132. martial arts contest (5)

“Hans is not coming back… I couldn’t.”

That was the conclusion Dennis Amber received after sending his first successor to the expedition. The youngest of the escort knights, who were classified as spare power and headed to the no-man’s land, perished on the battlefield without even returning to the corpse. The shock of losing a comrade for the first time. Dennis Amber didn’t even look back properly at the scars he had drawn on his heart in order to sustain his motives that were about to be broken forever.

have to sustain

The royal palace was encroached upon by the power of Benning brought by the second prince. Several soldiers of the 1st Guards and their successors who laughed and chatted together do not return. Nothing could protect him. Dennis feigned laughter, clinging to his sword more desperately than anyone else.

I didn’t want to come in forever, but in the end, the successor came back.

A mysterious knight with long black hair.

The successor, who introduced himself as Arsene Bern, was so strong that his eyes widened. Although he had never properly displayed his sword skills, the swordsmanship he occasionally displayed during training, the swordsmanship that that swordsmanship contained, remained at a level that Dennis could barely follow. Judging from the fact that His Majesty the King called him personally, it was possible to guess that it was not an ordinary successor.

treated carelessly I didn’t want to give it to my heart. However, with that skill and the time spent together, Dennis began to cherish his new successor wholeheartedly before he knew it. Even if he didn’t really come in as his successor, Dennis thought of Arsene Bern as if he were real, and treated him that way.

So, when Javier Franco was deployed against his quarter-finals, he felt fortunate at first. Because that swordsman was wielded with more than enough intent to kill. With Leon Benning’s knight, it wouldn’t be strange to use any tricks during the match.

So, against Javier Franco.

Even though his body was pierced and blood was pouring, he did not let go of his sword. had to win here, that guy.

When he came to his senses, he was down and Javier Franco was approaching with a sword. In the blurry vision, Dennis suddenly looked at the crowd. Seats for Charlotte and Maxim. And, what Dennis’ eyes soon caught was something he had never imagined.

Dennis blankly looked at the sword in front of him. Black swordsman. Someone had thrown a sword to block Javier’s advance.

oh

Dennis widened his eyes, and the world returned to normal speed. The sounds that can be heard are the crowds humming and the referee shouting in embarrassment.

“Stop the match!!”

Dennis could feel the strength in his body loosen up. He thought he was just prioritizing the orders he received, but Arsene’s contorted expression didn’t seem to be the only one. Breaking in during a martial arts competition. Being disqualified from the competition is not the problem, but a bigger problem may arise in the subsequent treatment.

I shouldn’t send it, but I have to block it here myself.

Dennis repeated that and glared at Javier, who was looking down at him. I could see the staff hurriedly rushing into the arena. Two of them quickly helped Dennis up.

“To the waiting room for a moment… No, I think you’d better go to the infirmary first.”

Dennis stared at the two swords stuck in the stadium until the end even as he was dragged away by the support of the staff. Consciousness was clouding, but Dennis never let go. He pushed away the two agents who were holding his arms and walked out of the arena on his own.

If he loses consciousness right away and collapses, the match will almost certainly end with that Javier Franco winning.

Dennis walked along the aisle leading to the waiting room while bleeding profusely.

—

Maxim stood frozen, holding Baek-a in one hand, in a position that would make him feel ashamed if others looked at him. However, Maxim had no time to be conscious of the gazes around him or embarrassed. It was because the sword of someone who had taken action before her had completely taken her eyes off her.

“Senior, just… ?”

Christine looked back at Maxim, dazed at what had just transpired. Maxim lowered Baekah. The spectators were not looking at Maxim with a knife drawn, but their eyes were focused on the gymnasium with black knives. Charlotte’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“That black… ”

“I remember seeing it before, isn’t that jet-black knife used by Theodora Benning?”

“Huh! Looking at it, it seems right. But, why is that knight’s sword stuck there?”

“You idiot, since you threw it there, it must be stuck.”

why?

Maxim couldn’t say anything and just stared at Heilang, who was stuck in the middle of the arena, frozen. Did you feel Javier’s intent to kill? No, but that doesn’t mean she’s taking all that risk and entering that race…

The crowd’s murmur grew louder. At the place where Maxim turned his head, the host of the martial arts competition was busy running somewhere. People hurriedly opened the way, and Maxim could see the bewildered expressions of the staff passing by him.

Are you going to pick up Theodora? Maxim moved his steps involuntarily. There was no time in my head to think. Christine held onto Maxim’s hem. Maxim stopped his steps for a moment at the touch and looked back. Christine held onto Maxim with a firm expression. Maxim put his hand over it to free it,

snap.

“senior!”

Maxim was awakened by Christine’s sharp cry. Christine held onto Maxim’s hand as hard as she could. Maxim’s dazed eyes met Christine’s and returned to focus. Christine arched her eyebrows and spoke to Maxim in a rare angry voice.

“Calm down. Where the hell are you going now?”

“… I.”

Maxim’s shoulders trembled at Christine’s words. Christine sighed.

“Captain, it will be fine. It’s not a skill that anyone can go anywhere, it’s a competition that took place in the first place to make the captain a winner.”

Christine took control of Maxim’s shaking head. Maxim took a deep breath. The blood rushing through his head subsided. Then, pathetically swept away by emotion, he bit his lip, blaming himself for almost moving his body. The smell of fishy fresh blood spread along the thumping and ringing heartbeat.

You have more important things to do right now.

“… Let’s go check on Dennis-senior quickly.”

Christine let out a sigh of relief when Maxim came to his senses.

“That comes first.”

Christine quickly turned her head to find Charlotte. The atmosphere in the arena was becoming chaotic.

“Seniors.”

At Christine’s call, Charlotte raised her head like someone who had suddenly woken up. Are you regretting it, or are you blaming yourself? Looking at Charlotte’s curved eyebrows, Christine could feel a sense of sympathy. With a softer voice, Christine lifted Charlotte up.

“Go to the infirmary, come on.”

“… Yes, let’s go.”

Charlotte nodded weakly and stood up, holding Christine’s hand. The murmur in the crowd grew even louder.

—

committed I felt relieved again. Theodora thought that while looking at Heilang, who left her hand and flew away. Otherwise, Javier Franco would have killed his opponent. Theodora could feel the gooey flesh rising from him. People were buzzing as if they couldn’t understand Theodora’s behavior, but Theodora couldn’t hear what they were saying at all.

‘father… It must have been the order of the family head.’

It was a dirty way. It was also a way Theodora would never quite understand. Just like the final exams in the winter four years ago, Leon Benning enjoyed using ‘natural assassination’. Unlike Theodora back then, the hand he borrowed this time seemed to clearly know what he was doing.

Cold hatred bloomed. What happens at the martial arts tournament is always the individual’s responsibility. His father must have been aware of him too, so he tried to commit murder here. But on the other hand, it also meant that only Theodora herself was responsible for stopping the match by throwing her sword.

‘You failed.’

Theodora gave a small smile. Maybe it was the moment when he defeated his father for the first time. Theodora felt the blood flow through her body run through her fingertips. Is it a sense of liberation, or a sense of exhaustion from futility? It didn’t matter to her now.

“… Miss Theodora.”

A cautious voice came from behind. Theodora hardened her expression and turned around. Hosts were in the stands. All of them were subsumed by Beninga. All of them were looking at Theodora with a troubled expression. Bondi, they should have caught Theodora and taken her to the headquarters, but no one had the courage to say and do anything recklessly to her.

“First of all, I will meet you.”

At the staff’s words, Theodora nodded and turned around. If you meet me, you will know. Theodora gave one last glance to the arena, and followed the staff guiding the way. The organizers of the contest must have been very busy by now. He must be wrapping his head around making up a report to be sent to Leon Benning.

According to the competition rules, you will be disqualified. No, disqualification is not the problem, it will be a major hindrance to living as a knight in the future. But Theodora was well aware that he would never drop out of this tournament. Leon Benning would do anything to make himself the winner of this tournament. Even though I committed the act of intruding during the contest.

What was waiting for Theodora who came out of the arena was a carriage with the family crest on it. Theodora knew for a moment where the carriage would lead her. Someone who seemed to be a vassal of the family grabbed the carriage door, opened it, and motioned for Theodora to get in.

“miss.”

The vassal was bowing his head to Theodora. Theodora looked down at the retainer with cold eyes.

“It seems less than 30 minutes have passed, but you came to pick me up really quickly.”

“The Count expresses great disappointment at this, my lady. Why would you act like that… .”

Theodora cut off the vassal’s words in the middle and got into the carriage. The vassal stood still as if embarrassed by Theodora’s behavior, then closed the door and headed for the driver’s seat. There was the sound of a door closing to the left.

‘… Let’s calm down.’

Theodora shook her head and looked straight ahead. work was done Now it was my turn to take care of the back. Theodora made up her mind. There was no Heilang who always stood by him. I just had to believe in myself and face what would happen in the future.

After a short ride, the wagon arrived at a building that seemed to be used as a headquarters by the organizers. The vassal who drove the carriage opened the carriage door and bowed to Theodora.

“I will guide you to the Count.”

After saying that, the vassal hurried his steps. Theodora stiffened her face and followed her vassal. How would Leon Benning have accepted his unilateral declaration of war? Theodora nervously approached her father’s office.

“Come in.”

The earl’s voice was uneven as expected. Whether she was angry because her plans had gone awry, or if she really didn’t care, Theodora couldn’t tell. Theodora entered the room, and as soon as the door closed behind her, Leon Benning spoke. And the first words that came out of his mouth were completely unrelated to the situation and were out of the blue.

“What were you thinking when you did that?”

Leon Benning asked in a hard voice. Theodora didn’t flinch at those words and fired at them.

“The head of the household, why the hell did you want to kill him?”

“It was necessary, and it was an inevitable choice for me, no, Benning to win. Theodora, it’s not like you don’t know this, but you still haven’t figured out what I mean.”

“I never told you what you meant, and I don’t want to know.”

“If you do that, the martial arts competition will continue.”

Leon Benning’s eyes shone coldly. Theodora bit her lip.

“The rules… .”

“If you really want everything to go according to principle, then let it be. Let’s take this opportunity to clean up those skinny jackdaws too.”

“You are the one who said that the responsibility of the competition is the responsibility of the individual.”

Leon Benning tilted his head.

“The rules that apply to me are different from the rules that apply to you, Theodora. Do you really want to see to the end what results your little defiance will lead to?”

Theodora did not answer. Leon Benning continued speaking plainly, as if he did not need Theodora’s answer.

“Everything you’ve done I’ll put into question. You will play the semi-finals as scheduled, and sooner or later this mayhem will be forgotten from everyone’s mind.”

Leon Benning closed the file he was reading with a thud.

“Don’t even think about abstaining, Theodora. I don’t want to turn my daughter into an enemy.”

“… I didn’t expect it to come out so petty.”

At Theodora’s trembling voice, Leon Benning shrugged.

“Win it. If you win and follow my words, you will get what you want. But if you do not listen to my warning this time and act as you please, daughter.”

Leon Benning lowered his voice.

“Don’t leave it up to your imagination what results await.”

Theodora bit her lip. To hear this, he did not throw Heilang. It was because he had moved to break the spell of being a father that bound him.

will give you the desired result. But after that, you’ll regret making me the winner.

“… If I win,”

Theodora looked at Leon Benning, who was looking back at her, and spoke in a trembling, but clear voice.

“Do you think it will be what you want it to be?”

At the rebellious voice, Leon Benning looked at Theodora. There was no little girl who trembled with fear. All that remains is a platinum bird trying to get out of the cage where it has been confined for a long time.

Leon Benning shook his head excitedly. He felt the need to lock that bird back in his cage. And Leon Benning knew very well that the key to imprisoning her was not far away.

“The moment you reach the finals, the martial arts competition will already be over, Theodora.”

Leon Benning said it meaningfully. Theodora turned around and left Leon Benning’s office, as if she didn’t want to hear it anymore. The count looked at the place where his daughter had disappeared and muttered the rest of the words he hadn’t heard.

Your finals opponent will either withdraw or not show up when the finals are held.