The Lioness of the Full Moon
"So these are the escort knights who couldn't even recognize Duke Randert's own son. How embarrassing for you all."
"We have no excuse, my lord."
"Then you're all dismissed."
"...Yes, Your Grace."
Duke Hector had first ordered them confined to quarters at his discretion, but in the end, dismissal was what they received. With their knighthoods to be stripped as well, they would inevitably fall into the life of wandering mercenaries. The commander of the knight order felt a heavy weight settle over him as he considered the plight of his men, who had plummeted from grace in a single moment.
"You laid hands on my son, so your eyes had gone blind. What a headache this has become."
Only now did he understand why Duke Randert had been behaving so unlike himself. What had begun as a children's squabble had escalated into a war between adults. Since his side had provided the cause, he had no right to complain — but as the one who had been soundly trounced, his mood was far from pleasant.
"I shall take the field myself."
"You, personally?"
If the commander said so, Hector could rest easy — but for a commander-level fighter to step into what was merely a sparring match would be a loss of dignity. Though nothing compared to the Full Moon Knight Order, the Phoenix Knight Order led by Commander Jäger Lecoultre, one of Duke Hector's closest confidants, was nonetheless a knight order with a reputation throughout the empire.
"If I take the field, someone capable of answering me will step forward. Someone with a name, no doubt. And should I happen to lose, we can still save face."
As the man responsible for an entire knight order, Commander Jäger was a master so skilled that finding him a worthy opponent was difficult. But the opponent was the Full Moon Knight Order. Even so, there was no guarantee of victory.
"You must win."
He hadn't meant to burden the man, but that was Duke Hector's honest heart. If only they could defeat Duke Randert by force, he would grant anything.
"As of today, there was no one at Duke Randert's side stronger than I am."
"Oh? Is that so?"
It was the most welcome news he had heard all day. The opponent was who he was, and Hector had never entertained the thought of victory in the first place. But suddenly, hope had appeared.
"If I fall to Duke Randert, it will be a spectacular humiliation — but everyone will consider it the natural outcome. However, if the reverse..."
The corners of Duke Hector's mouth curled upward, wickedly.
"So the day does come, after all."
Perhaps it was the thrill of possibly crushing Duke Randert at last. In his excitement, Duke Hector completely forgot who it was that had originally proposed the duel.
A stage was swiftly prepared on one side of the outdoor hall. The tiered, semicircular seating filled to bursting with nobles, and those who couldn't secure seats gladly crouched in every empty corner, aisles included, rather than give up their chance to watch.
The orchestra's majestic performance announced the duel. The hall, which had been buzzing with chatter, fell silent all at once, as though struck dead.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince took their seats side by side. Duke Randert and Duke Hector stepped forward and stood before them.
"Though this began at the Crown Prince's request, I too have great expectations for today's duel."
"There is no question of it, Your Majesty. I shall give the duel my utmost."
The Emperor, having spoken to Duke Hector, now shifted his gaze to Duke Randert.
"May this serve as an occasion for you to open your eyes."
"I pray for the same, Your Majesty."
The moment Duke Randert finished speaking, as if he had been waiting for exactly that, Commander Jäger stepped onto the stage from Duke Hector's side. The quiet seating erupted into murmurs once more.
"Commander Jäger is stepping in himself?"
"It is the duel His Highness the Crown Prince wished for. He cannot send just anyone out."
"I'm grateful to hear you say so. I shall watch and learn diligently."
With both the Emperor and Crown Prince thoroughly satisfied, Duke Hector was in excellent spirits as well.
Now then, Duke Randert. What is your card?
Duke Randert calmly met Hector's chilly gaze and gave the signal. The eyes of the Emperor and Crown Prince — and every spectator in the seats — shot toward the duke's subordinates.
"Hm?"
"Who is that?"
But the one who stepped onto the stage emerged from a spot some distance away from the commander. Someone seated in the very front row swept up onto the stage in a whirl of long red hair, light as a feather.
"A woman?"
She wore a uniform and a sword at her hip, but her slender, curvaceous figure made it plain she was a woman.
"That woman means to face Commander Jäger?"
If one had the ability, a woman could certainly become a knight. But it was unavoidable that women generally lacked men's physical prowess. There were certainly no shortage of famous female knights entirely, yet they remained rare.
Under any other circumstances, someone would have blurted out, Is she out of her mind? — but this was Duke Randert's elite Full Moon Knight Order. No one dared cast a look of contempt.
"Bayul, do you know who she is?"
The delegation had managed to claim fairly prime seats. Aidan, unable to contain his curiosity at the mysterious woman's appearance, turned to Bayul.
"Yeah, I do."
"Can she win?"
Woman or not, she was a member of the Full Moon Knight Order. Her skill went without saying. Aidan's question was really asking whether she was strong enough to beat Commander Jäger.
"Watch and find out."
Bayul had never seen Hayes's swordsmanship with his own eyes either. He had only heard Rita's account.
'Young master, an unbelievable knight has appeared! Get this — Sir Sergis was knocked out in a single blow! Isn't that amazing? Oh, and get this too — that knight is a woman! And gorgeous, to boot! The whole castle's in an uproar right now!'
He couldn't remember exactly when Hayes had first appeared. But he could never forget how the castle had been abuzz for a good while after her arrival.
"A knight I don't recognize."
The Emperor's words carried a clear demand for explanation.
"Her name is Hayes."
When Duke Randert gave the name in her stead, Hayes, standing on the stage, bowed respectfully toward the Emperor.
"Duke Randert, I was under the impression that only men could join the Full Moon Knight Order?"
"Then His Highness the Crown Prince was mistaken."
"I beg your pardon?"
"In the Full Moon Knight Order, there are neither men nor women. There are only honorable knights."
Gender was irrelevant. In the duke's eyes, any woman or man could become a member of the Full Moon Knight Order. That was what Duke Randert meant.
"Shall we begin, then?"
Duke Randert withdrew. At the appearance of Hayes — a presence absent from every intelligence report — Duke Hector's eyes wavered with unease.
DUUM!
The drum announcing the duel reverberated through the hall. Commander Jäger and Hayes bowed to one another across the stage.
CHANG—
The moment the salute ended, both drew their swords as if they'd been waiting for it.
"Come."
As a senior knight, Commander Jäger ceded the first move. It was courtesy toward a junior — though not entirely free of the dismissiveness with which he regarded her.
"I shall not refuse."
Hayes's sword angled diagonally toward the ground.
PAHT!
At the same instant, her form ballooned in size with startling speed.
'Impressive. Truly worthy of the Full Moon Knight Order.'
Inwardly praising Hayes's agility, Commander Jäger swiftly raised his sword.
KKANG!
The first exchange exploded.
"...!"
The commander's eyes hardened. Her blade was heavier than he had expected.
'As I thought — no opponent to take lightly.'
He had let his guard down, just for a heartbeat, because she was an unknown knight. But his opponent belonged to none other than the Full Moon Knight Order. He had to give it everything. Commander Jäger focused and met Hayes's blade head-on.
KAKKANG! KAGAGAGANG!
In the blink of an eye, a dozen exchanges passed between them before the distance opened up again. To onlookers it was a terrifying clash of blades, but for Commander Jäger and Hayes alike, it was merely a warm-up.
KKWAHK!
Commander Jäger gripped his hilt hard. He was astonished by Hayes's skill — but that was all. No matter that she was of the Full Moon Knight Order; he was the commander who led the Phoenix Knight Order.
'I bear you no ill will.'
He had received orders to win, without fail.
'I will break you in a single stroke.'
He intended to demonstrate his overwhelming superiority of power beyond any doubt.
"Hngh!"
Drawing a deep breath, he awakened the mana sleeping within his body.
VVVMMMM—
Commander Jäger's sword trembled violently and spewed forth a brilliant azure aura.
Aura.
The exclusive domain of those who had reached the pinnacle of knighthood — power at its absolute extreme. That power now slowly unfurled its majesty from the commander's blade.
"I-is that an aura?"
"Waaaah!"
"Now that's a sight for the eyes."
Exclamations of admiration burst from every corner of the seating. Even among renowned knights, those who could wield aura were exceedingly rare. And an aura that shone as vividly as this — rarer still.
Everyone turned their gaze to Hayes, expecting the same from her. But there was no change in her sword. The black blade caught the sunlight, honed to a respectable sharpness — but none of the distinctive energy and color of aura could be seen.
"Full Moon Knight Order or not, a knight is still only a knight, it seems."
"Well, it's absurd for a mere knight to face a knight commander in the first place."
"I suppose the fault lies with those of us who hoped for more?"
"She's done well enough, for a woman."
"Still, it isn't over yet. Let's keep watching."
"I just hope there's no blood..."
Some frowned as they imagined what was to come, while others clung to a faint hope against hope. The murmur of voices swelled with every differing reaction.
'Were my expectations too high?'
Commander Jäger felt a flicker of disappointment. He had believed that even if she couldn't match it, she might at least produce an imitation.
"Perhaps it's not too late to concede."
A duel between a blade laden with aura and one without was no duel at all. It was simply slaughter. Commander Jäger deeply admired her courage in standing against him openly, knowing full well what he was. Ending things cleanly now would be kinder to her.
"Long or short, you only know once you've measured it against the blade."
Hayes was calm. Before the very eyes of aura itself, she showed not a trace of fear.
"You could be hurt."
"I've long since lost count of my scars."
"Your life as a knight might end today."
"That will not happen."
Absolute.
Hayes kept her words spare, but Commander Jäger read a certain confidence in her eyes.
"Insolent."
It was his opponent who had disregarded his mercy.
"Then do not blame me!"
Closing the distance in a single bound, Commander Jäger swung his sword straight at her chest.
SWAAAAAK!
Hayes did not dodge. Instead, as though mounting a suicide charge, she threw herself directly at the oncoming commander.
"KYAAAAH!"
"Ghk!"
The screams of the women echoed through the hall. Parents scrambled to cover their children's eyes, and the faint of heart shut their eyes or turned away. Not one of them doubted that a fountain of blood was about to drench the stage.
KWAAAAANG!
"K-kehk!"
"I-impossible!"
The seated nobles kicked back their chairs and leapt to their feet. The Emperor and Crown Prince were no exception.
An unbelievable scene unfolded before their eyes.
The sword bearing the aura.
That sword had met an ordinary blade — and shattered to pieces. All that remained was the hilt clutched in Commander Jäger's trembling hand.
Faced with the impossible, Commander Jäger stood frozen on the spot. His pupils shook as if an earthquake had struck them. In the shattered fragments of the blade scattering toward the ground, his reflection flickered, broken and dim.
SWEUK—
And then — Hayes's keen blade came to rest against the commander's nape.
"H-how...?"
Trembling as he stared at Hayes, Commander Jäger's gaze slid down to her sword.
Plain.
Her sword was exactly as it had been from the start.
But as if to answer his question, something like a thin membrane had, at some point, enveloped her blade.
So that was it. She hadn't failed to produce aura — she had condensed it within the sword itself.
It was a perfect defeat.
To sheathe one's aura from sight entirely — that meant she was a master beyond any comparison to Commander Jäger.
"...I lose."
Bowing his head, Commander Jäger finally acknowledged his defeat.
"An o-ordinary sword snapped an aura blade."
"Which means she stands far above that level...!"
"A mere knight is at THAT level?"
"N-no way! Even if it's the Full Moon Knight Order, this is going too far!"
"And to think she's such a graceful, beautiful knight on top of it all...!"
It was an overwhelming gap in power.
Beyond all comparison.
"Duke Randert, truly, is a legend!"
A being fully deserving of the title of living legend. It was only natural that gazes of respect, deeper than before, turned toward Duke Randert.
'Did you enjoy the show?'
Duke Randert regarded Duke Hector with an expression he had never worn before. His eyes spoke plainly.
'This is my first and final warning. Pray it never happens again.'
It was a gaze so cold it sent ice down the spine. Never had Hector been so ashamed of himself for briefly reveling in the hope that he might win.
A glaring difference in martial strength.
It became the occasion to understand, with absolute certainty, what he had already known.
'Jared, that damned boy...!'
Jared was his only son, so precious that it would pain him even to keep the boy in his eyes — and yet, in this moment alone, he wanted to wring his neck. Duke Hector's outburst today would become the crucible that reformed his good-for-nothing son for good.