Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Black Storm (2)
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A massive sword scar appeared on the outer wall of the arena.
Chunks of stone poured out from the torn gash.
All from a single strike by one girl.
"…………."
The crowd, who had been showering the Warden with jeers, froze in unison.
His partner's skill was on par with the Princess, renowned as the empire's greatest spear wielder.
"How in the world...?"
"Who the hell is that woman in the mask?"
Everyone began to question her identity.
Even Prince Ivan, who had maintained an expressionless face until now, was intrigued.
"Intriguing talents are emerging one after another. Aints, is this another of your works?"
"That is...".
Aints, who had organized the teams, hesitated to speak.
Fortunately, Ivan seemed more excited about the new talent than resentful toward the Prime Minister.
"Seeing you hesitate to answer, it seems it's not you. In that case...".
The Prince rolled his eyes toward his younger sister.
He quickly realized it wasn't her strategy either.
Her face was outwardly expressionless, but the spark had completely vanished from her blue eyes.
It was the gaze of someone wary of this suddenly appearing formidable woman.
'She doesn't know about this one either.'
"Hmm...".
Ivan elegantly swirled the wine glass in his hand.
Pretending to aerate it, he carefully pondered the identity of the cat-masked figure.
'Not Aints, who handled the team assignments, nor Camillia, who sponsors Derek...'
Soon, his signature emerald eyes gleamed.
'It must be the Warden's solo plan. He sneaked in his own mercenary without anyone noticing.'
The Prince gazed intently at Derek supporting the staggering Dang Mujin.
At the eyes sparkling within those sinister dark circles, identical to his own.
'He secured a Swordmaster-level talent that's rare even in the empire.'
Prince Ivan took a sip of the well-aerated wine.
The wine, which usually tasted bland, felt exceptionally sweet today.
'You're far too valuable to keep by Camillia's side.'
The silver-haired beauty elegantly wiped his lips.
Then, he asked the elderly Prime Minister seated beside him.
"Aints, I heard last night that tournament officials visited Berryhill Prison."
"Yes...? My apologies, Your Highness. I failed to notice."
The Prime Minister set down his wine glass abruptly and apologized.
He didn't make excuses but took an honest stance.
"It's fine. Even my Black Knights barely caught on to how covert the kidnapping was."
Ivan drained his wine glass in one gulp.
Gazing at the man in the clear glass who looked just like him.
"The kidnappers were probably the Bakar Mafia. They're experts in such shady dealings."
"Then Derek Minster must have dragged the officials to the prison and threatened them to rig the matches."
Aints looked down at the Warden with an exasperated expression.
At the greedy face and sly eyes as he supported the partner he'd secretly brought in.
"Why drag them all the way to Berryhill? To use the Grand Elder?"
"Exactly. Threatening them alone lacks credibility, so he used that big shot."
"What a terrifying man. Even manipulating the Grand Elder for his own ends...".
"Are you just scared of him?"
Ivan set his wine glass down with a clink.
Then, looking at Camillia, who had worn an eerie expressionless mask for a while, he said,
"I'm thoroughly enjoying this."
Aints cautiously eyed the Princess, who now stood at the railing.
He sensed faint mana emanating from her hand gripping the railing.
'Who is she?'
The Princess's eyes held no spark whatsoever.
They were as deep and dark as an abyss that swallowed everything.
'Who is she.'
She had never shown any reaction to the women around Derek before.
She was royalty, the empire's mother.
A mother jealous of her subjects would be unseemly.
Of course, that was just the formal reason.
In truth, she brimmed with more confidence than anyone.
With the mindset of a pride lioness who could claim her mate in an instant if she wished.
Her martial prowess was undoubtedly the empire's finest.
Her wealth, too.
Well, her looks...
She wasn't particularly interested, but she often heard she resembled her beautiful imperial ancestors, so she considered herself top-tier.
So who the hell was this cat-like bitch in front of her?
"Drawing her blade and unleashing sword qi simultaneously. Such swordsmanship is rare even in the empire."
She'd only seen one strike, but it was definitely Swordmaster level.
Martial power on par with her own.
Unknown wealth, but she wielded a powerful weapon.
The faint fuzz on the face peeking through the mask.
Undeniably younger than her.
"Did Derek have connections like that?"
The Princess moved her fingers as if gripping a leash handle.
She'd thought she held the reins all this time.
But what she'd gripped might not be the handle...
Perhaps it was just part of the collar already fastened around her own neck.
Soon, that anxiety erupted completely.
"......".
The Warden and Dang Mujin were simply supporting each other.
Among them, the Warden gently brushed back the woman's black hair and...
Tilted his head to bring their faces together.
"What the hell are you doing."
The Princess stared blankly at the crossing of man and woman.
"You're not about to kiss right in front of me."
The eye holes of the cat mask glanced up at the Princess.
Then, the girl's eyes winked playfully at the older woman, as if mocking her.
Like telling her to get lost if she was so old.
"The ancestors were right. Always embrace and nurture the man."
In that instant, her golden hair rippled with intense killing intent.
She pulled out a small key she secretly carried in her inner pocket.
It was the key to the collar artifact tied to the hatchling doll on her bed.
"Yes, I've been too arrogant all this time."
It seemed the Princess had found something new to collar instead of the hatchling.
A few minutes before the Princess gripped the key.
The eyes behind the cat mask calmly surveyed the surroundings.
She was aware of the countless gazes pouring onto her.
"Mm."
At first, it had been a single strike born of indignation at the crowd ignoring the Warden.
But that strike had drawn all the attention to her instead.
She might even be identified now.
Especially by the Princess, who had been staring piercingly from earlier.
In this situation, how to deflect their interest?
The 19-year-old girl's chosen method was...
"Ah, so dizzy."
Staggering while concealing her lunar yin energy and robust inner power.
Followed by leaning softly against the Warden's broad shoulder.
"What? Dang Mujin, are you alright?"
The woman with the sensual figure slumped weakly to the side.
I hurriedly supported her before she hit the ground.
"What happened? What was that strike you just unleashed?"
Doubts filled my mind as I held her.
According to Dang Sopa, she was just veteran warrior level.
No matter how talented, sword qi required Swordmaster realm or near it.
"That is...".
The cat-masked woman turned her head peevishly.
"Actually, that was my family's secret technique. Something like a killing blow."
Family secret technique...?
Is that why she was so drained after one shot?
Indeed, no energy emanated from her body.
In the past game, some Eastern Continent skills consumed life force.
My partner must have used one of those ultimate moves.
"The opponent looked strong, so I tried to end it in one blow..."
Dang Mujin in her tight-fitting martial robe.
She mumbled frustratingly with her face buried in my dress shirt.
Then she pulled her long hair over to cover her lips.
Her resentful expression even sobered my own heart.
'She's only about 19 at most, yet so serious in the match.'
When I saw Dang Sopa belittle her before the match, resentment must have built up.
I could empathize, recalling my own belittled academy days.
But seriousness in battle requires calm.
Excessive passion and daring lead to mistakes, especially in team 2v2.
"Hey, we should've discussed strategies like that together. Who said to act alone?"
The eyes behind the mask stared up at me blankly.
At my cold, icy gaze.
"......Sorry. I didn't have info on you, so I couldn't trust you."
"I'll buy time, so recover by then. Don't do anything stupid."
I scolded the woman in my arms with an even harsher tone than usual.
Grabbing her chin to instill caution.
"Got it?"
The cat-masked woman looked up at me blankly.
As if this treatment was a first for her.
"Do it again, and I'll punish you after the match."
"......".
She, covering her lips with her hair, slowly nodded.
'That should scare her properly.'
Sorry for the young girl, but I had no choice.
I needed to imprint properly to prevent more reckless actions.
Sometimes, my rugged face comes in handy.
"......Yeah. Got it."
I gently set Dang Mujin down.
Fortunately, she now watched me obediently with cautious eyes, unlike before.
"Show me your neck."
She obediently parted her long hair, revealing her pale neck.
She'd said the wound was bothering her earlier, but it looked fine.
"Still hurts? Enough to bother you?"
She gripped her hair like handles with both hands, fully covering her face.
And quietly nodded.
'Damn. She's already down, and now the wound's irritating her more.'
I sighed deeply and looked at my palm.
It was dirty from supporting her earlier.
Applying medicine with hands like this to my already throbbing wound would just poison it.
"Your mistake caused it, so endure it."
I said coldly, treating her like a business partner.
Then, I scooped antidote onto the back of my hand and licked a bit with my tongue tip.
And then.
"No complaints later."
I licked her soft neck where the wound was, like stroking it.
Like a silver serpent coveting a woman.
"......!!"
The green eyes behind the mask widened fully.
The poison must have spread badly; she froze rigid but obediently accepted my tongue.
"Hngh...".
She pressed her thick thighs together and bit her lip lightly.
Her eyes narrowed thinly as she fully felt the sensation of the man devouring her.
"Haa...".
She must have really been in pain from the poison.
Exhaling so roughly—I thought I'd been overreacting.
Feeling a bit sorry, I pulled my tongue away.
The woman with her slightly crooked cat mask trembled lightly.
"Support from the rear once recovered."
Leaving the silent her behind, I faced forward again.
Thanks to Dang Mujin's strike, the enemies' formation was in disarray.
Steelman hadn't taken a direct hit but tensed at her serious blow.
Always cautious about his body, he now seemed wary of injury in this match and acted prudently.
Dang Sopa was the same.
He'd thought her strike merely grazed his cheek, but blood now dripped from his sleeve.
'Her attack reached his shoulder too. Good fortune.'
The men, flustered by the reversal from my supposedly weak partner.
Spotting victory, I stared rigidly at their shaken focus.
But...
For some reason, I felt another chilling gaze glaring at me.
'Wh-who is this...?'
It wasn't mana-infused or sword qi.
Yet this gaze pierced my chest.
I followed the gaze up to the VIP seats.
At that moment.
My eyes met those of Princess Sis standing at the railing.
'Why is she staring so intently?'
Her icy cold eyes gazed silently down at me.
In one hand...
She held a small key, like one used to unlock something.