Chapter 333: Succession of the Academy Exchange (1)

The wind was blowing.

Whoooooosh.

A gust from the other side of the central island. The roar and shockwave from the clash between Chaerina and the Parsy cadet spread through the area.

“So she really is a descendant of the Heavenly Sword, huh?”

Though Victoria had devised the strategy, she couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh.

Chaerina had pulverized the second-year Parsy student. The Black Knight was Victoria’s half-sister.

Edward, a third-year student from Parsy, was her direct relative—born of the same womb.

Though not the highest in royal hierarchy, as the representative of Parsy’s second-years, it was undeniable she was an exceptional candidate.

‘They chose Chaerina as the Knight intending to wear the opponent down.’

Wear down? Chaerina had crushed the Black Knight.

On top of that, she was now going toe to toe with Parsy’s Pawn, known for brute strength.

Considering she had just come from a direct battle with a second-year Parsy student, it was obvious to anyone that Chaerina had decisively won.

Whooooosh!

The wind blew again. Victoria paid it no mind. It was proof the moment of resolution was drawing near.

Her lashes fluttered in the dust storm. Her scarlet hair—the symbol of imperial lineage—floated faintly in the air.

‘Through this inter-academy exchange, I…’

Victoria desired only one thing. Something she had longed for since that day, ten years ago.

Step. Step.

Heavy footsteps echoed. Accompanied by the clank of metal.

Victoria squinted. The glow of the setting sun made her pupils shine like twilight.

“The princess is still the same as ever.”

Edward spat blood mixed with saliva on the ground. A broken tooth bounced off the floor.

Victoria narrowed her eyes. Over Edward’s trembling shoulder, she saw Ji Changhyuk crawling across the ground.

Ji Changhyuk had fought well against Edward. But the difference in skill was clear.

Though not Parsy’s top cadet, Edward was one of the most promising heirs of the imperial lineage. That was enough.

“That disgusting habit of yours—manipulating without getting your hands dirty… That’s why His Majesty never acknowledges you.”

Edward spoke while rubbing his jaw.

Shiiing

Victoria raised her sword to her temple and replied coldly.

“…You also have poor taste. If you really wanted to end this, you should’ve finished the match when you eliminated our Queen.”

“The princess is still alive and well, isn’t she?”

Edward was the Queen. Since the White Queen, Ji Changhyuk, had fallen, the game’s outcome was already decided.

Moreover, their clash had taken place on the central island where the flag was located.

Even so, Edward had delayed his guaranteed victory. He had intentionally come to the floating island where Victoria was.

The clash between Chaerina and Parsy’s first-year student thundered in the distance. Edward noticed it and shook his head with resignation.

“No way. That can’t be.”

Edward slammed his gauntlets together at his chest.

“I’ll show the whole world. That the princess had no plan. That she just sent others ahead to avoid getting hurt. I’ll expose that pettiness to the world.”

“That will only work if you defeat me, brother.”

They were both of royal blood and the same age—nineteen.

However, Victoria always used honorifics with him. In royalty, position depended not just on age, but also on maternal lineage.

“Hahahahaha!”

Edward’s laughter stopped abruptly.

“Don’t worry about that, princess. I, Edward, will prove to this body that I’m worthy of representing House Victoria. I’ll gladly take that oversized throne.”

“…Brother Edward… You still don’t understand what I desire.”

“And what more could the princess want? Eliminate all enemies and siblings standing in your way, and ascend the throne without obstacle, isn’t that it?”

Victoria didn’t answer.

‘No.’

You’re wrong, brother.

Edward had been correct in saying she sought the throne. But that was only her short-term goal.

What she truly desired came after.

Victoria raised her sword close to her eye. In her peripheral vision, a black speck reflected on the blade caught her attention.

Down below, he was watching her.

‘To claim imperial power.’

And with it, to abolish the caste system in Europe. To set the world right under her banner.

‘I’ll bear what you cannot.’

Since the day he saved her. It was a vow that had never wavered, not even once.

The first heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Victoria.

She was participating in a battle outside the social system.

While most royalty entered Parsy, she had chosen Joaquin as part of her grand plan.

‘All of it is for you.’

Victoria’s eyes opened wide.

BOOM!

A thunderous roar.

Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, she launched forward, and Edward hurled himself to meet her.

There was no way to tell who moved first.

The two royals dashed with all their might, centered around the sunset that gently lit a part of the Alps.

***

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|♜(X)|

⬜ ⬜ ♟♝♚♞, ♟(X)|

“This… is turning out way bloodier than I expected.”

At some point, Speedweapon joined us and murmured while watching the battlefield from our vantage point.

And they were right.

All of us, myself included, were secretly expecting a victory for Joaquin.

When Chaerina started her solo display, we thought victory was assured.

But with Edward’s emergence, the situation shifted. Not completely overturned, but the balance—tipped in Joaquin’s favor—leveled out.

Moreover, despite clearly holding the advantage, he used Bifröst again to move toward Victoria’s base.

That decision, which at first seemed reckless, kept the tension high. His reputation would be sealed by the outcome of this duel.

If he won, he’d demonstrate the courage to risk being hated.

If he lost, his image would suffer a significant blow.

“It’s not just a simple inter­academy exchange; this is a global event. In the long run, showcasing this kind of showmanship will be more beneficial than a clean but boring win.”

Ryozo said.

“…I don’t want to admit it, but Chaerina’s background is too brutal. After this event, public opinion toward Joaquin will probably worsen.”

“So lacking in immunity.”

“Leon, you shouldn’t talk about lacking immunity—you’ve inherited that from your mother’s blood.”

Leon’s sense of guilt transferred to me.

‘This is unfair.’

Chaerina and I have no relation.

‘She’s impersonating my cousin!’

I had no choice but to swallow the bitterness inside.

Even if I were a stranger, it’d be hard to deny the bond between Chaerina and me.

Boom! Boom!

Gooooooo…

While lost in my thoughts, the duel between Chaerina and the Black Pawn ended.

Unsurprisingly, Chaerina was the victor. The first-year cadet from Parsy writhed in pain at her feet.

“Haah… Haah…”

Chaerina wasn’t in great shape either.

Understandable.

She had fought back-to-back duels against Parsy’s elite cadets.

Even more impressive was that Chaerina, who hadn’t received proper training at Joaquin, had performed so well.

‘It must be thanks to Leon’s excellent teaching.’

That overwhelming raw diamond named Chaerina had absorbed Leon’s training like it was her own from the very start.

On the holographic panel, Chaerina panted until she finally collapsed. Her legs no longer supporting her, she stretched one long leg and closed her visor.

“Haah… Haah…”

Her chest heaved.

Around her, chunks of bloody flesh rolled on the ground.

Yet, with her beauty so striking, the entire scene looked like a cruel, lethal painting.

Ryozo had warned her ferocity would create many anti-fans, but as a Miracle Blessing M user and a knight, I disagree.

Twisted tastes abound more than you’d think.

‘If being ruthless earned haters, I’d be buried in the abyss by now.’

I smiled bitterly and turned my head.

The bloody duel between the third-years was reaching its peak.

Both were of royal blood, thus their fighting styles shared roots.

One wielded a sword, the other gauntlets, and their training programs differed, but their rhythm of attack and retreat was identical.

Even the vibe of their Blessings didn’t vary much.

“Sibling hatred, perhaps?” I remarked. Abel answered.

“Victoria and Edward sparred from childhood. That’s royalty. A society of endless competition. Even though the princess is first in line, she can be dethroned anytime.”

“How curious. Among common nobility, the firstborn inherits, right?”

“Merit rules there. Royal succession remains steady. Without skill, nothing holds long-term.”

Indeed.

If the Nibelung family hadn’t produced talents like the Sword Master or the Holy Sword, they wouldn’t hold such sway. Power stems from strength.

Humans fancy themselves supreme rulers. They pretend logic and reason explain everything.

But that’s just an illusion.

‘Irrationality is part of being human.’

The more primitive, the more visceral—human excitement grows. Like this situation crafted by the cadets themselves.

Both Joaquin and Parsy bet.

Joaquin gambled their strongest piece on a mere pawn. Parsy fell for that trap.

Both sides abandoned safety to stake everything on uncertainty. That’s why everyone was watching so intently.

Claang!

Victoria’s strike clashed with Edward’s counter.

Whoosh!

I grasped my chest as the wind split over Victoria’s head dispersed.

A fierce fight at sunset, over thin ice that could break any moment.

Both royals cast aside their honor and pride. They were desperate to push each other into the abyss.

“Has your sword gone dull from disuse?!”

Edward shouted as he threw a punch.

“…No matter how hard you try, you’ll never gain Majesty’s favor. And even if you take the throne, no one will truly serve you.”

“I don’t care.”

Victoria turned her face. The glancing blow nicked her cheek, opening a bleeding line.

“Still, I will inherit the throne.”

Having narrowly dodged, Victoria turned and stabbed with her sword.

Its trajectory had changed—once elegant, now murderous. A precise thrust aimed at Edward’s vital points.

Thud!

The blade shuddered. Victoria’s feet lifted off the ground. Edward had landed a punch to her abdomen.

Victoria gritted her teeth. Blood pouring from her mouth, she held the sword in reverse, poised to stab his trapezius.

Crunch!

Edward’s raised knee drove into her belly again.

Her internal organs ruptured. Victoria’s sword barely grazed his shoulder, weak and shallow. In that instant, the duel was decided.

Clinging to her body, Edward whispered contemptuously into her ear.

“Your mistake was wielding a sword not suited to you, Victoria.”

“Ha, ha… cough! ha, ha ha…”

Victoria coughed blood repeatedly but still cracked a smile.

“…What’s so funny?”

“With this… cough this is enough for everyone to forget that our dear junior turned your little sister into a mound of flesh.”

“…What?”

Edward’s eyes widened.

“No way…?!”

“You were so drunk on victory that… cough you didn’t feel the discomfort, right…? Edward-oppa, doesn’t it seem odd? When we were kids, I always beat you. Why did I fall so easily today…?”

Victoria sneered, drops of blood dripping onto her gauntlet.

“It doesn’t matter if I lose one-on-one. What he wants is ‘Joaquin’s perfect victory.’”

A unilateral win wouldn’t satisfy the crowd. What’s important is the narrative.

Joaquin was supposed to win easily, but they fought longer than expected, and even nearly lost. Thanks to that, now nobody could predict the next two duels.

“…Or so everyone will think, right?”

“You… you damn…!”

Edward tried to retreat immediately.

“The perfect victory… also means Parsy’s perfect defeat…”

Victoria spoke with a bloody grin.

“Edward, it’s time to show the world how reckless you’ve been.”

Edward barely turned, and Victoria grabbed him by the neck and lifted his face.

“I, the Black Pawn, use one Bifröst charge to send the Black Queen back to the front.”

The turn was instant. Green light particles enveloped Ji Changhyuk’s fallen body.

“Noooo!”

Edward screamed in desperation. Too late. Ji Changhyuk staggered to his feet, bewildered.

He gazed at his palm, confused. Victoria shouted.

“Run!”

The spark returned to Ji Changhyuk’s eyes.

Before he could nod, he was already running.

“You son of a biiiiitch!”

Edward screamed obscenely, reaching out desperately. No time for dignity.

“Now!”

“It’s over!”

The blow struck.

Ji Changhyuk raised the flag high. “Joaquin” rippled in the wind.

[Flag War has ended.]

[Victoria of Joaquin Academy.]

[All participants survived.]