Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Empress's Visit
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CRAAACK! KABOOM! BANG!
Our earlier, simpler exchange had been a matter of restrained movements, each probing for a weakness.
But Kamil's explosive movements were like a whirlwind.
The sheer force of his frenzied assault was enough to catch even me slightly off guard.
'Oh! Quite the fierce reaction.'
Kamil was now fully unleashing his family's swordsmanship.
The Line-Drawing Sword Technique was a secret art practiced by the Felton family's top masters, a skill not easily countered.
I matched his rampage, playing along with his rhythm.
I met his forceful attacks with equal power.
As a result, thunderous roars echoed from the center of the arena as azure fragments of energy exploded outward.
KABOOOM! CRASH!
With each clash, our auras distorted violently.
The immense impact caused our concentrated energies to shatter in an instant.
But we recovered with incredible speed, clashing head-on once more.
"I-Insane..."
"I never thought I'd see a duel this thrilling."
"Hah! My heart is pounding."
The students watching the match were utterly astonished.
It seemed they hadn't expected such an exhilarating spectacle in a match that wasn't even the final.
The professors and assistants nodded deeply, glancing at one another.
It was as if they were rapidly exchanging opinions with just their eyes.
Regardless of the reactions around us, Kamil and I were intensely focused on the fight.
"This is more fun than I expected. Why didn't you fight like this from the start?"
"Stop..."
"What?"
"Stop talking!"
KRA-KA-BOOM!
Having drawn out my opponent's true nature, I was inwardly thrilled.
So I spoke lightly, only to be met with an even harsher reaction than before.
It seemed his emotional outburst was more violent than I had anticipated.
'Ah, I didn't mean to awaken him this much.'
But what did it matter?
As long as the outcome was good.
The brutal duel, with its relentless, murderous attacks, was now hurtling toward its climax.
Kamil's fangs, which had been focused solely on tearing me apart, had begun to dull slightly.
While anger is an emotion that can draw out human potential, it cannot push one far beyond their limits.
Once his aura and stamina were depleted, his attacks would lose their power and his sword path would falter.
If I dragged this out a bit longer, he would self-destruct.
'I should end it before that and give him a chance to make a cool exit.'
I decided to give Kamil Felton the highest courtesy, as both a comrade and a rival.
KACHING—!
I pulled my aura inward, generating an attractive force that brought my opponent's sword to a dead stop.
Since I was pushing hard, Kamil naturally applied force in the opposite direction.
He probably didn't realize it, but I had created this situation intentionally.
Just for a brief conversation.
"Even those who deserve to win in a competition feel anxious. But..."
"...What are you trying to say?"
"They feel that anxiety, but they never run. They fight against their fear."
"Are you saying I was scared and ran away?"
"Weren't you? Why did you come to Venderford instead of staying at the main estate?"
"...!"
It was at that very moment.
A ghastly blue fire ignited in Kamil's eyes.
He was emitting aura at a level that surpassed his limits.
As a result, an intense light shot out from his eyes.
FLASH—!
The blue radiance that erupted in an instant engulfed the entire arena.
A feast of transcendent aura. At its center, Kamil and I stood with our swords locked.
The ground eroded and cracked beneath us, but our clash didn't stop.
I gazed into the eyes of this incarnation of fury and whispered in a low voice.
"Don't you want to feel true strength?"
"What?"
"Not about whose aura is purer or whose swordsmanship is more refined. I'm talking about the real thing."
"..."
"I'll show you."
There was no need to hear Kamil Felton's answer.
I felt I understood his heart without him having to speak.
I stopped using the Velgart Energy Arts and began to channel the Demonic Soul.
Instantly, a pressure on a completely different level extended toward him.
VWOOOOOM!
Just by channeling the energy art, Kamil was completely overwhelmed.
An incomprehensibly massive wave of energy seized his body.
I abruptly reversed the direction of my pulling aura and blasted him away with explosive force.
THWAAAACK!
Though I had made no outward movement, Kamil suffered a tremendous impact.
He had borne the full brunt of the pressure emitted by the Demonic Soul.
He was thrown backward, piercing through the blue radiance and tumbling across the ground.
CRASH! BANG!
"Keuk!"
It seemed he hadn't sustained any injuries severe enough to keep him from moving.
Struggling to his feet, Kamil Felton stared intently across the arena.
I stepped through the fading blue radiance and looked down at him.
"If you can't even handle this much, don't even dream of ambition."
THUD!
The surroundings were utterly silent.
The heavy sound that had just echoed would have been audible only to Kamil.
For it was a resonance that began in his heart.
He stood rooted to the spot, not moving for a long time.
Not until the referee's voice rang out.
"M-Match decided! Ray Carter is the winner!"
Only then did Kamil react.
He turned weakly and walked out of the training ground with slow steps.
It seemed he wanted to be alone for a while.
The arena was hardly a suitable place to sort out his complicated thoughts.
'Yes. Awaken. Become a madman and burn your family down from the inside.'
* * *
The day after the round of 16 matches concluded, the contestants for the quarterfinals were finalized.
From Group 15, everyone except for me and Mac Ties had been eliminated.
"Besides the two princes and Isabel, the other three are pretty run-of-the-mill."
Frixon was studying the tournament bracket intently, even though he wasn't competing.
He was like a strategic analyst.
With Mac and me competing, it seemed he wanted to be helpful in any way he could.
Of course, I had no interest in the bracket whatsoever.
"Anyway, the matches are being delayed. There were no injuries, so why not just start?"
Enough time had passed for everyone to have recovered their spent aura.
But the professors were just holding repeated meetings on the platform at the front of the training ground.
Eventually, Jerome Klevitz came forward and gathered the scattered students.
"Attention! I have a brief announcement."
Curious about the situation, even those standing far away immediately flocked to the base of the platform.
Then, a rather surprising announcement came from Dean Klevitz's lips.
"The academy's president, the captain of the Imperial Royal Guard, and the acting heads of the four great families are currently visiting. They will be observing the matches starting from the quarterfinals, so please line up around the training ground. That is all."
"..."
As soon as the announcement was over, the assistants rushed onto the training ground.
It was a move to bring the lounging students to order.
"Seriously, since when did we have to do these formal ceremonies for show!"
"I know, right? It's not like anyone that important is coming."
"Hey, I wouldn't say that. The captain of the Royal Guard and the acting heads of the four great families are insane titles."
"What about the president?"
"Who's that?"
"True, we've never even seen their face."
The students, suddenly forced into something resembling formation drills, subtly expressed their discontent.
Still, since important people were coming, they had no choice but to line up.
Of course, the princes had to compete in the quarterfinals, so they remained seated in the waiting area.
Before long, a group of people emerged from behind the platform.
They took their seats under the canopy and scanned the arena.
It was as if they were looking for someone.
But, just then.
'Huh? That woman is...'
A very familiar silhouette suddenly appeared in the VIP section.
It looked that way because she had just walked up onto the platform.
It was none other than the acting head of the Rantzverger family, Kairam.
What is she doing here?
Could she have come to check on my mission's progress herself, using Isabel as an excuse?
I couldn't help but think so.
For someone who should be on Black Scale Island to suddenly appear in the imperial capital...
Frankly, it was difficult to understand.
She glanced toward the waiting area with her usual indifferent eyes.
'Is she looking at me?'
It was only for a fleeting moment, but my eyes met Kairam's perfectly.
But she quickly turned her head away.
Isabel was also in the waiting area, but Kairam didn't even spare her a glance.
It seemed her brief look in my direction was because of the mission.
'She came to see how I'm getting along with the princes.'
Isabel had a very endearing personality and was doted on by both the Head and Kairam.
But that was just the affection between a mother and daughter.
This was a public setting, so it seemed she was intentionally avoiding any sign of recognition.
It was an action that perfectly revealed the acting head's cold disposition.
But then, from both ends of the waiting area, surprised voices suddenly burst out.
"Huh?"
"M-Mother?"
The voices belonged to the second and third princes, respectively.
For them to react like this, men who wouldn't bat an eye at most surprises to maintain their composure...
With a puzzled expression, I followed the princes' gaze.
As I looked closely at the platform, I was able to identify the high-ranking visitors at Venderford.
'That person is definitely... the Empress?'
Brilliant blonde hair and red eyes, a radiant beauty despite her age.
Empress Marie Melles, who had elevated the status of her family by bearing three sons with Emperor Reynold.
It was normal for most citizens of the empire to live their lives without ever knowing the faces of the royal family.
But there was no way I, a member of the continent's top assassination guild, wouldn't recognize the Empress.
"For Her Majesty the Empress to grace us with her presence, this is a tremendous honor."
"It seems she came to watch the princes' matches."
"If we stand out here, could we catch the imperial family's eye?"
"Of course. Not only is the Empress here, but so is the captain of the Royal Guard."
The students made simple deductions about the purpose of the Empress's visit.
But my thoughts were a little different.
'If my guess is correct, then that woman's identity is...'