NOVEL NEXT Ch. 11
Chapter 11
Arrogance that overestimates one’s own skills and carelessness toward the opponent.
In a real battle, when those two mistakes overlap, it was difficult to keep one’s life.
Needless to say, if the opponent was someone who used the Cheonghwageom perfectly.
“Second Flash.”
A superior technique to the First Flash, repeating two thrusts in the blink of an eye.
The two escort knights clutched their chests and rolled on the floor.
Zodiac’s eyes, who had been watching, trembled slightly.
‘Did he induce a backlash?’
The Mana Heart was a double-edged sword. It could be the best weapon, but if one failed to control its backlash, they would fall into a coma.
As such, knights were never careless in their defense against the Mana Heart, yet the Fourth Young Master had caused a backlash with just one precise contact.
“What are you doing? Not coming at me.”
Killian, cloaked in a red flame, asked again.
He even raised the corners of his lips to add flavor to his provocation, but Zodiac did not approach rashly.
Instead, albeit belatedly, he offered a knight’s salute to the Fourth Young Master.
“Zodiac Stern. I am the legitimate son of the Stern family and a knight who has mastered the 5-star level.”
“Look at this?”
At the unexpected reaction, the corners of Killian’s mouth went up.
The courtesy ended there.
Fwoosh.
Zodiac roused his knightly aura and aimed his sword.
“Fourth Young Master. From now on, I will personally question your wrongdoing.”
Emma Eurasia stepped back, and Rhodos helped Haman up, blocking her path.
“They’re trying all sorts of things.”
For the mistress of the family to show behavior befitting of bandits.
It was a disgrace that would not have been tolerated if this was the Eurasia that Edan had led.
‘That guy would have had a fit.’
The more I learned, the deeper my disappointment grew, and my furrowed brow would not smooth out.
Zodiac, who interpreted that expression differently, opened his mouth.
“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to take the chamberlain as a hostage.”
He was merely having them distance themselves so they wouldn't get caught up in their fight.
He spouted the sophistry that nothing would change from before, so they should rest assured.
“For a legitimate son of a family to be an escort knight, are you undergoing some kind of knightly training?”
“It’s a pity this isn’t a situation for a long conversation.”
“……”
“……”
Killian and Zodiac silently scanned each other.
They were gauging. The level each had achieved as a knight, and the next move to come.
It was Zodiac who spoke first.
“If my judgment is not mistaken, you have mastered the 5-star level.”
At the unexpected words, Emma and Rhodos’s eyes widened.
Seeing Killian not denying it, Zodiac continued.
“There must have been a fortunate encounter. Regardless of the process, the achievement you have made deserves praise. However.”
Ssssss.
Mana shimmered on Zodiac’s sword.
“You’ve gained excessive power and have rashly revealed it.”
Fwoooosh.
A stern energy, different from the previous two, began to fill the drawing room.
Carpe.
The power to dominate the surrounding space and hold it in one’s grasp.
It was a technique that could only be mastered by those who possessed a 5-star Mana Heart and fully understood their own inner image.
Killian silently stared at Zodiac’s blue mana as it encroached on the surroundings.
Seeing that the mana had a basic color, he hadn't fully bloomed his abilities.
‘Still, to be able to unfold this much already.’
Unlike his body which was being pressed down, he felt a sense of joy inwardly.
It was a talent that could have reached the edge of 6-star alone in Edan’s era, and could have even reached the level of a Superhuman in his later years if he had met an excellent master.
“A pity. A guy who should be training to aim for Superhuman is playing around with petticoat influence.”
“Don’t be insolent.”
Fighting spirit was laced in the nonchalant voice.
Killian didn’t mind and let out a laugh.
“Zodiac Stern. How about learning properly under me? I’ll train you properly.”
“They said you came back from the dead, and now you’ve lost your fear too.”
Zodiac, not letting down his guard, raised his sword.
He had dominated a space of 50 paces around him.
He could maintain Carpe for about 5 minutes. It wasn't long, but it was enough time to settle the match.
“Even if you’ve created a 5-star Mana Heart, the inadequacy of the body cannot be hidden.”
Fwooooong.
The crushing aura intensified.
From Killian's perspective, this was the first proper knight he had faced since his reincarnation.
“Apologize to the Mistress even now.”
“They were the ones who started it, weren’t they?”
“Consider it the price for you unsettling the Mistress’s mind.”
“That’s some fresh bullshit.”
Despite his bold attitude, there were not many sword styles he could use with his current body.
Fortunately, Zodiac’s Carpe was also not at a perfect level.
‘I need to get closer.’
Killian cloaked his arms, legs, chest, and shoulders in mana.
In addition, he distributed mana evenly throughout his body so that he could concentrate it at any time.
“Since when did the Stern family become the hands and feet of Sepia?”
“The one I serve is the head of Eurasia. And also the mistress of Eurasia.”
“I have no interest in such ridiculous wordplay.”
Killian took a step forward.
It was suffocating. It was because he had entered the space dominated by Zodiac.
Not minding it, he cloaked 70% of his mana around his skeleton and the hand holding the sword. He moved his heavy body and stepped forward.
“I will.”
Resisting the aura, he took one step, then another, continuing his words.
“Carve out the rotten flesh of Eurasia.”
“An arrogant statement.”
The distance between the two knights slowly narrowed.
‘Five exchanges. The match will be decided within that.’
Zodiac’s eyes narrowed.
He focused all his senses on the Fourth Young Master’s movements.
The level of their Mana Hearts might be equal, but there was a clear difference in their physical reaction speed.
‘Block his attacks and induce exhaustion.’
That was a stable and certain way to achieve victory.
Killian was also not unaware of Zodiac’s plan.
“You can’t overcome the wall that way.”
Flararararare.
Once again, a red flame bloomed over the Cheonghwageom.
The space dominated by Carpe began to waver as it touched the flames.
Before the opponent could even react to the sudden situation.
“First Flash.”
“……!!”
Killian swiftly thrust his sword, and Zodiac hastily parried it.
“Second Flash.”
Klang. Klang.
Following that, two sword strikes were thrust toward the neck and heart. The speed and weight were dizzying.
Fortunately, the attack stopped after two thrusts.
Zodiac corrected his disheveled stance. His gaze was fixed on Killian, who was gasping for breath.
‘As expected, his body is not properly trained.’
In comparison, the skillfulness of his swordsmanship was good enough to be called a 6-star knight.
What if his opponent’s body was that of a complete 5-star knight?
‘I would have given up an arm.’
Gulp.
Zodiac unknowingly swallowed dryly.
“Zodiac!! Bring me one of that bastard’s arms!!”
Just then, Emma Eurasia, who was watching, shouted.
It didn't mean to cut off his arm, but to cause permanent damage to the tendons, making him unable to recover. For someone walking the path of the sword, it would be a wound worse than death.
“……”
Zodiac, who had been silently watching Killian, raised his sword.
“My apologies, Fourth Young Master.”
From top to bottom, the moment his sword was aimed at the tired Fourth Young Master’s shoulder.
Flararararare.
Suddenly, a blue flame rose from under Killian’s feet.
“……!!”
Zodiac hastily stepped back.
‘Blue flame?’
The flames spread faster than he had dominated the space.
“Don’t tell me…… Carpe?”
A Carpe manifested through the Cheonghwageom as a medium.
In the unbelievable situation, Zodiac let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
The moment he took a step back to avoid the flames that blocked his vision.
Swoosh.
“……!!”
A single sword rushed through the blue flames.
Klaaang!!
He barely managed to twist his sword to parry it, but it was impossible to completely offset the impact.
“Keok……”
He stumbled back and spat out a mouthful of blood.
His limbs trembled as if he would drop his sword and collapse at any moment.
That wasn't the problem.
As a price for his space domination being broken, a backlash was rising.
‘I have to calm it down.’
He had to swing his sword to create distance.
Zodiac strenuously raised his sword.
No, just as he was about to raise it.
“Keub……”
Blood once again welled up in his throat.
Crack!!
The sword that flew in once more struck his chest before he could react.
Zodiac rolled on the floor, splattering blood.
Thud.
“……”
Emma Eurasia stared at her unconscious escort knight with her eyes rolled back.
Killian brandished his sword and retracted the blue flames.
His limbs trembled from the backlash of using consecutive techniques.
“A master-level is indeed tough.”
Passing the petrified Emma and Rhodos, he sat down at the tea table.
Belatedly, Haman, who had pushed away Rhodos’s hand, ran over.
“Yo, Young Master!! Are you alright?!!”
“Wouldn’t I be better off than you?”
At the indifferent gaze, Haman hastily bowed his head.
It was because he remembered that the Young Master would not show a weak side in front of those he had defined as enemies.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Just lock the door.”
“Yes? What are you going to……”
Killian gestured with his chin toward Emma Eurasia, who was standing frozen.
“She is none other than the mistress of the family. It wouldn't do for her reception to be lacking.”
Tap, tap.
With an indifferent face, he tapped the table with his fingers.
“Please have a seat.”
She was one of the proudest members of the family.
Her body trembled slightly at being treated like a servant out of the blue.
“Fourth Young Master…… you don’t possibly think you’ll be safe after this……”
Tap, tap.
The index finger tapped the table once more.
“Haman, the table is sparse before our precious guest. Please pour her some tea.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Haman politely filled two cups.
To a stranger, it would have truly looked as if the Fourth Young Master was serving the Mistress.
“How dare you……”
How dare he act like the master in her own space?
‘Even the Head of the Family wouldn’t dare treat me like this, a bastard like you…….’
Rage surged at the situation of having to be swayed by a mere Fourth Young Master.
“My lady, let’s first talk……”
“Rhodos!! Are you trying to humiliate me as well!!”
“You are the master of this place, my lady. I will take responsibility for all the disgrace, so please, let’s hear what the Fourth Young Master has to say for now.”
Rhodos, who bowed his head so she wouldn’t feel shame, approached Killian.
“The Fourth Young Master should refrain from being rude to the Mistress…… Keok……!!”
Unable to finish his sentence, Rhodos clutched his throat and fell to his knees.
The aura of a 5-star knight.
He had returned the exact same thing Emma’s escort knights had done.
“Stop making a scene, you stay out of it.”
His expression was calm, but his voice was tinged with anger.
“Keok…… Keuh, keck……”
Killian’s gaze shifted from Rhodos to Emma.
“Please have a seat. The tea will get cold.”
“……”
The Mistress, who had been biting her lip, sat down.
As the groans of the unconscious Rhodos disappeared, silence fell over the drawing room.
Haman stood behind her, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.
“……Speak.”
She swallowed her humiliation and opened her mouth.
Killian silently stared into her trembling eyes.
What could he say to change the chilly atmosphere into one suitable for negotiation?
The thought was not long.
“Since you gifted me the Cheonghwageom and the medicinal preparations the other day, I will forget today’s rudeness.”
The two gifts he had received from Julian.
Killian voiced the gratitude he had been unable to convey.
‘What is this crazy bastard saying right now…….’
“Those were gifts you gave to me, correct?”
At the sight of Killian confirming it again with a glint in his eyes.
“It seems you’ve…… received them well.”
Emma Eurasia had no choice but to give an answer different from her true feelings.