Chapter 21

Chapter 21
## Chapter 21

Lucian rubbed his eyelids for a brief span, questioning if his vision had played a trick on him.

Yet, regardless of how many times he blinked to clear his sight, the reality remained unchanged—the unmistakable features of the Sword Demon were right before him.

The figure stood positioned among the ten protectors and the pair of attendants encircling the Marquis’s heir.

The complication, however, was Felix’s current choice of dress.

What was the meaning of the maid’s attire?

Lucian could have rationalized it if Felix had been revealed as the high-born son himself or perhaps one of the youthful guards. Even during his rough days as a mercenary in the mud, the man’s bladework had remained precise, and he had always exuded a peculiar, refined dignity.

But a domestic servant? Not the lordling, not a soldier, but a maid?

He had always possessed a level of beauty that made his biological sex seem uncertain, but this development surpassed all his mental maps.

…Hold on, was he actually masquerading as a man when we first crossed paths?

Suddenly, Lucian began to question if his very first deduction had been flawed from the start.

Recollecting their past, Felix’s facial features had always been far too delicate for a male. It was far more logical to assume she was a woman who had previously hidden her identity to work as a mercenary, rather than a man who had decided to dress in a skirt now.

Just as a migraine began to throb from the sudden unraveling of an old comrade’s mystery—

“I observe that your preparations are complete. Although, it appears you haven’t actually commenced any real labor yet.”

“Have you lost your memory of the schedule? Today marks the inaugural day of the works. I only paused the start because you were adamant about witnessing it personally, yet you speak as if the delay is my shortcoming.”

“Mind your tone, brat. Do you mistake me for one of your peers?”

The verbal sparring between Hugo and his target jolted Lucian back from his wandering reflections.

Whether the Sword Demon had a secret or not, his current priority was the success of the ambush. Lucian redirected his attention from Felix to the son of the Marquis.

He is quite youthful. Perhaps my age?

Philip Roglan.

He was the fourth child of Marquis Roglan, a youth who hadn’t even entered the fray for the family inheritance. Lucian had heard rumors that Philip was so cowed by the equal strength of his older siblings that he had tossed aside his claims immediately.

He had anticipated a frightened rodent, yet the boy was behaving with significant arrogance toward Hugo.

At first glance, he seemed to be the classic bully who cowered before the strong but trampled the weak.

“Cease this pointless babbling and begin the works! I traveled here to oversee your progress and ensure diligence, not to engage in social pleasantries.”

“I ask for your patience. I shall go and retrieve the components.”

Clap, clap.

When Hugo struck his palms together twice, his underlings scrambled toward the storage containers. To an untrained eye, they seemed to be fetching supplies, but the reality was they were creating distance to avoid being caught in the impending violence.

The instant Hugo’s men had cleared the area around the Marquis’s entourage—

“Execute.”

Swish!

“What!?”

At the command, five members of the Black Lions burst from their points of concealment. Philip stumbled back in a state of shock at the sudden raid. His personal guards, who had been maintaining a high state of vigilance, unsheathed their blades instantly to meet the threat.

“You dare attempt this—!”

Slash!

“Gah!”

It was a textbook reaction for a security detail, but they were outclassed by their rivals. No matter their elite training, they were no match for the Black Lions. Despite having a two-to-one numerical advantage, the guards were unable to successfully deflect even a single blow before they were struck down.

Thud.

“Urgh…!”

In less than sixty seconds, all ten guards were on the dirt, moaning in pain. Some had been rendered senseless by the blunt strike of a sword pommel to the skull, while others had the tendons of their ankles sliced, stripping them of the ability to stand.

They had been neutralized in a solitary exchange. The disparity in martial prowess was so vast it was almost shameful to consider them fellow warriors.

“What is wrong with you morons!? Get back on your feet and strike!”

Good heavens.

Rather than taking the opportunity to flee, the boy was wasting his breath screaming at his own fallen men. Lucian clicked his tongue in distaste and issued a command to one of the Black Lions.

“Gag him and bring him to me.”

“Understood, Third Young Master.”

Clink.

The Black Lion returned his blade to its sheath and walked toward Philip. It was evident he intended to silence the boy with a blow from the scabbard. Only at that moment did the terrified Philip let out a shriek.

“Fe—Felicia! What are you standing there for!? Defend me! If you’re a girl who only knows how to handle a blade, at least make yourself useful!”

“…Sigh.”

One of the maids breathed out a weary, long sigh at Philip’s embarrassing outburst. The woman addressed as Felicia nudged the other sobbing servant aside and snatched up a blade from the ground. It was one of the weapons the Black Lions had sent flying from a guard’s hand moments prior.

“Tsk, making me exert myself for nothing.”

The Black Lion walking toward Philip made a noise of annoyance. What could a simple servant girl possibly hope to achieve with a sword?

“Out of my way.”

The Black Lion made a casual swing with his sheathed weapon. The path of the strike was linear, but the velocity was high enough that even a trained soldier would have found it difficult to intercept.

However, the moving metal only sliced through the atmosphere, failing to connect with Felicia at all.

“What—!?”

Thwack!

With a sharp crack of contact, the Black Lion lost his footing. Felicia, who had dropped into a low crouch, had exploded upward, slamming her pommel into his jawline. The Black Lion attempted to regain his balance, but his strength failed him, and he toppled backward onto the earth.

Thud.

“….”

“….”

A heavy, oppressive quiet settled over the scene as an improbable result unfolded. Moments later, the other Black Lions recovered from their disbelief and narrowed their eyes.

“Is this some kind of joke!?”

“A maid managed that…!?”

The remaining four Black Lions glared at Felicia as if they were ready to strike. However, they did not swarm her. It would be a stain on their reputation for several Black Lions to team up against a single servant woman.

“I will deal with her.”

Biting back his anger, another warrior moved toward Felicia. Unlike his downed comrade, he showed no signs of underestimating her; he clearly intended to finish the encounter with a single movement.

Felicia observed his approach and drew a deep breath.

Whoosh!

“Kuh!?”

Alongside the sound of the wind being parted, a pained sound left the second Black Lion’s throat. He had already unsheathed his steel and swung at Felicia’s spot, but she had avoided the edge by a razor’s margin and struck his leg armor.

Shouts of disbelief broke out from the Black Lions, who had now suffered two consecutive embarrassments.

“What was that—! She actually countered that speed!?”

“This is impossible! Is that servant at the same tier as we are!?”

“She didn’t react to the speed. She moved because she foresaw the strike.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Lucian raised his voice to address the confused Black Lions.

“She didn’t actually see your sword move. She simply calculated when you would strike and at what velocity, then moved according to a pre-planned route.”

“…Is such a feat even achievable?”

“She is demonstrating it right now, isn’t she? Observe her closely.”

Lucian signaled toward Felicia with a tilt of his head. Only then did the others truly take note of her physical state.

Drops of perspiration ran down her forehead, and her shoulders were vibrating with involuntary shakes. Even though she had only performed two maneuvers, she was clearly pushing past her physical limits.

“You burned through your mana to force your anatomy to match that speed, didn’t you? Your fibers must feel as if they are snapping. Are you holding up?”

“….”

Felicia bit down on her lip, offering no response. At her quietness, which served as a confession, Philip yelled from his position behind her in a wavering tone.

“Fe—Felicia! Protect me even if it costs your life! That is your purpose! Do you understand me!?”

“Be quiet, you idiot. I am attempting to focus, so do not move.”

“Wh—What? How dare this peasant…!”

Disregarding Philip, Felicia reset her combat stance. She was unable to mask her minor tremors, but it appeared she retained enough vitality for one final exchange.

Just as a frustrated Black Lion was preparing to pull his steel, Lucian walked to the front.

“Withdraw. I shall handle this personally.”

“Third Young Master!? This is my duty to settle!”

“And what then, do you intend to slay her? Do you plan to execute her here simply because you wish to protect the reputation of the Black Lions?”

“I was under the impression you granted us the right to use our own judgment, sir.”

“I am rescinding that right. I apologize, but I cannot permit such a rare talent to be wasted just for the sake of your ego. I require her to be taken alive.”

“In that case, I will restrain her myself and present her to you.”

“I suspect I would merely receive an apology about your blade slipping, so I shall pass. Step back.”

The Black Lion clenched his teeth in irritation but eventually moved away. Having been given instructions by the Grand Duke, he was forced to follow Lucian’s lead.

Nonetheless, he made sure to offer a final caution.

“Exercise caution. Since you have insisted on subduing her alone, we will not intervene if you find yourself in danger.”

It was phrased with formal politeness, but it was a clear warning that any injury he sustained would be his own fault for interfering. Lucian gave a faint, knowing grin without replying and lifted one of the discarded swords from the ground.

—

He is vulnerable.

The second Felicia laid eyes on Lucian, she could gauge his general capability. His physical development was lacking, and there weren’t even signs of hard training on his hands. In terms of raw power and quickness, he was undoubtedly far beneath the two warriors she had just engaged.

Most importantly, based on the previous dialogue, this youth was obviously the person in charge.

If I can take him as a hostage, I can secure a path out of here.

She didn’t give a damn about the prestige of House Roglan or the survival of the fool standing behind her. But since such a violent clash had occurred on foreign soil, she needed a method of retreat. Unlike the arrogant aristocrats, Felicia’s existence could be snuffed out in an instant.

“Hooo.”

She pushed mana through her throbbing muscles once more. Luckily, she felt she could manage two or three more fluid movements. That ought to be sufficient to overpower this young noble.

“Are you prepared?”

“….”

Felicia narrowed her gaze at his question. She found the relaxed demeanor of this weak aristocrat irritating. Did he honestly believe he could triumph just because her physical condition had dipped slightly?

We shall see how long that confidence lasts.

Felicia lowered into her stance as the adversary drew near at a slow pace. Her strategy was to bait him into a range where he couldn’t retreat and then launch a decisive counter. Whether he grasped her plan or not, the boy struck out immediately.

Swish!

A basic diagonal cut? This is a joke.

She nearly sneered at the blatant attack. She felt ridiculous for having been even slightly concerned. It was the precise moment Felicia evaded the strike and prepared to swing her own blade—

Thud!

“…!”

With a bone-jarring shock that made her consciousness rattle, Felicia dropped to her knees. Just before her sight went dark, she witnessed the blade that had abruptly altered its course from a diagonal path to a vertical, downward slam.

The moment she observed the unnatural path of the steel, the truth hit her.

This… is my own move…

How is this possible?

Before she could form the complete question, Felicia lost her grip on consciousness and slumped over.

—

“Excellent. It is finished.”

“….”

The eyes of the Black Lions were trembling as they stared at Lucian.

He was definitely far from the standard definition of ‘powerful.’ His own muscles had locked up just from mimicking a Black Knight’s velocity a couple of times.

But regardless of his physical limits, it was evident he held a divine gift for combat. Even if the girl had been overconfident, taking out one Black Lion and landing a perfect strike on another was a feat beyond the reach of an ordinary person.

It was a calculation, but in an opening clash, she likely wouldn’t have been overwhelmed even in a direct struggle with a standard knight.

And the Third Young Master had defeated such a capable warrior in a single move?

It was staggering. This was the Third Young Master, who had only begun his sword training less than two months ago. They had dismissed the reports of him besting the Fourth Young Master since both were beginners, but this was a different league entirely.

He had instantly diagnosed an opponent’s unique style that even the Black Lions hadn’t decoded, and he had used it against her to end the duel instantly. He had even flawlessly replicated the girl’s own maneuver to knock her out without causing lethal harm, exactly as he had planned.

In terms of raw battle instinct, it was no stretch to say he outclassed the Black Lions.

…Perhaps the whispers of him being a predator hiding its strength were accurate.

While the gazes of the Black Lions wavered, Lucian stared down at the unconscious Felicia and whispered to himself.

She still hasn’t broken that tendency of always ducking whenever a taller rival swings diagonally. It made it far too easy to bring her down.