SLO Chapter 17

[The Knight and the Maiden]

(Ducal House of Marshall Side)

There were two ducal houses in the Kingdom of Alecidus.

One of them was the house of Duke Deskustos, the Prime Minister.

Now, what of the other ducal house?

It was the Ducal House of Marshall, a distinguished military house that had produced many exemplary commanders for the kingdom for generations.

The present head of the house himself served as both the Minister of Military Affairs and the commander of the First Knight Order. The house essentially held control over the kingdom’s whole military affairs.

Many knights hailed from its duchy as well.

That was because the house would knight anyone, as long as they had enough strength.

Indeed, the Marshall House had built up meritocracy within its duchy.

It only became more evident when Duke Marshall appointed an honorary knight from common birth as his right-hand man, which brought joy to the duchy’s populace.

The name of said knight was Dunkirk.

His protecting the Marshall duchy from countless monster attacks had earned him personal recruitment from the Duke.

And the two had since been best of friends.

However, on a certain day when the Duke and Guts, his son and successor, were on their way to the royal capital, a large-scale monster march occurred.

The monsters reduced every single village and city in their path to ruins.

While the Marshall Duchy was home to many knights with excellent battle prowess, they failed to display their capability to the fullest due to the absence of both of their commanders, the Duke and his son.

It resulted in the loss of an uncountable number of lives.

Even the family of Duke Marshall wasn’t spared from the crisis, as the monsters soon reached the duchy capital.

It was Dunkirk, the commoner-turned-honorary knight, that saved them from the crisis.

Consuming his strength, magic, and even life, he repelled the monsters, saving the people.

After the two-day monster march ended, the Duke finally arrived back at the duchy capital, holding only the faintest hope for the survival of his family.

However, to his pleasant surprise, his mansion still stood and only about 30% of the city had been destroyed, which was very minimal, considering the scale monster march.

“What’s going on? Dunkirk? Where is Dunkirk?”

Duke Marshall yelled, searching for his best friend whom he had entrusted with the protection of the city, but he was nowhere to answer him.

What he received was but the news of his heroic end.

The city, the people, and… the family of the Duke only survived thanks to him. Without him, the monsters would have still run rampant in the Marshall duchy.

“Kh!”

The passing of his best friend was a great blow to Duke Marshall.

“Your son… I will raise him like my own. I will raise him to be a strong and splendid man.”

That day, Duke Marshall vowed to one day marry the only son his best friend left behind to his daughter.

Determined to take in his best friend’s son to his family, he spared no effort in helping him and his mother.

Thus… his daughter and his best friend’s son grew up as childhood friends.

“Dan. Today is the day we settle everything!”

The Duke’s daughter, who grew up to be quite a tomboy, pointed her sword at the boy in front of her.

“Yes, yes. But you know I will win this, my lady.”

The boy rested his sword on his shoulder with an unmotivated look on his face. Contrary to his demeanor, however, his eyes glowed with the pride of a brave and courageous warrior.

“Today is our 1000th duel. My record is 443 wins, 443 losses, and 113 draws, do I get that correct?”

“Yes, my lady. But you only won because I let you.”

“As my body grew, I certainly fell short of you with the sword.

“But I’ve worked hard training with my attribute magic, I don’t think I’ll lose to you.”

“I can use attribute magic as well, remember? Though I’m not very good at it. Still, you’re not going to beat me.”

Both of them took a stance and activated attributeless magic: body strengthening and weapon strengthening.

Strengthening magic was the forte of the Marshall House.

As such, their knights could smoothly and quickly spread their mana throughout their bodies.

The two’s application of magic was still rough around the edges, but the speed at which they did so only went to show their talent.

“Haa!”

“Here I go!”

The two kicked off the ground almost at the same time, but the Duke’s daughter was slightly faster.

“Got you!”

“Don’t underestimate me!”

The moment their swords about to clash, the boy’s sword accelerated.

It was the effect of his attribute magic [Boost].

However, the Duke’s daughter also activated her attribute magic at the same time.

“You don’t underestimate me!”

[Shield], a transparent magic shield appeared in front of her and repelled his sword.

With nothing in its way, the Duke’s daughter’s sword touched the staggered Dan’s neck.

“Looks like you still have to train more.”

“Kh!”

“I won.”

The Duke’s daughter smiled widely and the boy looked at the ground, frustrated.

They had a master-servant relationship, the boy had been educated as a servant and a personal knight.

His defeat wasn’t unjustified, however, as the Duke’s daughter had also been rigorously trained as a member of the Marshall House.

“This isn’t over, let’s have another duel at school.”

“Tee hee, what a sore loser. But fine by me, I’ll accept your challenge anytime.”

Seeing the boy refusing to accept his loss, the Duke’s daughter looked genuinely happy.

The Duke’s daughter had a favorable impression of Dan, her rival, her friend, and her personal knight.

His eyes were earnest and overflowing with justice.

He had the heart of a knight who wielded his sword for the weak, true to the Marshall House’s ideology.

“Lyncean. You are going to the academy tomorrow. Keep it in moderation.”

Lyncean Sword Marshall got down on her knee at the voice of Duke Marshall.

“Father, have you been watching?”

“Well, not much, I’ve just got here because I heard you two were having a duel.”

With a wry smile on his face, the Duke Marshall looked at his daughter who lived by the sword with doting eyes.

“We’ve embarrassed ourselves.”

“Not at all. You two have gotten better at body strengthening. And Dan.”

“Sir!”

“You still have much room for growth. I’m counting on you to protect my daughter at the academy.”

“Yessir!”

Satisfied with Dan’s reply, the son left behind by his best friend, Duke Marshall left.

Afterward, Dan and Lyncean also went back to their respective rooms to prepare for school the next day.

Thus, the main story was finally going to begin.

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