[Translator: Dawn ]

[Proofreader: Alissa ]

Chapter 43: [Side Story] Evangeline Cross

The spear fired by the unidentified girl accurately hit the wagon's wheel.

Crash! Thud!

The wagon wheels smashed by the sudden spear shot bounced in all directions.

Woaaaah!

The wagon, which had lost its wheel, slid along the road and eventually came to a halt.

Neigh-!

The frightened horses screamed and ran in all directions.

Oh, god, oh no. What just happened?

I couldn't come to my senses at the sudden commotion.

I get that a girl appeared outta nowhere and broke the wagon's wheel, but why?

Then the wagon door burst open and Lucas poked his head inside.

Are you okay, Your Highness?!

I waved my hand.

Don't worry, I'm fine. I am a little dizzy though

Allow me to support you. Please step outside first.

Supported by Lucas, I put my foot down on the ground as I staggered.

Thankfully, I wasn't hurt at all.

After confirming that I was unharmed, Lucas let out a sigh of relief, then shouted at the assailant.

Who is this?!

Do you have any clue who this is? How dare you point your spear at His Highness? I shall arrest you right here and punish you!

The unidentified girl who destroyed the wagon was standing in the middle of the road with a sour look.

After taking a breath, I was able to take a closer look at the girl.

Her pale platinum hairquite longwas tied lightly at the back of her neck.

Her sharp eyes were bright green, and her fangs peeked out from between her pursed lips.

It's just a kid.

That's right. She was very young. At most, she must've been around 14, or 15. Actually, I take that back, she might be younger than that.

You may not underestimate her because of her age, Your Highness. She seems to be a trained combatant.

She seems trained?

Take a look at the clothes she's wearing.

The clothes? What about it? After listening to Lucas's words, I took a look at the girl's outfit.

A black skirt with a white jacket with gold embroidery. And she's wearing a red cloak on her back.

School uniform?

Somehow it was a familiar style, so I asked Lucas as I pointed with my finger.

That's a school uniform, right?

Yes, This is the Imperial Academy's school uniform. Looking at the pattern engraved on the cloak, I am certain.

To put it simply, she was a student at the Knights Academy. It could also mean that she was at the age of being in school.

What is a student of the Academy doing here?! Reveal your identity!

As Lucas continued to yell, the girl growled, showing her sharp fangs.

That's what I should be saying to you, misters.

Wh-what? Misters?

I was furious at the sudden verbal attack on my age, but her reaction was still apathetic.

If you're older than me, then you're a mister to me. Isn't that right? Hm?

H-hmm!

I couldn't refute it, so I just clenched my fists. The unique spirit of this cheeky teenager bothered me!

The girl pointed toward the manor house with a huge cavalry spear in her hand.

This is the house I used to live in. But when I came back after a long time, I saw soldiers I had never seen before taking over. Our family flag, which has been hung for hundreds of years, was also taken down without my will.

Her sharply open eyes narrowed.

I was wondering if it was the bandits that had been bothering us for a long time, or if it was an infiltration from the operative forces of the enemy country. And at the perfect timing, I saw you guys approaching with a wagon, so I decided to stop you to ask some questions.

What, you could've just asked nicely! Did you really have to destroy the wagon?!

I was taught at school to subdue anyone who I suspect to be an enemy.

Clunk-

The girl lightly turned her spear toward us.

So who are you, people? Why are you residing in someone else's house? Depending on the answer, it may hurt a little, so please answer carefully.

Lucas, agitated, answered instead of me.

What nonsense! This is the mansion where the Lord of Crossroad resides. Obviously, the property is owned by the Lord himself!

? So what are you talking about?

The girl seemed genuinely clueless.

The Lord of this place is my father, though?

A brief silence came for a moment.

Lucas and I exchanged glances. It was because we realized the identity of the girl standing in front of us.

I see, so you must be

I slowly spoke her name.

Evangeline Cross.

Her sharp eyes frowned as her name was called.

Do you know me, mister?

I heard a lot about you from your father.

When I met her eyes, I could finally feel that this girl was indeed the daughter of Earl Cross. Her green eyes were a striking resemblance.

'But wait just a second.'

The SSR-ranked tanker Evangeline Cross I saw in the game was clearly a tall and beautiful woman.

The girl in front of me was young, and above all

You're a lot smaller than I thought.

She was short.

She was at least two heads shorter than me.

She was short and petite in stature. The fact that even her hands that were holding the spear were small convinced me that she had to be a child.

Because in the game, she didn't seem young at all and was tall,

I was not able to recognize her right away.

'Why does she look so different? Both Lucas and Jupiter were similar to the image that they had in the game.'

I was comparing Evangeline in the game to Evangeline here in my head when Lucas pressed his elbow against my side. Huh? What is it?

Uhm, Your Highness. It's rude to judge someone's appearance in front of them

Gasp.

When I stopped thinking and looked ahead, Evangeline's expression was stone cold. I could tell she was really angry at one glance.

Wait, wait, Ms.Evangeline! There's a misunderstanding. I'm not saying that you're short, I'm just saying that you were a teeny tiny bit smaller than the appearance I saw in the game I mean, I imagined!

I hurriedly waved my arms and spat out excuses (which I really meant), but of course, the situation was not resolved.

Evangeline's eyebrows started to shake.

How dare you make fun of another person's body complex right in front of them? Perhaps you have more than just a single stock of life, hm?

No, I only have one

Then maybe, you should've used it sparingly.

Evangeline grabbed the giant spear in her hand after spinning it.

I changed my mind. My last strike was just a small poke to ask about the situation, but this one, I'm going to throw it with everything I got.

Swoosh-

An intangible fighting spirit rushed around the girl wielding the spear.

Even I, a stranger to such art, felt the wind blowing, which meant that this was no joke.

Lucas, standing in front of me with his sword drawn, yelled at her.

Retrace your spear, Ms.Cross! The person in front of you is the third prince of the Empire, Ash!

Evangeline snorted after listening to that.

After the unauthorized occupation of someone else's house, you're now impersonating the imperial family? I like your creativity, but your story lacks credibility, no?

What?

That famous nasty third prince has no reason to come to the countryside!

But I'm really here!

Thwack!

As Evangeline kicked the ground, a shallow crater formed where her little feet were standing.

She jumped right in front of me in the blink of an eye. She was as fast as a missile.

Clank!

Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks

Lucas swung his sword and deflected the spear.

The tip of the spear and the blade of the sword gnawed at each other, firing red sparks. Evangeline's eyes flashed.

Mhm. This mister has quite some skill, huh?

Of course, Ms.Evangeline. After all, I happen to be your 'Sunbae' at the academy!

(TL Note: 'Sunbae' means senior, much like 'Senpai' in Japanese. The opposite would be 'Hubae', which means junior, much like 'Kouhai' in Japanese.)

Correcting his posture, Lucas introduced himself.

My name is Lucas McGregor, I graduated as the second seat of the 369th class of the Imperial Academy.

Oh wow, second seat! You graduated as the second seat, Lucas? Amazing!

Lucas suddenly pointed his hand at me as I was still in admiration.

For your information, His Highness Prince Ash behind me is also your Academy Sunbae!

Huh? What, really? Did I graduate from there too?

Among the 369th class graduates, he was considered a legend among legends!

And I was considered a legend? Me?!What legend? What was the legend about, Lucas? Hm?

Uh, uhm

However, after stating that I was a legend, Lucas didn't elaborate further. And it seemed that he was avoiding my gaze for some reason.

Feeling anxious for some reason, I asked cautiously.

Hey, Lucas. Mind if I ask you one thing?

O-of course, Your Highness. You can ask me anything.

Uh What was my rank at graduation?

Lucas, who had stiffened for a moment, gave a reluctant answer while breaking out in a cold sweat.

You, you were the first seat.

From the back?

I, uh yes.

I smacked myself on the aching forehead.

That's why I was a legend, huh?

Well, yes That is included in the legend But as expected from the man who inherited the blood of the Emperor! It was also because you gave up on your studies and played with confidence! The first seat from the back was also something you set as your goal from the beginning!

Oh, how manly and unrestrained! Right, if you were to give up on your studies then you might as well aim to be the last place in the class. Great job, Ash!

I can't believe you are playing as Sunbaes at our school now You two really are something else, misters.

Evangeline, who had been listening to our comical conversation, corrected her posture.

She stretched out her hand, which was not holding her spear, to her side, then pulled her chest to the front and bowed her back.

And she put one leg behind her while slightly bending her knee.

It was a beautiful and elegant manner without any errors at all. Only if it wasn't for the huge cavalry spear in her hand.

Alright, then. I, the top seat early graduate of the 375th class of the Academy, Evangeline Cross

Right after that, her emerald-colored eyes opened wide,

Send my greetings to you, 'Sunbae'-!

Thwack-!

And she flew at us.

Lucas also rushed at her.

Clink! Clank! Shriek-!

The two knights clashed with each other, brandishing spears and swords.

Their skills were evenly matched.

It does make sense since both of them were SSR-rank characters. They were two of the few combat prodigies that exist in this world.

Both of their talents could be seen as equal.

Shriek! Clank!

However, the battle was starting to become more advantageous for Lucas.

Lucas was attacking more and faster, while Evangeline was defending.

Evangeline was in a hurry to block Lucas's sharp attacks.

Their talents were equal, but the difference was in experience. Lucas, who had gone through countless battles to protect me, was a seasoned veteran. A factor that Evangeline, who was still young, did not have.

Tch!

It was right then. Evangeline, completely on the defensive, frowned between her eyes, and put something that was on her back on her left arm.

You're better than the teachers at my school, mister. I didn't want to bring this out, but!

It was a small eagle-shaped shield.

Clunk!

As Evangeline put the shield on her left arm, the eagle's wings unfolded and elongated horizontally.

Spear on her right hand, and the shield on her left.

When I saw it, I really came to my senses.

'She really is the daughter of the Earl of the Frontier.'

After correcting her stance, Evangeline rushed toward Lucas.

Now I'm giving it my all-!Lucas, whose expression hardened, silently raised his sword and blocked her strikes.

Claank-!

After she took out her shield, Evangeline's combat power improved noticeably.

She parried Lucas's sharp sword strikes with her shield and attacked with the huge spear in her right hand swinging lightly like a feather.

She had apparently been pushed back before pulling out her shield, but now the battle became tight once again.

'It is a great sight, but'

The battle between the two extremely trained masters was eye-opening and splendid.

Like fireworks in the air, sparks exploded whenever the metal collided with another metal.

'But being cool is another matter. At this rate, someone's gonna get hurt.'

In fact, neither of them was really fighting to kill the other. If that were the case, they would be spamming their skills right now.

However, even if it was not a fight to death, it could still be dangerous.

It's time to stop them. I stepped forward.

Hey! Both of you can stop now! That's enough!

Clank! Claank-!It seems that there's a misunderstanding, so let's try to talk this out. Alright?

Shriek! Clank!

Hello? Do you not hear me? You two?

I guess they don't hear me. The two knights were engrossed in their duel against each other.

'Is there any way to stop them?'

The battle between the two was completely even.With that being the case, there was no choice but to have a third party step in and ruin the fun.

I looked down at my hands. The SSR-rank luck-based weapon 'Lucky Strike' shined and appealed its presence to me.

'I guess there's no other way!'

It doesn't matter if it's a sloppy attack. I just need to be able to apply the brakes in this situation.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Evangeline wasn't paying attention to me at all.

She seems daunted just by dealing with Lucas.

I sneaked up close to the two of them.

It seems that my presence as a combatant is faint. They actually don't care at all, huh.

'Just a light hit. Just a light one!'

I clenched my fist and took a deep breath.

Alright, here I go!

Here comes the Prince Punch~!

I sloppily stretched out my fist,

Wh-what the?! When did you?!As I suddenly stretched out my fist with a shout, Evangeline was surprised and reflexively raised her shield to block my fist.

The moment my fist touched the shield, a slot machine in one corner of my field of vision began to spin tight.

Ring!

7.

Hm?

The moment the number of the first digit came up, a chill went down my spine.

It was kind of like intuition as a gamer.

Next, the tenth digit.

Ring!7.

'Something's wrong.', the thought flashed across my mind like lightning.

Don't tell me.

Wait a minute. It can't be. Right? For real?

And the final, hundredth digit is

Ring!

7.

Aaaaah!

It happened. It actually happened, 777!Astonished, I opened my mouth wide.

Why am I getting this here?

Join our discord for release updates!