Chapter 58: The Test (4)

“I want to become stronger. That’s why.”

A low voice drifted through the door. My hand, which was about to knock, froze mid-air.

I had just come to talk about something—nothing serious—yet I ended up overhearing Adele true feelings.

After a moment of hesitation, I quietly lowered my hand.

“Is she… someone I should be grateful for?”

Where had that trembling, rain-soaked kitten gone? In just a few months, her opinion of me had changed drastically.

Well, I had put in a lot of effort to build trust with her.

It was good that things were progressing according to plan, but that didn’t mean I could feel purely happy about it.

Haah…

If things went as I planned, Adele would have to endure countless regressions.

When I first met her, I didn’t care about the suffering she’d have to go through. I thought—what does her pain have to do with me?

But as we grew closer, I was the one who began to feel uneasy about the plan.

I started to wonder… Is this really okay? Can I go through with it like this?

How ridiculous.

Building trust meant I would inevitably get closer to her.

And yet I hadn’t even considered that when I first made the plan.

Was this feeling guilt over the pain she’d eventually have to endure?

I thought my heart had long since become numb and frayed over these past twenty-some years…

But maybe not completely.

“Is this just hypocrisy now?”

Maybe it was because I saw a younger version of myself in Adele. That’s why she kept getting under my skin like this.

The version of me from before meeting her… if he saw what I’ve become now, he’d probably laugh and call me a fool.

That thought made me chuckle bitterly without even realizing it.

****

Time passed, and the promised day finally arrived.

The training ground, usually quiet, was now bustling with people for the first time in a while.

The employees had gathered in large numbers, curious about the demonstration match between Adele and Abel.

Perhaps because it was often used for public events, the training ground had bleachers attached. Most of the employees were sitting up there, chatting as they looked down at the arena.

“Hey, who do you think is going to win?”

“Come on, it’s gotta be the Duke, right?”

“But he’s not allowed to use magic or aura, though?”

“I’m betting on Lady Adele!”

The young maids were even placing small bets among themselves, but I let it slide.

Turning my head slightly, I saw Lily standing silently nearby.

Her fingers interlaced in front of her, eyes closed as if in prayer.

She looked deeply earnest—almost desperate.

Turning again, I saw the knights talking animatedly, their excitement clearly bubbling over.

“No matter how you look at it, His Grace will win.”

“What are you talking about? You don’t even know how much stronger Lady Adele has gotten over the past month!”

“Hey, Evan, what do you think?”

Oh right, Evan was here too.

Well, his injuries had mostly healed.

Although he hadn’t officially returned to the knights yet, just in case of any lingering aftereffects.

“I think she’ll win.”

He replied calmly to the fellow knight’s question, his voice carrying a kind of unwavering confidence that made me smile despite myself.

It seemed that even Evan had come to trust Adele, at least to some extent.

Even if he couldn’t fully explain why he believed she’d win.

“So the whole knight order really did show up…”

There was a reason I had them all attend this mock battle.

I wanted them to stop underestimating Adele and start respecting her as a warrior.

That was also the main reason I proposed this test in the first place.

Of course, if she lost here, we could just pretend it never happened. No harm done.

I shifted my gaze across the field—there she stood.

Her presence sharp and refined, red eyes gleaming with focus.

In just a month—long or short depending on how you looked at it—she had changed considerably.

What stood out the most was that fire in her eyes.

The resolve and determination that every warrior should possess.

And I could feel that burning within her gaze.

“You ready?”

“Yes.”

She nodded firmly, her voice brimming with determination.

By her side, a spirit appeared—one that looked just like me.

If I remembered right, its name was Sylphi.

Element: Wind.

I’ve faced many opponents in my time, but it had been ages since I last fought a spirit wielder.

Even counting the time I trained Arin when I was younger, the number of spirit wielders I’ve met could be counted on one hand.

And this was my first time facing one with a wind attribute.

【Contractor.】

“Yes, I know.”

A breeze brushed past my entire body. An aura—clearly not ordinary—began to swirl around Adele.

Was she replacing conventional wind magic with the power of her spirit?

A refreshingly creative technique.

“Both sides, ready.”

Arin, acting as the referee, lowered her hand to signal the beginning of the match.

“Begin!”

The fight began with both of us probing each other’s intentions.

A measured start before the real clash.

Adele, seemingly used to this, didn’t flinch—just stared at me quietly.

Let’s begin.

No magic. No aura.

It was like going into battle after giving up both the queen and the rook in chess.

But I still had my knight and bishop.

“Hup.”

With a sharp breath, I dashed forward.

Adele didn’t panic at my sudden charge—she simply raised her rapier.

Our blades collided with a ringing clash.

Claang!

Sparks flew as steel met steel.

I could feel a tremor through her blade, but she was holding strong.

She knew—she couldn’t afford to lose her grip.

But that alone wasn’t enough.

Resolve meant nothing on the battlefield if it wasn’t backed by power.

Whoosh.

With our blades still locked, I twisted my wrist to aim for her neck. But as if she had anticipated it, Sylphi raised a barrier of wind, blocking my greatsword just in time.

At that very moment, Adele lunged forward, thrusting her rapier toward my chest.

Her response was practiced—enough to make me chuckle as I stepped back to avoid it.

I swung my greatsword again, this time with force.

Clang!

“Sylphi!”

【I know!】

A towering wall of wind closed off the space around me. It was so strong that even I hesitated for a moment.

Adele seized the opening and lunged in, slashing her rapier again. Her coordination had improved enough to be commendable.

But it still wasn’t enough.

【Tch!】

Using wind to halt an opponent—clever in theory, but only effective once.

With enough strength, the gusts could be overpowered and neutralized.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

“As if!”

She shouted back and charged at me again.

If she were rushing in without thought, I would’ve knocked her out right then and there.

But her eyes—those sharp, focused eyes—told a different story.

Was it because of Sylphi’s wind? Her movements were faster now. Far faster.

So fast, in fact, that even I was struggling to keep up.

Clang, clang...!

A flurry of metallic clashes rang out as Adele’s rapier came for my throat.

That sensation—it had been so long since I last felt it.

The thrill of a real fight.

“She’s gotten stronger.”

Was this really the same girl I had seen just a month ago?

Not just her control over the spirit, but her overall judgment and awareness had leveled up significantly.

Of course, she still had a long way to go.

Whoosh!

A tiny opening emerged between our back-and-forth exchanges. But on the battlefield, even the smallest gap could lead directly to death.

My greatsword swung down, aimed straight for Adele’s neck.

But instead of panicking, she smirked—and reversed her grip on the rapier.

“Oh?”

【Got you!】

The wind shifted—no, reversed. A barrier far stronger than the last one surged up and stopped me in my tracks.

She was trying to end it all with this one strike.

But I wasn’t about to just stand there and take it.

Boom!

The sound of the air bursting split the field as the wind barrier broke apart.

【...Monster!】

“This is the end.”

Just as my greatsword neared her neck, a powerful gust erupted from her rapier.

She hadn’t put everything into the last wind wall?

Before I could react, my body faltered—just slightly.

And in that moment, her reversed rapier closed in, striking cleanly toward my neck.

I tried to block it, raising my greatsword—but maybe it was the lingering wind, or maybe my delay…

I was slower.

A chilling sensation touched my neck.

“…I concede.”

“...Lady Adele, wins!”

At Arin’s announcement, Adele’s legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.

I gave a soft laugh and extended my hand to her.

“What’s the matter, Adele? You won.”

“Really? I did?”

“Yeah. I didn’t expect you to set two traps.”

In combat, the most critical factor is the psychological game.

And in that domain, even for just a moment, she held the upper hand.

That alone earned her the right to join the subjugation team.

Her creative use of the wind spirit deserved a passing grade, too.

Sure, I hadn’t gone all out—but it wasn’t like I was holding back either.

And yet she found and exploited an opening in me. That was enough to pass.

She gripped my hand and slowly stood back up.

Clap, clap, clap!

Thunderous applause erupted from the stands.

Turning to look, I saw not only the maids and butlers but even the knights cheering loudly for Adele’s victory.

“Lady Adele is amazing!”

“Damn it, that’s a whole month’s salary gone...!”

“I believed in her from the start!”

Well, some of them were clearly motivated by the bets they’d placed, judging by their fattened coin pouches… but I’d let it slide.

“You did well this past month, Adele.”

“…Thank you.”

Exhausted though she was, Adele gave me a small smile.

And just like that, she had earned her place in the upcoming subjugation.

All on her own strength.

– – The End of The Chapter––

 

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