Duke Asili felt disappointed as he observed the students at Atenz Academy.

“There’s such a lack of talent here.”

Even after surveying the advanced class, he couldn’t find anyone with abilities that satisfied him.

‘It’s unfortunate I couldn’t find the person who killed that horde of monsters during the last subjugation,’ he thought.

A knight of that caliber could have been a worthy opponent.

The world surely had many extraordinary individuals, with some skilled fighters remaining hidden from view. He had always regretted not meeting someone skilled enough to be his match.

The Duke couldn’t shake the image of Erin from his recent encounter. That exceptional presence she exuded. At the banquet, he had felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up when he saw her.

Every knight present must have been surprised by her aura, which was far beyond what a beginner from the Swordsmanship Department should possess. She radiated an even sharper energy than when they had met previously.

Whenever he saw Erin, Duke Asili experienced a strange, inexplicable sensation—a peculiar feeling he couldn’t put into words. ‘Perhaps I should finally ask her to become my disciple,’ he considered.

So when his senior knight brought him the news, he was genuinely angered.

“My lord, His Majesty the Emperor has issued a promotion exam mission to Lady Erin.”

“A promotion exam, so suddenly?”

“Yes, and I heard the mission is to be carried out in the western region.”

The Duke was dumbfounded.

“What did you just say? She’s being sent to the west for her promotion exam?”

The senior knight nodded with a serious expression. Typically, knights with promising futures stood out from their academy days. The Emperor would show an unusual interest in such individuals and occasionally assign them dangerous promotion missions.

‘If they return alive, they would gain tremendous honor, but…’

Even so, ordering a promotion exam in the west was extreme. The Emperor must know how dangerous that land was. He couldn’t send such a talented individual who had received the sword’s blessing to such a place.

“This is an absurd mission. I’ll speak to His Majesty directly,” the Duke declared firmly as he rose from his seat. The apprentice knight hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

“You mustn’t, my lord. Didn’t you already upset His Majesty when you opposed his decision regarding Sir Amon’s promotion exam? You should restrain yourself.”

“I cannot allow a talent chosen by the sword to die like this. I must go to the Imperial Palace immediately… No, I should speak with Erin first. Where is she now?”

The apprentice knight, secretly relieved, answered that he would find her immediately and left the office.

After some time passed, a knock sounded and two presences were felt outside.

‘I should tell her not to worry,’ the Duke thought. He didn’t want Erin to be distracted from her sword practice due to unnecessary concerns.

‘She needs to improve quickly.’

Duke Asili expected that someday Erin would grow into a knight equal to himself. She possessed that kind of talent.

However, when Erin entered his office and responded to his words, Duke Asili could only lament.

“Lady Erin, what did you just say?”

“I said I intend to go take the promotion exam in the west.”

Why are all geniuses so arrogant? The Duke found it regrettable.

“The monsters in the western region are stronger than elsewhere. It’s not a place for you to go yet, especially not suitable for completing a mission to advance to the upper class.”

“…”

“You need to bring back three heads of mid-level monsters. This isn’t a mission given with the expectation of completion. I know you haven’t been wielding a sword for long.”

“…”

“Nevertheless, I heard you defeated Amon Hedor. That’s truly remarkable talent. Don’t you find it wasteful? No matter how glorious, throwing away your life is foolish.”

Very occasionally, knights who overestimated their abilities would express a desire to take their promotion exam in the western region, seeing it as the best opportunity to prove their strength. But in Duke Asili’s opinion, this was foolish.

‘Is Erin Liserth that type of knight?’

The Duke closed his eyes in frustration. A moderate amount of pride was necessary, but knights who overestimated themselves never grew. He regretted that Erin, whose talent he had acknowledged, was such a person.

“I understand your concerns. But please give me a chance.”

A chill ran through Duke Asili’s eyes.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll give you a chance.”

He had no intention of sending Erin to the western region. Even if she didn’t yet understand her limits, he didn’t want to lose a talented knight.

“Draw your sword, Lady Erin. If you can block my sword for ten exchanges, I’ll allow you to go west.”

But the Duke had no idea that this reaction was exactly what Erin wanted.

* * *

When Corelia left Atenz Academy, she didn’t head to Marquis Liserth’s residence. Instead, she waited for the Emperor in a greenhouse within the Imperial Palace—a place they used for their secret meetings. She savored the tea before her while the greenhouse exuded a thick scent of death.

A greenhouse built upon countless corpses. Corelia broke the stem of a nearby plant. The way it snapped without resistance reminded her of Erin. ‘Yes, she used to be like this,’ she thought, tilting her head. When did Erin change?

“Corelia.”

In the Emperor’s presence, Corelia rose. She saw him entering the greenhouse accompanied by his senior knights.

“Karon Liserth has discovered the truth.”

“How?”

Corelia explained what had happened at the banquet. “I don’t think we can leave the House of Liserth alone anymore.”

“I’ve already ordered Erin Liserth’s promotion exam after receiving your urgent report.”

Through Corelia’s regular reports, the Emperor knew what Erin had endured. No matter if she had received the sword’s blessing, with her body damaged, becoming a Sword Master would be impossible.

Yet recent rumors contradicted his expectations completely. The Emperor disliked situations that didn’t unfold according to his plans.

Normally, he would have punished Corelia for failing to properly carry out his orders. But even if Erin’s talent was blooming, it no longer mattered. The preparations for his grand plan were nearly complete.

“Yes, I was planning to clean up the western region soon anyway. I’ve sent Charlotte, so we can definitively end everything.”

“Is that really necessary? Well, do as you please.”

Originally, he would have initiated things further in the future, but Corelia’s words had accelerated his timeline.

“In any case, returning alive from there would be impossible for anyone except Duke Asili.”

“Even Duke Asili would suffer significant damage.”

“Indeed, so Erin Liserth will absolutely never return alive.”

“What if Marquis Liserth objects?”

The Emperor smiled darkly at Corelia’s question.

“It’s time to deal with House Liserth, Corelia. We’ve prepared enough.”

“…”

“You may do as you wish.”

Corelia bowed deeply. These were the words she had been waiting for over many long years.

* * *

Duke Asili moved with Erin to his temporary training ground within the academy. It was a space the academy had temporarily provided for his convenience.

Watching them, the senior knight was filled with anticipation. ‘A sparring match with Duke Asili!’ His heart began to pound. Moreover, the opponent was Erin Liserth, rumored to have received the “sword’s blessing.”

Of course, given the difference in skill, it would clearly be an instructional match, but the senior knight couldn’t contain his excitement. This was because it had been an extremely long time since Duke Asili had sparred with anyone.

However, contrary to the senior knight’s expectations, Duke Asili felt no particular enthusiasm for this match. He hadn’t enjoyed sparring for some time. Since reaching the level of Sword Master, competing with others had become meaningless to him.

The Duke possessed such outstanding skills that even among Sword Masters, it would take two of them attacking together to defeat him. But knights, even Sword Masters, would never resort to such a shameful joint attack. Therefore, for Duke Asili, having a tense sparring match felt like a distant memory.

He addressed the senior knight following him. “Don’t let anyone in.”

At these words, the senior knight left the training ground with a dejected expression.

Only then did the Duke turn to Erin and ask, “Now tell me your true thoughts, Lady Erin. What exactly are you thinking?”