Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

17.

Ildan poured all his nerves into his arms, as if enduring the pain of being struck by a massive lump of iron.

With the will of the mana manifester, intense heat spreads throughout the body, and the enhanced physique unleashes an overwhelming force.

Without hesitation, he twisted his body to throw Cain, but—

Winced.

The arms firmly gripping both of his knees wouldn’t budge an inch.

“…”

Cain confirmed Ildan’s arms and eyes before striking harder with his fists.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Each sound of impact buried Ildan’s face further into the dirt.

His field of vision blurred, obscured by ruptured skin and streaming blood.

Ildan experienced fear for the second time in his life. Was this how he was going to die?

“Tha, tha’s…!”

Swollen from the beating, his slurred words barely reached Cain’s ears.

Even though he wanted to surrender, the relentless blows to his face prevented him from speaking.

He desperately pounded Cain’s back with the only part of his body that was still free—his legs—but—

‘So, he really is a knight-turned-mana-manifester. Quite tough.’

BOOM!

Cain only intensified his beatings.

When Ildan’s movements began to wane with his fading consciousness,

Milene rushed forth and shouted as she tackled Cain.

“MacBilian Baron! Stop it!”

The result of the duel was already clear.

To Milene, it looked like Ildan was only shaking now, unable to resist.

His breathing was so faint it was questionable whether he was still alive. No matter how strong a mana manifester was, wouldn’t killing him like this be crossing the line?

“Oi! MacBilian!”

Norman’s voice thundered with rage.

As he rushed in, Bradden’s knights sprang into action.

Milene quickly grabbed Cain by the shoulder.

“What’re you doing?! Hit him again! The rest, stop Bradden!”

At Milene’s cry, the palace knights rushed toward Cain.

As the palace knights separated Ildan and Cain, Norman screamed at them.

“Get out of the way! How dare you obstruct me!”

“Lord Bradden…! Calm down! Knights, stand down!”

“That man is killing my son! What are you doing? Knights, slay that man and protect Ildan!”

Bradden’s knights tightened their grips on their swords.

A clear show of intent to use force if necessary. In response, the palace knights tensed, gripping their swords tightly as well.

With their nerves on edge, the two sides glared at each other, deadlocked.

Amid the tense atmosphere, voices from other nobles echoed across the training grounds.

“Lord Bradden! Wasn’t it Ildan who tried to kill the candidate?”

“This duel was conducted under the prohibition of mana use. Clearly, the light and strength you witnessed were unmistakably mana!”

“Disgracing the duel and attempting to kill the candidate—have you gone mad, Lord?”

The Western faction nobles near Vanell Schrantz denounced Norman.

At the same moment, the Western faction knights advanced toward Bradden’s knights.

Despite the sudden situation, the Eastern faction nobles eagerly jumped to Norman’s defense.

“That man has already gone too far!”

“To brazenly deploy knights in a noble duel? Are you in your right mind?”

“Attempting to eliminate Ildan during the confusion? Enough of your shameless antics, you Western bastards!”

Eastern faction knights moved in, exuding a dangerous aura.

Right as Milene, along with five palace knights, barely managed to drag Cain away, she sighed and turned her head to assess the situation.

The training grounds were already swirling with intense animosity between the two factions.

A small number of neutral and Southern faction observers quietly watched the scene unfold.

Amid the chaos, a furious old man’s voice echoed across the grounds.

“Enough!”

The noble’s tirade dissolved instantly, as if on cue.

The once chaotic scene became deathly silent, as if doused with freezing water.

It was then, in the oppressive quiet, that Alberto spoke with a stern face.

“In front of our Empress, and during this honorable duel witnessed by an ageless observer, how dare you all display such disgraceful behavior?”

The chamberlain’s piercing gaze swept across the nobles of the central factions.

Each noble avoided eye contact, turning away as Alberto continued his lecture.

“All of you, be silent and retreat. Lieutenant Milene!”

“Yes!”

Milene responded loudly to Alberto’s orders.

“Escort Sir Ildan immediately to the Light Divine Church. Lord Bradden, the High Priestess will be alerted in advance, so attend to your son.”

“…”

The unconscious Ildan, his face a wreck, hung limply in the knights’ arms. As Norman glared furiously at Cain, he eventually bowed his head to the chamberlain.

Once confirmed that the Bradden entourage had left the grounds,

Alberto approached Cain, who was catching his breath.

After quickly assessing Cain’s condition, Alberto addressed the nobles and announced loudly.

“Despite Sir Ildan’s use of mana, the candidate valiantly overcame the crisis and claimed victory. Since everyone witnessed this spectacle, surely there will be no objections to this decision!”

The Chamberlain’s proclamation prompted both Dukes to silently bow their heads to Iris.

“The candidate has proven his martial prowess and is fully qualified to be a guardian knight! Thus, the victor, Cain MacBilian. With this, the Noble Selection is concluded!”

Following their faction leaders, all the nobles bowed in acknowledgment, bringing the duel to its end.

***

One week had passed since the honorable duel.

The imperial palace remained bustling with various preparations.

They say this is the first and last time a candidate has passed since the selection began, and preparations were necessary.

Apparently, this is my first time as a Grand Duke since a young hero in the north was last bestowed this honor.

The appointment ceremony records haven’t been performed for over a hundred years, so the palace staff began busily preparing for it.

Meals were served without poison, resuming their normal state.

Now that they’ve given up, but they should have noticed something was strange given I survived absorbing poison for over ten days.

I informed Alberto about the poison situation, and after calming him down as he attempted to act immediately, I entrusted him with the task of secretly investigating the culprit.

Information will come in gradually; there’s no need to rush. Though I do miss the spicy flavor somewhat…

I’ve been writing letters to Baron Hasson of the Northeast and his siblings, checking on acquaintances made during the selection process, getting some decent meat from Baron Hoswynd, and the week went by quickly.

“Master. It suits you really well.”

Rani complimented my outfit with her usual calm tone.

Rani seemed impressed by the dedicated maids performing their duties and became somewhat more disciplined again after learning about maid training and absorbing some of their influence, despite her petite stature not entirely fitting a professional demeanor.

Nonetheless, I did look decent as Rani had said.

A uniform adorned with gold accessories on a black base, with the MacBilian crest on the collar—half black and half purple—shimmered subtly.

Being taller and more proportionate here than my previous life, where I was short and awkward, made my appearance significantly more refined.

“Master, it’s time to move.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Apparently, my official marriage to Iris will take place alongside the upcoming Sabbath ceremony.

It will take some time to inform other countries and duchies of the Empress’s marriage plans.

For now, the main objective is to proclaim me as Grand Duke first, followed by a nationwide tour to inform the imperial citizens that the Empress now has a husband—me.

This Grand Duke Appointment Ceremony will take place at the training grounds.

As this marks the birth of a guardian knight, the location was chosen considering the symbolism of Calion and its connection to the imperial palace.

Prominent palace figures and high-ranking officials were already gathered at the training grounds.

The training grounds remained eerily quiet, only disturbed by the wind gently fluttering the royal banner.

The nobles and knights aligned themselves on either side of the stone where the Holy Sword resided, with Iris and Alberto dressed in elegant ceremonial robes at the end, watching me intently.

I dismissed Rani so she could take her place with the other maids, and I slowly walked through the crowd.

‘The Empress and I have matching outfits. Alberto’s robes are even more elaborate. And that person…’

Near the stone where the Holy Sword was embedded stood an especially striking woman.

Dressed in spotless white robes, slightly more elegant than a nun’s attire, her gentle demeanor caught my attention.

She noticed me looking and flashed a friendly smile.

‘Hmm.’

Judging by the pendant in the shape of a seven-pointed star hanging around her neck, she appeared to be a priestess from the Light Divine Church. Likely the one tasked with reciting the blessing for the ceremony.

‘Wait…a pink-haired light church priestess?’

The Light Divine Church’s rank system is marked by embroidered sun symbols on the shoulder.

A full sun insignia signifies a high-ranking priest within the church. And as far as I know, among the high-ranking officials, the only pink-haired priestess is the High Priestess.

‘So the church has gone to some effort.’

With that odd thought still lingering, I arrived at the center, and the ceremony progressed under Alberto’s guidance.

Alberto’s voice reverberated through the training grounds, which had fallen silent. It wasn’t long before it was time for the blessing.

The pink-haired high priestess glanced over the paper in her hand briefly, cleared her throat, and began.

“Cain, as a knight sworn to protect the sovereign, do you pledge to always respect and guard them, and as a companion on their journey, to faithfully uphold unwavering loyalty without deceit?”

…This phrasing seems vaguely familiar, probably from a superior’s wedding ceremony in my past life.

Responding to the high priestess’s soft tone, I nodded and answered.

“I pledge.”

At my response, the high priestess looked skyward.

After clasping the pendant in both hands and closing her eyes, she softly murmured and then reopened her eyes, smiling warmly.

“I pray that the journey of both of you will be showered with blessings from the Sun God.”

As the high priestess extended her arms, a faint light radiated around myself and Iris.

“Oh. This….”

“This must be the high priestess’s miracle. That light really makes your heart feel warm.”

The murmur of the nobles who saw the light resounded.

‘Is this what a blessing is…’

In this world, there was no power like divine grace.

More precisely, no one other than the high priestess of the Light Divine Church could perform divine miracles.

The one who hears the voice of God and performs miracles within the Light Divine Church.

In the future, the main character of the novel who would go around exterminating strange monsters with her.

After finishing her tasks, Myna quietly bowed and stepped aside from the ceremony site.

As the high priestess returned to the central nobles,

Alberto handed Iris an elegant sword scabbard and began speaking.

“Present your respects to Her Imperial Majesty.”

Following Alberto’s words, I knelt and bowed my head.

SWISH—

The clear metallic sound of the sword being drawn accompanied Iris’s voice near my ear.

“Cain. I hereby appoint you as the Grand Duke and order you as my knight to protect me.”

A slight tremble of the metallic sound gently tapped my shoulder.

A soft but commanding voice indicated I should raise my head.

As I slowly lifted it to look at Iris, her veil was lifted, and she presented the scabbard with both hands.

I carefully took the scabbard and looked into Iris’s violet eyes.

“Cain MacBilian. I shall follow the imperial edict.”

Iris released her grip on the scabbard and nodded.

“Then, for the final part….”

As I stood up and placed the sword at my waist, Alberto’s voice caught my attention again. What’s next?

“We shall conclude the appointment ceremony with the Oath of Guardianship. His Excellency, please come forward in front of Calion.”

“…”

Aware that everyone in the training grounds was watching me, I naturally complied with Alberto’s request and moved in front of Calion.

“…What’s this Oath of Guardianship?”

“You just pretend to draw the sword. It won’t actually come out. Simply gripping the handle and offering a silent prayer will suffice.”

Alberto’s quiet instructions.

Despite my reservations about this sword reputed to be untouched for 500 years, I tightly gripped Calion’s handle.

“Didn’t they say it’s 500 years untouched?”

A very suspicious sword, possibly enchanted, given how shiny it looks despite being brand new.

Standing half-submerged into the rock and reaching up to one’s waist, Calion’s appearance was distinct from a typical great sword—it was thicker and considerably longer.

Using a moderate amount of force, I pulled upward—and unexpectedly, Calion slipped out of the rock with surprising ease.

“Huh.”

“…What?”

—

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