The Holy Knight and the Hero

“—So you’re saying you’re not participating?”

After finishing her training in the fortress courtyard, Mishaena listened to Elias’s words with clear dissatisfaction.

“That’s the kingdom’s decision?”

“Yeah.”

“I was chosen because I fought these monsters before—but so did you, didn’t you?”

“Apparently, there’s already another Holy Knight joining the force. Having me there might have been an inconvenience for them.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to have more than one Holy Knight?”

“When you reach this rank, politics start getting involved… which is a huge pain, to be honest.”

Elias shrugged, then continued.

“Well, I’m out, but you’re still in. No reason for you to stick around here anymore.”

“Yeah, I’ll be leaving in a few days… but before that, there’s one thing I want to do.”

“And that is?”

“I want to spar with you.”

Elias met her gaze. It was clear that this was pure curiosity on her part.

“…What’s the point?”

“I want to see just how strong a Holy Knight from the Eastern Front really is.”

“You might be disappointed. But from the look in your eyes, I can tell you won’t back down until you get what you want.”

“So, when?”

“Up to you.”

“How about right now?”

“…If we do, we’ll need Noque’s permission first.”

Elias wasn’t against the idea. In fact, he was curious himself.

(She’s proven to be highly skilled… but just how much? Testing my strength against her would give me a better measure of my own progress.)

“I’ll talk to Noque and arrange it.”

“Alright.”

And so, after securing the fortress lord’s approval, the duel between Holy Knight Elias and Hero Mishaena was set.
The Spectacle

By early afternoon, word had spread through the fortress—a duel between a Holy Knight and a Hero.

The result? The courtyard was packed with spectators.

“This escalated fast,” Elias muttered.

“Of course it did,” Mishaena replied nonchalantly. “A Holy Knight vs. a Hero? That’s not something you get to see every day. It’s the best entertainment these people could ask for.”

“…So they’re treating this like some tournament match?” Elias sighed. “You seem awfully calm about all this. Done this before?”

“Oh, plenty,” she smirked. “Once you start making a name for yourself, people love to challenge you. Some are curious, some are jealous, and some just wanna test their strength.”

Judging by her expression, it was clear that she had crushed many such challengers.

At that moment, Fran stepped between them.

“I will act as the referee. If I determine it to be dangerous, I will stop the match. Elias, is that acceptable?”

“Yeah.”

“As for winning conditions—you both will determine that yourselves.”

“…So basically, it won’t end unless one of us concedes?”

“Exactly.”

Fran’s immediate response made Elias chuckle before he turned back to Mishaena.

(If I hold back, she’ll definitely get pissed and refuse to stop. Best not to half-ass this.)

Mishaena wasn’t just a Hero—she was a fighter. If he didn’t take this seriously, she’d know immediately.

(…Fran probably expects me to hold back and is warning me not to. Don’t worry, Fran—I wasn’t planning to.)

“I hope you’re ready,” Fran announced.

Both Elias and Mishaena drew their swords.

The courtyard fell into silence.

Their gazes locked.

Fran drew in a deep breath—

“—Begin!”

Mishaena moved first.

Like a raging storm, she closed the gap instantly and swung her blade at Elias’s neck—a lethal strike, even for a sparring match.

But Elias remained completely composed.

He read her movements perfectly, raising his sword to intercept.

A sharp clang echoed across the courtyard.

The impact sent vibrations through the air.

At that moment, Elias analyzed the weight behind her strike—her magic-infused strength, the momentum of her attack, and her overall technique.

(She’s powerful—no doubt about it. But—)

Mishaena narrowed her eyes.

Seeing that her initial strike had been effortlessly blocked, she immediately disengaged.

(She expected to at least shake me. But I barely even moved.)

That realization didn’t discourage her—if anything, her fighting spirit burned even hotter.

Her next move came even faster.

This time, she channeled more magic into her blade and launched a powerful thrust.

Elias responded in kind, bringing his sword to meet hers.

Another resounding clash.

Sparks flew.

The watching knights and soldiers erupted into cheers.

But there was no time to bask in the excitement—

Elias immediately pushed her back and countered.

Mishaena, in turn, read his attack and parried.

Their swords met again.

And again.

And again.

A furious exchange of blows erupted between them—so fast that the spectators could barely keep up.

Their footwork was precise. Their movements were flawless.

Every strike was met with equal force, neither yielding an inch.

At this pace, there was no clear attacker or defender—only a relentless, ever-shifting battle.

The audience could only watch in awe as the two warriors continued their blazing-fast duel.

They weren’t thinking anymore—just moving, reacting, instinctively countering each other.

And still—neither showed signs of backing down.