Chapter 224: Sisters

“This one is Silver Fang’s little sister, right?”

“I heard she performed quite well in the preliminary round.”

“Of course, how could Silver Fang’s little sister be bad?”

On the raised platform, Lita could clearly see Promi’s face, tilted up toward her direction, gradually flushing red. Even though Promi’s hands were always steady, her fingertips trembled slightly from the whispers.

Maybe some examinees wished to let others know their background, so they could secure a corresponding position without doubt.

But not Promi. The title Silver Fang was far too resounding. Even if Promi didn’t say it, everyone would still call her Silver Fang’s little sister instead of her real name—Promi.

Don’t be foolish.

Lita thought that.

For the first time, she wished the person below would choose her as an opponent instead of someone who looked like the wrong answer at a glance.

But reality did not go as Lita wanted.

Promi’s gaze slowly shifted past her, past Cecilia, past Lilia and her attendant, and finally landed on her own sister.

“Silver Fang Brownie, I challenge you!”

The audience, which had just calmed down, erupted again.

“What did I say! What did I say just now! This is intentional! They call it fair and just, but this is blatantly pulling strings!”

“Whether she meant it or not, she has the right to do it. Even if she can’t beat Silver Fang, she can still beat others?”

“Sigh, no way. We all dare to be angry but not to speak up, right?”

Amid the crowd’s chatter, Brownie bowed to Rosalia, then slowly descended the steps and walked to the center of the arena.

Even though the fight between the two sisters was, in a sense, unexpected to everyone, it was also understandable.

Promi spoke, saying something to Brownie on the field. Immediately, they burst into a heated argument—or rather, it was just Promi arguing one-sidedly.

Then, they both stood in their positions, waiting for the referee to announce the start.

Promi drew her sword.

The gray longsword flashed for an instant, and then the rolling gray dust stirred up by her wind magic filled the arena again, just like every time she had struck before.

But now Lita could see Promi’s movements clearly.

Perhaps because she stood on a high platform, or because these battles and training had sharpened her reactions, but she could finally see.

Promi’s figure, hidden by the dust, dashed toward Brownie like a shadow. The longsword in her hand traced a beautiful but unseen arc of flowers, aimed straight at Brownie’s vital points.

The clanging of weapons rang out endlessly.

The twisted longsword in Brownie’s hand deflected all of Promi’s attacks. Even though her sword looked heavier, it was still faster than Promi’s by a hair.

Promi’s heart grew more anxious.

One of her goals in becoming a Holy Knight was to prove she was no worse than her sister. A direct confrontation like this with her sister was actually a golden opportunity.

And here, Brownie couldn’t use the power of the Crest. A chance to prove herself under equal conditions like this might never come again.

Such a perfect stage—she had to make it count!

But why couldn’t her attacks break through her sister’s defense?

No. She couldn’t get impatient, or she would expose even more openings.

“Promi.”

Brownie called her name softly.

Promi was momentarily stunned, then felt an intense chill rushing toward her.

This was no metaphor—it was real cold.

The icy wind howled from Brownie’s blade, forcing Promi to raise her sword to block.

Along with the howling wind came Brownie’s faint whisper.

“This is over.”

Boom—

All the gray dust in the arena exploded at once, and a white blade of light shot straight into the sky.

Promi, who had blocked that strike, held her longsword—now coated with a layer of white frost—with both hands, trembling violently.

Half from the cold, half from the sheer force.

“Is it over?”

Someone muttered.

But immediately, someone pointed out the situation.

“Look! Over there!”

Brownie gripped the twisted longsword with one hand, its tip thrust into the ground. Her body swayed a few times, then she dropped to one knee, relying on the sword to keep herself upright.

Sigh.

Lita let out a heavy sigh in her heart.

Because no matter who won or lost, one of the two sisters would have to bear the consequences.

If Brownie had gone all out, Promi wouldn’t have had so many chances.

Lita herself knew from personal experience how much a true warrior who had been tempered on the battlefield could grow.

Promi would lose.

No matter how badly, she would inevitably lose.

If things got worse, she might even lose her qualification to become a Holy Knight. Even though she was eligible, this choice could make her miss the position she dreamed of.

Actually, Promi might not necessarily lose.

Given Brownie’s extreme sister-complex personality, she would probably hold back ninety-nine percent.

Whether she held back a little or a lot, it would still be defying the King’s orders—because defeating a Crest Knight didn’t just earn you a light “you are now qualified to be a Holy Knight,” but a real granting of Golden Blood.

Of course, even setting that aside, a Crest Knight’s defeat carried a different weight.

She didn’t just represent herself, but also the Second Princess, Rosalia.

Whether she really lost or intentionally threw the match, it meant humiliating Rosalia. Even if Rosalia knew the truth, even if she might tacitly allow it, most people wouldn’t see it that way.

Just like now.

“That… it’s over already?”

“Was that strike from Silver Fang just now too exaggerated?”

“Is this an act? It must be an act, right?”

“No need to say that! You can’t even see what’s happening inside—if it’s not an act, then what?”

“But that’s not right. Why hasn’t the referee announced the result yet?”

Even the referee hesitated now, unsure if he should go ahead and rule Brownie the loser under this tense atmosphere.

Only the King could decide whether to grant Golden Blood; one wrong word could cost him his life.

He could only pitifully cast a pleading look toward the King on the high platform.

Things had turned bad.

This was a fight where neither winning nor losing was beneficial.

Lita stared intently at the field, but did not notice the rustling sounds beside her.

But many noticed Rosalia rising from her seat and slowly walking to the front of the platform.

“Silver Fang!”

Rosalia’s pleasant voice was full of spirit.

“I’ll count to three starting now. If you don’t get up, all your holidays next year are canceled. I guarantee you won’t have any time to see your sister in private ever again.”

Although most people didn’t understand what Rosalia meant, their eyes were fixed on the field.

“One…”

“Two…”

“Three…”

Before the count finished.

Brownie stood up immediately.

“Continue.”

Rosalia turned and went back to her seat.

“Sigh.”

Brownie let out a heavy sigh. The longsword spun once in her hand, and she gripped it firmly again.

“My dear little sister, you really shouldn’t have picked me. Defeating you in front of so many people breaks my heart.”

Promi didn’t say a word.

Words were useless now. She could only prove herself with actions.

Brownie sighed again.

“Her Highness Rosalia has spoken.”

Promi sheathed her sword and assumed a battle stance.

“Come. Let’s do it again.”

“Sister, I’m coming.”

She drew her sword.

Gray mist billowed from the scabbard, but before it could spread, it froze into tiny ice crystals that fell to the ground like sand, crackling.

Again, silver.

But faster and stronger than before.

In an instant, a flash of silver filled Promi’s entire vision.

She only remembered three figures leaping out simultaneously, and three colored halos blooming in front of her.

After that, she couldn’t recall anything else.

Lita, Twin Moons, Aierteer.

Lita and Aierteer’s swords both glowed gold, while Twin Moons’ swords were wrapped in blue and white. Together, they blocked the huge blade of light that was about to fly toward Promi and the audience, holding it within the arena.

Three Crest Knights, and two of them didn’t hesitate to use the power of the Crest directly.

That alone proved a lot.

The outcome was decided.

“Oh! Sibling rivalry! How cruel! I can’t bear to see such a scene play out in Twilight Hall. Even someone as dazzling as I had to steal the spotlight and leap onto the stage to show everyone my graceful figure!”

Twin Moons exaggeratedly sheathed both swords and bowed to the audience like the true protagonist.

“Brownie, don’t go too far. What if you hurt the audience?”

Aierteer simply shook the hand she had used to block Brownie’s attack.

Even though she had directly touched that kind of strike, there was not a single scratch on her palm.

“Promi, are you okay?!”

Only when Promi felt Lita grabbing her shoulder and shaking her hard did she snap back to reality.

What had just happened?

She had lost consciousness during the fight?

If Lita hadn’t blocked that strike for her, she would have…

Promi shuddered at the thought.

“Promi, think carefully. Why did you want to become a Holy Knight?”

Brownie had already sheathed her sword, and her tone when speaking to her was more serious than ever.

“If you’re trying to surpass me, then give up.”

“I, hailed as the strongest of the younger generation, am not someone you can surpass.”