Chapter 309

Chapter 309: Politely With Both Hands

Earl Erjin found it impossible to collect his thoughts beneath the unrelenting barrage of strikes. Was this truly the force of a mere human fist? Defending with his blade yielded a ringing metallic clang!, while intercepting with the scabbard resulted in a bone-chilling crack of splintering wood. Inevitably, the sheath burst into pieces. Yet, what truly drove the earl to the brink of madness was an entirely different matter.

“Courteously.” Thud! “Using both hands.” Whack! “With true feeling.” Thud!

That relentless, mocking voice refused to pause even for a single breath. His focus fractured entirely. Even for a battle-tested commander like Earl Erjin, who had survived countless conflicts and danced on the edge of death, this adversary was unlike anything he had ever faced. What was worse, the scoundrel’s breathing remained completely undisturbed…

“You… you are no mage!“

Earl Erjin bellowed, unleashing his ether. This prompted Aster to glide back a couple of strides. Here was a knight who had not yet crossed into transcendence, yet still possessed a formidable might that knocked fiercely at its gates.

Naturally. ‘…However, that doesn’t mean I should stop being polite.‘ Instead, Aster released his right wrist to free up both hands. It was an unmistakable indicator that he would now deploy both limbs in the struggle.

“Confound you!“

In the blink of an eye, Earl Erjin lunged forward in a straight line. Aster watched the blade descending toward his shoulder along a diagonal path, and subsequently manifested a defensive barrier. As anticipated, the earl’s strike was halted with humiliating ease, though it did not leave the shield entirely unblemished.

Crack-

Fractures rippled like arachnid webs across the entire surface of the barrier. Recognizing his moment, Earl Erjin pressed the advantage, swinging his weapon without a moment’s pause. Left to right, then right to left, executing diagonal slashes and concentrated thrusts aimed at a singular point.

“Ah…!” “Incredible…!“

The assembled nobility gasped at the dazzling display, which unfolded too rapidly for ordinary vision to track, but to Aster, the exhibition was merely tedious. Evaluated objectively, the earl’s martial skill was far from mediocre. It possessed a ferocity and sharpness exceeding that of any contemporary knight. This was not a matter of raw tier, but of seasoned capability. Regardless of any counterargument, the earl was a champion tempered in the crucibles of war, his blade heavy with the legacy of bloodshed. Even so, Aster’s detachment came from…

“Ah, so this is the variance in caliber.” “I shall rip that tongue from your mouth!“

Crash!

The barrier shattered completely, narrowing the gap between Earl Erjin and Aster to mere inches. The earl kept his momentum, plunging forward directly toward Aster’s chest.

“What…!“

Yet the earl, consumed by a raging fury, paid it no heed. Indeed, he had no reason to care from the beginning. That outcome had been the objective all along.

However. Your Excellency, I would be grateful if you ceased your interference. And if possible…

Boom!

A sudden concussive wave erupted through the air. The earl absorbed the impact and bounded backward several long paces.

“Far too sluggish.“

Aster mused internally: I have always desired to utter those words. In that exact moment, Earl Erjin bellowed and propelled himself powerfully off the ground.

“You miserable wretch!“

Naturally, even amidst his outrage, the earl’s tactical intellect remained as cold as ice. During the brief window of his charge, he heightened his awareness, monitoring the surrounding mana to anticipate incoming sorcery. He loathed to concede it, but he had already grown wary. The opponent had utilized nothing more than a handful of physical strikes, avoiding proper magic entirely, which only served to increase his vigilance.

Predictably…

Glow-

The ambient mana expanded through the atmosphere. The earl perceived it immediately and delivered a sweeping slash. The entire sequence occurred in a mere heartbeat, yet the confrontation did not conclude there.

Gleam, gleam, fracture-Zip! Zizzip zip-!

From leaping into the air to executing a single swing, within a span of barely a second, dozens of incantations bloomed and dozens of cuts sliced through the air. To untrained eyes, it was nothing short of an ear-splitting din… And because of this, Earl Erjin felt certain of his triumph. He did not assume this particular strike would fell the adversary instantly, but it would pave the way to victory. Naturally, a straightforward slash like before would simply be obstructed again. Still…

Click.

With a gentle, resonant hum, the metal vibrated as a runic circle materialized to envelop the weapon. The surging ether began to coalesce, drawing directly into the steel.

“That is—!” “Unbelievable!“

A chorus of nobles cried out. Some were awed by the brilliant, concentrated ether; others identified the specialized relic gripped by the earl. Amidst the gasps rising for various reasons, a few faint-hearted aristocrats squeezed their eyes shut, bracing for the impending carnage.

And then…Crash! The protective barrier gave way entirely.Slash!

The air-rending edge cut diagonally across Aster’s form. Even Bellrose’s eyes widened considerably upon witnessing the strike, while a smirk formed on the earl’s lined face.

Splatter- Crimson fluid sprayed outward. Aster’s pristine white tailcoat was painted a deep scarlet.

Yet.

“What… how…?“

Abruptly, Earl Erjin staggered backward in utter confusion. He exhaled a hollow gasp, his nostrils flaring as his trembling gaze fell upon his own form.

“I… I am certain I severed you…?” Then why. “Why… is it my arm?“

Deep crimson spilled across the verdant lawn.

“Grandfather…!” Mehode shrieked, sprinting forward to support the earl, holding him upright. “That is quite enough.” “This contest is over!“

Mehode froze in place, crying out frantically. And within his gaze… pure terror. The young warrior celebrated as the Tiger of the Border stared with wide eyes at the figure clad in the blood-stained formal coat.

However. “A contest? Did this mockery even deserve such a title?“

An immense pressure weighed down upon Mehode’s shoulders, leaving him entirely paralyzed. Like a rodent trapped before a serpent. Bypassing Mehode entirely, Aster stepped toward the dazed Earl Erjin.

“Squish, squish.“

The fluid pooled against his unblemished white footwear as Aster came to a halt right in front of the earl.

“You crossed the line slightly. You are aware of that, old man.” “…“

The earl offered no reply. He merely stared blankly into space, his severed limbs lying behind Aster.

“N-No—!“

Mehode roared, pulling his blade from its sheath, but the earth erupted violently, binding him securely in an instant.

Crunch, crunch! “…“

Mehode thrashed without effect, his features twisted in severe distress. A voice cut through the tension at that precise moment.

“Young man, remain motionless. Did you not catch his words? He overstepped.“

For a brief moment, the attention of the nobility shifted toward Mayselrn. Astonishment flashed in their eyes. How could it be otherwise? Earl Erjin had been deprived of both limbs by an enigmatic faction no soul recognized… and the

While the aristocrats reeled from the revelation.

“Old man, that is checkmate. Are you aware?” Aster’s hand closed around Earl Erjin. The nobles tracked the development with unstable gazes.

Meanwhile, a low voice murmured into Bellrose’s ear… […Hey, aren’t you going to halt him? Is he genuinely going to break him? Eh? Break him?]

In an instant, Bellrose’s overwhelmed expression turned frigid.How… With a mere handful of words, the suffocating tension evaporated entirely. If such a trait could be deemed a talent, it indisputably was one.Hoo. Bellrose let out a quiet breath, unnoticed by the crowd, and then stepped onto the blood-slicked lawn.

“Cease. That will suffice.” Whoosh-

The moment she spoke, the dominant aura enveloping the clearing dissolved like melting winter frost. The masked sorcerer, Wyvar, released his grip on Earl Erjin’s throat without uttering a word and stepped back. Wyvar offered a refined bow; the entire sequence resembled a masterwork painting. The wild practitioner had been subdued as meekly as a lamb by the Third Princess. It was an image etched permanently into the consciousness of the nobility…

“Understood, as you command.“

Bellrose remained quiet. The nobles maintained their silence. And amidst the quietude, Mayselrn reached a definitive conclusion.

‘…There is unquestionably an error within the data entry.‘ Referring to human learning as “data entry” seemed rather peculiar, but for Aster, no other description fit more precisely.

“Y-Yes… Your… Highness…“

Earl Erjin remained disoriented, yet he managed to pull himself together sufficiently to acknowledge Bellrose’s intervention. Bellrose regarded him briefly before turning away, leaving him with a final declaration:

“I shall not interrogate you regarding your motives or at whose behest you acted. However… if an individual prompted you to initiate this, ensure you convey this statement with absolute clarity.“

A declaration aimed directly at the Second Prince…

“If you intend to break my spirit, you must risk absolutely everything.“

Consequently, the Third Princess and the Council of 72 Men revealed their existence to the world.

Following the departure of the Third Princess, the initial pandemonium lasted only briefly before the festivities resumed. The event ought to have concluded there, but a select group of nobles—her most senior adherents—took charge to keep the gathering alive. Naturally, those leading the effort to restore order were her closest, long-standing confidants.

“Good heavens! Were you aware, Baron? That…” “The Council of 72 Men? That marks my first time witnessing them firsthand. Yet one detail is indisputable.” “And what might that be…?” “They serve as Her Highness’s personal blades.“

The loyalists circulated through the crowd, soothing the aristocrats and steering the atmosphere to their benefit. Regrettably, the ruined Earl Erjin was disregarded by everyone present. They might have extended assistance previously out of deference to his family’s prestige, but Wyvar and the Third Princess had dismantled him entirely.

While the celebration carried on, within a secluded private chamber, the Third Princess collapsed onto the couch the instant she crossed the threshold, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Good grief…” Her heart had nearly ceased beating. She recognized Aster’s capabilities, but the earl was a veteran hardened by real warfare. Even so, who could have anticipated it culminating in such a fashion? The absolute triumph had startled even Bellrose. At that interval, a particular inquiry drifted into her consciousness.

Has Aster truly entered the realm of transcendence…? Bellrose was contemplating this when…

“Tch.”

Aster entered some time later, cleansing his attire with a spell, yet he still grimaced at the stubborn remnants of dirt. Fair skin, brows resembling delicate brushstrokes, a sharp profile. It was a familiar sight she would ordinarily look past, yet why choose this moment?

Gulp. Bellrose swallowed dryly against her volition. For reasons unknown, her pulse quickened noticeably…

“Ugh, standard annoyance.” “Why does it remain tacky even after a cleansing spell? And these particular shoes… why must they be so unyielding? I was nearly pierced.”

Aster removed the formal footwear, wincing slightly. Complaints streamed unceasingly from his lips, and Bellrose offered a gentle smile upon observing the display.

“It is reassuring that your sharp tongue remains intact.” Aster tilted his head. “A compliment?” “In all likelihood.” “Then we are at peace.”

Yet for what reason did she tighten her grip? …A concept that Aster would likely fail to comprehend for the duration of his existence.