Chapter 114

Currently, Harnette had a lot of dissatisfaction with Oz Ternane.

Of course, you won’t be swept away by the emotion, but if you run into each other, you might lose control of yourself.

If something unfortunate happened in the middle of the fight, not only the three of us here, but each family would be engulfed in turmoil.

‘It’s not that I don’t believe in Hanette… … .’

Other than that, there were other things to worry about.

Teasing them with magic, pushing them with all their might from the beginning, or hindering them from proving their skills, etc.

I couldn’t recognize each of those actions, and it wouldn’t be difficult to deal with them at that time.

“Sister, I will do it this time.”

“… Don’t you believe me?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I know better about swordsmanship, right?”

“If you are a skilled swordsman, you must also handle magic well. I can see the magic better.”

“You have to hold the sword to perform swordsmanship. Magic comes next.”

“If you don’t have magical power, it’ll be difficult to fight demon beasts.”

“A wizard can only use magic, but a swordsman needs a sword.”

“Magic power can be captured even with bare hands.”

“You can’t ask a prosecutor to use his bare hands.”

“Fighting with bare hands is also a skill.”

“You can use a sword, so why use your bare hands?”

“So it is a skill. If you think you can fight well without a sword, don’t you think you’ll fight better with a sword?”

Harnette did not break her stubbornness and fired hard.

It would be frustrating just to see those sparring matches, and if you had to leave it to Shion, he would try to pass it at a reasonable level.

Above all, as the daughter of the Duke of Adelaira, Oz Ternane could not be allowed to join the Knights of Lihines.

“Sister, this is what I did. So, it is right for me to finish it.”

“Am I involved in that too? You started, but I have to see the end.”

“after… Can you entrust it to me?”

“I can leave it to you, but… I have to do it though.”

Shion is troubled and cannot bear to speak.

At this point, I had to compromise, but in the end, I didn’t back down.

Even before meeting Oz Ternane, he had decided to leave the sparring with Oz Ternane to himself.

Maybe he changed his mind while waiting.

“… Do you have any options for me?”

Oz overheard the conversation between the two and opened his mouth belatedly.

It would end even if I left it as it was, but I knew what caused it.

If so, wouldn’t it be necessary to solve the cause even if you intervene?

“Are you saying you want to choose from among us?”

“Yes, I think you two can’t make a decision.”

“… … .”

Harnette glares fiercely at Oz and pours out silence.

He must have chosen Shion and easily ended the process of proving his skills.

After joining the Lihines Knights, I’ll be able to deal with the rest somehow.

“I want to have a sparring with the assistant captain. I think it will be a good experience even if I don’t join the Lihines Knights.”

“… … ?”

Hannette pauses for a moment and stares blankly at Oz.

He should have known that he was hated by him.

There was no way he didn’t know that it would be a loss to face it.

But why did he choose himself and not Zion?

“… Okay. Then I’ll leave it to the deputy knight commander.”

Shion belatedly realized Oz’s intentions.

The Knights of Lihines actually consisted of only two members, and they had not yet received knights.

This meant that two people would lead the Knights of Lihines, and if even one of the two was out of line, the Knights would not be able to run.

In other words, Oz wanted to be recognized by himself and Hannette at the same time.

‘Maybe this is right. Harnette has to accept Oz.’

Since he knew about Oz, he was able to understand his actions to some extent.

However, to Hannette, Oz only seemed like an enemy who had been ambush.

Even a duke’s daughter and a demonic sword user couldn’t change that perception.

‘… I need to give you some advice.’

Harnette could have viewed Oz’s accumulated strength as positively.

However, he would not believe in a human named Oz Ternane.

If Oz shows his sincerity, wouldn’t Hannett’s heart move a little?

‘Hanet will be able to understand. Because I was put in the same situation.’

* * *

The residence of the Duke of Adelaira, an outdoor dance hall.

Oz visited the Duke of Adelaira again according to the schedule.

Hanette stood on top of the gymnasium wearing her armor, and Shion stood by her side.

The White Apostle and the leader of the Siles Knights were also located outside the gymnasium to watch the sparring.

‘I still have a chance.’

Oz changed into his armor and headed towards the center of the gymnasium.

Opposite her stood the daughter of the Duke of Adelaira.

He probably would have pushed with all his might to get himself out.

‘This is an ordeal.’

Oz has always been thinking the same thing ever since he ran away from the duchy of Ternane.

He is being tested, he has been put on trial and has endured suffering.

If you endure and endure, you will be able to become stronger, and one day you will reach the peak.

‘Trying is… It’s a process to overcome the ordeal.’

Oz slowly stops and looks at his sparring opponent.

Cold eyes emanated from the other person, and it seemed as if life was rising, albeit vaguely.

He wouldn’t kill himself, but the fear was inevitable.

Because she had the title of mage and was the knight who defeated the shadow dragon.

‘How long can I last?’

As soon as the sparring began, magic would rush in.

He could have unknowingly declared surrender or been knocked down first.

Maybe he begged for help, or he hurriedly tried to run away.

‘If I can’t join the Lihines Knights, I’ll have to join the Sillays Knights.’

Even in the Sillay Knights, the Demonic Sword user and the Setinos Quasar took over the positions of the Knight Commander and the Assistant Knight Commander, respectively.

He also subdued the Shadow Dragon with the Lihines Knights, and his name was well known in the outskirts.

It was a bit disappointing compared to the Knights of Lihines, but it wasn’t that their skills or reputation were inferior.

‘If I had a magic sword, it would have been a little better… … .’

“Are you both ready?”

“… I’m ready.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll count to five. There is no time limit, and as soon as the results come out, we will stop the sparring.”

Shion looked at the two of them alternately and slowly backed away.

Correspondingly, Hannette and Oz also step back and distance themselves from each other.

They didn’t take their eyes off each other, and they naturally raised their mana from their bodies.

“5, 4, 3… … .”

Shion counted and did not relax.

If an accident was about to happen, action had to be taken immediately.

Harnette said that she would control her strength so as not to get hurt, but she couldn’t be vigilant just believing that word.

Because people can change as much as they like depending on the given situation.

“2, 1. Start.”

At the same time as the shout, one person moved first.

Oz quickly draws his sword and runs towards Harnette.

Unlike him, Hannette just watched with a nonchalant expression on her face.

‘Why am I doing that?’

Oz’s sword was about to touch Harnette.

In an instant, bright red flames burst out and the blade bounced away.

Oz quickly changed his stance and swung his sword again.

But again, the flames blazed and blocked the way.

Even if you tried to attack in succession, the sparks continued to form and only blocked the sword attack.

“Do I look good?”

Harnette showed a displeased look and increased the amount of magic power.

Then, the flame expands and rushes toward Oz.

Oz quickly condensed his mana and swung down towards the flames.

The red flame and the white mana interlocked and tried to push each other away.

Shortly thereafter, the flame began to fade, and the mana gradually faded.

Eventually, the flames and mana offset, completely evaporating.

“you… Do you have to drive me to work hard?”

Harnette increases her mana once more and creates sparks.

A bigger flame than before spreads out, and soon it splits into several branches.

Oz catches his breath and steps lightly.

‘… They’re testing me.’

Oz put more mana into the blade and threw it with all his might.

Then, a thick white line was drawn and collided with flames.

The flame cannot push the line away and just hovers in the same place.

‘It seems to be doing quite a bit.’

Harnette slowly radiates magic and watches Oz.

Even though he didn’t have a magic sword, he thought he was quite quick with his body movements.

It was just that he seemed relatively slow because he blocked his movements with flames.

‘I have a feeling… … .’

Hannett is aware that it is a match and gradually increases the concentration of the flame.

I don’t know much about swordsmanship, but I could tell that he had a good posture.

He was using his mana well enough, and he responded flexibly to the direction the flames were approaching.

However, the memories stuck in the head and the emotions engraved in the heart erase all those thoughts.

‘Why did he do that while being strong?’

Harnette reveals her hostility and gathers the flames in one place.

Oz tried to retreat quickly, but before he knew it, the flames were surrounding him.

‘I know you hated family like me. I can understand why you ran away. But you… … .’

Harnette did not want to admit the existence of Oz Ternane.

Because he attacked himself and his comrades for the sole reason of becoming stronger.

Even if he tried to seal only the demonic sword, that would also cause damage, and even if no one was hurt, that act would not disappear.

‘I did something I shouldn’t have done. I would never have done that.’

Hannett realized that it was a sparring and narrowed the flames at once.

Oz tried to split the flames, but the blade wouldn’t lift.

The hot and fierce flames were covering my eyes and putting pressure on me little by little.

‘No matter how strong… If you can’t believe it, that’s it.’

Hannette watches the rising flames and waits for Oz to escape.

It didn’t matter if it broke through or not.

Even if you overcome that fire, you just need to pour more mana next time.

It just kept increasing in intensity until Oz gave up.

‘Shall we stop here? I should do more… … .’

Harnette felt the change in magical power and quickly looked away.

Light green air currents rushed in and flowed into the flames.

It was magic that he had already felt several times, and he knew that it was the power that came from the magic sword.

“Huh!”

A strong wind blows with a short cry.

The flames withstood the momentum, and soon dispersed and disappeared completely.

Oz exhaled heavily and looked down at the sword in his right hand.

‘… The demonic sword of wind, Timer.’