Originally, coordinating in battle was an extremely difficult task.

In a moment of carelessness, one might cut an ally with their own sword, their feet might get tangled, or an ally might block their line of sight or firing line.

Therefore, even if five ordinary people with a combat power of 1 each gathered, they couldn’t exert a combat power of 5. They ended up hindering each other.

What was needed to overcome such disadvantages and draw out power beyond what they possessed were battle formations and tactics.

While small and medium-sized families might struggle to maintain even a single proper knightly order, it was natural for families with considerable scale and power to practice at least one or two approved formations or techniques.

If the setting were slightly different, the Lion Duke’s bloodline might have been called the “Greatest Sect Under The Heavens” or “The Three Pillars of Lennart”, but even they were no exception.

Rather, they were among the best in cooperative attacks, even on the continent.

Although there were subtle differences, they learned martial arts with the same roots, and by constantly competing and training with each other, they could sufficiently predict what each person would do at any given moment.

Their ability to find optimal positions and coordinate with just a simple exchange of glances was so beautiful it almost felt like a sword dance on stage.

In contrast, the movements of the Tin Knight and Adelaide facing them were disparate.

To start with, their armaments were different, with a one-handed sword and shield versus a two-handed sword, and their tactics differed, with the Tin Knight emphasizing defense and counters while Adelaide focused on evasion and critical hits.

“Guh!”

However, every time the two forces clashed, it was invariably the Lennart side that was knocked down.

Their beautiful and fierce combination attacks couldn’t penetrate the Tin Knight’s iron-like defense, while conversely, Adelaide’s devastating attacks crushed at least one bloodline member every time they were swung.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that parties with clear role distinctions are originally stronger!]

From the Tin Knight’s perspective, this wasn’t particularly surprising.

It was only natural that a composition with balanced melee DPS, ranged DPS, and support would be stronger than baseless combinations like all-rounder DPS or all-rounder tank.

Of course, there were some individual characteristics among the Lion Duke’s bloodline like strong sword, swift sword, and phantom sword, but these were at a level that could be overlooked as minor differences.

Above all, Adelaide was no longer the little lion she used to be.

She made judgments on her own without needing every action to be instructed, dealt with minor attacks by herself once major threats were removed, and above all, the power of each of her strikes was truly extraordinary.

The Tin Knight knew better than anyone that his position was close to a damage-dealing tank, and thus worked hard to nurture a companion who could unleash intense firepower.

Seeing the results of those efforts in such an easy-to-understand form, he couldn’t help but feel inwardly proud.

Well, if one considered the total, there were still aspects that fell short, but that was something to be completed gradually.

For that very reason, there was a need to wrap up this matter decisively first.

“A fork in the road… I see.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates them as guys faithful to good direction!]

Two paths lead to the depths of the mansion and the two invaders sensed the presence of an enemy revealing themselves at the end of each path.

It was an invitation, and also a provocation.

If they only thought about efficiency, it would be better to rush together to one place and beat up the opponent in front, but humans couldn’t live on efficiency alone.

This was especially true for those trying to settle the past and move forward anew.

Just as the Tin Knight was about to suggest that they move separately from here, Adelaide spoke first, “I’ll take this side. I want to settle things fairly with that child.”

The Tin Knight stared blankly at the mask on his pupil’s face and the eyes visible through its gaps.

Then he gave a thumbs up.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that since the cooperative assignment is done, it’s time for individual assignments!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ tells Adel to show the results of her special training!]

“Yes!”

After bowing her head, Adelaide ran straight down the right path.

The Tin Knight watched her back for a moment, then moved towards the left path himself.

At the end of the left path stood the old man they had met before.

Werner von Lennart.

The bearing of this man, the strongest among the current Lion Duke’s bloodline and perhaps the strongest as a warrior, was so imposing that it felt like looking at a huge rocky mountain.

But his face was far from cheerful, even as a polite lie.

“Tsk, I understand well that the thought of fighting only on battlefields to one’s liking is nothing but a luxury… Still, it’s regrettable. To clash with a warrior worthy of respect on such an unsightly stage.”

It was clear that “unsightly” didn’t simply refer to the place.

It was also clear that his fighting on the radical faction’s side now wasn’t of his own volition.

Was someone held hostage? Or was it because the family itself would be crushed if things continued like this? Or was he bound by some kind of contract?

The exact reason was unknown.

There was a possibility he might tell if asked, and there might even be a way to pass without fighting through such conversation, but it wasn’t a path the Tin Knight would choose.

Only his companions were allowed to hear his voice and converse with him.

The Tin Knight knew no way of talking to others except through his sword.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says he prefers the direct breakthrough route over the negotiation route!]

Well, even if dialogue had been possible, the result probably wouldn’t have changed much.

Clang! Clang!

The Tin Knight made sounds by clashing his sword and shield together.

At this sight, as if to say that when warriors meet, detailed circumstances could be thought about later, Werner’s face, which had been full of concern, relaxed a little.

“I see, then I’ll accept your goodwill.”

A crude yet heavy-looking club appeared in Werner’s right hand.

A faint golden mana swirled around Werner’s body, then wrapped around it as if covering it with leather.

The ground beneath the Tin Knight and Werner caved in, and they charged at each other simultaneously without anyone taking the lead.

Boom!

***

At the same time, on the opposite side.

“You came?”

As if making a morning greeting, Hilda von Lennart addressed Adelaide in a rather intimate manner.

Her appearance remained innocent, but smiling in that state with blood splattered all over her clothes felt more bizarre than pure.

Adelaide briefly considered attacking without dialogue like her teacher would, but decided against it and opened her mouth, “You don’t look very upset.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you still think you have a chance of winning?”

When bringing down an organization, it wasn’t always necessary to be stronger than that organization as a whole.

If it was possible to take down or capture the leadership first, then it became possible to control the lower ranks in the name of that leadership.

Countless dictators in history seized power through methods close to snatching in this way.

Conversely, at the point where the attempt to subdue the Imperial Family failed, the radical faction’s plan had already failed for all intents and purposes.

Even soldiers moving under false information or wrong orders would eventually learn the truth and turn their backs on the radical faction.

Some fanatical followers might stick with them to the end despite this, but that would only prolong their struggle—the fight was essentially over.

“Who knows? You don’t know until you try. At least the grandfathers still seem to be trying to do something.”

“Struggling any further will only increase your sins.”

“Then what? When the other side is slowly approaching to put a rope around our neck, should we just quietly let ourselves be strangled to death?”

“No.”

Adelaide shook her head.

“I don’t know what bad blood there is between you and the Imperial Family. In fact, I’m not very interested. The sin I’m talking about is different.”

“What is it?”

“The sin of dragging others into your fight and using them.”

Adelaide’s eyes pierced straight through Hilda.

“Offering branch families as sacrifices for political gain. Stirring up fear to forcibly drag in moderates because you lack enough power on your own. Don’t you think it’s disgusting? If you’re going to do crazy things, do them among yourselves.”

“Ah, that?” Hilda answered indifferently. “—Don’t blame us, it’s other people who are bad.”

“…”

“The Empress is bad for oppressing us just because we’re strong, even though we’ve done nothing wrong.

“The Duke is bad for not standing with us while talking about balance and cooperation when he has the responsibility to protect the family.

“The nobles who have received favors from us are bad for wagging their tails and running to the Empress as soon as she whispers sweet words.

“The commoners who have lived safely because of us are bad for mocking us behind our backs as soon as we seem to falter even just a little.”

“…”

“To begin with, your father’s case was orchestrated by the Duke, you know? Shouldn’t you be grateful to us for avenging him?”

“…”

“Are you listening?”

The girl named Adelaide von Lennart thought.

Ah, I’m glad I talked to her.

I’m really glad I didn’t just cross swords without words.

If I had, I wouldn’t have known this feeling.

If I had, I would have fought out of a sense of duty, not from my heart.

If I had—

Thud.

—I would have hesitated to take off this mask.

The mask that had been covering Adelaide’s face all along fell to the floor.

At the same time, a terrifying killing intent began to emanate from Adelaide’s entire body.

The wooden furniture scattered throughout the mansion creaked.

Bloodline members who were still conscious instinctively moved away from the room where Adelaide was out of fear.

No, some couldn’t even do that and collapsed on the spot, foaming at the mouth.

And at some point, that dense killing intent concealed its presence.

It hadn’t disappeared.

It had merely clarified its direction.

“Haha.”

Despite receiving such concentrated killing intent that it made her skin tingle, Hilda showed no sign of fear.

A smile lingered on her lips, and her violet eyes shone with   as if looking forward to an exciting event.

In fact, Hilda’s words that “the Duke orchestrated the use of Friedel” weren’t particularly meant to provoke Adelaide.

The Council of Elders had taught Hilda that this was truly the case.

In that sense, she, too, might be evaluated as a victim who was merely being used, but there was a fundamental problem.

The point was that Hilda was neither stupid nor dull.

She inwardly guessed that the Council of Elders was using her and that they weren’t telling her the truth.

After guessing, she had simply brushed it off with a “So what?”

In the end, it was someone else’s business. It wasn’t her concern. She liked the grandfathers who doted on her.

What was good was good, what was bad was bad, and what she wasn’t interested in, she wasn’t interested in.

Hundreds of years after the founding generation fell.

The most talented prodigal child in Lennart history was a being that moved according to her own likes and dislikes, rather than right and wrong.

Her way of thinking, closer to that of a beast, might in some sense be the most suitable for the title of “lion”.

And following that beast-like instinct, Hilda judged.

—Ah, I’ll die if I don’t go all out from the start.

Hilda raised her sword.

That weapon, somewhat larger than the one-handed sword she usually favored, was emitting an extraordinary aura, even at a glance.

There was no helping it.

For that sword was the Lion Duke’s beloved weapon, which the radicals had obtained after subduing the family head.

One of the continent’s finest top-tier weapons, not inferior even when compared to Adelaide’s belt.

The equipment disparity disappeared.

The gap in talent was equal.

What remained was simply—

What they held in their hearts, and what they had built up.

The two lions began to tear at each other.

***

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