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Uncle remembers the events of that day in the snowy fields.

Back then, the name “North” had not yet been firmly established.

It was a wild era where demons, monsters, and humans were chaotically intermixed, killing each other.

He himself was adapting well within that chaotic scene.

Fur and fat perfectly adapted to the cold climate.

A physique and strength with no natural predators.

It was the same for demons and humans.

They were slightly bothersome with their tools, sharp and sturdy swords, and strange magic, but still weaklings in his eyes.

One day, while faithfully following his instincts and continuing his hunting activities within his territory, an anomaly occurred.

“Quite strong, indeed.”

“Well, still no match for us.”

For the first time, he lost.

And to the humans, whom he had thought weak, – a sharp pain.

His empty left arm.

What lay tattered and rolling on the ground was a product of these humans.

While a warrior with a great sword blocked his fist with just the blade, a thief’s sharp dagger finally severed it.

“There will certainly be damage to the people of this territory.”

“Oh my. Shall we kill them?”

“That’s why I teamed up with you, isn’t it?”

The great sword, which had blocked his fist several times and still remained intact, was now draped over his fallen neck.

-…

At the moment his life hung in the balance, the giant felt a more intense desire to live than ever before.

“Look at this, a monster prostrating itself? That’s a first.”

His urge to live was so strong that he replicated the behavior of the humans and demons who had invaded his territory.

A desire that surpassed instinct.

“Hey, can’t I take him with me?”

“Moon Crow… be reasonable. It’s impossible to tame a monster from the North. We need to kill it now.”

Despite the black-haired male’s objection, fortunately, the silver-haired female was more persistent.

“Speda is always so fussy. So what if it’s a monster? If it’s mimicking human behavior to survive, doesn’t that indicate a high level of intelligence?”

The jet-black dagger pressed down on the great sword.

Under that pressure, the warrior named Speda reluctantly lowered the sword he had aimed at the Yeti’s neck.

“It’s good timing, actually. I needed a guard for the relics I’ve stolen.”

Thus, the wild Yeti became a creature raised by the Speda couple, and named ‘Uncle.’

After that, Uncle’s life changed 180 degrees.

“Come on, Uncle! Let’s go!”

“Weren’t you only going to use me to guard the relics? Always so headstrong…”

Their achievements were dazzling and spectacular.

Unlike his former self, who only engaged in instinctive hunting and territorial disputes, they eventually drove out all other races and built a castle.

Duke Speda, who subdued external enemies with a single sword, and Moon Crow, who kept corrupt nobles in check.

And in his own way, he too had a share in these achievements.

“Ugh, you’re hurt again, come here. I’ll treat you.”

“Don’t get too attached to the monster.”

“That goes for you too! Seriously, don’t make me worry.”

Family affection.

Spending a long time with them, Uncle, a monster, had come to realize something he had never known before.

It was perhaps inevitable that he came to regard them as his parents.

-Grrr…

“Don’t cry. It’s time for me to go.”

But even heroes like them could not defy the passage of time.

Human lifespans were tragically short.

The mother, who had saved his life and given him a name, had passed away long ago.

The father, with his striking black hair, was also preparing to leave his side.

“Uncle.. remember this. Someday, one of our descendants will pull out my sword.”

In the deepest part of the underground vault.

Father had placed his great sword there.

“But until then, there will be numerous threats, including tomb raiders like jackals. I hope you’ll protect it well after I’m gone…”

Thus, Uncle became the guardian spirit of the Speda ducal family.

And now, hundreds of years later, a descendant has finally appeared, just as the father had said, who could pull out the sword.

-Swish.

The girl with silver hair, resembling Mother, easily pulled out the sword that even the current head of the family, reputed to be of exceptional talent, couldn’t.

The long wait had not been in vain.

However, separate from that, a vast emptiness gnawed at Uncle’s heart.

“I had hoped that no one like you would ever appear.”

After losing his parents, all that was left for him were the relics they had left behind.

If you take it, what am I to remember and live by? Surely, Father would have wanted to bless the descendant who drew the sword.

But despite realizing it himself, he was engulfed by uncontrollable, clingy emotions.

He knew it was a dreadful selfishness that should not be harbored.

“Prove it….”

Uncle spoke in a clumsy manner, the best a monster’s vocal organs could manage.

No.

In fact, he had been preparing for a long time.

The one sentence he had practiced all his life to say to the one who would draw the sword.

“Prove it! Prove it! Prove it!”

There was only one thing they needed to show him.

Could this novice truly replicate the spirit that Father possessed?

Remembering the first day he met his parents, the monster extended his one remaining arm.

***

-Clang!

The sound of the monster’s fist colliding with the great sword echoed in the vault.

I immediately broke my concealment and sprang forward.

“What are you thinking, attacking a member of the Speda family, you guardian spirit?! Hey, the thief you want is right here!”

But it seemed like the monster didn’t see me at all.

He passed by me, the one blocking his path, and continued to pressure Luciana with his only arm.

“Prove it!”

What exactly does he want her to prove?

Continuously repeating those words, he lunged at Luciana.

-Thud! Thud!

“Ugh! What kind of air pressure is this!”

Not just the wind.

My body swayed helplessly from the shockwaves produced as the sword and fist collided.

Despite my attempts to intercept, the monster, ignoring my several efforts, simply passed by me.

That’s it.

I gritted my teeth and stepped back.

A party member who can’t even attract aggro is just a hindrance; it’s wiser to step back and look for a strategy.

Surprisingly, Luciana was holding her own in front of the monster.

Her exceptional swordsmanship played a part, but it was largely thanks to that MacGuffin weapon absorbing the shock.

“…Ugh.”

Was it the difference in size?

A strained groan escaped from her lips, showing the struggle against the force.

‘If it continues like this…’

“Damn, I need to find some way to help.”

The opponent is not a human relying on armor but a monster armed with thick fat and tough fur.

Normal attacks are useless.

Magic or daggers are no different.

There’s a lack of absolute firepower. Not even a scratch could be made.

In this situation, there was only one option available to me.

“…Oh well, I guess the Duke will have to deal with the aftermath.”

I grabbed the golden rods on display and applied them indiscriminately.

-Click.

The glass display cases armed with security magic, the opaque frozen boxes, and the lids tightly sealed with precious locks all cracked open.

“I have a rough idea of the artifacts here, so I’ll have to use whatever I can get my hands on.”

One lesson learned from countless games: against brute strength, an even more overwhelming power is needed; there’s almost nothing impossible with the right gear.

And this place held some of the world’s most valuable relics.

“I’ll take this, and this could be useful too.”

[Yeti Power Gauntlet]

[Glory’s Crown]

[Frost Herb]

Chosen artifacts came into my hands one after the other.

I’m saving their daughter’s life here; surely they won’t blame me for breaking all the vault’s security spells?

Still, it wasn’t enough.

What I needed now was destructive power enough to take down that Yeti in one blow.

But with my meager strength, any artifact I used was more or less the same.

“What should I do…”

My anxiety grew by the minute.

Even spending time pondering like this felt wasteful.

-Zzzeng!

Beyond the thunderous noise.

Luciana was struggling to block the Yeti’s attacks.

‘If only I had used my evasion to tie up the Yeti, letting Luciana focus on attacking…’

The situation was clear.

Aggro, or tanking. The only way I, useless as a dealer, could have helped Luciana up till now.

But the fact that the Yeti was solely targeting Luciana made this strategy pointless, a thought that kept circling in my mind.

Then, suddenly, a particular relic caught my eye.

“…Worthless dagger.”

Among the relics on the third floor, it was notoriously difficult to steal without encountering the guardian spirit, and it boasted performance worse than junk.

But why?

It felt as if the dagger was calling out to me.

Everything around me blurred, my attention wholly focused on the useless dagger.

‘Was this how Luciana felt when she pulled the sword from the stone?’

As if entranced, I reached out and grabbed the rust-covered handle of the dagger.

At that moment.

[Eligibility requirements met.]

[New functionalities of the artifact are being unlocked.]

The dagger, which had looked worn and old, revealed its deep, ink-like sheen.

***

-Koong, Bang!

How many times had it been?

Luciana deflected the impossibly heavy blows, gasping for breath. She might have been knocked out long ago if she hadn’t surrendered to the intangible energy guiding her movements.

“Prove it…!”

Luciana faintly realized why the guardian spirit, otherwise so gentle to the members of the Speda family, was relentlessly hostile towards her, accompanied by desperate howls. It was all because of this great sword.

And she understood that the proof he demanded was nothing more than a child’s tantrum.

What filled the guardian’s bloodshot eyes was not anger, but sorrow.

‘Pitiful creature.’

Undoubtedly, Uncle was a spirit who had shared in the Speda family’s founder’s exploits. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to cling to these relics.

However, Luciana wasn’t obliged to concern herself with his situation.

Now, driven by instinct to draw the sword, she was acutely aware of why her hand on the hilt trembled slightly.

Elation.

The fact that the legendary sword of the Speda family’s founder was now hers was a great honor and joy for Luciana.

Luciana, gathering her breath and determination, rebuked the foolish guardian spirit.

“However, that’s your affair. Don’t think I’ll release the sword just out of sympathy.”

It might be an atrocity to the guardian spirit to take away his most precious relic, but letting a powerful weapon that could bring peace and safety to the North go to waste would also be a disservice.

“I shall gladly prove it to you.”

What exactly he wanted her to prove, she didn’t know. But she was certain of one thing.

In the North, the only way to assert one’s will was through strength.

So, there was only one thing for her to prove.

To subdue the Yeti by force. And to claim this sword as her own.

“Come forth!”

-Kraaah!

In that moment.

Luciana, faced with the magnificent roar, suddenly recalled a thought.

Thinking about it, Luciana had faced quite a few defeats recently.

Once to the demon, and twice to Hans.

But those defeats had become fertilizer for her growth.

‘Just defending against his attacks won’t help me avoid defeat.’

Luciana’s eyes sparkled blue.

She needed to create a variable.

Just like her servant had done with all sorts of bizarre methods.

-Kruk?

She had thrown her reliable great sword to the ground, which had been protecting her from the Yeti’s relentless punches, for this very reason.

The guardian spirit, distracted by the coveted relic, reached out to grab the great sword.

-Kraaak! Grrr…

“You shouldn’t covet a noble’s belongings.”

The rapier, driven into his shoulder, pierced through the Yeti’s fur and flesh.

Soon, Uncle’s white fur was stained red.

What he overlooked was that Luciana’s weaponry wasn’t limited to just that.

Firstly.

It was encouraging that she had managed to wound such a formidable opponent. However, Luciana’s brow furrowed.

‘It was too shallow.’

The rapier, undoubtedly quick and requiring less preparation, lacked the power of a great sword.

It was too weak to cut through all the muscles of the monster.

“Prove it!!!”

The gap was too narrow to evade effectively.

The ancestral great sword, once used to block the punches of the blood-roused guardian spirit, was now gone.

“Damn.”

‘Even with this rapier, I probably won’t be able to deflect properly.’ 

Yet, Luciana smiled.

She had seen her reliable servant, adept in his unique stealthy movements, sneak up behind the Yeti.

‘Utterly disorderly. Has he completely abandoned any sense of dignity?’

Hans’s appearance was that of a true jester.

On his head was the mysterious purple crown that his father had received from the Emperor himself.

In his hand, the Yeti Power Glove that she had recommended.

Chewed in his mouth seemed to be a Frost Herb leaf, known for temporarily amplifying certain abilities.

And, adorned haphazardly all over his body were relics, making him look like a newly rich merchant from the Central regions. Yet, Luciana somehow felt reassured.

The jet-black dagger in Hans’s right hand, emitting an ominous aura, seemed more threatening than any of the artifacts he was armed with, but his most powerful weapons were his tireless determination and unpredictable ideas.

A bold servant daring to rob the ducal family’s vault right in front of the lady.

“It’s about time you retired as a guardian spirit!”

As Luciana distracted the Yeti from the front, Hans’s jet-black dagger struck precisely on the opposite side of the previous wound.

The unexpected blow from behind sliced through skin and fat, and even cleaved through the iron-like bones.

-Thud.

This was the result.

The giant forearm fell to the floor, landing next to the great sword that Luciana had dropped moments before.

The one-armed Yeti now would never be able to pick up the great sword he so dearly longed for.

“Prove… it….”

-Thud.

Uncle’s knees buckled.

In front of the fallen guardian, who collapsed with a heavy sound, stood Luciana, close enough for her breath to almost touch his skin.

A careful smile formed on her lips, previously frozen stiff.

His figure, lying defeated, told her and her servant that they had won.

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“Underground level 3?”

Luciana blinked at her servant’s sudden suggestion.

“Are you mistaken? Our family’s vault only goes down to the second floor.”

Moreover, she was confident about this place, the vault’s second floor, as it was a place she frequented.

It wasn’t particularly to take any relics but rather to enjoy the sight of them, which seemed to affirm the prosperity of her family.

But a third floor? Even she, a member of the ducal family, was unaware of it.

How could he be so sure?

“Lady, do you feel the direction of the wind right now?”

Luciana was puzzled by his seemingly irrelevant question.

Wind is an important element in warfare. It’s rare not to consider wind in tactics such as fire strategies and ambushes.

Thus, she was well aware of the principles of how wind works.

“Of course, it should be towards the first floor….”

Luciana trailed off.

After listening to him, something did seem odd.

“Isn’t it strange? The wind is actually blowing in the opposite direction.”

It would be natural for the wind to blow from the relatively high-pressure area of the second underground level to the lower first level.

Yet, contrary to her understanding, the tassels on the tapestries hung on the wall were fluttering towards the inside of the second floor.

“Indeed, just as you say. It’s amazing how you found this out.”

“It’s all techniques learned from the west. They say it’s the know-how of tomb raiders. Oh, of course, I extracted this information through interrogation.”

“That doesn’t seem like something to be proud of.”

Luciana’s eyes sparkled. Underground level 3.

It was evident that there must be relics more precious than those displayed on this second floor, hidden even from a family member like herself.

“So, what will you do? Will you follow?”

“Well.”

Logically thinking, falling for his coaxing now would be unwise.

The relics here were essentially the weaponry of the Speda ducal family.

Handing over precious relics to Hans could directly lead to a loss of the ducal family’s strength.

But that was a concern from the perspective of a family member.

“It does seem interesting.”

She was intrigued by this deviation from the norm.

After all, she was curious about the relics on the underground third floor.

As she made up her mind, excuses followed.

He had saved her life, after all; strictly speaking, since he was a servant of their family, it wasn’t exactly a leak of power. He was exercising his rightful claim as a victor to take a better prize.

The reward he received was clearly an entry pass to the vault…

“I must admit, I can’t deny there’s a personal favor involved.”

Luciana chuckled bitterly.

She never dreamed she would become so close to a Westerner.

“The wind was a plausible guess, but I don’t see an entrance. How do you plan to find it?”

“There’s always a way.”

He frowned for a moment, then waved his fingers in the air a few times.

Luciana was puzzled.

Perhaps he was using some sort of magic, like during the final match of the recent tournament.

“I’ve found it.”

“…It’s just a wall.”

“There’s always a hidden mechanism.”

He felt along the wall between the relics and soon pulled out a brick that protruded slightly.

-Rumble.

“This is…!”

The wall, which had been solidly blocking the way, disappeared as if it had never been there.

In its place was a seemingly endless shaft.

“Huh. Fascinating. How did you find this?”

“I just saw something sticking out suspiciously, that’s all. Shall we go, Lady?”

Luciana followed and couldn’t help but chuckle at the faint humming coming from behind.

Hans, this impudent servant, was brazenly raiding the vault right in front of the Lady.

Halt.

Luciana was puzzled by Hans, who suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Why are you just standing there? Go in and take whatever relic you like.”

“Well, getting the relics out seems to be a separate issue.”

Luciana was puzzled as she was about to retort.

Hans looked troubled, sweating as he stared into space.

***

Well, finding the entrance was hardly a big deal.

In games, I had frequented this spot to the point of wearing out the threshold.

The problem was the situation indicated by the status window when descending to the third floor.

[Speda Ducal Family Underground Vault Third Floor]

[You have not yet met the reputation requirements of the Speda Ducal Family. It will be treated as a dungeon.]

I had not expected to still be treated as entering a dungeon even while accompanying Luciana.

To make matters worse, the description was all the more outrageous.

[The Speda Ducal Family’s underground vault on the third floor hides relics containing the family’s secrets, along with other rare artifacts.]

[Therefore, this place has been made a home by the second strongest being in the Speda Ducal Family, serving as a guardian deity.]

[If you are not recognized by the head of the family, they will not look kindly upon you, aiming for the inheritance of their parents.]

The being second only to the Sword Saint.

The description specified in the status window suggested a being far stronger than the Ice Spirit encountered before.

Now it made sense.

The need for stealth in navigating the ducal vault was likely due to this guardian deity.

In the game, it was only represented as an insurmountable shadow, but…

“Considering the situation, the guardian deity seems to be on the third floor, and it would be problematic if we encounter it.”

“Hmm. Uncle, you mean?”

Ah, right. She mentioned she often visited the vault. Naturally, she would be familiar with the guardian deity.

“Could you explain a bit more about the guardian deity?”

This side only knew it was a being susceptible to stealth tactics, with no other information.

Gathering information before combat is a must.

Luciana’s knowledge would be of great help.

“Uncle is a Yeti.”

“…Excuse me?”

The information that came out was truly unexpected.

One of the three great monsters of the north.

A being known for its inability to communicate with humans and its ferocious wildness was the guardian deity?

A mix of doubt and admiration spontaneously emerged.

“To think a Yeti is the guardian deity. Risking the relics getting damaged with just a bit of commotion. That’s a bold decision.”

“It’s clear what you’re worried about.”

“I was just concerned about the family’s relics being in danger, as a servant.”

Specifically, the relics I intend to take.

Seemingly catching on to my true intentions, she looked at me with an incredulous gaze.

“The relics are safe. Uncle may be a Yeti, but if we’re being precise, he’s closer to a spirit. He can’t speak human language, but he can communicate by writing on the ground.”

“Ho…”

For someone who only associates Yetis with monsters, this was fascinating.

“My father told me that our ancestor tamed it. Since then, it has been guarding the vault continuously.”

[The true identity of the boss monster ‘Uncle’ is revealed.]

[The dungeon clear conditions have changed.]

[Uncle]

[The guardian deity protecting the Speda Ducal Family’s vault]

[Favorable towards the descendants of the Speda Ducal Family.]

Considering Luciana’s words and the status window message, it seemed that he might not be entirely hostile towards humans.

“Still, sneaking in seems better.”

“Can’t we just confront Uncle boldly?”

“I feel uneasy for some reason.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I did receive the vault entry pass as a reward…”

But I think the promise made during the martial tournament and his position might be different from our perspective.”

Luciana’s skepticism was reasonable.

‘He can communicate, so if I just explain that I am the winner of the martial tournament, maybe there’s no need for hostility and I could persuade him.’

That’s a fair point.

Up to the second floor, Uncle might have been convinced and stepped aside.

But, haven’t we seen the phrase in the status window before?

Given the circumstances, it’s unlikely he would warmly welcome us taking the ‘inheritance of their parents’ from the third floor.

After all, the system message referred to it as a ‘dungeon’.

That says it all.

Moreover, while Luciana has Speda Ducal Family blood flowing through her veins, allowing for some leniency, I am unmistakably an outsider.

If the attempt to persuade goes wrong, I could end up smashed by that giant fist.

I’d rather avoid that fate.

But.

We can’t just turn back now. Even if we have to retreat, shouldn’t we at least try?

“I think I understand the layout. It’s somewhat similar to ancient ruins in the west… Lift your heels and follow me slowly.”

After adding a somewhat lame excuse, I started to move forward cautiously.

I had tried to raid this place several times in the game.

Since I remember the entire internal structure, there’s no way we’d get caught if we’re careful around a few specific areas.

“How did I end up doing this in my own home’s basement…”

I chuckled at Luciana’s undignified grumbling from behind.

‘She has that side to her too.’

I was quite fond of the fact that she, who always tried to project perfection in the game, often showed me this other side of herself.

A charm of reversal.

I was realizing in real-time how intriguing it is to see a different side of my favorite character, whom I thought was only ever cold.

“Carefully follow me. We’re about to reach the first alley we need to be cautious of.”

In stealth, what’s the most crucial thing to pay attention to?

Minimizing the noise I make? Camouflage? Or maybe the position of the enemy?

Of course, all of these are important, but the essence is ‘to avoid getting caught for as long as possible by any means necessary.’

“That is…”

“Shh. It must be the sword used by one of your ancestors, Lady.”

Uniquely, the third floor of the underground vault didn’t have display stands for relics but an open clearing instead.

Like the famous sword in the legend of King Arthur of England, stuck in a stone, it emitted a cool breeze around it, proudly displaying its presence.

‘I got fooled by that thing so many times.’

It was as if it was announcing, ‘I am the most precious here.’

And it wasn’t exactly wrong.

The sword was occasionally mentioned by dukes and demons alike in the story.

A legendary artifact.

The sword used by the first Duke Speda.

Its glorious reputation alone was enough to stir a desire to collect it.

After much effort, when I finally found the third floor of the vault and succeeded in sneaking in, I was sure the moment I saw that sword.

I thought I had smoothly bypassed the guardian deity and grabbed the sword until I saw the message that appeared as soon as I touched it.

[Equip Restriction]

[You are not worthy.]

What happened next?

I was immediately game overed by what I presumed to be the guardian deity’s shadow.

After that, I tried dozens of times, leveling up, trying various skills, and even maxing out my infamy, but all attempts were in vain.

‘It took me a long time to realize it was a MacGuffin element, a story inserted for its flashy allure but ultimately as unreachable as the sour grapes.’

“Lady, you need to listen carefully to my instructions from now on. Lie flat and crawl towards that sword-stuck stone…”

While explaining, I suddenly felt something was off and looked back. Luciana was not there.

“Lady Luciana? What are you doing over there!”

I inadvertently shouted, forgetting we were sneaking around.

She was in front of the very sword that had caused me so many game overs, her hand naturally reaching out to it as if mesmerized by the light emitted by the sword.

-Thump. Thump.

And simultaneously, footsteps echoing through the warehouse came from the opposite side of me. They undoubtedly belonged to the guardian deity Yeti.

A one-armed giant wrapped in white fur.

The Yeti, standing opposite Luciana with the sword between them, swung its right arm around.

-Roar!

But regardless of the Yeti’s roar, several times larger and bulkier than herself, or its threatening arm movements,

Luciana paid it no mind.

No, more precisely, she was so captivated by the sword that she seemed blind to everything else.

“Damn it! Lady, that won’t come out! It’s defective! Let’s retreat for now! I’ll handle this monster, so hurry…”

-Swish.

However, my words were cut short. The chilling sound of the great sword’s blade scraping against the stone it was embedded in was clear enough to capture everyone’s attention.

“…Prove it.”

At the same time, the Yeti, who was said to be unable to speak, opened its mouth with a deep voice.

“Prove it! Prove it! Prove it!”

As if those were the only words it knew, it continued to shout them while stretching its massive and brutish fist towards Luciana.

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“What, what is it?”

“A Westerner defeated Lady Luciana?”

A chilling silence.

The cause of the emotion that had taken over the Colosseum’s stands was none other than the victor.

They had talked about likely finalists, about championship contenders, but in their hearts, there was only one winner.

Luciana Speda.

Referred to as the treasure of the North, she was the pride of the Speda family to them.

Showing skills worthy of her nickname, she easily defeated her challengers and made it to the finals.

And she lost because of a momentary blindness?

To someone from the West, whom they hadn’t even heard of before?

“Boo! Get lost, third-rate referee!”

“How can you judge that a person lying down like that has won?”

“Duke Speda! Please punish the outsider’s despicable methods!”

The jeers that swelled like a wildfire instantly filled the Colosseum.

“To neutralize the armor! It must have been a cowardly trick!”

Behind this were the pride of the northerners, and also the cunning provocation of those who had lost to Hans a moment ago.

“Hans Byron.”

The mouth of the martial arts tournament’s organizer opened.

All eyes turned to Duke Speda, who was observing everything from the top of the arena.

-A knight’s fight should be fair and square.

In that sense, your method is as pitiful as it gets, enough to be called Western. This final match is invalid.

The audience, and the losers, were convinced the Duke would say something like that.

After all, it would be hard to look kindly on an outsider who had even defeated his daughter. Faces filled with anticipation scoffed in certainty of victory.

“I thank you for a great match with my daughter.”

However, their speculation was spectacularly off the mark. A different kind of silence settled over the Colosseum once again.

“That’s too much praise.”

“I can confidently say that there’s no one else your age who could compete with Lucy to that extent.”

Duke Speda, smiling warmly as he blessed the winner, then turned his gaze to his daughter.

“I am ashamed.”

A single sentence born out of the responsibility for not securing a victory as a member of the Speda family.

“You look quite alright for someone who is saying that.”

But not only feelings of self-reproach existed there.

The stiffened audience murmured in astonishment.

“The cold treasure of the North… she smiled?”

“Even in defeat?”

“It must have been a satisfactory duel.”

“Yes. Though I lost, I poured everything into it and learned a lot from this match.”

Luciana nodded sincerely.

What is important in victory?

Physical strength and muscle, essential for wielding a sword?

Magical power and the number of times magic can be cast?

Of course, those things are important, but they are not the absolute factors.

Among those she knew, if she were to pick someone lacking in physical strength, her own servant would be second to none in that regard.

The same goes for magical power.

Just by looking at Hans, who didn’t use the flashy and powerful magic that Liza cast, it could be guessed that his magical power wasn’t that great.

However, he managed to utilize his strengths well enough to bury his disadvantageous conditions, thus defeating her and even taking the championship.

“Dare I say, in creating variables on the battlefield, I believe Hans Byron is several times superior to me.”

An artifact that completely destroys armor, magic specialized in striking the weak points without direct firepower, sharp dynamic vision, and elaborate footwork that dodges any technique.

‘It’s far from being stable, but if it succeeds, it can snatch victory even from opponents much stronger than oneself.’ 

That was precisely the element he needed to complement, insisting only on head-on confrontations.

‘And above all, the courage to stand up to me without being intimidated played a part in his victory.’

Both Liza and that mercenary.

It was visible that they were intimidated by her family name, Speda, and by her well-known swordsmanship.

But Hans was different. Although he was physically inferior, his dagger did not carry such fear.

‘It was the same when he handed over the only return stone.’

After saving him.

The way he turned his back without a moment’s hesitation to face the demon overlapped with the image of a knight in shining armor from a fairy tale.

‘Gasp! What am I thinking… I must have lost my mind for a moment.’

The shock of defeat was great. Unaware that the tips of her ears had turned faintly red, Luciana resolved to devote herself more to swordsmanship.

“If you have learned and grown from something, that’s enough. Use today’s defeat as a stepping stone and aim for victory next time. Well done.”

The duke, too, attributed her visible dismay to the unfamiliar experience of defeat, and turned his head back to Hans.

“Congratulations on your victory. It seems you’re not in a condition to enter Vigor now. Let Yegor know once you’ve recovered.”

“Thank you. Though I am a Westerner, it was thanks to your lordship’s magnanimous grace that I was able to win.”

The duke’s eyebrows raised.

Hans’s somewhat sarcastic tone was easily guessed to be a complaint about the jeers he had received throughout his matches.

At first glance, it might seem presumptuous, but the Duke of Speda quite liked that attitude.

After all, what kind of servant would he be if he weren’t? As a minion of the Speda family, he should have that kind of backbone.

However.

The behavior of the northerners he encountered today, he too agreed, was utterly disappointing.

“…Just like my daughter, you all have something to learn from the fight that just took place.”

Everyone in the Colosseum involuntarily swallowed at the sharp aura emanating from him.

“That is the Sword Saint.”

The strongest existence guarding the North.

The man who captivated everyone’s attention with just his presence raised his voice.

“Fair and square? Cowardly? The intent behind a fight is ultimately determined by the winner. Our ancestors, too, established their roots in this land infested with demons and monsters by any means necessary.”

Those who had slandered Hans as cowardly hung their heads.

The same was true for those who had been defeated by him in a hollow manner.

“To disparage the victor, who achieved a hard-fought victory without choosing means, as an outsider, can you truly claim to be northerners?”

A harsh reprimand.

Yet, those who understood the deep meaning behind it turned pale.

The sharp words of Duke Speda were both advice and a warning.

Not to quibble over the results of the martial arts tournament he hosted.

The effect was dramatic. Even those who had lost a lot of money gambling were scared stiff at the thought of offending the temper of one of the strongest nobles in the North.

This silence was the result.

It was a strange award ceremony with not a single cheer as if they were in a library, but “Much better. Thank you for your consideration.”

The actual winner seemed to be pleased.

***

“I never imagined you would win.”

Yegor held his head as if it was a headache.

“I was sure Lady would come to me.”

But what can he do? He’s facing none other than me.

Whether he dislikes the fact that I won, Yegor sighed deeply.

Or, more precisely,

“Can’t we see any progress with the strength you showed in that martial arts tournament?”

In front of something green, I awkwardly bowed my head.

“I’m trying my best.”

“That damned effort! It’s not about effort; produce results. You put on a decent show of making tea, but the taste just doesn’t make the grade!”

The bright green color with not-so-bright taste.

According to someone, it was like rotten water disguised as tea.

According to Yegor, tea ceremony is an essential virtue for a servant.

Always be prepared so the master can enjoy the leisure with tea.

Listening to his scolding, I found myself missing tea bags and instant coffee.

After listening to numerous ‘pieces of advice.’

Yegor, having regained his composure, began to walk.

“Let’s stop here. My current task isn’t to scold my subordinate but to guide the winner of the martial arts tournament.”

‘It seems you’ve done plenty already.’

Muttering internally, I walked with him through the familiar corridors.

“This will be your first time on the second basement floor.”

The second basement floor.

The place he had strictly warned me not to go down to was mentioned.

“If the first floor is merely about high-quality weapons and armor, the second floor is literally a treasure trove. You can pick one thing you want from there.”

“Didn’t you say there was a guardian?”

Having already fully experienced the difficulty of the guardian spirit of eyes at the Count Baltrion’s Vigor, 

Being a duke’s family, it would surely be no less formidable, certainly not a weaker opponent.

“Rest assured. The guardian is currently away from the second floor.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Now, since I’ve left the door to the second floor open, all you need to do is choose one and come out. Don’t judge solely by its appearance, but take a careful look around…”

Yegor, who had been slowly passing down his know-how on choosing relics, suddenly stopped speaking.

Not just his mouth, but his steps halted as well.

Because of that, I had no choice but to stop behind him.

“…What brings Lady here?”

The cause was Luciana, who was loitering on the first floor of the Vigor.

“Oh, Yegor, it’s nothing special. I came to return my armor and sword.”

“You could have asked Hans to do that.”

A sharp glare swept over me.

It was as if she was reproaching me for not even being able to retrieve the master’s equipment properly.

“Don’t be too hard on him, Butler. After all, I came here before giving him a chance to retrieve them.”

“Is that so?”

With a sly wink, Luciana sent a signal my way without the butler noticing.

Thanks to her, I was able to escape from the endless nagging.

“And I thought I’d give a tour as well.”

“A tour, you say?”

“Yes. I suppose I can at least recommend a relic to our martial arts tournament winner.”

Regardless of how much trouble Yegor was in, or how much of a headache he was having, it seemed like a pretty good offer to me.

Especially since she, free from the pressure of the guardian spirit, might allow us to take more daring actions.

“Have you obtained the Lord’s permission?”

“Of course. Here, a handwritten letter from my father.”

After scrutinizing the paper handed over by Luciana, the Steward slowly nodded his head.

“Understood. Since the Lady is well-versed in relics, she will certainly be of help to him.”

He bowed politely and then left the Vigor, leaving us two behind.

“What are you standing there for? Let’s go choose your prize.”

Following Luciana, we arrived on the second floor of the Vigor.

Though the Count Baltrion’s family also had a significant collection of relics, it felt almost disrespectful to compare it to this place.

Like being in a feast and wondering what to eat first.

While I was happily pondering my choice, she suddenly presented me with a relic.

“This is a relic I personally recommend.”

[Yeti Power Glove]

[Item Category: Gloves]

[The Yeti, the most ferocious monster in the North, is a symbol of strength. Just its movement alone can alter the ecosystem of the snowfields. The great curiosity of what it would be like to embody that strength was soon realized by the hands of a craftsman.]

[When worn: Stamina +2]

[Allows the wearer to convert one of their basic attributes to strength according to their will.]

It was a relic that seemed to be inspired by something you’d find in a fantasy game.

I understood why Luciana recommended this relic to me.

It was perfect for inflating my chronic lack of stamina and strength.

It was indeed a symbol of reliability.

“It certainly looks good.”

But something that’s merely reliable doesn’t quite fit my adventurous spirit.

“Hmm. I could recommend another relic, but…”

“No, Lady. Since we’re here, why not aim for something bigger?”

This place was certainly filled with expensive and high-performance relics.

However, having raided this Vigor in the game, I knew the structure inside out, aware that all this might just be a decoy and bait.

“Why don’t we try going to the third basement floor?”

With the real treasures lying just around the corner, how could one simply pass by the mill without entering?

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“Excellent.”

Luciana nodded in satisfaction at the faint sound of the referee’s decision coming from the other side.

After all, they had promised to meet in the finals.

She would have been the first to be outraged if he had shown a disappointing performance by getting eliminated in the preliminaries.

“You seem to be enjoying this, Lucy.”

“Sorry, Liza.”

“Well, it’s fine. It’s not the first or second time you’ve been distracted during a conversation.”

‘Oh dear’

She inadvertently committed a faux pas.

Only when her opponent called her did she meet their eyes. The lady of the Frontal earldom and her unrivaled childhood friend.

Elizabeth Frontal was also one of the most notable competitors in this martial arts tournament.

Her slender hair and the light color of her eyes, like dew on new leaves, sparkled in the sunlight.

At first glance, she might appear to be a fragile lady. However, she was also a noble from the north.

She had achieved remarkable results by burning monsters with her specialty, fire magic, at her coming-of-age ceremony, reaching a high level of mastery for her age as a wizard.

“Ah, how harsh. To think you are my first opponent.”

“I agree.”

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling to meet a childhood friend from the preliminaries.

One of them would have to taste defeat here.

“I have no intention of going easy.”

Determination was etched on Luciana’s face.

Even if Liza was her opponent, she would not hesitate.

She had a promise to keep, after all.

“Who’s going easy on whom? That’s my line!”

As soon as she saw that she was ready, she also grumbled but raised her staff and murmured a spell.

-Whoosh!

The manifestation of magic caused Elizabeta’s pink hair to flutter.

Red flames.

Her magic was so vivid that it almost seemed like her hair darkened in color.

“Fire magic, huh.”

Thinking about it, that demon also wrapped its fists in fire.

In an instant.

A forgotten memory sharpened Luciana’s eyes.

-Crack.

The bitter feeling of defeat soon transformed into power infused in her sword.

“The match begins!”

With the referee’s start signal, Luciana struck down the incoming fireball with her aura-filled sword.

“Wait for me. I’ll be there soon.”

Whether those words were meant for her childhood friend, who was casting spells from afar,

Or for the vampire who had vanished from sight, she herself did not know.

Perhaps it could have been meant for a servant she would face in the finals.

But the current Luciana had no way of knowing.

***

“Ugh!”

“Then, I’ll gladly take the victory.”

Starting with the anticlimactically ended preliminary, I continued on a victorious rampage.

Apart from Dmitry, my first opponent from the so-called loser’s bracket, there wasn’t a single dark horse worthy of note.

Those I met, constantly mentioning outsiders or baronial families, were all but novices relying on their family’s prestige.

“I cannot accept this! Referee, a rematch! Are you going to stand by even after seeing that sorcery piercing through armor!”

To add to it, shameful excuses.

Don’t they know gear also counts as a spec?

“If you’re so envious, why didn’t you bring out a relic from your vault?”

“Judging by the color of your skin, you seem to be from another region as well. Is it right for the referee to be so biased?”

“Enough. There’s no problem. Continue as planned.”

Thanks to that, only the referee, caught between nobles, suffered, but of course, the outcome didn’t change, and the loser’s vile protests were soon blocked by the organizers.

‘As expected of Duke Speda! I knew I could count on you!’

The opponent, daunted by the duke’s cold reception, soon beat a hasty retreat.

With his support, I smoothly secured victory after victory until I finally faced the ultimate challenge.

“Then, let’s begin the final match. Both contestants, please enter.”

The opponent emerging from the opposite side of the Colosseum was as expected.

“…As expected. You didn’t disappoint me.”

She usually wore full plate mail, but there was a slight difference today.

“You didn’t wear your helmet today.”

“I judged it meaningless in a duel with you, as it would only obstruct my vision.”

Thanks to that, her beautiful silver hair and sapphire-like eyes were clearly visible.

“As promised, we meet in the finals.”

“I am always the servant who perfectly carries out the commands of the lady.”

At my jest, Luciana chuckled and replied.

“Talking about being the best servant when you can’t even brew a proper cup of tea seems a bit premature, doesn’t it?”

“I’ll show you my growth soon.”

Apart from our serene conversation, the arena was bustling.

“Lady Speda!”

“The hope of the North! Smash that foreigner to pieces!”

From the competitors who had lost to me and the spectators who had jeered.

“The warriors from the West are better fighters than I thought. It’s been quite some time since I fought demons. It might be necessary to adjust my swordsmanship, which is specialized only for monsters.”

Knights gauging the situation with sharp eyes.

“Come on, the odds are 7 to 3! Anyone thinking of betting on Hans Byron making an unexpected stand?”

And the gamblers that always accompany such places.

The Colosseum was ablaze with a mix of cheers and jeers like never before.

“It seems they wish for me to beat you.”

“I’m not exactly a popular figure here. It’s not without reason that we’re delayed.”

Their reactions didn’t really matter to us.

I had heard it all since the preliminaries, and it was all within expectations. However, Luciana frowned slightly, as if she didn’t like their attitude.

The furrow between her brows.

Something I would never have known through games alone.

A sign of irritation I learned over long acquaintance with her.

“What does region have to do with fighting? They don’t even think about bringing in warriors from other regions. Such narrow vision. They are all foolish.”

Wow. Is she really the same person who insisted that key positions in the North should go to Northerners when we first met?

“Forget the past.”

When I silently stared at her, she averted her eyes as if embarrassed.

As the referee raised the flag, Luciana’s words followed.

“Just to let you know, don’t even think about going easy on me. It’s a disgrace to nobility.”

“Of course.”

The very idea of going easy was nonsensical.

Especially since, based on recent records alone, I was at a disadvantage.

“How can I afford to be complacent against an opponent I might barely be able to defeat if I give it my all?”

“The match, begin!”

With the referee’s announcement, Luciana drew her sword with lightning speed.

“For the first time, she has drawn a rapier.”

“Indeed, it would be hard to catch his movements with heavy swordsmanship. A wise choice.”

The knights who had viewed me favorably earlier offered their appraisal.

“Ugh!”

True to their words, Luciana’s swift and fierce sword strikes were a torment to evade.

My eyes struggled to follow the tip of her sword aiming to pierce my leather armor, and my legs had to work just as hard.

Luciana, catching my eye, let out a small laugh.

“Your movements are slower than during our spars. Is it a stamina issue?”

Clang!

“It seems to me, my lady, that your aura lacks the sharpness it had before.”

Talking while launching an attack. Some can barely manage to speak while dodging.

Pushing back with equal force allowed me to retreat and finally catch my breath, but.

During our exchange, I noticed something.

While I had been fortunate in my bracket assignments after Dmitry, facing relatively equal opponents,

Luciana’s path was different.

She had rightfully defeated notable candidates like Elizabeth Frontal and Wolfman, who were considered strong contenders for the championship.

Aura, like mana, is a consumable resource. The fact that she had already expended some of her aura against formidable opponents was good news for me.

“I’ve saved more than enough aura to suppress you, despite your pointless chatter.”

“……!”

As soon as Luciana finished speaking, the aura emanating from her rapier began to tremble with an ominous intensity.

“Let’s see if you can dodge this too!”

Luciana attempted a thrust just like before.

Perhaps due to becoming somewhat accustomed to it, the semi-transparent trajectory was clearly visible, making it seem like dodging wouldn’t be a problem.

-Boom!

Until the constantly trembling aura exploded, scattering sparks in all directions.

“Ugh?! What’s this…!”

It was nearly impossible to deal with the sudden area-of-effect attack that burst in front of me.

Thanks to my skills, I barely avoided a direct hit, but just like when I dodged Bathory’s attack, my head suddenly felt dizzy.

Only after slightly biting the inside of my cheek and tasting the bitter blood did I manage to regain my wits.

A fiery pain then ignited my right cheek.

From the inside, where I had bitten myself, and from the outside, where I hadn’t fully dodged a shard.

A warm liquid flowed inside and out of my cheek.

“That technique…?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t prepare a countermeasure for you during our spars?”

“Ha ha….”

This is crazy.

A wave of bewilderment swept through me.

‘Did you get complacent because you won nine out of ten spars? And during that, you developed a sniping technique against me?’

There were indeed signs. Even in the game, Luciana had shown patterns of unleashing fatal explosion attacks within a narrow range like that.

But I hadn’t anticipated this, implicitly assuming it was a technique Luciana would acquire after growing further.

“When did you learn such a technique? You never showed it during our spars.”

“Everyone has a hidden ace up their sleeve.”

Her blue eyes were filled with the determination to win this martial arts tournament at all costs.

Her pupils, illuminated by the sunlight, shone brilliantly.

“This is the end.”

“We’ll see about that. The outcome of the match is still unknown.”

-Clank.

Suddenly, the sound of the full plate mail’s clasps coming undone echoed throughout the Colosseum.

“…What?!”

The blue eyes facing me were filled with shock.

Luciana knew from our spars that I had a secret to breaking armor.

That’s why she had been launching relentless attacks without letting me get close enough to touch her armor. But now, from a distance, I had undone her armor, which was certainly surprising.

“You should have checked your back too. Always being aware of your surroundings is a fundamental skill for anyone with a weapon.”

I smiled and gestured with my chin.

Floating behind Luciana was a golden rod that had successfully rendered her defenseless, gently bobbing in the air.

“Magic?”

“As you said, my lady, one cannot carelessly show all their moves in a spar.”

She wouldn’t have expected me, with my limited mana, to use magic. A hidden ace, indeed.

It seems there’s something that truly connects a master and their servant.

[You have used Blood Magic.]

[A penalty is applied. A certain amount of blood is consumed.]

The dizziness intensified as a consequence, but it was a worthy trade-off for its effectiveness.

“…Truly, one cannot afford to be careless for even a moment.”

In an instant.

I found myself admiring the situation inappropriately.

With her full plate mail now pooled around her feet, the contrast between Luciana’s refined features, now in light armor, and the wildness that settled on her face showed how much she relished in this battle.

“It’s a contest. Whether your stamina runs out first, or my blade reaches your unprotected body first!”

“I have no intention of yielding!”

Besides, wouldn’t it be proper for me to win, if only to avoid the criticism that the Speda Ducal Family’s own knight won?

“I know that much! Just by looking into your eyes, I can see your greed!”

Oh dear.

Misinterpreting my noble intention to risk my own life. I’ve really gotten on her bad side.

-Clang!

Luciana’s rapier, unnecessarily sharp-witted, clashed against my dagger, ringing out a clear metallic sound.

Luciana, with her eyes narrowed, engaged in a test of strength.

As I parried the rapier with my dagger, I reached out towards her with my other hand.

A fair swordfight was never my intention against her, who excels in such combat.

“Planning to use magic again?”

Perhaps wary from before, she did not let her guard down and kept an eye on my left hand.

“Flash!”

That was exactly what I was aiming for.

The magic taught to me by Bathory transformed in my hand into a bioluminescent grenade.

“Argh! It’s blinding!”

“What magic did that westerner just use?!”

It seemed to affect even the spectators watching from a distance, as the intense light made everyone squint and turn their heads away from the arena, naturally, Luciana, who took the brunt of it, was affected more severely.

“Ugh… Resorting to tricks!”

Yet, even then, her monstrous instinct to thrust her sword towards where I was stood as a testament to her remarkable ability.

Still, the effect was evident, as the sharpness imbued in her sword noticeably diminished.

“It’s my victory.”

And,

Aiming my dagger obliquely between the neck and shoulder of her, who had closed her eyes, was not a difficult task.

“…I lost again. I really thought I’d win this time.”

“Ha-ha. That’s too bad. Now, the artifact is mi, ne…….”

Just as I was about to respond to Luciana’s bitter murmur, having just recovered from the blinding effect.

Suddenly, my vision flipped.

“Hans, are you okay?”

“Ha-ha. I don’t have the strength to stand on two legs.”

Ah, did I use too much blood? Or maybe my stamina was completely drained from consecutive battles.

The situation, where the loser stood on two legs and the winner collapsed to the ground, was so absurd it made me chuckle.

“The winner! Hans Byron!”

Well, whatever the result, what does it matter?

As I wished, both the victory and the artifact from the Ducal Family’s vault were mine.

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