The Youth Division matches of the Martial Tournament concluded amid everyone’s surprise and exclamations.

Manifesting aura at the tender age of eight was an extremely rare occurrence. Even those who had reached the Sword Master level typically began working with aura in their early teens.

This was similar to the age when the empire’s most famous Sword Master, Lynen Ortega, first manifested his aura.

People seemed to take it for granted that Noah would become a Sword Master.

A single Sword Master could sometimes end wars by their mere presence, representing tremendous military power.

Noah’s emergence was practically a guarantee that the empire’s prosperity would continue.

‘He’s become everyone’s pride and joy.’

Calliphe contentedly enjoyed the surrounding commotion like music.

“Excuse me, Lady Offensa. Do you remember me?”

“Your Grace, hello. I am…”

Nobles were already approaching, trying to build connections.

Calliphe elegantly tucked her side hair behind her ear and smiled gracefully.

“Don’t talk to me. Don’t you know I need to watch the award ceremony? Have you no tact?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Just then, the excited announcer spoke.

—Dear audience, please contain your excitement for a moment. We can’t keep the winner standing here forever, can we?

“Hahaha!”

Small laughter erupted as the excitement gradually subsided.

—Very well. Ladies and gentlemen, today we witnessed the birth of a genius. A genius deserves the highest honor, doesn’t he? Her Majesty the Empress will personally present the glorious championship trophy to this young winner!

“Wooooah!”

The Empress appeared on the stage. Lucilia stood beside her, holding the trophy.

After the announcer’s verbose introduction, the Empress held the trophy with a benevolent expression.

“Congratulations, Contestant Noah. I hope you grow to become an excellent sword that protects the Clerance Empire.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Frozen from receiving so much attention, Noah accepted the trophy and prize money with a stiff posture.

The Empress’s gaze turned somewhat sour watching him.

‘Lady Offensa must be feeling quite proud of herself.’

While it was good that a new talent had emerged who could support Lucilia, it was unfortunate that this talent happened to be Lady Offensa’s sponsored child.

‘I had hoped this tournament would teach the lady her place, but instead it has only inflated her confidence.’

The Empress felt particularly angry about the explosion incident that had occurred earlier.

‘Clearly, the sword of that child Ferica, Duke Ortega’s sponsored child, exploded.’

Could Lady Offensa have given that sword to Ferica?

Perhaps she had used underhanded means to ensure that either Noah or Ferica achieved results.

‘Duke Ortega wouldn’t have done such a thing. He is a loyal subject.’

However, Calliphe Offensa had been the subject of unsavory rumors in the past, so she couldn’t be trusted.

Moreover, the fact that she received protection from the High Cardinal’s Office was another reason the Empress found her troublesome.

Therefore, the Empress secretly hoped that Calliphe Offensa was responsible for the explosion.

‘How dare she cause an explosion at an official event that Lucilia is hosting for the first time. I will not let this slide.’

She would need to investigate this child called Ferica.

With this resolution, the Empress concluded the award ceremony. Or rather, she tried to.

“Please wait a moment.”

A clear voice penetrated everyone’s ears, powerful as though using a magical amplification device.

The startled Empress turned her head.

In the audience seats reserved for the highest nobility, Duke Ortega stood tall.

His voice, infused with magical power, spread throughout the venue.

“I humbly request that Your Majesty the Empress severely punish the perpetrator of the explosion incident that occurred during the semifinals earlier.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

The explosion incident, momentarily forgotten, became a topic of discussion once more.

The Empress replied with confusion.

“Of course, I won’t let this slide. It’s clear where the explosion originated from.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Or perhaps the Duke is trying to protect his sponsored child, Ferica?”

“I apologize, Your Majesty. But such an explosion is not something a child could orchestrate alone. Furthermore, if I had instructed someone to use unfair means, the explosion would have occurred with a different contestant.”

It was a reasonable point.

People murmured that a Sword Master had no reason to orchestrate such a thing.

The Empress agreed on that point.

“Then I must mention another person involved.”

The Empress’s gaze shifted to the person beside Lynen. Calliphe Offensa, sitting with her arms crossed in an arrogant posture.

“Offens—”

“Your words are most just, Your Majesty.”

Before the Empress could finish speaking, Lynen’s words cut in first. The timing was so perfect that it was difficult to reprimand him for interrupting the Empress.

“I believe I can ease Your Majesty’s burden and concerns.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I have already secured witnesses and evidence that can identify the culprit.”

“…!”

Lynen’s calmly delivered statement created ripples of surprise.

“If Your Majesty permits, I would like to present this evidence here and now.”

“…”

He caught the culprit this quickly? And even brought witnesses here?

“As expected of Duke Ortega…”

The nobles clicked their tongues in admiration. The Empress’s expression was not much different.

Duke Ortega was known for being righteous and fair. He was not someone who would shield others due to personal feelings. Moreover, if he had evidence and witnesses, it must be reliable.

She nodded, calming her surprised heart.

“Very well. I permit it.”

“Thank you.”

Lynen gave a signal to Raul, who was waiting below.

Raul nodded and brought in the first witness with the event staff.

“The first witness is James Rondo. He was a low-level administrator responsible for inspecting prohibited items and conducting safety checks at the Youth Division contestants’ quarters.”

This was the person Viscount Gallard had bribed.

With a thud, James was forced to his knees and trembled violently.

“Y-yes, it’s true! I secretly applied an aura absorption potion to the contestant’s sword. So it would explode during the match!”

People gasped at his confession.

Calliphe was also surprised.

‘I was planning to take care of this, but Lynen already handled it? Did he have time for that?’

All of this had happened the previous night.

Lynen had received Raul’s report through a communication stone. He learned about Calliphe’s plan and the existence of the viscount’s bribed lackey.

He immediately issued new instructions.

Following orders, Raul easily found the intruder who had entered Noah’s room. This was thanks to his hunting dog’s excellent sense of smell.

Raul had planted a knife at the terrified James’s bedside and growled menacingly.

‘Confess if you don’t want to be buried in the snowy mountains.’

This was the result.

The Empress barely maintained her composure as she asked, “So you used that… potion on Ferica’s sword?”

“N-no. I originally targeted Contestant Noah’s sword… I made a mistake because it was dark and things were moving around.”

“What?!”

The empire’s promising talent had nearly been victimized!

The audience began to stir with anger and shock.

No one noticed that James’s testimony was slightly mixed with lies. The upcoming testimonies would be the same.

That was Lynen’s intention.

Lynen immediately brought in the second witness.

This time, a man who looked like a prisoner was dragged in.

“Oh please! Spare me!”

“This is an illegal apothecary from the Sack District who sold the aura absorption potion. And here is the sales ledger with the transaction details.”

The Empress received the ledger through an event staff member. Upon examination, it proved to be authentic.

“Goodness, this is…”

There was no possibility that the ledger had been fabricated. Such shallow tricks would be quickly exposed.

By this point, the Empress understood Duke Ortega’s intention.

‘The Duke is hunting down the culprit.’

He was deliberately trapping the perpetrator. The implication was that if this matter were glossed over, the imperial family would be greatly disappointed.

Fortunately, since the Duke was an honest person, there was no fabrication.

With this in mind, the Empress asked the apothecary.

“…Tell the truth. Who purchased this potion? Who is the real culprit behind the explosion?”

“I-I don’t know his name. Only that he was some viscount… But I clearly remember who came to buy the potion. It was a boy named Dillen!”

The audience was greatly surprised by the apothecary’s exclamation.

“Dillen?!”

“Wait, isn’t Dillen sponsored by Viscount Gallard?”

“So Viscount Gallard orchestrated this whole thing?”

At this, Viscount Gallard, who had turned pale, squawked loudly.

“No! I know nothing about this! D-Dillen must have done this on his own, ungrateful brat!”

The Viscount continued to squawk.

Calliphe, who was listening with distaste, glanced at Lynen.

“You’re not going to let the Viscount escape, are you?”

“Of course not. To use your expression—”

Lynen slightly raised the corner of his mouth, barely noticeable.

“I’ve saved the final blow for last.”