At the empty palace, Daniel Cairo impatiently waited for someone in a Royal Knight’s attire.
Creeaak.
The door opened and his gaze turned there. The knight went inside, after paying respects to the King, and spoke of what he saw.
“It was an overwhelming win. After taking down Bruno who came up first at once, he even knocked down Oscar in less than 30 minutes. Your Majesty, My King, Roman Dmitry defeated all the 9th to the 2nd rankers in just one day. There is no reason to stop him from challenging the top place.”
The knight spoke in a low voice.
He knew what the result that was just mentioned now meant. The people of Cairo would simply cheer for an event that would go down in history but Daniel Cairo couldn’t do that.
“… in the end, this happened.”
His voice trembled.
Right in front of him, he looked at the man who was looking at him.
The man had gray hair that was neatly brushed back and had a robust body even though he was in his 60s. The pattern of the Royal Knights was engraved on his chest. And the sun crest proved that he was the best swordsman among the Royal Knights.
“Count Nicholas.”
“Yes.”
“Is there any way to avoid this fight with Roman Dmitry? I do not doubt that you are the best sword in Cairo, but I can only think of one possibility. Lately, the nobles have been moving, and even Marquis Benedict is in a precarious position now. In this situation, if the first sword of Cairo falls… my position with no power will fall prey to the nobles.”
In the past few years, Count Nicholas has become a support system to protect the royal family. For the sole reason that he swore allegiance to the King, the nobles didn’t try to do anything. So that was why his presence was absolute.
Oscar had challenged for the top position, but after losing overwhelmingly without even lasting for a minute, he didn’t try again.
But what if…if he would be put down to his knees? Then it would mean the collapse of power.
And it was clear that if the absolute existence would collapse, everyone’s suppressed desires would burst out.
Count Nicholas said,
“I understand very well what Your Highness is worried about. That is why we cannot avoid this challenge. Marquis Benedict’s faction of nobles didn’t rebel because they lacked strength. They just hate to lose the power system they worked so hard to establish crumble, but they still have the strength to do anything they want. If I refuse Roman Dmitry’s challenge, I might be able to keep the title given to me, but if that happens, Marquis Benedict will not think of my existence as a threat.”
The four factions and the precarious system of power. Marquis Benedict didn’t unreasonably raise issues since he considered what would happen if he started a rebellion.
And in the end, Count Nicholas was all alone. There was a possibility that he could be defeated, but the balance was kept because, before falling, Count Nicholas would shed a lot of blood. So it was a truce.
But from the moment Roman defeated Oscar, Count Nicholas had no choice.
“An absolute who ignores the challenge of a challenger has no meaning. Trust me. I will defeat Roman Dmitry and once again prove why I am the top sword of Cairo.”
A strong challenger appeared, which made it even more meaningful.
Count Nicholas stood up from his spot and showed the appearance of a giant.
“Then I shall go.”
On his way to the palace, he heard a familiar voice.
“… are you really alright? Regardless of victory or defeat, the hyenas of Cairo will not stand still if you get injured.”
It was Ventnor. He was the person who sought out Roman Dmitry on behalf of the King in the past. He looked at Count Nicholas with worried eyes.
“It has already been more than sixty years since I began to follow the Cairo royal family. It doesn’t matter if I am fine or not. It has to be done, and I will do it.”
Count Nicholas said.
He looked through the window, and in the blinding sunlight came the memories of the past.
“Nicholas. Take care of my son for me, please.”
It was the former King.
Daniel Cairo’s father talked to Count Nicholas on his deathbed. He was a truly weak human being.
Count Nicholas lived for the Cairo royal family from the moment he was born and was loyal to the King.
The collapse of the power system in the kingdom was due to the former King. If he hadn’t neglected the fights happening within the kingdom, then the royal family would have been holding the power now.
But he still couldn’t blame the King. The weakness in the royal family symbolized his incompetence, but the King was a kind human being.
When the King saw how tired Nicholas was from his rigorous training each day, he gave him a cure. He even stole him away to goof around, and whenever he ate good food, he would invite his people to eat together with him. They were good times.
Soon, the ignorant child turned into a sword, representing the Cairo Kingdom, and the King, who was shining like the sun, collapsed at the viciousness of the position he held.
There was no way to protect him. Eliminating the threats was the best Count Nicholas could do, so he felt determined to become stronger.
Finally, the King died, and even though people called him the top sword of Cairo, he couldn’t stop the division.
Smirk.
Smile.
Facing the sunlight outside the window, the face of the previous King kept coming to his mind.
‘When I said I would follow King Daniel everyone called me a moron.’
The former King died, and Count Nicholas was subjected to so many temptations. If he had held onto one of them, he might be living a different life now, but not once did he regret it.
“Ventnor.”
“… yes.”
“What kind of man is Roman Dmitry?”
He changed the subject since this was no time to dwell on memories. Reality hit them, and it was now time to focus on what was right in front of them.
Ventnor thought for a moment. He only talked one time with the man, yet the memory was so vivid.
“Actually, I cannot say anything for sure about Roman Dmitry. But at the time when he was still underappreciated, he was confident about his path. He is a person born to be a natural predator, and if he didn’t have the confidence to win, he wouldn’t have started the ranking matches either. From the 99th to the 1st, everyone called him reckless, but it is clear that he will prove himself and eventually appear before Count Nicholas.”
That was what Count Nicholas also believed.
However, he wasn’t sure of winning this time.
“So be careful. If you fall, the royal family is done for.”
On the next day, the sun was bright. In Cairos, the capital of Cairo, a huge crowd gathered.
The people who filled the path parted like waves when one person walked through.
Step.
It was Roman Dmitry.
He took a step. And as he held his sword, he calmly accepted the gazes of the people. He arrived at a huge mansion, which was his destination.
And as he entered through the gate that was wide open, he could see the people surrounding him and the man waiting for him in the center. It was the existence called the First Sword of the Cairo Kingdom.
Count Nicholas looked at Roman Dmitry and said,
“Roman Dmitry, I have faced many challenges in the past, but none as arrogant and bold as you.”
He spoke with pure admiration. From the 99th rank to the 1st, Roman Dmitry rose from the bottom.
The people’s doubts turned into shock, and now they anticipated seeing something exciting.
“You are just in your mid-20s. You are undoubtedly born with the qualities to make a name for yourself beyond the Cairo Kingdom and even the continent. But not now. I, Richard Nicholas, will exist as the greatest sword of Cairo until the moment I rest.”
Shhh.
He drew his sword, turning the atmosphere heavy.
The two hadn’t done anything yet, but the people went silent at the suffocating feeling.
“Come. I will show you the wall of reality.”
At that moment….
Flutter.
Willas gave the signal.
And….
Rumble.
Roman Dmitry rushed at Count Nicholas.
Kwang!
Rumble!
The fight was intense right from the start.
Roman tried to attack right away, not wanting to waste time, and unlike his previous opponents, Count Nicholas countered Roman head-on.
Aura exploded.
It felt like the earth and sky were shaking with each clash, but neither of the two backed out.
Flash!
The move that took down Zeron.
As the space-slicing attack was about to slash his forearm, the Count lunged ahead as he swung his sword.
Kang!
And at the same time, he tried to counter.
Roman retrieved his sword and blocked the opponent’s attack, and this time, he made the attack he used to take down the third ranker. It was a chain attack that struck forward.
Count Nicholas’s face distorted as he wasn’t given time to gasp for breath, and the attack was being aimed at his head, arms, body, and legs.
The 3rd ranker wasn’t able to withstand this at all.
Although this attack was fast and scary, Count Nicholas’s sword was calm.
Kang!
Kakakakang!
The fight was in a huge open space, but it was difficult for the people watching them to follow them with their eyes, so they moved back a couple of steps at their clashes.
Four attacks.
Four defenses.
Count Nicholas’s presence was huge.
Meanwhile, Roman’s attacks were strong. No one was able to block his attacks properly, and they faced a one-sided defeat that put their reputation as rankers to shame. So the people were doubtful. But this clearly showed why Count Nicholas was the greatest sword, and he seemed so different from the others.
In particular, people began to question their memories as they watched Oscar, who ranked second in the rankings, helplessly collapse. But their memories weren’t wrong.
Count Nicholas’s skills were truly unparalleled. Unlike the other rankers in Cairo, who couldn’t even withstand five hits, he had already exchanged more than twenty with Roman. And it was then….
Tak.
There was a gap in the attack.
And Count Nicholas’s eyes changed.
A vortex of powerful aura rose, and his sword moved to slash down his opponent.
It was a threatening move, and this time, he planned to give a strong blow to Roman Dmitry.
But…..
Kwang!
Rumble!
Roman Dmitry easily blocked it. It wasn’t like he was expecting it, but it was more like he only reacted when he saw it.
Shhh!
The Count was pushed back, making him grin.
“You are an interesting man.”
From the start until the end, Roman Dmitry’s attitude and expression didn’t change, nor did he appear like a challenger.
As if he was the best in Cairo, he didn’t back down at all and pushed forward.
It was interesting. It surely was.
Roman Dmitry wasn’t afraid of him at all.
‘One mistake and I will lose.’
This was the reality.
Clench.
He straightened his sword, and mana began to seethe from him.
Cairo’s best sword—his own attack began.
