Alan, who barely came to his senses, covered his face again with a helmet before looking at Physis.
'What? This guy!!'
Alan was not able to properly see or predict Physis's attacks. And it was a very big problem for him because in the tournament if one didn't predict or avoid the other's attack, they will have no choice but to lose.
'It's too fast.'
He expected that his lance would hit Physis's face, but the lance that stuck in the face was not his own, but of Physis.
'Damn it. Why he is that good! What should I do now?'
Alan instinctively realized that Physis's attacks were beyond his reach.
However, he had lost many things due to Physis, which he could not give up on.
The status of his family, his honor, and his future, all of that was thrown into the gutter because of Physis. So for him, it was already too late to regret or give up.
On the other hand, Alan didn't even think that all of this was his fault in the first place.
'I was just telling the truth, but isn't this too much for just telling the truth?'
'She really looked like a monster. Damn you Physis! This is all because of you...'
Alan gritted his teeth and glared at Physis.
In his mind, the reason behind his miserable situation and danger to his family was none other than Physis.
'It's not over yet. '
As Alan muttered, he held the lance, the servant had brought, in his hand.
'This time, I will definitely hit his face with my lance.'
'Even if I use my all strength, I wouldn't be able to bring him down to the same level as myself, but at least I'd give him some shame.'
* * *
[Physis's POV]
Alan didn't lose his fighting spirit even after being beaten so badly in the face. Well, since he got into lots of trouble because of that day, he must hate me. So it was natural.
The psychology of such people is obvious. They do not accept their faults and always try to find fault in others.
The reason I knew this so well was simple. Because I was like that too.
In my past life, I lived like that and changed when I met the child who gave me that novel, and in my present life, I changed because of the influence of my past life.
Because I was also that kind of person for myself. The way I see Alan Aiden now was the same as my past self. I mean, it was no different from facing the past me; Selfish, hoping for miracles, and dealing with life's problems…
...A person who does not admit his faults and tries to find the reason for his mistakes in others.
It was the pitiable self of the past, and the traces of the 20 years that still remained in me, that I still haven't gotten rid of.
I still don't know when those traces would crawl out at any time.
So I have to break them. Thoroughly trample on them so that they can never crawl out of me again.
For the time being, that should be enough.
I repeated the same procedure as before while facing him, I matched my breath with my horse's movements.
Next, I raised my lance and kept an eye on him.
The vibration of the horse running on the ground spread throughout the body, and the rough cry of the galloping horse echoed through the tournament arena.
I lift a heavy lance this time again, and the purpose was the same as before. To avoid his lance and to hit my lance on his face.
With the rapid movements of the horses, the distance between him and me was gradually narrowing.
I feel a spear attack that was faster than before, threatening and aiming at my face.
Between the gap of the mask, I could clearly see his eyes full of hatred fixed on me.
But I will not allow him to harm my body or the person I hold dear.
'Do you know you are not the only one who has hatred'
'I too have it. I hate you for showing me fragments of my past.'
I pointed my lance towards his face and inserted my lance at a faster speed than him.
-Bang!!
With a louder sound than before, the lance of the guy who was only focusing on my face, shattered and scattered.
However, my blow didn't end there, I pierced between the scattered lances and hit the guy's face again.
-Kwajik!
My lance, which had cracks because of crushing his lance, was completely destroyed when it met its final destination, his face.
And then finally, the winner was announced.
"Winner is! Physis Ortaire!"
-Woah!!
Along with the cheers, numerous flowers rained down on the match ground, but all those scenes did not inspire me at all.
There was only one thought swirling inside me right now; To trample on him again in the upcoming Battle of the Territory- the great duel.
I threw the destroyed lance to the ground and got off the horse with my helmet off.
Immediately after that, I approached Alan Aiden and said softly to the distraught fellow floundering on his horse.
"This is just a skirmish. I will crush you thoroughly."
These were also the words to say to the evil traces, the one in front of me and the one still remained inside me and did not disappear- The same trace that I somehow managed to put to sleep while overcoming death in Rodenov in a cold winter.
* * *
[Adilun's POV]
I felt a twinge of ominous emotion as I watched Physis move toward Alan Aiden.
'Why? Where did this ominousness come from?'
I expanded my vision through magic. To see Physis in more detail.
At that moment I could see the contempt, hatred, and violence that could not be hidden inside…
….The Fragments of intense emotions that cannot be hidden at all.
I was out of breath. Because it reminded me of the time he looked at me with disgust in the past.
'What is he angry about?'
He said something to Alan Aiden, who seemed to be out of his mind, and trembled at the words.
Perhaps finishing his business, Physis lifted his head as he left the arena. At that moment, my eyes met his.
And anger and hatred disappear from his face, revealing a bright smile.
'Did he get angry watching something about Alan Aiden? And why are you smiling at me?'
I do not know. I still don't know you Physis.
Actually, I still want to know why you changed.
Maybe someday, the day will come when you'll tell me the reason.
* * *
[Physis's POV]
The jousting match after defeating Alan Aiden was, in fact, trivial. But I continued my victorious streak, defeating all the knights without giving up a single point, and finally won the tournament.
The faces of the crowd were completely covered with astonishment, as I watched them indifferently.
The moderator was making a fuss, saying that a winner who did not give up even a single point was so rare that even in the history of many National Day tournaments such a case was hard to find.
Finally, at the end of the day in the awards ceremony, I knelt down in front of the emperor and accepted the awards.
There were several awards; The glory of Enassa, a medal proving the winner of the tournament, a huge reward, and even the knighthood was offered instantly.
I, who had been temporarily treated as a knight by participating in a tournament, was able to become a real knight by winning the tournament.
Going through all the procedures, the Emperor told me.
"Your father will be relieved now, Physis Ortaire. You have a great talent."
"It is embarrassing, Your Majesty."
"Do not let that amazing talent go to waste, and work hard so that you can become the pride of Enadeim."
"I will keep that in mind."
"Good. Now go and enjoy the glory you have won."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The conversation ended with that. As the awards ceremony ended, people from both the Ortaire and Rodenov families gathered around me.
"You did well. God, I saw you winning all the tournaments."
My father laughed loudly, which was rare, and my older brother was delighted with my victory with a very satisfied expression as if he had won a lot of money.
"Thank you, father and brother."
My mother also looked at me and smiled with a proud face. Perhaps, it was because now she had something to brag about to other ladies.
The reaction of the family was generally the same, and the reaction of the people of Rodenov was no different from my family.
"I can't believe it. I was preparing a test for you for the great duel, but it turned out to be completely useless."
"Hahaha. Shouldn't I give it a try though? Since the great duel is against a strong knight, it can't be compared with him. Rather, I have to compete with the strong knights of Rodenov to be able to face the knights of Aiden without panicking in the Territory Battle. So please proceed as prepared, Your Excellency."
"If that's what you want, then let's do that."
"Yes."
"But again congratulations on your win."
"It's all thanks to Adilun."
"Huh? What do you think I did? It's all that you've done Physis. No, I should call you Sir Physis now, right?"
She spoke to me in a playful manner.
"There is no need to call it me that... Just good with only Physis, Adilun."
"I see. Anyway, you were great."
"Thank you."
My family and the people of Rodenov, who had heard me and Adilun talk, moved away so that she and I could talk more comfortably.
"Now, National Foundation Day is coming to an end. After tomorrow's martial arts competition… ...The National Foundation Day will come to an end, and the Great Duel will begin at last. Oh, by any chance, Physis, are you also participating in the martial arts competition?"
"Nope. I do not want to participate in martial arts competitions. Isn't the martial arts tournament a place where people from all over the empire gather to fight to become knights? I'm tired, and since I got a knighthood today already, I'm thinking of just watching it comfortably."
"Aha. Okay. But Physis..."
She was about to say something to me, but suddenly stopped talking and bit her lip.
"Well? What were you saying?"
"No, nothing."
However, what was revealed in her expression as she said it was nothing was a clear uneasiness.
"Has anything happened?"
"It's really nothing. Never mind."
"… All right."
She shut her mouth as if she didn't want to bring the topic up any longer.
'What the hell is going on?'
'What is it that makes you so anxious?'
After a line of questions dug into my mind, a silence fell between me and Adilun.