The moment Camellia admitted it.
I quietly looked down at my crushed body.
Her words meant…
that in this place, I could use all the powers from my first and third Regressions.
“I’m sorry.
If we get out of here, I’ll find a way to compensate you for this.” “No.
There’s no need for that.”
I clenched my battered hand into a fist again.
The nerves in my wrist twitched as they began to recover their memories.
“Give me my compensation right here.” “Here?
How so?”
The Princess tilted her head, looking around the Shrine where there was no one but the two of us and the statues.
But then, she was startled by my next words.
“Let’s have a round.”
Because I had just said something no one in her entire life had ever said to her.
***
“What did you just say you want to do with me?”
A face even more surprised than when I had confessed.
Her once so aloof eyes widened, round like a Lion Cub’s.
“I knew my Minster Family was villainous, but I had no idea it was to this extent.”
She spoke with a forced calm expression, but her voice was a little louder than usual.
Does she think I’m going to assassinate her or something?
“It’s not a duel.
I’m just requesting a sparring match.”
Hearing the words ‘sparring match,’ the Princess realized she wasn’t acting like her usual self.
She turned her head and coldly cleared her throat again.
While turned away, the Princess made eye contact with the statues watching from a distance.
Despite them wearing helmets, she realized they had smirked at her.
「The former one was also charming in that way.」 「I guess blood really doesn’t lie.」 「…She’s cute.」
Camellia gave them a frosty glare.
Only then did they fall silent before her cold gaze, one she had inherited from the Emperor’s Presence.
“A sparring match…
It’s not impossible, but can you really be satisfied with just that?” “Yes.
It is a very important matter to me.”
“Since you are the strongest person in The North, I wish to receive ‘Teaching’ directly from you.” “If you have that much enthusiasm, you are always welcome.”
Perhaps it was because she knew he was appointed Prison Warden to reform vicious criminals.
The Princess withdrew the Ruthlessness that made her seem like she wouldn’t bleed a single drop if stabbed.
“Fine.
What will be the method?” “Let’s go rough.
The match ends when one person wins, by any means necessary.”
“You seem to be quite angry with me…
I accept.”
Camellia let out a short sigh.
Then, for my sake, as I was bare-handed, she pointed to the statues.
“Ask the Former Judges over there for a weapon.”
The most taciturn Axe Statue beckoned me to come closer.
Come to think of it, that armor was the one worn by the Commander of the Imperial Knights, a position I achieved in my first regression.
「…Choose the weapon you desire.」
Ancient weapons materialized in his giant hand.
All Top-tier Artifacts used by former emperors or beings of equivalent status.
Bastard Sword.
Zweihänder.
Battle Axe.
…
They were all formidable weapons, but what I chose was the smallest among them.
A dagger with a rusty blade, but with an exquisite Crow decoration.
‘This belonged to the first Commander of the Black Knights.
Excellent for assassination.’
“I’ll use this.”
The other statues looked at me choosing the dagger with puzzlement.
However, the Axe Statue, at least, silently nodded.
「…You know your opponent’s weakness well.」
Camellia stood in the most spacious area of the Shrine.
I approached her, dagger in hand.
“Are you ready?”
She returned to her aloof expression.
Her eyes showed she was planning to hold back, as if being considerate of me who was crushed by the Confession Magic.
“Yes.
I look forward to it.”
The Princess raised Landruin.
She waited calmly, as if yielding the first strike to me.
“Then, please learn a thing or two.”
Not ‘I will learn’, but ‘please learn’.
The Princess tilted her head at that arrogant remark.
The moment she thought I still hadn’t come to my senses after the Confession Magic.
Claaang!!
Seeing the dagger rush in an instant, she completely discarded that thought.
Because the arrogant one had been herself, for yielding the first strike.
“You shouldn’t be surprised by a Surprise Attack.
As a candidate for the throne, you must always be prepared.”
The eyes of the man standing before her had completely changed.
From an insidious Corrupt Official to a chilling Assassin.
“Today, I will properly engrave it into you.”
Being able to use the power of a Previous Life meant it included the lives from Previous Regressions.
I regained the power from my time as the Lord of Darkness in the third regression.
To the time when I killed countless nobles and knights, the seeds of disaster, with a single strike.
In the past, the Civil War Ruin ending was triggered when Camellia was assassinated.
The culprits were the Commander of the Black Knights who sided with the Crown Prince, and the assassins from The Holy See.
Today, I will teach her their methods properly.
The Princess, a perfectionist by nature, will surely learn it well.
“Power…
were you hiding it?” “An Assassin always hides his power.”
Camellia forcefully pushed me away with her great spear to create distance.
She swung her spear at me, using its long range.
Kwaaaang!!
A vast flower of cracks blossomed on the ground where it struck.
But, no matter how strong the power, it’s useless if it doesn’t reach the opponent.
Because before the tip of her spear even touched the floor, I was already aiming for her neck.
“Kuhk…!!”
The Princess barely defended by shoving me with her shoulder.
However, as I was pushed back, I simultaneously slashed her arm.
“Do not swing a spear widely against a dagger.
It only gives opportunities to skilled assassins.”
I warned her with viper-like green eyes.
Clutching her injured arm, the Princess stared at me blankly for a moment.
“……” “You keep spacing out like that, so isn’t that why you get stabbed in the back by the next assassin?”
At the continuous sideline coaching, the corners of Camellia’s lips began to tremble.
Her pale face had already been flushed red for a while.
Her expression showed her Pride was greatly wounded.
“Fine, in that case, I won’t hold back any longer.”
She emitted the same Presence as the Former Emperor who conquered the continent.
Her perfectionist’s Competitive Spirit was properly ignited.
“I too shall treat this as Actual Combat.” “Excellent.
Consider everything of Your Highness to be on the line.”
I acted leisurely, skillfully twirling the dagger.
Seeing that, the Princess coolly made a pledge.
“Of course.
If you win, I will grant you any Wish you desire.”
Camellia, who had released all her power.
A giant Lion’s form bloomed behind her.
‘A Wish sounds good.’
Because my wish is for you to govern The Empire peacefully for a long, long time.
Only then can I comfortably enjoy the life of a nobleman.
With that Desire, I too charged forward.
Towards the only being who could protect The Empire.