CH 390

"Let's get engaged. We don't have to get married yet. It's to give you a temporary status."

It wasn't because I was afraid of Bertus's power, but to prevent Charlotte's close associates from changing their minds.

I said it with the intention of putting out an urgent fire. Lying down, Charlotte looked up at me, biting her lip.

"Why... why are you going this far?"

As if I was doing so for her, Charlotte brought her hand to my cheek.

Her slightly cold body temperature was transmitted to my cheek.

"I... I'm not the one you have to go this far for... It's not me, but..."

"You're precious."

"..."

"You're precious to me."

My head was swirling with countless emotions and thoughts, but that was all I could say.

"Then it's settled."

This is a wrong choice.

With this choice, no one can be happy; it only secures someone's survival. Is that enough?

Is it right to leave Charlotte to die?

Is this situation, where I choose the lesser of two evils rather than the worst, truly right?

In the end, Charlotte distorted her face, looking at me as she said those words, tightly closing her eyes, and starting to shed tears.

"Reinhardt... I'm so, so... grateful..."

Charlotte sobbed.

"But... it's so... sad..."

She was sad because she knew I had made this choice not because I loved her, but to protect her.

—---

I couldn't spend the night at the Spring Palace, so I returned to the temple again. Of course, it was through the warp gate in the basement of the Spring Palace.

It wasn't officially discussed, but I had decided to get engaged to Charlotte.

I didn't know how or in what way, but it was a promise between Charlotte and me.

In a situation where there were only wrong answers, I felt like I had chosen the lesser of two evils.

Since we had decided to get engaged, I couldn't make a decision about this issue alone.

I had to create a justification for how I, who was merely a student of the Temple Royal Class, could become the prince consort of the royal family.

Soon.

It had to be revealed that I was the owner of the Alsebringer. However, just because I had decided to do so didn't mean it was immediately possible.

That's why I had to meet the most important person.

"Engagement... you say?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Looking at the situation, it was very audacious.

A mere commoner dared to request an audience with the emperor, then offered to become engaged to the princess.

But in reality, the emperor intended to ask me first, but couldn't bring himself to do it. I just said it before he did.

It was engagement, not marriage.

The emperor closed his eyes and pondered in front of me, seemingly trying to gauge the gap created by that difference.

"Can you handle it?"

He didn't ask what I could handle.

But there was so much contained in that single word, 'handle'.

It was true that Bertus had personally requested it, but the question was whether he could handle Bertus.

If it became public knowledge that he was the new master of Alsebringer, he might attract the attention of the Demon King.

And, in doing so, his relationships with others would become tangled and fall apart.

At first, he had risked his life for Charlotte, and he had risked it again for her.

But now, he had to risk everything.

His life and everything else.

It felt like the same thing, but in fact, it had a completely different meaning to him.

Even Charlotte seemed to be saddened, rather than pleased, by his decision. Perhaps because it seemed to emphasize her own miserable situation.

"Yes, I can handle it."

His feelings were complicated, but his answer was simple.

He would protect Charlotte. This time, he would finally save her completely with his own hands.

"Thank you... Reinhardt."

This was the second time he had received gratitude from the Emperor.

It should have been a glorious moment, but it didn't feel that way.

—---

He discussed the engagement with the Emperor.

To the outside world, he was still an ordinary student. If the news of his engagement to Charlotte were revealed, it would create a bizarre scandal about a commoner becoming engaged to the princess.

It was necessary for him to be known as the new master of Alsebringer to some extent.

He didn't know exactly how to proceed with this matter, but it was necessary to move forward before Charlotte became even more vulnerable. At least now, she was able to control her powers and would be safe from physical attacks.

And then.

He didn't know how to explain this to the others.

They would all find it incomprehensible.

He didn't expect to be understood.

But since he didn't know how to explain it, he felt trapped and helpless.

So far, only he, the Emperor, and Charlotte knew about this matter.

If there were any more, it would be Bertus, who had made the proposal in the first place.

After the weekend, the following week.

Saviolin Turner called both him and Ellen.

"From now on, I will be in charge of both your major classes."

Both he and Ellen had their major classes replaced entirely.

They both had anticipated it to some extent.

Although their major classes had already been replaced by combat training, their real training had to be based on using sacred artifacts. Moreover, he had to bring out Alsebringer.

Temporary instructor Saviolin Turner ultimately took on the role of their regular instructor as well, solely to teach the two of them.

"When I have other duties, someone else will be in charge of your classes."

"Yes."

"Yes."

He felt that Turner was gradually distancing herself from his role as Charlotte's bodyguard, perhaps due to being pushed out of the competition for succession. However, he couldn't be certain.

Their training location with Saviolin Turner was not the dormitory's training ground.

"Normally, this facility is not to be used casually, but you two have been granted permission. I'll register your access to the facility, so feel free to come here and train on your own."

Saviolin Turner brought us to the temple's high-ranking combat training grounds.

Such a place.

The combat training grounds employed the same system as the main stadium during the temple tournament. It was a training ground where a recall artifact would activate just before one suffered a fatal injury, even when fighting with full strength.

The construction cost was immense, and the maintenance cost was also enormous, so it was a place where not just anyone could use. In fact, even the Royal Class exclusive lessons were not held here.

Unlike the open-air main stadium, we entered the training grounds wearing the safety artifacts.

Ellen summoned Lament, and I summoned Alsebringer and Tiamata.

"..."

Saviolin Turner looked at me and made a thoughtful expression.

Anyway, since I have them, I summoned both.

Me.

Do I have to practice dual swordsmanship now?

"...This is a headache."

"I think so too."

"Indeed."

Ellen nodded her head in agreement.

"Living with two divine artifacts and worrying about whether to use both or just one is a first for you... well, maybe not the first. Anyway, should I call this a fortunate dilemma?"

Turner corrected herself after remembering the case of Ragan Artorius and glanced at Ellen.

It seemed Saviolin Turner was also unsure whether to start practicing such an odd thing as dual swordsmanship from now on, or to focus on one and exchange the artifacts as needed.

"Your opinion is important. What do you plan to do?"

Tiamata and Alsebringer.

Both are very powerful divine artifacts.

Saviolin Turner seemed very negative about dual swordsmanship. I wanted to use both, but I didn't want to throw away everything I had done so far and start learning from the beginning.

Isn't dual swordsmanship not about adding one more attack method but rather losing the freedom of the left hand?

How about this, can't I combine them into one?

Won't they combine if I rename it to something like Alstiama?

Obviously, such a thing didn't happen.

I sent Tiamata back.

"I'll stick with one. Trying to force myself to use both might end up making me unable to use either properly."

"That's a wise decision, Reinhardt."

If I tried to change my body by forcing myself to use both, everything I had built up so far would be ruined.

First of all, it is a priority to experience the basic abilities of Alsebringer.

—---

Although I didn't set it up entirely, divine artifacts generally have two powers.

Inherent abilities and true abilities.

In the case of Tiamata, it inherently has a very powerful demon-slaying power. The true ability is to use an enormous amount of divine power at will. There is also the somewhat special situation of having Olivia's help.

In the case of Lament, it has an effect similar to an aura blade, but I don't know its true effect yet.

I confirmed that Lapelt has something similar to aura armor last time, and I don't know its true ability either.

And Alsebringer.

The true power is summoning the war god.

Clang!

"Argh!"

As my Alsebringer clashed with Ellen's Lament, she stepped back half a pace.

Despite the significant gap in strength between Ellen and me, this exchange took place.

Clang! Clang!

After several more exchanges of swordplay, Ellen continued to retreat.

The true power of Alsebringer is to summon the Avatar of the War God, but Alsebringer doesn't exist solely for that purpose.

The basic effect of Alsebringer is simple.

The stronger my enemy is compared to me,

And the more enemies I have to face,

The stronger it makes its wielder.

It possesses a potent basic effect befitting the name of the War God's sword.

Of course, this is just a plot device created for the protagonist to easily defeat stronger opponents.

The Alsebringer, which was devised for that purpose, is now in my hands.

Of course.

As with all such plot devices, it cannot grant invincibility.

It makes its wielder stronger.

However, that ambiguous statement does not guarantee victory against a stronger opponent.

It makes you stronger when your enemies are more powerful or numerous, but it never said it would ensure victory.

Of course, it can help you win, but there's also the possibility it won't.

A powerful artifact with ambiguous conditions.

Such ambiguity is convenient for storytelling.

Whoosh!

Ellen's Lament grazes my sword at a rough, yet precise angle, aiming to pierce my throat.

Thud!

And with that, I was recalled outside the training ground.

In a real battle, even with Magic Body Strengthening, my throat would have been slashed, and I would have died.

Ellen is much stronger than me.

So, even though Alsebringer made me much stronger, I still couldn't compete.

Ten battles, ten losses.

"Haa... Haa..."

I was nearly breathless outside the training ground.

Exhausted.

In a real fight, I would have died ten times to Ellen.

"The power of the artifact is definitely noticeable. You withstood about fifteen more exchanges on average than usual."

Saviolin Turner, who had been observing the entire situation from outside the training ground, nodded silently. While I still lost as usual, the frequency of pushing Ellen back had increased.

Ellen, who returned to the waiting room, was drenched in sweat, her hair sticking to her forehead.

"That was tough."

It was an intense ten battles for Ellen to say that.

"Imagine how I feel since I lost."

Ellen hadn't even used her Lapelt. In a real fight, I wouldn't have stood a chance, which implies just that.

Is there a way to use Alsebringer and Tiamata simultaneously? If I were to sheathe one on my waist or back, could I utilize both of their reinforcement effects?

“Reinhardt, you often experience situations where your enhanced abilities, including your physical prowess, increase. As a result, it's difficult for you to accurately gauge your athletic capabilities at any given moment. This often leads to situations where you rely on brute force, and you tend to become flustered when your opponents pushed back. You must become accustomed to how much your physical abilities increase in different situations."

Both Ellen and I, exhausted, sat side by side on a bench, listening to Turner's feedback.

"Ellen, you have nothing to critique."

"Thank you."

No.

The feedback was only for me.

Saviolin Turner's favoritism towards me no longer exists.

It's not that Turner is disappointed with me.

'Should I say something to Ellen too? If I only criticize Reinhardt...'

'I can't deliberately criticize Ellen just to keep Reinhardt's spirits up.'

'What should I do?'

'I want to praise her.'

She wants to show favoritism, but she can't.

In all fairness, I am the one who was defeated even with my supernatural abilities and self-enhancement artifact.

Although Ellen also has Lament, the Alsebringer—an unbreakable sword—doesn't provide a significant advantage in sharpness. It would be a different story if she were an Aura Blade wielder like Turner, capable of creating magical fluctuations from the sword itself.

In a way, Ellen physically overpowers me, who is armed with all sorts of cheats.

Still.

"Haa... Haa..."

Watching Ellen, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Somehow.

It felt as if she was keeping up.

No matter how much she relies on equipment.

And every time I looked at Ellen, an uncomfortable feeling occupied a part of my heart.

A sense of guilt, that kind of unease.