In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 199

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 199

“Haah!”

Sir Sloan seemed to have the same thought as he began to launch a swift offensive.

Clang!

With a crisp sound, Sir Sloan’s large body nimbly executed his footwork.

It was a textbook movement, faithful to the basics yet without any unnecessary flourishes.

It was an achievement worthy of the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights.

Sir Sloan, who charged forward in an instant, looked threatening enough to cut down Ramona at any moment.

However.

Something strange happened again.

“Wh-what?”

Ramona also began to create distance at the same time.

And the two people’s steps were identical, as if reflected in a mirror.

“Wh-what is that?”

Someone cried out in shock.

It wasn’t simply rewinding the footwork in reverse.

The footwork Ramona displayed was the same as Sir Sloan’s, yet different.

It was more refined and more mature.

And.

Clang! Crash!

Everything happened in an instant.

Ramona’s eyes seemed to sharpen, and then she executed the same deflection technique that Sir Sloan had shown earlier.

But this time was different too.

Exactly half a beat.

Defense turned to offense half a beat faster than what Sir Sloan had shown.

Whoosh!

A strong wind seemed to blow along the sword’s path.

“Haa, haa.”

Before anyone knew it, Ramona’s sword had stopped in front of Sir Sloan’s neck.

Sir Sloan blinked twice and gazed at Ramona’s blade reflecting the banquet hall’s light for a moment before speaking.

“I… I’ve lost.”

“Waaaah!”

“Amazing! Truly amazing!”

Cheers erupted from all directions.

Clap clap clap!

Applause poured forth as well.

Even the Imperial Guards forgot that their superior had lost and stared at Ramona with wide, dazed eyes.

“Just who is that knight!”

“Since she’s the escort of the Lombardi lady, she must be a Lombardi Knight!”

“Amazing nonetheless!”

Everyone seemed to have already forgotten that this was a duel for honor.

“That move earlier… no, everything…”

Sir Sloan muttered with a confused expression.

It was such an intense defeat that it made him forget even the fact that he had lost.

Then he looked at Ramona with eyes so intense they seemed ready to shoot fire and asked.

“How on earth did you do that?”

It was a question that everyone present who had trained with swords wanted to ask.

The movements Ramona had shown were beyond ‘common sense.’

“Please teach me, Sir Brown.”

Sir Sloan approached and said.

His rapid breathing hadn’t even returned to normal yet.

“…”

The knights held their breath.

However, they didn’t have high expectations.

They didn’t expect such an incredible secret technique to be readily taught in such a public setting.

“The deflection technique that Sir Sloan first showed was Half-Baked.”

But Ramona opened her mouth with a calm voice.

“Instead of ending with this turning motion, you need to pull the sword once more. If you do that, you can disrupt your opponent’s breathing…”

She was even kind enough to pick up her sword again and demonstrate.

The knights were flustered by this sight, yet unconsciously took a few steps closer, afraid they might miss a single word.

Even the nobles, who had been continuously cheering at what had suddenly changed from a duel arena to a teaching ground, sensed something strange and tilted their heads.

“Then what about the footwork?”

One knight who had been quietly listening to the lesson asked.

“That is…”

This time too, there was no hesitation.

Ramona explained in a gentle tone that was easy to understand.

The more she did so, the more the desire to learn bloomed on the Imperial Guards’ faces.

Every single word from Ramona Brown was precious as gold.

It was advice that became flesh and blood for the knights.

Among them, some had already broken through walls that had blocked them for months without progress.

“That ‘Half-Baked’ you mentioned earlier… what exactly does that mean?”

Sir Sloan asked Ramona.

“Are you saying that the Imperial Swordsmanship we know is an incomplete Half-Baked version?”

Instead of answering, Ramona looked to one side.

She confirmed the sight of Pirenthia sitting leisurely in her chair with a smile.

As if waiting for a final command.

Nod.

Pirenthia slightly nodded her head.

Phew.

Ramona let out a short sigh and said.

“That’s correct. The Brown Swordsmanship that was passed down as Imperial Swordsmanship is an ‘incomplete version’ with many parts omitted.”

“Huh…”

“The ancestor of the Brown family who created ‘Imperial Swordsmanship’ modified Brown Swordsmanship so that as many people as possible could learn it safely and quickly. In that process, parts that weren’t essential or were difficult to master were omitted.”

Ramona’s clear voice resonated through the night air.

“However, the heads of the Brown family have traditionally learned the unedited Brown Swordsmanship and, based on that, took on the position of captain of the Imperial Knights to teach the knights. But…”

“Ah, so that’s why…”

People understood simultaneously.

The reason why the Imperial Guards’ achievements began to subtly decline after the Brown family, who had served as captains of the Imperial Knights, disappeared.

“Also, much of what I know is the result of painstaking research and development by my father and other survivors of the Brown family over the past 40 years.”

The audience stirred.

And the gazes that had been directed at Ramona naturally began to focus on someone else.

“I will announce the result of the duel.”

It was Emperor Yobanes with a stern face.

“As a result of the duel for honor… Pirenthia Lombardi’s representative has won.”

Yobanes’s cold eyes turned toward Astana.

It was a pathetic sight – unable to escape due to the many watching eyes, sitting there with his face bright red.

Then Ramona moved.

She took her sword and stepped forward.

And stood before Pirenthia.

Shing.

Ramona, holding the sword with both hands, slowly knelt on one knee before Pirenthia.

And spoke solemnly.

“Ramona Brown offers victory and honor to my Lady.”

It was a common ritual performed by the victor’s representative in a duel.

But for it to be between Lombardi and Brown of all people.

The atmosphere around them became strange.

“Thank you for fighting so bravely, Sir Brown.”

Pirenthia Lombardi slowly rose and received Ramona’s sword with both hands.

Then she turned toward Astana and said.

“Now I would like His Highness the Crown Prince to offer his apology.”

Astana’s body flinched greatly.

“An apology for insulting my mother and disparaging the honor of I, Pirenthia Lombardi.”

“It’s not like I made up something that wasn’t true…!”

Astana shot up and shouted.

His attitude remained that he had done nothing wrong until the very end.

“Crown Prince.”

But before Yobanes’s cold voice, even that defiance was instantly crushed.

“I, I…”

Astana clenched his fists tightly.

As if greatly aggrieved, he glared at the calmly waiting Pirenthia and spoke through gritted teeth.

“S-sorry. I… misspoke.”

For an apology obtained after going as far as a duel, it was pitifully modest, but Pirenthia simply shrugged her shoulders once.

“Damn it!”

Astana, now sobered from his alcohol by shame, spat curses as he fled from his seat.

Hundreds of gazes flying toward his back pushed against Astana’s retreating form.

“The mood is ruined.”

Emperor Yobanes said this as he rose from where he had been sitting.

Then he asked Ramona.

“What did you say your name was?”

“Ramona Brown, Your Majesty.”

Ramona knelt once more and answered respectfully.

“Your relationship to Lord Brown?”

“He is my father.”

“I see…”

Yobanes’s words trailed off.

Then his gaze shifted slightly to the right hand holding the sword.

The hand that remained intact and uncut.

“Will you be participating in the hunting competition, Sir Brown?”

“Yes. Though my skills are lacking, I will participate in the name of House Brown, Your Majesty.”

“Good, I wish you luck.”

Yobanes left only those words before turning away.

There was no mention of the superior swordsmanship Ramona had just displayed.

Ramona’s shoulders dropped slightly.

But the Imperial Knights following behind the Emperor looked back at Ramona.

Their eyes were filled with lingering regret.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, there was a gentle hand that touched the shoulder of Ramona, who stood there in a daze.

“Lady Lombardi.”

“Don’t worry, Sir Brown. House Brown’s spectacular return has successfully taken its first step.”

Tia smiled, her green eyes sparkling with life.

“Just trust me.”

It was strange.

With just those words and that smile, strength surged in Ramona’s chest.

It was truly reassuring.

Whether she knew Ramona’s feelings or not.

“Astana, that embarrassed stupid face of his.”

Tia wore a somewhat villainous smile.

“Delicious, so delicious.”

Her shoulders bounced as if dancing while she spoke words whose meaning was unclear.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————