CLANG! CLASH!

Sharp metallic sounds rang out each time the swords collided violently. Noah managed to block Dillen’s aggressive attacks, sometimes just barely making it in time.

He knew he needed to focus on the match, but his thoughts kept drifting elsewhere.

‘Ferica was Lady Calliphe all along.’

The realization kept intruding into his mind.

‘Why didn’t she tell me?’

He felt upset remembering how much he had missed Lady Calliphe’s presence. 

The harsh words and attitude he had shown toward Ferica made him feel even worse. He had disliked her at first because she seemed close to Lady Calliphe and the Duke.

‘If I had known she was Lady Calliphe, I would have treated her much better!’

He felt sorry toward Lady Calliphe, but his resentment was just as strong.

“Hey, try attacking for once! It’s no fun if I win too easily!” Dillen taunted.

CLASH!

“Ugh…”

And again, if he had known Ferica was Lady Calliphe, ‘I would never have let her see me getting bullied by Dillen’s friends.’

He didn’t want to show any more of his inadequacies, especially since she must have been disappointed watching him lose so pathetically to Dillen before. He wanted to show only his best side, not his weaknesses.

‘Because—’

Just then, Dillen sneered, “Come on, do better! Don’t you need to keep getting sponsored?”

“…!”

Dillen’s mockery struck a nerve. Seeing Noah’s reaction, Dillen grew even more smug and strode toward him confidently.

“If you keep being this pathetic, your sponsor will be disappointed in you too.”

At those words, Noah retreated hesitantly. The spectators watching the scene began to stir.

“What’s he doing? He’s not putting up any fight at all.”

“That kid suddenly looks scared.”

Noah couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying, but he could feel the unsettled atmosphere. A large cloud covered the arena, casting a shadow over the field. Perhaps because of the darkening surroundings, Noah felt his vision becoming blurred and uncertain.

That’s when it happened.

“Noah—!”

Through the confusing noise, a familiar voice caught Noah’s attention. When he turned his head quickly, he saw Calliphe cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting.

“You need to do your best! Don’t just stand there dazed!”

“Lady Calliphe…”

Mihail, who was sitting next to Calliphe, said something to her. After listening, Calliphe received something from him—a placard. She raised it high above her head.

As the clouds covering the stands and arena slowly cleared away, the message was revealed along with the sunlight: ‘Forever on your side!’

“…!”

Noah’s green eyes widened in surprise. Light finally began to shine on his shadowed face. 

‘That’s right. Ferica was the same.’

No matter how foolishly he behaved, she never disliked him. Instead, she tried to become friends with him. Lady Calliphe… she liked him just as he was!

“You dare to get distracted?”

“Ugh!”

SWOOSH!

Dillen launched a surprise attack. Noah barely managed to twist his body and deflect the attack with his sword. Without a moment’s respite, the fierce blade came rushing in again, and Noah’s sword blocked it.

CLANG! Grrrk.

As they tested their strength against each other, Noah’s feet gradually slid backward. As a grayish aura began to emanate from Dillen’s sword, Noah’s face contorted with the effort of holding his ground.

Certain of victory, Dillen grinned. “You thought you could beat me with such pathetic skills?”

“Ugh… ngh.”

“You arrogant brat. Just ridiculously lucky. I bet you escaped the Viscount’s plan with that same luck.”

“…What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Dillen gritted his teeth, “I don’t know how you figured it out, but you must have switched swords with that Ferica kid. So her sword would explode instead of yours. Right?”

“…!”

The words that initially made little sense gradually became a heavy shock that hit Noah’s mind. 

‘That can’t be. Then…’

The reason Lady Calliphe had secretly stayed by his side disguised as Ferica was ‘because she knew something would happen to me… she was trying to protect me?’

So that was it.

“Do you not intend to tell Noah that you were Ferica?”

“Why would I?”

“……”

“There’s no need to tell him. It would be pointless.”

Now he understood why Lady Calliphe had answered that way.

‘Lady Calliphe has never boasted about the things she’s done for me.’

So this time too, she had simply given an answer true to her character.

‘From beginning to end, Lady Calliphe has always been the same.’

And I didn’t even realize it.

“What’s with you?”

Dillen, who had briefly pulled back, laughed incredulously. “Are you seriously about to cry? Really? Hahaha!”

“…I always thought it was just luck too.”

“What?”

“So I thought my luck might run out at any time.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“But I won’t think that way anymore.”

Noah wiped his moist eyes with his sleeve. When he lowered his arm, what was revealed was like vibrant greenery that had become even more vivid after enduring a heavy downpour.

“I’ll believe.”

For the first time, Noah charged toward Dillen.

[Quest Complete!]

[You have successfully prevented the accident that was to occur during Noah’s match, completely averting the bad ending.]

[Noah’s ‘Trust Points’ are being converted to ‘Filial Piety’ at a 10:1 ratio.]

[Current Trust Points: 45]

[Reward calculation in progress…]

[Trust Points continue to rise!]

CLASH!

Noah’s sword, which had been purely defensive until now, became fierce. Moreover, his attacks grew stronger and faster with each exchange of blows.

The spectators, who had been somewhat bored and slouching, leaned forward in their seats. The murmuring gradually grew louder. Dillen’s previously relaxed expression slowly transformed into one of shock.

‘What the h*ll? Why is this kid’s sword getting heavier? I’m even using aura!’

The reason was soon revealed, announced by a spectator’s shout:

“Is that… aura?!”

A gray light shimmered like a heat haze along Noah’s blade. It was definitely aura!

‘Impossible!’

Dillen’s eyes bulged. Until their first match, this kid had shown no signs of manifesting aura. But when? Why? How so quickly?

‘…He’s a monster.’

A chill ran down his spine. ‘I need to end this quickly! Before this brat learns to use his aura properly!’

Dillen had realized since last night that his physical condition wasn’t good. Even now, using aura was difficult for him. So if he wanted to win, it had to be right now.

“Uaaaah!”

He summoned his aura with all his might. When he swung his sword horizontally with full force, a dense gray aura shot out in the form of a massive blade. It was an aura blast that would fly into the spectator stands whether Noah dodged or blocked it.

The spectators let out brief screams, and security personnel prepared shield magic. Dillen ignored this and smiled. ‘There’s no way he can block this with an aura that hasn’t even taken proper form yet!’

Noah concentrated. He felt the unfamiliar energy that had suddenly welled up inside him. He struck the wall blocking his path with that energy, like waves—once, twice, three times. And finally…

[Reward calculation complete!]

[Noah’s Trust Points: 300]

[Noah’s ‘Trust Points’ are being converted to ‘Filial Piety’ at a 10:1 ratio.]

[Current Filial Piety: 71]

[From 50 Filial Piety onwards, potential awakens rather than stat increases.]

[Noah has overcome the first wall of swordsmanship. His potential related to swordsmanship is awakening.]

Noah held his sword straight up. The pale gray light rapidly turned golden.

[Noah has established his own aura.]

It was clearly different from Dillen’s, which remained gray because he hadn’t yet found his attribute.

“What is that…?! Just a moment ago, it didn’t even have a proper form!”

Just as Dillen had done, Noah slashed his sword horizontally. A golden aura shot forth. The small aura collided violently in mid-air with the massive blade-shaped gray aura.

BOOM—!

A hot blast spread from the point of collision. A thick cloud of dust obscured everyone’s vision. The security personnel preparing shields, the watching spectators, and even Calliphe—all kept their eyes wide open, not looking away from the arena.

Eventually, as the dust settled, the arena came into view. Noah was kneeling on one knee, breathing heavily with difficulty.

—Th-the winner is…

And Dillen, who had been blown out of bounds and lay unconscious.

After a brief silence, the announcer spoke again.

—The final champion is contestant Noah! The youngest champion ever! The birth of a swordsmanship prodigy!

WOOOOAH!

A thrilling cheer shook the arena. Noah stood up unsteadily. After being momentarily dazed by the result before him, he turned to look at Calliphe and Lynen.

Toward the two who were overcome with emotion, Noah smiled brightly with a face as clear as a cloudless sky.

“…I did it!”