Battle Race in the Fantasy World

Battle Race in the Fantasy World – 27

EP.27 The Free Part Has Ended. Now The Main Story Begins

“Kyle Jonathan, kneel before the exalted Imperial family.”

“….”

To kneel is a perfectly reasonable demand.

Living as a noble under the Empire means acknowledging the authority of the Imperial family.

The Baron Jonathan enjoys its rights as a noble house, so it must fulfill its duties.

‘Kneel down.’

So, he should kneel. No matter who it is, one must do so in front of the Imperial family.

However, Kyle did not kneel or pay his respects as those before him demanded.

“I am.”

Just thinking about it fills his chest with a grandiose feeling, such words welling up.

“I do not heed the words of those weaker than myself.”

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Of course, if he said that, his happy academy life would be over.

Why would he blow himself up when he’s enjoying the world of humans?

Anyway, ‘Kneel before the exalted Imperial family.’ The moment Kyle heard those words, only one thought came to his mind.

‘Why is the Imperial family coming up out of the blue here?’

As the name ‘Imperial Academy’ suggests, this place is the Empire.

Land ruled by the Emperor. A place where the Imperial family is above all else. A world where the Emperor’s word is the mandate of heaven.

Not the northern border lords, the Litorrio Grand Duchy, nor any other noble can be above the Imperial family.

With a mere gesture, they can make any house disappear in a day.

Someone from that Imperial family is now here, in the academy headmaster’s office.

He hadn’t heard any rumors or passing comments, yet such a distinguished person has come.

And right now, in front of him, having been summoned to the headmaster’s office at this very moment!

‘There’s only one conclusion. My presence here is related to the reason they’ve come.’

– Gulp. –

Involuntarily, he swallows dryly. His heart races with tension, not out of fear for the Imperial family, but because of the potential consequences.

What if things go wrong here and he has to return to home?

Or worse, what if the Imperial family becomes hostile towards Jonathan Family, leading to a major conflict?

Either scenario is the worst. The former is dreadful, but the latter is even more so.

Especially considering the people of Jonathan, their reaction to a fight with the Empire is predictably enthusiastic.

They would surely be thrilled, shouting ‘Hooray!’ at the prospect of a real battle.

So, Kyle quickly knelt down and bowed his head.

He has just been graced by the Saintess, he can’t go home now. No, certainly not.

“Kyle Jonathan, the second son of the Baron Jonathan, is honored to meet you.”

“Hm.”

Beyond my words, a woman’s short sigh flows forth.

Then, the sound of a chair being pushed back is heard.

– Thud. –

“Lift your head.”

A perfect imperative tone. If Leo or Lea were here, sparks would be flying from their eyes.

But Kyle is very different from his brother and sister.

He slowly lifts his head. And soon, Kyle finds himself looking directly into the eyes of a woman.

Red eyes. That’s what he sees first. Flames? No, it’s more like rippling blood.

Her hair, a mix of silver and black, an unlikely harmony that somehow works.

A dignity that is no less than what he felt from Elga, if not greater.

‘…Who exactly are you?’

He wonders if there was such a character. Now that it’s come to this, I regret only sampling the free part.

If she’s from the Imperial family, she must be someone important. And here I am, knowing nothing.

“You are Kyle Jonathan?”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm….”

The woman narrows her eyes as she looks at the one kneeling before her.

Her gaze is like that of an appraiser evaluating an item.

It feels like she’s scrutinizing every detail, examining him thoroughly.

“Stand up.”

He is dying to ask why she’s doing this.

But she’s from the Imperial family. He is not sure who she is exactly, but she must be someone significant.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for everyone else to be prostrating themselves on the floor.

Even after standing up, the woman’s intense scrutiny continues.

She inspects him from head to toe, repeatedly touching her chin as she does so.

Every time she examines Kyle’s sturdy body, a flicker of interest, admiration, and a hint of competitiveness light up her eyes.

After about five minutes, she finally nods as if she has finished her assessment.

“Not bad. It seems the rumors weren’t unfounded.”

Rumors, unfounded, her words are full of things he can’t understand.

But Kyle doesn’t have the chance to clear up his questions.

“What?”

Suddenly, the woman grabs his hand and starts pulling him somewhere.

“Wait a moment! Why, why are you doing this!”

“I need to verify something. To see if it’s really true.”

“So what exactly are you trying to verify! Explain, damn it!”

All the while being dragged away, Kyle worried if anyone would see this scene.

But as expected of the Imperial family, it seems they cleared everyone from the vicinity in that short span of time.

Or perhaps there were no people around due to the Victory Festival.

The woman quickly stepped outside the building and dragged Kyle all the way to the training grounds.

As soon as they arrived, she roughly positioned Kyle in one spot and immediately threw a punch at him.

‘Are you insane?!’

The Imperial family is perceived as the most noble within the empire.

And naturally, the word ‘noble’ implies honor.

However, throwing a punch out of the blue like this is far removed from any sense of honor.

Especially when the strike is chillingly fast.

It’s a direct aim for the face, and getting hit would at least result in a broken nose.

At that moment, Kyle thought: Anything but the face is fine!

– Swoosh! –

By a hair’s breadth, Kyle dodged the woman’s attack and tried to quickly retreat.

He could have counterattacked or gone on the offensive, but two things held back his nature.

One was that the opponent was from the Imperial family.

And the other, she was an incredibly beautiful woman.

– Swoosh! –

The woman’s fist flew through the air again, even faster this time.

Aiming for a spot that could cause significant damage if hit.

This was no ordinary woman. She was a highly trained fighter.

This wasn’t a simple jest. Nor was it a brawl between street thugs.

It was a noble duel, determining the outcome with fists. A battle between the strong to decide the victor and the loser.

As Kyle’s thoughts reached this point, his body moved almost instinctively.

– Thud! –

“…!”

A mix of surprise and admiration flickers in the woman’s eyes.

Her attack was sincere, without any hint of carelessness.

Yet her strike was so easily blocked by this man, Kyle Jonathan.

Even when she tries to exert force on the arm that Kyle is holding, it doesn’t budge.

Most knights of the Imperial family couldn’t best her, but this man was different.

‘Impressive? You exceed my expectations.’

The woman smiles broadly, but despite her smile, her body launches a kick.

If things go as they are, she can strike Kyle, who is focused on her arm.

Even if he defends, the distraction could allow her to slip her arm free.

“Ah?”

However, her expectations are beautifully thwarted.

With one hand, Kyle holds the woman’s arm, and with the other, he catches her leg.

The strength is so great that, despite her efforts, the woman cannot move.

She, who has subdued countless Imperial knights, is unable to do anything!

It’s astonishing. Admiration comes naturally. To think such a man exists in the Empire.

She had heard of the renown of Jonathan, but to find that it was not an exaggeration but fact.

She is truly delighted. And truly looking forward to what comes next.

“Excuse the delay, but may I ask who you are?”

At Kyle’s question, the woman gestures with her chin towards her hand and foot.

If he wants an answer, perhaps he could start by letting go of these.

A normal person might have hesitated, anticipating another attack.

Especially if they had been taken by surprise, they would naturally be on guard.

If their heart had been chilled, their spine tingling, they would show an even sharper response.

But Kyle immediately releases the woman’s hand and foot.

As if it doesn’t matter what attack she makes next, whatever speed and strength she shows.

As if to say he can subdue and capture her in any manner he chooses.

At this, the woman lets out a short sigh.

“Ha, ha.”

‘I’m not the one who usually enjoys such leisure, but to be on the receiving end…’

It’s a bit frustrating, but also incredibly enjoyable.

At last, she has found the perfect strong opponent she has been seeking.

She had worried about when she would ever meet such a person, and now she finally has.

“Your Highness!”

From behind, several people hurriedly approach.

One is the academy headmaster, and the rest are none other than the attendants of the woman.

Thanks to them, Kyle now understands the identity of the woman he was just sparring with.

‘…A princess? This woman who starts with punches is a princess?’

It feels like the words ‘What kind of world is this?’ are about to burst out of his throat.

The image that comes to mind with the word ‘princess’ is certainly one of nobility and elegance.

A sharp gaze hidden within a polite tone, that’s the popular image.

He had never heard of a princess who throws punches capable of smashing someone.

Of course, that question is one thing, but what’s important is that he’s facing a princess.

Kyle quickly stepped back and bowed his head deeply.

Internally, he was screaming ‘This woman is a princess?!’ over and over.

“That was very impressive.”

Refusing the handkerchief offered by her attendants, the princess looked at Kyle.

Her gaze was that of a true strong opponent filled with competitive spirit.

“I’d like to continue right now, but I sneaked in today, so…”

“….”

“I’ll look forward to next time. Kyle Jonathan. I hope you’ll be as good as you were today.”

After saying this, the princess disappeared with her attendants.

There couldn’t have been a more intense and baffling entrance and exit.

“…Headmaster.”

He just can’t make sense of this situation.

He was about to ask the headmaster, who seemed to have some understanding, what was going on.

“Student Kyle.”

With a face several times more pitiful than usual, the headmaster begins to speak.

“It’s too much for me… It’s really too hard because of you, Student Kyle….”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m barely coping with one minister… and now the Fifth Princess too… What kind of calamity is this….”

“The Fifth Princess?”

At Kyle’s question, the headmaster nodded with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

“Isn’t she Princess Yurika Sebastian Lovisa de Lotringen? The one who is said to be among the top ten in terms of martial power in the Empire… Why on earth would such a person come to the academy….”

A princess who is among the top ten for martial power in the Empire.

That slender beauty, surpassing all sorts of knights and wizards to hold such a position.

‘What in the world, damn it. What kind of world is this!’

Beside him, the headmaster is practically begging to be saved.

The one who suddenly appeared and threw punches without warning is a princess, and in fact, one of the top ten powerhouses of the Empire.

Faced with a complete mess, Kyle could only hold his face and let out a sigh.