Chapter 97: A Resplendent Resolution (1)

Crack! Zip! Something rough roared in his system. As he heard the sound, Lloyd thought to himself…

I had no idea how fatal poison could be until now.

It was nothing to joke about. Lloyd put his palm on the queen’s stomach, and he absorbed the poison through it. The poison attacked his veins and tissues nonstop. Each time it happened, his muscle tissue and veins screamed aloud.

Crack! Crack! The poison tried to tear him apart, while his body resisted it. Caught between these two powers, Lloyd sweated in abundance. So, he endured all the more, harnessing more strength in the Asrahan Core Technique. The three circles fiercely rotated, sucking in the poison that invaded the queen’s body.

“How did you… learn this?”

The queen gazed up at Lloyd. She had never experienced this mana absorption technique before. Her gaze was mixed with terror, wonder, curiosity, and adoration. The corners of Lloyd’s lips rolled up bitterly.

“Um… Whew… If you talk now…”

“Should I stay quiet?”

“It makes it difficult for me to focus on your emergency treatment.”

“But,” reasoned the queen, “you absorb the poison very well, despite what you say.”

“Well, if you accuse me of pretending, I have nothing to say,” said Lloyd playfully as he maintained the Asrahan Core Technique. “Since you’re asking, why doesn’t Your Highness cheer me on so I can do a better job?”

“Cheer? By the way, sucking out the poison will only put you in danger. Do you have any other plans in mind?” asked the queen.

“Of course I do. I should discharge it.”

“I see.”

The expression on the queen’s face softened a little, but Lloyd didn’t know whether it was because of the diminishing effect of the poison or because of his words that he had a plan in mind. Regardless, her gaze was still sharp.

“I have two more questions,” said the queen.

“Please do ask.”

“One. How did you figure out this was happening to rush in here?”

“I have excellent gut feelings.”

“Gut feelings?” asked the queen.

“Yes.”

“Be more specific.”

“Um, are you doubting me right now, Your Majesty?” asked Lloyd.

“Well, of course–”

“If I were on Kyle’s side, I wouldn’t be removing the poison out of your system, risking my life,” said Lloyd casually.

“…”

“I mean it, Your Highness. I came here because I overheard Sir Kyle talking with the Lord Great Chamberlain, and something about their conversation stood out to me.”

“What could have possibly stood out? What did he say to the Lord Great Chamberlain?” asked the queen.

“Something about,” explained Lloyd, “the banquet lasting until the moon sets.”

“It sounds innocuous to my ears. How was that strange?”

“It’s just a feeling. Their tone, gaze… They were dramatic.”

“Cheesy?”

“To be honest, Your Majesty, I never expected it to be treason. But…”

“But what? Do continue,” hurried the queen.

“I just thought that something fishy was going on between Sir Kyle and the Lord Great Chamberlain.”

“…”

“So, I figured that they would be a good source of entertainment and decided to trail behind them until I was met with this ruckus… Anyway, that’s how I came to be here.”

“It must not have been a pleasant sight.”

“No,” replied Lloyd.

For a moment, silence fell over them. Lloyd felt relieved in his heart.

Thankfully, the queen won’t be suspicious of me anymore.

The assassination attempt on the queen. Lloyd only predicted the incident because he had read the novel. The people in this world were clueless. The queen and the assassins didn’t know either. Only Lloyd knew about it because he had come across them in the novel.

So, I’m in the perfect spot to be suspected.

Lloyd had precipitously run up here to save the queen, but that gesture alone could seem suspicious. It signaled that Lloyd had noticed the circumstances of the assassin before anyone else did and that he had arrived at the scene earlier than everyone, minus the assassin. Those behaviors also warranted suspicion from others. Therefore, Lloyd needed to exonerate himself from these suspicions. He decided to be clever about it.

I’ll mix the truth with a lie. Always works like a charm.

The truthful part was the code Sir Kyle had used before taking action. The lie was that Sir Kyle had a secret life. By mixing these two stories, Lloyd deprecated himself by admitting that he had arrived at this place after snooping around to enjoy some gossip. And now, he was risking his life and sucking poison out of the queen’s body. These elements worked in synergy and cleared any doubt about him. The queen’s gaze toward Lloyd softened a little.

“I see. But I have one more question,” she said.

“Yes, Your Majesty. What is it?”

“Why is it that you are speaking more casually now?”

“Your Majesty…?”

“From the moment you set me down for emergency treatment, you started to be more casual, though very subtle, in addressing me. Was this intentional?” demanded the queen.

“Certainly not, Your Majesty.”

“You just changed your tone faster than the wind blows.”

“This is a misunderstanding, Your Highness.”

“It appears not.”

“I feel wronged, Your Majesty.”

“How brazen of you,” she said as she softly chuckled. But she instantly put on a straight face again.

“By the way, Sir Asrahan, is it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you think he will be fine? He is fighting against Sir Kyle.”

“…”

Lloyd clamped his mouth shut. He couldn’t answer her rashly. And, in fact, Javier was the reason why Lloyd was using all the strength he had to absorb the poison. He was trying to quickly finish administering the emergency treatment and go help Javier.

Javier hasn’t reached the level of a sword master.

And yet, Javier was forced to confront the sword master. Lloyd wondered how the fight ended. He could neither ascertain nor predict anything.

Of course, he won’t be defeated so easily. But that doesn’t mean I can relax right now.

Surely, Javier was a man of ingenious talent. He had already become a high-level sword expert and owned triple circles.

But even if he combines those two strengths, there will always be a gap he won’t be able to overcome against the sword master.

That was how terrifying sword masters were. The only ones that could stop a sword master were other masters. Their existence was likened to a strategic weapon, much like a nuclear weapon in the modern world. The number of sword masters in the land translated into military power for their respective countries.

And now, Javier is forced to fight against such a monstrous entity all by himself.

Of course, Javier became a sword master in the novel. He actually reached the level of grandmaster, advancing beyond the sword master level for the first time in history. But that was only in the novel. A totally different situation from where he was now. And if Javier got unlucky…

Javier could die.

Lloyd didn’t want to lose him here in vain. Javier had been a strong timber that supported him and was a sort of insurance for his future.

Ziiing!

Lloyd increased the rotating power of the circles by a notch. He was forced to his maximum limit. The poison absorbed by the queen started to stack up around the circles. However, he didn’t care.

Once I’m done absorbing the poison, I’ll eject it right away and run.

Then he’d go help Javier and fight alongside him. Beads of sweat dropped from Lloyd’s face, dripping on the queen’s face. But she could not rebuke him. The expression on Lloyd’s face as he focused on the Asrahan Core Technique appeared too grave.

The more I see him, the more amazed I get.

The construction of the suspension bridge was a first for her. Lloyd proved that his big talk wasn’t for show. He had the skills to prove he could do it. And now, the queen realized that he had been hiding his true abilities.

A technique to absorb external mana, other people’s mana, and special characteristics into himself. How clever. I had never imagined such a thing could happen.

But one such unimaginable event was taking place in real-time right in front of her. Poison was flowing out of her body. This was undeniable proof. That fact frightened and impressed the sword master.

I wonder what the limit is for this man.

She wanted to see if she could find out. She was intrigued. Curious. And just like that, the emergency treatment took place in the tranquil rest area as the queen stared up at Lloyd with curiosity in her eyes.

Slash! The blast split in half, and the aura sword rushed forward to slash Javier in the chest. However, no blood splattered.

Hmm?

Sir Kyle’s eyebrows trembled heavily. For a split second there, he had thought he slayed Javier. But when he brandished his sword, he realized that something felt light in his hands. The cut was minimal. As soon as Sir Kyle felt it, Javier attacked again like lightning.

Slash!

“…!”

There was no aura in Javier’s sword, but it was as fast as light. Sir Kyle held up his sword.

Clang! Javier’s sword bounced off the aura sword. The shockwave allowed Sir Kyle a glimpse of what had happened.

I only cut his clothes.

He stared at the front of Javier’s clothes. They were vertically torn, and the gap exposed Javier’s chest.

Such amazing speed.

A pure sense of admiration gripped Sir Kyle. When he had slashed Javier’s mana blast in half and used the momentum to slay his chest, Sir Kyle was convinced that he would get the better of Javier. But he was wrong.

He’s strong and fast, even though he isn’t a sword master. Technique-wise, he might be equal to me, or even better.

The silver-haired fledgling appeared to be just over 20 years old. But he was monstrously talented. Sir Kyle could already picture what would happen if he rose to the level of a sword master.

He’s going to easily surpass me.

He had to admit it. At the same time, a violent impulse took over him.

But that won’t ever happen. Why? Because he’ll die right here.

A sense of pleasure rushed through Sir Kyle at the thought of nipping the sprouts of a talented rival and trampling him. This violent impulse made the corners of his lips rise upward. The muscles in his hands tightened as he gripped his sword.

I’ll make sure that you die today. Resist all you want!

He brimmed with confidence, as he held an aura sword. He had nothing to fear anymore.

Whoosh! Clack! Sir Kyle raised his sword at a strange angle. The aura burning fiery in the sword rushed toward Javier.

Clang!

The aura and Javier’s sword clashed, instantly breaking a piece of the latter’s blade. It got torn and shattered by the aura. Javier’s face darkened while Sir Kyle scoffed.

“Do you think you can defend against an aura sword at your level?”

Crash! The aura sword struck down once more. Javier’s sword began to shatter into pieces with the blow, which deepened Sir Kyle’s mocking laughter.

“You blocked me again? I must say, you have my praise for keeping your sword in one piece even after you blocked mine.”

Slash! The aura sword was brought down one more time. Another side of Javier’s blade crashed, and this time, Sir Kyle’s smile mixed with deathly desire.

“Woah. Three blocks? I suppose it’s because it’s the queen’s sword. What do you say about using your skills from before?”

“…”

Javier couldn’t answer because he didn’t have the energy or time to do so. The moment he first blocked the aura sword, his whole stomach churned, the impact turning his system upside down. It felt as though he was using his fingers to block a giant’s hammer. He wasn’t spared a second to use the Asrahan Core Technique and absorb the mana. Each time he blocked, each massive blow accumulated inside his system, paralyzing his legs. They refused to move, frozen by the building force.

Use the mana blast, maybe?

The thought crossed his mind. But he knew that the mana blast wasn’t enough. And besides, it had already split in half a while ago by the aura sword. And if he used it once more, it’d surely mean a slice to his chest, not his clothing.

I wish I was a sword master.

He would have easily neutralized the aura sword if he was a sword master with his mana blast. No, he wouldn’t need to use the skill in the first place since he would have an aura sword like his opponent.

Master… Lloyd.

Crash! Another blow struck down again, making him feel like he had become a stake stuck in the earth.

Cough! Blood came out as Javier coughed. The rotation of his circles slowed. For the fifth time, a merciless impact struck down like lightning.

Crack!

“…!”

At last, the queen’s sword broke in half, the aura sword charging down at Javier as a result.

It can’t end like this!

One second. Javier told himself that he should stall by at least a second. That was how he could increase Lloyd’s chances of treating the queen and surviving. Since the queen was a sword master, she would be able to put up a fight against Sir Kyle.

Argh!

Javier decided to put his pride aside to stall his death by even a second. He fell to the ground and slid to the side. Slash!

The aura sword scratched the ground, sparks bursting in all directions. Javier managed to avoid death by a split second. He resolved to buy some more time, so he wielded his half-cut sword in the hopes to increase the chances of Lloyd making it out alive. Just then, a merciless kick knocked him in the stomach. Slam!

“…!”

The kick smashed against his chest and sent him nine steps backward into the corridor. His body crashed into the table in the corner and flopped to the ground.

Crack! Flop!

Splinters of wood littered the ground. Javier raised his body in the rubble.

I’m not done yet.

He didn’t give up. He held out his hand and grabbed the leg of the broken table. Sir Kyle, who had hurtled toward him when he rose, was near him now.

Striking down the burning aura sword, Sir Kyle hollered, “It’s over now!”

Fwoosh! The aura sword came down like a bolt of lightning. Javier raised the table leg. Sir Kyle flashed a smile. There was only one thing that could stop his aura sword: another aura sword. This law was absolute.

How dare he block my aura sword with a table leg! Ha! Struggle all you want!

Just then… Thwack!

The aura sword was blocked by the piece of wood.

“Huh?”

What’s happening?

Sir Kyle’s eyes snapped open. Just then, something unprecedented started to take place with the table leg.

Crackle…! Cold rays of light appeared in streaks, enveloping the table leg with fierce radiance. It was the brilliant determination only those who reached the master level of swordsmanship could muster. The aura.