Chapter 342: Tradition of the Inter-Academy Tournament (5)

The carriage we were riding in sped through the air at full speed. And this was already the fifth lap.

This race ended after ten laps around the colossal battlefield. We were exactly at the midpoint between the first and second halves.

“Ah, what a shame! Once again, Joaquin Academy fails to overtake Parsy Academy by the narrowest of margins!”

The announcer sighed with a voice that didn’t convey even a hint of regret. In fact, he sounded excited.

‘Joaquin has awakened in its own way.’

With Victoria’s strengthened mental fortitude, Sköll and Hati, who had been running like tortoises, transformed into hares. However, even now in the second half, a comeback still seemed distant. The flow of the race remained under Parsy’s control, with only a barely noticeable lead.

The announcer.

A man destined to keep the fire of interest burning in the hearts of the audience, the spectators, and the sponsors.

“Ah! That was the perfect chance! And they let it slip away again!”

“This will make the rest of the race even tougher!”

I know he’s just doing his job, but he’s getting on my nerves. Because of him, even the carriage’s speed seemed to be dropping. Victoria’s mental energy—so difficult to raise—was starting to wane.

It’s not like I can jump out mid-race to go after the announcer.

Maybe afterward, but not now. In the end, it’s my decision.

Victoria had already shown her full potential. She had placed a seemingly lost race back on the right track.

Now it was the teacher’s turn.

‘Only by containing my spirit can I make a comeback.’

If only I had the Raven’s blessing.

But that possibility had already been ruled out. No point regretting it now, idiot. Even if I had received it, there was always the risk of incompatibility.

If complementary blessings exist, then so do opposing ones. When blessings clash, the result… well, I don’t even want to imagine it. According to the wiki, it starts with soul destruction and ends with the body slowly disintegrating.

‘I must control my power in my own way.’

I wetted my lips. The harsh taste of sand filled my mouth as I focused.

I also recalled something Knox had once said.

— What does using the Raven’s blessing feel like? Hmm, well… first you mark a point in your mind. Fix it as a target and then imagine focusing all your energy into that point.

“Parsy has just completed their sixth lap! And right now, Joaquin crosses the line with a 2.14 second delay!”

— It’s important to detach your awareness from the present. Heavenly Sword, in your terms, it’s like turning off a local TV signal. You should only think of one thing. channeling your power.

“Parsy seems to have completely changed their strategy! At first, it looked like they wanted to devour Joaquin’s Sun and Moon, but faced with fierce pursuit, it seems they’ve shifted their focus to the finish line…”

— There’s a common misconception. That the more you concentrate your power, the weaker it becomes. That’s not true. The principle of power—of spirit—is just the opposite.

“…!”

— A water gun shoots better when the hole is smaller.

BOOOOM!

With a deafening roar, the carriage nearly flipped.

Victoria held the reins and managed to keep the balance, and Parsy barely managed to regain theirs as well.

“Incredible! It’s incredible, ladies and gentlemen!”

Joaquin’s carriage rammed into Parsy’s.

The wheels and metal panels of both scraped against each other, sending violent sparks flying through the air.

“Joaquin! The carriage carrying the Heavenly Sword and Princess Victoria is cornering Parsy!”

The distance between the two was nearly zero.

It would’ve been ideal to devour the Sun and Moon right then, capitalizing on the momentum.

‘A single mistake and we could lose all the ground we’ve gained.’

The difference between ambition and greed, Kang Geom-Ma.

That’s the essence of the “focus on a single point” that Knox mentioned.

“The real battle starts now, ladies and gentlemen!”

“And now, a word from our sponsor—Blackbull! An energy drink that helps maintain focus. Available in all convenience stores!”

***

“Tch, damn it!”

The curses struck the faces of Kang Geom-Ma and Victoria with force.

Edward was on the verge of an emotional outburst, but when his eyes met Kang Geom-Ma’s, he swallowed his words.

“Princess, you always rely solely on your halo. Always!”

It seemed he had decided that instead of resorting to crude insults, it was more effective to attack her mentally.

And unintentionally, it was indeed an effective strategy from Edward’s point of view.

Kang Geom-Ma and Victoria were mentally linked, trying desperately to close the gap.

Kang Geom-Ma and Parsy’s instructor remained silent by unspoken agreement.

Parsy’s instructor didn’t dare intervene in a real dispute between royals, while Kang Geom-Ma was simply curious about Victoria’s lineage.

The British Imperial royal family kept most of its internal affairs under wraps.

Even during the clash between the 6th Corps Commander Basmon and the Seven-Star Hero, or the Second Human-Demon War, they remained silent.

Still, no one but a few noble factions like Nibelung dared criticize them.

‘More than pressure, it’s likely because they’re deeply entangled with Victoria’s royal lineage interests.’

That secrecy began to unravel in this conversation.

Kang Geom-Ma restrained his aura and sharpened his hearing. Edward’s voice pierced like a thorn.

“How is it that yesterday and today, you always rely on others—on your family? Doesn’t that shame you, as a member of royalty?”

“……”

“His Majesty must be watching this competition too. Do you really think he’ll be pleased with what he sees? You clinging to the Heavenly Sword like a parasite!”

“…Shut your mouth…”

Victoria bit her lower lip hard.

“Did you think no one would know why you’ve fallen out of His Majesty’s favor despite being first in line? That fake virtue of yours!”

“I said… shut your mouth!”

“That abolition of privilege you preach… His Majesty knows your hypocrisy better than anyone.”

A deep crack formed on Victoria’s face. Edward, sensing he’d hit the mark, continued.

“Every word, every step within the royal family reaches His Majesty’s ears. Princess, even your beloved nanny wasn’t an exception! She was the one who confessed your most intimate thoughts!”

Everything gets relayed to the Emperor.

That’s the core reason no rumor escapes the royal family’s walls.

It’s a system where the Emperor monopolizes all matters of lineage, lasting over 400 years.

Victoria’s royal family was especially centralized.

The leader was called Emperor, and his children were simply princess or prince.

That was the structure.

They were subjects before being children—technically, his property.

Whoooosh.

Without realizing it, a gust of dusty wind swept across Victoria’s face. The gritty wind momentarily pulled her from reality.

‘Everything is a piece of the Emperor.’

The royal family is a colossal machine.

The Emperor is the pilot. The rest are just components executing orders.

One of the gifts passed down the royal line is the Blessing of the Owl. Its ability is absolute memory.

It’s the blessing that determines the heir—birth order comes second.

Princess Victoria inherited that blessing. That’s why, even the moment she first opened her eyes in the cradle remains etched in her memory.

A mobile made of springs, a metal crib that even blocked the top like a cage, and the Emperor’s sharp gaze watching her through the bars.

Chills. Just remembering made her chest tighten.

‘The Emperor is a machine.’

All the monarchs in her family’s history ended up the same way. Machines. The blood in their veins was nothing but oil to keep functioning.

Thanks to the “Blessing of the Owl,” which remembers and possesses everything, they eventually stopped being human—becoming biological artificial intelligences.

Only thinking and issuing orders for the royal family’s continuity.

‘I was destined for that too…’

Two people changed her fate of becoming a monstrous machine.

Her nanny—a fiery presence in the cold imperial palace.

‘And the other person is…’

She glanced sideways.

The one beside her now. It was to connect with him directly that she entered Joaquin Academy.

Ten years ago, on that day—

‘To us…’

The breath of Heavenly Sword before the war.

***

‘May the blessing of the gods be with us.’

At nine years old, Victoria felt her heart tremble for the first time. It was the first time she heard the word “us.”

Flash.

The dust that had blocked her vision cleared. Reality dragged her mind back.

“Seven and a half laps! Both chariots have collided and are still completing a lap and a half like that!”

“Not even in the last two tournaments was there such a fierce showdown!”

Edward’s face was filled with impatience.

‘So Victoria took emotional damage.’

Victoria had lost strength; the reins in her hand hung loose, like a sagging curve. If you’ve landed a solid hit, you need to follow up with another.

“Eight laps completed! Two to go!”

Just as Edward was about to continue speaking—

Voooom.

Kang Geom-Ma’s, the Heavenly Sword’s, gaze turned a vivid red and enveloped him.

Edward’s fingers tensed and he momentarily lost control of his speech.

‘Damn monster…!’

But the metallic scent that had been irritating his nose faded slightly. Kang Geom-Ma had lost focus and canceled his “single-point concentration.”

“Now—!”

Edward sharply leaned his torso to the left. The chariot, which had been charging straight ahead, swerved diagonally.

Crash!

He rammed Joaquin’s chariot into the outer wall of the combat field.

The path they left behind was scorched and blackened.

The audience stood as one and leaned forward.

“Princess, you’re not worthy of Victoria’s royal line! Here and now, you and the Heavenly Sword will lose to me!”

Clack!

A bolt popped off and the left wheel of Joaquin’s chariot came off its axle. Edward used the momentum to keep ramming their chariot.

“You’ll lose to me, and the Heavenly Sword will lose to Victoria’s royal family!”

The right wheel was also shattered, and Joaquin’s chariot, dragging through the dirt, finally collapsed.

Parsy’s chariot pulled away calmly, shaking its rear arrogantly.

“P-Parsy! Widens the gap and heads straight to victory!”

“A match that once seemed even has been decisively settled!”

“Behold the cunning of the third-year student from Parsy Academy!”

Woooooo!

The crowd erupted in boos and thumbs-down. But Edward, having stranded Joaquin’s chariot, didn’t even flinch. He kept driving with pride.

Meanwhile, a sudden silence hung over Joaquin’s stopped chariot. Sköll and Hati, exhausted, hung their tongues out.

Amid the looming defeat, Victoria calmly opened her mouth.

“Heavenly Sword… I’m sorry. I lost focus for a moment.”

“No. Actually, I zoned out for a second too. So this one’s on us.”

“…‘Us’?”

Why? Why did those two syllables resonate so strongly in her chest?

“Ninth lap! Parsy Academy’s chariot is just one lap away from finishing the tournament!”

“Ah! At this pace, they might devour Joaquin’s iron wheel and win outright!”

“If that happens, it’ll be the most humiliating defeat for Joaquin Academy!”

Victoria let out a faint laugh.

“We’re already on the eighth lap. That’s how long it took us to sync our strength.”

“Remember the beginning. Princess.”

“Victoria.”

Her firm gaze startled Kang Geom-Ma. At the correction, Victoria gave a small smile.

“Victoria… At first, we only growled at each other. Closing the gap this much in just fifteen minutes is already an accomplishment.”

“And that’s enough for the Heavenly Sword?”

“…”

“Is it okay to lose like this?”

“No. You don’t want to lose either, right?”

“No. I don’t. Arrogant as it may sound, I’ve almost never lost in my life.”

“Me neither.”

Both of them smiled broadly. Instantly, Kang Geom-Ma drew his sashimi knife and slashed the anchor connecting the chariot to the wolves.

Slash!

Victoria leapt nimbly from the chariot. She united the Sun and Moon—Sköll and Hati—and activated her blessing. Then she threw away everything except the long pole they used as the chariot’s yoke.

Sköll and Hati tilted their heads in confusion. Realizing their new role, they mounted the twin wolves.

“Bite this.”

Victoria shoved the pole into Hati’s mouth. He bit down, still puzzled, and Sköll also clamped onto it firmly.

The move was so unexpected that the commentator—and the entire audience—were in shock. The announcer screamed, representing everyone:

“What the hell is that!?”

“An improvised chariot.”

In sync, Kang Geom-Ma gently tapped Sköll’s side with his heel. The wolf shook off fatigue, regained his momentum, and locked eyes with Hati.

They both nodded. In their slitted eyes, a fighting spirit flared, and they lunged forward, unleashing their full power.

The new chariot shot forward like lightning. The heavy iron hoop that had once only been dragged now lifted slightly from the ground from the speed.

The wolves’ front and rear legs crossed beneath their bellies like shadows. Their breaths synced, and Kang Geom-Ma softly stroked Sköll’s nape and ducked low. Victoria did the same.

Auuuuuuh! Auuuuuuh!

Sköll and Hati howled loudly.

They moved so fast it was hard to believe they were living beings. Like cheetahs, they stretched their bodies like springs, pushing every fiber of muscle to its limit.

“It’s impossible… impossible!”

“Joaquin’s ‘chariot’ just completed a full lap in an instant!”

“Parsy’s chariot was half a turn from the finish line!”

“But now they’re being caught from behind!”

“An unpredictable match! A true classic to close the tournament!”

Edward and his instructor turned suddenly. Their lips were pale from shock.

“Damn it! What the hell is this!?”

Their wolves were still running, but they began to lose speed. Joaquin’s wolves had recovered a bit from the break, while Parsy’s had never stopped.

Their endurance had reached its limit.

And seeing the finish line near, their muscles began to relax with a sense of relief. The one fleeing always uses more energy than the one chasing.

“The distance between them is about one meter!”

“Only 10 meters left for Parsy to cross the finish line!”

The gap closed sharply. Sköll and Hati of Joaquin crunched down on the pole with a dry snap and opened their jaws wide.

Their sharp fangs bared just before reaching the enemy chariot’s wheel.

Boom!

The tip of Joaquin’s chariot and Parsy’s rear finally collided.

“T-The match is over! The winner is…!”

***

They had given it their all. Exhaustion loosened his abdomen, and a silly laugh escaped.

Sticky warmth trickled down his cheek. Sköll and Hati, snuggled against his sides, licked his face.

“It’s okay, boys. It wasn’t really your fault.”

“Kehgehgeh.”

“And if it was, it was forgivable.”

“…”

“You guys never let me joke around. It just burns inside.”

He brushed away their muzzles and turned his head. Victoria was staring at him without blinking.

“Good job. Really, we almost had it.”

“No.”

Victoria looked up at the audience. Their cheers weren’t for Parsy—they crashed like bricks onto their shoulders.

The victors, Parsy, left the stadium booed and dishonored.

“————!”

Thousands of voices chanted their names. Static electricity seemed to course through every corner of his body.

And if he felt like that, having been through it many times—how must Victoria feel? Better to leave that to the imagination.

Victoria turned her gaze from the crowd to him.

She dried her hand on the hem of her skirt and offered it for a shake.

“It was an honor to share this with you.”

“Win no matter what in the final match.”

He gripped her hand.

“Yes.”

Victoria smiled without any shadow.