Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: If I Can't Have It?
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With the wind blowing centered around Elise, the orchestra began to play even more fiercely.
'It's on another level.'
That was the exact feeling he got the moment he saw Elise's stance.
Not something self-developed through life-or-death struggles like his own, grown wild and untamed.
This was swordsmanship carefully refined and polished by someone with devotion.
Not a flower in a greenhouse, but a diamond meticulously crafted by a master artisan.
That was Elise's swordsmanship.
'So it wasn't just luck that she beat Ares.'
Ares's defeat in the practical exam before the break wasn't mere coincidence. And on top of that, the spells embedded in her rings.
Two on her left hand, two on her right—four enchantments in total, enhancing her. Each one was exceptionally powerful, transforming her into someone else entirely in an instant.
"I know how strong you are, Daniel. So let's go all out from the start!"
The golden longsword swung straight toward him.
As screams erupted from the party guests, he leaped back and glanced around.
He hadn't expected her to come at him this aggressively, so he hadn't brought a weapon...
"Hold on! My lady! What is the meaning of this?!"
"Restrain her first!"
The private soldiers of the host Sermon Family rushed over, drawing their swords and surrounding Elise.
Since it was a masked ball, they didn't realize she was royalty and moved to subdue her immediately.
"Get lost, you worthless scum!"
Elise swung her sword once in a wide arc, sending the soldiers flying, unable to withstand it, tumbling across the floor.
The nobles who had been watching turned pale and fled on the spot.
Even in this chaos, the musicians didn't stop playing. Having heard Elise's identity from a maid, they judged that stopping now would be even more dangerous.
'They're not dead.'
He picked up the two swords dropped by the soldiers, one in each hand.
And in that moment, he was certain.
"It was you."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"You're the one who killed Abiel."
Elise still wore an expression of genuine confusion, but certainty settled in Daniel's heart.
In his previous life, when he ventured deep into the Demon Realm Forest and encountered the ancient demon beasts, Abiel was already dead, with only his worms wandering around in tribute to their king.
Ancient demon beasts rarely left the Demon Realm Forest, and infighting among them was now forbidden, so they wouldn't die unless their lifespan ended.
Yet in his previous life, Abiel was already dead.
He had speculated that someone killed Abiel, who had come seeking Adriana's death. Now, witnessing Elise's power, he was convinced.
She had killed Abiel in his previous life.
At this moment, with her magic active, she clearly surpassed Abiel's power.
'Of course, she probably had help from others.'
He assumed Eris, who had sought out Ares, or professors like the Dean had lent their strength. With that thought, he assumed his stance.
"You didn't go all out in the exam, did you? This time, give it everything. I want to claim you completely if I can."
"Are all royals like you twisted freaks?"
"That's slander against the royal family too! You're the best! Though it's a shame about that sword. Should I tell Bertia to fetch you a proper one?"
Elise eyed the two swords in his hands with feigned regret.
They weren't exceptional blades by any means, but he smirked in response.
"This handicap's barely enough. How about I win using just one hand?"
"Ahh! Make my heart race just right! It feels like it's about to burst!"
She's a real psycho, he muttered inwardly, realizing further talk would only excite her more.
He charged forward, swinging his swords. Elise parried while savoring it, smiling back.
"Ahh, so heavy. You were holding back back then."
"Cut the crap."
"How could I hold back? This is the most thrilling moment of my life! Is this love, Daniel?"
"......"
Don't answer.
As their blades clashed repeatedly and he gradually pushed forward, Elise flashed a strange smile.
"Swordsmanship isn't my only talent."
Suddenly, a massive sword erupted from the ground.
It seemed intent on severing his leg, but he twisted away, letting it merely graze his waist.
"......"
"Did you think a princess of a nation learned only swordsmanship? I'm prodigiously talented in magic too."
Right— at the academy, Elise ranked high in both swordsmanship and magic. Hiding her sword skills implied she hid her magic prowess too.
Countless golden magic circles formed on the floor and in the air, unleashing a barrage of golden light swords toward him.
'Magic shaped like swords.'
This too felt taught by a highly skilled mage—like exquisite glass artwork, breathtakingly beautiful.
Coating his hands lightly with mana, he swung both swords to deflect the spells. Elise laughed, tore the hem of her dress, and closed in.
"You're wide open!"
Kwajijik!
To counter her thrusting longsword, he crossed his blades like scissors, trapping it between them.
Sparks flew from the violent friction, and one of his swords finally snapped.
But he had anticipated the fracture, using the broken blade to counter-thrust into Elise.
"Kyaaak!"
The shattered sword embedded deeply into her shoulder.
Most didn't know it, but a broken sword inflicted more agony. Fragments embedded easily, and the irregular edge amplified the damage.
Blood flowing from her shoulder, Elise retreated, slowly placing her hand over it.
Crimson blood trickled down.
She reacted as if seeing her own blood for the first time, then beamed brightly.
"It hurts! I love it! I love it so much! This is all new to me! Hahaha!"
Now bordering on creepy, Elise nodded approvingly at her blood before resuming her stance.
"This won't do."
He had planned to go easy, but her state demanded otherwise.
She seemed so spoiled; he decided a sharp lesson was in order.
"I'll try not to kill you."
"I'll try not to kill you."
The moment those words left his mouth, the banquet hall's atmosphere shifted. The orchestra, immersed in their music, faltered briefly, and Elise's lips twisted.
'What...?'
Until just now, it had been the Daniel MacKlein she knew.
The wild man who thrilled her unpredictably.
But the aura he exuded now was...
"A demon beast?"
Yes, a demon beast.
One massive and overwhelmingly powerful, standing right before her.
"Heh, hehhehehe!"
So he still had power in reserve?
A tingling surged through Elise's gut.
Feeling her soaked thighs—wetter than she thought possible—she gripped her sword tighter.
"......Huh?"
She couldn't react.
The black-haired beast was already swinging at her.
Dead.
She was sure she was dead.
But then—
"Princess!"
Bertia the maid appeared before her in a swirl of skirts, drawing her sword to block the way.
Bertia the maid.
Officially Elise's closest attendant under the title of maid, she was formerly the leader of the shadow unit formed by the previous king. Injured on duty, she now served as Elise's maid and bodyguard.
Elise had wanted her to retire, but their bond kept her on as a maid.
And it was Bertia who had taught Elise swordsmanship.
Yet now, that Bertia—
"Keurk!"
—vomited blood and crashed to the floor.
Even retired due to injury, she had been the shadow unit's leader, dubbed the king's left hand.
Daniel MacKlein vaulted over her like a hurdle, slamming her down with his sword before stomping her spine to pieces.
"Grrraaagh!"
"Don't butt in recklessly."
Murderous intent laced his words viciously.
An unfamiliar bone-chilling terror bound Elise like iron chains, forcing her to her knees unwittingly.
"Ah, aaah......"
Perhaps realizing she had lost all will to fight, Daniel lowered his raised sword and snatched the long necklace dangling from her neck.
Her neck snapped back as if collared, yanked like a scruff.
The necklace, no cheap trinket, didn't break under his rough grip.
"Grow up and cut the nonsense. Normally, you'd be the one on the floor."
"......"
"Good thing you have a loyal servant. She took the hit for you."
"......"
Daniel released the necklace with a flick, and Elise collapsed, strength gone.
Thud, thud.
His indifferent footsteps faded away, and Elise slowly lifted her head to gaze at the chandelier.
"Bertia, are you okay?"
"Urk... Y-Yes...... I'm f-fine."
Bertia, suffering worse wounds, pulled out a potion and offered it to Elise, who shook her head.
"I'm fine. You use it, Bertia."
"......Princess."
"Hurry—you saved me."
Touched, Bertia drank half the potion and poured the rest on her wound.
"I failed. He's not a man I can handle."
"......"
Bertia glanced toward the terrace where Daniel had gone and nodded faintly.
What was his true nature?
How could an 18-year-old reach such heights?
'Beyond human...'
Even Bertia, seasoned in shadows, shrank involuntarily from the unprecedented pressure and fear.
This wasn't something training could overcome.
No matter how brave the rabbit, it trembles before the tiger.
That was the reality here.
"If I can't have him......"
Elise smiled like a broken doll, murmuring.
Stroking the deep collar-like mark from the yank, she whispered.
"What if I become his instead?"
Bertia stared blankly at Elise for a moment, praying inwardly.
'Could you come back and smack our princess one more time?'