“Demonic Spirit... Lugia?” Joshua muttered blankly.

‘As in… literally a demon’s spirit?’ 

If this iron rod really was his favorite spear, then this would be the first time he’d ever heard it speak.

The original Lugia was a long rod with two bladed prongs. Although it looked quite odd at first glance, no one would dare mock Lugia. When Joshua wielded Lugia, their overflowing mana made them unchallenged on the battlefield.

Which only made it difficult to believe that Lugia had transformed into an iron rod with some sort of Spear Ego; it was entirely different from what he knew in his past life.

-Time is running out.

Joshua was roused by Lugia’s voice humming in his head.

“What do you mean?”

-The curse within your body will suppress your strength and consume your life as time passes.

His eyes widened. For it to deduce the condition of his body so clearly… 

Joshua gulped down subconsciously and said, “Did you… also return to the part with me and took this… shape?”

-There is only one way to free the power in your body.

Lugia seemed to have not heard Joshua’s question and continued on.

-That is to recover your power in the shortest time possible. You’ll need to reach at least Level 4 in the Magic Spear Arts with the current state of your body.

“Level 4?!” The Magic Spear Arts that Lugia was talking about referred to the ancient technique that he had learned. The mana cultivation method that was discovered alongside this spear art displayed tremendous power. 

Just like how the majority of knights in Igrant viewed the sword as the ultimate weapon, the spear was strongly viewed as a crude toy, a mere tool to be only wielded by poorly trained conscripts.

‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.’[1]

However, among the knights, few understood the spear. As a result, there had only been a handful of people in the entire continent who were able to compete with Joshua in his past life. Back then, Joshua had reached the fifth level of mastery. After decades of hard work, Level 6 had been just round the corner.

In terms of knights’ classes, it was equivalent to an A-Class Knight who could manifest their mana in the form of a sword. These knights were known as the “Absolutes”. At the fifth level of his eight-stage spear technique, Joshua was the best knight in the empire. The fourth level, just below it, was equivalent to a B-Class Knight.

Joshua was confident that he could reach that same level, but he was now only nine years old. He still needed a good while in order to reach the pinnacle of the Spear Arts.

‘Of course, I have to gather more power. I’ll need more than just skills to get close to Prince Kaiser too.’ Joshua made a gloomy face.

‘But in my present state…’ Joshua bit his lip. ‘Well, I’ve already experienced handling it.’

If he were to control mana above the capability of his body, he would experience pain all over. Thus, it was tough for him to even think of becoming a C-Class Knight, let alone a Master.

Wooong!

Lugia descended slowly while letting out a deep resonance.

-It’s a temporary measure, but, as long as I’m by your side, you’ll be able to use mana to a certain degree.

Joshua’s eyes widened.

-Constantly improve yourself. When you reach the supreme state, and I regain my strength…

Lugia’s voice began to fade, as if it was losing strength.

-To achieve what you desire…

Joshua rushed closer to catch Lugia’s last whispers.

-The self consciousness… certain stage… next time…

“Hey!” Joshua’s hand shot towards Lugia, which had fallen lifelessly.

Flash!

Just then, the volatile amalgamation of three energies in his body exploded all at once.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Joshua screamed from the tremendous pain, feeling as if his body was being torn apart.

***

“Duke Agnus has arrived.”

Following Imperial etiquette, the servant opened the door to the reception room after a short delay. The well-oiled hinges swung open almost silently. Inside, two men and two women waited patiently.

“Oh?” Duke Agnus tilted his head. There were more people than expected.

Knights? No, it was terribly rude for a guest to be accompanied by their knights in the Avalon Empire. It was like saying they didn’t trust their host. Usually, their knights would wait in a different room. 

Above all else, the atmosphere inside the room was… off.

“Charles?” Duke Agnus’ eyes widened as he saw a familiar face.

“I greet the Duke.” A girl with flaming red hair gracefully greeted Duke Agnus. She was a pretty girl in her early teens, with slightly raised brows. She seemed somewhat sharp at first glance, but it only enhanced her charm. She was Charles di Pontier, daughter of the Pontiers—one of the great Ducal families of Avalon.

“You—”

“I came here on a whim, so I asked them not to inform you, Duke.”

“Cox!” Duke Agnus stepped forward with a smile. The short-haired, middle-aged man, Cox von Wagen, was a vassal of the Pontier family. He had been born a merchant and risen to nobility, and he was rather famous for his nickname: Gold Bar.

As the name suggested, he had a monstrous appetite for gold. Hardly any money came into the Pontier family without passing through his hands; he was a key figure in the Pontier Duchy.

“The young lady insisted to visit, so I accompanied her. My apologies, Your Grace.” Cox bowed his head with regret.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about! Even when we’re both in the capital, it’s hard to see each other… When else will I get the chance to see you?” Duke Agnus took it in stride with a cheerful smile.

“Thank you for kind words,” Cox replied. 

At that, Duke Agnus smiled mischievously.

“If you’re really sorry, how about you work for me now?”

“Haha, that’s—”

“Uncle, it’s been too long since I’ve seen you. You didn’t even greet me and you’re already trying to poach our people?” Charles cut into the conversation.

“Young Lady!” Cox’s face almost turned blue. It was fine for Charles to treat Cox like her own item; despite him holding a high-ranking position in the empire, even above an ordinary Count, he had watched her grow up with his very own eyes. Giving Duke Agnus the same treatment, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. 

Just as Cox was about to apologize, Duke Agnus burst into pleasant laughter.

“Hahaha! Yes, that’s the Charles I know! I had my doubts for a moment when you greeted me formally earlier.”

“Really…” Charles pursed her lips then looked around. “But, Sir Chiffon, where is Babel?”

“Ah, the young master....” Chiffon voiced out.

Looking between them, Duke Agnus smiled strangely.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong.” Charles noted his smile. “I am of the same mind as you. As you know, our family has great wealth, but no one can challenge your strength.”

“Hmmm.”

“The news of Babel getting promoted to a C-Class Knight have already spread all over the capital! So I thought I might try recruiting a talent.”

“Young Lady, you say too much!” Cox couldn’t stand it anymore. He shook his head and bowed tearfully. “I’m sorry, Duke. Our young lady is still immature—”

“What did you say?” Charles’s voice was shrill.

“It’s okay. She’s just at... that age.” Duke Agnus waved it off, but his face quickly shifted to an embarrassed expression. “I’m sorry, Poncel. I forgot about you.”

“It’s alright, Your Grace.” The scholarly man in his mid-thirties bowed his head. This blue-haired, sad-eyed man with a soft impression was Poncel zin Rebrecca, famed for his magic skills.

Beside him was a girl which gave off a rather similar feeling. She had wavy blue hair which flowed down like a waterfall and big droopy eyes. If Charles was “pretty”, this girl could be called “beautiful”. She was Rebrecca’s last hope, the only remaining child of the Countess, and a magic genius: Iceline zin Rebrecca.

“You came, Lady Iceline.” Duke Agnus greeted her with a small smile.

“I greet the Duke.”

“I came all the way here to get something to eat—” Charles made a dissatisfied expression.

“Young Lady, why are you like this?” Cox grumbled.

“Oh! I heard something!” Ignoring Cox, Charles clapped her hands as if she’d remembered something. “I heard you have another son but he’s sick so he's not staying in the mansion and is staying somewhere nice instead or something like that and—”

“Young Lady, that story!” Cox shouted in terror and embarrassment.

“A nice place…? I don’t think the stable is all that nice, but—” Duke Agnus smiled bitterly.

“Oh, a stable?” Charles looked surprised. “So it’s true he’s your son?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“AHA! Then—”

“Young Lady, please!”

‘I haven’t said anything yet,’ Charles frowned.

‘Please, please!’ Cox couldn’t hide his anxious expression. ‘I pray the young lady doesn’t go any further. I pray that I live to greet the sunrise…’

But God was not on Cox’s side.

“—He would be perfect for Iceline.”

Cox cracked at Charles’s words that rang throughout the room.