Chapter 113, Don’t Touch (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Warriors of the Great Dunes.

 

Also called the Wolves of the Great Dunes, were exceptional swordsmen.

 

Each one of them possessed power greater than that of a Senior Knight. If they had received the title of ‘Warrior’, it meant they had skills comparable to members of the Royal Knight Order. Kalian still could not fully utilise Bern’s swordsmanship. His body needed to grow more, and his Aura needed to accumulate further.

 

But even so.

 

[Only five of them, huh?]

 

They could not have been unaware that Kalian was a Sword Master. Yet there were only five of them.

 

[It’s a number that’s hard to see as anything other than having a hidden trump card.]

 

Kalian smiled once more.

 

With that pretty smile, he began thinking about something more curious than their hidden trump card. His eyes turned cold in a way that did not match his expression.

 

“Older brother Randel… probably not.”

 

Kalian had not yet heard Chase’s words about Tansyll and the Warriors of the Great Dunes joining hands. Nevertheless, he thought of Randel first because Randel was the most likely person who would want to harm him.

 

But it was just a thought.

 

Kalian immediately dismissed his suspicion of Randel.

 

[The timing just doesn’t match.]

 

Randel had already sent the Holy Knights and failed. And they had not even reached Tansyll yet.

 

Moreover, Randel had tried to get Kalian onside.

 

It had been less than three days since he refused Randel. Until then, Randel would not have thought of harming Kalian, so even if by chance Randel had sent them, they should have arrived about half a month later for the timing to make sense. Therefore, it was not Randel.

 

[Marquis Beurisen probably isn’t it either.]

 

Evan knew that Siegfried stood behind Kalian.

 

The cautious Evan would not try to attack Kalian at this time when Sleiman and his Knights were in Cyriesus. Therefore, it could not be Evan either.

 

While having these thoughts, a handful of wind passed by Kalian’s fingertips.

 

No. To be precise, he had already finished thinking about Randel and Evan in the time it took for the wind to blow once.

 

Riding that wind, a voice filled with cold energy flowed out.

 

“I wonder whose gift this is.”

 

As if answering Kalian’s muttering, one of the Warriors approached Kalian. Though he had a sword at his waist, he had not drawn it.

 

Seeing this, Kalian tilted his head slightly to the side.

 

Even if it was not killing intent, it did not seem like he was going to exchange pleasant greetings while emanating such a strong fighting spirit.

 

Neither the mastermind nor the intention could be discerned.

 

*Thud!*

 

Then Raven stomped his front hoof once from his position.

 

It was the first time Kalian had seen such behavior.

 

It was also the first time Kalian had been this tense facing someone who was not favorable toward him. So this behavior from Raven was naturally a first as well.

 

Therefore, Raven’s hoof stomp sounded to Kalian like ‘don’t be nervous.’ Unbelievable as it might seem, it sounded exactly like a horse worrying about a person.

 

With Ian, and everyone from Allan to Hina around him worrying about Kalian, what does it mean to be receiving worry from Raven too?

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Therefore, Kalian patted Raven’s neck and said this. Then he jumped down from his back and walked toward where the Warriors were. He removed the hood that had been covering his face.

 

Black hair, red eyes.

 

The Warrior who confirmed Kalian’s face took a step forward. This also meant that they had been waiting specifically for him.

 

Facing Kalian at a distance of about three steps, he raised his hand and pointed to himself.

 

“Harnan.”

 

He stated his name.

 

Kalian only nodded. Kalian was a Prince and they would already know of his name.

 

“Fight, talk. Which will it be?”

 

Instead, Kalian asked a question similar to what he had once asked Plants. The one who had introduced himself as Harnan smiled faintly.

 

“Fight.”

 

And gave an answer that would greatly please Kalian.

 

*Clang!*

 

The suffocating silence was torn apart.

 

* * *

 

“Meow!”

 

‘I am Prince Kalian’s cat, who likes Prince Plants more ‘

 

The cat let out a long cry.

 

A savory smell came from the mouth of the cat that had squeezed through the gap in the door. It seemed to have gone out and gotten something to eat.

 

Plants chuckled and unconsciously opened his mouth.

 

“Soon you won’t be able to get in.”

 

Indeed, it had gained quite a bit of weight.

 

When actually picked up, it still seemed small, but it had become quite hefty. At this rate, unless that door gap was widened, it would get stuck while trying to come in.

 

Plants lifted the cat that was asking to be held with now-familiar hand movements, and the necklace caught his eye again. His gaze touched his little brother’s name written on the collar.

 

Staring at that name illuminated by moonlight in the dark room without even a candle lit, inevitable thoughts arose.

 

How much time had passed like that?

 

Before he knew it, the hand that had been petting the cat had stopped, and the cat lazily yawned.

 

Standing at the end of those thoughts that had continued until then, Plants muttered quietly.

 

“I didn’t want to notice.”

 

Kalian had become a completely different person overnight.

 

Plants had not forgotten Kalian’s gaze as he glared at him in the dining room.

 

The Crown Prince of Secritia and his brother, and the Second Prince of Cyries who would have ascended to the throne if not for the current Kalian. Such people become entangled with each other.

 

Something that would make Kalian, who had experienced that incident, look directly at Plants with eyes desperately trying ‘not to kill.’

 

“Meow!”

 

The cat cried again.

 

Plants slowly stroked the cat’s neck and brought up his muttering again.

 

“Certainly I am…”

 

Plants knew even without having to ask.

 

What he, who had become King, must have done.

 

The reason was hard to gauge, but his prediction could not be wrong.

 

“I wasn’t meant to be King, it seems.”

 

The brothers of that country must have died because of the war Plants had waged.

 

* * *

 

*Thump!*

 

A sound he had not heard in quite a while.

 

The fact that Syspanian’s Blessing was felt this strongly meant the wound on his waist was quite deep.

 

When Harnan’s sword cut his waist a moment ago, Kalian had also cut Harnan’s shoulder. However, Harnan’s wound disappeared without a trace before long.

 

*Drip drip drop.*

 

Thick drops of blood fell to the ground.

 

Feeling this, Kalian grinned.

 

Paying no heed to the wound, he thrust his sword forward.

 

*Clang!*

 

The sound of sword meeting sword shook the quiet night sky once more.

 

Yet no one noticed.

 

Unless someone directly set foot in this place, no one would know what the Third Prince of Cyries Kingdom was experiencing in this secluded spot.

 

The remaining four, excluding Harnan, were surrounding Kalian and Harnan while generating a large-scale Silent barrier. That was precisely why five people had come to find Kalian.

 

If that thing tinged with red energy could be called Silent, that is.

 

*Clang! Crash! Clank!*

 

Red light rippled on Harnan’s sword as he blocked Kalian’s swift sword strikes that were barely visible to the eye.

 

It was different from the red light that had surrounded Allan’s Great Shield. That had the power of flames, which was Allan’s main attribute. However, this was clearly not.

 

*Clank clank clang!*

 

It was exactly the same light Randel had shown.

 

The transparent shield in Kalian’s hand deflected Harnan’s sword strikes that came pouring down like rain. Pushed back by that force, Harnan retreated a step.

 

*Haa…*

 

Taking advantage of the brief gap, Kalian exhaled soundlessly. Soon, Kalian, who had changed his shield back to a long sword, spoke in a mocking voice.

 

“You use an interesting power.”

 

“Look who’s talking.”

 

Harnan answered as if mentioning Kalian’s attacks while changing weapons, then kicked off again.

 

*Clang!*

 

Kalian, who blocked the incoming sword strike, pushed Harnan’s sword away and then slashed downward. Harnan leaped up and retreated another step to avoid the attack.

 

*Whoosh!*

 

Dark red light entwined around Harnan’s sword again.

 

Finding out what that was right now was not important. Therefore, Kalian decided to understand it as their ‘Aura’ for now, and an even deeper chill settled in his hands.

 

*Whoooosh!*

 

As if by agreement, both rushed toward each other again.

 

While Kalian’s form moved at invisible speed, Harnan also thrust and raised his sword to block the attacks.

 

But he was slow.

 

*Thwack!*

 

Kalian’s sword, shooting forward like a torrent, pierced into Harnan’s abdomen.

 

With a short groan, Harnan staggered back, and mockery appeared on his lips. Seeing this, Kalian’s brow furrowed. Once again, red energy gathered and began healing the wound.

 

“Damn it.”

 

[Syspanian, you really should have been a little less thoughtful.]

 

Harnan made a chuckling sound.

 

“It will be difficult, Third Prince.”

 

Along with his mocking voice, red light’s afterimage came crashing down on Kalian again. They were blocked without fail by Kalian’s blue sword.

 

*Clang! Clank!*

 

As he put strength into his raised arm, red blood poured down to the ground. And exactly that much pain followed.

 

Kalian paid no attention this time either.

 

With a composed face as if he had no wounds, Kalian blocked Harnan’s sword rushing toward his heart with his blade, created a dagger, and immediately threw it at him without delay.

 

*Swoosh!*

 

Even with Kalian’s constantly changing weapon attacks, Harnan responded calmly. His attitude showed he knew something about Kalian’s ‘sword.’ Harnan quickly twisted his pushed-back sword to deflect the flying dagger, then attacked again. He blocked it, the wound opened, and his vision became dizzy.

 

*Haa.*

 

Kalian’s eyes turned cold as he caught his breath once more.

 

[Just once.]

 

*Whoooosh!*

 

Kalian’s form, amplified by the power of his remaining Aura, moved toward Harnan as if flying. Blue light’s afterimage could not follow Kalian’s speed and stretched long through the air.

 

The Aura surrounding his sword extended outward, and the opponent’s red light blocked it.

 

*Clang!*

 

He could see Harnan, standing with sword crossed against Kalian’s, smirking. He must have felt Kalian’s strength draining as he stood there holding his sword.

 

“Let’s end it here.”

 

At Harnan’s words declaring he would finish it, Kalian smiled back.

 

And instead of answering, he spoke in a small voice.

 

[Wind Spear]

 

It was not Aura this time, but Magic Power.

 

The Magic Power that had been well accumulated in the Circles the old Kalian had created. He was now using it.

 

A spear of Magic Power filled with the power of wind. A spear sharper and more massive than Arsene’s ice struck down at the speed of light.

 

Harnan, who had been standing blocking Kalian’s sword, could not avoid it.

 

*Swoooosh!*

 

*Crack!*

 

The power of wind tears through wounds.

 

A spine-chilling sound burst forth.

 

Harnan’s body, pierced by the power of wind, slowly collapsed as it lost its form. With that, Harnan could no longer make any other sounds.

 

Kalian watched this briefly, then turned around.

 

Syspanian’s Blessing and Aura, plus Magic Power forcibly operated.

 

Kalian swallowed the blood that surged up and created a pretty smile toward the remaining four Warriors.

 

* * *

 

“Young Mistress!”

 

A servant ran urgently to Dmirea, who was in the training ground.

 

Dmirea, who had roughly wiped away the flowing sweat, turned her head to look at him. The servant was breathing heavily with an expression that could not hide his panic.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Right now, you need to come out right away.”

 

Reading the urgency on the servant’s face, Dmirea quickly ran out.

 

Right in front of the training ground, a black horse stood breathing heavily. Red blood was pooled on the ground where the horse stood. And on top of that.

 

“Prince Kalian.”

 

Dmirea, passing by the servants who did not dare touch the body of Royalty, approached and hurriedly pulled Kalian’s body down to lay him flat.

 

Before she could even ask what had happened, Kalian’s hand grabbed Dmirea’s shoulder. A voice that seemed about to break reached Dmirea’s ears.

 

“Call my… older brother.”

 

The white hand that had been gripping her shoulder slipped and fell away.