A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles

Before Lucian’s eyes, another challenger fell to the ground.

He no longer knew what number it was, but once again, it was difficult to call it a proper fight. matrix Even so, the knight’s eyes were filled with joy.

Clang!

“Khg!”

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“Th-this is too great an honor!”

Felicia also praised him with a slight smile.

After all, he had been the only one to exchange sword strikes with Felicia as many as seven times.

“Your technique is excellent. arrow If you continue to polish your sword style as you are now, perhaps someday you’ll be able to face me as an equal.”

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At a glance, he appeared at least fifteen years older than her, but their exchange resembled that of a master and her disciple.

The knight, with tears even welling in his eyes at Felicia’s praise, hurriedly descended from the stage.

“For today, step down. accent I look forward to the day we cross swords again.”

“Yes!”

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“Next.”

Even so, no one found the scene strange.

For someone who stood at the pinnacle of all swordsmen, age held no significance.

Rather, the gazes directed toward him were filled with envy and jealousy just for having been praised.

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“…”

“Do you not intend to challenge me?”

Despite Felicia’s announcement, no knight was willing to step onto the stage.

Looking at those who had yet to go up, Felicia spoke again.

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“Then it seems you don’t even have the level to gain anything from a defeat.”

When one reaches a certain level, even a defeat can help one recognize one’s shortcomings and correct them.

“…We’ve learned that to challenge knowing it’s pointless is not bravery, but recklessness. acoustic We withdraw.”

The knight who had spoken of recklessness turned bright red.

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Because, in truth, they lacked the capacity to learn anything from a defeat.

However, the fact that they chose to retreat without even trying meant they didn’t possess even that kind of ability.

From the beginning, the reason they withdrew was that they thought whether they fought or not, they would gain nothing and only lose prestige.

Those who withdrew wanted to argue back, but no matter how hard they thought, they couldn’t find the words.

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‘Besides, some of the ones who went before were worse than us…’

‘All you see is a flash and it’s over—what am I supposed to learn from that?’

As if she had read those complaints, Felicia’s cold voice rang out.

‘Damn it, I should at least know how I lose to learn something, right?’

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“How pathetic. athlete You care more about preserving prestige than measuring yourselves against a strong opponent from whom you might learn something? alien And you still dare to call yourselves knights?”

“If all you want is to sit in a comfy chair and do politics, then take off the sword at your hip right now. album A knight is someone who advances to the front lines and wields their sword, not someone who crawls on the ground picking up scraps of prestige left behind.”

“…!”

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And that decision hadn’t been based on the code of chivalry, but on political calculation.

Those who had withdrawn trembled in shame, but in the end, they could not refute her and lowered their heads.

After all, it was they who, despite having the opportunity to face a Swordmaster, fled for fear of embarrassment.

When the silence dragged on, Felicia turned without a word and left the stage.

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As the match ended so abruptly, the family heads watching felt bewildered.

“Huh?”

“Is it really okay to end it like this, even if no one else challenges her?”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

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“Felicia stood here to accept challenges. acoustic If no one else wants to challenge her, she simply leaves. antenna I don’t see a problem.”

Lucian shrugged as he replied to the blinking family heads.

“B-but still, at least a closing speech…”

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If it were just the winner of a fencing tournament, it would be courteous to say a few words to the cheering audience.

As soon as the word Swordmaster was spoken, the family heads fell silent at once.

“Are you going to ask that of a Swordmaster?”

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Before speaking of manners, it was already something to be grateful for that she had taken the time to accommodate the challengers.

They are the strongest swordsman, someone who has nothing left to climb, participating in an event that offers them no benefit.

But when the person is a Swordmaster, the story changes.

Content of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 174 published by TrungTu Reads.

If someone like that wasn’t a Swordmaster, then who would be?

How could there be? beacon She had faced numerous knights and defeated them easily, without even breaking a sweat.

“…”

“By the way, just in case, is there anyone here who still thinks Felicia is unworthy of being a Swordmaster?”

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Seeing that no family head raised objections, Lucian stood from his seat.

To deny it now would be not only shameless but downright stupid.

“Then let us consider the match concluded. amateur In two days, Felicia will offer the fairy metal sword at Sir Eisen’s tomb. atom I’d appreciate it if you all attend.”

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They had once again realized that the title of Swordmaster, which they had dreamed of even for a moment, was in an absurdly distant place.

At Lucian’s declaration, the family heads bowed their heads, swallowing their frustration.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Content of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 174 published by TrungTu Reads.

From afar, someone approached with quick, heavy steps.

Lucian left the rest to his vassals and made his way to his office.

***

Content of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 174 published by TrungTu Reads.

‘Denis.’

He was the head of the spies the former emperor had planted among the servants.

Lucian recognized the person and gave a faint smile.

Content of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 174 published by TrungTu Reads.

And also the one who had secretly informed him of the First Prince’s presence in the prison and had been tending to him.

The man who, even after revealing his identity, had exposed the Second Prince’s schemes and tried to dissuade Lucian from traveling to the capital.

“Duke! abstract What is the meaning of this?!”

Denis wasted no time with greetings. harbor As soon as he saw Lucian, he approached and shouted.

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At Denis’s angry words, Lucian shrugged as if he truly didn’t understand. echo That attitude only made Denis raise his voice even more.

“What’s the meaning of what? ability What are you suddenly talking about?”

Denis spoke without hiding his anger, yet still referred to the First Prince as “that person.” admire One couldn’t tell why he avoided using the name, but he was at least trying to align with Lucian’s intentions.

“Why is that person being treated like this? crystal If you are truly loyal to the Empire, you should immediately treat him according to his rightful status!”

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“Hard to consider loyal, I know. legend But I had my reasons.”

“Don’t change the subject! riddle What you’ve done, Duke, is—”

“Good. autumn It seems I can still talk to you.”

Noticing that bit of political calculation, Lucian sighed in relief.

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Even Denis wouldn’t dare say such a thing in front of other lords.

It was the kind of outburst that would make even a true loyalist turn away.

“What reason could be above loyalty to the Imperial Family?”

But Lucian was someone who had received too much from the former emperor.

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“Go ahead, if you want. echo But before you do, spend exactly three days tending to him closely.”

He had a duty to show loyalty to the Imperial Family—even if that meant dealing with a spy like Denis.

“If you can’t give a proper explanation, I’ll have no choice but to reveal that person’s presence to the others.”

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Denis looked at Lucian with a puzzled expression, but Lucian’s response didn’t change.

“…What does that mean?”

“No matter what I say, you wouldn’t understand. palette Experience it for yourself. arcade After three days, you’ll know.”

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In the end, Denis had no choice but to sigh and nod.

He simply repeated that if Denis stayed by the First Prince’s side, he’d come to understand.

“Fine. amateur I’ll do as you say—but I hope my actions aren’t in vain.”

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After confirming that Denis was headed to the underground prison, Lucian gave an order to a servant near his office.

To be honest, Lucian even doubted it would take three days.

With the First Prince’s personality, he’d likely say everything without considering his audience.

“Don’t worry. accent I’m not saying this just to buy time.”

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The conditions were already set. acquire It was time to gather testimonies.

Not to show them to someone—but to prove that Lucian had listened.

“Call the knights from the Black Lions who were recently appointed.”

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The reason Lucian had specifically mentioned three days was simple.

***

He thought that, after everything he had been through, even the First Prince would be on guard.

Even if he placed someone as loyal as Denis by his side, he believed the prince would at least weigh his words for a day.

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“So the First Prince ordered Denis to kill me?”

Before even a full day had passed, something unbelievable came out of the First Prince’s mouth.

But that assumption crumbled very quickly.

Content of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 174 published by TrungTu Reads.

“I didn’t hear it all clearly because I was far away and there was an echo, but I clearly heard him order that your head be cut off and hung on the wall.”

“Yes.”

Vincent, a former Black Lion who had recently joined Lucian’s ranks, bowed his head.

Even as he gave his report, he couldn’t hide his expression of disbelief.

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“If only that were the case. alien The problem is that the plan was actually quite concrete.”

“Couldn’t it have just been said in a fit of rage? timber He’s always had a habit of losing his temper and saying whatever comes to mind.”

The First Prince’s plan was as follows first, he would send handwritten letters to the northern lords to widely publicize his situation.

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Once the lords demanded explanations, even someone like Lucian would have no choice but to bring him out into the open.

He even said that, even if they tried to pressure him beforehand not to say too much, he planned to ignore it all. altitude That he wasn’t afraid at all of the threats from a traitor.

The moment he appeared in public, the prince would label him a traitor and immediately order his execution with the support of the other lords.

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A sneer slipped from Lucian’s lips.

“I see. galaxy Seems like His Highness has been turning this over in his mind for some time.”

“…More than being childish, that’s not something you say in the heat of the moment.”

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‘Ridiculous. echo No matter the justification, there’s no way they could kill me in the heart of Asagrim.’

Execute him on the spot after publicly declaring him a traitor?

From the start, the premise was flawed, but the most absurd part was that point.

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‘No way. adjust They’d be massacred on the spot.’

Let’s suppose everything went according to plan and all the northern lords came to Asagrim to pressure Lucian.

Would they really, right then and there, side with the First Prince after he declared Lucian a traitor?

To enter Lucian’s territory, the heads of houses would have to come with only a minimal number of escorts.

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At that moment, who would follow an immediate execution order?

And even if someone did obey, they would just return to their territory later to raise an army.

Of course, after giving the execution order, the First Prince would fall back into Lucian’s hands.

Meaning that when the First Prince appeared in public, everyone would basically be putting their lives in Lucian’s hands.

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“Tried to?”

“He tried to dissuade him a couple of times, but in the end, he gave up. zenith Then he tried to come here directly.”

“And what did Denis say to that order from the First Prince?”

There was no need to explain what kind of treatment he’d receive in Asagrim after that.

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Lucian smiled with satisfaction at Vincent’s resourcefulness.

“Well done.”

“He presented himself deliberately and told him he’d come to report first, asking him to wait. admire He’s outside right now, waiting to see you.”

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There was no trace of his earlier anger; his face was completely pale.

After dismissing Vincent, Lucian had Denis brought in, who had been waiting.

As expected of someone with experience as a Black Lion—he handled things quickly.

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“Duke! adapt Please, calm your fury and remember the grace you received from the former emperor!”

Before Lucian could say anything, Denis suddenly dropped to his knees and shouted.