But soon Charlize realized that she was overthinking.
âNo matter how hard it is, Dylan canât use his hands yet.â
Later on, she had heard that the 9th prince had a trauma concerning swords from âthe battle with the mercenary escort that day,â and that he was very disgusted by it.
Heâd be shaking like from an allergic reaction.
âItâs the second battle of the participant, Reeze. He was the 85th to advance to the finals! Heâs only a boy, but he doesnât lag behind!
Charlize stepped onto the stage with an unfamiliar introduction from the broadcast booth.
She thought about why the referee encouraged me before the match, but she soon found out why.
âReezeâs opponent is the eldest son of the Grand Duke of Ronan: Lord Akan! Heâs one of the most promising knights!â
âYouâre my first brother.â
Only then did Charlize remember that her first brotherâs name was Akan.
Information that was erased because it was not worth it.
âHe was called a sword genius.â
Charlize was like that too.
Before her return the winner had been Akan.
From the beginning of the competition, he was selected as a strong winner candidate.
Even now, people were taking it for granted that Akan would win. The result seemed clear even if you donât look at the competition.
A bored crowd yawning.
The referee was brighter than usual to try to get their attention somehow.
âUnfortunately, Dante, the second Lord who also participated in the competition, was defeated in the first final. The only survivor of the Ronan family, Akan. What will be the end of this showdown?â
The only survivor.
Charlize thought it was a little hilarious because it felt like a rural drama.
If she was like before her return, she would have broken her sword for Akan in this phase.
But now Charlize was different.
She picked up the sword without hesitation.
âThe match starts!â
The referee shouted.
Unlike his first competition counterpart that had looked down on Charlize, Akan was cautious.
Even though Charlize did not take the basic posture of a double sword.
Akan was also wielding a double sword. The left-hand aims the sword outward to attack, and the right-hand blocks the sword over the head to defend.
Compared to Akanâs serious attitude, Charlize was only holding the sword with both hands relatively lightly.
A ladyâs defenseless posture, as if she were holding a dress with both hands.
ââŚâ
With a frown on his face, Akan slowly changed his sword, approaching Charlize.
And he attacked with a single blow.
Charlize blocked Akanâs attack, which came in after stabbing her with two swords in a row, with one sword to prevent it.
ââŚ!â
That was when Charlize realized something.
Charlize looked closely at Akanâs changing expression.
The more serious Akanâs movement became sharper.
Charlize flew around in the same posture as in the textbook. Akan uses gravity to stab the sword.
It was too obvious.
Charlize blocked Akanâs sword with one sword and then immediately aimed at his stomach with the other sword.
âArgh!â
It hurt right away.
As much as youâd think, there were many injuries during a sword competition.
His guard had been torn.
Akanâs eyes flashed.
Charlize was not vigilant.
Sure enough, Akanâs sword hit her in an instant. The grip force was enormous. She could see that he was serious about killing.
Chaeng chaeng!
Charlize gently blocked the two swords, crossing them both from side to side like water.
Block two times and hit five times.
A free movement like a fish playing in the sea.
On the other hand, Akanâs sword was angular and static. A swing that seems to be a copy of a textbook.
âVery well, Mr. Reeze.â
âYou are.â
Charlize responded indifferently to Akanâs words.
It was a better skill than she anticipated. She thought she would have had a hard time before she became a sword.
Of course, it was not an actual fight but a fencing competition where one should not kill the opponent.
âAkan! Attack Reeze sharply!â
A frown formed on Charlizeâs forehead.
Akanâs sword brushed Charlizeâs side. But at that moment, Akanâs vital points were clearly revealed.
If the situation had been real, Charlize would have been able to cut Akanâs throat instead of getting a small cut in his side.
However, murder is prohibited in competitions. Yeah, she couldnât kill him.
ââŚ!â
Charlize stabbed Akanâs jaw protector with a sword and tore it apart at once.
The other sword blocked Akanâs two swords.
Abandoning the preconception that the use of the two swords should always be divided into attack and defense. Both swords could be used as an attack.
Embarrassed by Charlizeâs blitz attack, Akan backed away.
âHe cut this?â
The material of the torn protector was strong material, Mithril.
But the referee and spectators did not know what they had just seen.
âLook at that. You canât even touch his body, and youâre just tearing down the protective gear.â
âReeze is nothing special.â
If they knew theyâd see a little more swordsmanship.
The free-spirited and unblemished Charlizeâs attitude and swordsmanship must have been praised for reaching the highest level.
The high reputation of Akan, which was built with a handsome day and a serious attitude of high-ranking noblemen, covered the peopleâs minds.
âHa, haaâŚâ
Akan breathed slowly.
The little boy in front of him seemed to be seven years younger than Akan. However, he was not a little behind in competing with him.
In fact, Akan was vaguely aware that the boyâs skills were all superior to his own.
âNot once.â
Akanâs sword was out of reach.
Even now.
Unlike himself, who is out of breath. The boyâs face is perfectly fresh.
âHow? How?â
Heâs not a nobleman, and heâs not a standard swordsman.
There seemed to be something in the boy who knew no limits. Akan was used to being supported by being praised as a genius. His pride was hurt.
Just in time, the hourglass ran out of the sand.
âTimeâs up!â
The referee shouted as if he had been waiting.
âIâm sure both of you would be eliminated in the original case⌠It was a great match. Follow me, itâs a draw with the unanimous vote of all the contestants! Both participants passed the finals and advanced to the selection round.â
Charlize lightly accepted the sword and put it in the collection.
It was not good to have a record of winning over the great nobleman.
Itâs okay now that weâve dragged on as planned.
I could feel Akan looking at the time, but Charlize was not very interested in the fencing competition itself. Wasnât Dylan the only reason she attended the competition from the beginning?
ââŚâ
Charlize left the stadium without giving Akan a glance.
Akanâs cheeks hardened.
*****
âThe final selection is assigned a lodging facility. Follow me, please.â
The servant said, glancing at Charlize. It was a curious look.
At first, Charlize wasnât very expectant.  The boyâs small body caught the eye, but that was it.
There were many participants. But now there are only 100 people left.
âThere are cases where someone put laxatives in the meal to interfere with participants, so be careful, Mr. Reeze.â
The servant was kind.
Perhaps the young Charlize seemed pathetic. Charlize replied.
âThank you.â
To prevent each otherâs schemes in advance, the selection was given a private room.
When I entered the lodging, I noticed that the imperial family spent a huge amount of money on the fencing competition.
It was much better than the room at the 13th Palace.
The place where the competition was held was crowded with people who came to see the event after a long time. One had to pay 10 times more than usual to stay at the nearby accommodation.
Now that the pre-election eve is already being held, no matter how much money you brought, you will not be able to save it.
Itâs already been decades since war broke out in the Empire. People were accustomed to peace and starved for blood.
Charlize looked around the lodging. When she was alone, she realized something.
âTomorrow I can get the Helu-herb.â
For Charlize, the value of winning the competition was nothing more than Helu-herb. At that time, the audience seat will be crowded with hundreds of thousands of people.
The competitionâs video close-up will float in the sky with a magical video sphere.
âChanging into a man was a wise choice. Iâd like to avoid being suspected of being âthe winner of the sword competitionâ in the future.â
Charlize looked down at the sword.
âGood job.â
Before I applied for the competition, I went to a blacksmith and bought a sword that propelled her.
After all, tools depend on the ability of the person to use them.
But as she gazed down at the two swords, Charlize felt strange.
âThank you.â
She smiled beautifully and said hello softly.
Letâs not spend the day by ourselves.
*****
Charlize washed her body completely. Sleep did not come easily. So Charlize went to the eve festival to check out the situation.
Even at this late hour, the streets were teeming with people. Itâs a super boom. There was no peak season like this.
âI heard that once you held a sword competition, the added value was enormous and itâs really true.â
Charlize was a starter, so all the restaurants were free of charge.
She ordered a light drink.
It was a purple drink with lemon slices placed upside down on the glass. The taste was quite sweet. Charlize looked at the distance while drinking in a relaxed way.
Colorful sparkling lights. Exotic tents are lined up.
The merchants hurriedly laughed as they had been in urgent need of the eve.
âI sell dreamcatchers that take away nightmares! Only one gold!â
âItâs a traditional sweet from the Mato Kingdom. Itâs characterized by dissolving in your mouth. It was hard to get! Have a bite!â
âKids, you can just go check out the clothes! Come and see!â
The village had a heated atmosphere. The thing that caught peopleâs attention the most is. It was definitely a betting board.
âThe opportunity that came after 10 years. Come on, everyone! Isnât the competition meant for betting?â
The names of the 100 starters was written all over the betting board.
âItâll be a big hit for the winner! Itâs not coming, itâs not coming. This opportunity is not coming!â
âIâll bet 100,000 gold to âAkanâ!â
Charlize shrugged lightly.
The traders who made the game and the instigators who encourage them. All the people who drunk pleasantly were excited.
People bet their money like crazy. Numbering like a racetrack, the fewer people who paid, the higher the odds.
âHow about Reeze? He was never pushed back in the fight against Akan.â
âAkan took it easy because Reeze was a boy. A noble should not attack the weak. Where would Reeze be selected for his skills?â
People wanted to bet on a certain hand.
So they bet the most money on Akan. Unlike before her return, anyone who bet on him would lose.
If someone with a keen eye bet on Charlize, they will win a very large amount of money.
âIt doesnât matter whether you recognize the value or not.â
Charlize was, so to speak, a jackpot. She was a pearl buried in the soil.
The gemstone, that shines brilliantly like diamonds if you cut it well, even now itâs ridiculously complete.
Charlize sipped her drink standing against the wall. Someone passed by her.
It wasnât a big deal because there were so many people on the street. But since heâs Dylan, itâs a different story.
Charlizeâs face hardened.
âWhy is Dylan here?â
As soon as she thought about it, Dylan stopped walking.
But Charlize was soon relieved. Dylan couldnât have recognized herself. Even her family couldnât recognize herself.