Chapter 161: 161 Strength Exposed

Chapter 161: Strength Exposed

As the mist enveloping the Ushan City Arena was fully dispersed, defense personnel led by Knight Galil swiftly took control of the scene.

To be honest, even as the thick fog first rolled in, Galil had sensed something was wrong.

He immediately notified his father—Toru, commander of the First Knightly Order of Ushan Castle—while dispatching knights and guards to seal every exit and entrance to the arena.

Simultaneously, he led a team into the fog, desperate to discern what was unfolding inside—but the arena was too vast, and they could not determine direction.

Galil, though no stranger to the battlefield, felt his heart plunge into a basin of ice.

Inside the arena were not only Ronin, but also the Kingdom’s Princess. Should anything happen to them—especially to her—neither he nor Ushan Castle could ever answer for it.

Thankfully, the Seven Gods watched over them. Though chaos reigned and corpses littered the ground, Ronin and the Princess remained unharmed.

Galil dropped to one knee. “My deepest apologies, Your Highness, Lord Baron. I failed to protect your safety—it is my grave negligence!”

Princess Brangie, though shaken, had regained her composure. She stepped forward and gently lifted Galil to his feet.

“This has nothing to do with you. None of us anticipated such an event. But thankfully, all has turned out well—we are unharmed.”

Ronin’s gaze still swept the surroundings, alert and wary. Only after confirming no suspicious figures remained did he relax. The Mondo assassin would not launch a second strike.

“Galil, organize a thorough screening of every spectator today. See if any assassins hid among them.”

Ronin ordered: “Also, inform your father—the arena staff must be investigated as well.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Galil was stunned by how clearly Ronin had pieced everything together. He had accepted the command almost instinctively, before his mind had even caught up.

“One thing to note,” Ronin warned. “A golden-rank assassin may have infiltrated the arena disguised as a high-tier gladiator. He was struck by a spell scroll—but did not die. We do not know whether he escaped.”

Golden rank?

Galil’s heartbeat slowed half a beat.

An assassin of golden rank had been deployed?

And still, the assassination had failed?

He had no time to ponder further. Such an assassin on the loose remained a dire threat to Ronin and Brangie.

“I think I should escort you back to Ushan Castle immediately!” Galil said urgently. “A golden-rank assassin is far too dangerous!”

Ronin nodded. He took Brangie’s hand and stepped carefully over shattered stones, overturned seats, and corpses, exiting the arena.

On the carriage, Ronin leaned back against the cushions, eyes closed, resting.

The battle with the two assassins had not drained him much—it was the sheer mental exhaustion from casting a sixth-level spell scroll, far beyond his rank, that left him weary.

Brangie sat quietly beside him, her pale violet pupils fixed on Ronin’s face. The young man—only a few months her junior—was growing more and more captivating to her.

“Ronin~”

She whispered his name. “I truly owe you my life. Without you, I would have been killed.”

Ronin opened his eyes and smiled faintly. “Protecting your safety is my duty, Your Highness.”

“Call me Brangie. I prefer it when you do.”

Ronin paused, then smiled. He had been lost in thought—wondering who might want the Princess dead—and had forgotten how this moment would imprint upon her.

Indeed, their morning outing had already gone well. If no other obstacles arose, he suspected a marriage alliance was possible.

Now, having shared this perilous ordeal, Brangie—though a princess with wisdom beyond her years—was still, at heart, an eighteen-year-old girl.

The way she looked at him told him plainly: she had already fallen.

“Very well, Brangie.”

Ronin’s smile softened into something more sincere. “I’m truly sorry our journey to Ushan Castle was so poorly planned. I never meant for you to be frightened.”

Brangie shook her head.

Truthfully, this had little to do with Ushan Castle. If blame must be placed, perhaps it lay in the insufficient guard detail assigned to their arena seating.

“Assassins who wish to kill will always find a way to appear beside you.”

She shook her head again, signaling he need not apologize.

“Let’s not speak of it. Actually, I’m far more curious about you.”

Her large eyes blinked with unguarded wonder, eager to unravel him. “The world says you only recently awakened as a low-rank knight. But what you just did… it was astonishing!”

Brangie had seen armored aura countless times—but the image of Ronin’s aura enveloping her entire body still burned in her memory.

“So… you’re not only a powerful high-rank knight… but also a mysterious mage?”

As a mage herself, she had recognized the Wind Spell he used to disperse the mist.

True, the way he carved the spell’s runes into the air with his sword seemed odd—but who had ever said it was forbidden?

Many mages could not do it, perhaps because knightly swords were too heavy to hold steady while inscribing runes.

Ronin laughed. He could not hide this—not when Brangie had been held tightly in his arms, watching every detail with her own eyes.

“Yes. I am both knight and mage.”

He spread his hands. “But compared to my magic, my knightly strength is stronger.”

After the arena incident, Ronin could still conceal some of his power—but there was no need to hide it all.

In a world where supernatural forces existed, if he wished to draw followers, he needed more than administrative skill—he needed to demonstrate undeniable strength.

The knights slaughtered by the green-skinned ogres. The grotesque glee of those who watched their own kind devoured.

He could not forget.

If he had decided to bring even a whisper of change to this world, he could no longer remain hidden.

Moreover—he was Bronze-rank now. It was time to reveal a little of his true strength.

“You’re incredible!”

Brangie exclaimed, unable to contain her awe. “I haven’t seen a dual-avowed transcendent—knight and mage—in so long. And you’re the first I’ve ever met among the young!”

“Have you met others like that?” Ronin asked.

“Yes. But they’re all ancient. And without exception, each is immensely powerful.”

Her mood had lifted with conversation. She spoke more freely now, shedding the rehearsed tone of royalty. She sounded like a friend.

“Do you know Berola, the founder of the Silva Magic Guild?” she asked.

Ronin nodded. “I’ve heard of him. They say he’s an eighth-rank Archmage?”

Brangie shook her head. “That’s old news. As far as I know, Berola is now a ninth-rank Grand Archmage—and a high-rank knight.”

Ronin’s breath caught.

A ninth-rank transcendent. What a terrifying power!

In these chaotic times, a Grand Archmage could forge a kingdom.

And now he understood why the Silva Magic Guild had spread its influence across every city and town in the realm.

Its founder was authority incarnate.

Roning firmly believed that, though Lord Bellaro was merely a count of the kingdom, no one would dare trouble such a man without cause.

Then again, wouldn’t it be quite natural for a ninth-rank Grand Mage to possess the strength of a high-ranking knight?

After all, his body had long been steeped in extraordinary power—surely this must differ greatly from the awakening of a martial spirit seed in an ordinary person?

“Roning, could you tell me your exact rank?”

Blanche’s eyes still shimmered with curiosity.

“Of course!”

Roning answered without hesitation: “I am a junior mage—and a high-level peak knight!”

As he spoke, he leaned closer, whispering: “But I’ve never revealed my identity as a mage to anyone. I beg Your Highness to keep it secret.”

“Of course!” Blanche laughed in agreement.

(End of Chapter)