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Chapter 335

By the third round, the score stood at one win for Kona Academy and two for the Imperial Academy.

As I’d said before, all it took was one more victory—and we’d secured it.

Naturally, the expressions on the Imperial students’ faces brightened.

“Didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”

“So that’s why we had to go through all that insane training…”

“Heheh. Senior, I won!”

Carnivel, thinking the first match had sealed the deal, grinned playfully at Melissa.

“Good work. I’m up next.”

Melissa spoke calmly, drawing her sword as she stepped into the arena.

Her opponent: Talion Fedmore, the notorious prince of the Fedmore royal family.

“Even now, it’s not too late to become my woman,”

He said, resting his shamshir-like sword on his shoulder, voice dripping arrogance.

“Surely you know women are physically unsuited to beat men—let alone a man destined to be the king of Fedmore?”

“That mouth of yours never stops, does it?”

“You could use some etiquette lessons.”

Who in their right mind said something like that to a duke from another kingdom?

No wonder even the Fedmore royals called him a degenerate.

While the Fedmore family had once been heavily patriarchal, even they had toned down over the years.

But this man—he lived as if still trapped in the past.

“You’re the one who needs manners. I’m a duke of the Bata Kingdom. If you want to be treated like royalty, start by learning respect.”

Melissa drew her mithril sword, laced with orichalcum.

Talion smirked.

“Such sharpness—that, too, can be charming.”

He twirled his blade arrogantly.

“Come. Show me your skill. I’ll enjoy the show.”

That was the swagger of someone absolutely confident in his strength—and to be fair, he was known for incredible talent.

Even so… his luck had run out.

“Enjoy my skill? You’ve really got no idea what to say and what not to, huh?”

Melissa took a single step forward.

BOOM!!!

A violent surge of aura burst from her, the kind unique to the Heavenly Demon Sword.

Those unaware of her full strength froze; even the Kona Academy instructors, who’d been confident in Talion, shot to their feet in shock.

“Wh–what is this?!”

In her hands shimmered a clear Aura Blade.

And the density of that aura—far beyond what any newly minted Sword Master could emit—was crushing.

It made sense.

She hadn’t ascended by ordinary means; she’d forced her way through with elixir rushes.

Crimson aura flooded the arena like a storm.

Talion’s smirk vanished.

He tried to react—to raise his sword—but—

BOOOOM!

By the time he realized it, Melissa was already right before him, sword raised.

The world slowed.

CLAAANG!!!

A deafening shockwave sent Talion Fedmore flying, tumbling across the ground.

“Kuh… What… was that…?”

Staggering, dazed, he stared at her.

Melissa tilted her sword toward him.

“You said you’d appreciate my swordsmanship. Was that it?”

“Gah—ack!”

He was already badly wounded.

“An… Aura Blade?”

He’d always been supremely confident in his talent.

But overwhelming talent can shatter in an instant.

When he finally raised his sword again and tried to move—

THUD!

Melissa’s oppressive aura pinned him in place.

He couldn’t take a single step.

“Kh… gah…”

Melissa walked toward him, calmly deflecting his feeble counterattack, then pressed her blade to his neck.

“My brother used to say something.”

“…”

“O-type, RH+. You? Not even close.”

It was, in essence, a declaration that the Fedmore royal bloodline itself wasn’t worth a damn—something that could’ve caused a diplomatic scandal.

But Melissa didn’t care.

After all, it was Talion who’d first disgraced himself by insulting a foreign noble.

The best part?

He didn’t even understand what she meant.

“O-type? More like AB. Talking out of your ass.”

“Pfft. Melissa’s adorable.”

Without looking, she kicked a pebble at me.

“Shut it, deep-sea angler.”

Grumbling, she sheathed her sword.

“Still not satisfied? Fine. Come on, I’ll humor you.”

Roaring, Talion raised his blade and charged.

Clang! Clang!

But what followed was pure annihilation.

Maybe she’d never forgotten the insult he’d given her long ago, because Melissa dismantled him—his pride, his skill, his entire self-image.

To be crushed by a woman he’d mocked, defeated in the art he prided himself on most… Talion was forced to face a cold, brutal truth.

The cadets watched in silence, realizing just how terrifying a Sword Master truly was—why such beings were called living weapons of war.

No one dared speak.

Only when the instructors of Kona Academy rushed in, shouting—

“Enough! The match is over!”

—did Melissa lower her sword and withdraw her aura.

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“Haa…”

“Huff… Huff…”

The spectators gasped for breath as if they’d been holding it all along.

Melissa gave Talion a last cold look and walked off the stage.

“That’s a Sword Master…”

“No wonder she’s the top of her class…”

“Top of the class? No, that’s something beyond rank…”

While whispers spread, Melissa turned to me with a weary look.

“Can I go rest now?”

“No, you’re not sneaking off that easy.”

She pouted.

“It’s a cultural exchange, not a tournament. Even if we’ve won, everyone’s supposed to spar.”

At my words, Basara, who’d been watching blankly, jumped up, grabbed his spear, and stepped onto the half-destroyed arena.

His opponent: Rodri Algras.

But after witnessing Melissa’s overwhelming display, Rodri’s face was pale.

The duel was awkward and short.

Rodri’s rapier technique was graceful, but Basara’s relentless offense broke through.

He never even managed to unleash his full power before losing.

And so, the first exchange event came to an end, and the cadets returned to their lodgings.

Without a word, I opened a subspace and pulled out an assortment of food.

“Alright! Good work, everyone. The second exchange starts in a few days, so tonight, we feast! You’re the stars tonight!”

“Wooooo!!!”

“That’s what I’m talking about!”

The tension dissolved into laughter.

Students who’d barely spoken before now laughed and chatted like old comrades.

Even Ashuria, who normally avoided such things, nibbled snacks while listening.

Melissa, too, sipped a drink and occasionally joined in—mostly, it seemed, to badmouth me.

But that was normal for siblings.

When night fell, I quietly slipped outside to give them space.

Luna followed.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere I want to show you.”

She chuckled and took my hand.

“If Leon wants to go, Luna will come.”

Nervously, I led her to the place I’d scouted earlier—a lake far from the exchange grounds, its surface glittering with starlight.

Beautiful, serene… ironic, really, since this was also the site where an archangel’s wrath had once struck.

We sat beneath a great tree, the moonlight shimmering over the water.

Luna leaned her head on my shoulder, and we watched in silence.

In the Labyrinthos, we’d never seen sights like this—only crimson skies, a blood-red moon, and monsters as far as the eye could see.

Even in the quieter halls, peace was always an illusion.

And lately, I’d realized something strange:

The memories transferred to me from the Sanctum weren’t arriving in the order of completion as the Librarian had said.

Not that I could prove it.

“Leon. It’s been almost three years since we met.”

“It’s been a while, huh.”

“At first, it didn’t matter much. But lately… I find myself clinging to things.”

Indeed, her anxiety about finding Fatelord, that precious ring, had lessened.

Once, it had been her lifeline.

But as she spent more time with me—and perhaps because of the goddess Eve sealed beneath our manor—her dependence had faded.

I turned my gaze from the lake to her.

She was looking at me, eyes soft, full of something unspoken.

And I thought: If not now, when?

“This is for you.”

I took out a necklace from my subspace and fastened it around her neck.

“What is it?”

“Nothing magical, really.”

Her eyes widened as she looked at the pendant.

“Adam’s energy?”

“Yeah. The god of death made it for you—but never got the chance to give it.”

She didn’t ask further.

Just stared at it, trembling slightly.

“I wasn’t sure I should give it to you. But if it helps ease your heart, then it’s worth it.”

“Luna.”

“Mm?”

“When this is over… let’s get married.”

No grand setup, no romantic buildup—just the words.

Yet she smiled, radiant and pure.

Her awkward, genuine smile said everything.

Then—

BOOM!

A deep rumble shook the forest.

Flocks of crows burst into the night sky.

“What was that sound?”

Of course.

Right when the mood was perfect.

I leapt up a tree to look—and saw smoke rising from the direction of the exchange grounds.

And then—

the Librarian’s messages flooded my vision.

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Humans consumed by the Red Moon’s madness are performing a ritual.]

[Time until completion: 24:00]

Tick.

[Time until completion: 23:59]

The messages multiplied so fast they blurred my vision.

And when I looked up—

the serene white moon had turned into a monstrous, blood-red eye glaring down from the heavens.

The starlit night was gone, replaced by a sky soaked in crimson light.

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