Cariosa, as a fallen noble, was dressed in stingray leather and top-grade iron armor, with two magic swords strapped to her waist.
Her long fingers settled onto Valenciaunos’ broad shoulders, gripping softly yet firmly.
There was absolutely no chance of escaping.
“Cariosa?”
Surprise flickered across Valenciaunos’ face in the mirror, and his bright red lips parted.
The sight of the always-confident Bandit Duke’s face rippling was quite something to behold.
“Ah. I can’t stand it.”
Cariosa rose onto her tiptoes and buried her face into the nape of Valenciaunos’ neck.
Her long, cool water-colored hair hung softly and moistly, while the skin on her face and the back of her hands sparkled as if dusted with ground pearls.
Eventually, her jaws parted, and like drops of rain falling on the sea, she carefully nipped at Valenciaunos’ nape with her shark-like teeth.
A sweet and rich aroma, reminiscent of fermented wine mixed with lemon, cinnamon, and honey, danced on her palate, rising through her nose and filling her mind.
“Ha.”
The hollows around her eyes trembled slightly, her long eyelashes framed sharp eyes softening, while the black vertical pupils in her gray irises leisurely swelled up.
Click.
In the moment her grip slackened slightly, Valenciaunos used one foot as a pivot and spun around.
“You’ve become less reserved in the meantime.”
“Huh?”
Cariosa had been hugging Valenciaunos from behind, and in that state, he turned around, and they found themselves face to face, bodies pressed together.
The golden eyes and gray irises blinked just in front of them.
They were almost close enough for their eyelashes to touch.
“As a Great Lord, you should know when and where to behave appropriately.”
At her stern yet enchanting admonishment, Cariosa let out a soft laugh, exhaling heated breaths.
“You’re not going to say you dislike it until the end?”
Valenciaunos felt the nape of his neck pulling in another sense and embraced her tightly.
“Then, do you dislike it?”
He had envied her honesty regarding her desires for a lifetime.
Cariosa felt that Valenciaunos had grown sturdier and his energy steadier than before.
Somehow, he also seemed taller, and the scent he exuded had become a bit stronger.
She smiled and playfully nibbled at Valenciaunos’ ear and then released it repeatedly.
“After all… I like honest people.”
The teasing warmth made the Bandit Duke tremble all over, and just when he began to ponder how many layers of armor Cariosa was wearing, there came a knocking sound from outside.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Your Highness!”
“Yooouur Highness!”
There were multiple voices calling out.
“That’s unfortunate.”
A voice full of regret spilled from Cariosa’s lips.
Her pupils narrowed again, and Valenciaunos smoothed out his ruffled collar.
“Did you loosen this in the meantime?”
Cariosa laughed frivolously, carelessly.
“I’m good at untangling problems in one go, aren’t I?”
Though a light-hearted smile didn’t quite fit her deep eyes, Valenciaunos understood better than anyone the feeling of being on the brink of madness if he didn’t at least smile.
“In one cut, I suppose.”
He regained the dangerous yet isolated atmosphere around him, and Cariosa, noticing his expressionless gaze and pale cheeks, whistled.
“Right. In one cut.”
With a clunk.
Valenciaunos opened the door to the Wyvernfit lounge.
Two knights were standing in front of it.
“Valen Your Highness. Are you alright?”
“Your Highness! Are you unharmed?”
One of them was understandably Tenitia, while the other was an eastern knight donned in iron armor.
Tenitia wore a white plate armor with a red cloak draped over it, and her hair was short.
The eastern knight was clad in dark-gray iron armor, with a blue cloak, his hair tied in a short ponytail.
The two were contrasting in appearance, and it was clear they hadn’t been having a pleasant conversation at the door.
“No. What could possibly be wrong? I’m not in enemy territory right now.”
“Valenciaunos didn’t drag me into this; I came in on my own flippers—uh, feet, so why would there be any problems?”
Valenciaunos and Cariosa defended each other simultaneously.
Tenitia and the eastern knight officer Jules exchanged glances, both expressing dissatisfaction.
The first to speak was the eastern knight Jules.
“Allow me to introduce my lord to you. Her Highness, Cariosa Summerlin Asenorta, the Duchess. Daughter of the Storm. Ruler of Kethusion, the greatest Great Lord of the East, owner of the seven fleets, protector of the Nayt Archipelago, and the downfall of pirates and the Undersea People.”
Competitive spirit surged like waves in his blue eyes.
In response, Lady Tenitia lifted her chin and replied.
“Very well. Now allow me to introduce my lord to you. His Highness, Duke Valenciaunos Solletaraon Solletarass. He is the Elder Brother in the Imperial Family, the Empire’s Constable, the commander of the mechanical knights, the ruler of the ancient Instrументум lands, the slayer of the Corrupt Swordmaster Ensis, and the adversary of the Infiltrator Archbishop. Moreover—”
Cariosa and I both blushed.
I could roughly guess what had transpired.
“Hmm.”
“Duke Valen. I have caused a disturbance.”
It was a natural incident when two knights, filled with pride for their houses and lords, met.
I cautiously interjected to calm Lady Tenitia.
“My lady. Let’s stop this. I cannot win this fight. Cariosa beheaded a member of the Undersea People at the age of thirteen.”
“Your Highness!”
Lady Tenitia shot me a look that said she would not back down, even if she died.
“There’s no need for such trivial quarrels.”
“It’s not over yet. Indeed, Your Highness is the protector who overcame the capital capture incident and the guardian of the Academy, as well as the abductor of the Saint—twice!”
“My lady! That last one isn’t a title; it’s infamy!”
“Was that for real?”
Cariosa exclaimed in surprise while Jules wore a look of victory.
“Look at that, Lady Tenitia. Doesn’t it seem clear now who serves a more illustrious lord?”
Lady Tenitia’s red eyes quivered for a moment.
She looked at me with a troubled expression.
I shook my head, signaling her not to fight.
Then Lady Tenitia flashed a bright smile and adopted a resolute expression.
“Go have some stew, Jules. At your age, to boast about your lord’s fame like a parent. Just because you serve a great lord doesn’t mean you’ll become great yourself.”
I glanced at Cariosa.
She looked on, amused, her laughter ringing out.
“Duchess. Didn’t I just shake my head?”
“Duke Valenciaunos. You know knights tend to lose their heads before fights. Naturally, they will have an opposite view once their heads clear.”
“Well then, what if I had nodded just now?”
“Then perhaps it wouldn’t have been straightened out.”
“Hmm. Quite convenient. I wish to live as a knight in my next life too.”
Jules turned crimson and stared at Cariosa.
“Your Highness! Grant me the chance to protect you and my honor! I will break the Bandit Duke and the rival knight’s nose!”
Lady Tenitia’s face flushed as she looked at me.
“Your Highness. Grant me the chance to offer victory. I will undoubtedly elevate your honor. I cannot live with defeat as my fate.”
I consoled Lady Tenitia with the wisdom of one who has returned.
“My lady. Didn’t you just say it’s unnecessary to rely on your lord’s fame, like bragging about your parents? You are a renowned rival knight. Though it’s rather unseemly for me to say, you’re already a splendid knight without depending on my prestige. So let’s have some consistent words and actions…”
“If I do it, it’s love; if others do it, it’s an affair. I will surely bring you fame, Your Highness!”
But Lady Tenitia was not one to be dissuaded.
I slowly scanned Jules from top to bottom.
He was slightly shorter than me, wielding a long sword, wearing plate armor on his legs and large patchwork iron armor over his torso.
He had a massive gauntlet that was clearly a magic tool on his left arm, and it seemed to match the armor for his upper arm and shoulder.
Though he was an exceptional eastern knight known for his genius, following in Cariosa’s footsteps…
“Then, I shall look forward to it.”
He appeared not as strong as Lady Tenitia.
Inside the Wyvernfit, there were multiple spacious areas resembling a sandy training ground.
Originally, it was known as one of the rooms for raising young ones, but I was told it had been temporarily vacated.
The sand had been replaced too, so there was no trace of reptilian smell.
Cariosa lightly nudged me at the side.
“I will apologize for calling him the Bandit Duke.”
“It’s fine. Knights can be like that. Besides, Lady Tenitia has been flying only for a month, so she’ll need an opportunity to stretch her legs.”
Just then, the two knights lowered their visors and drew their swords.
Swoosh!
Lady Tenitia’s sword, Hwanhan, gleamed with a mirror-like blade, while Jules’ sword echoed a wavy shimmer.
Cariosa raised her beautiful eyebrows.
“Do you really think your knight will lose?”
I confidently replied.
“Lose? Lady Tenitia?”
At that moment, the two knights completed their preparations and glared at each other.
Swoosh—
A tense aura spread, freezing the space while an oppressive presence surged from both knights.
It felt like facing a colossal beast or monster, or a giant.
“Ugh!”
“Guh!”
Seeming to sense each other’s aura, both let out quiet breaths as they trembled slightly.
Bam!
The first to strike the ground was Jules.
“O Sword of Waves!”
Sand erupted violently as the hulking figure, clad in thick leather and iron armor, soared into the air like the wind.
He was nearly tall enough to touch the ceiling.
Boom!
A blue Mana Blade sprouted from his sword, crashing down with a force like waves broke over Lady Tenitia.
Swoosh—
His attack had a peculiar trajectory as he slashed downward and thrust forward simultaneously.
The pirate would wear lighter armor comparatively, so there was no need to continuously strike to penetrate it.
It seemed like it was a technique meant for ensuring a kill one at a time.
Swoosh—
In response, Lady Tenitia spun around, dodging back while summoning a blood-colored Mana Blade with Hwanhan.
“It’s the King’s teaching!”
She swung Hwanhan, held with both hands, upwards.
Ching-ching-ching!
The picturesque diagonal slash arched high into the air.
Boom!
The red crescent stretched long into the air, and Jules leaped higher than that diagonal arc to evade.
“We seamen battle by skipping from ship to ship!”
“Hah, ha!”
“You land folk are too slow!”
Jules’ longsword cleaved the air thrice.
Swish!
Slash!
Swish!
Lady Tenitia hesitated for a split second, but in that moment of hesitation, she thrust her shoulder forward and swung Hwanhan.
Bang!
Clang!
The sword, now drenched in a color reminiscent of blood, traced a semicircle.
The red semicircle deflected all three attacks, pushing Jules back.
Thud.
He retreated three steps, re-establishing his stance.
Lady Tenitia sighed deeply and said,
“Not all of your kind are like that, but you are quite weak.”
“How dare you insult me in front of my lord!”
“It is you who insult your own lord.”
The gazes locked in the air, and the two knights charged once more.
Whooooooosh!
It sounded oddly familiar, and violet energy, characteristic of destruction magic, emanated from Jules’ left-arm gauntlet.
It seemed to be a shockwave-type magic.
Cariosa clicked her tongue, and Lady Tenitia stood firm, awaiting Jules.
Jules pointed his left arm forward and raised his sword, seemingly intending to strike after a slashing attack with the gauntlet.
“Take this! Rival Knight!”
“You’ll be waiting forever!”
Lady Tenitia was not one to be taken lightly.
She swung Hwanhan to deflect Jules’ sword strike.
Bang!
An explosion rang out, and her leg sank deep into the sand up to her ankle.
Zzzzt, zzzzt!
As the blue and red Mana Blades collided and sparks erupted, the destruction spell-primed gauntlet zoomed in for an uppercut.
In that instant, Lady Tenitia drew her sword, Manha, from her right hip.
Swoosh!
It was as if Jules was already late, realizing it.
Cariosa furrowed her eyebrows.
But Lady Tenitia enveloped the Manha with a Mana Blade before it even fully emerged from the sheath.
Thanks to the unique mana absorption properties of the hull, she could handle it like an extension of her own body from the moment she touched it.
Swoosh—
She deflected the gauntlet with an upward-slicing strike.
Whooooooosh!
She pushed forward, unleashing a Mana Blast.
A red crescent moon burst forth from Manha.
Boom!
Jules was sent flying as if struck by a hammer.
