Chapter 44

Chapter 44

She had to subdue at least one more. Leasis, who hit an opponent in the neck with her wooden sword, turned her head right away. However, on the right side, Blix had already overpowered the two remaining men.

She lowered her wooden sword with a regretful look. The score was 4 to 2. In two games, Blix had overpowered four people, and Leasis two. Leasis had to beat three opponents in the next game to win the bet.

Leasis sighed, twisting her left wrist. She could not get use to Utran’s blood swordsmanship. It seemed as if she was wearing the wrong clothes. Not only did she had to control her strength, but she also had to have a different way of breathing.

She did not have the slightest pleasure of winning the game. The next fight was the key to win the bet against Blix. She had to use any method. If Utran’s swordsmanship could not give her a chance, she had to use the characteristics of the altered terrain. She looked at the large and small stones that had been recovered by the wizards and quickly thought.

In the meantime, she did not neglect to practice. She changed her breathing method with care on her way to the gladiator arena. Setchen looked at her strangely, and Blix grinned.

To Blix, Hellhard’s effort looked cute. It was funny to use ‘cute’ for a man, but it looked good.

‘But you can’t beat me.’

Blix stretched confidently. No matter how hard he tried, it was impossible to catch up with him in such a short period of time. He would not know if it were Count Dratius who had challenged him. But it was impossible for someone else. Blix was sure of it.

After greeting the contestants, Leasis murmured something while looking at the gray wall in the waiting room. Blix, approaching her, had a hard time holding back his laughter. As he heard it up close, she was counting the seconds she breathed. Blix reached out and stroked her black cape without realizing it, but she did not notice it.

Leasis was in a hurry to practice. Her long arms and legs were stirred, and her posture moving the wooden sword became fierce.

The more she did, the more Blix’s heart pounded. Aside from taking off his cape, he hoped he would learn swordsmanship soon. He had only been nervous twice so far about competing with someone. However now, there were three people, including Hellhard. Blix stepped back so that Hellhard could focus on training.

Sitting on the cold floor of the waiting room, she sighed. The harder Leasis tried, the brighter Blix was. She was nothing in front of his genius. Blix sat next to Setchen who was fiddling with his swords.

When Blix struck his dark blonde hair, Setchen hit him with his hand, telling him not to. The feeling of losing Leasis to Blix was not pleasant. Blix glanced down at Setchen, who looked really displeased. The child trying to pretend to be an adult seemed to overlap a little with his younger brother.

Well, I don’t know if I can give you any advice. He spoke in a whisper.

“You’re not even breathing properly.”

“What?”

Are you trying to pick a fight? Setchen raised his eyes. Then Blix put two fingers on Setchen’s neck. Setchen’s golden eyes widened at the feeling of his fingers, as hard and strong as stone.

“Strengthen your basic stamina and practice holding your breath. It’s the basics of all swordsmanship.”

“How am I supposed to build up my basic stamina here?”

“Didn’t you hear that from your Hyung?”

“I heard. I heard that Leasis also climbed mountains or ran around mansions.”

Leasis? Blix blinked at the name he heard for the first time. Setchen, who was surprised after spitting out, shook his head quickly.

“Oh. Not Hyung. She’s my Noona from the store. Anyway! How am I supposed to train my basic stamina here?”

“Why can’t you?”

Blix pointed at his hands, arms, and legs with his chin.

“You’re fine.”

“No. I’m not saying that.”

“Look over there.”

Setchen turned his head when Blix said. Many men were getting up in place, lying on the floor again and repeating their running moves. It was the basic gymnastics of the Harknon Empire. The men’s faces were full of sweat.

“You’re different from your Hyung. You have many excuses for the weak, and bad eyes.”

As Setchen gritted his teeth, Blix looked at him and laughed.

“Are you going to make another excuse?”

“You’re noisy.”

Setchen put down his two swords and began to move. Somehow, Blix knew how to train his younger brother well.

*

The Commanders were dying to please Elnos. They knew him to be a crazy person, but it was beyond their imagination. He would attend a group affairs meeting and make a mess, or he would sneak in and steal a top secret document in the middle of the night. Then he would smile shamelessly.

Max had blocked him in the middle, so it was bearable. However, at some point, Max had also let go. No, it seemed he was distracted by something else. When even the trusted Hizen became quiet, only the Commanders agonized.

The hardest thing was a convocation order to a meeting that never happened. What time was it right now and was it called a meeting? The Commanders held back their yawns and tightened their heads. Only Hizen and Max were fine. The two waited for the incoming bullshit with calm faces.

“So. From tomorrow, we just need to release the cerberus and leave about ten people.”

Sitting on the bed, Elnos took a sip of wine. Max said, wishing someone would be poisoned here.

“Your Highness. I remember that story was already over.”

A soft voice smeared with annoyance. Hizen was a little surprised and looked at Max. As always, Max’s smiling mouth trembled slightly.

“Just go with the schedule.”

You crazy bastard. Max had troubles swallowing back his words. As evidenced by the rumors circulating in the Imperial Family, Elnos seemed to be mentally ill. Why was he making such a fuss by bringing up another story that both of them had already dealt with? Ashley and Elnos looked fine, so why were they like this? Max was genuinely worried about the future of the Imperial Family.

Elnos smiled, fiddling with a glass of wine. He knew what Max was thinking, but he recently got new information. He could not believe the youngest daughter of Marquis Kyun had sneaked into the gladiator tournament.

Elnos enjoyed driving his prey into a state of abomination and making them howling. Especially when they were the object of his hatred. Elnos continued to speak in a crazy voice.

“The Imperial Knights… At least if you’re going to be my knight, you should be able to overpower dogs. You can’t be a knight if you’re as weak as dogs, right?”

Dogs? The cerberus were not regular dogs. Most of the Commanders, including Max, changed to an infuriated face. Max tried to refute one more time, but Elnos smiled gracefully.

“Now Count Dratius is here, so it’s fine.”

Why is this crazy punk selling our Commander again? When Max’s expression hardened, Elnos said as if to tease him.

“As you say, if the cerberus run wild, Count Dratius should be able to suppress them.”

Worried, Max glanced at Hizen. Still, he only saw his expressionless face, without knowing what he was thinking.

Rather, Marquis Schwalnon judged the situation faster than them this time. He instinctively spread his arms wide and fell flat on the floor.

“As expected, the Crown Prince is amazing! Your Highness the Crown Prince’s wisdom is above the heavens!”

“Right? Huhu.”

Anxious, Max slightly pinched Hizen’s arm with his hand. Contrary to his expectations, however, Hizen did not respond much.

You’re really going to do this? Max’s brown eyes grew bigger. Max looked around and kept pinching Hizen’s arm. Nevertheless, Hizen remained unresponsive until the end. He was like some kind of rock.

Prince Elnos smiled satisfactorily at the sight of the two men. He asked, filling an empty glass of wine.

“Then who will release the cerberus?”

The devil’s dogs, cerberus. There was no strong heart anywhere willing to train demons that had risen from hell. As the Commanders became quiet as if they had all promised, Max sighed and lifted his arm. I’ll do it. Who would do it otherwise?

But Hizen grabbed Max’s arm about to go up. Hizen slowly raised his hand. Everyone looked at Hizen in astonishment.

Normally, he would have kept his cynicism and stopped Elnos from following his plans. But not only did he not stop the plan, he even said would join. That Count Dratius.

Even Elnos could not hide his surprised look, and only Hizen looked confident. He spoke to them as if to confirm it.

“I’ll do it.”

Commander-nim, are you finally crazy now that Miss Leasis is gone? Max looked at Hizen with a devastated face.

Elnos clapped his hands very happily.

“Good. We’re done for today!”

Max made a pledge. In my next life, I’m going to hit him in the back of his head.

Max sighed as he came out of the prince’s palace. Hizen’s steps ahead were light. He followed Hizen and tried to ask him what he was thinking.

But he could not. There was a faint smile on Hizen’s face. It was so sweet that Max was embarrassed. He did not expect the Commander to be so happy. He looked more delighted than when he had brought a lot of macarons. Did he really like the cerberus?

Max came to his senses only when they reached the Commander’s office. Hizen, sitting on a chair, took something out of the drawer. It was a blue rose brooch. He stared at it and put it back in the drawer as if in a hurry.

You’re finally crazy. Max wondered if he should call Hizen’s doctor.

At that time, Hizen said in a low voice.

“She didn’t leave.”

“What?”

“Leasis is still in the Imperial Palace.”

This was the first time he had waited for a morning like this. It was like his mind had been put to sleep. Hizen organized the pile of documents with trembling hands. Even though it was a drawer that had already been cleaned up, he repeated it as if he knew only that.

Meanwhile, Max doubted his ears. He wanted to call it a joke, but there was relief in Hizen’s face, behavior and voice. Max approached the desk and asked.

“Commander-nim. Where is Miss Leasis? There was no sign of her anywhere in this palace.”

Hizen knew the truth better than anyone else. He was so frustrated, angry, and worried. Knowing that Max must have also been worried, Hizen did not hide it anymore.

“The gladiator tournament.”

“What?”

“Leasis is in the gladiator arena.”

No way. Max shook his head. Just in case, he had looked at the names of the gladiators, but there was no Leasis. Hizen kindly added an explanation.

“The person wearing a black cape, with Liduré’s son. She’s most likely competing to protect him.”

“Well, are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Hizen’s words, saying he was certain, were more trustworthy than a hundred pieces of evidence. Max’s mouth opened. His words had been harsh, but it was because he had been looking for her from behind.

Max grabbed the desk and asked actively. How he had met her separately, how he had found out about her.

Hizen could not answer the question coolly. Because he also had not met Leasis yet. Max read his silence and nodded.

“You said you’d release the cerberus to create a chance to meet her.”

“Yes.”

Hizen, who finished organizing the documents in an instant, got up from his seat. He did not have time to do this. He had to approach her as soon as possible, even by just one more step. To do so, he had to tame the Prince Elnos’ cerberus to prepare for tomorrow.

Max looked worried. Taming the cerberus was no difficult task. In the past, the members of the Vermanga family had the ability to interact with animals and dragons, so they held important positions in the Imperial Family.

But none of them had survived. Max sighed in regret. He headed somewhere. Jason and Owen were waiting for each other.