Chapter 21
“What? Even the Nine Stars?” Duke Agnus burst into laughter.
Although... wasn’t this the same as what he had said to Babel?
Anyone with such ambition had to speak through actions, not words. They had to produce results. Another of his blood stood before him who could live up to such claims—because Joshua was indeed a child of talent.
‘But that weapon…’ Duke Agnus frowned, drumming his fingers against the desk.
Everything else Joshua said was fine, but what was with his choice of weapon? He didn’t even want a greatsword, which was nothing more than a form of bragging. Even if he’d said he wanted a dagger, the Duke would have nodded along—albeit reluctantly, because Duke Agnus firmly believed that the sword was the king of the battlefield. The spear, in contrast, was an insignificant weapon with more disadvantages than advantages.
A longer reach? The spear was unwieldy even for its size. For close combat, the opponent would have closed the distance before the wielder could strike. Not to even mentioned that a spear, long as it was, would not reach a mage by any stretch of the imagination.
After a long moment, the Duke seemed to reach a resolution.
“Prove yourself worthy of the spear.”
“What do you—?”
“I will test you.”
Joshua’s eyes widened.
‘Sparring? Again?’?It was not a bad situation. No, perhaps it could even be a good opportunity for Joshua; no matter what anyone said, Duke Agnus was one of the Nine Stars. A chance to prove his talent was a once-in-a-lifetime bargain.
“Do you agree?” Duke Agnus asked.
“Yes. However, I’d like to propose some conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“If I pass the test, I hope you will allow me another request.”
“Well…” Duke Agnus swallowed. ‘What the hell is he going to ask for?’
“I will tell you my request after the test.”
Joshua answered as if he knew what the Duke was thinking.
Duke Agnus clear his thoughts before answering with a nod.
“Fine. If you pass my test, I’ll let you use the spear and hear out your request. However—” Duke Agnus looked straight at Joshua in the eyes. “If you lose, you obey my orders.”
“....” Joshua remained silent and started to ponder. If he was right, the Duke referred to accompanying him to the capital, in addition to learning the sword.
Actually, going to the academy was not a bad option. What he needed most was time; it was better to go to the capital, where his safety was guaranteed, than stay here, where wolves lurked around every corner.
‘Most importantly… If I go to the capital, I will find him.’
Kaiser ben Britten.
And the many nobles who would become his subordinates in the future. Joshua had memorized every single one of them.
‘If I can contact them before he does…’?Joshua had no intention of hiding his skills. He knew that people would flock to his power like bees to pollen.
If he showed them his skills, he would be able to build a force with his own abilities—just like in his previous life. And the foolish young Kaiser ben Britten would have his castle crumble beneath him without suspecting a thing. Thus, he would be able to give the Fourth Prince the greatest taste of despair in his entire life.
“All right.” Joshua's eyes blazed.
***
“He… What did you say?” The Duchess of Agnus, Vanessa stared at Chiffon.
“Maybe… I think the Duke will take Joshua to the capital.”
“To Arcadia?” Vanessa asked with a frown.
“If… If Joshua’s talent is real, we have to keep him around and have an eye on him a little longer. Undoubtedly, it was a terrifying talent—” Chiffon looked up and immediately clapped his mouth shut. The Duchess cast a murderous glare down at him, such that he struggled to finish his words.
“I’m sorry… In any case, having him going to Arcadia could lead to a very difficult situation.”
“I’m aware. Arcadia has too many eyes.”
“I have an idea,” Chiffon ventured, after some thoughts.
“What is it?” Vanessa asked, her head tilting to one side.
“I personally think the Duke is trying to spread the word across the Empire that Joshua is a C-Class mana user.”
“I’m still hearing that nonsense….” Vaness frowned.
“Other than the Duke, the two Counts also saw it with their own two eyes. Even if it’s not really mana, let’s make him take the test.”
“You’re planning on testing the boy…” Vanessa muttered.
Any noble could appoint a knight, but it was a different story when it came to classifying them as a mana user. There was only one way to be officially recognized as a C-Class Knight in the Avalon Empire: to prove your achievement to the Imperial Knights.
The Avalon Empire awarded incentives to knights according to their class; upon reaching B-Class, a knight would immediately be conferred a title and receive territories. In order to prevent such privileges from being indiscriminately squandered by the nobility, the whole system was directly managed by the Imperial family.
There was one more rule. If one was a mana user, the Imperial family had first dibs in taking the individual under their wing. As such, if said individual was an incredible talent, they would stop at nothing to bring them to their side. Even if the person was the offspring of a noble. The only exception to this was if the descendant would be the successor of the nobility title. All other descendants would leave the family after they turned of age anyway.
Such a thing was only possible in the Avalon Empire, where the Imperial family always trumped the nobility. If it were another country where the nobility had more influence, there was no way for something like that to work.
“In the past, it was sufficient to display mana to the Imperial Knights. But not anymore.” Chiffon continued.
“Is that so?” Vanessa questioned.
Chiffon nodded in response.
“Despite being recognized as a C-Class Knight, there were a lot of bluffers who could not wield mana properly in actual battles.”
“Well—”
“So they have to fight to be evaluated if they have the swordsmanship skills to suit their Class.”
“Sparring? With the Imperial Knights?” Vanessa’s eyes widened.
The Imperial Knights.
The Knights Templar, made up of over a thousand elite members, were without a doubt one of the most powerful martial forces in the Empire, and each and every one of them was C-Class or higher. In particular, the current commander of the Imperial Knights was one of only five A-Class Masters in the Empire; it was said that no one could match up to his skills.
“If we want to be tested as a C-Class, the Imperial family will probably send a C-Class Knight. Of course, the skills of a C-Class Knight can differ quite a bit, across a wide spectrum.”
An Imperial Knight who had trained extensively and a knight who had just achieved C-Class; even if both were C-Class, the disparity was huge.
“Just three strikes—” Chiffon’s eyes sparkled, while Vanessa showed an expression of confusion.
“The test will be assessing if he can take three strikes from the Imperial Knight.”
“I see…” Vanessa nodded in understanding.
“It used to be only one strike, but…nowadays, the Imperial family seems concerned with how much mana they can hold. The duration… It can only mean that their standards have risen.”
“Therefore… You’re saying the Duke is going to invite one of the Imperial Knights to test the boy?” Vanessa asked, frowning.
.
Chiffon nodded silently before he continued.
“The Duke values the honor of the family above all else. He wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this.”
“How uninteresting.” Vanessa remarked with a smirk. “Babel should be enough, but if his eyes wander somewhere else… It disgusts me to see Babel being compared to a filthy maid’s son, Sir Chiffon.”
“That’s why I suggested this.” Chiffon’s eyes lit up. “Doesn’t royal blood flow through the Duchess's veins as well?”
Vanessa’s eyes widened with realization.
“After all this time…” Her cold smile deepened as she commented in an icy tone, “I’ll have to contact him again.”
***
Joshua paused as he was walking through the Duke’s mansion. At the other end of the long passageway, he saw another person approaching.
“Babel?” Joshua frowned. It was apparent to him that Babel wanted to make a move, but he had no plans to avoid the confrontation either.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Their footsteps echoed down the empty hallway as they approached. Finally, they met at the middle of the corridor.
“Let’s talk.” Babel called out, just as Joshua was about to just walk past him.
“What do you want?” Joshua questioned.
“I… I cannot acknowledge it… The fact that someone like you used mana, and the fact that you defeated me.”
“So what?” Joshua laughed.
“So let’s go outside and have another bout now.” Babel answered as he stared at Joshua with a burning fire in his eyes.
Joshua silently looked Babel in the eyes. Babel’s gaze contained an emotion he knew all too well.
Neither vengeance, nor jealousy. A sense of victory, instead; pure passion for winning, and a deep desire to never lose.
Joshua’s smile widened.
“Sure.”
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