Chapter 112
“…Her Highness Isabella is coming?”
Xenon furrowed his brows and took off his glasses, placing them on the desk.
“That’s what I heard.”
“Is it because of your letter?”
This time, there was no answer.
It had already been discussed a little while ago.
Xenon didn’t seem to be asking for an answer anyway. He tapped the desk with his fingertips, lost in thought.
Tap-, tap-, tap-
The heavy sound echoed through the office.
Then, suddenly:
“Did you say you needed real combat experience?”
He asked Dante.
“Yes, sir.”
What Dante needed was the stabilization of his mana circuits, adjustment of martial arts skills, expansion of senses, and, finally, real combat experience.
The first three could be done alone.
Even stabilizing his mana circuits had been solved with the acquisition of the holy bloodline.
The only thing he needed help with was real combat experience.
That was why he had sent a letter to Isabella, requesting her assistance.
If anyone could provide combat-like training, it would be her—someone far superior to himself.
But Xenon seemed to have something else in mind.
“If it’s necessary, then so be it.”
He nodded, then pulled out a piece of paper and began writing something.
Dante narrowed his eyes.
He couldn’t fathom what Xenon was thinking.
Scratch, scratch, scratch-
After writing a few lines, Xenon took out the seal of Aquites and stamped it with a thunk!
“Take this.”
Dante reluctantly took it and read:
[Transfer Order]
“Father, this is…”
“You said you needed real combat, so I’ll send you somewhere that allows it.”
For a rare moment, a smile appeared on Xenon’s face.
“Go to the border of Acrasion. They won’t be unaware that Her Highness Isabella is coming, so there will likely be plenty of struggle.”
Xenon looked straight into Dante’s eyes.
“It will be of great help to you. Far beyond what mere sparring could provide.”
He meant it sincerely.
Xenon was effectively sending Dante into the battlefield in his place, even using the massive lure of a Sword Marquis.
“…Her Highness might not be pleased.”
Isabella had personally traveled all the way here because of his request.
If she were to hear that Dante had left for the north, it would be tantamount to ignoring her.
“Don’t worry.”
Xenon shrugged as if it were nothing.
“Her Highness will follow you there soon enough.”
Dante could only let out a dry laugh.
So now:
“You’re saying we’re sending the Duke to the northern battlefield?”
“Yes.”
Xenon’s answer came without a second’s hesitation.
“If she went to such lengths to come here, she clearly holds you in special regard. She won’t refuse.”
Dante frowned, unable to comprehend the reasoning. But Xenon ignored it with a calm expression.
“I will handle the persuasion and explanation. You just prepare to move north.”
The conversation ended there.
No matter what Dante said now, it would be useless. He could only waste time trying.
Dante shook his head and left Xenon’s office.
Tch.
He never expected things to turn out this way. It moved in a completely unexpected direction, leaving him slightly flustered.
‘How am I supposed to face Isabella?’
He couldn’t understand Xenon’s plan to exploit someone who had traveled such a long way out of goodwill.
But…
If he ignored those additional factors, this was an incredible opportunity for Dante.
Real combat experience.
Honestly, Dante had experienced countless battlefields.
Even if his previous life was full of swords and combat, there was only one reason he still sought more experience:
‘Because true growth happens in real combat.’
Dante still had a long way to go.
He couldn’t even reach Kaiser, who was old and weakened, let alone Xenon or Isabella.
To face the future enemies, including the Crimson Creed, he needed more power.
This was for real combat.
“The Kingdom of Caldrian…”
Their power was immense.
If Xenon and the Silver Cross Knights hadn’t blocked the border, the Empire might have lost vast territories.
If he could overcome such powerful enemies?
‘I can become stronger than now.’
A thrill of excitement filled his chest.
Although he felt guilty toward Isabella, it couldn’t be helped.
Dante’s greatest goal was to grow infinitely and eventually reach the peak of the sword.
He moved forward.
Though he would soon leave for the battlefield, his steps were light.
He felt his heartbeat thumping as he headed toward the training grounds.
‘Come to think of it…’
He had heard that Caldrian had a monster comparable to Xenon.
‘The northern fighting demon, they said?’
A savage title, but this was a monster that had struck the borders guarded by Xenon for over five years.
And it had never experienced a single defeat.
‘A being equal to my father.’
For Dante now, it was impossible.
But he wanted to face it once, for real.
Not in sparring or training, but in life-and-death combat.
To clash swords with full strength.
Even imagining it brought a smile to his face.
“Hm? Captain! Did you hear? His Highness the Duke is coming here…”
“I know.”
As soon as Dante entered the training grounds, he cut off Zionhack’s voice with a raised hand.
“Wow, the Duke actually came all this way. He really does value you, Captain.”
Isabella’s trust and affection for Dante were famous throughout the duchy.
Even receiving her teaching once would be a lifetime honor, yet Dante trained with her daily when there was no combat.
Rumor had it that even the Sword Marquis had accepted him as a student.
Of course, Isabella dismissed it as nonsense.
“Captain, this time don’t just teach him alone, why don’t you explain to us properly too?”
Trisiel interjected softly.
“Yes!”
“Repeated favoritism discourages the other knights!”
If they were ordinary knights in an ordinary order, it would be impossible.
But their captain was Dante.
If he just said a few words properly, it could be done.
And he had already done so a few times in the duchy.
“Hmm.”
Dante quietly observed Acrasion.
Even without being told, they all came out to train.
Since the day Dante became captain, basic training was carried out every day without fail.
Even when called the “Farm Guard,” they would warm up once a day in the training grounds.
Seeing how much stronger they had become, Dante commanded:
“Line up.”
It was a sudden order, but Acrasion lined up as if accustomed to it.
A flawless, perfect formation.
‘That one still has a long way to go.’
Dante’s gaze moved to Elliot.
The one who had been subjected to training under the guise of bullying was already exhausted, even though the sun was high.
Without his experience at Retergut, he would have already fainted.
Dante addressed the twelve knights, excluding Mileon.
“We will soon depart for the northern border.”
“Huh?”
Elliot was the only one surprised.
Everyone else showed no expression, merely waiting for Dante to continue.
“The objective is to neutralize the provocations of the Kingdom of Caldrian and crush them thoroughly so they will never again reveal ambitions against the Empire.”
Dante’s voice was calm.
But the fighting spirit within it was unmistakable.
The scent of the battlefield brushed past their noses, and the knights of Acrasion all steeled themselves.
No one questioned why.
Dante had made the decision and given the order.
All they had to do was trust and follow him.
And he would surely deliver the sweet fruit of victory.
To them, Dante was a figure worthy of such trust.
“It will not be an easy battle.”
Everyone agreed.
The power of the Kingdom of Caldrian was enough to threaten the Empire.
Fighting such foes would not be easy.
“If unlucky, we might even encounter the Northern Fighting Demon.”
Elliot’s expression hardened at the mention.
Just the title alone was terrifying.
But soon, seeing that no one else was shaken, he forced the fear away.
“Even so.”
Dante smiled as he looked at Elliot and Acrasion.
“We will win. As we always have.”
It was less a promise, more a declaration.
If another fifteen-year-old had said this, everyone would have ignored it, but the speaker was Dante.
He had declared like this before, and never once failed to uphold it.
So it would be the same this time.
Acrasion sent Dante their complete trust.
“Captain.”
Then Zionhack raised his hand.
“Speak.”
Zionhack was the vice-captain of Acrasion.
He had the authority to ask questions on behalf of the others.
“You said we’re going north. How long will it take from here?”
“Fifteen days.”
Zionhack nodded at Dante’s answer and asked again.
“Then when will we depart?”
He seemed to plan to finish training and preparation by the departure date.
Dante answered without hesitation.
“Tonight. We will move as soon as preparations are complete.”
In other words:
“Move immediately. The later you are, the greater the consequences.”
With a smile in his voice, Dante had Acrasion running like mad.
