After the semi-final match between Licht and Luke.
The exclusive viewing gallery for nobles, located on the upper level of the arena, buzzed with excitement.
The reason was the awe-inspiring and beautiful swordplay displayed by the two participants.
Some passionately discussed how concise and sharp Licht’s sword strikes were.
Others praised Luke for demonstrating overwhelming talent.
How on earth.
How could a first-year academy student, barely an adult, showcase such a dazzling sword?
And who exactly is Licht, who managed to defeat him?
Amidst the numerous questions circulating among the crowd, the conversation naturally shifted to the backgrounds of the two individuals.
“That boy Luke, I heard he’s the eldest son of the Starail Baron family, a renowned swordsmanship family. I also heard he confidently took the top spot in the academy upon enrollment.”
“As expected. A prestigious family proves its worth through skill.”
“A family that has produced Sword Graduates for generations will soon give birth to a Sword Master.”
“But does anyone know about that swordsman Licht? It doesn’t make sense that a swordsman of his caliber hasn’t been known until now.”
Amidst the lively atmosphere, someone raised a question, and others nodded in agreement.
Who exactly is that masked swordsman?
He silenced knights renowned across the empire with a single step.
He reached the finals without ever using aura.
A level of martial prowess that doesn’t make sense unless he’s a Sword Master.
As everyone speculated, a noble quietly offered an opinion.
“Could it be… His Grace, the Grand Duke Behirit?”
“!”
At the mention of the name of the Grand Duke, known as the Iron-Blooded Grand Duke and a Sword Master, people shuddered.
Indeed.
When thinking of the swordsman Licht, the Grand Duke was the first to come to mind.
The red eyes visible behind the mask.
The overwhelming pressure emanating from his entire body.
The skill to toy with a Sword Graduate knight.
Based on this alone, it was a reasonable assumption, but…
“But the Grand Duke is sitting right over there, isn’t he?”
“Ahem. That’s right. I misspoke.”
Glancing at the black-haired, red-eyed man sitting in the viewing gallery, expressionlessly looking down at the arena, the noble who first suggested the idea apologized.
Right. If it were the Grand Duke, he would be sitting right over there.
So Licht couldn’t possibly be the Grand Duke.
Perhaps it was a Sword Master who had been in seclusion for some reason, now revealing himself.
In the end, no one could provide a proper answer regarding the true identity of the swordsman Licht.
Meanwhile, a golden-haired young man who knew the truth gritted his teeth and glared at the arena.
‘Damn it! He’s really getting in my way. Behirit Dibelion!’
Albireo, the Second Prince of the Empire, swallowed his rising anger as he watched Licht receiving the crowd’s cheers.
When he first checked the list of participants for the Sword Demon Festival, he had a hunch upon seeing the name Licht, but he never expected the Grand Duke to participate personally.
Thanks to the Grand Duke’s lifelike replica, people didn’t seem to notice.
Through Sir Bahamut, the Tower Lord, he confirmed that the swordsman Licht was indeed the Grand Duke.
‘Damn it. What should I do about this?’
Albireo furrowed his brows at the unexpectedly proactive actions of Behirit.
If this continues, his plan to have Gawain win and challenge Sir Friedrich, the Sword Saint, might fall apart.
Gripping his trembling knee, Albireo reassured himself.
‘Hoo. It’s fine. For this plan, I prepared the Elixir of Awakening with Sir Bahamut, didn’t I? With that, Gawain has a chance to win.’
The Elixir of Awakening, created by Tower Lord Bahamut by condensing ‘sacrifices,’ explosively increases the user’s mana.
With it, Gawain should now be on par with a Sword Master.
Although it was a pity to expend his strength before the duel with Sir Friedrich, defeating the Grand Duke would also be a satisfying result.
Regaining his composure, Albireo looked down at the arena, where Gawain was facing his opponent in the semi-final.
‘Hmph. That knight… was she the vice-captain of the Imperial First Knight Order?’
Albireo sneered at the red-haired woman on the stage.
A fool who failed to recognize the man who would truly become the Empire’s sun and instead pledged loyalty to his elder brother.
He had heard her skills were decent, but she was no match for Gawain.
She probably aimed for the title of Sword Saint.
Well, it worked out well. This was a chance to watch a fool loyal to his brother get crushed.
So he should enjoy it.
After a brief moment, the two knights faced each other on the stage, maintaining their distance.
Amidst the heavy silence.
The gong sounded, signaling the start of the match.
Kwaaaah-!
Almost immediately, the red-haired knight launched a fierce attack.
A domineering momentum befitting the vice-captain of the Imperial First Knight Order.
However, her strikes couldn’t penetrate Gawain’s blue aura and were deflected.
Thud!
“Ohh. As expected of Sir Gawain. Truly impeccable defense.”
“Sir Fiora’s attacks are formidable, but it seems insufficient to break through Sir Gawain’s defense.”
As Gawain gained the upper hand in the match, the nobles sitting next to Albireo spoke excitedly.
Dogs trying to please their master by showing their bellies.
Watching this, Albireo smirked as Gawain continued to press his opponent.
Kwang! Clang!
“Ah. Sir Fiora’s balance is broken. This match is practically over.”
“Now Sir Gawain will advance to the finals. Winning the championship is as good as done, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. How could some unheard-of swordsman like Licht possibly stand against Sir Gawain, haha.”
Already celebrating as if they had won, Albireo’s subordinate nobles chattered excitedly.
Watching this, other nobles frowned but couldn’t protest in front of the Second Prince.
As the match continued, the tilted balance didn’t shift.
Soon, the protective artifact activated, signaling the end of the match.
Beep-
“Ah. It’s over. Sir Fiora must be disappointed. She probably wanted to follow in the footsteps of her captain, Sir Friedrich, and earn the title of Sword Saint.”
“But what can you do when Sir Gawain is stronger? Sir Fiora must rise from this defeat. Losing to a stronger opponent is no shame, haha.”
“That’s very true. Hahaha.”
As the semi-final ended in Gawain’s victory, the nobles under the Second Prince subtly mocked the opposing side.
An attitude devoid of any respect.
Some nobles loyal to the First Prince frowned at this, but Sir Friedrich remained silent.
He simply stared intently at the defeated vice-captain.
Watching this scene, Albireo wore a satisfied expression.
‘Huhuhu, this is truly delightful.’
How irritating it was to see his brother’s lackeys, led by Sword Saint Sir Friedrich, strutting around.
But look at them now.
Gloomy as wet mice.
It felt so good that killing just one slave tonight would suffice.
Now, if only the Grand Duke and his sister could be dealt with, the plan would be perfect.
Thinking of the impending success, Albireo’s face lit up with joy.
However, as time passed.
The smile on his face began to crack.
“Huh… So Her Highness the Princess has advanced to the finals. It seems the Tower lacks talent this year?”
“Ahem! It’s probably because Count Raphaella, the most likely candidate, didn’t participate.”
“Well, this upset isn’t the end, is it? Her Highness’s final opponent is the Tower’s third seat. It’s too much for a princess who just entered the academy to handle.”
Watching Justia on the stage receiving cheers from the audience, Albireo’s subordinate nobles spoke.
Justia, who was expected to be eliminated early, fought valiantly and reached the finals.
Ignoring the nobles trying to gauge his reaction, Albireo wiped his face.
‘Damn it. Damn you, sister. Why are you ruining my plans?’
In Justia’s semi-final match, her opponent was the Tower’s fourth seat, a man under Albireo’s command.
He was slightly stronger than Sir Robert, and Albireo had hoped he would eliminate his sister.
But somehow, his sister managed to defeat him.
‘…Even rotten, she’s still my blood.’
The extraordinary talent possessed by his brother and himself.
Justia must have inherited it as well.
Still, her performance was beyond expectations, but it wasn’t a problem.
The Tower’s third seat, who would face Justia in the finals, was also under his command.
‘I’ll deal with my sister in the mage division finals. The knight division finals, which will start soon, are more important.’
Albireo’s face grew more serious than ever.
He admitted it. The Grand Duke was a formidable foe.
But in the end, he would be the victor.
And now he would confirm that.
After a brief moment, as the massive drumbeat reverberated through the arena.
Amidst the cheers and noise of the crowd.
Two knights with an overwhelming presence stepped onto the grand stage of the arena.
The swordsman Licht, who appeared like a comet and effortlessly defeated strong opponents to reach the finals.
Gawain Callinant, who demonstrated martial prowess befitting his title as the captain of the Imperial Second Knight Order.
Mana that seemed to engulf the entire arena flowed from the two knights.
The atmosphere was as tense as walking on a blade’s edge, and the crowd held their breath.
“….”
Who would emerge victorious?
Tens of thousands of spectators, reporters from across the continent.
And the nobles seated in the arena focused all their attention.
Moments later.
The gong signaling the start of the Sword Demon Festival finals rang out.