A giant shrine pillar split in half.
My hair, as I stood before it, was also brutally sheared off.
‘As expected of a monster.’
Camellia, who had only been flustered when she first faced my surprise attack.
After a few clashes, she had already learned to defend against most of my hidden weapons.
The former stone statues watched the scene with satisfaction.
When one of them began to doze off, the silent Axe Statue woke it up.
That’s how much time had passed.
‘This should be enough.’
I shrouded myself in Mana so strong it made my silver hair look pitch black.
At that sight, Camellia also skillfully adjusted her spear.
“What kind of new, wondrous technique will you show me this time, Derek Minster?”
The Blue Eyes shining from between strands of Golden Hair sparkled.
With sweat beading on her forehead, she was thoroughly enjoying this brutal spar.
‘I’ve never seen her like this in all my regressions.’
What excited her wasn’t wealth, Honor, or the opposite sex at all.
It was only to grow and become worthy of being the Guardian of the Empire.
As if to repay that passion, I also raised my dagger.
Intending to show her even the final Secret Technique I used as the Lord of Darkness.
“Look forward to it.
If you succeed in defending against this, I will acknowledge Your Highness.”
I rushed in at a much faster speed than before.
Close enough to smell the faint scent emanating from her body.
“You’re certainly faster than before, but it’s useless.”
The princess quickly raised her short-gripped spear and blocked the blade.
Just like that, she pushed my body away, and as the distance widened, she attempted a thrust.
However.
She realized the body she had stabbed was not the real one.
Because it wasn’t crimson blood that billowed from the torso, but Black Smoke.
The Shrine, created by absolute magic, was instantly plunged into darkness.
Within the thick fog, on par with Confession Magic, sharp daggers rained down from all directions.
“When did you create these clones…?” “Don’t think of them as clones, but as the enemy’s comrades.
Assassins never act alone.”
Dozens of daggers dug in from all directions.
The neck, the heart, the waist, the thighs, and so on.
I aimed for the same places the veteran assassins had stabbed when she was assassinated.
“There’s no way to dodge this…”
Not even one of The Strong could evade dozens of daggers in the dark.
In fact, not only the princess, but many of The Strong from the Previous Regression fell to this technique.
However, the her of this life is different.
Because at the end of a rough spar that felt like a life-or-death battle, she had finally found the Counter Method.
Camellia, who wasn’t naturally fast due to her sturdy build.
Instead, being proficient in magic, she cast an immense acceleration spell on the arm holding the spear.
Then, the moment she swung it once, gracefully.
Great Spear Landruin drew a perfect arc like a full moon, striking away all the daggers.
To the point that the incredible acceleration broke my arm holding the dagger.
To the point that it erased all the black fog with its Wind Pressure.
“Khh…!!”
This time, even I, who had regained the power of my Previous Regression, couldn’t help but let out a short groan.
Pushed back by the overwhelming Wind Pressure, I collapsed.
Still, as I collapsed, I gave a faint smile.
I was far happier that my anxiety about the future had vanished than I was pained in the moment.
‘It’s done.
With this, she’ll be safe from any assassination attempt.’
Soon, a black shadow fell over my face.
Camellia pounced on top of my collapsed form like a giant Lioness.
She mounted my body and confidently aimed her spear.
Her thighs, wrapped in white slacks, completely pinned both of my arms.
“It seems I’ve won this time, Derek Minster.”
Her ragged breaths were audible up close.
The eyes of the imperious Empress had, at some point, changed to those of a schoolgirl proud of her achievement.
“Congratulations.
You truly are a fast learner.”
A drop of her sweat fell onto my cheek.
Camellia soon realized that not a single drop of cold sweat was on my face.
“You, don’t tell me…”
The princess’s eyes twitched slightly.
Realizing I hadn’t defended on purpose, her expression turned to one of shame.
“That’s not it.
Even I couldn’t have defended against the strike you just showed me.” “This snake-like man…!!”
For the first time, the princess spoke to me in a vexed voice.
Her Pride clearly wounded, she quickly pulled back.
“I knew you let me win on purpose!”
She whipped her head away.
Then, her eyes met with the stone statues watching from a distance.
「…」 「…」 「…」
They stared intently at the princess, who was much younger than them.
Then, they deliberately avoided her gaze and pretended to be occupied.
Scratching at armor that wasn’t itchy, and inspecting the innocent axe blade.
“…”
At that sight, she grew even more flustered.
As if she felt hot, she tugged at her form-fitting Combat Uniform to cool down.
“Well, anyway, it seems there’s nothing more to teach you.” “Yes.
That’s right.”
I replied nonchalantly, sprawled out on the ground.
“Then, I should probably get going now.” “My whole body has stiffened from that brilliant strike just now.
Please wait a moment.”
I said, patting my tingling back.
At that, the princess suspected this Sly Man might be teasing her again.
However, it was true that he had helped her overcome her weakness.
And so, in the end, she obediently approached.
“Can you get up?” “Yes.
I think I can manage that much.”
As I barely managed to lift my back, the princess personally helped me up.
Even though I had taken the hit on purpose, I had still taken the full damage.
I stumbled and ended up leaning heavily against her body.
The princess didn’t show any particular sign of displeasure.
Rather, she pulled my head toward her shoulder so I could rest more.
Unlike her overwhelming martial prowess, Camellia’s body, which I leaned on, was very soft.
To the point that it felt like I was enjoying a peaceful rest for the first time in a while.
“The Former Judges wanted to see you.
Stop by for a moment before you leave.”
The princess pointed to the statues clad in platinum armor.
Just then, the most silent one among them beckoned to me.
“Understood.
This is perfect, as I needed to return the weapon I borrowed anyway.”
I calmly approached the one holding the axe.
Then, I held out the dagger with the crow ornament.
「That dagger…
you may take it.」
“Me?
It seems to be a very precious artifact.”
「It belonged to the First Commander of the Black Knights, but she did not pass it down to her successor.
Thanks to that, it became an ownerless item.」
I think I can guess the reason why.
As can be seen from the current commander aiming to assassinate the princess, she didn’t trust her successor.
The Empire is currently in the midst of a vicious political struggle over the heirs to the throne.
The spirit of chivalry must have disappeared long ago.
「Didn’t you also grasp the ominous atmosphere of the Imperial Palace lately and teach her how to counter an assassination?
With that level of Loyalty, the first commander would also be satisfied.」
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Character illustrations & later chapters: