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The arena held the rapt attention of all who witnessed it, as if under a spell. Spectators couldn't believe what their eyes were seeing, as if transported to a realm beyond reality.

Some even cupped their hands over their eyes, hoping to wipe away the illusion, but the spectacle persisted. 

Raymond Millennium, like a force of nature, trounced Kaham Ruhaman in a breathtaking display of dominance. 

It was a moment that would forever be etched in their memories, a victory no one saw coming.

Was that all? 

The mere fact that Raymond had won was impossible to believe. 

Was it because they knew who Kaham Ruhaman was? 

He was said to be a child prodigy from age five, and there were rumors that he could beat quite a few knights when it came to swordsmanship alone. 

Although he was now overshadowed by the genius named Selina, none doubted his prowess. 

Even Count Warrug nodded when shown his talent. When he nodded, it meant that he liked what he saw. 

That meant Kaham Ruhaman was skilled enough to be acknowledged by Count Warrug. 

He couldn't, and shouldn't, lose to an incompetent person who could only reach the 1st Circle. 

No matter what tricks a wizard has, they can’t defeat a swordsman in close combat. 

Not that it was impossible, a miracle could happen. 

Or call it coincidence or chance. 

A wizard could have miraculously won. People wouldn’t be so surprised if that were the case, and it was after a close match. 

But instead, Raymond Millennium overwhelmed him. 

Kaham Ruhaman didn't even get a chance to counterattack. 

There were many variables when it came to magic, and if Kaham Ruhaman had lost because of that, it would have been justifiable—even if just a little. 

However, Kaham Ruhaman was defeated by Raymond's swordsmanship. 

That was the problem. 

Raymond Millennium fought him with a sword, not magic. And he won. Not just that, but it was an overwhelming victory. 

'Is this happening?' 

'Is Kaham Ruhaman just weak…? That can’t be true. Kaham Ruhaman is strong. That means...' 

The eyes of the onlookers shifted from the defeated Kaham Ruhaman to the triumphant Raymond. The once underestimated boy who had defied all odds and emerged victorious as the conqueror of a prodigy. A true monster who had shattered Kaham's invincibility. 

'Did Raymond learn swordsmanship?' 

'No, he only learned magic and was still stuck in the 1st Circle...' 

'Then did he use magic?' 

'There is no sign he used magic.' 

Raymond Millennium's swordsmanship defied description. Whispered murmurs echoed through the crowd as they watched in awe.

Beauty and elegance were not the hallmarks of his technique; it was raw and unrefined. Instead of flamboyant flourishes, he targeted his opponent's vulnerabilities with ruthless precision.

It was not a sight for the faint of heart, but it was undeniably effective. Each strike was a calculated blow, aimed at disrupting the opponent's equilibrium, making it seem as though he were a master toying with an amateur. 

"You were quite disappointing… considering the confidence you showed before." 

I smacked my lips. My voice was so low that only Kaham could hear it. 

Still, I thought he would fight back, at least as well as the youngest knight. 

But I was wrong about that. 

He hadn’t been able to counterattack once. Was he that confident with these skills? 

"Ugh..." 

I glared at Kaham. 

He looked blankly at me in shock, his dandy face swollen and bruised. 

I felt refreshed, given how annoyed I was by his continued provocation. 

"Tsk." 

With a disappointed sigh, I lowered my sword and clicked my tongue. I had noticed it during my sparring session with the knight, but my body was not up to par. 

My hands were peeled and sore, a constant reminder of my physical limitations.

As I glanced around, my gaze met Selina's. And in that moment, her sparkling eyes captivated me. It was as if starlight was reflected in them, it was almost too much to bear.

Honestly, they were... 

'It’s a bit much.' 

Her eyes were burdensome enough to make me turn away without even realizing it. 

*** 

When Raymond accepted Kaham's challenge, Selina looked forward to watching it. 

It was because of the thought that she would be able to see the sword technique Raymond showed the day he came to deliver the invitation in action. 

The swordsmanship she saw then was a rather big shock. 

'I couldn't see any way to win.' 

After that day, she did image training perhaps a hundred times, and each time she lost. 

No matter where she attacked or how she defended, her attacks didn't work, and she couldn't block a thing. 

It hurt her pride. 

Even so, she was the one who was called a swordsmanship genius, and he was the opponent she couldn't beat. 

She never thought she would feel this way about someone of a similar age. 

'Kaham will lose.' 

Selina predicted how their duel would end. 

Raymond's victory was the only result Selina could envision. She couldn't imagine that he would lose if he used the techniques she had seen. 

Whoosh. 

When Raymond's wooden sword landed against Kaham's throat, she realized she had been holding her breath. 

She stayed focused from the moment the match started until it ended. 

As expected, it was Raymond's victory. 

'What kind of sword technique is that?' 

She was speechless. 

The pressure he exuded before the fight was nothing compared to what she felt now. 

Was it because he overwhelmed Kaham? 

That was part of it, but more than that, she was greatly shocked by the sword technique he used. 

It contained the essence of what she had been exploring. Just at a glance, it was clear that it was great. 

But there was a problem. 

'It only focuses on killing.' 

There was a creepy intent to kill in every move he made. 

Others might simply be focused on how he overpowered Kaham, but she could see it. 

'I've never seen such murderous intent even in my father.' 

Count Warrug, who had participated in several wars, had no such desire to kill. 

It was like a technique that existed only to kill. 

'How can he use such swordsmanship?' 

Awe, and fear. 

Raymond's swordsmanship inspired both. 

And, at the same time, curiosity. 

'If it were me, would I be able to fight back?' 

It was impossible. 

If she had been there, she wouldn't have been able to do anything because of the pressure he exuded. 

To that extent, Raymond's swordsmanship was invincible. 

'Would my father be able to fight it?' 

She put all the people she knew before him, and there were none. 

At least no one she knew could beat him with pure swordsmanship. 

How could this be? 

'He said he hadn't held a sword before.' 

But what was that? 

Just like he arrived bearing the invitation, his actions belied his words. To behold him was to see the mark of a man who had slain countless souls.

'I don't know.' 

From whom had he learned such deadly skill?

Even if it seemed fitting that he had trained in swordsmanship, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. 

'I haven't even heard of techniques like it.' 

She met quite a few swordsmen and was introduced to several new techniques. 

But she had never seen anything like this. No, she didn't even think there was one like it. 

The swordsmanship is only for killing. 

'Did he make it himself?' 

But that didn't even make sense. 

No matter how genius he was, he couldn't create something from nothing. 

In other words, a huge sacrifice was necessary to create a swordsmanship that was this murderous. 

'What kind of person is he?' 

She became curious about him. 

And who would he use that skill on? 

Her heart was beating wildly, just like when she picked up a blade for the first time. 

*** 

I couldn't bring myself to meet her gaze. Those eyes seemed to hold the power to pierce through me with a single glance. Was it something I had done? 

But as the memory of the youngest knight came to mind, I realized I was far more at ease. Kaham, it seemed, was not the formidable foe I had imagined. My guard was lowered, and I need not fight with the same ferocity.

Then what was that? 

‘Hmm...’ 

Then there was only one thing left: did she like my swordsmanship? 

When describing Selina in the original story, the novel described her beauty. 

But she was also noted as a swordsmanship maniac. 

To match, or maybe even surpass, her genius was her obsession with swordsmanship. 

That’s why she became stronger with talent and hard work. 

‘Not bad.’ 

Being able to get her attention was a plus in itself. 

It was good that I got her attention... except if it was in the wrong way. 

“Aren’t you going to announce the winner?” 

I turned my head and said to the knight, who was staring at us blankly. 

He looked at me as if he was looking at a monster. 

I said, announce the results. 

As I gestured, the knight came up to the arena despite his bewilderment. 

“The winner is the Young Lord Raymond!” 

Despite the knight’s words, the nobles did not respond in any way. 

They still couldn’t get over the shock. 

Clap. 

Then someone clapped. When I glanced over, I realized it was Selina. 

Clap, clap, clap, clap. 

The others came to their senses at her applause and joined in. 

I couldn’t help but feel a flush of embarrassment wash over me as I stood in the spotlight before a throng of onlookers.

Returning the wooden sword to the knight with a graceful bow, I couldn’t help but wonder if this small act of chivalry might shift their perceptions of me.

Though the whispers and rumors that had plagued me may never fully dissipate, I couldn’t help but hope that this one moment of true skill would be forever etched in their minds, proving to all that the supposed incompetent had truly become a force to be reckoned with.

'This is enough for fan service.' 

My reason to linger in the arena was gone. 

Everything I wanted to show here was done. 

"Raymond." 

"Ah, did you watch it?" 

As I tried to leave, Count Millennium caught me. 

His face was cluttered with his many thoughts. 

'Is he going to investigate this incident?' 

It shouldn’t be more than a bit of a fuss, though. 

If I had disgraced myself in front of all these nobles, it would’ve been a direct insult to the Millennium Household. 

It worked out fine, though. 

'Rather, it went even better than I expected.' 

There would be fewer people looking down on me because of this incident, and more attention and respect would be paid to our family. 

Both in a good and a wrong way. 

'That's not my business anyway.' 

That was a matter for Count Millennium to take care of. I didn't have to worry about it. 

"You..." 

Still, Count Millennium seemed to have a slightly different idea. 

He looked back and forth between my face and blood-covered hands with trembling eyes. 

'Is he bothered by the swordsmanship I used?' 

That was understandable. 

His son, who has never appropriately trained, suddenly could defeat a prodigy swordsman in melee combat? 

What parent wouldn't be surprised? 

'I can solve that later... But why is he looking at me like that? It’s making me uncomfortable.' 

I shifted my gaze to Count Warrug, who was next to Count Millennium. 

Like Selina... no, his eyes were even more passionate than hers. 

"What's wrong?" 

He grabbed me by the shoulders. 

"What do you think of Selina?" 

What? What does he mean? 

[The 'Unknown God' frowns at his words.] 

What is he thinking?