Lord of Caldera - Chapter 262

Chapter 262: Chapter 262

The rumors were ambiguous, with even his own family speaking against him, and above all, the pride of the Royal Guard resisted acknowledging the birth of a hero. After all, what would it say about the Royal Guard if a single warrior could accomplish what would require their entire order to subdue a dragon?

But now, they had no choice but to admit it. The man before them was indeed a monster.

“I apologize, Sylas Corleone. It seems I was too quick to believe rumors… or rather, I failed to judge a man correctly.”

As the onlookers remained silent, Dietrich spoke, his tone filled with regret. The sting of defeat didn’t seem to bother him as much as the shame of having been misled by others’ words. After all, Dietrich had been one of the main sources spreading Sylas’s false rumors.

“I can’t undo the past, but I can make amends. If you’d like something beyond an apology…”

“No need. How much could an apprentice knight even offer?”

Dietrich couldn’t deny Sylas’s words. If his family were wealthy, it might have been different, but the Lichtenhoffen family was a courtly noble family without the land and resources of territorial nobles. Though they held considerable influence due to the Imperial Family’s favor, they lacked substantial wealth.

“Well, I’ll let it go with just an apology since there was no malice involved.”

“Thank you.”

Dietrich bowed his head in genuine gratitude. This was, by noble standards, an incredibly lenient outcome. To nobles, reputation was akin to life itself. If one’s honor was tarnished through slander, they were well within their rights to demand a duel to the death. Since the rumors had been baseless, Dietrich now owed Sylas a debt.

“But really…” Sylas swept his gaze over the crowd of apprentice knights. They flinched under his piercing stare, having seen his overwhelming power firsthand. Yet Sylas clicked his tongue exaggeratedly, as if he found their reaction pathetic.

“I thought at least one more challenger would step up. So, even in the Royal Guard, an apprentice is just an apprentice?”

His taunt seemed to rekindle the fire in the apprentice knights’ eyes.

In most orders, when a member was defeated, another would typically step forward to restore the group’s honor. The question of right or wrong was irrelevant; it was a matter of pride.

Our comrade may have lost, but that doesn’t mean his defeat defines our strength.

It was a demonstration of resolve, as if to say that the initial loss didn’t represent the group’s actual ability. If no one issued a rematch, it was often taken as a tacit admission that the losing knight represented the whole group’s level of skill. Sylas had touched on this very point.

“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. If the duel is over, then I’ll be on my—”

“Apprentice knight of the Royal Guard, Taylor Toben, challenges you to a duel!”

Just as Sylas was turning to leave, an apprentice knight, Taylor, stepped forward with a fiery expression. He was the same senior knight who had served as the referee for the previous duel. Seeing Taylor’s flushed face, Sylas grinned.

“Such spirit. Pick up your sword.”

“I already have it in hand!”

Taylor promptly took hold of his training sword and stood before Sylas. Dietrich, shocked, tried to dissuade him.

“Senior, please, stop!”

“Step aside! This is my duel!”

“Would it not be pointless if we fail to redeem ourselves?”

Without sufficient skill, they would only repeat their defeats, turning this rematch into nothing more than a disgraceful display. Dietrich wanted to prevent such an outcome, but Taylor shook his head.

“Dietrich, don’t you see? If no one challenges him here, defeat is not the issue. We would become cowards who let a knight disrupt our own grounds and leave unchallenged.”

“…!”

“So, stand back. Even if I’m humiliated, I’ll accept defeat as a Royal Guard apprentice.”

With a look of realization, Dietrich stepped aside, allowing Taylor to move forward and take his stance.

“May this duel be a fight worthy of the Goddess.”

Dietrich, now assuming his role as referee, signaled the start of the duel. Taylor charged forward with ferocious energy the moment the duel began.

“Hyaaaah!”

Thwack.

“Gah!”

And with that, Taylor was defeated almost instantly, collapsing to the ground. He twitched slightly, clearly unconscious. A few other apprentices hurried over to carry him away. Sylas looked around again and spoke, as if daring them to respond.

“So, no other challengers now?”

“Not a chance!”

“We still have plenty more here!”

The remaining apprentices all shouted in defiance. Sylas chuckled, beckoning them with a flick of his hand.

“Apprentice knight Bernhardt Zallier challenges you!”

“Apprentice knight Wolfgang Nassau also challenges you!”

“And apprentice knight Richard Welzer, I challenge you as well!”

Challenges flew in from all directions, and Sylas couldn’t help but laugh, not mockingly, but in genuine admiration.

“Good! You all have strong resolve! Step up in order!”

“Then I’ll go first!”

“Hey, show respect and let the senior go first!”

“No way, the junior has to take on the tough task first!”

“Save the bickering for after your match!”

Despite the chaos, the challengers quickly settled on an order, each stepping forward one by one to face Sylas. Each, in turn, was defeated within moments. Yet none of them hesitated to rise, to try again, and to face Sylas. It didn’t take long before every apprentice lay exhausted on the ground, each one breathing heavily.

As Sylas looked at the scene, he murmured to himself.

“Even as apprentices, the Royal Guard lives up to its name. Impressive spirit.”

Unlike before, his tone held respect, and that single comment brought smiles to the faces of the defeated challengers. They had changed the Dragonslayer’s impression of them—and that alone was more than enough.

“How reckless! A duel with the Royal Guard, of all people!”

Back at their lodging, Sylas faced Count Bill’s reprimand, laced with concern.

“The Royal Guard represents the face of the Imperial Family. There’s nothing to gain from fighting them, win or lose!”

“They were only apprentices, not full knights. You’re worrying too much.”

“Apprentices or not, it’s the same thing. Why did you get involved in something like this?”