Chapter 158

No, is this really okay?

If I’ve completed my duties as an imperial messenger, then returning to the Imperial Palace of Sylvantrium with the treatment I deserve should be the end of it.

“Tell me, after traveling such a long distance and neglecting my training, making my body sluggish, could you spare some time for a practice duel before I return? Nobu, could you?”

The words that came out of Sir Alkaid, who had come as an imperial messenger, were overwhelmingly more than what I had expected.

A practice duel? Could it really be okay to engage in a practice duel against an imperial messenger like this?

The request from Sir Alkaid was so unexpected that it reflexively popped out of my mind. If I were in Caladborg Duke’s position and received this imperial decree, I might not have been able to outright refuse his request for a duel, but I would have thought about politely declining with an appropriate reason.

“Sir Alkaid, it’s a rare honor for a junior like me to spar with someone of your caliber. I am honored to serve.”

Even though Asulin had just returned to the Duke’s residence of Caladborg and her fatigue hadn’t yet dissipated, she accepted Sir Alkaid’s request for a duel with utmost respect right there and then.

I tried to say something to stop her, but Asulin swiftly turned her head, subtly shaking it left and right, silently telling me not to interfere.

It seemed neither of us had expected her to accept it so immediately.

“The humility in your words is more than enough to cover my face. It is an honor for me to cross blades with a hero who will lead the next generation of our empire.”

Despite showing overwhelming satisfaction on his face, Sir Alkaid also revealed a considerable amount of guilt towards Asulin, whose fatigue hadn’t fully subsided.

He seemed to recognize that he was forcing himself even as he spoke.

I heard that he was kind-hearted but also stubborn for his age. However, this behavior didn’t feel like the stubbornness of an old person trying to get their way.

“Alkaid, even an old boar like him has grown wiser with age, but it seems he’s gained humility too. Do you know? In his youth, if someone didn’t accept his duel requests, he would torment them day and night until they agreed, then he’d crush them and revel in his victory.”

…Payload, who knew him better, wanted to spread more gossip about him in my mind, despite not having personally experienced it.

I had heard enough from Dominus to be thoroughly sick of it.

Alkaid Nodium, the leader of a distant branch of the royal family of Ascalon, and a founding hero who contributed greatly to the construction of the empire alongside the former emperor since his young days.

A war hero known for invincibility and indomitability, who was infamous for seizing weapons or prized possessions from defeated opponents in life-and-death duels and friendly sparring matches alike.

I only heard that he had retired from public life due to old age, spending his twilight years as an imperial messenger.

But seeing him use his free time wisely in his later years made me think that such a renowned war hero might spend his final years engaged in somewhat petty hobbies.

“But, I doubt an old man like me can withstand the sword of the new master of Caladborg.”

Though lightly stated, he scattered hints of fierce determination.

“At least, I promise I won’t disappoint you!”

With a slight smirk, Alkaid’s demeanor showed the undiminished heroic spirit despite his age.

“Asulin, please lead the way to the practice arena.”

Watching Asulin’s back as she led the way with a smile after accepting his vow, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Winning or losing wasn’t the priority; all I cared about was that Asulin wouldn’t get hurt during the duel.

-What’s the big deal? She’ll win and won’t get hurt anyway.

Even though Payload lightly scolded me, my worry didn’t dissipate.

I just hope things don’t turn out badly…

In reality, I needn’t have worried. The duel between Asulin and Sir Alkaid, held with blunt non-lethal swords in the practice arena, ended in Asulin’s victory.

Contrary to my expectation of a close match, Asulin demonstrated remarkable skill by overpowering her opponent quickly and decisively.

Alkaid, wielding a dull blade in the practice arena, was almost ghostly.

Though he was older, he was once a hero who fought on the front lines of the battlefield during the unification of the Central Continent, never sustaining a single injury in battle.

His reputation as an executioner in place of the emperor was evident in his dueling prowess.

Asulin’s powerful strikes, which seemed capable of shattering anything upon contact, were effortlessly deflected by Alkaid’s skilled handling.

Her attacks were so precise that one could almost see the gap closing in on her opponent.

Their duel started fairly evenly, but Alkaid’s experience, honed over decades, couldn’t match Asulin’s relentless assault.

Asulin’s powerful swordsmanship dismantled Alkaid’s well-practiced techniques even before his physical condition became apparent.

Every time Alkaid tried to muster strength in his arm to strike, Asulin anticipated his movements and countered, rendering him unable to attack or counterattack.

Although it appeared balanced, Asulin’s one-sided offensive had already determined the outcome of the duel.

“Ha…”

Finally, Alkaid, struggling to hold off Asulin’s attacks, couldn’t withstand her pressure and released the practice sword.

“Oh… I guess I should stop bothering the younger ones with these practice duels. I thought I could last at least thirty minutes, but I couldn’t even hold on for ten.”

He muttered almost incoherently.

“This old man has lost. A complete defeat. I’m sure even if I faced you with the vigor of my youth, when I fought alongside the former emperor on the battlefield, I would still lose.”

He acknowledged his defeat by raising Asulin’s sword.

It was a pure compliment, without any attempt to hide his weakness by elevating his opponent.

“Karzas will be delighted. Having a child like you as a successor.”

Though I felt a strange shadow when mentioning the word “successor,” his voice remained hearty, and his expression barely changed, leaving no room for further confirmation.