Chapter 100: Haven't you gotten lately?

Screech──!

Amidst a cacophony of sound and announcements, the resonance train arrived at the station.

As the doors opened, the familiar scenery met Rinne's eyes, and at the same time, a multitude of people began to gather around Yulian.

"Prince Eulsis, we're relieved that you've returned safely."

The first to speak was a familiar face to Rinne.

It was Sedn Orbian, the head of the imperial secretariat.

"Yes, thanks to the excellent escorts, nothing happened."

Yulian replied with a playful smile, dismissing Sedn's worried look.

Besides Sedn, other nobles and people who seemed to be representatives from newspapers surrounded them too.

The journalists... Were they here to report the news?

To confirm that he had returned safely from the potential enemy, the Holy Kingdom?

'If it were another direct royal family member or noble, they might've confirmed it in such a manner.'

Rinne shrugged her shoulders, feeling the unexpected popularity of the prince.

It was not her concern.

"It's as if they're seeing an endangered species returned to the zoo."

Yulian remarked as he observed those around him worriedly looking at Eulsis.

"... You speak too bluntly."

"Isn't this also just a way of expressing loyalty?"

With that, Yulian leisurely made his way into the crowd gathered around Eulsis.

He flashed a sly smile. He said something softly to them, causing the surrounding people to flinch and tremble.

'... What did he say to make them react like that?'

Smiling as though his words were sweet, but perhaps they were sharp.

As Rinne clicked her tongue at Yulian's manner, she recalled the past events in the Holy Kingdom.

'Back then, the aura Yulian exhibited in the arena basement was different.'

The black aura that flared out when he shredded the tri-horned demon from the inside at the last moment.

It carried a sinister atmosphere, akin to a shadow, far flung from the 'Moonlit' aura Yulian usually wielded.

'Is he managing two types of aura by himself?'

That's impossible.

'Probably...'

Yet, she couldn't be sure.

Yulian operated his aura in a way that diverged from conventional understanding.

Moreover.

'He told me to find my own way.'

Unlike her master, Hayden Reich, he didn't attribute a 'traditional' concept to aura.

Modern aura techniques are the accumulated works of countless ordinary individuals and a few stars.

'Following those teachings, I'd become a conventional swordswoman.'

Rinne knew that.

Yet, Yulian denied that path and urged her to find her own way.

'It's not something my master would have ever said.'

Abandoning the easy path to tread a thorny one. A perilous journey, with risks of getting lost.

However, having witnessed the battle in the arena, she started to understand his words.

The aura Yulian exhibited in the basement was unlike any she previously knew.

Watching a battle of masters is said to enlighten viewers, and having observed that, she sensed she might ascend a level, explore further.

That moment of satisfaction was brief.

'But...'

As she focused again on the 'black aura' and sifted through her thoughts, she cast her gaze towards Yulian.

'I feel like I've seen it somewhere before.'

In the deserted dawn.

Time for the piercing moon to rise, shadows always linger below.

The rumors stirring the capital recently, those shadows.

'The Black Knight.'

Yulian's 'black aura' oddly resembled that knight's somehow.

'Ah.'

A thought, akin to a delusion, flashed across her mind.

'Could Yulian be the Black Knight?'

'Could the "Smiling Executioner" and the "Hero of the People" be the same person?'

If the cold-hearted, murder-ridden individual were to hear her conjectures.

- 'How dare you compare me with such an impious person? I am Yulian Cryphart Frason.'

She could already envision his reproachful demeanor, uttering high-minded words.

Rinne shook her head, dismissing the notion quickly.

'Still. So very similar.'

Momentarily lost in thought, she.

Chuckles. Scoffed softly.

'Impossible.'

***

It was comical, really.

To think I'd miss my own mansion so soon after arriving in the capital.

I even thought to myself, 'There's no place like home.'

Though it wasn't even bought with my own money.

"At this rate, I might really start considering myself as Yulian."

Halfway there already, it seemed.

The formal speech that once felt awkward now came naturally, didn't it?

"You have returned, master Yulian."

"Yes, would you please move these to the garden?"

"These seem to be the orchids procured from the Holy Kingdom. Understood."

The butler, already familiar with 'Yulian's whims and orchids, took my words in stride and proceeded without hesitation.

Neither too long nor too short, the journey had wearied me, yet my body headed as if possessed towards the mansion's training ground.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

I casually threw off my coat, closed my eyes, and recalled that cold sensation I felt in the basement once more.

The combination of Sombra and the Moonlit Sword, eclipse.

The sword that pierced through Idel's steel-like body, granting him rest stirred the mana vein within me.

'My body reacts.'

This rattled body only felt the warmth of a human when wielding a sword.

A warmth only holding a sword could provide.

Like a lunatic.

While harboring such disbelief, the aura dwelling in my full mana vein concentrated in the sword.

Wooong.

'... Weaker than back then.'

Trying to overlay Sombra on the 'Moonlit Sword', attempting to recall the sensation from the basement, I felt its color was paler compared to back then.

It was indeed weaker than when slicing Idel.

I vaguely knew the reason.

'It must be because the Open Eyes hadn't manifested this time.'

Nevertheless, unlike before, 'what was invisible' now seemed 'clearer' to me.

To exemplify.

"Whew."

Retracting Sombra, I swung only the Moonlit Sword, sending gentle ripples towards the wooden figure in the center of the training ground.

Not as sharp as a dagger, yet an aura with its speed.

The so-called 'Sword Energy' left a small mark on the wooden figure when touched.

"... Hoo."

In a world where magic prevails, the ability to release mana like this is quite common.

Mages aside, swordsmen need to reach a fairly high level to release mana, which poses a challenge.

'Aura uses mana, yet it's different from magic.'

The 'aura', imbued with the user's hue, loses strength and disperses the further it travels from the caster.

However, reaching a certain 'level' like now, even that becomes feasible.

'A stroke of brilliance.'

The name given because it resembles a crisp stroke using 'aura'.

Originally, the protagonist Sword Saint should have obtained this ability, yet somehow, I acquired it.

Perhaps it's a byproduct of obtaining the previously earned trait 'New Sword Saint.'

'Although not yet capable of launching sharp sword energy, the possibility does seem to flourish.'

To be filled with anticipation over potential at this age. I am truly hopeless.

I hoped there was a place to put this skill to proper use.

It felt lacking to merely verify it against a wooden figure.

"Master Yulian, I've placed the flowerpots as you instructed."

The butler approached speaking once more as I stood absent-mindedly in the training ground.

"But, did you visit the imperial palace before coming straight home?"

"Yes."

"I see..."

He looked somewhat puzzled. Or rather, I had a fair idea of what he was implying.

The previous 'Yulian', enthralled by honor, would have certainly traveled around the imperial palace flaunting this accomplishment.

Having successfully escorted the prince to the potentially hostile Holy Kingdom and back.

However.

'Now, there are more pressing matters than announcing achievements.'

Just as I was about to move toward 'that place' after sheathing the sword, I halted.

Pausing instinctively, I found myself heading toward my chambers, understanding why.

'Who's ever careless, not that they claim.'

I had just returned from the Holy Kingdom in the same attire and even wielded a sword.

The dusty clothes must have been disagreeable to wear.

***

A gray capital plagued with heavy rain.

Normally not accustomed to downpours, Lazlot frowned while dashing through the rain-drenched streets.

The musty scent of his raincoat lingering at his nostrils, he charged towards a large carriage in sight.

Lazlot knocked on its door.

"Come in."

Upon hearing a firm voice from within, Lazlot naturally opened the door and climbed inside.

"Did you bring the items I mentioned?"

Inside the carriage, waiting, was Aiden.

Displaying an imposing attitude as though looking down on someone, he didn't even cast a glance towards the entering Lazlot.

Familiar with this behavior, Lazlot simply nodded and handed over what he had prepared.

"These are copies of reports from the Magic Tower."

"Tsk."

Though protected within his raincoat, stained water droplets nevertheless left the documents in a messy state.

Aiden clicked his tongue once before accepting the documents Lazlot handed over, skimming through them one by one.

As his gaze traveled down the documents, Aiden's expression hardened.

"The research on the Soul Stone is proceeding steadily. Aileen, that filthy half-blood."

Muttering venomously to himself, Aiden smirked.

Everyone involved in the empire's magic knew him to be a notorious pure-blood supremacist.

"Despite her tainted blood, she's frightfully clever; that's the issue."

"Still... being from the same family, isn't it not much an issue from the family's perspective?"

Lazlot added.

Being an orphan from the slums, Lazlot always harbored doubts over the actions of nobles harboring pureblood supremacy.

From his experience, it was often the 'dirty half-bloods' that exceeded and bore results over the 'purebloods.'

A prime example being Aileen researching the Soul Stone and Yulian, wasn't it?

Absentmindedly voicing a thought that had long simmered within, Lazlot realized his mistake when the gradually chilling atmosphere enveloped him.

"Already starting to exhibit personal opinions."

"S-sorry for saying something unnecessary. Bishop Aiden."

"No worries. If there's something wrong, we can rectify it."

Unexpectedly switching from a frigid tone to a more affable one, Aiden spoke.

Thud.

Simultaneously, a dull sound resonated, and Lazlot felt his jaw heat up beneath him.

Suppressing the rising pain, Lazlot lowered his gaze.

There was Aiden's magic staff, asserting its presence.

"Have you come to your senses now?"

"U-Uhh..."

Thud. Thud!

This time, the staff struck Lazlot's head and back.

Thud, thud.

Repeatedly.

Every time Aiden's staff rained down upon his body, repressed whimpers escaped him.

"Authenticity of magic. How dare someone lacking it harbor any doubts?"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"You seem not to have learned."

Despite Lazlot's pained murmur, Aiden was on the brink of swinging his staff again when.

Neigh──!

Suddenly a horse's scream halted Aiden.

"What happened?"

"Someone jumped in front of the horse."

The coachman, soaked outside in the rain, expressed his visible confusion through his words.

Casting a fleeting glare at Lazlot, Aiden slightly opened the carriage door to confirm.

To see who dared to halt a noble's carriage this wretched day.

A man holding an umbrella stood there.

For some reason, the aura he emitted was chilling, yet somehow familiar, not entirely unfamiliar.

Using this familiarity, Aiden conjectured the name of the umbrella-wielding man.

"... Sir Yulian?"

Upon uttering the unexpected name, the air grew tense, and Lazlot, who was groaning from pain, shuddered.

"You've done something unnecessary, Sir Aiden."

Though Yulian's voice carried softness, the underlying lethal intent made Aiden flinch, yet he masked it and displayed mirth as he approached.

"When have you returned? I thought it'd take longer."

"Just now."

"Is that so? It's fortunate you returned safely. More than anything else."

"Do you truly think so?"

The probing tone made Aiden momentarily falter, but he remained poised.

"Of course. Aren't we working in the same imperial palace, pursuing the same goals as fellow church members?"

"Altering your tone won't change the fact that you smuggled a demon onto the train with a Prince aboard."

"Hmm."

Aiden faltered for a second by Yulian's straight accusation, but soon regained his composure.

"I had no choice, given the third prince's displeasure over the fourth prince's activities, as you surely know."

Being a notorious pure-blood supremacist, having such a conversation with a 'half-blood' was rather distasteful for Aiden.

"But it's all in the past now. Besides, if I genuinely intended to derail the train, you wouldn't have returned so unharmed, wouldn't you?"

Admitting to mildly crossing a line, Aiden wasn't bothered either.

"Why not forget the past? And put it behind us and start anew..."

Stab──!

"K-kkh..."

A searingly sharp light struck Aiden's shoulder.

Clacky's Corner:Tsk tsk.

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