"... ... Prince Sadin."
I lifted my head and looked at the man standing before .
Long, slit-shaped eyes and a high nose. A confident expression. Shiny gray hair.
The mont I saw him, a woman’s face flashed through my mind.
Teresa Rundel — a mber of the sa warrior party as , and the commander of the Imperial Knights.
’Is that Teresa Rundel’s younger brother, Sadin Rundel?’
The Duke of Rundel.
They were a legendary military family, known as one of the finest knightly houses in the empire alongside the Count Frey family. Now, however, they stood unrivaled.
Rundel was the heir of that household — the next head of the family.
He smiled faintly as he spoke.
"Frey! I see you’re also entering Salomon Academy."
"Yes."
"Is Sir Halton feeling better?"
"... He’s okay."
"That’s fortunate. I heard the injuries you sustained during your duel with your father were quite serious. But there’s nothing you can do. Any wounds received in a knight’s duel are considered dals of honor."
Frey lowered her head and pursed her lips. Looking closely, I noticed her hands tremble slightly.
"... Yes."
His attention shifted to , his sharp eyes glinting with greed and arrogance.
"Hoo, are you Zail Sieghart, descendant of that famous heroic family?"
"Yes."
His gaze lingered, assessing as if to asure my worth.
"It was quite noisy at the main gate. I could hear you talking."
"It’s just a bunch of noisy, talkative people making a fuss."
"Isn’t that a pretty big deal? It’s irritating when the ghosts of the past keep talking without knowing their place."
"... ..."
"Why? Did I say sothing wrong? It must’ve been nice for everyone around you to praise your family as heroes. But in the end, aren’t all those tales just exaggerated? It’s obvious people added details as they pleased to make history rember your na. A human slaying a dragon alone? Even if that were true, how could a family with such military strength fall so easily?"
I could tell clearly — he had co here to provoke on purpose.
He was known as a genius from a young age, but also as nothing more than an arrogant child.
Then why... why was I so angry?
"What’s with those eyes? Are you proud of your family?"
Why indeed? Was it because of his obvious provocation? No. That wasn’t the only reason my chest burned with fury.
"... How can the heir to the strongest knight family in the empire speak so carelessly?"
The veins on Sadin’s forehead bulged. He prided himself on authority and status — he couldn’t possibly overlook my words.
"What did you just say?"
That...
"How dare you speak so carelessly. Are you ashad to hear such words from the heir of a fallen count’s family? This is an academy — a place where everyone, whether noble or commoner, is educated solely based on ability."
It was xenophobia.
I saw myself in him — the of the past. The one who suffered from an inferiority complex, resented the world, and blad others for everything.
A wretched mass of jealousy and envy.
I rembered that ugly version of myself, the one who denied the efforts of the successful and shifted all bla to the world.
Sadin let out a loud, mocking laugh.
"Skill... That’s right. Just as you said, here at Salomon Academy, everything is judged solely on skill. So, if you’re that confident, how about designating as your opponent for the second test?"
A strange calm washed over once I understood the source of my anger. Even thinking back on it now, it made shiver.
He was the kind of disgusting human being I would’ve believed was ugliness itself given form.
But I would change.
I would overco, move forward, accept my shortcomings, and grow stronger.
I nodded.
"Great."
Frey, more surprised than anyone, called out in confusion.
"Prince Zail! Think again...."
I answered firmly.
"It’s okay."
The corners of Sadin’s mouth curled upward in satisfaction.
"That’s good confidence. Just make sure you don’t fall before you even get the nomination."
"You can look forward to it."
"Just wait."
As he turned and walked away, Frey looked at with clear worry.
"Even if you inherited Sieghart’s blood... it will be impossible for you to defeat Prince Sadin."
She said that because she knew how strong he was — she had already lost to him once in a duel.
From childhood, Sadin Rundel was hailed as a prodigy in martial arts, a gem blessed with unmatched talent in swordsmanship.
But even so, he was still an unpolished stone.
"... It’s okay."
Just then, my number was called.
"Exam number 444. 521. Next."
"Yes."
The the of the second test was sparring.
The rules were simple — you had to win a duel against a randomly chosen opponent.
After each victory, you could choose whether to continue fighting or stop there.
However, if you lost before stopping on your own, you would lose all the points you had accumulated.
There was one unique rule: if you won three or more matches in a row, you earned the right to nominate an opponent of your choice.
The nominated person could either accept or decline, but if they declined, they would no longer be eligible to receive any more nominations.
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