Emperor Antoinette Darmina of the Darmina Empire
192. [Pangea Continent’s First Emperor, Emperor Antoinette Darmina of the Darmina Empire.]
[I’m nervous, senior. Even though I prepared so much, if I’m still trembling, that must mean I didn’t prepare properly, right?]
After returning from the Grace Kingdom, a letter from Arthur had arrived for Geum Taeyang.
‘She’s never actually used it in real combat before.’
Following Geum Taeyang’s advice, Arthur had thrown herself into swordsmanship research and managed to internalize movements suited to her own style. But that alone wasn’t enough. Since the ultimate goal was battle, a warrior had to experience real fights.
‘Even so, there’s almost no one in the Sword Dance Festival who can beat Arthur.’
Arthur would be participating in the Ulysis Sword Dance Festival of the Darmina Empire.
[I want to test myself. I’m thinking of jumping straight into real combat, but I can’t tell you the details, senior. If the results turn out bad, it would be too embarrassing…]
Of course, Arthur hadn’t revealed the truth directly to Geum Taeyang.
‘There, Arthur will see her own potential and take another step forward.’
Anyway, she would be competing not as the cross-dressing Arthur Lucien Elias, but in her true female form. Naturally, she would use a false name. The alias was Luciel.
‘Cute. Really cute.’
Thus, this lecherous senior participated in the same tournament while fully aware of his junior’s movements. Geum Taeyang openly stared at Arthur, who had completely unleashed her feminine charm. Hiding such an overwhelming appearance until now could only be called a sin against humanity.
“!?”
Whoosh! Feeling Geum Taeyang’s blatant gaze, Arthur instinctively looked his way, then quickly turned her head with a faint blush.
‘She’s embarrassed… HAHAHA! So damn adorable. When she was cross-dressing, she used to glare and fight for dominance.’
Geum Taeyang had deliberately stared, knowing exactly how she would react.
‘The camouflage effect of the Life Tree Cloak is working perfectly. Arthur doesn’t seem to recognize me at all.’
He had another reason for testing whether Arthur could identify him. A single mask couldn’t possibly conceal Geum Taeyang’s entire presence. There was always that unique aura of his. However, the Life Tree Cloak possessed a camouflage skill. Rather than changing one’s appearance outright, it disrupted recognition. Wearing the mask maximized that effect.
‘Originally, she would lose to the axe-wielder Samuel, but you’re going to lose to this senior instead, my dear junior. I’ll give you a very sharp stimulus.’
In other words, this year’s Ulysis Sword Dance Festival was originally Samuel’s season to win. A victory achieved after the long, steadfast challenge of a tenacious warrior! A moving narrative! But Geum Taeyang would crush him, and Arthur would be crushed just as mercilessly.
Tap-tap-tap! At that moment, Arthur, overwhelmed by Geum Taeyang’s gaze, finally fled.
“That pretty lady ran away, Master!”
“Looks like she had to take care of something big. Anyway, the tournament official should be assigning lodgings soon. You can stay there, Bianca.”
“Wow! You really know everything, Master! They really are starting to talk about lodgings!”
“This master knows everything.”
By now, all the major Sword Dance Festival participants had gathered, and the tournament official began explaining various details. Geum Taeyang already knew everything, so he showed off his knowledge to the ever-reactive Bianca.
‘Oh!’
The explanation ended, and the preliminary match draw began. While waiting his turn, Geum Taeyang spotted someone and his eyes widened.
‘The Emperor’s Guard Captain is here!’
The figure wore a guardian’s robe, likely to conceal their identity. Even so, Geum Taeyang instantly recognized them—the Guard Captain, the Emperor of Darmina’s closest aide.
‘They’re planning to assess the participants’ skills starting from the preliminaries and report back. Emperor Antoinette takes the Sword Dance Festival very seriously.’
The way she respectfully bestowed the title of Sword Empress upon Marianne made it clear that Darmina’s Emperor Antoinette was genuinely passionate about the sword. She was equally sincere about discovering new talent and new warriors, which was why she genuinely enjoyed the Sword Dance Festival. That was why her closest aide, the Guard Captain, had come in person to gather data.
‘Pretty. If she comes a little closer, I might get a good look.’
Geum Taeyang strained to see the Guard Captain’s face clearly. The reason was simple.
Emperor’s Guard Captain Evelyn Nefertari has been registered as one of Geum Taeyang’s sub-heroines.
‘As expected… this expedition won’t be lonely at all. Heh heh…!’
At that moment, a notification window arrived for Geum Taeyang. Given the character’s importance, the Emperor’s Guard Captain would be either a main heroine or a sub-heroine. As expected, Evelyn Nefertari, the Emperor’s Guard Captain, had become one of Geum Taeyang’s sub-heroines. A perfect honey pot that would greatly boost Geum Taeyang’s overall combat power had appeared.
“This is bad, Master! At this rate, you’ll meet Samuel in the main tournament!”
The preliminary draw had ended. The bracket was split into two lines. Arthur was on a different line from Geum Taeyang, while the favorite Samuel shared Geum Taeyang’s line. Just as Geum Taeyang had said, Bianca, who had been keeping an eye on Samuel, was at a loss.
Because if they were in the same preliminary line, they would remain in the same line even after advancing to the main tournament.
“Yeah, it’s a shame. He must’ve been grinding his teeth this time, but because of me, Samuel’s going to get eliminated early.”
“Wow…! Our master’s confidence is something else!”
Geum Taeyang wore a genuinely complicated expression. Samuel was a rather romantic character, after all. Somehow, he was about to get screwed over because of Geum Taeyang. However, Geum Taeyang’s confidence was no empty boast.
“Waaah!!!”
The next day, the preliminaries began immediately. Bianca, who had been watching Geum Taeyang’s match with bated breath, couldn’t hide her astonishment.
“Too easy!”
Thud! “Way too easy!”
Thud!! “At this rate, it won’t even count as a warm-up.”
The major Sword Dance Festival started with participants who had at least B+ combat power. It was a gathering of the continent’s finest, yet to Geum Taeyang, who possessed S-rank power and triple legendary artifacts, even holding back made them fall like autumn leaves.
“I’m so relieved, Master! I was really worried, but at this rate, you’ll definitely advance to the main tournament!”
“How ridiculous, Bianca. Worrying about your master over something as trivial as the preliminaries. I’ll have to spank you later in the lodging.”
Geum Taeyang advanced like a raging storm. Since he didn’t meet Samuel in the preliminaries, reaching the main tournament was no issue.
“Waaah…! People are starting to notice you, Master…!”
“It’s the fate of the strong. No matter how much you try to hide your power, it always shows.”
Especially Geum Taeyang’s line, which was packed with strong competitors. He defeated them all without difficulty, and before long, people began gathering whenever his match took place.
‘Even our Guard Captain has taken an interest. Watch closely, Captain. Witness the strength of the man who’s going to devour you.’
As clear proof, Guard Captain Evelyn had personally come to observe Geum Taeyang’s skills. While she merely glanced at other warriors from afar, she had come all the way to the edge of the arena for Geum Taeyang.
“We’ve got some time left, so let’s go watch, Bianca.”
“Where are we going?”
Since the matches were short, there was still time left. With the extra time, Geum Taeyang headed toward the opposite bracket with Bianca.
“Ah! The prettiest lady!”
He had gone to watch his beloved junior Arthur’s match. Bianca couldn’t help but marvel once again at Arthur’s overwhelmingly beautiful appearance.
“That woman is going to face me in the finals.”
“Really?”
“This master can tell at a glance.”
Geum Taeyang had already made his prediction, eliciting the usual reaction from the ever-reactive Bianca.
“Hmm… Do you really think we’ll see her in the finals, Master…? She looks a bit shaky…”
“Hmm…”
But soon, both Geum Taeyang and Bianca’s expressions changed. Contrary to Geum Taeyang’s confident claim that she would reach the finals, Arthur was struggling from the very beginning.
—Swaaaaash!!
‘Khhh!’
Arthur, in her female swordsman Luciel mode, barely dodged her opponent’s sharp blade.
“As expected, she was all talk! Flashy guys like her are never the real deal!”
Objectively, Arthur held the advantage in this match. Yet she was being pushed back.
‘Her head, body, and heart are all out of sync. The handicap of lacking real combat experience is showing clearly.’
The cool-headed senior Geum Taeyang analyzed the situation calmly. The lack of real combat experience with her newly established swordsmanship, which Geum Taeyang had been worried about from the start, was now glaringly obvious.
‘Besides, she still lacks confidence in herself. Working hard and believing in yourself are two different things.’
She hesitated at moments when she could have attacked. Her heart was wavering.
“Puhahaha! What’s a swordsman doing being afraid of a sword?”
Her opponent, noticing this, mocked her.
“Pathetic swordsmanship! With a pretty face like that, you should just get married and live comfortably! Don’t even show your face in a place like this!”
—Fwoooosh!!!
Thus, her opponent charged forward even more confidently.
‘Perfect! That was an excellent provocation, extra!’
Geum Taeyang wore a deeply satisfied smile.
‘What did you say?’
Flare— At the same time as Geum Taeyang’s reaction, Arthur’s eyes changed. She was furious.
‘Don’t insult my sword!’
—Swaaaaash!!!
Arthur advanced without the slightest hesitation against her opponent, who was charging confidently.
‘Kkukuk! She took the bait!’
Her opponent smiled. Though Arthur had been hesitating, finishing her off like this would have been difficult. That was why he had provoked her into a direct confrontation.
‘Don’t insult my sword!’
—Fwoooosh!!!
“Ooooh!!!”
—Boom!!!
But Arthur didn’t choose a direct clash. She drew a graceful curve, evading her opponent’s attack and leaving them slashing empty air.
—Thud!!
“W-What the—!!”
As her opponent’s center of gravity collapsed, Arthur executed a suppression technique to break it further.
—Thwack!!!
“Ugh!!”
She stopped her blade right at her opponent’s neck. The match was decided.
“The winner is Swordsman Luciel!!”
Arthur soon heard the referee’s announcement.
“Haa…!”
Once the earlier burst of anger subsided, the tension and dopamine melted away, leaving her exhaling a deep, exhausted breath.
‘As expected, our Arthur has guts and fighting spirit.’
Meanwhile, Geum Taeyang wore a satisfied expression.
‘Even while angry, she suppressed her opponent using the new swordsmanship she established all the way to the end. That was excellent.’
The old Arthur would have charged straight in. She would have crushed her opponent with an extremely masculine style, regardless of the burden on her body. But Arthur never lost sight of her goal until the very end.
‘Our Guard Captain seems to have been quite impressed by my junior as well. A true expert can’t help but read the actual substance.’
Before long, Guard Captain Evelyn had also been watching Arthur’s match the entire time. Despite Arthur wearing clothes that didn’t quite fit, even the Guard Captain’s eyes could see that with each match, something about her was gradually falling into place.
“Waaah!! We made it to the main tournament, Master!!”
“What’s the big deal? It was obvious, Bianca.”
Afterward, Geum Taeyang finished his remaining matches and secured his spot in the main tournament without any surprises.
The next day—
‘An empire is still an empire.’
The main tournament qualifiers lined up in a coliseum packed with spectators. The coliseum, large enough to hold the population of an ordinary kingdom’s city, made it clear why Darmina was the current number one power.
‘The soldiers guarding the VIP section are at least C+ rank. Memphis is struggling to surpass Darmina, but…’
It wasn’t just about population. There were far more Awakeners, and they all wanted to come to the Darmina Empire. With such overwhelming national power—
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor is entering!”
At the herald’s announcement—
“Welcome, everyone…”
Shhhk…!
The 45th Emperor of the Darmina Empire, Antoinette Darmina, clad in golden robes, revealed herself.