Prana Dirpensiv Bladir
Rich ruby-red long hair, blood-red eyes, and hollow, decadent features that exuded an air of allure. Naturally, I knew all about her.
Not just because she was the top student in the second-year knight department, or because she was half-vampire and couldn't cross running water, or even because she was the heir to the northern grand ducal house that supported the Second Imperial Princess.
(Unique Skill)
One of the most overpowered skills in the Salenium Saga, easily tier 1.
Her main ability and identity, Blood Weaponry, was akin to an innate bloodline skill that every member of the northern 'Bladir' family was born with. Like my Primordial Descendant, those born into the Bladir family possessed 'special traits.'
She had no innate elemental affinity at all. And like the twin assassins from that shadowy organization, she was incompatible with every element. She didn't even use Attribute Sword. All her attacks relied solely on her own 'blood,' making her a no-cost berserker type who chipped away at her own vitality in battle.
The lower her health, the more weapons she could summon—and the more damage each one packed. A bizarre mechanism.
That's why she shone in boss fights where you timed your burst damage perfectly, but she was useless in prolonged wars of attrition. For all her strengths, her weaknesses were just as glaring.
She wasn't my type anyway, so after grinding her endings a few dozen times and snagging her exclusive achievements, I barely touched her again. She wasn't even a sub-heroine, so her story arcs were just her venting about the woes of being half-vampire, or dangling bait like ancient northern curses, full vampires, or elixirs of immortality. Nothing groundbreaking. Maybe a bit about northern cities, at best.
Anyway, two candidates vied for attack team leader: Reina and Prana.
As I'd said a million times, this was my first time dealing with second-year finals, not first-year ones. In Professor Walnut's place—who'd bailed with a "you all figure it out and let me know later"—Reina gracefully stepped into the center of the lobby.
"Lady Prana Bladir, I've heard tales of your exploits."
"……."
"It seems we're competing for attack team leader. If it wouldn't offend you, would you step forward?"
At Reina's words, Prana silently nodded. With a soft swish, she rose...
"……Huh?"
A shadow fell over Reina's face.
Hm. Northern blood, or just built that way? Reina had to crane her neck quite a bit to meet her gaze.
Hm. Reina wasn't short by any means. But the height gap was stark. Prana was even taller than me—and I'm no short king myself. Taller than the average Salenium guy by a head. Even I had to look up to see her face when standing.
"……Impossible."
Reina stared up at her, then down at herself, shaking her head. 'It's just fat mass.' 'No need to be swayed.' 'My proportions are better anyway.' She muttered to herself with dead eyes, nodded alone, then glared at Prana with fiery resolve.
"Well, you don't seem keen on yielding leadership either."
With a 'hmph,' Prana crossed her arms.
"……Of course. I've earned top rank. You're merely second. You couldn't even surpass Daisy von Shukros—yet you crave leadership?"
Ah, right. I remembered Prana Dirpensiv Bladir's personality. It was...
"Pathetic."
Utterly rigid, like a knight from some old tale. Well, she was in the knight department.
"Y-Yes? Excuse me?"
Reina looked shocked for a moment, then nodded firmly.
"Fine. As you say, I'm just second. But I don't think I'd lose to you. So, any preferences? Duel? Spar? I'm game for anything."
Duel or spar. At this point—without her magic department top rank or first breakthrough—Reina couldn't beat Prana. Sure, Prana was a berserker, but the knight department's top dog didn't get there just by swinging a sword well. Plus, pure mage versus melee warrior? Even with Reina's range control, she'd drop before Prana's health did.
"Hm."
With finals three days away, infighting was the last thing we needed. The attack team had to win, after all.
'We need both of them.'
There was a way. That's what games were for.
"How about a war game instead?"
"Adrian?"
All eyes turned to me as I spoke from the sofa, legs crossed. The room fell silent. Some gazes weren't friendly, but they had no say. I'd proven myself at the athletics festival.
Several displeased glares from those around you.
Yet no one dares speak rudely to you.
No superior bloodline present! The noble Repelheit bloodline dominates the space. Bloodline Dignity roars! The more scornful stares you receive, the more flawless your etiquette becomes.
In other words, the saltier they got, the more perfect a noble I became.
Bloodline Dignity. Alongside my Primordial Descendant and ??? , it was a skill that literally saved my life.
And then...
'Producer of the Princess' activated additionally.
You are the imperial family's closest confidant.
By strict imperial law, any baseless insult against you is deemed an affront to the judgment of your liege, Lijelilias Daderus de Salenias.
The Sixth Princess, Lijelilias. Her inner circle. In this stratified world, the emperor's power transcended imagination. Frontier royals, central nobles, peripheral lords, even northern grand dukes—all bowed equally.
Post-athletics festival, they might despise me inwardly, but it never showed. Even if I was history's worst spoiled trash, I now had a shield they couldn't pierce.
Jealous? Acquire a superior bloodline.
"War game... I know it! We learned it in lordship class. Sound good?"
Reina glanced at Prana, noticing her odd stare.
"Lady Bladir?"
"Y-You!"
Prana stared at me like I'd seen a ghost.
🩸 Blood Weaponry: Long Spear 🩸
She drew a dagger across her wrist, and the spilling blood coalesced in her hand into a crimson spear.
Thrust! The tip aimed at me.
"Adrian! Why are you here? I'll end you today! You're disowned, so even Uncle won't object! Prepare yourself!"
That moment—
"My, don't cross the line. Mid-tier Fire Elemental Magic: Fire Arrow. Mid-tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Lightning Arrow."
"Mid-tier Fire Elemental Magic: Fire Arrow"
"Mid-tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Lightning Arrow"
Four arrows of fire and lightning materialized behind Reina as she drew her staff.
Whoosh! A green-haired elf dashed in front of me, rapier drawn from her waist.
"Mid-tier Wind Elemental Magic: Blessing of the Gale"
"Adrian, stay behind me. The wind will protect you."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Not a wasted half-year, I see. But it's fine."
I placed hands on their shoulders and nodded, stepping forward.
"Prana Dirpensiv Bladir."
"……No words for a traitor!"
"Even the most honorable knight hears the foe out."
"Guh... But!"
"I know the North values honor and discipline. Kalen of the Snowwhite house—my comrade—does too."
I met her blood-red eyes.
"Surely a brief talk is permitted?"
And 'Uncle'? What the hell was that?
* * *
In a side room off the lobby, Relbrian, Reina, and I gathered. I heard quite the tale.
"……I see. So that's how it is."
"Hmph. Indeed."
Uncle. The one the Bladir family's eldest called 'Uncle' was...
"I was disowned. So the man you call Uncle is no longer my father."
"I-I knew that much!"
The current Repelheit Marquis.
So, the present Bladir Grand Duke and Repelheit Marquis were sworn brothers. Marquis as the elder, Grand Duke the younger.
Another detail absent from the setting bible. He'd be 'on summer vacation' in the North all summer, as Ebnis had mentioned. Not returning till later.
Which meant...
"Cousins, then? Prana."
"Tch, no blood ties to a fool like you—but becoming cousins is shame enough! I'll end it now!"
She trembled, shouting.
That bad, huh.
"Such a disgrace?"
"Yes! You..."
The air grew heavy. She glanced at lightly smiling Reina and Relbrian's hand on her sword, then sighed.
"I can't fathom what devilish words you used to bewitch them. Hate to admit it, but your silver tongue was always sharp. Even if you try hypnotizing me! I won't! Never fall!"
Whatever. Cousins... Didn't feel real. We were the same age anyway.
I'd grinded 'Erhan' thousands of times, thought I had it all memorized. But as 'Adrian,' new lore popped up everywhere.
Not complicated or hard—just thrilling. A game I'd scraped dry still held secrets. Pure joy.
"But our issue isn't my relation to you, Prana. With the whole attack team watching, we should proceed with the war game."
"Guh... True. Hate to say it, but you had a point. Three days from finals, a war game tests strategy over brawls."
"S-Sorry, but what's a war game?"
"Oh, Rel. It's that game we played in the Lubrium Hall lobby sometimes?"
"Ahh... The one Reina always won?"
War game. A minigame you could play mid-run. Like chess on steroids—simple rules, pure strategy, akin to shogi.
"What rules?"
"Standard. Northern opening: two-rule."
"Hm, two-rule..."
Each side had a castle and 2,000 troops. Modeled on real wars and territory battles. You planned terrain, defenses, formations, supply lines—yourself. Brains won.
Perfect for siege leaders: command and cunning over brute force.
"Afterward, only the winner emerges. Deal?"
"Sure."
"……."
They agreed. Relbrian and I stepped out.
"……Adrian."
"No need to worry, Relbrian."
I smiled lightly at her concern.
Yes. Prana was broken in pure combat. But against someone excelling in strategy, tactics, intel—and a grand mage to boot? Some knight berserker wouldn't out-scheme her.
Plus, Reina's 'hobby' per the bible: war games. She'd solo them on free days, honing strategies.
Winner was decided. Prana had no shot.
Relbrian, hearing this...
"Y-You set them up for this? You really trust Reina that much."
"……Yeah."
I nodded; she turned away, muttering softly.
"Makes me jealous of Reina."
"What?"
"Nothing. We just wait?"
Yeah. We wait.
Chatted formally with other attack team members, bantered with familiar faces. Exactly two hours later...
Creeeak...
The door opened. All eyes turned.
First out:
"I won, Adrian! I'm the attack team leader now—Reina von Wolfgang!"
Black hair, green eyes sparkling. Always energetic, never despairing. Grinning, flashing a V-sign.
And then...
"Defeated... I lost? Me? How? I had the advantage... Guh, I'll atone with my life!"
The hollow-eyed knightess, on her knees, sobbing.