Chapter 86

It was rare for a magical beast with strong survival instincts to self-destruct.

A murmur spread among the knights who detected the danger of the situation. When a magical beast self-destructed, it spread toxic energy that contaminated the surroundings. Killing it before it self-destructed was the only best option.

Lucas looked back at where we were and raised his sword.

“We’ll proceed as planned.”

Lucas, gripping his sword firmly, rushed toward the monster. The monster, on the verge of going berserk, had become sluggish and couldn’t avoid Lucas’s attack.

‘He just needs to kill it within the time limit.’

The Grand Duke seemed to have decided to observe the situation, as he didn’t step forward.

Despite knowing the risk of being caught in the self-destruction at any moment, there was no hesitation in Lucas’s sword. I swallowed my admiration as I watched Lucas’s movements.

This was the first time I had seen his swordsmanship up close.

“Everyone, step back!”

“Keeeeek!”

As the monster’s belly was pierced, its back split open and tentacles extended out.

Lucas cut down the tentacles that were stabbing at openings and looked to the side. The knight who was supposed to coordinate with Lucas and take the flank wasn’t moving.

“Ugh, uugh.”

The knight had put down his sword and was trembling. The magical beast, instinctively sensing that its opponent was frightened, swung its tail in that direction.

Lucas moved, realizing the knight wouldn’t be able to dodge.

Kwang!

Lucas’s sword collided with the magical beast instead of the knight. The strangely swollen body of the magical beast constantly reminded everyone that time was running out.

“Tristan, ask the Grand Duke to stop the test!”

“Why? My brother is blocking it well.”

“That’s not blocking.”

On the surface, Lucas’s sword appeared to be parrying the magical beast’s tail well. However, he was gradually being pushed back by the beast’s strength and losing speed.

I added, looking at Lucas’s sword, that was becoming corroded at the tip.

“…he’s just enduring.”

If this dragged on any longer, the berserk magical beast would contaminate the surroundings.

Finally, becoming anxious, I decided to act directly.

“Tristan, I’ll be right back!”

“Little one!”

The barrier didn’t prevent entry from outside. I jumped into the barrier where Lucas was. Then I drew the sword from the waist of the knight who had finally collapsed.

Whoosh!

Indeed, a real sword was too heavy for a child like me to hold. I desperately called out to Heishar in my mind.

‘Lend me your magic power, Heishar.’

Strongly held thoughts are transmitted to contracted spirits.

He answered readily, though I thought he would ignore me.

[You’re quite troublesome. Are you planning to die if I don’t lend you power?]

His voice pierced through as if he had been watching my situation nearby. His tone was reproachful, criticizing me for jumping into danger without being able to use magic.

It was a valid point, so I smiled awkwardly.

[Do as you please. Well.]

Heishar’s energy moved the magic power inside my body. I used magic to enhance my strength and then plunged the sword into the monster’s side, which was left exposed when the knight retreated.

Thunk!

The monster, feeling the pain, twisted its body to look at me.

“Lucas, aim for the core!”

Lucas, who had just noticed me, widened his eyes. I continued charging at the magical beast.

“Liat?”

“There’s no time to explain, hurry!”

Lucas, gritting his teeth, stabbed the part of the monster where the core would be with his sword.

His exhausted sword couldn’t pierce through to where the core was located. Nevertheless, seeing him holding onto his sword until the end, I drew up my magic power.

‘Now.’

Heishar’s energy responded to my will and gathered at the tip of the sword.

‘Is this attribute wind again?’

I could feel my gathered magic power taking on the properties of wind. If so, it wouldn’t be difficult to break down this mere magical beast without damage.

Boom!

The magic power I sent through the tip of the sword swirled and created large and small cracks on the surface of the magical beast. The spreading cracks widened along the wounds Lucas had already inflicted.

Crack! Splinter!

The magic power, which finally reached the core of the magical beast, spread widely.

Shatter!

As the core shattered, the huge magical beast collapsed. Seeing the magical beast about to fall on me, I tried to step back somehow.

But unlike before, my body had become heavier and wouldn’t move.

[What do you expect when you run wild after borrowing magic power?]

With a clicking tongue, a small wolf appeared. However, there was no need for Heishar to step in.

Hiss!

The remains of the magical beast, instantly turned to ash, scattered in the wind.

It took less than a few minutes for the Grand Duke to come down from the platform and burn the entire body of the magical beast. Looking at the Grand Duke’s back blocking my view, I regretted stepping forward.

With this reaction speed, Lucas wouldn’t have been in danger either.

The Grand Duke’s gaze turned to the knights participating in the knighting ceremony. The audience had fallen silent at what had unfolded before their eyes.

“It seems clear who will become a knight in this ceremony.”

Lucas glared at the remains of the dead magical beast with a frustrated face. Among the knights participating in the ceremony, only Lucas had fought properly.

‘Lucas will pass.’

But the Grand Duke passed by Lucas and stood in front of me. The tip of his sword lightly tapped my shoulder.

“Liat del Astarote. I recognize you as a knight. Do you promise to wield your sword in a way that does not go against your beliefs?”

“…Yes?”

“Good. Become a strong knight who will protect the Grand Duchy in the future.”

The Grand Duke sheathed his sword and looked at Lucas. The Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed, and he showed an uncharacteristically playful expression.

“Didn’t I tell you? That child is more of a genius than you.”

“……”

“Show me a better performance at next year’s knighting ceremony.”

The Grand Duke clapped his hands to signal the end of the knighting ceremony. People who had been dumbfounded, like Lucas, slowly began to clean up the surroundings.

Everyone seemed bewildered by this unexpected situation.

‘Is this okay?’

I felt sorry for Lucas, who had prepared so hard for the knighting ceremony. Tristan, not understanding how I felt, had sparkling eyes.

“Little one, how did you do that? Huh? The magic power went kwang, and…”

“Tristan, be quiet.”

“It’s amazing, beyond the power you showed me! Did you know about this, brother?”

“Liat.”

Lucas’s subdued voice called me. I moved my lips as I watched Lucas approach.

“I want to talk to you alone.”

Tristan cast a sound-blocking spell at Lucas’s request.

Lucas and I, standing in a corner, looked into each other’s eyes for a moment.

***

What should I say?

Knowing how desperately he wanted to become a knight, I had taken away his chance to receive the knighting ceremony. Having decided to save Lucas, I couldn’t ignore his crisis.

‘I might have been a bit hasty.’

I clenched my fist, prepared to apologize regardless of what Lucas might say.

The words he suddenly threw at me were somewhat unexpected.

“On the day you had that dream, I also had a pleasant dream.”

“Huh?”

“In the dream, Kashian appeared and saved me from the fire.”

So he thought the incident in the library was a dream. Thinking it was better that way, I silently listened to his words.

What was he trying to say by bringing up that topic?

“Father said someone must have saved me, but I think differently.”

“What do you think?”

For a while, there had been much talk about this issue in the Grand Duke’s mansion.

It was eventually concluded that an insider who was a Sword Master had stepped forward. The person who had been silently looking at me suddenly knelt on one knee and tilted his head back.

“Lucas?”

Lucas’s expression, looking up at me, held a bitter yet joyful smile. After closing his eyes for a moment, seemingly restraining something, he asked me with a voice full of conviction.

“The dream Kashian who saved me that day was you, wasn’t it?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Voice or appearance can be misjudged. I was in a state where I had lost my reason at that time.”

Lucas took my hand and carefully lifted it. He kissed my fingertips, returning the greeting I had given when I was Kashian, and smiled.

“But I can’t mistake the posture and movements when holding a sword.”

Even without me giving an answer, Lucas was already certain.

His golden eyes held an emotion similar to admiration. I got goosebumps from the gaze, similar to the looks I had received from comrades long ago.

It was strange that he admired me even after seeing abilities that were beyond normal.

“If I confirm that’s true, would anything change?”

“Very much so.”

There was nothing to hide anymore, now that I had been found out like this. I nodded slowly, making sure only he could see. The smile on Lucas’s face deepened, and he suddenly drew his sword.

Snip!

Lucas cut off his long hair with his sword.

“They say a knight offers his hair when making an important promise.”

“That’s such a waste.”

“If you want, I can always grow my hair again.”

Although he couldn’t hear the sound, Tristan approached, clearly sensing that something significant was unfolding.

Lucas stopped Tristan and offered me the cut hair. I couldn’t refuse what he was giving with such a solemn gesture.

“What are you promising?”

“Next time, I hope you will accept my knighting ceremony token.”

“That’s the Grand Duke’s role.”

“I want to be your knight. If you don’t need me.”

After closing and opening his eyes, he cupped my cheek with his palm.

“I’ll work harder to become someone you can rely on. Someday, I’ll become a splendid knight like Kashian.”

He murmured that next time, he would become the master of the dream.

Instead of adding more words, I helped him up from his sitting position. It made me a little sad that the person he wanted to protect was just me.

Still, I was somewhat happy to see him seemingly grown up.

“At ease, Lucas.”

I was busy if I wanted to hold a party for the two as planned. As I was about to meet the Grand Duke, I stopped at the golden wolf form blocking my way.

[It seems we need to talk.]

I picked up Heishar and hugged him to my chest. In wolf form, he infused magic power through his energy to make my movements lighter.

I needed to escape from Tristan, who was looking at me with eyes demanding an explanation, and the other knights.

The wolf looked around and sighed. The way he shook his head gave the impression that he was disgusted.

[Do you realize that all the humans here, including you, are strange?]

“Sort of.”

[Those humans look at you as if you were a cake.]

“What does that mean, like a cake?”

[Eyes dripping with honey.]

Somehow understanding the meaning of his words, I nodded.

I had been anxious all along, but today’s events made it clear. Perhaps the people here wouldn’t treat me as a monster even if I showed my abilities.

For some reason, I felt like crying a little.