Duke Isiron’s eyes shook violently.

Yet he was also one of the few power players reigning atop the pyramid.

He quickly began to compose himself and assess the situation.

“How can I believe your father’s words?”

At that moment—

The drum signaling the end of the break echoed through the hall.

I smiled gently and said,

“Even without presenting proof, Your Grace will come to your own conviction.”

“......”

“Decide how to make your deal after that. Well then.”

I bowed my head and left.

Behind me, Duke Isiron’s intense gaze followed.

Duke Isiron returned to his seat.

Duke Germo spoke with a friendly face.

“The next match is Western Army versus Southern Army.”

“......”

“The Wonhwa advance by default to the second round, and among the teams that reached the first match, the team with the best record will also get a bye to the final.”

“......”

“The main event is a tournament, so the matches will end fairly quickly... Duke Isiron?”

Only then did Duke Isiron look at him.

‘How strange.’

For such a cunning old man to lose focus outside.

There’s a saying: ‘Counting the number of hairs on Duke Isiron’s head is faster than counting the number of cunning tricks inside him.’

I had never seen him like this except at Empress Anna Maria’s funeral.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. The match is starting.”

Duke Isiron silently gazed at the arena.

‘It’s still uncertain.’

Whether Anna Maria truly bore a prince or not was unknown.

‘If anything, it’s more likely a lie.’

James was his foster brother.

Though the youngest of eight siblings and much younger than him.

It was Duke Isiron who made James a doctor instead of a farmer.

He brought him into the palace and gave him honor.

He made sure Anna Maria was well taken care of and never lacked money.

‘Why would James betray me?’

If anything, if he had pushed Empress Osellia’s scheme onto me, he would have been rewarded.

‘Yes, Erilot Astra’s words can’t be trusted.’

A child looking like Anna Maria could be presented as the prince.

‘But...’

Duke Isiron rubbed his forehead.

‘The possibility of truth cannot be denied either.’

James had a family.

If they threatened his family, could someone so sentimental refuse Osellia’s order?

If he killed Anna Maria for his family but couldn’t «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» betray the favor he owed and saved the child...

‘Then James’ sudden disappearance makes sense.’

At the time, he thought James fled knowing his own temperament.

As everyone guessed, Anna Maria really was a bastard.

He assumed James fled because he couldn’t protect the child and feared being killed.

‘Even if true, how will the child prove he’s my great-grandson?’

Just then—

“Western Army and Southern Army, enter!”

Judge Wolfgang shouted.

From the west entrance came the Western Army, and from the south entrance, the Southern Army.

Leading the soldiers were each army’s Wonhwa.

The Wonhwa facing each other lightly bowed.

Then the knights standing behind bowed to the opposing army.

“The soldiers facing the audience are numbered 1 through 5. The fifth soldier wears the armband symbolizing their army.”

No sooner had the judge finished explaining than the audience started murmuring.

“There are many unfamiliar faces in the Southern Army.”

“They said they recruited three new ones. All very handsome.”

“Hehe, the Southern Army is known for looks. Even Marquis Schumar looks... oh my.”

A noblewoman looking through binoculars gasped.

“Why?”

“Oh my. The real gems are all in the Western Army.”

“No way... oh my!”

All the Western Army participants were stunningly handsome.

Not to mention Jowik Châteaubriand, a famous former Senior General of the Central Army.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a friendly aura that made many noblewomen’s hearts flutter.

Hanjihyuk called him a ‘sportsman-type handsome man.’

“Who’s that brown-haired one?”

A noble girl asked excitedly.

“That’s Iseze Karam. The only sacred knight of the Western Army. He was a soldier just last year but was already famous for his looks.”

Iseze Karam was also a strikingly handsome young man.

He had a languid aura and sharp eyes, but soft lines gave him a strange charm.

Hanjihyuk called him an ‘idol type.’

“Who’s that knight?!”

“Where, where... I’ve never seen him before.”

“Ah! I saw him at the year-end festival. My mother said he was the most useful in the Western Army.”

“Oh, I remember. His name is... Liam! Liam.”

A man with bronze skin, red hair, and attractive yellow eyes.

He was bigger than Jowik.

Hanjihyuk called Liam a ‘delinquent-type handsome guy who looks like he’s had a lot of fun.’

“Ah! That’s Kazin! Former Senior General of the Southern Army...!”

“Oh my, Kazin, the face of the Southern Army...”

He had a neat appearance and an ascetic air, the best-looking knight of the Southern Army.

I heard the Southern Army was said to have the most handsome Wonhwa thanks to his looks.

Hanjihyuk said Kazin was the type who’d drive you crazy if dressed in uniform.

The noble ladies squealed with excitement.

The noblemen made displeased faces.

“Just a bunch of prostitute’s brothers.”

“Right. I’ve never seen a shiny-faced guy who was truly good.”

“Except for Jowik, there’s really nothing to see. That Iseze or whatever just supports with barriers, buffs, healing.”

“Yeah, specialized only in abilities like barrier, enhancement, and healing.”

“But who’s that?”

Everyone’s eyes focused on Western Army’s number two.

The knight slicked back his hair and narrowed his eyes.

“He’s wearing a hooded robe.”

Knights from other armies snorted.

“Looks like he’s not a prostitute’s brother.”

They chuckled at the joke.

Southern Army’s Wonhwa said,

“Remove the hood of Western Army’s number two.”

Erilot said nonchalantly,

“I don’t want to.”

“What?!”

Southern Army’s Wonhwa opened her mouth.

“That’s impossible. The Western Army already checked all our soldiers.”

“Is there a rule against wearing a hood?”

“That’s...!”

The Southern Wonhwa hesitated.

She looked at Judge Wolfgang.

Wolfgang said, “Uh...”

Then he took out a booklet from his jacket pocket.

Flipping quickly through pages, he said,

“There’s no such rule, but...”

Erilot smiled.

“That’s what I thought.”

“But morally—!”

“This Wonhwa’s official match name is ‘Public Combat Training.’ Can you check all your opponent’s info in battle?”

“B-But this isn’t fair!”

“I submitted my roster fairly and confirmed that I have no problems participating from the Emperor’s direct army.”

“That is...”

“Everything is part of my strategy to win this match.”

“......”

“As the Western Army’s commander, it is not unfair for me to strategize for my army.”

The dukes murmured in awe.

“The Western Army’s Wonhwa is truly extraordinary.”

“Now the Southern Army will be wary of the Western Army’s number two.”

The Astra Duchess’s mouth curled arrogantly.

“In battle, the moment you get scared, you lose.”

The nobles’ gazes shifted.

‘That girl is no ordinary child.’

‘No wonder the Astra Duchess is praised for having broad vision.’

‘She knows how to use the opponent’s emotions in battle? What kind of kid...’

Then, the Empress Dowager, watching the match with the Emperor, said,

“She’s indeed an exceptional child.”

The Emperor nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty. She is truly the daughter of Daymond Astra, the progenitor of the Empire.”

“Is that so? She reminds me of the young Chronos Astra, the Astra Duke.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the Astra Duchess at once.

The Empress Dowager chuckled softly.

“The 11th son of the Astra ancestor was just a boy with nothing, but he faced the world with those eyes.”

Back then, Astra’s prestige was tremendous.

Especially since Astra’s former duke was a ruthless tyrant, no one could oppose him easily.

That boy, only the 11th son, overthrew Astra’s king.

Thus, with Astra’s banner at his back, he newly ruled.

“She’s like a little Chronos Astra, that girl...”

To have not even flinched among these powerful figures.

Then the judge shouted,

“Player number one, step forward!”

Hearing the call, the number ones from the Western and Southern armies stepped into the arena.

“Stepping out of bounds, fainting, or declaring surrender means defeat. Monsters or familiars may not be summoned into the arena.”

“Yes.”

They bowed deeply to each other.

The drum sounded.

Dum—dum—dum!

The match began.

“Western Army’s number one is Kazin Lavio!”

“Foolish... Since he’s from the Southern Army, the opponent must know Kazin’s info well.”

Southern Army’s number one, Gemma, smirked at Kazin.

“Are you being used as a sacrificial pawn?”

“......”

“Everyone knows Kazin Lavio’s weakness─!”

Gemma stomped the ground and charged Kazin.

‘Left shin!’

The Southern Army Wonhwa always forced absurd training whenever I got angry.

Same as when we came in last at the year-end festival.

While other knights trained only when the Wonhwa watched and slackened off, Kazin stubbornly did all the training.

‘I saw him always wrapping his left shin.’

Because of his stubborn nature, the Southern Wonhwa probably tried to hide the fact that she pushed him too hard.

If he had gone to the infirmary, rumors would spread and he wouldn’t get proper treatment.

Also, Kazin’s tall frame made his balance poor.

Targeting his lower body on purpose, Kazin flinched and distanced himself.

‘As expected, left shin is his weak point.’

Gemma specialized in dual swords.

With flashy techniques, he pressured Kazin.

The nobles focused on the match.

“Kazin keeps being pushed back.”

“His posture is awkward...”

Watching the match, Silin chuckled.

“He was all bragging before the start, now look at him.”

Eastern Army Wonhwa Sebastia’s expression stiffened.

“What is he doing, Erilot?”

Why did only you send Kazin as number one?

It would have been better to keep him hidden against the Southern Army.

“There might be a trick.”

“Hmm. I think the bubble around the Western Army Wonhwa is bursting.”

While Silin chuckled, the Emperor’s direct army whispered on the other side.

“His leg is a weakness. He must keep retreating to protect it.”

“...Picking Kazin as number one was a mistake. The Southern Army knows his weakness well.”

“Too bad. Kazin’s a good swordsman. He could shine if he met a better master.”

Pierre, the Emperor’s guard, muttered quietly.

“Well...”

“You may think Kazin’s unimpressive because you’re so talented, but to an ordinary person, he’s an exceptional talent.”

“No. The Western Army Wonhwa designated him as number one.”

“...Not a mistake? But look how badly he’s being pushed back.”

Pierre muttered, arms crossed.

“I know, I know... but look at that face.”

Erilot Astra’s expression.

‘Not the face of someone who’s made a mistake.’

Her expression was stern, but not panicked.

It was more like...

‘A face that’s waiting. But waiting for what?’

Just then, Gemma, the Southern Army’s number one knight, pushed Kazin to the brink.

“The Western Army Wonhwa was all talk, huh, former Senior General!”

‘This is the last chance!’

Gemma lowered his center of gravity and swiftly lunged at Kazin.

Then—

“Now, Kazin!”

Erilot shouted.

‘What?’

At the moment Gemma faltered—

Kugugugugugu─!!

With a tremendous roar, geometric patterns appeared on the arena floor.

They began twisting like a labyrinth!

Kazin grabbed the rising ground and climbed up.

At that moment—

Swish—!!!

A massive amount of water poured into the labyrinth from somewhere.

“What is this, kuh!”

Gurgle...

Gemma was trapped as if inside a water-filled opaque container.

The strong current disoriented him.

Erilot smiled slyly.

“Did you think Kazin was just being pushed back?”

Southern Army Wonhwa turned pale and shouted,

“W-What... then exactly—!”

Erilot and Kazin’s gazes met in midair.

“Well done.”

An Emperor’s direct army knight jumped up.

“He was laying down mana pretending to flee!”

Indeed.

At the critical moment, Kazin had spread mana throughout the dome to change the environment.

In other words, this dome became a grave tailored to the Southern Army participants’ weaknesses.

Operation name: ‘Making the Southern Army’s grave.’

Now, no matter which player steps up next, the Southern Army cannot attack properly.

‘Success.’

Erilot smiled broadly.

“Kazin is not the only one who knows the Southern Army’s weaknesses.”