I came to my senses. For a moment, I was dazed, as if submerged in water, but the sight that unfolded before my eyes woke me up completely.

While I was briefly unconscious, the world had turned quite strange. The Knight of Frost had somehow come down to the arena and was standing in my way, holding his blue sword, Frostblade, and the arena was either completely frozen or roughly torn apart. The chilly air brushed past me.

'...What in the world.'

Frost, confirming my gaze, spoke.

"Are you awake?"

Before answering, I checked my own body first. My condition was still a complete mess. To the point where I couldn't understand how I was even standing. Furthermore, I was out of breath, as if I had been running around like a dog.

What is this? I thought I had fainted, but it turns out it was sleepwalking.

I caught my breath and looked at the sword in my hand. The sword was broken in half, but a crimson energy was sprouting from its tip, forming a complete sword. Was I holding a demon sword? The energy was so eerie that I threw the sword away without thinking.

"Whoa, that scared me."

Clang!

As soon as the sword left my hand, the strength drained from my entire body. And all the pain that had been held back rushed over me belatedly.

"...!"

It hurt like hell. To the point where a groan escaped me automatically. My legs trembled, and I slumped to the ground.

Only after seeing that did Frost sheathe Frostblade and let out a sigh. The white breath he exhaled scattered in the air.

I stared blankly at Frost and asked.

"...What happened?"

Frost asked.

"You don't remember?"

I nodded and admitted honestly.

"From a certain point on, no."

"I see."

Frost stared at me blankly for a moment, then called out to someone.

"Sir Aron."

"Yes!"

Someone shot up from the wreckage of the broken arena.

Frost commanded him.

"Finish up. We need to treat Van Dyke."

"Understood!"

Aron, who had answered vigorously, limped and moved his feet diligently somewhere. He too seemed to have been beaten up badly by someone, as there wasn't a single part of him that was unscathed.

'By the way... Van Dyke? Treatment?'

Had Van Dyke been beaten by someone? Only then did I spot Van Dyke lying behind Frost. He was lying there with both arms cut off, and he was unconscious, not moving.

My eyes widened.

'To cut off both arms of that monster? Who on earth?'

When I considered the candidates, no one suitable came to mind other than the ice knight in front of me.

I rebuked Frost.

"I don't know what that man did wrong, but to cut off both his arms. Isn't that too much?"

Even for a cold-hearted ice knight, this was a bit much. To cut down a fellow Royal Knight so brutally, not just some stranger.

At that, our ice knight sir just stared at me blankly with his usual expressionless face.

"...Are you joking?"

"Joking? Who jokes about someone's life?"

Frost strode over, bent down to stare into my eyes, and muttered.

"...You really don't remember, do you."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

In the meantime, Aron, who had limped to the center of the arena, picked up the short staff that had fallen on the ground. Ahem. Aron cleared his throat and shouted into the staff.

With the final match, the decisive battle has concluded.

...It's over?

With Sir Ashuban's victory, the decisive battle ends in the Third Prince's victory!

At those words, cheers erupted from the frozen audience like wildfire.

—Waaaaaah!

I looked around with a dazed face. The circular arena was truly a crucible of excitement.

Aron continued to speak in an excited tone.

Ah, it was a great comeback that I couldn't believe even seeing it with my own two eyes. The First Prince's side had six members left, while the Third Prince's side had only two. A desperate situation where two had to defeat six. The moment everyone was sure of the First Prince's victory... the Golden Flash, Sir Ashley, opened the prelude to the great comeback. She brought two consecutive victories, and in the end, she even took down Sir Rutie—no, Sir Annie, achieving a miraculous 3-win streak.

Sir Aron, covered in dust, chattered on as if he was so happy.

But the situation was still not good. The First Prince's side had three members left, while the Third Prince's side had only one. A situation where a single loss would lead to defeat in the decisive battle. And on top of that, that one person was not a proper knight, but a shabby blind swordsman? Everyone sneered. Don't pretend you didn't. I saw it all.

Aron chuckled and continued.

Wow... thinking about it again, it's so satisfying. He just swiped away the opponent knight who was so careless! And it was revealed in the following match. The blind swordsman act was a disguise! It was a high-level psychological warfare to induce carelessness! Though it's still a mystery how he fought so well with his eyes covered.

Aron wrapped the black cloth that had fallen on the ground around his own eyes and tilted his head.

It's thick. It's so thick you can't see anything in front of you.

He threw the black sash away and continued.

Anyway, Sir Ashuban then faced Victor—no, Sir Yuri. It was truly a thrilling battle! A fight between true men where neither backed down an inch! It sent shivers down the spines of the viewers.

...Even if it's all over now, is it okay to mention the Royal Knights' names like that?

Sir Yuri pushed forward with his blazing dual axes, but in the end, the victory belonged to Sir Ashuban. The downpour of terrifying black spears that rained down like rain and the beautiful attack that looked like silver petals scattering are something I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Aron, who had a sentimental expression for a moment, recited his review of the final match.

The final match... was truly shocking. Sir Ashuban was in very poor condition from the previous match. Even I thought this match would be difficult. As expected, the match did not flow in his favor.

Aron's gaze became serious.

Then at some point, his eyes changed, and he swung his sword like a ghost! But Van Dyke's wall was high. The moment they clashed, Sir Ashuban, who was hit head-on by the sword he swung, was sent flying, battered and bruised. It was a great fortune that he wasn't thrown out of the arena. Ah, did I just say Van Dyke? No. Sir Jeffrey's wall was high.

...Just say everything.

But Sir Ashuban did not give up. Even though he was in a state where he couldn't possibly get up, he got up again. I saw in his eyes a venom that would never back down and a strong tenacity. As a fellow knight, I felt a sense of awe. And so, the moment Sir Ashuban, who had barely managed to get up, charged, the match was decided.

I listened intently to his words. What on earth had happened?

Sir Ashuban ended up losing consciousness. The moment I confirmed that and was about to end the match... he suddenly got up.

He got up?

Ah... I can still see it clearly. The sight of Sir Ashuban, who I thought had collapsed, suddenly getting up in a strange posture and mercilessly cutting off both of Van Dyke's—no, Sir Jeffrey's arms! It was a scene I couldn't believe even seeing it with my own two eyes. Where did such strength suddenly come from?

...Me?

With both arms cut off, how could he hold a sword? The match was already decided. But after seeing Sir Ashuban's eyes as he charged again, I realized. That he was unconscious!

No...

Ah, I got hit a little while trying to stop him, but you don't need to worry. I'm sturdy. But if it weren't for the Knight of Frost who intervened in time, I can't guarantee that I would have been safe...

"Sir Aron."

Frost's cold words cut off Aron's rambling.

Snapping back to his senses, Aron gave a hand signal to the First Prince's side. At that, the waiting medical team rushed over and collected Sir Van Dyke and his two arms.

"...."

Listening to Aron's words, I checked Frost's position and my current position.

"...Hmm."

From that perspective... it looked as if Frost had been shielding me from Van Dyke. It seemed the culprit who had cut off Van Dyke's arms was really me.

It was hard to believe.

'...I cut off both arms of that monster? How? I shouldn't have had any strength left.'

It would have been close to impossible even in perfect condition. How on earth did I cut off both arms of that monster in this state?

Incredible things kept happening while I was unconscious. Last time, I thought I had defeated one of the Eight Sword Masters, the Knight of Frost, and this time, I cut off a Royal Knight's arms.

...What is happening to my body?

Frost came closer and pried my eyes open with two fingers.

"...Your eyes are calmer than before."

He examined the other eye and muttered.

"Still doesn't seem normal..."

"...Hey."

As I frowned, Frost muttered with a serious face.

"Was he never normal to begin with?"

"...."

I wanted to slap his hand away, but I couldn't even lift a finger. Like a puppet with its strings cut, I had no strength. Instead of a lake, a desert was spread out in my dantian. A desolate desert where not a single drop of internal energy could be found.

I watched Aron, who had handed over Van Dyke and was now chattering away happily.

"Did I hit that guy too?"

Frost nodded.

"He got hit while trying to stop you from charging at Van Dyke again."

"...Hmm."

"If the opponent hadn't been Aron, he would have surely died."

"...."

"He was like a demon. Was the thing he was holding a demon sword?"

"...?"

Was he joking? His expression was serious from beginning to end, so I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious. Anyway, I guess I should take it to mean that I had rampaged like someone possessed by a demon sword.

"Haa..."

A sigh escaped me automatically. Me, a demon. It seems I had transformed into a demon while wandering the night road. This was why the Heavenly Demon had nagged me so much to be careful. To only realize it after going to the brink of Qi Deviation.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"Who was the one who came out this time? He seemed different from the one I saw before."

Frost now seemed to think of me as a multiple personality case. There's someone else who fits that description, you know.

'...He's talking a lot today, this guy.'

I pondered Frost's question for a moment. But I didn't know either, so I couldn't give him a proper answer. More than that, I was curious since neither of them had seen me fight. Come to think of it, the one who had witnessed both was right in front of me.

"Then how do they compare?"

Frost thought for a moment, then answered like this.

"Compared to the one I met last time... this one was of a lower class."

"Hmm."

Now that I looked, Frost was completely unscathed. I remember his calm demeanor, like cold ice, when I came to my senses. It seems dealing with him wasn't that difficult.

"If I had to compare, it was like his disobedient dog was throwing a tantrum."

"...."

I heard the Heavenly Demon's low laughter.

[A fitting example.]

As soon as I heard his voice, I realized. The voice that had been angry with me while I was wandering the night road. It was the Heavenly Demon's voice.

"Master!"

"What?"

"Not you."

"...."

The Heavenly Demon chuckled lowly and answered.

[I have much to say... but let's postpone it. It seems we have a guest.]

"A guest?"

At that moment, I heard the rustling of leaves, and Shushruta landed next to me.

She shouted at Frost.

"Go away! Knight of Frost!"

She looked like a cat with its fur on end, hissing.

(End of Chapter)