Chapter 24

It’s getting closer.

The once dried-up emotions boil over in a most bizarre way.

However, even more so than that—

It’s cooling off.

Freezing over.

…Endlessly.

Plash

Plash

Like ripples called forth upon the tranquil lake surface, the silence begins to break.

“Carriel.”

A face hardened savagely.

To an astonishing degree…

…It’s just like always.

“What are you doing here?”

……

“His Highness is asking you!”

“Just because you showed off a little skill, do you think the world belongs to you?”

“You probably trust Lord Ruelde too much…”

“That’s enough.”

The Imperial Prince raised his hand to stop his subordinates.

……

Even this.

The usual routine.

“I won’t ask again. What were you doing here?”

……

“This damn brat has the nerve to—”

He was waiting.

“……?”

Alesius thought he must’ve misheard something.

What?

Waiting for what?

“The malice of humans often shows remarkable drive when it comes to profit and entertainment.”

Suddenly, he starts rambling.

“What?”

Just as the prince was about to mutter another word.

“The process of a strong one oppressing the weak to reaffirm their position is, after all, the greatest amusement a person in power can enjoy.”

So…

“Since you understand it all intellectually, I won’t blame you unnecessarily.”

“This damn kid is saying what now—”

In an instant, his head snapped around.

Thud!

……

……?

“??”

Alesius had no choice but to seriously ponder why he was lying on the ground for a while.

Ringing in his ears. His vision wavered, and the only clear sensation was a numbness somewhere, but still…

He couldn’t quite grasp the situation yet.

Your Highness?!

This, this bastard! Has he gone crazy?!

Do you even know what you’ve just done?!

Are you people even paying attention?!

As if from a distant place, cries of shock and alarm spread.

In just a few seconds.

As his senses became clearer…

The situation became crystal clear.

“……?”

Did he…

Hit me?

Me?

That moron… how dare he hit ME?

Originally,

I shouldn’t have any reason to get hit, right?

That fool initiating violence first was already highly unusual, but…

There’s no way I’d fall down from something like that.

…Alesius wasn’t that clumsy.

Even without swordsmanship, his practical close-combat skills were unmatched within the academy among his year. Even looking across all years, there were only a few who could compare. And with a sword? That goes without saying.

Not to mention the sword.

Even magic, which he learned out of cultural refinement, he could wield better than most students in the mage department and apply it effectively. Was his theoretical knowledge lacking just because his practical skills were good?

Not at all.

If anything, that was his specialty.

But whether it suited him or not…

He had to excel in everything.

Because it was the duty of the bloodline that even blue-bloods revered in awe.

The Golden Bloodline’s obligation.

Whether the blood was blue or red,

Humans or wolves, they all behave the same when they see weakness.

Power stems from overwhelming strength.

Symbols or legitimacy only gain meaning after force backs them up.

Therefore,

He mustn’t show such disgraceful behavior.

It was inevitable.

Bad luck.

The situation was too disadvantageous.

No excuses could console him in any scenario.

It’s unacceptable.

It’s inappropriate.

“Grrk!”

However,

Does falling mean being shocked by it? Does it mean being rendered permanently incapacitated?

This isn’t just embarrassing—it invites contempt.

“How dare you…!”

Only a few seconds had passed.

Why…

Is everyone except myself sprawled across the library floor?

“Eeek!”

Except for those supporting the prince, anyone who held clear hostility and didn’t hesitate to act against him…

Not a single one remains standing normally.

“Come at me then.”

“…You’re completely insane.”

Inside the usually quiet library,

The sudden commotion drew the attention of nearly everyone present.

Normally, they’d move seats or take other actions afterward, but…

This situation didn’t start with Alesius.

Shocking though it may be,

Finding it shocking in itself is shocking.

The first one to throw a punch was him.

Carriel.

‘So, you don’t plan to read the room at all?’

Disgrace leads directly to dishonor for our parents.

For both of us.

…And yet, we both know this better than anyone.

“Don’t worry about it.”

Without hesitation.

The kid approached calmly.

“If it doesn’t work out, dying is fine too, right?”

What…?

“You’ve lost your mind—!”

As he reflexively swung a punch, the guy blocked it with his forearm.

No, that’s not all.

He grabbed the arm he blocked.

“Ugh?!”

Even as he instantly channeled mana to enhance his body, increasing his strength and sharpening his senses…

‘What?!’

It unraveled.

Everything felt like it short-circuited, as if forcibly dismantled.

“Grrk!”

His head was forced back.

A rapid series of light punches landed.

Though these were mere feints, once they connected via optimal strike paths, his vision blurred involuntarily.

But…

‘Too weak.’

Indeed, this amateurish blow from someone incapable of enhancing himself could only cause confusion.

‘Just that much!’

Yet, Alesius overlooked something crucial:

This weakling had subdued and neutralized his subordinates. In his heated state, he failed to notice this unlike usual.

Trying to shake off the grip on his right arm using mana again…

‘――?’

It wasn’t a hallucination.

In that moment, the world flipped upside down once more.

“Grrk!”

With a loud crash, Alesius’s body, thrown like a vertical axe, split the library table cleanly in two. Convulsing from the impact, Alesius twisted his waist.

“You… this… bastard!”

“Get up.”

We still have plenty to talk about, don’t we?

“Cough! What? Talk?”

This lunatic… what nonsense is he spouting now?!

“Aha.”

Again, as if realizing something.

Carriel tilts his gaze upward.

Even that…

“Have you forgotten? It was just this morning.”

“Cough! I’ll never let you off the hook…”

“Stand up.”

Carriel simply stands there, watching Alesius’s pathetic struggles.

“Adults might overlook it as kids’ squabbles, but you and I… we’ve already crossed the river far too long ago.”

Even if you change your stance later…

“Now, I’m in a position where I can’t do that.”

“Proud, aren’t you?! Just because you got lucky once! Do you really feel like you own the world?!”

“From the beginning.”

Carriel asked with an indifferent gaze.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You?! You’re saying that?! YOU?!”

“Stop barking.”

He approaches slowly.

Dodging and stepping over scattered pieces of broken tables.

“There won’t be a next chance.”

“Next chance?!”

“If you hit the floor again this time, prepare yourself.”

“This psycho bastard till the end?!”

Through secret breathing techniques, channeling mana accumulated in his heart, vitality surged through his entire body as if none of the earlier events had happened.

‘I wasn’t careless.’

He regains composure eerily quickly.

Some might call this special trait a personality flaw, but…

‘Isn’t this exactly how it should be used appropriately?’

Mother said so.

His Majesty also mentioned repeatedly:

“Don’t lament what you have, nor envy what you lack.”

As the boiling emotions cooled and froze over, things previously unseen rapidly spread through his sharp intellect.

‘Touching him disperses mana.’

I don’t know what kind of trickery he’s using.

But if that’s all it is, then avoiding contact should suffice, right?

Still…

His movements were unnaturally free of excess.

No, that’s wrong. They overflowed with redundancy.

It’s just that they were strangely difficult to counteract.

It wasn’t invisible, nor impossibly fast or agile.

‘His movements were concise.’

Recalling the previous incident,

Despite its humiliation, how could he forget?

Upon reflection, nothing extraordinary stood out.

After all, both sides had arms and legs.

Is this some sort of unique mana control technique?

But if so, it makes even less sense.

‘What kind of harmony is this?’

Now within arm’s reach.

Instinctively trying to create distance, Alesius leaned back—but then…

Once again,

An explosion of emotion.

‘I… me?! Am I retreating in fear of this guy?!’

Against someone like him?

This body?!

Alesius finally had no choice but to admit.

Indeed, I…

Can’t maintain my composure coldly when I see you.

‘All this is because of you.’

He harbored deep intentions.

Surely the other side also prepared and acted accordingly.

Therefore, this is self-defense.

Therefore, there’s no reason for him to avoid it.

Nor any reason to hold back.

Without a doubt!

Allying himself with speed unmatched by his retreat, Alesius lunged forward.

The world moved fast, yet Carriel merely stared blankly as if frozen in place.

‘Fine, I’ll admit it.’

I, from before until now,

When I see you…!

…

And then, once more,

The world flipped.

“……?!”

A fierce impact struck his back and waist.

No, rather.

His whole body slammed into the ground.

“Khhuck!”

In an instant,

The vitality-filled body became as frail as a sick man’s.

“Ugh… ugh?”

When did I get caught?

The heat that flared up in his mind cooled down drastically, turning icy.

Difficulty breathing accompanied the pain.

While his emotions churned with bewilderment, his rationality remained chillingly calm, as if observing himself from a third-person perspective.

‘My arm was grabbed.’

And then, he was flipped over.

“Khkk!”

Most importantly,

The situation wasn’t over yet.

Holding onto the captured arm, Carriel climbed atop Alesius’ chest.

Crack!

“?!”

His shoulder was dislocated.

Clearly intentional.

But Alesius hadn’t grown weak enough to scream from just this.

Though familiarity with pain doesn’t make it any less painful.

“I warned you.”

If you hit the floor…

“Prepare yourself.”

“D-damn—?!”

Carriel atop him drove his fist downward.

Smash!

“?!”

Attempting to block with his uninjured left arm, but the immense pressure pressing into the joint made him almost cry out.

Smash!

‘A knee?!’

Then again,

Crack!

“?!”

Switching positions mid-strike, he dislocated Alesius’s left shoulder this time.

Although the joints were dislocated, outwardly it looked fine, but for the victim whose both arms were now useless, there could be no greater terror.

“This mi—!”

Smash!

“Y-you—!”

Smash!

“That—!”

Smash!

“What?!”

With both arms incapacitated, Carriel climbed back atop his chest and continued raining punches.

Smash!

“You!”

Smash!

“And think!”

Smash!

“To get away!”

Smash!

“Unscathed—!”

Smash!

“Forever—!”

Smash!

“Will you….”

Suddenly, Alesius’s body was flipped over.

‘What is he doing?!’

The moment he felt the weight press down on his back,

Smash!

His face hit the ground.

More accurately, the side.

Periodic impacts reverberated through him.

‘This bastard really means it!’

“Khkk!”

Forcibly pulling his face away from the ground.

His messy red hair roughly yanked.

“Endure it.”

I’ve endured long enough.

“It’s your turn now.”

Smash!

Climbing onto his back, holding his head firmly,

He pummeled his face.

Smash!

Smash!

Thud!

“Eeeek!”

“What’s happening here?!”

“Crazy bastard… Crazy son! How are we supposed to handle this situation?!”

“H-how dare he attack His Royal Highness— This, this is! T-treason? Rebellion?!”

Whatever the bystanders muttered,

Who cares?

I’m trapped in quicksand.

Even if I somehow escape it,

It’s useless.

Ultimately, I have to drag those who pushed me into it along with me.

And shove them into the same pit.

Until then,

Reality, dignity, future, happiness, dreams—none of it matters.

“For now, I won’t kill you. This is just the opening skirmish.”

Right now,

“Endure it.”

Since I’ve been forced to endure unwillingly.

Since I’ve shuddered and barely managed to endure,

“We can no longer live under the same sky.”

He swung his fist.

Crack!

Continuing.

Crack!

Continuing.

Crack—!

Continuously.

Crack—!

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