If rumors spread that Erin Liserth used black magic, her reputation would plummet beyond recovery.

“The knights sent by His Majesty the Emperor to find Erin Liserth were annihilated. Make sure this rumor circulates.”

The moment the knight heard these words, he immediately understood what he needed to do. Truth didn’t matter to him.

After all, those who gained strength through mana stones created with black magic were difficult to identify until they went berserk.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

* * *

At the training grounds of Atenz Academy.

“Erin Liserth has returned!”

The training grounds began to stir at the words of one trainee knight.

“The rumors were true.”

“She passed the promotion test!”

As soon as these words were spoken, a strange tension began to fill the air.

The western promotion test was a mission that talented knights dreamed of attempting at least once. However, most knights who challenged it lost their lives.

Now considered a reckless endeavor, few attempted it anymore.

Even Duke Asili had only attempted it during his official knight promotion test, making her promotion test results a new record.

Some expressed genuine admiration, while others’ eyes reflected jealousy.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

“I’ve heard some strange rumors too.”

“Strange rumors?”

“They say Erin Liserth killed the high-ranking knights who came with orders from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“There’s also talk that she gained her strength through black magic.”

After this last statement, none of the trainee knights spoke up.

Successfully completing the western promotion test was already astonishing, but killing high-ranking knights?

“Is that true?”

“Yes, I heard it happened in a village near the academy.”

“Was it just one knight?”

“At least five.”

“That’s impossible. How could someone who isn’t even a Sword Master do that?”

Several Swordsmanship Department students raised their voices.

“Then maybe the rumors are true? That she became stronger through black magic…”

At one student’s words, silence fell over the training grounds again.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

It was Karon who spoke up.

Having overheard the conversation from a corner of the training grounds, he found it absurd.

“Are you blinded by jealousy? Have you no shame as knights? Instead of slandering others, why don’t you focus on your training?”

“But Karon Liserth! You said it yourself before. That Erin Liserth had never held a sword.”

“…”

“You said she had no interest in swords. Everyone in this empire knows that fact.”

“And? What are you trying to say?”

The knight exclaimed in frustration at Karon’s response.

“How could she suddenly become this strong? Is that even possible, even if she was chosen by the sword?”

Karon rose to his feet. The knight in front of him visibly flinched and stepped back at his sudden movement.

Karon spoke in a fierce tone, “What you’re saying now amounts to insulting the entire House Liserth. Can you take responsibility for those words?”

After his cutting remark, no trainee knight dared speak further.

Yet once sown, seeds of doubt would not easily disappear.

Karon gathered his sword and turned away without hesitation. Though the rumors were distasteful, they confirmed that Erin had safely arrived at the academy.

He hurriedly made his way forward.

* * *

Karon headed to the central hall of the academy, certain that Erin would be there.

Sure enough, he spotted Erin surrounded by the Princess and Amon.

The Princess was clinging to Erin’s waist, nearly wailing.

“Lady Erin, how could you leave for the western promotion test without saying a word to me? Do you know how devastated I was when I heard the news?”

Karon’s eyes remained dry and emotionless as he watched the Princess.

Ferdin’s trainee knight corps had begun to notice the Princess’s true nature.

Since Erin’s departure, she had stopped hiding her real self from the trainee knights.

“The orders came suddenly. I’m sorry.”

The Princess responded with a start to Erin’s words.

“No, I’m not blaming you, Lady Erin. Just… please give me a hint next time.”

Amon shook his head at the Princess who twisted her body coquettishly as she spoke.

Derek still seemed unadjusted to the Princess’s behavior, unable to hide his astonishment.

Karon stood with his arms uncrossed, quietly observing Erin. Surrounded by the trainee knight corps, she looked genuinely happy.

He wondered how long it had been since he’d seen her smile so freely.

Moreover, she had returned safely, keeping her promise to him.

‘Has she avoided any serious injuries?’

But Karon’s brow furrowed as he noticed the bandages wrapped around her visible hands and glimpsed inside her sleeves.

Erin had been injured in the west.

“Sister.”

“Karon!”

Erin beamed at the sight of Karon.

It was the same smile she wore when reading books to him as a child.

“You’ve grown much stronger while I was away.”

“…”

“But don’t push yourself too hard.”

Karon looked surprised at Erin’s words. As she said, he had indeed gained insight and grown stronger since she last saw him.

He had continued training rigorously even after she left. Yet she had discerned this fact at a glance.

Karon lowered his eyes and sighed deeply. Despite all his training, he instantly realized how far he still had to go to be of help to Erin.

“That’s what I should be saying to you. You’re not badly hurt, are you?”

Karon’s gaze remained fixed on Erin’s injuries as he spoke.

“I received treatment in the west before returning. Fighting monsters made injuries unavoidable.”

Not just a monster, but hordes of them—though Erin had no intention of telling Karon this detail.

“I wasn’t seriously injured.”

Despite her reassurance, Karon still looked troubled. He glanced at the Princess standing beside Erin.

If Erin’s wounds could be healed with holy power, the Princess wouldn’t be standing idle.

‘She must have already used her holy power.’

Princess Asili stood beside Erin, merely touching her hand.

Perhaps the injuries were beyond what holy power could heal. Karon couldn’t help but wonder.

‘Sister wouldn’t have been hurt like this by monsters with her skill level. She must have done more than just complete the promotion test in the west.’

He sat across from Erin. Karon desperately wanted to ask what she had been doing in the west.

But he didn’t want to exhaust his sister who had just returned and was now conversing with everyone.

Instead of speaking to Erin, he glared at Hellix with distaste.

It irritated him how Hellix stuck close to her like her personal guard knight.

‘He disliked her so much before she left for the promotion test.’

He grew even more curious about what had happened in the west to change that unpleasant man.

Just then, Princess Asili clapped her hands excitedly.

“Let’s have a party today!”

“A party?”

“Yes, we should celebrate Lady Erin’s completion of the promotion test mission.”

The Princess said with a playful expression.

Erin disliked parties. For her, parties had always been painful experiences.

Except for the recent victory banquet after the subjugation mission, she had only attended imperial parties when practically dragged there by Corelia.

As Erin remained silent, recalling these memories, Princess Asili grabbed her arm with a mischievous look.

Then she led Erin to the storage cabinet inside the conference room.

“I brought this from Ferdin’s office.”

The Princess had another hidden secret—she was actually a tremendous drinker.

She was completely opposite to what people typically thought a Saint should be like.

Occasionally, wine gifts that Ferdin stored in his office would disappear—the culprit was always the Princess.

Watching her, Hellix spoke up.

“Alcohol is prohibited at the academy, Your Holiness.”

“Today is an exception.”

“There are no exceptions, but…”

Despite Hellix’s words, the Princess pretended not to hear and lifted the bottle.

He shook his head, unable to stop her.

* * *

“Ferdin says he’ll be late because he has matters to attend to. He told us to start drinking without him.”

Erin held her wine glass and sipped slowly. In her previous life, she had often enjoyed alcohol.

In her third life, the war against monsters had exhausted people. Most knights drank to soothe their weary hearts. Erin was no exception.

Her cheeks flushed red. She realized she had never drunk alcohol in this body.

Everyone was drinking so naturally that she had forgotten this fact.