The knight hidden in the shadows, Pereira.
His stealth was so impeccable that I didn't notice him at all.
Even an assassin would have a hard time concealing their presence this well.
Shack.
I immediately unleashed my aura, pointing my sword at his neck.
"How did you get in here?"
Pereira raised his hands and took a step back.
"Calm down. I just wanted to verify if you were truly from Strange."
"Verify?"
"Yes, it's hard to believe that someone from Strange would participate in the arena. I had to see it for myself."
He wasn't making excuses. He clearly stated his reason for being here.
It made sense that someone would be curious about why a member of Strange was participating in the arena.
However, he had secretly entered the estate without permission and was spying on me.
This is our family's estate, and he had trespassed into Strange's territory.
And our Strange family knows only one way to deal with such trespasses.
"Young Master! What is happening?"
Diberry, who was nearby, ran towards me with the knights upon sensing the sudden burst of aura.
'Whatever the reason, if you trespass, you must pay the price.'
If his real purpose was to confirm my identity, there must be someone behind him.
"Arrest that filthy knight immediately!"
At Diberry's command, the knights of Strange surrounded Pereira in a circle.
Even though Pereira, who operated in the Gold Class of the arena, was at least a 4-star knight, the knights of Strange present were equally skilled.
There were dozens of them, making escape impossible.
Thud.
Pereira fell to his knees.
"I won't run, just don't kill me."
He, who acted like a king in the arena, was now utterly pathetic.
Even the greatest warriors on the continent couldn't defy the name of Strange.
Diberry walked up to him with his hands behind his back.
Slap!
He struck Pereira on the forehead with his palm.
"How dare you target the Young Master! Who sent you?"
"No, I was merely observing…!"
"Silence! No matter where you came from, I'll chew up those who sent you, down to their bones."
"Please, spare me! I never had such intentions!"
Pereira bowed, placing his hands and head on the ground.
Boom.
A moment of silence ensued.
I pondered for a moment and then spoke to Diberry.
"Take this knight to the barracks."
"Young Master, trespassing on Strange's land without permission is unforgivable."
"I understand. However, he is a subordinate of Marquis Bourbon, who has royal blood, albeit faintly. Let's give him the respect due to a knight."
"...."
"If any issues arise, I will take full responsibility. So, please leave this matter to me."
Diberry fell into deep thought.
Forgiving an intruder was beyond his duties.
If any problems arose, he would bear all the responsibility.
Even though he was close to Lois, it was a serious matter, one that could cost lives.
"…Understood. I will trust you entirely with this matter, Young Master."
* * *
I moved to the Strange estate's barracks with Pereira.
The large, rectangular training ground had high red brick walls and grass growing up to the ankles.
It was the perfect place for Strange's emphasis on real combat training.
Step, step, step.
'…So this is Strange's training ground.'
Pereira ran his palm along the grass.
I received a standard Strange sword from the butler, Diberry, and handed it to him.
"I'll give you a chance. If you want to live, do your best to defeat me."
"...!"
"Otherwise, you'll die a meaningless death."
"…."
Pereira took a deep breath, then threw the sword I handed him to the ground.
Pak.
"…I don't need a sword."
"Why not?"
"I'm a martial artist who has honed my body through pure physical training. I don't use weapons."
Watching his movements, I grasped the hilt of Misteltein.
"What about aura? Can you use it?"
"Yes."
"Good, then I'll allow you to use your aura. I will refrain from using mine."
Pereira let out a slight chuckle, then regained a cold, composed expression.
"You'll regret it."
"Feeling insulted?"
"…Even if you bear the name of Strange, I am a triple-star knight of the Bourbon Knights. Your arrogance will be your downfall."
"You talk too much."
"Don't regret it…!"
Pereira threw his black cloak at me with all his might.
Shrrrk.
He released a powerful aura from an unseen position.
Shiiing!
Attacking from an invisible position.
It was an excellent strategy for deciding the outcome in a single blow.
But such tactics didn't work against a knight of my level.
As my vision was obscured, the trajectory of his attack was fixed.
'I see it.'
Using aura allowed me to see the flow, making the strategy of obscuring vision ineffective.
I raised Misteltein high and swung it horizontally.
Kang!
The blackened blade blocked Pereira's fist.
'Interesting?'
Once again, the blade turned black.
I was beginning to get a sense of how it changed color.
"Not bad."
"It's not over yet...!"
"Good. Don't die too easily."
With that, I showcased a few of Strange's sword techniques.
There was no need to use special moves against him. Basic sword techniques were enough to subdue him.
"From the upper right to the lower left, slash."
"You bastard...!"
I announced my move like I was facing a novice.
Pereira hurriedly infused his fist with aura to block the blade.
Swish, thud!
"Argh!"
"Oh, my apologies. What is my right is your left."
"You... you bastard...!"
I didn't stop my attack.
"Upper left, thrust."
As I swung my sword, Pereira tried to create distance with a peculiar step.
Shk-
Crack!
The black blade pierced his left collarbone.
"Ugh...!"
"Seems like you can't use your left arm anymore."
To him, it must have looked like the blade was a living snake, twisting.
I confused his vision by shaking the hilt as I thrust.
"Now, a downward strike."
"S-shut up..."
I grabbed the blade with both hands, not by the hilt, and twisted my body, swinging it like a club.
Whoosh-!
Pereira infused his palm with aura to block the blade's hilt.
Pak!
He managed to block it, but the force pushed his hand downward.
Thud!
The hilt of my sword struck his crown.
"Ugh!"
He let out a faint groan and collapsed.
Thud.
"Argh..."
"Seems you can't defeat me with aura alone. Why don't you use your guardian spirit?"
I suggested he use his guardian spirit. Pereira clutched his head, pondering.
"Use my guardian spirit?"
"Yes."
"And you?"
"I won't."
I had no intention of showing him.
Pereira hesitated. Could he win this battle using his guardian spirit?
And regardless of the outcome, could he survive this place?
If he used his guardian spirit and hurt Verdin...
'The knights won't leave me alone,' he thought briefly, but he had no other choice.
Sssss.
White smoke began to rise from behind Pereira.
If he was going to die anyway, he wouldn't go alone.
He would show who he truly was.
"Even if you bear the name of Strange, you cannot withstand my guardian spirit."
As the white smoke gathered, an old man in familiar attire appeared.
Those orange clothes were the martial artist's robes favored by those from the East.
'So that's why Pereira focused on physical training.'
I didn't know how he had become a guardian spirit, but his skills must be formidable if he was granted the path to becoming a god.
'Well, even so.'
Now, he was just an experimental soul for me.
"Verdin, I will show you my true power."
Pereira glared at me with a determined expression.
I gathered both aura and mana in one hand and flew above his head.
This moment would likely be his last memory.
Boom! With a burst of violet light, Pereira's guardian spirit was distorted by the impact.
"As I expected."
Without hesitation, I swung Misteltein.
Shk-!
The black blade vertically cleaved the distorted guardian spirit. I couldn't hear the voice of a guardian spirit I hadn't contracted with.
But it was clear he was screaming.
The bisected Eastern martial artist's guardian spirit opened his mouth wide in agony.
'As I thought.'
This sword could even cut through souls.
'The blade reacts only when the wielder harbors killing intent.'
"Argh!"
I felt sorry for Pereira, but this helped me understand.
How to use the sword I held and the hidden power within it.
Thunk!
* * *
Late at night, a wooden box was delivered to the Gold Class waiting room of the arena. It bore the emblem of Strange, a cross.
"...No way."
The large man, leader of the Bourbon Knights, cautiously opened the lid.
Inside was the head of his subordinate, Pereira.
The leader closed his eyes tightly.
He made the sign of the cross with his left arm and said a short prayer before standing up.
Thud!
"Pereira, I will never let that brat get away with this."