What I Decided to Protect
I’m sorry…”
I apologized because, considering that I was now her knight, I really had fought without reason.
Thinking about it more carefully, I still didn’t understand why I had been so impulsive.
“Don’t apologize. You must have had your reasons. Besides, you exposed that boy—Laplatan. I can’t believe that the one ranked last in aura among the first-years could be such a monster.”
Not even I knew that. Laplatan was truly a monster when it came to skill.
I hadn’t defeated him through technique or aura control.
I won through sheer quantity—and madness.
I did everything I possibly could.
Seeing my body reach the absolute limit of its current potential twice in the same fight left me excited to climb even higher.
At that point, I believed I could at least eliminate a low-level instructor.
“Hey, Assir. There’s something I want to ask you.”
Shaitan’s hands trembled slightly. Her delicate face carried deep anxiety and sadness.
I nodded, signaling for her to continue.
“Why did you choose to be my knight? You could have chosen my brother or my older sister. Even the sole candidate for sainthood would have gladly accepted you. So… why me?”
Her hands brushed against mine. I could feel their soft curves and the faint vibrations.
“I felt like I wanted to protect something,” I said. “Sometimes it’s hard to put into words, but once, I saw something disappear forever. I don’t want to experience that again. So I decided to protect what deserves to be protected.”
Her expression softened.
“So I’m someone who needs protection? You’re amusing, Assir. I remember how you ignored me at the balls. If you had shown interest back then, my father might have been happy to marry us.”
My cheeks grew hot.
“P-Please forget that. I never meant to ignore the kingdom’s princess. I was just careless with my actions.”
“Oh? So you were careless. My, Assir, that’s so cruel.”
“Please don’t tease me, Princess.”
“Alright, alright.”
The doctor entered, carrying a basin and a cloth.
“Third Princess,” she said, bowing.
She seemed unsure of what to do next.
“You may leave. I’ll take care of him myself.”
The doctor looked confused but nodded.
“There’s no need. I can do it myself,” I said.
“Stay still.”
I felt Shaitan’s emotions waver.
“Sorry… it’s just that you seem afraid of my touch. Why do you refuse my help when you’re my knight?”
“I… I don’t want to stain you.”
“That doesn’t matter. I don’t care about getting dirty. So let me clean your wounds.”
She dipped the cloth into the basin.
When the warm, damp fabric touched my skin, I felt a faint tingling sensation.
Shaitan pulled up my shirt. I tried to stop her, but her gaze made me retreat.
“You have very nice muscles.”
There was no way she didn’t notice how red my face had become. She was definitely teasing me.
The cloth passed over my abdomen, wiping away the blood.
When she cleaned my face, a small bloodstain that had begun to darken refused to come off. She wiped it a few more times until it finally dissolved—but instead of fading normally, it vanished as if it had never been there.
For a brief moment, Shaitan’s expression completely closed off.
“You… never mind.”
The strangeness didn’t last long. She took out a small ring.
“This is a communication artifact. It will allow us to talk even when we’re far apart.”
She took my hand, hesitating as if choosing a finger.
“It seems it only fits here.”
She placed the ring on my ring finger.
“Well, I should go now. I haven’t been having much success with my training. I hope you recover soon.”
“O-Okay!”
Only a random murmur came out of my mouth.
For a moment, I nearly died for real.
But it wasn’t time yet.
I still had to complete my revenge before thinking about anything else.
Even so, I couldn’t stop staring at the ring resting on my finger.
“It’s warm.”
!!!
The day of the exploration test had finally arrived.
During that time, I met the princess a few more times. I also encountered Anneliese twice, even though I avoided the places she frequented.
I also discovered something unexpected: it seemed Laplatan had been transferred to another academy. It was said that he had used illegal methods to reach his current strength.
Naturally, all of his items were supposed to be confiscated—but somehow, he fled the academy before that could happen.
They claimed the transfer was meant to avoid alarming the students, but many cadets knew the truth.
He was just talented. There was nothing illegal about it.
One thing I learned about the aura test was that it didn’t measure aura properly, which was why it was called a swordsmanship test.
Aura, like mana, is fluid—it moves and constantly reshapes itself. There are countless variations and differences between auras. Because of that, it was difficult to evaluate someone through a test that required escaping an area filled with thousands of traps and explosives.
The one thing that truly intrigued me was that Instructor Rèn claimed she had never taught him the hummingbird aura technique—yet he was able to use it.
One theory suggested he had stolen her art before entering the academy, but the evidence showed that was impossible.
That left only two possibilities:
Either he possessed aura control talent surpassing even the instructors, or he carried an artifact capable of simulating others’ auras.
It was talent.
I could feel it. Our talents clashing, each of us trying to decide who was superior.
If my power hadn’t reached the absolute limit of what I could use, I would have lost.
It was strange—and satisfying.
It meant I could go even higher.
If he achieved all that at this age, then my body’s limits hadn’t been reached yet. I would break through the barrier holding me back and go beyond those who came before.
In the end, I hope I can face him one last time—
cross blades and determine who truly deserves the title of the greatest talent in existence.
