# Chapter 26
The plaza, visited after two days, was filled with bustling crowds. Despite three days having passed since the festival began, the enthusiasm remained strong.
“We’re here.”
The swordsmanship tournament venue was packed with people, making it a bigger event than expected. They were all hiding their faces like Shaki. Asher looked at them with concern, feeling the intimidating aura just from looking at them.
“Do you really have to participate?”
“Why? Worried about me?”
“Yes. After all, you’re family…”
At Asher’s words, Shaki ran his hand through his hair underneath the hat covering his head. Asher knew this was Shaki’s way of showing affection, so he smiled slightly.
“You probably don’t know, but they say the strongest people in the Empire gather here.”
“…”
“My heart races whenever I see strong people. I’m also curious about how far I can push my limits.”
His eyes sparkled as if just thinking about it filled his heart with excitement. Since this was the first time Asher had seen him so thrilled, he responded with a happy expression:
“They’ll finish registration soon. You’d better go.”
“Come over here for a moment.”
“Huh?”
He gently grabbed Asher’s wrist. Taking large strides, he walked to the registration desk and then released his hand.
“Wait here for a moment. Don’t go anywhere.”
“…Brother.”
“What?”
“You’re standing right behind me…”
Asher looked at him incredulously, as the distance was so close that he would be immediately visible if Asher turned around. Truly, this level of brother complex seemed unparalleled.
“The world is a very dangerous place. I can’t just leave you anywhere in such a place.”
Asher made an expression that suggested Shaki was impossible to deal with, as he behaved like a mother who couldn’t bear to leave her child by the water. Then he gestured for Shaki to hurry along and chuckled softly.
“Young Master Asher?”
Asher turned around at the voice of someone recognizing him. The only person who would call him “Young Master Asher” was Roxina. Surprised by her unexpected appearance, Asher hurriedly tried to show proper courtesy. However, she had already approached him, covered his mouth, and placed her index finger against her own lips.
“Your High—!”
“Shh. It’s a secret.”
Roxina whispered in a gentle voice, lazily narrowing her red eyes. Seeing her disguised appearance similar to his and Shaki’s, Asher nodded. Only then did she remove her hand from his mouth.
Indeed, perhaps because dominant blood flowed in her veins, an undisguisable allure emanated from her. Her elegant and dignified atmosphere somehow resembled Luke in a subtle way.
“Did you come alone?”
“Of course not.”
Asher surveyed the surroundings at Roxina’s words. It seemed the guard knights were also disguised and evenly distributed around the area.
“But what brings you here?”
“And you, Young Master Asher?”
“Please, call me comfortably.”
“Alright. I’ll call you Asher then.”
No sooner had Roxina finished speaking than Shaki approached. Roxina noticed that Shaki deliberately avoided saying “Your Highness” out loud and gently curved her lips upward.
“Don’t tell me you’ve registered for this swordsmanship tournament?”
Shaki responded with a smile to Roxina’s meaningful question. Simultaneously, an implicit understanding passed between them in the exchange of glances. Like two hidden masters who had encountered each other, they gazed at one another with intense eyes.
“I suppose it can’t be helped. Let’s both do our best.”
“I look forward to it as well.”
Shaki lightly grasped the hand Roxina extended. The two held hands for quite some time without letting go.
“But how did you manage to slip away?”
“It wasn’t easy. That damn old geezer was being so difficult.”
O-old geezer? Asher, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, was startled and looked at her in shock. But Shaki, the other party in the conversation, responded without concern:
“It’s no easier on our side. Makes you wonder what’s the point of living so suffocatingly.”
The two sighed deeply as if understanding each other’s feelings. As Asher had felt during the hunting competition, there seemed to be something these two uniquely understood about each other.
*
The announcer for the swordsmanship tournament came up on stage. Participants were randomly assigned numbers and took to the stage according to the order displayed on the board to duel with their opponents. Indeed, as Shaki had said, everyone possessed tremendous skill.
As befitting a tournament held once a year, tense currents flowed on stage. Despite there being no prizes, each participant fought with all their might. Seeing this, Asher worried about Shaki and Roxina.
With only thirty participants accepted for the stage, the turns came quickly, and Shaki went up. Although Asher had seen him practice with a sword many times, this was the first time watching him in actual combat. Asher anxiously watched the tense situation, feeling both worried and nervous. However, the match ended instantly with Shaki’s overwhelming victory. While Asher stood there blankly after the abrupt conclusion, Roxina gently tapped his arm.
“It seems the final match will be between me and Young Master Shaki.”
“I hope neither of you gets hurt…”
“I’d appreciate your support for me. It’s obvious that I’ll be the winner this time.”
She spoke in a gentle voice, smoothly curving her red lips.
After Shaki’s match ended, Roxina went up for her duel. Despite her small frame, she quickly overpowered a man twice her size. Watching Roxina dominate without yielding once, Asher found himself involuntarily applauding.
“This is going to be really interesting, isn’t it?”
Shaki’s eyes burned with enthusiasm as he spoke. The final match contestants had been determined. As she had predicted, the candidates were Shaki and Roxina. The two climbed onto the stage, exchanged formal greetings, and drew their swords from their scabbards.
“Then let’s begin.”
No sooner had the announcer finished than the two pointed their swords at each other. Whatever grace they had shown before was gone; only an unapproachable aura flowed on the stage.
Clang, clang—only the sound of swords clashing could be heard. The strikes were so swift that small sparks flew from where the blades met. The audience watched silently, holding their breath, as the situation grew precarious like walking on thin ice.
Five minutes passed, then ten, yet the two showed no signs of tiring. Watching them fight with all their strength as if today were their last, Asher felt his mouth growing parched.
“They’re really something else.”
“At this level, aren’t they almost master-class?”
“Master? I’d believe they were knights guarding His Majesty. Could they actually be?”
As the people around Asher whispered, the words spread like a tide, and the surroundings began to buzz with chatter. Since it seemed they wouldn’t stop talking until they discovered the identities of the two, Asher pulled his cloak down even further.
In the prolonged battle, the two gradually showed signs of fatigue. As they became increasingly disheveled, Roxina exploited an opening in Shaki’s defense and claimed victory.
“That was a breathtaking match. Would you like to say a word?”
Roxina shook her head at the announcer’s question. The announcer nodded understandingly and presented her with a pre-prepared medal, while the audience applauded and cheered jubilantly as if it were their own victory.
When the two came down from the stage, many people flocked around them. Seeing the crowd gathering as if curious about their identities, Shaki grabbed Asher’s hand and said:
“Run!”
As soon as the words fell, Asher ran with all his might. However, their pursuers were swordsmen, and Asher’s stamina was woefully insufficient to keep up. As he began to feel his limits in the situation, Roxina, who quickly noticed Asher’s condition, whistled with her fingers.
Wheeeet—
At the sound, people who had been waiting nearby emerged and blocked the pursuers. Thanks to this, Asher could more easily escape to a nearby restaurant with Shaki and Roxina.
“So I won this time?”
“It was enjoyable.”
“Does that make us even now?”
Roxina had been eager for a match with Shaki ever since the chess game. She seemed very pleased to have defeated him, beautifully narrowing her eyes as she called for the restaurant owner.
“Would you like to order?”
“Please prepare all the items on your menu. And I’ll pay for everyone currently in the restaurant. Of course, including my companions waiting outside.”
At Roxina’s words, the restaurant owner’s expression brightened. Fearing she might change her mind, he hurriedly disappeared into the kitchen.
“By the way, Asher. Did something happen in the capital?”
“Pardon…?”
“Remember when Luke met with His Majesty during the temple prayer this time? I unintentionally overheard their conversation, and it seems there are still people collecting alphas in the villages.”
Suddenly, Asher recalled the children who had disappeared while heading to the orphanage previously.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
