Chapter 175

On the fifth floor, when Joshua walked out.

Suddenly, a human being slowly emerged from behind the curtain in front of Lilith, who had been hiding there the whole time.

Despite Joshua’s tenacity, a guy identified as ‘Won’ persisted to the end and successfully hid himself.

“Won, can I ask you one question?”

“Do tell me.”

“Am I lacking in appeal as a woman from Won’s viewpoint, who is a man?”

The man’s eyes flashed briefly in answer to Lilith’s query.

She’s one of the most talented woman there ever was, so she’s having a hard time believing what just happened.

However, she was unpleasant to others who saw her as a woman.

“No one has seen me in such a bad light before… I feel bad and anxious.”

“…”

“I just hope that he’s willing to accept other offers… that guy’s a weirdo.”

Lilith, who had been mumbling to herself, smiled broadly before raising a finger to softly touch the table.

“What is the situation on the Pontier family’s side?”

This time, Won, who had hitherto been mute, responded quickly.

“The family is still hanging… It’s funny how they can hold on that long… They were weak, weaker than most of the nobility right now… but the mysterious Knight was keeping their family at close call.”

“More than that, it is likely due to Icarus, who was nicknamed the Angel who fell from Heaven.”

As he continued to talk, a look of respect appeared on Lilith’s face.

“Eiden Gorge, which I believed to be the basin’s sole entry. It was Marquis Crombell who overcame this obstacle and created an infiltration path by freezing the Dennis River, against everyone’s disbelief.”

“…”

“However, the Pontiers were well-prepared around the Dennis River, as if they foresaw the future.”

In actuality, the technique that the Marquis Crombell used to freeze the Dennis River was one that no one had ever seen before.

They used a high caliber type of ice magic… class 7 to be precise.

A blizzard… They used a blizzard to freeze the whole river, using a magic scroll.

In order to engrave magic into a scroll, the wizard’s level is required to be at least one class higher than the magic being engraved.

This meant that even Ian Teon Murray, the world’s most powerful magician, was unable to get Blizzard etched on the scroll.

The world recognizes him as a Class 7 Magician.

It required rigorous training, education, and discipline for one to even dream of becoming a mage this high caliber.

At this moment, it meant that no wizard on the continent has the ability to make a class 7 magic scroll.

“It is astonishing that Marquis Crombell had the few surviving magical scrolls from ancient times, as well as his desire to utilize such a valuable item in a careless manner.”

Won’s remarks made Lilith shake her head.

“It’s not careless at all… You’re aware that if the Pontier falls, the Crombells will climb up to the ranks of Ducal… using the carcass of the fallen family at that.”

“Was it not just a matter of time until the Pontier family fell?”

Won inquired with a tilt of the head.

“Is this also true? Considering the present state of affairs, it would seem that our expectations have already been dashed—”

“…”

Won remained silent while hearing Lilith’s subsequent statements.

“It is a question of time to determine which—”

Lilith, who was beaming irrationally, took a quick look out the window.

The moonlight was streaming through the window just at that moment, and it felt fantastic.

“This time, Joshua Sanders, I anticipate a favourable response.”

With her eyes fixated on the moon in the night sky, where silence is rising, Lilith’s low voice resounds gently.

* * *

Knock, Knock, Knock.

In the room where Joshua was alone, there came a gentle tap at the door.

Joshua murmured that he already knew who they belonged to after hearing the other person’s footsteps.

“Come on in.”

“Excuse me.”

Soon after hearing a distinct voice, the door opened with a tiny noise.

“What is the matter?”

Now that her nickname Binghwa(Ice Flower) was greatly overshadowed, the girl named Iceline entered the room with her face looking down and oozing with emotions.

“Not much.”

Iceline twitched her fingers briefly in response to Joshua’s succinct statement.

“Everything was under control since our trip two days ago… Tomorrow is the Master Battle finals and I’m concerned about… I don’t know… I think I’m worried.”

“…”

Iceline, whose fingers were firmly clutched, continued speaking as she looked at Joshua, who had stayed quiet and closed her lips.

“Don’t attempt to carry everything on your own.”

“What?”

Joshua questioned incoherently after being stunned by Iselin’s unexpected statements.

“Because you’re a person, it’s normal for you to have troubles in your life, and you may also express these concerns with your friends, right?”

“…”

“I have excellent listening skills. In complete honesty.”

Joshua, who had been bewildered, exploded in laughter as he heard Iceline speaking in a sinister voice like a devil in disguise.

“Friend… right.”

“…”

Joshua, who was mumbling, turned his head slightly for a minute.

It was because he sensed something odd when he glanced at Iceline, who was gazing him down.

“Why are you still here?”

“That’s—”

Iseline’s cheeks immediately went bright crimson as she was unable to provide a suitable response.

“Ah… Mister Akshuler didn’t want to go.”

“…”

Joshua moaned as he glanced through the open door to see Akshuler while displaying signs of drunkenness.

“Why do you always bother everyone else when you have your own place to stay—”

“That’s not it!”

“…?”

“Heup!” he said, seeing Joshua’s bewildered look. Iceline murmured hastily while covering her lips.

“Since the championship is tomorrow, Thran is probably siding with the Prince. Since you’re alone, we thought that we should accompany you until the match is finished.”

Joshua, who was attentively listening in silence, had a strange facial expression.

“That’s your reason for staying? Me?”

“Hey… on the inside, you’re an old man… but on the outside, you’re just a 15 year old boy—”

“ZZZZZZ… kreukkkk.”

As though in response to Iceline’s comments, a roaring snore suddenly filled their ear canal.

‘He’s awake.’

Joshua murmured to himself and wore a sour grin.

At the very least, he was a master-level Akshuler who had already achieved what he wanted.

He could kick the alcohol out of his system anytime he wanted it.

After spending a minute staring at Iceline’s back, Joshua raises his voice as if urging them to listen.

“Isn’t it because there’s a gambling house next door?”

Twitch.

For a fraction of a second, Akshuler’s body shook violently.

In reaction to this comment, Joshua shook his head with a puzzled expression.

Iceline exclaimed in astonishment as she opened her rabbit eyes and recognized the energy she had also sensed.

“I mean… not me!”

“…?”

“I am staying here to give Joshua my wholehearted support… That is all.”

Iceline, who was flushed to the nape of her neck, recognized her error quickly, and her voice gradually became softer.

“…”

Joshua regarded Iceline for a time without speaking, and then he smiled gently.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Iceline’s head was lowered to the ground, and Joshua, unwilling to make eye contact, opened his lips discreetly while looking at Iceline with a focused gaze.

“As a friend, may I share with you a concern of mine?”

“…!”

Bright-faced and briefly raising her head, Iceline nodded with a smile.

“Of course!”

It was Iceline who exhibited a sudden change in emotion with every word Joshua said.

Although this may seem exaggerated, Iceline really wanted to aid Joshua.

Even simply listening to his concerns is sufficient.

‘Each time, I felt like I was getting aid in the name of a friend. This annoyed me.’

Layphon wasn’t much of a prize in comparison to what he had done for her.

Before slowly opening his lips, Joshua, who had been suffering for some time, contemplated the matter.

“Reasoning and practicality. Which one would you choose if you could take either?”

“Reasoning and… practicality?”

Joshua nodded while staring blankly at Iselin and her inquisitive face.

“Practicality is a tremendous aid in reaching my essential objectives. This is indisputable.”

“On the contrary, ignoring reasoning would result in substantial loss.”

“Yes.”

“Give me the specifics.”

“…”

Joshua, who first remained mute with his lips closed, finally responded in a hushed voice.

“It improves the chances that my people will escape harm.”

“No longer is there a basis for concern.”

Iceline continued to talk as if there was nothing else to hear.

“Of course, Joshua’s concerns are founded on a deep faith in them as ‘your people’, right?”

“That’s—”

It made sense.

‘If I had decided I couldn’t handle it, the Master Battle would have been abandoned and I would have hurried to them from the beginning.’

In reaction to Joshua’s reply, Iceline’s blue eyes glistened.

“Rebuilding a collapsed wall is sufficient, but no one should turn their back on it.”

“…!”

“I want you to decide for yourself. If it was the Joshua Sanders I knew, you would have made the exact same decisions.”

Iceline was the only one who was speaking.

Joshua was especially taken aback by her assertion that ‘people should never turn their back away’.

After momentarily contemplating his answer, Joshua started with a smirk,

“Well, I recall hearing a similar statement elsewhere—”

“It is a mistake.”

Iceline turned around lightly after finishing her speech.

“You cling too tightly to a person who is poised to do something significant. I’ll go now.”

As Iceline prepared to walk ahead, she heard a faint voice in her ear.

“Thank you.”

Stop.

As she stopped walking, Iselin’s lips trembled slightly.

“Don’t mention it.”

– – –

Crack. Pop. Pop.

If up until now, magical firecrackers had decorated the sky, then today’s event was a magical scene.

The booming voice of the moderator fills the circular structure at the same time as the thunderous roar of the lion.

“Now! There will only be one man standing by the end of the Master battle. Are you ready to meet the next king of Reinhardt?!”

“WAAAAAAAAAA!”

When the audience screamed in response to the moderator’s voice, it was also louder than before.

And…

Step.

After taking the first step in the grand hall, Joshua eventually turns to face the other side while being seen by individuals from several nations.

Unexpectedly, a gorgeous guy who seemed to be a flame personification halted and was glancing in this way.

“My first intention was not to win the title.”

“Are you now seeking to win?”

As if he were conversing with an old friend, Ulabis inquired with a casual demeanor.

“Because I have a motive to succeed.”

“I wonder what the possible cause may be. Why would you ever consider such a thing?”

“Now, I suppose I should be more worried about the other side?”

Startle.

Joshua was surrounded by a storm-like momentum the instant Ulabis opened his eyes a bit wider.

Kwakwakwkakwakwakwa.

“I shall do my best from the start.”

Joshua’s mumbling voice reverberated softly as he turned to face the two eyes that resembled fire.