Chapter 48
"Hmm."
The most refres.h.i.+ng spot in the royal library.
It was the area where only the Crown Prince was allowed to enter.
It was the only library that contained books that were related to the ‘imperialism’, and other princes couldn’t read such books. Learning of ruling the empire was only allowed for the Crown Prince.
"Hmmmm!"
The Crown Prince, who just became 23 years old, ‘Hayden Greenriver’ was learning it as other former Crown Princes did. From morning, he was learning foundations of reigning the empire. Although he supposed to finish these books when he was 15 years old, it was his best. He started this learning at a late age.
"So….. Most people don’t know how to read, so does that mean they are fools? What c.r.a.p? What’s wrong about not knowing how to read? This book is so mean."
Furthermore, he was misunderstanding what the books were saying to him.
He was still the same since he was 5 years old.
At least now, he read some books.
"Never mind! It is not a day for reading,"
The Crown Prince closed the book straightly.
Immediately, he stood up and left the library.
"Your highness."
The high rank servant of the royal palace, ‘Teo’, and ‘Paul’, the Vice Captain of the second royal knights approached to the Crown Prince.
"Your highness, aren’t you suppose to read the book for one hour?"
"I am, but I’m not in the mood."
"But you promised the Emperor……"
"Don’t worry, I will read more tomorrow. Actually, I will read it this afternoon."
"But….."
The servant couldn’t say anything anymore.
He also knew, that it was already a miracle that the Crown Prince was voluntarily reading books. The servant had seen him for 20 years, and the servant hadn’t seen him do that.
"Vice Captain, today is the day, right?"
"What day you mean?"
"The last duel between the Captain and Ian."
"Ah, yes it is."
The Duel of Ian and the Captain.
They had done it for 5 years.
If they didn’t have any special occasion, they dueled once per week. From early morning to morning.
"They must be in the climax."
It was their last day of dueling.
The Crown Prince didn’t want to miss such a moment.
It was the last duel of his left and right arm.
"Let’s go. I haven’t seen it for months."
They were dueling at the gymnasium of the second royal knight headquarters.
With excitement, the Crown Prince was walking to the place.
"Whenever I see it, the Captain always got stomped. How about these days? Is he doing better? Or is it the same as before? If it’s same, I better go when they are about to finish. I feel sorry for him."
The Crown Prince asked the Vice Captain, Paul.
It was 1 year ago when the Crown Prince saw their last duel.
At that moment, Oliver couldn’t even approach Ian Page, the mighty Archmage.
"I have no idea."
"What, how do you not know? Aren’t you the Vice Captain?"
"The last one you saw was my last time as well."
"…… I see."
While dueling, Oliver couldn’t bodyguard the Crown Prince.
So the Vice Captain had to bodyguard him, instead of Oliver. So, since the Crown Prince hadn’t visited the dueling, the Vice Captain couldn’t see their duel as well.
"But still, anything you have heard?"
"He usually doesn’t talk much."
"Well, that’s right."
The Crown Prince admitted that quickly.
They arrived near the second royal knight headquarter.
From a distance, the Crown Prince was already able to hear a noise.
The noise caused by the conflict of two mighty powers.
"Hew……."
The second royal knight gymnasium.
A man with a plate armor, Oliver, who became middle aged, breathed deeply.
They had started the duel for hours already, he was preparing
‘This is my last chance.’
Oliver was holding a training iron sword.
His best swords were already destroyed but he realized that he didn’t need a good sword to against a mage. Unless it wan an artifact level sword.
‘I won’t make a mistake.’
Oliver focused by encouraging himself.
Hundreds of icicles had appeared, pointing to his head from above.
It must’ve been spells that were casted by the young man with brown long hair, who was standing at the opposite side of gymnasium.
Actually, it was just a small portion of his power.
"Gwaaaaa!"
With a battle cry, Oliver dashed to the side.
Approaching in straight line was easily blocked by opponent’s magic.
Actually, approaching from the side didn’t change the result that much either.
But Oliver did it to increase his slight chance.
*Crack! Crakckck! Craccck!*
Hundreds of icicles were falling.
Many icicles that missed the target drilled down the floor.
Some icicles that landed correctly were deflected by cheap iron sword.
However, the sword didn’t get cracked nor destroyed.
"Hup!"
Oliver suddenly twisted his body and change the direction.
Why did he do that? It was for a simple reason.
*Grrrrrr……*
The floor where Oliver was heading to, was erupted and raised and block the path.
Literally, he ‘barely’ dodged it.
If he didn’t change the direction, he definitely would’ve ran into the pillar and been knocked down.
It was a clear instinct that was taught by dueling with Ian for 5years.
‘Next is,’
But it wasn’t the end of young mage’s attack.
It was just the beginning of it.
‘Heat.’
Oliver moved his eyes to the side where he could feel heat.
There was a pair of giant hand-shaped fires that were targeting Oliver and smas.h.i.+ng the ground.
*Smash –!*
After he dodged swiftly,
*Smash –! Smash –!*
An additional two fire fists were generated.
Not only that, it started to smash the ground randomly.
Thanks to that, the floor of gymnasium destroyed every time.
‘Those fire fists will disappear soon.’
He already had experienced it many times. He didn’t need to care about it anymore. Before the opponent casted next spell, Oliver had to approach closer to him.
Without hesitation, Oliver rushed towards the mage.
Soon, fire fists that were chasing him burned out.
As he expected, actually, as he experienced.
*Spark –!*
Electric lashes were stretched towards Oliver’s face.
He easily dodged it by spinning his body.
However, a strong freezing energy that was already on the floor, the freezing grasps that were aiming Oliver’s ankle were hard to dodge. If he let it catch him, it was the end of the duel.
"No way!"
He quickly decided to give up his iron sword. Instead of his ankle, he let the freezing grasps hold the iron sword. Oliver threw away the half frozen sword without hesitation. He drew another sword from his waist.
*Srrrrung!*
There were only few steps left to reach the mage with the blue robe.
Would he make it this time?
‘I can reach him.’
With a firm faith, he stepped forward.
A giant fire sphere blocked his path.
Actually, it tried to.
‘I can cut it.’
The swordsman who cut down the fire sphere that was formed by mana.
5 years ago, there were no such swordsmen that existed.
But,
*Slas.h.!.+*
Not anymore.
Such swordsman now existed in the world.
The captain of the second royal knight order, Oliver Raywood.
The bodyguard of the Crown Prince was the swordsman.
With a glimpse of the slashed fire sphere, Oliver could see clearly.
A young mage who was standing without making a single move.
"Hiyaaaaaap!"
A goal he had desired since 5 years ago.
Oliver shouted to achieve his goal.
A s.h.i.+ning iron sword was aiming for the heart of the mage.
It was his finis.h.i.+ng move that was containing the very essence of his dueling.
*Perk!*
The iron sword penetrated without any pauses.
The attack landed successfully.
A great achievement that took 5 years for Oliver.
‘…….’
However, Oliver didn’t smile.