The red-haired noble girl mage took a bath at the Lord’s mansion and changed into a fresh pair of pants.
She was completely shaken, almost carried out of the hot water pool by the maids.
“You must give us an explanation!”
“Who exactly is that village girl mage?”
The Royal Capital knights didn’t dare to trouble the mage, so they could only question Lord Lavini from outside.
“I don’t know either. She’s a mage who’s been living in seclusion deep in the Southern Forest. She only came here recently and stayed as a guest for a few days. We know nothing about her,” Lord Lavini feigned ignorance.
But what he said was only half a lie, leaving the Royal Capital knights unsure how to hold anyone accountable.
Before long, the red-haired girl came out of the Lord’s mansion.
She looked like a soulless zombie, wandering forward aimlessly—proof of how devastating the blow had been.
She sat down in the pavilion, her eyes vacant, raising a hand to her forehead while murmuring:
“Impossible… I’m a once-in-a-millennium magic prodigy… How could I have been defeated by some countryside mage? She must have cheated… That’s it! Her sword has something hidden!”
And indeed, she was right.
Xiadam’s broadsword, enhanced by the Godblade Technique, was not only tougher and sharper but also had a hidden effect.
Its blade was covered with the Abyssal Sea Witch Stance’s characteristic aura.
In short, the broadsword transformed into an Anti-Magic Sword.
Simply put, a Forbidden Magic Sword.
As she spoke, a sudden clang! rang out.
Looking closer, it was Old Lord Osiris, furious—he really couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Have you never thought the problem lies with the sycophantic traitors around you? These flatterers only lick your boots every day and never tell you the truth. How do you even know your true strength?” Osiris shouted.
“What did you say, old man!” The Knight Captain of the Royal Capital flew into a rage at once.
“Do you think this is just any place?!” Osiris suddenly drew the Third Company Long Knight’s Sword from his son’s waist.
With a heavy strike of the sword’s hilt, he knocked the Knight Captain’s helmet clean off.
“Ah!” The Knight Captain was caught off guard and was knocked to the ground with a single blow.
But as he tried to resist, Osiris’s blade was already pressing against his throat.
“Old man, do you know who we are? Do you know who this lord is? You’re committing a capital offense! Capital offense, ahhhhh!” The Knight Captain still raged despite the blade at his throat.
“Ah~” Lord Lavini was speechless.
His father handed him the Campaign Knight Sword, and in the end, he’d have to use it himself?
“Come in.” Lord Lavini stood up and waved his hand.
In the blink of an eye, a large group of Defensive Knights charged into the courtyard from every entrance, decisively drawing their swords and surrounding the Royal Capital knights.
“What are you doing? This is treason! Are you rebelling? You’d better think carefully,” the Knight Captain said, shocked but no longer as arrogant.
“You asked who I am, right? I’m Osiris, Third Company Commander of the Order of War Knights. You can go back to the Royal Capital and tell your superiors, tell their superiors, and see if anyone dares to arrest me,” Osiris threatened coldly.
“Order of War Knights… you…” The Knight Captain stiffened upon hearing that title.
The Order of War Knights was as renowned among knights as the Tower of Magic was among mages.
Though the name frequently came up, few knew details, only that they defended the north from the Demon Clan.
Calling them a knights regiment wasn’t quite right.
They only accepted elite knights, making their numbers small, far from a full regiment.
The Order of War Knights was more of a special forces unit, specializing in high-risk infiltration and assassination missions inside the Demon Domain.
Each member was a ruthless veteran of countless do-or-die battles.
They usually operated in groups of three, surviving deep in the Demon Domain for days without support, striking demons with stealth.
Knights regiments across the Human Continent were as countless as stars in the sky.
Every regiment dared claim to be second to none, but none dared claim to be first.
Because above all of them stood an unsurpassable existence.
“The mage lady has already safely left,” a Defensive Knight reported.
“Hm.” Osiris withdrew his blade from the Knight Captain’s throat.
The other Royal Capital knights hurried to help their captain, but none could utter a harsh word against the old man.
“That reclusive mage has done great service to our border city. Whoever you are, we will not allow you to insult her. Not even if you’re a Princess,” Osiris said solemnly.
“!” The red-haired girl shivered.
“We’ve received the message from the Royal Capital knights. If any of you want to stay, I will arrange it immediately,” Lord Lavini began to mediate.
The Royal Capital knights now knew this lord was far from the gentle appearance he showed.
He was a man who dared order his men to surround Royal Capital knights. Believing his outward kindness would be a grave mistake.
“That girl… who exactly is she?” The red-haired girl’s face was filled with frustration, teeth clenched as she demanded.
“We really don’t know. All we know is she lived in seclusion in the Southern Forest and only came here a month ago,” Lord Lavini answered.
“Living in seclusion in the Southern Forest?” The Knight Captain held his golden helmet, shocked and unprepared.
“That very forest, where monsters run rampant. She killed the demon lords at the forest’s edge. She’s so young; I can’t imagine what kind of battles she’s fought. This child is no ordinary noble mage protected in a comfort zone,” Osiris said, crossing his arms and proudly boasting with a deep expression.
“…”
The red-haired girl’s pupils trembled.
That old man was obviously speaking with hidden barbs, sarcastic and sneering.
But she had no words to retort; even the most skilled with words couldn’t find a way to argue back.
The red-haired girl’s mind replayed every detail of the duel.
Against that village girl mage, she hadn’t even managed to cast a single spell?
She was the fastest casting prodigy among all magic apprentices at the Magic Academy!
In the end, her teacher’s magic defense amulet was triggered, yet still, she couldn’t win.
Because the village girl even severed her teacher’s Phoenix Flame!
And that wasn’t all…
She glanced toward the back gate of the courtyard.
There lay scattered shards of ruby.
Her precious ruby staff had been smashed by the village girl mage.
Just like her pride—shattered on the ground.
A prodigy mage?
She was nothing but a hopeless wastrel dog.
Not to mention the final, most lethal mockery: “Such a weak… prodigy.”
Thinking of this, the red-haired girl felt suffocated.
She had never experienced this feeling before.
It was the feeling of utter humiliation!