finally finding a worthy opponent after lacking one for years, he seemed thrilled.
“But you’re still far too lacking…!! If you want to take my daughters, defeat me first!!”
Perhaps judging that overhead spear thrusts alone wouldn’t suffice.
He whipped the spear shaft around, slamming it into his side with a surprise attack.
“Guh…!!”
Though struck by a blunt rod, the impact felt like being charged by a bull.
Unbelievable power from a man over sixty.
Was this how all his previous foes had felt?
But he wasn’t one to take it lying down.
He grabbed the incoming shaft in an instant.
Then, gripping it with forearm muscles straining to burst, he swung the sword hilt…
“Grahhh…!!”
Straight into His Majesty’s noble cheekbone.
The Conqueror King flinched, clutching his face as his head rang.
“Are you alright…?”
Concerned, he asked cautiously.
The moment he tilted his head to check the emperor’s face.
This seasoned lion of a leader seized his collar.
“Got you at last, you philandering fox…!!”
The emperor’s eyes had rolled back.
White steam rose menacingly from pupils showing only whites.
“Your Majesty…? If I die, what about the children about to be born…”
“I’ll handle it!!”
The emperor hoisted him up by the collar.
Then slammed him straight into the shattered training ground floor.
Booom—————!!
“Bale…!!”
Irina shot to her feet in alarm.
Lydia and Lea on either side wore grave, expressionless masks.
Dust clouds filled the arena.
As they slowly cleared.
He rose steadily from the crater in the floor.
The emperor’s strength was so immense that his dress shirt tore to rags upon impact.
‘A grandmaster through and through…’
He wiped his swollen lip with the back of his hand, eyeing the massive silhouette in the smoke.
The emperor, annoyed by the hazy air, casually waved it away.
The mist vanished in an instant, and he charged forward at blinding speed.
“There you are!!”
So exhilarated, Leonhardt didn’t even think to retrieve his spear.
His entire body a weapon, he unleashed a brutal fist.
“Hup…!!”
He barely twisted his neck to dodge.
Grabbing the emperor’s arm with both hands, he spun his body.
“…!!”
Using the rotation, he flipped the emperor over and smashed him into the broken floor.
The massive man crashing down sent a thunderous boom echoing through the palace.
“Khuk…!!”
But it wasn’t over.
No letting his guard down against his future father-in-law—he concentrated aura into his heel.
Then stomped toward the emperor’s chest at residual-image speed.
But the moment his heel neared.
—————!!
The emperor’s great spear, Eclair, flew from afar, targeting his leg.
He dodged swiftly, but the emperor thrust a hand from the ground and seized it.
With agile movements, he rose and charged.
For the final blow.
“Let’s end this, Mikhail!!”
Drawing every last drop of his ultimate aura, the emperor surged forward.
His afterimages formed what looked like an army of one.
He didn’t back down.
Humbly retrieving his sword, he gripped it fiercely.
Then charged, glaring at the emperor like a final nemesis.
Hoping this strike would purge all his rage.
—————!!
Their auras clashed and rippled as they crossed paths.
They landed on opposite sides.
That instant.
The palace corridor pillar where the emperor’s great spear had grazed him began to crumble.
Starting from the foremost one…
Rumble rumble—————.
All ten at the rear.
Fortunately, the reinforced corridor roof didn’t collapse even with the pillars gone.
Bolstered by sturdy strengthening magic, it held firm against the sky.
Booom—————!!
The direction he’d thrust his sword at the emperor fared the same.
A cliffside there, no buildings to topple.
However…
A massive ancient tree opposite the central palace, perched on the cliff, took the hit and began toppling slowly.
The centuries-old giant that had blocked the horizon crashed into the lake below.
The impact unleashed a colossal splash and roar.
“…….”
A faint rainbow arched in the air.
As the water droplets settled, silence blanketed the arena.
Throughout, the emperor and he held their landing poses after the final exchange.
The gathered ministers and princesses watched breathlessly.
“What happened…?”
“I saw them cross paths in a flash, but…”
Lydia and Lea eyed him and the emperor intently.
Then Irina, sharpest-eyed of the three, added.
“No, they didn’t just pass by.”
The silver-haired princess, adept in archery and riding, flashed her emerald eyes.
With a meaningful smile, she declared.
“The match is already decided.”
Ministers and kin turned back to the arena at her words.
That moment.
The emperor’s rolled-up white dress shirt sleeve tore.
Fresh blood stained the pristine fabric.
A thin cut slowly welled red.
“…….”
The emperor, landed on the ground, furrowed his brow at the stinging pain.
But soon resigned, closing his eyes tightly and holding his stance.
“…….”
He remained motionless too.
The instant they’d traded final blows.
A red stain bloomed on his shoulder, spreading to his chest.
Without turning, the steadfast-backed emperor spoke.
“You aimed for my left chest, then shifted trajectory at the end, Mikhail.”
Even that, the emperor Leonhardt had noticed.
The insight befitting the continent’s ruler.
In a life-or-death clash, eyes locked on the foe’s weapon to the last—truly the hero who’d dominated battlefields for decades.
“You did the same, Your Majesty.”
“……!”
The emperor fell silent at his reply.
He added.
“I saw you target my neck, then veer to my shoulder.”
He chuckled, glancing slyly at the prim emperor.
Leonhardt, exasperated, replied tonelessly.
“You’re as sly as ever, even now. The Marquis of Bertie wasn’t like that.”
Mention of the father he’d never met drew a deep sigh.
He pictured the imagined father in his mind.
Walking palace corridors with the emperor, laughing.
“Who knows.”
He rose.
Staggering to the emperor’s side.
“If Father had lived on…”
Kneeling beside him, he supported the injured arm.
“You might have grown even closer to Your Majesty and shown this side more often.”
“…”
Leonhardt’s face clouded sadly at his words.
Bitter memories pained him; he bit his lip.
But.
Looking up at the son supporting him.
His lips parted in surprise.
“I’ll help you up, Your Majesty. The royal physician will arrive soon.”
A halo cast under the blazing sun.
Seeing the black eyes gleaming within.
“You look just like him. Infuriatingly so.”
He’d seen his father in that face.
“No need. A mere scratch won’t make me wobble.”
Leonhardt chuckled, heaving his massive frame upright.
Then turned at the approaching heavy footsteps.
—————.
Irina Andalusia, silver locks flying.
Lydia Andalusia, black twintails bouncing.
Lea Andalusia, golden tresses shining, hat discarded.
His daughters gathered, gazing worriedly.
The emperor spread his arms in gentle fatherly smile.
But.
“Bale…!!”
They rushed past Father to the foxlike man.
Only faint hair fragrance lingered; they tended him first.
“Are you okay…?”
“Blood… I never imagined you could bleed…!!”
“Good thing the wound’s shallow. Just a graze.”
The emperor’s eye twitched.
The aged ruler slowly turned his stiff neck toward his daughters.
That moment.
“Father, that was too much this time…!!”
“Your Majesty, he could have died!!”
“Unbefitting of Your Majesty.”
His precocious daughters looked at him like a wayward child.
Stunned, the emperor gaped speechlessly.
“Ahaha… I’m fine. You should check on His Majesty first…”
“Fine? You’ve never bled before!!”
Lydia fidgeted, fists clenched like a cute cub leopard.
“Father’s tough as nails anyway.”
Irina dabbed his shoulder wound with her handkerchief.
“Yeah, tend to yourself first.”
Lea peered closely, monocle raised.
After patching him up, the princesses turned on their father in unison.
“What if Bale had been seriously hurt?!!”
“Aaaah…”
Leonhardt slumped to the floor, forlorn.
What felled the mighty ruler wasn’t the next grandmaster’s strike…
But his daughters’ scolding.
“Daughters who never said a harsh word to me…”
The emperor sulked like a hurt teen.
Ministers glanced warily and slipped away.
“In the end, the true loser was me…”
Left alone, Leonhardt hung his head in solitude.
The Conqueror King stared blankly at the shattered tiles like a punished child.
Then slowly lifted his gaze to elegant heels in view.
A graceful hourglass shadow blocking the sun.
As it neared, sensual-faced women approached.
“Why pick on your future son-in-law?”
Dazzling platinum First Imperial Consort, Rozanna.
Pale-skinned, soulful-eyed Third Imperial Consort, Vanessa.
“Still, seeing you so vigorous after ages was cute. Right, Rozanna?”
“Not bad at all.”
The two consorts smiled beautifully, tending their husband’s arm.
His Majesty’s forlorn expression softened.
“We egged the girls on to snag Bale. He seemed as responsible as you.”
“So don’t bully Marquis Bale too much, Your Majesty. Being like you means he’s trustworthy, right?”
“Is that so…”
Unable to resist his beauties’ support, the emperor rose slowly.
He eyed the second grandmaster basking in his daughters’ care, just like him.
“If even my consorts say so…”
Leonhardt sighed deeply, finally releasing his last grudge.
Meeting his eyes peeking from amid the lovely princesses.
He smiled warmly, like a father acknowledging him.
“I suppose I’ll have to trust you once.”