Chapter 59

At that moment, the thoughts of the three knights coincided.

It must be cut off.

This intact state must not return to the Duke’s Mansion.

If it lives and returns, an unstoppable wave will come.

Even if it had to be thoroughly damaged here.

Whoosh-

Two swords were drawn.

“Blame me not. Since you drew the sword first.”

“It’s your fault. You bastard.”

Clang! Clang!

Two more swords rushed forward.

If it was Theo alone, perhaps he might not have noticed. Carsein, having to face three at once, visibly began to tire.

Though skills were mastered, the instability of the flesh could not be covered.

Even if the power that accidentally manifested had some control, it was a different league from them.

Yet, the boy with experience in the slums was clever.

How to bring down stronger individuals.

How to use the achievements of daily training.

He managed to incapacitate two people wisely, drenching himself in sweat every day.

One had sand in his eyes and stumbled, getting knocked out after being hit on the head. The other couldn’t control his strength and got knocked out when his sword was deeply embedded in a tree after hitting him in the neck.

Theo Lamstair, remaining, was a formidable opponent in a duel.

“Cough, cough!”

But his body wouldn’t follow.

It was a miracle he could even last this long with his frail physique.

Unable to stand, Carsein collapsed.

“Die, you filthy commoner scum!!”

In the meantime, Theo, hit several times and seeing stars, brought the blade close to Carsein’s neck.

Just as death seemed imminent,

Slash, and red blood splattered on Carsein.

“Do… not… move. Then, everything will be fine. I’ll take care of them…”

Radiel.

She took the blow meant for Carsein, collapsing into his arms without finishing her sentence.

***

The sensation of Theo’s blade cutting through flesh is clear.

But who was cut?

“Captain…!”

Radiel was cut.

Not Carsein.

It’s done.

Now that Radiel is cut, there’s no going back.

If this spreads within the ranks, not only would his position as a proper knight of the House be in jeopardy, but he’d also be cast out for bringing such dishonor home.

However.

‘Radiel can’t move, right?’

Carsein is in the same boat.

He’s also knocked out.

Radiel only took the hit in his stead; they were all exhausted from the fight with three people.

Both knocked out?

A sinister smile crept onto Theo’s face.

Just as he thought it was over, a better opportunity presented itself.

“Right. You cut Captain Radiel right here.”

Slash!

Another stream of blood flowed.

The commotion in the training hall grew louder.

As the two streams of blood congealed, doubts arose about Radiel and Carsein’s disappearance.

Searches began immediately.

“Ugh, seniors.”

“Theo? Blood…!”

“What happened? What led to this?”

Holding one arm tightly, Theo hid his grimace.

His testimony revealed what happened in the forest, and the scene was soon exposed.

Extinguished torches.

Traces of sword fighting.

The wind of battle in the forest.

And…

“I don’t know what happened, but trying to help her… but it seems emotions ran high, and Young Master Carsein cut Captain Radiel.”

A man’s false testimony pointed the blame squarely at Carsein.

The next day.

A trial was held in the training hall.

Carsein protested repeatedly.

It was a justified counterattack against those who tried to oust him, commissioned by the House of Bargrand.

It wasn’t him; it was Theo.

After falling, he stood up during the trial and pleaded his innocence.

But Carsein was already in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous position.

“The blood on Young Master’s sword matches Radiel’s and Theo’s. The types of bloodstains found at the scene match perfectly. Do you still think it’s a coincidence?”

“Moreover, the testimonies of the two apprentice knights align. They were unconscious but were saved by Theo before their throats were cut.”

Carsein’s sword, which hadn’t a drop of blood, was soaked with Radiel and Theo’s blood. The other two knights participated in the false testimony.

The natural flow of events made it inevitable that he would be convicted.

The only way to break this situation was for Radiel to wake up and testify.

But she was in critical condition due to severe injuries and couldn’t testify in court.

“My skill couldn’t have defeated three! How could it possibly be…!”

Carsein’s utterly correct observation.

This was something the jury couldn’t accept either.

If things continued, doubt would arise in the courtroom too.

Indeed, if things continued.

“Possible. Young Master can infuse mana into his sword, right?”

“…What?”

“What do you mean, Theo Lamstair?”

“Infusing mana into a sword isn’t something everyone can do.”

Theo nodded in agreement.

“None of us apprentices could infuse mana yet. But since Young Master could, you could defeat us three despite our inferiority.”

“Hmm.”

“If that’s true…”

“It could be possible. Considering the difference in levels.”

For Carsein, it was an accidental discovery, but the investigation confirmed that the mana residue on the sword served as further evidence.

Thus, public opinion swayed back towards Theo.

Carsein pleaded desperately for someone in the Duke’s Mansion to clarify the order given.

However.

“By now, you should recognize it. You think Sir Theo would lie like you?”

“Flora… you…!”

“An order like that from the Duke’s Mansion is strange enough. And then, for Sir Theo to accept it? Don’t frame innocent people! You fool!”

One person’s intervention shattered his final hope.

If he had checked the mansion’s records, the trial might have gone differently.

Perhaps it would have returned to square one.

But Flora’s testimony that such a person wasn’t the type to act this way made the investigation fade away.

In the end.

“Carsein. From now on, you’re banned from entering the training hall indefinitely. Add a clause ensuring Carsein won’t be allowed among the knights.”

Arina, acting on behalf of Isabella Bargrand, who was mentally unstable, delivered the punishment.

Utterly unjust and miserable, Carsein lost everything he had.

Swish-

[Memorial ended.]

With status messages, the scene of the Memorial faded away, revealing Radiel and Mark standing motionless, as if time had stopped.

“…”

Pathetic.

A worthless nobody who managed to gain a goal and escape the hellish mansion now has it all taken away.

Never to reclaim again.

It’s like my old self…

Snap!

“This isn’t the time to dwell on the past. This is reality, now.”

The focus must be on Carsein’s ordeal. One wrong choice could cost me my life.

Yes. What I need now is thorough information gathering and analysis, not fleeting emotions.

Radiel’s deep-seated secret and Mark, who heard it all.

Carsein’s past and Theo’s false testimony.

Emma and another person.

Despite deviating from the plan, my objective became clearer.

▶In 3 seconds, the Memorial effect will fade!◀

▶Prepare to resume the episode!◀

3.

2.

1.

As the countdown ended, Radiel and Mark moved instantly.

I asked Mark directly, confronting him aggressively.

“Now that you’re not a trainee but the master of the House, how much did you hear? Mark.”

Mark, who was charging, halted and replied.

“Up until Emma’s story.”

“Just up to there. That’s understandable.”

“Young Master!”

Radiel shook her head in disapproval, but regrettably, it couldn’t be helped.

My cold blood spoke the truth.

This man needed to know as well.

And I would do it regardless of the shock.

“Radiel, don’t say anything from now on.”

***

Radiel knows the entire truth of the incident.

Thus, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about Carsein’s judgment.

‘Testimony might be possible… but for Young Master…’

There’s no concrete proof.

Clearly, Radiel and Theo’s blood were on the sword found that day, and the scene with two types of bloodstains proved it.

Can overturning the verdict, based on clear evidence and a scene that seemed to expose the truth, really be possible?

‘No. I need to stop it now…!’

Mark might rage and demand Carsein’s expulsion.

But.

“Radiel, don’t say anything from now on.”

Carsein excluded Radiel from the situation entirely.

“First, I can’t tell you everything about that day right away.”

“What?”

“It’s obvious I can’t trust. Even during the trial, I had no doubts. It’s possible you had preconceived notions.”

Mark flared up at the mention of preconceptions.

“If I had preconceptions, I would have pushed to expel Young Master like those knights.”

“Only because you cut Radiel, right? That’s real prejudice.”

“No. I could have expelled you multiple times, but I didn’t. I always remembered Radiel’s plea to believe in Young Master!”

Honestly, I wanted to expel you.

I wanted to expel you for cutting the captain.

But Mark didn’t ignore Radiel’s plea.

“I believed you had reasons to bow your head. That’s why I told you not to run away this morning. I still have unanswered questions from that day. Does this make me prejudiced?”

The trial concluded with Carsein’s ban from the training hall. Though he protested and caused a disturbance later, he was subdued without further injury to Carsein.

That’s right. You were that kind of person.

Like in the Memorial, he was the one who followed Carsein most faithfully.

Betrayal must have been immense.

Yet, he kept his promise.

He successfully suppressed his anger and controlled his weapon.

Maintaining neutrality.

Confident that Mark wasn’t biased, Carsein finally addressed the matter.

“I heard I’ll be sparring with knights tomorrow. Right?”

“Yes, but how did you…?”

“It doesn’t matter how I knew. The important part is that you know who I’ll be facing.”

Mark looked suspiciously at him.

“You guessed I’d be facing an apprentice knight. But that’s random. You shouldn’t know.”

“Right. That’s your responsibility as acting captain. But what if I guess correctly who my opponent will be tomorrow?”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Then, see for yourself tomorrow. I’ll face…”

Bruce.

It’ll be him.

“And Radiel.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“If you plan to observe, don’t interfere no matter what happens tomorrow.”

“What?! B-But…!”

“I said it. I’ll crush them myself.”

Carsein finished his advice with a chilling gaze, picked up a fallen sword, and handed it to Mark.

“If my prediction is wrong, use this sword to cut my back tomorrow, same depth as Radiel’s wound.”

“…”

“Young Master!”

“You could back out here. Honestly, I’m considered a liar in the training hall now. Isn’t this necessary?”

Radiel was shocked, and Mark was bewildered.

Standing before them, Carsein declared boldly.

“Why go to such lengths? Was it necessary?”

Indeed.

Both Mark and Radiel.

They must have wondered why such a reckless gamble was being played.

“Have confidence. Different from back then.”

A verdict had already been reached.

That day, Carsein cried and raged, pulling out his sword.

Unconvinced by the verdict, he threatened to cause a second wave of damage by engaging in sword fights.

With no more proof, no witnesses or evidence.

All that remained was the reputation of being a troublemaker in the training hall and worse nicknames.

And…

Despite knowing the truth, having to live each day without the House believing him, relying only on his master.

But what about the Carsein in front of me?

He says he’s confident.

Different from back then.

Saying he won’t fail.

Showing confidence that he won’t listen to any rebuttals.

Surely, it seemed reckless.

But that thought vanished.

“So, if Young Master’s words prove true under these conditions, what will you do then?”

“Oh, that? Nothing much.”

Carsein smiled.

“I’ll use this key to reveal one of the House’s secrets.”

The old warehouse key he recently found.

***

A complicated day passed, and the next arrived.

Training had been appropriately managed, so I didn’t fall too far behind despite the difficulty.

But complacency was forbidden. Some of those who had mocked me now looked different.

Those who simply despised me were merely prejudiced. But the ones mentioned were a different breed.

‘They’re ready to pounce if they spot a weakness.’

They must be getting nervous.

According to Emma’s request, they had to drive Carsein out within seven days.

‘But it’s not going to be easy.’

Glancing slightly, I saw the pink-haired girl.

With Ariana coming yesterday and making things tight, and Claire watching with wide eyes, who could dare touch me?

One of the guys who tried to scheme earlier was caught.

Unlike Ariana, he was dragged away mercilessly.

They must be frustrated.

They must be starting to report to Emma about failing to drive Carsein out of the training hall.

They must be growing more anxious.

And eventually, they’ll cross dangerous lines.

‘Go ahead. I’ll repay you many times over.’