Chapter 311
“The 4th variable is wrong, too.”
“This one is right! What do you know about it?”
“I'm not saying the calculation is wrong, but the direction of the formula's development is strange. Is that your preference, perhaps? Deliberately developing the formula the hard way to enjoy suffering? Geniuses certainly are different.”
“Shut up!”
Ranya tore at her hair and began her calculations again from the start.
‘Well, I'm only nagging you like this for your own growth, so just understand. It's definitely not because I have a bad personality.’
Chris chuckled and then met Evan's eyes.
Evan had a somewhat peculiar expression.
‘Has he finally seen through my inner thoughts?’
Chris tensed up.
It's not like Evan was an idiot.
And yet.
“Ranya, I envy you.”
“…What did you just mumble, Brother Evan?”
“To see Christian caring for you so much.”
At Evan's level of foolishness, which was even greater than she had expected, Ranya's mouth fell open.
Her expression was one that asked if her older brother had been possessed by a devil, but Evan, as always, was serious.
‘It's true that Ranya's progress had been stagnant for a long time, so she was in a situation where she needed a stimulus. To see through it at a glance and give her the help she needs, that's Christian for you.’
Evan swung his sword with a determined heart.
‘But I won't lose either! The one who is of most help to Christian is me.’
Everyone (even Chris) had a fed-up look on their face at the sight of Evan, but it was unimportant.
Chris completely sprawled out.
‘Ah, whatever! I'm going to rest for a while! I've worked too hard! I deserve a rest! But I can't drink, damn it!’
Chris scowled fiercely.
It was nice to take a break for the first time in a while, but since he couldn't drink, it didn't feel like he was resting.
‘There are so many delicious liquors here in the imperial capital! In my past life, I was too busy playing emperor to drink much, so I've been looking forward to it!’
He was reluctantly sipping a ginger ale and munching on beef, sighing heavily.
“Big sister's here. I brought some carrot cake, do you like it?”
Yulian appeared with a sweet smile.
After carrying out the order Chris had given her.
***
The next day.
Chris finally began to move.
The eyes of everyone in the imperial capital were focused on him.
“Is the Hero finally making his move?”
“Where is he going?”
Chris mounted a horse and rode majestically down the main street.
He deliberately rode slowly so that everyone could follow his movements.
“Don't tell me, this direction is?”
“Isn't that toward the third prince's villa?”
Unlike the Crown Prince and the second prince, who stayed in the Imperial Palace, the third prince had a separate residence on the outskirts of the imperial capital.
“Then does that mean the one who colluded with the demon was His Highness the third prince?”
“Let's go and see!”
One by one.
The number of people following Chris began to grow, and eventually, a large crowd started to follow.
After heading to the outskirts for some time, the third prince's villa came into view.
“Halt!!”
Warriors with rough impressions thrust their spears forward.
It was the White Tiger Brigade, who had sided with the third prince.
‘Judging by the numbers, is about half of the White Tiger Brigade's forces here? I don't see the commander.’
The White Tiger Brigade was the largest mercenary group in the Alliance.
They were split into several groups to carry out missions, so not all of their forces were present.
The commander, the strongest of the White Tiger Brigade, was also absent, but this was not a force to be taken lightly.
The number he could see right now was a full 500 men.
And they weren't just common soldiers; they were all individuals who had learned to use mana.
Due to the nature of a mercenary group, there were few of high rank, but it was still a formidable force.
“I am the Hero. All of you, lay down your weapons.”
The warriors of the White Tiger Brigade looked at each other.
But they aimed their weapons with an even more menacing aura.
“We don't care about some Hero.”
“Is that so? Then I'll have to make you listen.”
Chris twisted the corner of his mouth.
“By the authority of the Hero, I command you.”
Paaaat!
A brilliant light rose up from Chris's body.
“All of you, kneel.”
After he spoke those words.
A miracle occurred.
“!!”
Clang! Clang!!
The hands of the White Tiger Brigade warriors trembled, and they dropped their weapons.
“W-what?”
The shock didn't end there.
One by one, the warriors of the White Tiger Brigade began to kneel before Chris.
A sight that was unbelievable even seeing it with one's own eyes.
“Ooh! That's the authority of the Hero!!”
The people marveled, but in truth, it wasn't the power of the Hero, but the effect of Myriad Demons' Submission.
‘Subjugating punks like these is simple. There wasn't a single one above 5-Star.’
It seemed the high-ranking officer-level warriors were inside the villa.
Just then, individuals with powerful auras appeared from within the villa.
“Halt!!”
Chris turned his head.
‘The officers of the White Tiger Brigade.’
But what drew Chris's attention wasn't the White Tiger Brigade.
Standing at the back was a handsome man with a lofty impression.
It was a familiar face.
‘Little Sword King, Mekel.’
He was the young master of the renowned swordsmanship family.
The ones around him were formidable as well.
‘Retainers of the swordsmanship family.’
There were five retainers, and all of them were at the 6-Star level or higher.
One of them even appeared to be 7-Star.
A powerful force that would be difficult to encounter even in the Magus Empire.
‘To think the forces they dispatched to a place like this are at such a level. The swordsmanship family really is in a league of its own.’
Chris whistled.
He didn't need to worry about the White Tiger Brigade. They were just extras with large numbers.
To get to the third prince, he had to make the swordsmanship family kneel.
Mekel stepped forward and paid his respects.
“I greet the renowned Hero-Prince. I am Mekel de Meyer, the young master of the renowned swordsmanship family.”
“I came to see the third prince. Step aside.”
“Is this to investigate the matter related to the darkness of Gehenna that Your Highness spoke of at the banquet?”
“That's right.”
The young master Mekel let out a dry laugh.
“Haha. To think His Highness the third prince has joined hands with a demon. That's the funniest joke I've heard recently. It's a ridiculous story, so please rest assured and return.”
“How arrogant. That is for me, the Hero, to judge, not you.”
“!!”
“I won't say it twice. Step aside.”
Mekel's face hardened.
“My apologies, but I cannot do that. To doubt His Highness the third prince is the same as doubting our swordsmanship family, who has lent him our strength. Above all.”
Mekel's gaze turned to Evan, who was standing beside Chris.
“Seeing you with a sinner like that, it seems the Hero also lacks a discerning eye.”
“!!”
Mekel smiled slyly.
“Surely you're not unaware that he is a sinner of our swordsmanship family? Instead of needlessly stirring up trouble with His Highness the third prince, how about you keep a better watch on the one beside you?”
Evan clenched his fists tightly.
It was Mekel and his father who had framed Evan and driven him from the family.
And yet, to hear such an insult.
The moment he was about to burst with anger, Chris's hand grabbed Evan's shoulder.
“Evan is a sinner? That's strange. The Constellation tells me a completely different story.”
Chris sneered.
“That the greedy jackals of the swordsmanship family had torn at the bloodline of a noble lion.”
“!!”
Mekel's face hardened.
“That is a baseless story. If you insult the swordsmanship family any further, I will not stand by.”
“I was only speaking the Constellation's revelation. Or, do the jackals of the swordsmanship family ignore even a revelation from the Constellation? To not even hesitate at blasphemy against the Constellation, what impressive authority you have.”
Mekel bit his lip hard.
From the start, defeating Chris with words was an impossible task.
As he shut his mouth and placed his hand on his sword, as if to say he would speak no more, Chris shrugged.
“Well, fine. If you won't step aside willingly, how about this? Let's decide it with a duel.”
“…You and I?”
“No. I am the Hero; it wouldn't be fitting for me to face a mere punk like you. Evan, step forward.”
“!!”
Evan stepped forward with a resolute face.
Mekel sneered.
“Evan, you'll face me? Have you lost your mind since I last saw you?”
“Brother Mekel.”
For reference, Mekel and Evan were cousins.
There was a considerable age gap between them, and Mekel was far ahead in terms of skill, so he used to secretly bully Evan even in their childhood.
Recalling those days, Mekel spoke in a cruel voice.
“You've gotten quite arrogant. If you kneel and beg for forgiveness even now, I'll give you the special treatment of only cutting off both your hands.”
“Your rotten mouth is the same as ever.”
“What did you say?”
“Seeing as you can't even recognize your opponent, it seems your eyes have rotten since I last saw you, too.”
Evan had a defiant look on his face.
Do friends start to resemble each other?
For some reason, his expression was similar to Chris's.
“If you have anything more to say, say it now. It will be your last words, so I'll give you the special privilege of hearing them.”
“You cur!!”
Flash!
A light cut through the empty air.
A secret technique of the swordsmanship family was unleashed.
An incomparably intense and swift sword strike.
And yet.
Fwaaat!
Blood spurted into the air.
“Kuaaaak?!”
“Young Master?!”
Mekel clutched his blood-soaked hand and hastily retreated.
The people belatedly saw that Evan was just drawing his sword.
He had swung his sword and cut Mekel's hand before they could even notice.
A cold voice fell upon the area.
“Stop making a fuss and come at me again. This is just the beginning.”
The people stared at the cold glint in Evan's eyes and swallowed hard.
***
Little Sword King, Mekel.
Like his grand title, he was by no means an easy opponent.
Unquestionably the best among the next generation of the Alliance.
His swordsmanship, in particular, could be said to be among the top of all the knights in the Alliance.
And yet, what was this scene?
Fwaat!
"Kuaaak!"
Blood spurted once again.
Evan's sword was relentlessly pushing Mekel back.
He was barely avoiding fatal wounds, but the flow of the battle was one-sided.
‘This is all thanks to Christian.’
Evan thought to himself.
He possessed a natural talent, but his growth had been stunted for a long time due to internal checks from within his family and his own mental wandering.
If it weren't for Christian, he would never have achieved this level of proficiency.
‘That's not all.’
Evan's gaze grew heavy.
He saw Mekel's sword flying toward him.
It was clearly outstanding swordsmanship.
But for some reason?
Compared to the sword of Christian, with whom he always sparred, it just seemed bland and dull.
It wasn't that Mekel's swordsmanship was far inferior to Christian's. It was at a level befitting his title of 'Little Sword King'.
But it was merely precise.
In terms of application and the subtleties of its use, there was no comparison.
Because Christian's sword, in some ways, was even villainous.
‘That Christian, he has the heart of a saint who cares for the world, yet the way he fights is so vicious.’
Evan let out a laugh.
Sometimes, in a way, he even seemed like a true devil.
‘He must not hesitate to dirty his own hands for the sake of the world.’
If it were to help that kind of Christian, Evan too would become a devil.
‘I will definitely eliminate Mekel this time.’
Evan's gaze turned chilling.
It wasn't because of a thirst for revenge.
Mekel and the others who currently controlled the swordsmanship family were beings blinded solely by greed.
They were people who would bring great harm to the Alliance as well.
‘I will eliminate these pests in Christian's stead.’