# 406
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406
After the opening speech with a sonorous voice, a prepared event followed.
It makes no sense to end a martial arts festival of this grand scale with just one match.
Because of this, it was an exciting time for some and a boring time for others.
Area was resting her chin, Asuka was half asleep, and Charlotte was looking at the stage with a stern expression.
Unlike them, Elaga, who had already moved to her seat, and Xian, who held her, watched the performance unfold on the stage, swaying excitedly from side to side.
It was about time that Asuka, who had been dozing off, dropped her head and woke up in a start.
Finally, the time that everyone had been waiting for came when the two finalists faced each other.
“There will be positions from both sides of the participants!”
There was a stir among the audience who saw them walking out.
“No, that one.”
“Did you put it on like that on purpose? no way.”
Dark, the swordsman in the iron mask. He was dressed the same as before.
Black clothes that focus on practicality without any decoration.
The only decorations are the sword hanging from the waist and the iron mask. Because of that, it feels less human.
Like a death knight walking around.
And he was strong. Enough to make the other person feel the fear of inevitable death. A darkness that is powerful but as quiet as night.
With his sword, the man in the iron mask gave an absolute overwhelming feeling, like night coming after day. Whether to his opponents or to the audience.
However, that was not the cause of the crowd’s agitation. A man with golden eyes standing on the other side.
He was wearing dazzling white clothes that contrasted with his opponent. A paladin’s short combat uniform as white as snow that reflects light.
The audience was confused as they realized what the costume meant.
“You mean the author is a paladin?” “Isn’t it true that the relationship between the empire and the temple has become soured?”
“His Majesty the Emperor is here…”
“Why is a Holy Knight participating in a martial arts competition?”
“So you’re saying he just wore a paladin outfit? “That doesn’t make sense.”
The noble paladins who serve Lumen are not bound by worldly honor.
Because the authority of the temple was not proven through their activities, the Holy Knights did not participate in any external events.
That was the unspoken rule. I have never been broken.
But the Paladin was here. Impersonating a paladin is a serious crime. The author is a paladin. That is undoubtedly true.
However, a paladin wears a paladin costume and participates in a martial arts competition in front of an emperor who rejects him. This doesn’t make sense.
How could the organizers of the martial arts meeting allow the author to do that? It’s something that would make the emperor angry.
The eyes of the excited audience turned upward. The air at the head table where the emperor sat was strangely quiet.
However, not everyone there was calm upon seeing the golden-eyed man.
Magritte, who had greeted him yesterday, was also surprised by his boldness.
‘How can that happen?’
Even so, his disposition was discussed at dinner last night. The emperor declared on the spot.
‘This martial arts club is a place to prove yourself with your skills. No matter how much he is a Holy Knight, if he has proven himself in a legitimate way, we cannot deprive him of the right to participate in the martial arts competition.’
‘I agree.’
Grand Duke Rinosa responded. With the acquiescence of the two monarchs, the Servant’s participation in the finals was not hindered.
However, no one expected that he would show up wearing a paladin costume to show off.
It was not as if the organizers did not stop it. However, if the finalist insists, it is impossible to force him to catch him and change his clothes.
However, we cannot throw away the finals.
Although he had received reports, when he actually saw it with his own eyes, the emperor could not hide his agitation.
The emperor muttered, rubbing his chin with a stern expression.
“You are arrogant.”
Archduke Farnese received the message.
“If you win, it will enhance the grandeur of the temple, but if you lose…”
It will bring great disgrace to the temple in the reality of being driven out from the empire. The emperor chuckled.
“Look. “Isn’t that the spirit of not even thinking about losing?”
Perhaps he knew that the martial arts venue was in turmoil because of me, but there was no sign of any disturbance in the man standing on the stage.
What radiates from his tall back is confidence filled with certainty.
The emperor asked vaguely.
“What do you think the Archduke is like? Do you think the results of this game will be as expected?”
“I don’t bet on losing cards.”
Archduke Farnese spoke calmly. Archduke Farnese’s eyes shone sharply. The emperor laughed out loud.
“Yes, my brother was like that. In that case, I will also bet on the archduke’s bet.”
A smile appeared on Archduke Farnese’s lips.
“Is that okay? “I can’t guarantee that either.”
“You sound uncharacteristically weak.”
The emperor who had scolded him returned his gaze to the stage. This time, his eyes landed on the opponent, not the paladin.
“I’m looking forward to seeing their noble faces become distorted. “Aren’t they the ones who say everything based on results?”
“If you win, it’s Lumen’s will, and if you lose, it’s also Lumen’s great will. “You will definitely learn humility.”
A cold look appeared on Archduke Farnese’s face.
A grand duke who shared joys and sorrows by the emperor’s side, who eventually ascended to the throne after struggling against another brother supported by the temple. They both agreed about the temple.
Grudges are not easily forgotten. If this is Lumen’s will, which they follow when the master of the empire turns away from the temple, then Lumen’s will will be fulfilled this time too.
Right there on that stage.
*
It was crowded everywhere, and the sound of conversation spread dizzyingly.
Has there ever been a time when the martial arts venue was this busy from the preliminaries to the finals?
However, the sky looking up from the stage was crystal clear.
‘It’s a good day.’
Helmut was in no hurry and calmly walked onto the stage. The air around it was quiet, as if it were separated from the atmosphere of the martial arts venue.
There he was, about ten steps away. Paladin. The opponent I faced on that fateful day was, of course, the Sword of Lumen.
Lumen twisted Helmut’s fate and imprisoned him in the Forest of Farhe.
And in front of him was probably Lumen’s sharpest and most powerful sword, as if Lumen had it in reserve.
I feel like I’m standing at the last barrier.
‘So, if you get over this… then…’
Suddenly I heard a voice.
“I have heard rumors about you. “They say he’s a very talented person.”
Although he spoke as if he was acknowledging it, there was no admiration in the man’s words. On the contrary, I even feel the freedom of looking down and evaluating.
Helmut examined the man’s face carefully.
Golden eyes as strong as the sun were shining from her straight face.
I know people who have eyes like that. Those who believe that they are right and move forward on that path without wavering. Whether it’s stubbornness or wrong beliefs, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s decided.
Because you will exclude all opposition that tries to wet you like raindrops bouncing off. That strong faith will destroy everything it touches.
‘But is yours that strong?’
Helmut asked. Are the beliefs and beliefs that have been finely grounded strong enough not to be broken by any shock?
‘no.’
Helmut answered. Because there was an obvious point of comparison.
Compared to Helmut, he must have lived a life like a flower in a greenhouse. What he has built cannot be as solid as what Helmut has built.
This is someone who has never experienced a shock. Therefore, the author was confident in what he believed. his victory. And Helmut’s defeat.
‘That’s unpleasant.’
A cold smile crossed Helmut’s lips.
For Helmut, who grew up in the forest of Pahe, there is nothing more unpleasant than having someone weaker than him look down on him.
I knew it at first sight. The person in front of me was strong. More than Luke Yeager, more than the commander of the former Palma Knights. The greatest of all the humans Helmut met when he came out of the Forest of Pahe.
It is a power that can be presented with confidence in a temple. A person who can be said to be a rare genius when it comes to swords.
But he was weaker than Darian. It was not enough to surpass Darian, the strongest human Helmut had ever met.
No one weaker than Darian could defeat Helmut. It was so obvious that there was no need to explain it.
‘If it’s talent, you can’t say this is bad.’
Isn’t this Helmut, who has never met an opponent equal to himself in the human world? Helmut asked a question.
“Did you see my sword, Paladin?”
“no.”
“What a pity. “If I had seen it, I would have known it a long time ago.”
The other person’s strength and your own weakness. If I had been able to see properly, I wouldn’t have come here today dressed like that. If it was unlucky, it was unlucky.
Only when he comes this far will he painfully realize what he didn’t know.
The lessons of defeat are always meaningful.
The golden-eyed man also raised his eyebrows as if he didn’t like Helmut’s provocation.
“Confidence is good, but unfortunately I don’t lose.”
The voice became lower and stronger.
“I am the first sword of Lumen. That’s why I’m not allowed to lose.”
This was his identity revealed for the first time. Lumen’s first sword. Helmut didn’t know, but the leader of the Holy Knights was said to be Lumen’s second sword.
The first sword position has been vacant for a long time. Because only those chosen by the Holy Sword can become the first sword of Lumen.
And he is the first sword of Lumen and the master of the Holy Sword. Lumen’s most powerful relic will give him victory.
The power of the holy sword to burn all demons was terrifying. That power raised his skills to the limit.
The Servant could feel that the opponent was formidable, but the Servant did not care.
‘Even if you are a sword saint, you won’t be able to defeat me.’
Even the ministers said so. A determination like rock appeared in his eyes.
“It’s a shame, I’ve never lost either.”
A fierce smile appeared on Helmut’s lips. There is no need to say any more. Just show it as a result.
The moment of destiny comes like a fire. Helmut suffered, was wounded, and was refined by the fire.
As a result, he was here now.
No matter how strong Lumen’s light is, it will not be able to burn away his darkness. The light is faint, but his darkness has been thick for a long time.
‘It’s been a while, Mom.’
Helmut glanced at the place where she was and grabbed the handle of his sword.
Soon the duel began with a loud signal.
