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I lightly brushed my lips with my thumb.

‘……But I could also use them to achieve my personal goals.’

There were three big reasons I decided to head for Black Swan. First and foremost, it’s because of ‘Verdant Vale’.

The current leader of those bandits was Trevor. I needed to hear the untold secrets of buried history from him.

Second, it was to gain a ‘justification.’

This canyon was unique in that the border between the Hart Kingdom and the Meeke Principality was divided by Black Swan’s entrance.

My territory lay beyond that. To be precise, it was the land bestowed upon Andrew von Meeke, the seventh prince.

‘It’s my land and a gift from the queen, so I should at least check on it.’

There might not be any residents, but I needed to plant my flag on the land, at the very least. Doing so would make it harder for the Meeke Principality to raise any objections in the future.

It would clearly be an issue if the lord, on the king’s command, didn’t even show up to his assigned territory. But once the lord arrived and completed the official inauguration, no one would complain about him stepping out for a while.

‘Lastly……’

Third, I needed to gather allies.

In truth, this wasn’t the main reason for going to Black Swan, but ultimately the direction I needed to pursue in the future.

I had to spread my name whenever the opportunity arose. That reputation would become the driving force that attracted talents.

‘Look at these kids. They don’t listen to their father just because they’re not in his sight, and they keep acting up like this.’

So, I’ll show them.

‘I’ll show them the overwhelming difference in skill.’

I had to accumulate achievements that would shake not just a kingdom, but the entire continent. That’s how talents would flock to me from across the continent, and not just from the Hart Kingdom.

Isn’t it clear from the likes of the Three Heavens, the Five Stars, and the Twelve Transcendents?

The feats and tales those people achieved in the past. Their fame became the magnet that now draws new talents to them like a flood.

There were probably countless people who would consider it an honor for their family to receive a lesson from one of them.

I needed to become someone like that. Like the Great Hero of the past, Ancelot Heil Edenberg.

‘……In that sense, these Masked bastards handle the most information on the continent.’

There were probably countless people bringing sacks of money, just waiting to buy information. Asking them to sell them even the smallest bits of information.

In time, there would certainly be more and more people asking about me.

‘Given the standing of that imitator, they wouldn’t blindly hide information about me either.’

In short, there were plenty of reasons to beat them up. The Mask of Night didn’t refuse to sell information, but they also didn’t provide false information to clients.

That was the policy of their organization, a way to maintain ‘trust’.

‘Take the beating today and spread the word about me. Tell everyone what kind of guy I am.’

As my thoughts came to an end, a smile crept across my lips.

“You’re not coming at me?”

“……Blue No. 2!”

Step.

Soon, one of them stepped forward, each of his steps firm.

‘……This one’s different.’

I could tell just from his walk. He was definitely a cut above the previous small fry.

But,

‘At the end of the day, he’s still small fry.’

It wasn’t enough. One of them alone wouldn’t have the impact I needed.

“Anyone could tell you’re only blue rank. Why don’t you all come at me at once?”

“……What?”

“Greeny couldn’t even get a proper hit in. Do you really think you can take me on?”

“……”

The guy walking toward me froze, his expression hardening.

“Plus, you’re not even knights. There’s no reason to insist on a fair one-on-one fight, is there?”

Although, in reality, there was. It’s not like I don’t have ears, so I heard everything they were talking about.

‘They probably want to prove their boss was wrong.’

Even if they won by ganging up on me, it’d only hurt their pride. I knew that, but I deliberately provoked them.

‘Now, how will they respond?’

Hummm!

Surprisingly, my opponent calmly infused his sword with mana first. I liked that.

“……Good. Your posture’s starting to take shape.”

Fwooosh!

His sword was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t stop there. The mana that had flared up around his sword took on a special attribute, emitting a stronger aura.

Fwooosh!

“……Blue flames?”

A gasp of admiration escaped through my clenched teeth. Unexpectedly, this guy possessed the aura known as ‘cold flame’.

‘This means he’s glimpsed the bare minimum for becoming a Master. In other words, he’s had a taste of enlightenment.’

In terms of skill, he was at least a mid-grade Expert.

No……

‘……He might even be closer to upper-grade.’

Among all the opponents I’d faced in this life so far, this one was easily the strongest.

“Be careful! In terms of pure combat power, Blue No. 2 is easily within the top five in the organization!”

At the same time, Narakas issued a warning.

‘Of course. Well, they are the continent’s top intelligence organization. This is the level they should be at.’

Still, there are only ten people ranked Blue in the organization, right?

At this point, I was curious, myself. Compared to the era I once lived in, how much have these guys improved?

Or…… had they deteriorated, instead?

Fla-ash!

In that instant, my opponent’s figure disappeared from sight.

‘……To my right.’

Without even looking, I thrust my sword to the right.

Clang!

“……!”

Not expecting me to block his attack, the enemy’s eyes widened in shock. But that reaction lasted only a moment.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Our swords collided again and again, sparks flying with each strike.

Crack! Crack-crack!

“Hmm.”

At some point, an intense chill spread through my body. It was the energy emitted by the freezing flames.

That cold sensation traveled along my sword, until it reached my hands. If I let myself be mesmerized by the enchanting blue flames, I’d find myself frozen solid in no time.

Even worse, direct contact with it would cause frostbite and burns. A peculiar effect of these dangerous flames.

Thud!

However, the opponent wasn’t finished yet.

“Woah……”

A voice filled with admiration rang out from someone nearby. Flame petals began falling from the sky, like snowflakes.

However, unlike snow, they didn’t descend randomly. They surged toward me with a clear intent to kill.

“……Beautiful.”

This time, it was the voice of the navy mask. Indeed, it was a skill worthy of admiration, even from my point of view.

I could feel it without touching it. If even one of those countless flame petals touched me,

‘My entire body would freeze solid.’

So, how should I counter this?

‘……Simple.’

Hummm!

For the first time, my drawn sword resonated.

Crackle!

“S-Sword energy!”

It was the first time I had revealed my mana before these Masked underlings. Naturally, they reacted with shocked voices.

‘It’s too soon to be surprised.’

I had been thinking. What kind of skill would make these fools reconsider their actions? How could I make them come to their senses?

‘……I’ll borrow your swordsmanship for this one.’

It didn’t take long. I’d already decided from the start what technique I’d use to crush their spirits.

‘For a bunch that claims to rule the night……’

I’ll show them.

The true ruler of the night, the one who currently commands this era.

I would demonstrate the swordsmanship of someone undeniably skilled, as much I hated to admit it.

‘Full Moon.’

Swish.

My sword traced a circular arc in the air. It wasn’t just any circle.

“Huh……?”

A voice of confusion soon broke out. My mana began to create a unique phenomenon. It was called ‘darkening’.

Suddenly, the surroundings were plunged into night, and the enemies, unable to adapt to the abrupt change, were thrown into disarray.

Crackle.

“……!”

In the pitch-black darkness, pure white mana continued to weave a circle, its light trailing endlessly.

“The moon……?”

The masked man directly in front of me was the first to spot it, his eyes widening in shock.

Fwoosh.

“N-No way……!”

Another gasp of disbelief echoed.

The falling snow-like flames couldn’t penetrate the circle I had drawn, vanishing one by one.

Just like how the snow falling below the clouds could never reach the moon hanging high above.

‘The full moon rising in the night sky illuminates the world……’

Everyone would come out, gaze at that moon, and worship it. This was the fourth secret technique of Elunber, the Knight of the Full Moon.

‘The Piercing Night of the Full Moon.’

My opponent could only stare, dazed, at the moon I had created. As if entranced.

“This idiot’s still out of it.”

“……!”

It wasn’t until I spoke, my voice laced with scorn, that the masked man snapped out of his trance in surprise.

“If your attack’s been blocked, you should prepare the next one or at least defend yourself. Instead, you’re just standing there like a fool.”

“Huh……?”

“That’s why you lost.”

Bang!

Before he knew it, both the blue flame petals falling from the sky and the full moon in the night had vanished. I leapt high into the sky where the flames had once been.

Thud!

I brought my sword down directly onto the masked man’s head.

Thump!

And just like that, he collapsed, knocked out in one blow. This time, his tongue was hanging out even further than the last Green Mask.

“From now on, keep your eyes wide open. Whether you’re fighting or just going about your day.”

“……”

At the same time, a suffocating silence enveloped the area.

But unlike before, the mood had changed completely.

“Yes, this is more like it.”

Only then did I survey my surroundings with a satisfied smile.

“This is how it should’ve been from the start. Eyes wide open, like they’re about to pop out. Good, just like that.”

“……”

“Still think your father was wrong?”

The trembling gazes of the remaining masked underlings soon turned to Narakas.

“Your father believed I was a better investment than some lousy empire. And, yeah, that was the precise judgment you’d expect from the leader of the Mask of Night.”

“……”

“It’s common sense, isn’t it? Supporting someone who already has everything won’t earn you any gratitude. The emperor won’t be thankful for something he thinks is his due. It’s like how a dog will ‘shake’ and expect a reward…… Well, sure, maybe you’ll get a compliment.”

There was still no response. The move I’d shown just now had clearly shocked them speechless.

“But if you help someone who needs it, someone like me, the rewards will be much greater later on. Especially someone like me, who never forgets a favor, nor a grudge.”

“……”

“Now do you get it? Your father considered all of this and chose to back me.”

After finishing my words, I turned to Narakas. Or rather, the imposter.

-By the way, this is something I wanted to tell you, too.

Tremble.

The imposter’s body began to shake. The smile on my lips deepened.

“Now. It’s time to wake up from your dream, you Masked bastards.”

***