In Anes’ hand…
It was definitely the head of a high-ranking fiend.
“….”
*Due to the sudden situation, Hedera needed time to assess everything again.
*Valken’s achievement: over 100 monsters.
Ezekiel’s achievement: identifying the cause of erosion and purification.
It was an overwhelming victory for Ezekiel.
“….”
*For a moment, she was left speechless by the unexpected outcome.
However, Hedera knew what she had to do. As the 2nd Princess, she needed to maintain fairness and keep her composure.
It was the first time she felt so unfamiliar with herself.
‘Was I… supporting him this much?’
The usually calm mind of hers felt such relief, it was a strange sensation for Hedera.
Meanwhile, the mages did not conceal their shock. The auditorium instantly became noisy.
“The inspector… the inspector won!”
“N-No way! Are you saying he accumulated all those achievements on the day of battle and returned? How on earth?”
“He’s a true genius. The inspector truly is a genius!”
Until just moments ago, they were filled with worry, but now the joy that came from unexpected happiness was overwhelming. Everyone started to express the shock they felt.
“A-Ah, goodness…”
“Widro! Get a grip!”
Widro hurriedly shook his head.
As the overwhelming worries vanished in an instant, it felt as if his soul was leaving his body, but what mattered now was the fact of the victory.
“Is this really reality that I’m experiencing right now?”
“The illusion magic can’t possibly be this ridiculous!”
“Right. Absolutely. How could this happen…?”
Widro stared blankly at Ezekiel.
Until now, whenever he thought of the inspector of the Magic Tower, he only thought of those who were more focused on indulging themselves while pushing the work onto Widro and Nox. No, that was all of them.
He had never seen an inspector who was so proactive and capable. All he could do was admire.
“This Magic Tower… we were the ones who were wrong all along.”
*Everyone, including Widro, had been incompetent.
It was also true that they didn’t trust the new inspector, Ezekiel. It’s hard to understand him with common eyes, but they doubted excessively.
“Everyone, we should apologize to the inspector later.”
Widro stroked his beard while surveying the surroundings.
The faces of the mages were filled with joy. It had been so long since the Magic Tower heard good news and everyone shared in the joy that it was almost forgettable.
“S-So, is the inspector going to visit the Imperial Family for a report?”
“What in the world will he bring back from the Magic Tower? What?!”
The excitement mixed with the increasing noise in this place.
Hedera, the 2nd Princess, watched the scene long enough before slowly parting her lips with a measured voice.
“Enough.”
Though it wasn’t a dragon speech, the effect was the same.
The commotion ceased instantly, and everyone focused on the princess.
“Inspector of the Imperial Magic Tower.”
The 2nd Princess quietly gazed at the inspector.
“…You did well.”
Ezekiel smiled slightly.
“No worries.”
Helplessness.
*Wanting to do something but being unable to do anything.
Or the realization that no matter what one does, it’s all in vain.
Valken understood how tragic helplessness could be. Since that day, a very long time ago, when he was beaten up just for being a beastkin.
─Dirty beastkin brat.
─Why don’t you disappear from the village?
Parents who died crushed by discrimination and struggles for power, little Valken could do nothing but hide in the closet.
If Valken’s life were a book, it would always start from that page. Because he was weak, he vowed never to live weakly again.
Yeah, if he became strong, everything would change, right?
Of course, there was a vast difference between wanting to and actually achieving it. A great chasm.
Just recalling that time made Valken tremble, and he often woke up from nightmares, drenched in sweat.
In the end, what Valken chose was the sword.
He didn’t have enough money for magic, and more than anything, wearing a helmet would hide his beastkin ears. He swung that sword like mad.
Of course, it wasn’t an easy process. Unfortunately, Valken had no talent for the sword, and he often fell into despair when faced with even the slightest obstacle.
So, he created fuel to burn himself.
Inferiority complex. Anger.
Those were the fuels Valken chose. To crush those who trampled on him, to stand above those who looked down on him, he burned his very soul.
Fortunately, sweat did not betray Valken.
─Congratulations on joining. Now you’re a royal knight.
His efforts bore fruit as he entered the royal knight order. For that one day, Valken slept soundly in joy.
Yes, just that one day.
From the next day onwards, Valken thought of only one thing.
…So, what should I do now?
Caught up in that thought, he found himself unable to do anything.
He had always compared himself to others and had come this far, burning with nothing but inferiority and anger as fuel, but now what should drive him onward?
He wasn’t as happy as he thought he would be.
This was a recovery, not a resolution. His family wouldn’t come back from the dead now, would they?
He lost his purpose. He became helpless again.
In the meantime, a seemingly appealing opportunity appeared.
─They say they’re selecting the princess’s guard knight.
An unexpectedly fortunate chance, a turning point in Valken’s life.
The 2nd Princess, Hedera.
The moment he first welcomed her, he shivered. She was so perfect compared to Valken. From her birthright to her abilities.
Valken’s life had been humble in every aspect, and she was the complete opposite.
Valken quickly reached a conclusion.
Yeah, let’s make Hedera my purpose in life.
Let’s take loyalty to my lord as my motivation.
─There’s an ascension ceremony soon.
─A mere human challenging the position of a dragon.
Valken could never be perfect. Not ever.
But.
What if a self that only had inferiority and flaws could contribute to making someone as perfect as Hedera? What if this trivial self could remain by perfection?
Just thinking that made Valken’s heart swell. A very powerful motivation for life.
─Report.
─Understood.
─Wait.
Of course, Hedera’s attitude towards Valken was strictly formal; she showed no significant interest in her guard knight, but Valken felt no resentment.
For someone born a beastkin, he was all too familiar with being underestimated and scorned. Hedera’s formal attitude felt almost warm to him.
Of course, it was true that sometimes he felt a twinge of desire.
While assisting Hedera, Valken also relied on her. There were times he wished for her to show him more interest, even craving just one more word from her.
But he could endure that very well.
The 2nd Princess is someone who usually has no emotions.
The 2nd Princess treats everything publicly.
That premise had been very solid.
Could he really feel upset about that among everyone else?
Yeah, until recently that solid premise had been.
─Shall we talk?
The day he faced Ezekiel, a crack formed.
…What on earth is going on?
Valken knew well. Even when facing various crises in the Celestial Realm, Hedera’s heart had never wavered.
She was calm under any crisis and was an ever-calculating individual who never trusted anyone, making sure not to suffer losses. The 2nd Princess he served was synonymous with perfection.
That should have been the case.
Yet in that moment of crisis, Valken volunteered for a bet. He put all his effort into thoroughly crushing Ezekiel so that he would never appear before Hedera again.
Defeat.
But Valken was defeated.
There was no excuse for his defeat. He had underestimated Ezekiel, and Ezekiel emerged victorious without a doubt.
Thus began the disheartening performance evaluation.
But…
─I’ll give you a chance.
Why? Just before Hedera heard the report, she unexpectedly offered him a chance. The content was utterly absurd.
─Let’s give rewards to both sides and conclude it.
“…!”
Valken was overwhelmed with joy. He couldn’t help but be moved.
He understood why Hedera provided this opportunity. She clearly knew the outcome of the bet. The 2nd Princess, she didn’t want her guard knight to be embarrassed. She was extending her consideration.
For someone as trivial as Valken.
The 2nd Princess was actually concerned about him…!
Valken immediately raised his voice with all his might.
─Your Highness, absolutely not!
As long as Hedera was here, he felt he could endure any humiliation and rise again after any overwhelming failure.
Yeah, thinking that Hedera was worried about him made his strength surge. It felt like he was reborn.
But.
But.
─I purified the Ruiple Region.
“….”
When the result was announced, an unbelievable scene unfolded before Valken, making his head spin.
The 2nd Princess, Hedera, had emotions.
Her gaze was directed solely at Ezekiel.
The nature of that emotion…
It was definitely relief.
“What the hell…?”
His teeth ground together. His body trembled.
It was not concern for him.
Hedera was worried about Ezekiel.
“What on earth… why…?”
Valken couldn’t fathom it.
Hedera was supposed to be a being devoid of emotions. Why was she showing such distinct emotions?
Yet what truly shocked Valken about himself was that the feelings he felt towards Hedera were not feelings of betrayal.
Jealousy.
This was indeed an immense jealousy.
After years of rolling in the mud and dedicating himself, he had never caught a glimpse of Hedera’s emotions, yet it was so easy and simple for Ezekiel to draw them out.
Jealousy.
Ah, truly jealous.
He wanted to feel Hedera’s emotions just once.
Even if it’s for a brief moment.
No matter how weak that feeling might be, just once.
He had worked so hard and admired so much, but why was his desire to feel it so unreachable… yet so easily afforded to someone else?
Why, why was it so unfair?
“You did well.”
Hedera’s words to Ezekiel.
At that moment…
Valken felt pain as if his body were shattering into pieces.
His entire world collapsed.
The next day, I prepared to depart for the Imperial Family.
“Shall we go?”
It was time to visit the Imperial report with Hedera.
But unexpectedly, the one who came to find me was Solana.
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