Duke Yuma walked toward the outdoor training grounds.
As Yuma appeared, the knights gathered at the training ground turned their attention to him.
And one by one, they paid their respects to Yuma.
Yuma closely watched Bell, who was busy exchanging sword strikes, as she sparred with her father, Luke.
Clang! Ka-bang!
Luke and Bell’s swords clashed repeatedly. The sound of their swords colliding echoed through the air. Yuma stood back, observing the duel.
Luke, the head of the White Night Clan and Bell’s father, who shared her blue hair, marveled each time he deflected Bell’s sword.
He had realized from their last duel that she had truly reached the level of a Grand Sword Master. Even then, he felt her growth in the short time they exchanged strikes. Today was no different.
Both their swords were enveloped in a blue aura.
It was a trust only possible between a father and daughter.
They had a strong belief that each other’s attacks wouldn’t cause significant harm.
Luke’s massive build was certainly overwhelming compared to Bell’s. The advantage stemming from that incredible size was considerable.
The force behind the gigantic great sword Luke wielded was no joke either.
Although Luke’s consideration allowed for some equivalence in swordplay intensity, the gap in strength was enormous.
Thus, after a prolonged exchange, Bell was often pushed back.
Kyaaa!
But as she was pushed back, she gracefully twisted her ankle and body, firing herself forward like a bullet.
It wasn’t until the agreed time of 15 minutes was up that she let her sword arm droop.
Bell, focused entirely on the duel, finally realized that Yuma had been watching their match from the middle.
“Yuma….”
Bell’s round pink eyes widened as she looked at Yuma.
Luke also spoke up.
With his blue eyes, Luke regarded Yuma intently.
“I saw the battle three days ago, Your Grace. It was truly an extraordinary display of martial prowess. I felt a sense of powerlessness.”
There was respect in Luke’s words—admiration for Yuma’s demonstration of strength against the Evil God Barbatos.
Yuma met Luke’s gaze.
He had many things to say, not just as a subordinate but as Bell’s father.
Yuma gestured toward a space near the break room adjacent to the training grounds.
“Count Rubelt, let’s talk.”
Luke’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Got it.”
Before heading to the break room, Yuma glanced at Bell.
“Don’t overdo it. Take it easy, you might hurt yourself.”
Without waiting for Bell’s reply, Yuma walked towards the break room, followed closely by Luke.
“…Don’t overdo it?”
Bell puffed up her cheeks and pouted her lips.
“Yuma always overdoes it alone!”
Since three days ago, Bell had felt a hint of betrayal.
When she killed Incrinew, she had no idea how truly powerful Yuma was because Incrinew’s attack was far from a martial stance.
When she obliterated the Great Demon King before, she thought that up until the last moment, she might barely manage to dodge the sword aimed at her life.
But this time, witnessing Yuma defeat Barbatos was overwhelmingly impressive.
Bell engraved Barbatos’s movements into her mind, endlessly imagining herself battling the formidable being that had descended on this land three days ago.
And in every imagined battle, the outcome was always her death.
From the first punch thrown by Barbatos, she was dead on the spot.
No matter how many hypothetical scenarios she spun, or how she gathered all her abilities, the result never changed.
Even if she somehow dodged the first punch, she was still met with the baptism of intangible swords that descended upon this world for the second time and died.
Barbatos’s third attack, a palm strike, and the fourth attack, a sword shape, were obviously death sentences.
But that Yuma fought through everything and ultimately slaughtered that so-called embodiment of nothingness— the battle god.
Yuma.
It was Yuma who told Bell she would surely be able to reach him with her strength. Yet, day by day, he distanced himself further. The gap that had formed now seemed impossibly far, as if she’d have to wildly wave her hands her entire life to even touch it.
And that’s why she was furious.
*
Yuma and Luke, the head of the White Night Clan, sat side by side in the break room.
Now part of a family that protects the Astes Empire, Brigitte had awarded Luke a countship based on his achievements during the recent demon invasion.
According to the laws of Astes, this was the highest title one could receive for a single military achievement.
Knowing that as a member of the imperial family, he needed to secure his place to ensure his clan’s safety, Luke didn’t refuse the title.
He didn’t refuse the title.
Count Rubelt of the White Night Clan gazed at Duke Yuma.
“I heard that bastard who appeared three days ago is a god.”
Yuma nodded.
“Do you believe that?”
Rubelt chuckled.
“Of course, I have to believe it. What can I do? If it’s the Grand Duke’s words, I have a responsibility to believe it unless it’s some seriously insane nonsense. After all, the entire clan has benefitted from the Grand Duke’s grace.”
That was because Yuma had killed the demigod, Ades, the King of the Giant Tribe, who had been the cause of the clan’s vow never to step a foot outside their land. As long as Yuma was alive, the entire clan would see him as their benefactor.
Rubelt continued.
“And since I’ve seen the bastard myself, I can’t not believe he’s a god. The abilities and power he showed were definitely god-level.”
Yuma felt there was no need for unnecessary explanations.
Rubelt went on.
“So, are there a few more like him?”
“Probably six more left. Their underlings might come down too. Barbatos must have been targeting me directly, but on top of that, it seems he planned to wipe out half of this world’s continent.”
According to what the status window informed him, that was the case. The status window had no reason to lie about such things.
“…So not only Gehergen continent but all the continents in this world may face a storm.”
“Exactly.”
Yuma felt it was time to get to the point.
“I’m planning to take Bell, Cloney, and other promising talents to the Heavenly Realm.”
“The Heavenly Realm?”
Rubelt already knew about the apostles of the Heavenly Realm coming to kidnap his daughter. He had come to the palace after hearing about the fight between Bell and the apostles.
“My stance changed after I defeated the Evil God.”
Rubelt understood immediately from Yuma’s words. After all, that sight was more than enough to change a stance.
“I heard from an apostle who came down that it could greatly help with training. I don’t plan on going in without any countermeasures. Safety will be guaranteed.”
“There’s no way out. Safety is guaranteed.”
Luke slowly nodded.
“But if you’re here to ask for permission to take Bell, there’s really no need to come all this way to get my approval. It doesn’t seem like the Duke would put my daughter in danger.”
Luke’s trust in Yuma had already solidified strongly over their time together.
“It could take a month or two. I hope you take good care of the Empire during that time.”
Luke immediately responded to Yuma’s words.
“Well then, this is now a land where my family resides.”
And that was the conclusion.
It meant he would be leaving the Empire for a while.
‘I should check if it’s possible to keep an eye on the Empire’s situation from the Heavenly Realm.’
Having said all he needed, Yuma stepped back outside the lounge.
He had just taken a short break, but Bell was already swinging her sword diligently.
Yuma approached Bell.
Swishhh!
Bell continued to swing her sword steadfastly, even with Yuma approaching.
“I’ll be heading to the Heavenly Realm in a few days. It seems more likely to find a place with clear growth potential there than in this continent.”
Haaah!
Even after Yuma finished speaking, Bell took one more swing before coming to a complete stop.
Thud.
“…You’re lying, saying I could become as strong as my lord.”
Bell puffed out her cheeks.
“I’m not lying.”
Yuma was entirely serious.
If the final boss of this world is defeated through parrying, that’s just weird, isn’t it?
A barrier.
Yuma had long decided to act as a solid barrier to strengthen both Bell and Cloney.
“Just don’t give up.”
Even if reality flowed completely differently from his thoughts, he intended to maintain that role as much as possible.
“I’ll block anyone who tries to harm you, so all you have to do is not give up.”
The puffed-out cheeks of Bell began to deflate.
It wasn’t that she was convinced. The thought that her skills could reach Yuma’s level still didn’t even cross her mind.
She just felt reassured by Yuma’s constant soothing tone, which eased her irritation.
“…I get it.”
Bell started swinging her sword again.
Four days later, the Great Angel Garenmoon descended to announce that preparations to enter the Heavenly Realm were complete.
