Lionel looked back.

There, the First Prince and his knights were staring at him. There was nothing unusual about the situation. In fact, they were looking at him with expressions of utter shock.

The moment the First Prince’s eyes widened as he tried to shout something.

Swoosh!

The sound of something cutting through the air reached him.

Without even a moment to turn back, Lionel immediately threw his body aside.

***

"Bravo!"

Clap, clap.

I couldn't help but applaud.

Sir Fluffy, just how far do you plan on growing!

To use such a cheap trick without hesitation in such an official and momentous setting. Is this what they call "the student surpassing the master"? Has he already surpassed me?

"...."

The knights, excluding me, were staring at the arena with dumbfounded expressions. It was baffling enough that he would attempt such a thing in such an important venue, but seeing it actually work seemed to move them beyond bafflement to sheer bewilderment.

Psychological warfare inherently favors the bold over the cautious, so it wasn't particularly surprising to me. The only surprising thing was Sir Fluffy's remarkable growth.

"I'm so proud of you, Fluffy."

The Heavenly Demon lamented.

[...Fluffy has been tainted by bad influences.]

"What? How is this a bad influence?"

[It's a bad influence because he's using cowardly and dirty tricks instead of fighting honorably.]

"Cowardly? Dirty? What's more important than winning a fight? Winning is all that matters."

[...Never mind.]

The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.

[The one who uses it and the one who falls for it. They're both the same.]

Whether the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue or not, I was in a good mood thanks to Fluffy's unexpected move.

Grinning from ear to ear.

"This is something you have to watch while sitting down."

Come to think of it, there were no chairs. Why was everyone standing? My legs hurt.

In a cheerful voice, I called towards the waiting room behind us.

"Hey! The Black Prince requests some chairs!"

The Black Prince stared at me with a look of disbelief.

"What are you looking at?"

"...."

A moment later, Shushruta appeared, carrying a chair. She scurried over, placed the chair in front of me, and looked at me with a proud face. She seemed to be expecting praise, so I patted her head.

At that, Shushruta suddenly scowled, slapped my hand away, and scurried back into the waiting room.

"...? What was that?"

As a human, I couldn't comprehend the behavioral patterns of a stray cat.

"Devil! I brought a chair! Your legs hurt, right?"

Looking towards the waiting room door, I saw Linda struggling to bring out a chair.

"Ugh... Why won't it come out?"

Linda was stuck at the door, banging the chair against the frame.

Shushruta firmly pushed Linda back into the waiting room.

"Didn't I tell you not to come out?"

"But the Devil..."

"Quiet. Get back inside."

"Waaah! Devil!"

Shushruta dragged Linda back into the waiting room.

"...."

In any case, Linda was a criminal with a large bounty on her head, so it wouldn't be good for her to be seen in a public setting. For that reason, she was confined to the waiting room under Shushruta's supervision. I had originally intended to leave her at our lodgings, but she had insisted so vehemently that she wanted to watch, that she had graced the waiting room with her presence.

Well... what mattered was that a chair had appeared, so I decided to ignore the other miscellaneous details.

As I sat comfortably in my chair watching the match...

Servants rushed out and soon, chairs were neatly arranged for the other knights as well. They hesitated to sit, glancing at the Black Prince. It seemed they wanted to sit but were afraid of being scolded by the ill-tempered prince.

I decided to help them out.

"What are you doing? Sit down. Your legs hurt, don't they?"

"...."

"It would be rude not to sit after they went to the trouble of bringing them."

At my words, the knights cautiously lowered themselves onto the chairs...

"I don't need one. Take it away."

As the Black Prince refused the chair, they awkwardly stood up again.

"...."

That selfish bastard.

I grabbed the shoulder of Lady Ashley, who was awkwardly rising beside me, and pushed her back down.

"Oh."

"You're right before me in the order, I believe. Correct?"

Lady Ashley, who had been unceremoniously seated, looked at me.

"Yes. That's correct."

"Then you need to conserve your stamina. There's no need to stand around needlessly, worrying about that guy."

"But still..."

"Ssshp."

"...."

I watched the match, sitting side-by-side with the fidgeting Lady Ashley. It became even more entertaining as I took out some beef jerky from my pocket and chewed on it. She was staring intently at me chewing the jerky, so I took out another piece from my pocket and offered it.

"Jerky?"

"Ah, I'm fine, thank you."

"It's delicious."

"...."

"*Chew, chew, chew.*"

"...."

"Nom, nom, nom."

"Um, if I could just have one piece to taste."

"Here."

And so, we watched the thrilling match side-by-side, chewing on beef jerky.

Then, a moment later.

"...Huh?"

"Ah?"

We both dropped the jerky we were chewing at the same time.

***

Lionel barely dodged the flying sword, then stared at the Red-Eyed Devil in disbelief.

He had really used the shallow trick of 'looking away'. In this sacred duel that would decide the king of a nation! It was hard to tell if he was audacious or simply oblivious.

And on top of that, he threw his sword!

A sword was like a companion to a knight. So much so that they even kept it by their bedside when they slept. They would never throw it carelessly unless it was a true last resort. That's how precious it was...

To throw his sword on the very first attack?

What on earth was he thinking?

But the man who had followed up a cheap trick by throwing his sword had a nonchalant expression. He seemed momentarily disappointed that his attack hadn't hit, but that was all.

"...?"

He threw his sword. Meaning, he was now unarmed. It was a situation where one could consider him already defeated.

However, for such a situation, the man was far too calm.

'What is this?'

While Lionel was frozen for a moment in confusion, the devil's hand moved.

Simultaneously, something flew towards him from behind.

Swoosh!

"...!"

Once again, without a moment to turn, Lionel threw his body aside. As he did, he identified the enemy that had targeted his back and couldn't help but be shocked.

The identity of the flying object that had aimed for his back was the very demon sword the devil had just thrown.

The demon sword stopped in front of the devil, then zipped around, floating in mid-air. Seeing a sword that flew on its own, Lionel's mind went blank.

A sword that flew like a bird.

"What is this...?"

But there was no time to be bewildered.

The devil extended his hand and pointed at him, and accordingly, the sword flew at him once more.

"Keuk!"

Lionel thrust out his sword to block it.

Clang! Clang!

While blocking, he looked across and saw the devil waving his arms around as if conducting an orchestra. He was controlling the sword.

Lionel blocked the sword while keeping a close eye on the devil's flailing arms.

Lionel's mind raced. He too was a veteran knight who had been through countless battles. Based on his vast experience, he instantly found a way to break through.

'I don't know what it is, but all I have to do is attack the caster.'

Lionel immediately put his judgment into action.

Kaaang!

He forcefully parried the sword and then charged at the devil.

At that, the devil looked at him with calm eyes as if he had expected it...

"Huh?"

...and turned around and fled.

"???"

Lionel stared blankly at the retreating back of the man running away at full speed.

A knight showing his back and running away?

But his contemplation didn't last long.

Swoosh!

The demon sword was chasing him.

Lionel had no choice but to defend, dodging and parrying the demon sword that was aiming for his back. The devil who had turned and fled was now standing at a distance, waving his arms and controlling the demon sword.

Facing the sword itself, rather than a knight wielding a sword, was quite a predicament. Setting aside the fact that this was the first time he had ever experienced such a thing, when facing a swordsman, one could predict attacks by watching their gaze or posture, but the sword had none of that.

Attacks flew in from all directions with completely unpredictable trajectories. The sword, zipping and swinging through the air, pressed him with a variety of impossible sword paths that a person could never replicate.

He couldn't get his bearings.

The First Prince, the First Prince's knights, and even the three Royal Knights couldn't close their mouths at the sight of a sword flying on its own. Even Aron Hobas forgot he was the referee and stared blankly at the battle between man and sword.

Everyone watching the match could only stare with dazed faces at the unbelievable sight unfolding before their eyes.

Of course, for Lionel who was actually facing it, it was hell.

"Keuk!"

Lionel could feel his stamina rapidly depleting. It was only natural; he was trying to block unpredictable attacks flying at him by focusing only on the tip of the sword. That alone was exhausting. It was a situation where just blocking was overwhelming.

At this rate, his stamina would run out first.

'This can't go on.'

He had to break the stalemate.

How?

'I have to stop that demon sword somehow.'

He could just catch the one controlling the sword, but every time he tried, the man would turn his back without a second thought and flee with incredible speed, leaving him with no options.

In that case.

'The only way is to grab the sword.'

Woooong—

Lionel immediately put his thought into action. He amplified his aura to its fullest, then swung with all his might at the demon sword that was zipping towards him.

The demon sword, which had been flying around chaotically, was shot down. The immense wave of power caused the demon sword to momentarily lose its strength and crash to the ground.

Lionel did not miss that moment.

He immediately rushed in and grabbed the hilt of the demon sword.

'Got it!'

Thud.

At that moment, Lionel's movements stopped.

The devil watched this, blinking his eyes. His red pupils, which had been staring blankly, were now filled with bewilderment. It seemed he hadn't predicted this situation either.

"...Huh?"

Soon, Sir Lionel went berserk.

***

Fluffy was clearly aware of the skill gap between himself and his opponent.

Until just a short while ago, he was a humble wandering knight who couldn't handle mana at all. In contrast, his opponent was a knight of a nation's prince, and the most powerful one at that, the First Prince.

It had only been three days since he became the master of Vlad. There was no way he could draw out its power properly. Furthermore, Vlad was a demon sword notorious for its ferocity. Drawing out power he couldn't handle would only result in him being consumed by it.

Therefore, Fluffy was fighting a battle he could absolutely win, using what he had.

"...Huh?"

But even he hadn't predicted this situation.

"Kuaaaaaaaah!"

Fluffy stared blankly at Lionel, who was roaring while holding two swords. He had already pulled the demon sword, which had been stuck in the ground, high into the air and was shooting red beams of light towards the sky.

Rumble!

In an instant, dark storm clouds began to gather in the sky.

Craackle!

A red bolt of lightning struck the demon sword.

Fluffy looked up at the darkening sky, then looked down at his own two hands.

That guy had two swords. He was bare-handed. And on top of that, the guy was berserk.

The outcome of the fight was obvious.

His decision was swift, and his action was no less so.

Fluffy immediately spoke to Aron Hobas.

"I surrender."

"...Pardon?"

Then he hopped off the stage and came down.

Fluffy explained to the dumbfounded Black Prince who was staring at him.

"I had no choice."

"...."

Then he walked up to the devil, who was standing with his mouth half-open, and said.

"It just happened."

The devil replied in a dumbfounded tone.

"What do you mean, 'it just happened,' you crazy bastard."

(End of Chapter)

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