Kingdom's Bloodline, page 610
His face was full of innocence and confusion.
This time round, it was Mallos who frowned while he kept his gaze on Thales.
“So, it just manifested… without any symptoms?
“And you have no idea what it is?”
Thales nodded pitifully and wore an awkward as well as embarrassed smile. “I-I suppose you could say that.”
Mallos looked at him, and his expression became more solemn.
Both of them were silent for a while. The watchman seemed as if he needed some time to think.
“If I remember correctly, you only learned the Northland Military Sword Style to build your basics, yes?” Mallos spoke again, and he sounded cautious.
“Yes.” Thales showed an ugly smile. “Is that also in the brief report?”
Mallos moved his eyes away and did not answer him. Thales gazed at the person who was his master in name with sparkling eyes.
“What ability did you obtain?”
Thales repeated subconsciously, “What do you mean by ‘what ability’?”
Mallos narrowed his eyes.
He looked at Thales like he was looking at an amateur. He gritted his teeth and said, “I mean, when you Awakened to your Power of Eradication…
“Did you obtain… extraordinary observational skills, balance, and a sense of rhythm? I remember those being the characteristics for Pegasus’ Music…”
Thales shook his head.
‘No.’
“Then, is it the Thawing of Glaciers? Did you have a large increase in your stamina and control over your exertion of force? Or perhaps a control over your will and mind?”
Thales continued to shake his head.
“Then, stronger power, speed, and attack advantages? Glory of the Stars?”
Mallos did not quite believe that Thales would have that particular Power of Eradication.
Thales still shook his head with an innocent look.
Mallos’ expression turned even more solemn.
“Is it… an instantaneous explosion of force where you risk everything, and it happens within one single breath?”
‘Please don’t let it be this…’
Fortunately, Thales shook his head for the fourth time.
That also made Mallos frown even deeper.
‘Right, it was not this one or that one…’ While he evaluated the effects of his lie, Thales muttered secretly in his mind.
‘But I suppose one could consider it as the Sharingan in the form of a Power of Eradication?
‘Is that counted?’
Finally, Mallos sighed long and hard before he wrapped his arms around himself even tighter.
“Okay, let us just assume that you do not have the four abovementioned types.
“Did the Eckstedtians teach you any extra combat skills that affected the Awakening of your Power of Eradication?”
Thales pursed his lips.
‘Eckstedtians?’
“I… do not know. They just constantly…” Thales shrugged and smiled awkwardly. While he tried hard not to say the phrase “smack me”, he uttered several words that made the situation he faced sound more dignified. “…Made me go through training to fight against enemies?”
Mallos’ expression changed into an unpleasant one again.
He stared at Thales as if he was staring at a cunning fox that was very hard to catch.
In the end, the watchman raised his head.
“How very impressive indeed for you to have Awaken to your Power of Eradication at your age.”
Mallos spoke praising words, but he did not sound like he was praising Thales at all.
“However, the truth is, it is not a good thing to Awaken to your Power of Eradication too early. Shortcuts always make people lazy and careless…”
The watchman smiled faintly. “Especially… when you know nothing about it.”
When Thales saw Mallos’ usual elegant look and calm smile, he suddenly became very anxious.
The prince tried to calm down. “But at the very least, it saved me many times… particularly during the journey back to the country.
“That should… not be something bad.”
Once again, Mallos gave him a smile that caused feelings of unease.
“Rest for a while, Your Highness. Get yourself hydrated and soothe your muscles.
“The first phase of your training in this session has ended.”
Thales felt relaxed and sighed in secret.
However, Mallos turned around and called out to a guard who was with him, “Toledo! Except for those who cannot leave their posts, call everyone else here.”
Thales, who had just sat down to drink some water, heard it too.
The soldier named Toledo frowned gently. “Everyone?”
Mallos nodded and continued to smile indifferently. “Yes, everyone in the Royal Guards or Star Lake Guards. Let them come to the training field.
“His Grace may need help from all of them.”
Mallos slowly narrowed his eyes when he said that sentence.
Thales’ hand, which holding on to the bottle, instantly froze.
Toledo was obviously used to Mallos’ orders. He only hesitated for a moment before he turned around and passed the message.
“Same goes to the both of you, Glover and Doyle.” Mallos looked into the distance with sharp eyes. “Having a post does not mean that you can be lazy.”
Glover and Doyle stared at each other; they could only walk nearer. But, the first one to reply Mallos was the prince himself. “Help? Every one of the guards?”
Thales looked at Mallos doubtfully. Then, he took a look at the training field. “W-What do you want to do?”
Mallos turned his head around and wore a bizarre evil smile, which was in contrast to the indifferent and elegant smile he usually had. “Just as you wished, Your Highness, you will now progress to new territory in your course.
“Next, we will be sparring against real-life opponents.”
Mallos bared his teeth and grinned, but it just made Thales feel a chill in his heart.
‘Spar… Sparring…’
Thales was stunned for the fraction of a second before he reacted to the situation.
“Why?”
Thales pointed at the sword on the floor and showed that he could not quite understand what was going on. “Were we not just…”
However, this time round, Mallos interrupted him.
“You still cannot understand?”
Mallos’ smile fell away, and his gaze on Thales became sharp. It caused Thales to instantly become speechless.
“It is okay if you do not realize it, but since we have noticed it…” Mallos’ expression became very serious. “Then, from now onwards, our goal for today’s training will be to understand the truth of the power inside your body.”
Mallos’ expression swiftly became colder.
At that moment, Thales’ heart seemed to skip a beat when he faced the aggressive watchman.
He was stunned as he stared into Mallos’ profound eyes. He was surprised and did not understand what was going on.
‘What happened?’
On the other side of the field was Doyle and Glover, who walked over slowly. Doyle said to Glover in shock, “Wait, we’re sparring so soon?
“Isn’t it too early? The group of people in the guards…”
He had not finished speaking…
Because at the next moment, the sounds of footsteps could be heard from around the area.
One, two, three…
Under the setting sun, the Royal Guards who were in charge of protecting the duke came from every corner of Mindis Hall. Most of them arrived with sparkling eyes, which were reminiscent of the murderous look of a warrior. They cast puzzled looks at the two people at the center of the field.
Glover shook his head and did not answer D.D.
“Beware, Your Highness. The Royal Guards were all carefully selected.” Mallos watched his subordinates come over while he stood in the training field. “Among them are veterans who used to fight in the army, and some who were born in noble families. Some are also jinn who were born in families where knowledge is passed down from generation to generation.”
Mallos looked at Thales, and his eyes sparkled. “Do not underestimate them.”
Thales tried hard to control his expression as he sorted out his chaotic emotions.
‘What the hell does he want to do?’
The watchman smiled faintly.
“Just as I have previously said, if we accidentally hit you, please kindly bear with us.” Mallos sighed slowly and stared at Thales’ right arm, which had wrestled the sword from him in a contest of strength.
The moment Mallos looked at him, Thales could feel his Sin of Hell’s River moving restlessly just like a provoked beast.
The prince took a deep breath and tried to force down the abnormality in his body.
“Is there a need for this? I am very tired…”
“You do not understand the Power of Eradication in you, Your Highness.” Mallos looked away and returned his subordinates’ greeting calmly while he replied Thales in a casual manner, “And that is very dangerous. You are just like a knight who does not know the sword in his hands and the war house beneath him.”
Mallos slowly turned around. “Your Highness, you must understand yourself and know yourself well.”
His expression became serious, and his gaze was so sharp that it looked as if it was about to pierce through Thales’ armor. “It is only after you understand yourself well that it will be easy for us to customize… the training that you need.
“Trust me, Your Highness, this is for your own good.”
Mallos stared at Thales intently and calmly said, “I believe that His Majesty also cares about your body, yes?”
When he heard that address, Thales froze.
The Sin of Hell’s River stopped at that moment as well.
“Let us not worry him while he reads the brief report from Mindis Hall. Is it not good for us to understand your power here and report the good news to him?” Mallos was expressionless.
Thales was under Mallos’ scrutinizing and skeptical gaze. He found that he could not say anything even after a long time had passed.
The Royal Guards were already standing by the side indistinctly. They were silent, serious, tidy, and in a uniform line.
They only awaited their captain’s orders.
Thales lowered his head and took a deep breath.
He suddenly thought of an absurd possibility.
Thales silently speculated, ‘Perhaps the reason why Mallos has wanted me to attend the martial arts lessons from the start is not for me to receive training.’
“All right, Procca.” Mallos turned around and shouted at one of his subordinates in the line, “Warm up and pick a suitable practice sword.”
When the expressions of the Royal Guards changed, the watchman calmly walked out of the field with his back facing Thales.
“Kindly engage His Grace in a sparring match.”
Chapter 520: Not Just The Power of Eradication |
“I am your humble servant, Leo Procca, Your Highness.”
The Royal Guard who walked out from the group seemed to be in his forties. He had a beard on his chin, and it made him look rather hilarious. He bowed before Thales respectfully.
“I am just a humble and ordinary logistics officer in your team.
“It is an honor to serve you as your sparring partner.”
Thales did not respond immediately.
He remained doubtful as he fixed his eyes on Mallos, who was standing next to the field.
Procca did not mind as well. He picked a suitable training sword from the weapon rack seriously, tested it on his gloves, and poked the sand a little to confirm that the sword was blunt.
“As expected of a prince. He managed to have such a great lineup of guards just for the others to be certain of his Power of Eradication…”
Doyle looked at his fellow comrades among the Royal Guards, who were standing around the place. They either looked puzzled or solemn. Then, he cast a jealous gaze at the dazed prince in the middle of the field.
“When my Power of Eradication was awakened, the old knight I served had no knowledge about it whatsoever. He just kept working me to exhaustion that day, and I could only grunt while I lay on the ground, absolutely drained…
“Then, one year later, he realized that his own attendant’s martial arts had improved greatly, and that attendant was now capable of fighting him toe to toe…”
Glover, who was beside him, remained silent. He just paid attention to the field.
Doyle was used to the man’s indifference. He just sighed silently. “But fortunately, Mallos still knows that the prince is inexperienced. He only picked individuals from the Logistics Division to fight him. Procca’s skills are ordinary.”
Glover fixed his eyes on Procca, who just did some simple warmup exercises. He frowned slightly.
Thales took a deep breath. He turned to a relaxed-looking Mallos, while he tried to avoid the eyes of every Star Lake Guard present in the vicinity.
“What should we… What should I do?”
Mallos continued to smile, and said, “Go on the offense, Your Highness. Unleash your full strength, especially the Power of Eradication that you do not understand, no matter if it is triggered automatically or manually according to the circumstances.
“That way, we will have the opportunity to understand its type and the general idea around it.
“It will also show us your strength, which will make it easier for us to make arrangements for your guards in the future.”
‘Unleash my full strength?’
Thales exhaled. He was reluctant.
‘Can I refuse?’
However, all observing members of the Royal Guards had focused their attention on him.
Long ago, Black Sword told him that it would be best not to draw on the power of the Sin of Hell’s River. They could not endure the price of death every single time.
During his time back in Blade Fangs Camp, Ricky told him to increase the strength of his Sin of Hell’s River, and he looked forward to the heights that Thales could reach. He even asked him to push open the Door.
‘So, who’s right, and who’s wrong?’
What sort of secret was hidden behind the Sin of Hell’s River?
Most importantly, could the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department and even that person in Renaissance Palace be interested in this secret?
How great was their interest in this compared with their interest in mystic energy and calamities?
Thales could not help but gulp the moment he remembered the scenario of Zakriel hunting him down.
‘No.’ Thales made up his mind.
The Duke of Star Lake raised his head and looked straight at his opponent in front of him.
They cannot know.
“Your Highness, do not hold back.” Procca was already standing in the middle of the training field. He had the tip of his sword directed at the ground. He was as respectful as he was before. “There is no need to worry about me. This is my job to begin with.”
Thales nodded with no expression on his face.
‘They cannot know.’
Under everyone’s eyes, the prince picked a shield from the weapon rack and tied it tightly to his left arm with a leather strap.
‘They cannot.’
Thales slowly walked to the center of the field.
At the last moment, he cast a quick glance at Mallos, who remained calm and composed. He looked relaxed as he had his arms folded before his chest. His Power of Eradication, however, sparkled brilliantly.
“Please take the offensive position first.” Procca nodded slightly.
The young man’s expression turned serious.
The guards around the area also became solemn. Their eyes were all fixed on the prince alone.
This was something many people care more about than a bright and pleasant appearance, as well as great eloquence.
In the next second, Thales charged forward. He used the stance he was most familiar with and launched his first assault on Procca with his sword.
Procca neither panicked nor acted slowly. He only retreated. He redirected the tip of his sword and easily fended off Thales’ assault.
Nevertheless, the young man did not stop. He swung the shield on his left arm using the momentum he had gained.
The shield violently clashed into Procca!
“I can tell with just one glance that this is the style of a Northlander.” Doyle, who was observing the battle, snorted lightly. He felt a slight disdain.
“This is even more extreme than the attack and defense faction. He values his own life even less than they do—” Glover said against his expectations.
“No.” The sturdy vanguard observed Thales’ movement with his full attention. “This is the ancient Northland Military Sword Style.
“The current Eckstedt… no longer uses this style. It’s been that way since a long time ago.”
Doyle, who was interrupted, was instantly stunned.
He forced himself to smile awkwardly.
‘Tsk. You make yourself sound so logical.
‘Northland Military Sword Style…’
Doyle curled his lips in indignation and stared at the two people in the middle of the field.
‘Did you think that I wasn’t able to see it?’
At the center of the field, a dull thud was heard right after Thales’ shield crashed into Procca, but the young man’s face changed in an instant.
It was not a solid hit.
In the next second, Procca parried Thales’ shield with one hand. He spun and arrived on Thales’ opposite side.
*Bam!*
Thales’ left leg trembled!
The prince swung his sword to strike back. But by the time the sound of his sword cutting at the air rose, Procca had long retreated and dodged his attack.
The members of the Royal Guards discussed among themselves in whispers.
Thales gritted his teeth and turned around. He staggered a bit due to his left leg.
Even though the training swords in Mindis Hall were not sharpened, their balance, center of gravity, material, and weight were not inferior to real swords.
While it was just a scratch, the strike Procca inflicted on his left leg still caused some burning pain.
