The Villainess is a Millionaire Solver - Chapter 157

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 157

“A strange challenger?”

At the Empress’s question, the Butler answered.

“The preliminaries started earlier, and among them was a knight who was crushing his opponents mercilessly and advancing triumphantly. A Black Knight. To be more precise, he wore a mysterious cloak that seemed to spread black mist…”

“What did you say?”

I asked back in surprise.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. I saw it clearly with my own two eyes. That Black Knight looked exactly like the thief people call ‘Black Phantom’. No matter how you looked at it, it was him.”

The Empress’s face turned pale.

She had hoped against hope, but had that bastard really appeared?

That was her expression.

Toward the speechless Empress, the Butler said apologetically.

“Following Your Majesty the Empress’s orders, we weeded out anyone even slightly suspicious beforehand, but we simply couldn’t filter out that person. For example, using a nickname instead of a real name, covering one’s face with a helmet – these are all too common in this type of tournament, aren’t they?”

“That’s right.”

“Besides, that person seemed to know all the tournament regulations like the back of his hand. But strangely, he didn’t say a single word. His knight certification only had ‘Knight of Retribution’ written on it… What could this mean? Is he really the thief?”

“What are you talking about?”

A soft and clear young voice came from behind the Butler.

It was Aldensis. Zikren and Ruellian were also walking over together.

“A thief appeared in the preliminaries? Did I hear that correctly?”

At Aldensis’s words, the Empress replied calmly.

“Don’t all sorts of rumors spread at events like this? It seems there’s someone desperate for attention, so let’s watch carefully for now.”

Then she looked at the Butler again.

“Isn’t that thief a criminal that His Majesty also finds displeasing? Whoever that Black Knight you mentioned is, to participate in the Founding Festival dressed like that. How uncomfortable would His Majesty be if he saw this? Must we really do this on such a good day?”

“You speak wisely, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“The quietest and most certain solution would be to deploy the strongest and most excellent knights from the Imperial Knights to somehow eliminate him in the preliminaries. Do that.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Just then, a booming voice echoed throughout the venue.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

Everyone stopped talking and bowed their heads in respect.

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Yes.”

The Emperor probably had a rough idea that something was happening, but he pretended not to know.

“Come, take your seats. It’s been 11 years since the last tournament, and everyone’s been waiting eagerly.”

“Yes.”

As I headed to my seat, I briefly exchanged glances with Ruellian.

‘Anyway, since he’s appeared, we’re catching him. No matter what.’

Looking at his firm violet eyes, I reaffirmed our goal once more.

Ruellian probably had similar thoughts.

He nodded once toward me, then went to the religious figures’ seats on the Emperor’s left.

The Empress, the Crown Prince and Second Prince, Violet, and I went to the seats on the Emperor’s right.

While everyone was settling into their seats amid the commotion, the Butler approached with a troubled expression.

“That Black Knight has passed the preliminaries. We tried to stop him, but it wasn’t enough.”

Even the elite knights carefully selected from the Imperial Knights, who possessed the strongest military power, were useless.

Well, if that person was the real culprit who secretly murdered Ruellian’s parents, it made sense.

I turned my head to look at Ruellian again.

He was also looking this way.

He probably couldn’t hear the attendant’s words, but seemed to have figured it out from the atmosphere.

‘I mustn’t get nervous.’

I turned my gaze forward again.

The venue’s offensive and defensive systems seemed to be maintained without any problems.

Serene, who had agreed to watch for anything I might miss, also waved her hand as if there were no problems.

Soon, a magnificent trumpet sound echoed.

“We now begin the 【Imperial Knight Tournament】!”

Cheers erupted.

As the Emperor said, it was an event held for the first time in 11 years.

After the opening ceremony ended, when I stood up holding Windfearer, cheers erupted loud enough to make my ears ring.

I held up the sword and said.

“To the Empire’s greatest knight who defeats all knights and claims victory, I will present this sword. Who will become the owner of this Windfearer today?”

I couldn’t speak any longer.

The people’s excitement reached the sky. If we didn’t start immediately, it seemed like a riot would break out.

‘As I originally thought, the sword and I have certainly drawn tremendous attention.’

Under the passionate gazes of the spectators, I sat back down.

“Then we will now begin the tournament matches between the 16 knights who passed the preliminaries! First, let me introduce Sir Yates of Didlington! His opponent is the ‘Green Knight’ from Gale!”

A door on one side of the circular arena opened.

A knight wearing an iron helmet with deer antlers rode out on a brown horse like a gale.

At the same time, the door on the opposite side opened.

A knight wearing a green helmet and green cloak came charging on a white horse.

The two knights met in the center of the arena and immediately began their duel, clashing swords. Sharp metallic collision sounds rang out frantically.

Every time the horses’ hooves struck the ground, thick clouds of dust rose up. The sharp sword tips flashed brilliantly in the sunlight.

‘I don’t want to see blood.’

My stomach started to churn.

Somehow the first and second matches ended.

“Next, Sir Valerie from Queinton! And the ‘Knight of Retribution’ who hasn’t revealed his origin!”

My ears perked up at the booming voice.

The arena door opened, and a knight in silver armor with a red cloak came charging out. At the same time, the door on the opposite side opened.

“What? That’s…”

The spectators began to stir loudly.

It was because of the appearance of the Black Knight who burst out from the opposite side.

A black helmet and pitch-black armor covering his entire body were common enough. That wasn’t the important part.

The appearance of having his face and body completely covered by a cloak that fluttered mysteriously, sometimes like flames, sometimes like mist. His tall stature. The strength and agility with which he effortlessly controlled his large black horse.

All of these bore a striking resemblance to a certain being that the people of the capital knew all too well.

“That’s him!”

Zikren shouted.

“The bastard I faced directly in the underground passage! That thief bastard we almost caught but let slip away!”

‘No.’

I shook my head.

While remarkably similar, it wasn’t exactly the same.

If the real thief’s cloak moved mysteriously as if alive, the fake thief’s cloak billowed up in thick, ominous colors like storm clouds gathering.

But only I could distinguish that difference. Other people wouldn’t notice at all. Unless the real one appeared before their eyes for comparison.

“It’s the thief! It’s Black Phantom!”

“To appear here!”

People focused on the fake thief without knowing better.

They all seemed to secretly cheer for his victory. It would be much more interesting that way.

‘How disgusting. To steal and use someone else’s name.’

When I looked toward Ruellian, his violet eyes were quietly burning with murderous intent.

It’s not like he could step forward and declare himself the real thief. He could only watch with fire in his eyes…

Thud!

Before our eyes, Sir Valerie, his opponent, was knocked down in one blow.

Even after being unhorsed, he raised his sword and tried to attack the fake thief. But the fake thief rode as if he and his horse were one body, lightly charging and knocking away his opponent’s sword.

Sir Valerie’s sword spun through the air and stuck in the ground far away.

“‘Knight of Retribution’ wins!”

At the announcement, the arena erupted in commotion once again.

“He’s incredibly strong.”

Serene, who had approached my side at some point, whispered.

“How can he be so fast and powerful? Isn’t he using black magic?”

“That’s not it.”

Aldensis shook his head at my words.

“It was swordsmanship I’ve never seen before. No, should I call it some mysterious martial art that combines body techniques and swordsmanship?”

“It does remind me of the Northern Region.”

“Well, you might feel that way because of the horsemanship.”

Ruellian also came over to our side and joined the discussion.

“What do you think, Aldensis? It was too brief a moment to analyze precisely, but it seemed like two or three different styles were mixed together.”

“Did you recognize any of them?”

“I’m not sure. In my opinion…”

Everyone murmured and discussed.

Even those with considerable knowledge of martial arts couldn’t immediately identify that Black Knight’s background.

Aldensis shook his head slightly.

“Now I understand. Why Zikren let him slip away even when they faced each other directly. How he managed to trick us and cleverly steal the crown when we were lying in wait at the department store. He’s using extremely sophisticated body techniques.”

“So that’s how he could roam around the capital like it was his own home, stealing things.”

Zikren replied bluntly.

“But it’s strange. Why did that thief show up here?”

“…”

Aldensis briefly turned his gaze to look at me.

“Perhaps he’s targeting the Princess?”

“What? Me?”

“I hope my premonition is wrong, but… when I fell for his tricks at the department store that day, didn’t I tell you about a certain hallucination I saw? The scene where that phantom thief took the Princess hostage and threatened us brothers…”

Serene was shocked by Aldensis’s words.

“Such a thing happened? Your Highness the Crown Prince often has prophetic dreams.”

I thought it was just a meaningless dream at the time, but with the situation turning out like this, I felt somewhat uneasy.

The fake thief clearly said he was targeting Windfearer, but since his identity was fake to begin with, that could be a lie too.

While we were watching and sharing various opinions, the round of 16 ended and it was that bastard’s turn again.

The Black Knight wrapped his entire body in a fluttering cloak, and a knight wearing a golden helmet with his family’s crest.

The two clashed at full speed several times. After exchanging fierce attacks and defenses that sent sparks flying from their swords, the Black Knight finally succeeded in stabbing his opponent’s right arm.

He pressed his advantage, grabbed the opposing knight’s body, and threw him off his horse like wrestling.

“Wow!”

Tremendous cheers erupted from the spectator stands.

“That thief bastard…!”

The knight in the golden helmet tried to get up, but couldn’t rise immediately.

“The injury seems serious?”

Murmurs could be heard from here and there. The organizer asked.

“Lord Morgan! Will you surrender?”

“No!”

The man called Lord Morgan answered through gritted teeth. As soon as that answer fell, the Black Knight raised his sword high and spurred his horse forward. It was a terrifying momentum.

‘Good heavens! Just surrender! At this rate, someone’s going to die!’

Serene and I clasped hands tightly.

Then.

“Wait!”

Zikren jumped up beside me and shouted.

“Stop! I’ll fight in his place!”

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