The Game’s Difficulty Went Crazy
The day of the duel arrived.
Glen warmed up at the small training ground, then headed to the large training ground together with Tris.
There were more than thirty people at the large training ground.
From knights who served the Wordsworth family, to guard captains, to trainee knights.
“They really set the stage properly.”
As expected, all of them had been called by Edgar, not Glen.
It was clearly meant to humiliate him openly.
“That’s Young Master Glen? He looks like a different person.”
“I heard he received private lessons from Lady Tris for over a month.”
Some of the knights murmured among themselves.
Since Glen had barely met anyone for nearly a month, quite a few found his change strange.
But that was all.
“Even so, he’s still only 1-ring.”
“My goodness… In the Wordsworth family, being 1-ring at seventeen is practically a deformity, isn’t it?”
“Shh. Lower your voice. The 1-ring might hear you. Heh heh heh.”
The knights mocked him openly, as if making sure he could hear.
Even though Glen’s change was clearly positive.
“Really, other than Sister Tris, I’m not welcome anywhere.”
“Don’t mind them, Glen. They’re only saying that because they don’t know you yet.”
Even as she said that, Tris’s expression wasn’t very bright.
But the one being mocked remained calm.
Instead, Glen slowly looked over the people staring at him with ridicule.
He engraved their faces into his mind.
“We’ll meet again soon.”
Before long, they would become his next victims.
With that thought, Glen walked to the center of the training ground.
Edgar and Robert were already waiting.
“The promised three weeks are over, little brother. So? Did you prepare as much as you wanted?”
Edgar asked with a sneer.
Glen gave a faint smile.
But his eyes were serious.
“Thanks to your consideration, Brother.”
“Hm, good. You remember what you and I wagered on this duel, right?”
“Yes. If Brother wins, I promised to live my life exactly as you command from now on.”
“And if you win, I promised to give you ‘Enshir,’ which I received from Father.”
After reminding him of the bet, Edgar leisurely lifted the corner of his mouth.
“Well? Are you confident?”
“I’ll just do my best.”
“How amusing. I hope the past three weeks weren’t a waste of effort. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Edgar patted Robert’s shoulder a couple of times and stepped back.
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Glen.”
Tris encouraged him as she moved away.
Her eyes were still full of worry.
Only Glen and Robert remained at the center of the training ground.
Robert bared his teeth in a grin.
Because of his massive body, over two meters tall, Glen was completely swallowed by his shadow.
“I, Robert, am honored to duel with the Second Young Master.”
His expression already assumed victory.
He looked exactly like a bear that had already caught its prey.
Looking up at that arrogance, Glen smiled faintly to himself.
“Good attitude, Robert. Keep underestimating me. That’s exactly how you’re supposed to act in my scenario.”
“I look forward to it, Sir Robert.”
A servant brought two identical swords and handed them to Robert and Glen. Then Sir Gregory stood between them.
“The rules of the duel are simple. Subdue your opponent or render them unable to fight. Also, since real swords will be used instead of wooden ones, I ask both sides to be careful and avoid serious injuries.”
As he said that, Gregory blatantly looked at Robert.
It seemed he never even considered that Glen might injure Robert.
“A 1-ring dealing meaningful damage to a 4-ring is beyond common sense, so I guess that’s natural.”
Glen let out a breath through his nose and gripped his sword.
He turned his head toward the mansion.
“You’re watching, right?”
From the direction of the family head’s office, he felt a cold gaze.
Though not present here, the family head was surely watching this duel through that massive window.
Even though the result seemed obvious.
Was he watching because he wanted to see his delinquent son beaten?
Or was he checking whether Glen still had value as a chess piece?
Glen couldn’t know his intentions.
But one thing was certain.
“Whatever you’re expecting, you’ll see more than that from me. And you’ll be shaken by an unexpected result.”
A sharp light appeared in Glen’s eyes.
At the same time, Gregory declared the start.
Taah—!
Glen charged first.
His speed was faster than expected, making Robert’s eyebrow twitch.
Clang—!
The two swords collided with a sharp sound.
But unlike usual, Glen didn’t lock blades.
He immediately pulled his sword back.
Then he twisted his body and swung again.
Clang—!
Robert blocked again.
He looked intrigued.
“So he plans to fight with swordsmanship before using holy power. The madman actually thought this through.”
Glen charged again.
As if he wouldn’t allow even a second of breathing room, he kept pressing Robert relentlessly.
“But it’s nothing more than tricks.”
Robert knocked Glen’s sword aside.
Then he raised his shoulder and kicked off the ground.
He intended to ram Glen with his body.
But Glen had already twisted to the side and avoided it.
“How annoying!”
Robert swung his sword.
Glen bent his waist and avoided the slash.
He countered with a thrust.
Clang—!
Robert barely pulled his sword back in time to block. His thick lips twisted.
Glen’s swordsmanship was more troublesome than he expected.
“Seems like—”
Glen spoke quietly as he pressed in.
Their eyes met.
“You’re not very knowledgeable in swordsmanship, Sir Robert.”
“You little—!”
Robert’s brow furrowed sharply.
Clang! Clang—!
Watching the duel, Tris couldn’t hide her anxiety.
Every time Glen’s attack was blocked.
Every time Robert counterattacked.
Her heart pounded violently.
In contrast, even though Robert was being pushed back, Edgar looked relaxed.
Robert’s strength lay in large-scale battles—steadfastly holding a shield and enduring enemy attacks.
From the beginning, Edgar hadn’t expected much from Robert’s swordsmanship.
“Even so, pushing a 4-ring holy knight without using holy power…”
Edgar narrowed his eyes.
If the number of holy rings were equal, Robert might already have lost.
That thought crossed his mind.
“Just a hypothetical, though.”
Edgar snorted.
Glen was 1-ring. Robert was 4-ring.
