CH 72

“Use whatever sword you have. I’ll crush it myself.” 

At Ian’s words, the Second Prince’s eyebrows twitched.

For a moment, pure anger flitted past his face.  

However, he quickly managed his expression and said with a relaxed face. 

“Fiosen was defeated by my power? What are you talking about?” 

He was about to call the next person as if nothing had happened. 

But then. 

“Are you running away like last time?” 

Ian’s mockery made the Second Prince pause. 

“That’s too bad. I thought you’d beg for your life this time too, just like when your arm was cut off.” 

The soldiers and the people watching trembled at the words. The Second Prince stopped walking and turned slightly.  

Naturally, the Second Prince’s eyes were on fire. 

‘This bastard… really.’ 

It was utter gibberish, but that was indeed what happened back then. 

Obviously, he wouldn’t have lost if he hadn’t let his guard down. 

At least he didn’t have the Sword of Domination on him then. 

‘The Sword of Domination is restricted and cannot be taken outside the royal capital.’

Who spared whose life? 

When the Second Prince stopped walking for a while, an attendant rushed to dissuade him. 

“Your Highness, please don’t forget the original plan. That’s just a scheme to provoke you…”

“Shut up.” 

The Second Prince growled furiously. His voice was genuinely filled with wrath.  

It was inevitable.  

It was because the reactions around him were changing beyond his expectations. 

“What? Wasn’t the Second Prince ranked first in the line of succession to the throne? Did he lose to a younger brother who hasn’t even had a coming-of-age ceremony yet?”

“He begged for his life.” 

“Ah, I wondered why his arm was missing.” 

“He’s going to lose again.” 

“Shh. He can hear you.” 

“He can hear me? I’m not afraid of such a coward.” 

As soon as the soldiers turned their heads, the citizens shut their mouths, but the rumors had already spread beyond his control.

The crowd that filled the perimeter of the arena was whispering in hushed voices and stealing glances at the Second Prince.

‘That wretch.’

There were a lot of eyes.  

If he asked the soldiers to drag them away under the charge of blasphemy to the royal family, the public sentiment would plummet. But if he just turned around, he would only make a joke of himself. 

This was a place where one could drop the opponent’s pride to rock bottom if they put their mind to it.

The Second Prince was sure Ian chose this place on purpose.  

Eventually, the Second Prince went up to the arena.

“Very well, let’s see this to the end.” 

“Your Highness…!”

The Second Prince’s faction hurriedly tried to stop him, but the Second Prince uttered in a low voice. 

“If you don’t feel the same way as them, shut up.” 

“…!” 

The Second Prince stood in front of Ian, the hem of his white robe fluttering.

Then the referee shouted cautiously. 

“Begin the second match!”

A moment of suffocating tension flowed through the arena.

However, the Second Prince did not readily rush to Ian. He was wary of any cards Ian might have hidden.

Ian burst out laughing. 

“You’ve become such a scaredy-cat ever since your one arm was cut off.” 

“!”  

“If you don’t have the courage to fight, why don’t you come back after having a drink as you did then?” 

Ian’s words twisted the prince’s blue eyes fiercely. 

“All right. If that’s your wish to die, I’ll do as you wish.”

He pulled out a sword.  

The knights held their breath when the sword was unsheathed.

Black demon wings and a blade that looked like a sharp tooth.

It was certain. 

‘The Sword of Domination!’ 

It was an item that the Second Prince brought out after the trial in the past.  

And when the sword came out, Duke Lavaltor and the knights sent anxious gazes at Ian. 

Each sword possessed by princes and princesses had strong characteristics and power.

Ian also had a royal sword, but it had no particular characteristics other than its durability and weight. 

‘He is at a disadvantage in front of the Sword of Domination.’

He must have something up his sleeve.

Sure enough, the Second Prince raised his sword with a graceful yet deadly swing. 

“You are going to crush my sword? Bring it on!”

At the end of the sentence, the Second Prince dashed toward Ian.  

Unlike last time, he aimed at Ian’s neck from the get-go. 

Ian also lifted his sword, but the Second Prince raised the corners of his mouth. 

‘Yeah, that ceremonial swordsmanship!’

It was nothing if he knew how to crush it. 

But right at that moment. 

Clank! 

The Second Prince’s swung sword bounced off with a sharp metallic sound.

The Second Prince looked at Ian in surprise. 

‘He parried my sword?’

Ian grinned. 

‘While you were playing and eating, I didn’t laze around.’ 

It was as he said.

He had not stopped training while heading to Helgaia for the envoy reception.  

The people accompanying Ian were Nathan and Galon. Even if they were not as famous as in Ian’s previous life, they were well-known and strong enough knights. 

In addition, the customized training from the recently joined Fiosen further helped him.

As the next head of Lavaltor, who raised Kaistein’s leading knights, the education method was perfect.

But the Second Prince was greatly flustered. 

“What the hell is that swordsmanship!”

“Is there any fool who explains everything to the opponent? Just come at me quick.” 

“You bastard…!” 

Ian smirked as he watched the Second Prince rushing to him. 

Actually, he didn’t know for sure. During training, Nathan said something. 

“Prince, it seems you don’t need to learn new swordsmanship.”

“Why?”

“Your sword skills… Something seems to be changing.”

“What?” 

Ian was using the royal swordsmanship left by the First King. 

It now only remained as the foundation of ceremonial purposes as it was not suitable for actual combat, but when he resumed training with the advice of the knights, an unusual form emerged.

It was like an evolutionary form that nobody knew.  

Therefore, the knights said he should develop his own swordsmanship rather than use theirs. 

And thanks to that, the Second Prince was now busy backing away in panic. 

“Damn it!” 

He couldn’t believe this. 

It had only been a few months since Ian cut his arm off.  

Back then, he lost because of his carelessness. Unless the sky split open, he never thought he’d be pushed from the front. 

At least he believed so. 

‘I heard this bastard lost his sword skills.’ 

That’s obviously what they said. But far from losing it, he seemed stronger! 

Unlike before, Ian even attacked head-on.

Klang! Klang!

Due to this, the Second Prince was busy blocking Ian’s sword. 

And it was then. 

“So, who told you to play and eat? Aren’t you being too careless just because you’re No. 1 in the rankings?” 

Ian’s words left the Second Prince speechless. 

He resumed training while he was detained in the annex.  

But what did he say?

‘Now that it has come to this, I’ll crush you with sheer strength.’ 

No matter how talented he was, Ian was a brat who was no older than twenty! 

Perhaps due to his improved diet lately, his muscles and bones had grown bigger than when he was in Garcia’s estate, but still, that midget could barely reach his chest!

Finally, the swords of Ian and the Second Prince clashed in the air. 

Clang!

Both of them clenched their teeth and pushed each other’s bodies without the slightest intention of stepping back. But strangely enough. 

“Ugh…!?”

The sword was gradually being pushed toward the Second Prince. 

That was exactly because of the bracelet Nathan brought. 

“This is a treasure handed down in the Adelas family. Wear this and train, and it will double your stamina and strength. By the end of the training, you will be able to subdue the Second Prince with one hand.”

“What is the downside?”

“Ah… Your height will grow… a bit slower, no, quite a lot. Apparently, all the nutrients are sent to the muscles, so… it might be pretty bad if you grow short in the future.”

Ian curled up his lips. 

Even if it was slower, Ian didn’t care because he knew how big he would grow, let alone how tall he would be. 

‘I would be big enough to match the knights!’

Even if he grew a little less as a risk, it’s big enough. 

And the result of the training was now. 

Klang! 

“Gasp!” 

In a flash, the Sword of Domination wielded by the Second Prince was flung away.

And without a moment to be surprised, a blood-red line appeared on the Second Prince’s body.

“Your Highness!” 

A mix of shouts and astonishment echoed throughout the arena.

The Second Prince fell to the floor and vomited blood.  

However, the Second Prince soon flinched.  

“Will you surrender?” 

It was because Ian was right before his eyes. And even though he said so, Ian’s sword rose high as if he had no intention of actually letting him off.  

But then. 

“I never thought I’d use this.” 

The knights who were watching Ian were aghast seeing the Second Prince’s smile. 

“Your Highness!” 

Ian’s body, along with his sword, stopped.

And the knights turned ashen at the familiar scene they had just witnessed in the previous match.

‘Brainwashing!’

The faces of the Second Prince’s aides were divided between joy and bafflement.  

It was certain. 

Ian was brainwashed just like Fiosen was. 

And that was why they didn’t understand. 

‘The Sword of Domination is over there.’

Ian had already flung it away, so he couldn’t even touch the sword. 

“If you don’t have the sword, you can’t use brainwashing, right?”

But as though it didn’t matter, as Ian fell into the brainwashing, the Second Prince got up like he had been waiting for it. 

And where he headed to was in front of Ian. 

Putting his hand on Ian’s shoulder, the Second Prince wickedly opened his mouth. 

“Ian Kaistein. Kill yourself.” 

“!” 

Everyone stared at the Second Prince in terror. 

Duke Lavaltor shot a glare at the Second Prince, but he smiled leisurely. 

“Take your own life with your oh-so-mighty swordsmanship.”

Unless Ian abstained, even Duke Lavaltor could not jump into the match. 

The Second Prince smiled as if feeling refreshed. 

“Ah, in case you’re wondering, it would be better to stop expecting that you will be lucky like Fiosen. I’ll never let you off the hook.” 

As if his words were not mere threats, Ian’s sword headed to his own neck.  

Unlike other people, he personally did the brainwashing. There was a huge risk, but it didn’t matter.

“Die.” 

Of course, he wouldn’t die.  

If things got really dangerous, Duke Lavaltor as the overseer would step in.  

But at least his point would get through. 

And he would be able to make it clear in front of this many people. 

Who among them was more superior.  

But right at that moment. 

“Argh!” 

The Second Prince tumbled with a groan. 

Ian slashed the Second Prince’s hand placed on his shoulder. 

At the same time, Ian violently struck the Second Prince in the stomach and sent him flying.

Baam!

“Ugh!” 

The arm wasn’t cut off, but a lot of blood was spilled.  

As for the Second Prince, he couldn’t help being panicked. 

However, Ian sneered as if his opponent was being ridiculous. 

“Is this all?” 

The Second Prince seemed stupefied.  

‘Why doesn’t brainwashing work?’

The power of the Sword of Domination was obviously at its maximum, even right at this second.  

Of course, Ian was pretending to be relaxed, but he was not in a good condition either. 

‘Damn it. I need to finish this quickly.’ 

Ian frowned at the stinging pain he felt in his waist. 

He had a needle knife in his belt. 

‘Brainwashing is weak against shock.’

The moment Fiosen fell to the floor, Ian noticed that his brainwashing had been lifted. 

And as soon as he confirmed the hypothesis, Ian put a small needle knife into his belt and went out. It sent constant shocks throughout the match. 

Thanks to this, the continuous brainwashing was resolved as soon as he got caught in it. 

It wasn’t the only thing. 

“Found it.” 

“!” 

Ian’s lips drew a big arc. 

His eyes were locked on the Second Prince’s face.  

No, he was looking at one ear of him. It was the ear with a cross-shaped earring. 

‘This is also thanks to Sir Fiosen.’ 

The moment Fiosen triggered the brainwashing. 

Ian saw clearly. 

The Second Prince’s earring was shining. And he was sure of it as he faced him in person this time.

‘That’s the real Sword of Domination!’

It was a good thing he remembered that in his previous life the Sword of Domination could change shape.

‘There’s no way this guy would come out with the real Sword of Domination in the first place.’ 

He hated being deprived of what he owned more than anyone else, so there was no way he would show himself up confidently in the presence of this crowd if it got stolen.

And with that thought, Ian swung his sword. 

Slaash!

“Argh!” 

Ian’s sword slashed the Second Prince’s ear. The cross fell on the floor at the same time. 

Boom! 

The earring transformed with a thunderous sound. People shouted at the scene unfolding before their eyes. 

“What? It looks just like that sword!” 

The soldiers, knights, and nobles all had their eyes wide open.  

To everyone’s astonishment, the Second Prince was holding his bleeding ear. 

Regardless, Ian walked slowly and grabbed the Sword of Domination. 

And then. 

Whoo! 

The sword reacted violently.  

Unlike other items, a tremendous surge of energy soared as if to swallow Ian. 

It truly befitted to be called a magic sword.

[Submit to me!]

[Give your body to me!] 

There was indeed a reason the previous kings did not aim for this sword.  

A massive amount of power was trying to control Ian’s mind just by holding it.

But. 

‘This sword dare!’

Bang! 

Ian thrust the Sword of Domination into the floor roughly.

He was freed from the domination of the sword with strong willpower.

The sight shook the Second Prince’s eyes. 

‘How the hell… did he break free from its domination? I couldn’t even avoid that.’ 

The pressure of the sword was so great it made him succumb to it and offer his life.  

Of course, with the help of the wizards, he dedicated others’ life spans instead of his, but how? 

However, there was no time to be surprised.  

[Submit to me!]

The Sword of Domination shouted at Ian with thick evil thoughts. 

[I’ll give you power.] 

[Make you king!]

But at that moment. 

Ian raised his lips fiercely.  

“This sword runs wild without knowing its place, huh?” 

Noticing what Ian was about to do, the Second Prince’s face turned white.

“Wait—!” 

Ian raised the sword as if to shut up the Sword of Domination, which was making so much racket. 

“It’s nothing more than a glass sword.” 

Crash! 

The Sword of Domination was shattered to pieces.