Raon’s expression began to stiffen at the word ‘prostitute’—as if I had exposed a secret he desperately wanted to keep hidden.
“…What did you just say?”
“A prostitute’s son. You… you’re a Baron’s bastard, aren’t you?” I whispered into Raon’s ear.
The result of your father, Baron Linen, visiting a brothel and planting his seed. Isn’t that you?
Though unknown to the public, Raon held a deep-seated disgust for his own lineage.
Just as I expected, his expression froze. He montarily forgot his role as a spy, and a faint trace of murderous intent seeped from him.
I scoffed and released Raon’s hand. Stepping away from him, I put on a friendly smile and said, “I hope you don’t suffer a serious injury in this spar, Sir Raon. Please guide well.”
My voice was loud enough to be clearly heard in the spectator area. With those words, I returned to my position and began to warm up.
I glanced back at Raon and found him glaring at with blazing eyes. He was clearly in a foul mood.
For a spy to be so transparent… He’s a different kind of idiot altogether.
Well, perhaps I was the bigger idiot for being spied on by such an imbecile.
I let out a hollow laugh and stood up. While collecting my bow, I broke a long spear in half, creating a short spear.
Those around seed curious about what I was doing, but there was no need to argue or explain now. After all, the best persuasion is showing them directly, isn’t it?
And I can deal with that rat while I’m at it.
Suppressing my bloodthirst, I picked up my bow and finished preparing for the fight.
The light armor I wore under my training clothes rattled with every step. I felt a sense of discomfort and pressed down on the armpit area, slightly adjusting the armor.
Just then, the Knight Commander announced the start of the spar.
“You may use Aura against one another. However, attacks intended to kill are forbidden. That understood, Raon? Do you understand, Young Master?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well.”
Hearing our replies, the Knight Commander nodded.
And so, the spar began.
As soon as it started, Raon charged forward with his long spear.
“Uraaaaaaagh!”
A typical thrust. But seeing that it contained no Aura, it was clearly a feint.
His eyes are already completely gone, but he’s using such a rigid technique?
There was no way. If I tried to evade that spear, he was bound to instantly use a killing blow to take my life.
No, even if that wasn’t the case, he would do his best to cripple sowhere. And then he’d ask for leniency, claiming it was a mistake.
I won’t stand to see that happen.
I moved my feet, creating distance between Raon and .
Clatter. Raon, startled by a reaction different from what he expected, roared, “You can’t do anything if you just keep running away!”
“I didn’t realize you cared about that much, Sir Raon.” While saying that, I strung arrows onto the bowstring, firing at Raon.
The missiles flew without wavering, then broke against Raon’s spear, falling weakly to the ground.
Thud. Thump.
Raon, who had tensed up for a mont in case, soon realized my archery was nothing special and let out a sneer. “Now it’s my turn.”
He raised his spear and charged into my zone.
Another thrusting stance. But this ti, it was different. Aura encased the spear, and it was a thrust that ca in while I was retreating, making it difficult to evade.
In other words, it was a killing blow.
Raon thrust his spear with a cruel smile.
WHOOSH!
The spear darted towards my neck, slick as a snake. And at that mont.
CLANG!
I pulled out the short spear I was hiding and blocked Raon’s spear. Then, using his montum, I retreated and moved behind him.
Tossing the spear aside, I reached for my bow. I nocked a single arrow—and split it with Aura.
In a blink, twenty arrows hovered on the string, born from the one, each trembling with sky-blue light.
I steadied my breath. The wind whispered against my fingers, and the faint scent of callias drifted on the air.
Aura settled over the arrows—sky-blue and swirling, light as the breeze.
Upon witnessing the color and scent of my Aura, Father jumped up from his seat and stared at with eyes wide in shock.
“…The Divine Archer?”
I ignored his exclamation and released the bowstring.
My arrows shot toward Raon, embedding themselves into his body like a porcupine’s thorns, creating coin-sized holes at the points of impact.
Crunch! Crrrrrunch!
“Kuaaaaaaaagh!”
Raon scread, writhing on the ground.
I didn’t think he’d be in such pain from just this much. Compared to what I had suffered, this was rely child’s play.
I approached him with a sneer. On the way, I picked up the short spear I had discarded earlier. Then, walking up close to him, I raised the short spear.
“W-wait!” Raon panted in pain, shouting at . He seed to know what I was about to do.
“Fuck off.” I muttered just loud enough for Raon to hear and thrust the short spear towards his Achilles tendon.
Thwump.
“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaagh!”
Raon scread into the air. His face was a ss of tears and snot, and his pants were soaked, as if he had wet himself.
“Hoo.”
Clink. I took a deep breath and dropped the short spear to the ground. Only then did those who had been watching cautiously rush over to move Raon to the treatnt room.
He would likely never live the life of a knight again.
Raon disappeared, supported by others, and my father and the spectators looked down at without saying a word.
I announced softly, “I won, Father.”
* * *
anwhile, a letter arrived at the Duchy of Artezia.
The Duke of Artezia crumpled the letter in his hand, grinding his teeth.
“…How dare they.”
Just then, his daughter, Hera Artezia, entered his office. The Duke’s mustache bristled as he threw the crumpled letter at Hera Artezia.
Thwack! The letter struck Hera’s head and fell with a soft thud to the floor.
“What is it with you? What can you do properly?! Is it so difficult to sweet-talk one idiotic Count’s son?!”
“…”
“Does it look easy to find an Aura Master?! Is that why you handled this carelessly?! If you have eyes, look! See what’s written there!”
Hera picked up the crumpled letter and unfolded it. She bit her lip, her fingertips trembling.
Seeing her reaction, the Duke sneered and shouted at Hera. “It seems your pride is wounded. Fine. What do you plan to do now? A wretch who was jilted by a Count’s idiotic son—what good are you now, I ask you?!”
“…”
“The Duchy’s prestige has fallen because of you. This matter hasn’t spread through the social circles yet, so you will personally go to Berg County and capture that idiotic brat’s heart. Understand?”
“…Yes.” Hera bowed her head deeply.
The Duke, trying to steady his excited breathing, turned his back.
“Get out. I don’t want to see you.”
“…Have a pleasant night.”
Hera exited the Duke’s office, biting her lip. To think a re County would interfere with a Duchy’s affairs! And that, by Louis Berg himself!
Sha crushed her entire body, and fury burned in her chest.
I don’t know what you’re thinking, but let’s see if you can keep up the attitude after seeing in person.
Hera gritted her teeth and walked to her room. It seed she would have to go et that imbecile herself.
* * *
I sat in the office, facing my father.
“…They say the knight you fought has regained consciousness.”
“That’s fortunate,” I replied, lifting the teacup placed before .
I wanted to kill Raon with all my heart, but there were too many eyes watching. Had I killed him there, my father and the vassals would have pointed fingers, saying my profligate nature hadn’t changed at all.
My image had only just recovered. I couldn’t let it be ruined so pointlessly.
Besides, I needed to keep him alive for the hidden spies to reveal themselves, didn’t I?
When will they all co crawling out?
The number of spies currently hidden within our House was imasurable. By crippling Raon, they would surely be provoked into approaching , if only to seek revenge.
Of course, killing him would also be enough to generate revenge, but it might cause them to be cautious.
A small foe they could just about beat—that’s the image I needed to maintain for them to erge from the shadows.
I should probably get rid of all those rats soon.
I took a sip of tea, contemplating my future plans. The tea leaves must have been good; the aroma was exquisite.
“The tea slls great,” I comnted nonchalantly.
Father sighed at that. Then, he began to speak about the real reason he had called here. “Son, have you ever t the Divine Archer?”
Hmm…
I closed my eyes for a mont and fell into thought. To be honest, I hadn’t only t him. Although I didn’t know it at the ti, the master who taught archery had been the Divine Archer himself.
Before my regression, my master had taught the fundantals of archery and so techniques. At the ti, my body was already accustod to spear fighting, so I couldn’t master archery completely.
Because of that, my master often muttered things like, ‘It would have been better if I’d found you sooner.’
Anyway. To return to my father’s question, I had indeed t the Divine Archer. But this was an event that hadn’t yet happened in this tiline. So, what could I do?
Since I couldn’t say, ‘I regressed!’, I could only shake my head.
I lightly shook my head and said, “I rely read a book he wrote.”
“You read a book?”
“I mistook the image of soone holding a bow for a picture of intercourse, and so…”
“…”
Hmm, he doesn’t seem to believe that.
My father stared at with cold, flat eyes, then closed them and rubbed his forehead.
“…Alright, let’s set that aside. Then, did you learn that archery technique by yourself?”
“Yes.” I nodded readily.
“…Hoo. Originally, I intended to show you the practicality of spear fighting. Thus, I had hoped you would dedicate yourself more to the spear than to archery. However, you proved your talent and won the wager. A father cannot break a promise. Whatever answer cos back from the Duchy of Praha, I will sohow make the marriage happen.”
Father spoke with certainty.
“And one more thing. You won the wager, so there must be a reward. Is there anything you desire?”
Sothing I desire.
I fell into deep thought. What was it that I needed right now?
Even compared to other noble families, Berg County was financially comfortable. Wealthy and strong.
However, true to their moniker as a prestigious spear-fighting House, most of the treasures in the treasury were spears or related items. And as for money, it wasn’t sothing I imdiately needed, knowing the future.
What should I choose?
As I continued to ponder, a thought ca to mind.
The Duchy of Praha will accept the marriage. The problem is whether I can survive there.
Of course, I could protect my life. With archery alone, I could defeat most monsters, and with spear fighting alone, I could survive.
The problem was the harsh cold of the North and the frequent appearances of Orc legions in the northern mountains.
Putting the cold aside, with my current level of skill, I couldn’t defeat an Orc even if I died and ca back to life.
My current prowess, to put it kindly, reached the bare threshold of Aura Novice.
You might think using Aura is enough, but that depends entirely on the user.
What good is being able to use only Aura when my physique is trash?
In my current physical condition, I probably couldn’t even beat a regular soldier in terms of stamina. Just slightly better than an average person. I had to sohow return this body, steeped in alcohol and drugs, to normal.
The original plan was to fix it through training… but if I can use the House’s treasury, that’s a different story.
I curled the corners of my mouth and began, “There is sothing I wish to have.”
“What is it?”
“Demonkin blood. That is what I wish to have.”
“…Demonkin blood?” Father echoed, confused.
It was understandable. After all, while Demonkin blood was rare, it wasn’t sothing with extraordinary effects.
Not for , though, I thought with a sly smile.
The Divine Archer’s Elixir—to craft that highest-grade elixir, the most essential ingredient was none other than Demonkin blood.
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