“D*mn it…”

Dillen gritted his teeth as he watched Noah training alone in the practice yard. After today’s semifinal match ended, Dillen met Viscount Gallard who had been waiting in the reception room. There, he received a severe scolding.

“Your useless antics have only elevated Lady Calliphe’s reputation!”

Dillen rubbed his swollen cheek, which still stung from the viscount’s rings. His anger, however, wasn’t directed at Viscount Gallard but at Noah—the one who had caused this humiliation.

“It’s all because of that brat,” he muttered.

Dillen had heard the spectators’ whispers too. They were focusing on Noah, calling him a noble little knight. His teeth ground together in frustration. Despite coming from a lower background, wielding a sword poorly, and being younger than him, Noah was getting all the attention.

‘Knight? Reputation? He gained it all by using me. What a despicable kid.’

This was unforgivable. Dillen pulled a small vial from his pocket containing a colorless liquid. Back in his room, he drew his sword and channeled his aura. Those new to aura manipulation hadn’t yet developed their own color, so their aura appeared grayish. When the gray aura formed around his sword, Dillen brought the opened vial close to it.

The absorption potion gradually absorbed the aura, turning a light gray color.

“I was originally going to stop here,” he murmured. But that seemed insufficient for his sense of injustice. He wanted to teach that arrogant little boy a more definitive lesson.

Dillen summoned more aura, concentrating until his eyes became bloodshot. The liquid, previously a light gray, darkened to near black.

Sweat poured down his face from the excessive aura release, but a satisfied smile spread across his features.

A little while later, Dillen called out to Noah who was returning to his quarters. “Got a minute?”

Looking at the wary Noah, he forced his lips into a smile. “I’d like to talk with you.”

“…Now?”

“Yeah. I brought drinks too.” Dillen held out a cup. “You like strawberries, right? It’s strawberry juice.”

“…Are you trying to spar with me?”

“No. Leave your sword behind. I didn’t bring mine either. I just want to have an honest conversation with you.” Dillen lowered his eyebrows. “I want to apologize for how my friends treated you.”

After a moment of hesitation, Noah left his sword in his room and came back out. “Alright.”

* * *

As curfew approached, magical streetlamps lit up throughout the imperial palace. Walking through the darkening garden, Noah listened to Dillen’s story, each holding a cup of juice.

“…So I had no idea they were doing those things.”

“…”

“I’m really troubled by this. Actually, I’m the biggest victim in this situation.”

“…”

“But anyway, you must hate me, right?”

“You said you didn’t know about it.”

“Yeah. I had no idea. That’s why I’m apologizing—don’t hate me too much. Especially since I completely beat you last time.”

“That’s okay now.”

“It is?”

“Yes. Honestly, I did resent you a bit… but I was more upset with myself. I was overconfident that I could win… so it was my fault.”

“…”

Dillen’s lips twisted before he quickly forced another smile.

“Wow, impressive! They must teach that at the orphanage too. But why aren’t you drinking? Are you ignoring my goodwill?”

Noah shook his head.

“Then drink up.”

Dillen took a swig of his juice first. Just as the hesitant Noah was about to raise his cup—

Rustle. The bushes behind them moved.

“What’s that?”

Dillen turned sharply and approached the bushes cautiously. A thin voice came from the shrubbery.

“…Meow~”

“Don’t pretend to be a cat! Who’s there?!”

As Dillen shouted and tried to check the bushes, a sleek black animal suddenly leaped out.

“Woof! Woof!”

“Ahhh!? A h-hunting dog?!”

“Grrrr woof woof bark!!”

“Ahhh!? My clothes!”

The hunting dog grabbed Dillen’s pant leg and shook its head violently, tearing the hem. While Dillen looked around for something to use as a weapon, the dog charged toward Noah.

“…!”

Noah froze in terror at the sight of the hunting dog, remembering a dangerous encounter with one at a general store. The dog hesitated momentarily before striking Noah’s juice cup with its front paw, spilling it.

Splash.

After confirming the juice had spilled on the ground, the hunting dog fled, its mission accomplished.

“What was that? Why is there a dog in the imperial palace?!”

“A guard dog… maybe?”

“D*mn it!”

Dillen fumed. “Great. It spilled the juice too.”

“It’s fine,” Noah shook his head. “I wasn’t going to drink it anyway.”

“What? Why?”

“You said you didn’t know what your friends did, but I don’t believe you.” Noah lowered his gaze slightly and spoke calmly. “You were their leader. You must have known.”

“So? Planning to get revenge?”

“No.”

Noah shook his head. When he thought about his match with Dillen at the training ground or his ordeal with the Flameli swarm, he deeply resented Dillen. He had even considered revenge.

But each time, Noah found himself reflecting on his own choices, regretting his past actions. In the end, what remained wasn’t hatred but determination.

“I want to become stronger.”

“What?”

Noah looked straight at Dillen. “But I don’t want to become strong like you.”

“Why you—!”

Noah pointed his index finger at Dillen. His green eyes, now remarkably hardened, pierced through his opponent.

“I’m going to beat you tomorrow. Fair and square.”

“…!”

With veins bulging on his forehead, Dillen shouted viciously, “Do you even have the skill for that? Huh?”

Noah walked past him without responding. Dillen continued shouting.

“Getting thrashed by me, a lowborn orphan who can’t even use aura! You’ll never rise above your station. You hear me? I’ll make sure of it!”

Noah walked away quietly, seemingly deaf to the taunts. As Dillen glared persistently at Noah’s back, his vision suddenly blurred.

“Ugh, what’s this?”

He shook his head and his vision returned to normal. With his mood already foul and now his condition deteriorating, Dillen cursed and turned away.

* * *

“Whiiine.”

Calliphe scolded Raul who had been whimpering for some time. “Stop whining. It’s annoying.”

“Young master was afraid of me! This is all your fault, my lady!”

Raul, looking reproachful, stared at Calliphe who had transformed into ‘Ferica.’

“You really did become younger. Though your personality seems unchanged.”

“Shut up.”

Thwack!

“Yelp! I follow orders and spill the drink, and this is the thanks I get?”

“Want some more?”

Raul flinched at her piercing glare. Despite treating Raul harshly, Calliphe was secretly impressed by his abilities.

‘I was truly startled when this dog appeared beside me while I was secretly following Noah.’

Calliphe had discovered Noah and Dillen after finishing her communication. When Dillen noticed her, she hastily pretended to be a cat—not very convincingly, of course.

‘Thankfully Raul stepped in. His infiltration skills are impressive too.’

As expected of the captain of the special unit personally selected by Duke Ortega.

‘First bribery, now infiltration… the Empress would flip if she knew. Though it helped that this isn’t the imperial family’s residence, so security is somewhat relaxed.’

“Here, take this first.”

The hunting dog Raul opened the small bag hanging from his neck with his nose. Calliphe examined the contents.

“A magical beast core? Wasn’t the apothecary supposed to make an antidote for the aura absorption potion?”

“Well, there’s quite a long story behind this.”

“What story?”

“It’s classified.”

Clearing his throat, Raul got straight to the point.

“Now I’ll explain our lord’s brilliant and wise plan.”