As Able entered the second testing room, sharp gazes turned toward him. After the commotion earlier, it was natural for people to stare, whether out of curiosity, admiration, or disdain.
Ignoring their stares, he took a seat in the waiting area, already mentally and physically exhausted from the earlier incident.
'I had a bad feeling about my exam number… Seems I was right.'
Suddenly, Able sensed someone's presence beside him.
"Is it okay if I sit next to you?"
Able nodded.
"Thank you."
The person who sat next to him was the boy who had been glaring at him at the gate. The boy hesitated, seemingly unsure of what to say, but eventually spoke up cautiously.
"…Are you Lord Zail Sieghardt?"
"Yes, that's right."
"…It's an honor to meet a member of the family of heroes."
"I'm also honored to meet the successor of a renowned swordsman."
The boy looked surprised.
"…Do you know me?"
Of course, Able knew him.
"Of course. There is no one in the Empire who does not know the reputation of the Counts of Caligo."
A faint shadow crossed the boy's face.
"…Is that so?"
This was Frey Caligo. In the future, she would become the greatest swordmaster on the continent.
'Frey.'
—She was one of the women who, along with the Little Heavenly Demon and the Evil Heavenly Demon, would bring about destruction in the world.
"Yes?"
"Why are you dressed as a man?"
The moment Able asked, Frey's expression went blank.
'Someone who must be killed if not made an ally.'
That was Frey Caligo.
***
Frey forced a smile, clearly embarrassed.
"Lord Zail, what are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"The next head of the Caligo family, Frey Caligo, is a young man of 17 years of age, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"But the Frey before me… isn't he a male? So, I can make two assumptions. Either you are not Frey Caligo, or…"
Frey's face grew colder and more frozen.
"The Frey Caligo known to the world was actually a woman."
She looked at him silently, her platinum blonde hair and gentle appearance hiding the fierce nature within.
Her first impression was like that of a golden retriever wagging its tail, but her brightly shining golden eyes felt like a completely different person was looking back.
"…"
Able could sense the killing intent. This was closer to Frey's true self.
"…Why do you think I'm a woman?"
Her tone was cold, and though she didn't have the power to read minds, Able could at least tell what she was thinking at the moment.
'Should I kill him?'
She was troubled just by the mere fact that Able knew her true identity, hesitating only because she wasn't sure she could face him as she was now. If Able hadn't had the background of the Sieghardt family, she might have acted on her ideas.
As Able stared into her empty pupils, he felt as if he was being sucked into an abyss.
Frey was a woman who held as much darkness as she did great talent.
Revenge for her father, the duty of a successor, being an illegitimate child, and more—if she couldn't overcome the darkness consuming her, she would meet a tragic end.
"Have you heard of the jewel eyes of the Sieghardt clan?"
Frey's golden eyes met his. She muttered like a child discovering something new.
"This is the jewel… It looks like amethyst…"
"Yes. Our Sieghardt clan is born with such special eyes."
"What does that mean?"
He pointed to his eyes with his finger.
"…It's an eye that interprets the magic of dragons. In other words, it can see most magical formulas. That's why I realized Prince Frey possessed an artifact that can change perception and appearance. I can see the true form of the prince—or rather, the princess."
Frey's face reflected pure disbelief. It was understandable since Able didn't actually have such eyes; everything he was saying was a bluff, a fictional setup.
"…So you knew because of those eyes. However, something doesn't add up. I usually disguise myself as a man to prevent situations like this, but how did you guess I was a woman?"
"If you look closely, you can see differences. Men and women have distinct physical curves and lines."
Frey's face quickly turned red as she realized what he meant. In this light, she was clearly a girl.
She sighed.
"Haa… Lord Zail, you have sharp eyes. With this much evidence, it seems impossible to deceive you any longer. You're right. I am a woman, just as you said. This is the first time I've revealed that I am a woman. What do you want from me, Lord Zail? Money? Fame? Or perhaps my…"
"I think you misunderstand me. I didn't bring this up with any ulterior motives."
She narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious.
"You say there's no purpose? Then why did you reveal my secret?"
"Yes. I know it's hard to believe… If I had to give a reason, it would be a warning."
"A warning?"
"Yes. It means to be careful. People with special eyes like mine can still see through artifacts like yours. While people like me are rare, you never know. Since you likely don't want your secret to spread further, I suggest you get your artifact reinforced. And don't worry—I won't reveal your secret to anyone. If you don't believe me, I'll even make a pact with you."
"…Why are you being so kind to me, a stranger you've just met?"
"It's my personal wish, but I'd like to become friends with the princess."
Frey blinked in surprise, slowly blushing.
For someone who had lived as a boy and wielded a sword all her life, she seemed surprisingly unprepared for such straightforward kindness.
"Me-me- me-me…?"
Able smiled softly and nodded.
"Yes. I've long heard of the fame of your father, Lord Halton, and the Caligo family. I've always wanted to meet the heir. Of course, I never imagined that the heir would be such a beautiful woman."
Frey quickly looked around and whispered urgently.
"Ah, ahem… It's a secret! Forget it! Erase it from your head! Don't even think about saying it out loud!"
"Haha. I was only joking. I promise."
At that moment, a mocking voice interrupted them, followed by approaching footsteps.
"Who do we have here? Isn't it Frey Caligo, the pride of the late Sword Master, Sir Halton?"
Frey's expression hardened.
"…Prince Sardine."
Able looked up to see the man standing before them.