Wooong.
The dagger, infused with inner energy, began to tremble faintly.
A bit close, but it'll do.
The distance was tight for the dagger to reach full power and speed, but it should be fine.
Whoosh!
I threw the dagger, brimming with inner energy, at the Bolak's exposed flank.
Thud!
The dagger shot forward like an arrow, slicing into the Bolak's flesh as if it were tofu.
"Kieek!"
The Bolak's pained scream echoed through the training ground.
"What?"
"Huh?"
I'd prepared to throw another dagger, expecting it wouldn't die in one hit, but the Bolak collapsed, motionless.
The target was its weak point— one strike had ended it.
"Hm…"
No cheers, no jeers. The training ground fell silent, as if the world had lost sound. The spectators' mouths hung open, unable to process what they'd seen.
I glanced at the Marquis nearby. His expression wasn't much different from the crowd's.
Arin… still calm as ever.
She was the only one here unfazed, wearing her usual blank look.
Clap!
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Someone started clapping, and soon applause erupted from all directions.
"Amazing!"
"Wow!"
"Incredible!"
Thanks to my recently improved affection, the servants cheered for me. The knights, however, eyed me with suspicion.
Gotta keep raising that affection.
"You… how did you do that?" the Marquis stammered, approaching me.
"I aimed well and threw well."
"Obviously! You brat!"
He raised his voice, incredulous.
"That's all."
"Grr!"
The Marquis's face flushed red.
"I can't accept this."
"What?"
"A Bolak dying to a single dagger? That's nonsense!"
"Oh? Is the great Marquis Rox going back on his word?"
"Urgh."
He clearly didn't want to acknowledge my victory, chalking it up to pure luck.
"Marquis."
"What!"
The mage who'd been examining the summoned creature called out.
"This one had a single patch of missing scales, and the young master's dagger hit it exactly."
"I know! That's why I can't accept it—it's pure luck!"
As expected, he knew I'd targeted the weak point.
"Luck or not, a win's a win, right?"
"Grr…"
He still refused to accept it.
"One more time."
"What?"
"Win one more time, and I'll acknowledge it."
This guy's acting like a kid throwing a tantrum.
"No, a deal's a deal."
"A new deal."
"New deal?"
"Yes. If you win, I'll grant any one wish. If you lose, you learn the sword as planned."
He stated his terms, decision made.
"Fine. Let's do it."
Another Bolak? No problem. I nodded without hesitation.
"Great. Which knight will you face?"
"Huh?"
He dropped a bombshell out of nowhere.
"Knight?"
"I never said it'd be a Bolak. This time, you're fighting a knight."
"What are you talking about!"
"Oh, I'm not saying you have to win. Just land a hit through their sword, and I'll acknowledge you."
He probably wanted to fluster me, but honestly, it didn't matter. I had a trump card.
"Fine! But since a knight's too unfair, I'll pick a trainee knight."
"How generous of you."
A knight wouldn't have mattered, but a trainee? Even easier.
The Marquis just made a choice he'll regret kicking his sheets over tonight.
"When do you want to do this?"
"Now."
"What?"
"With this crowd, there's bound to be a trainee knight."
No need to drag this out—might as well finish it today.
"Bring a trainee knight."
"Yes!"
The Marquis signaled a servant, who fetched a trainee knight in leather armor from the crowd.
Cryde? Why him?
[Creator's Eye activated.]
[Name: Cryde]
[Traits: Berserker, Herculean Strength Lv1]
[Affection: -20 (Dislike)]
A key character from my novel, destined to be the protagonist's trusted ally, stood before me.
His affection's up from yesterday.
"Greetings, Marquis. I'm Cryde, a trainee knight."
"Yes, Cryde."
"An honor to be addressed by you, sir!"
Cryde looked at the Marquis like a fan meeting an idol.
"I need you to do something."
"Anything!"
"Face Yuren here in a duel."
"What? The young master? Oh! I-I'm sorry for questioning you…"
"Haha, it's fine. You heard right. Duel him."
The Marquis beckoned me closer.
"Here are the rules."
"Getting serious, huh?"
"Your win condition, Yuren, is to land a hidden weapon on Cryde through his sword. Cryde's is to dodge or block your weapon. Simple, right?"
Simple and clear, as he said. But neither the Marquis nor Cryde seemed to consider the possibility of my dagger actually hitting Cryde's body.
They're underestimating me. That could hurt.
"Both ready?"
"Of course, sir. May I draw my sword?"
"Go ahead."
At the Marquis's word, Cryde drew his training sword.
"I'm ready too."
I pulled out three daggers.
"Don't need more daggers?"
"This is enough."
"Begin!"
Cryde and I faced each other, widening the distance.
"Cryde!"
"Lose, and you're done for!"
"No dinner if you fail!"
"Lose, and it's 100 laps around the training ground!"
"Fight, Cryde!"
The crowd, already aware of the duel, roared with support—for Cryde, of course.
"Young master, you got this!"
Huh? I thought my ears were playing tricks. Amid the Cryde-heavy cheers, a faint female voice rooted for me.
Almost brings a tear to my eye. Whoever you are, thank you.
"I'm ready, young master."
Cryde gripped his sword with both hands, glaring at me with fiery eyes.
"Alright, here I come."
"Yes!"
As I infused inner energy into a dagger, targets appeared on Cryde, just like with the Bolak.
They show up on humans too. Not just obvious spots like the head, heart, or solar plexus—tons of points lit up.
Are these… critical blood points? I don't want to kill him, so I'll avoid those.
With three daggers, I decided to start light.
Whoosh!
I threw a dagger straight at Cryde, infused only with inner energy, like I did with the Bolak.
"Haa!"
Cryde swung his training sword down with a shout.
Boom!
The clash of sword and dagger produced an unexpectedly loud sound.
"Urgh."
Cryde staggered back a step, his arms trembling from the force.
"How is this power possible!"
Shocked, he stared at me with disbelief.
The Marquis, picking up the fallen dagger, examined it as if searching for some trick.
Infusing more energy into another dagger, I spoke to the stunned Cryde.
"Warmed up? This time, I'm serious."
"What?"
Whoooosh!
The dagger's energy created a faint breeze around me.
Brrr.
The dagger vibrated wildly in my hand.
[Using Direct Shot.]
Activating the Sichuan Tang Clan's Direct Shot skill, the dagger spun through the air toward Cryde, piercing space itself.
Shaaa!
The sound of air splitting rang in my ears.
He's a main character—he won't die, right?
"Argh!"
A blue light burst from Cryde's body and sword. Sensing the dagger's power, he instinctively unleashed his aura.
Boom!
Thud.
Cryde's training sword snapped in half, falling to the ground. His blue aura dissipated under the dagger's force, and blood dripped from his grip.
"Ah… ah…"
Cryde stared blankly at the broken sword embedded in the ground.
"Yuren."
The Marquis's playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a grave expression.
"We need to talk."
"The bet's not over."
"What!"
"I've got one dagger left."
"Yuren!"
My dagger broke his sword but didn't touch Cryde's body.
"Cryde."
"Yes? Yes."
Ignoring the Marquis, I called to the dazed Cryde.
"Gonna end it like this?"
"…"
"You want to be a knight, don't you? Would a future knight accept such a half-assed result?"
"No."
"Victory or defeat—a knight's honor demands a clear conclusion."
"Oh!"
The Marquis, who'd reached out to stop me, lowered his hand and stepped back.
"May I get another sword?"
"Of course."
Cryde retrieved a new sword from the armory.
"I'm ready."
A stronger light than before radiated from him, his eyes tinged with a faint red glow—his Berserker trait kicking in.
"Come!"
Cryde's face showed the resolve of a man ready to die.
Wooong.
Without a word, I infused the last dagger with inner energy and activated a newly unlocked Sichuan Tang Clan skill.
[Using Curved Shot.]