Lord of Caldera - Chapter 273

Chapter 273: Chapter 273

If nothing else happened, the banquet would conclude just like this, with the same scenes repeating tomorrow and the day after.

But Sylas had already sown the seeds outside the banquet. Now, it was time to watch them sprout.

“Are you Sylas Corleone of the Corleone family?”

The deep, resonant voice froze the hall. Heads turned sharply, their gazes filled with curiosity and disbelief at who would dare.

Sylas set down his glass, meeting the gaze of the man who had addressed him.

“I am. And you are?”

“Karon Aidern,” the knight introduced himself, his sharp eyes narrowing.

“Of the Royal Guard.”

“What? All the Royal Guard trainees lost to a single person?”

What Sylas had done had sent shockwaves through the Royal Guard. While the trainees were considered inexperienced, only those with exceptional potential could even qualify for training.

They were prodigies, expected to one day grow into the Empire’s finest knights. And yet, they had all been defeated by one man.

“Do you call this a report? Have you no shame?”

“We feel no shame, Commander.”

“What!?”

“He was a worthy opponent.”

“You dare…!”

Karon had been furious. Sure, some opponents couldn’t be beaten, no matter how many fought them. A dragon, for instance.

But that was a monster, not a human. No matter how exhausted this man might have been from his previous battles, losing to him was a disgrace.

“Who could possibly be such a formidable opponent that you speak so proudly of losing?”

“Sylas Corleone, the Dragonslayer.”

“The Dragonslayer?”

“Yes, Commander. His reputation is no exaggeration.”

The trainees’ faces, rather than filled with shame, radiated a sense of pride, as though merely being recognized by their opponent had been a victory.

Karon couldn’t understand it. No matter how impressive a Dragonslayer, Sylas was still human. Yet, the trainees acted as though they had been acknowledged by a dragon itself.

“We must challenge him to a rematch!”

“This is a matter of honor for the Royal Guard!”

Karon wasn’t alone in his indignation. The other knights also considered the incident an embarrassment and sought to rectify it. Even the commander, usually cautious, had nodded gravely.

“Very well. He will attend the Emperor’s banquet. Challenge him there. His Majesty will surely understand.”

With the commander’s permission, Karon, excused from his duties for the day, now stood before Luke, representing the Royal Guard.

Sylas studied Karon intently before chuckling softly.

“A rematch?”

“Indeed,” Karon replied.

There was no pretense in his tone. Among knights, duels for honor were a tradition. When Sylas had overturned the trainees’ quarters, this was an inevitable outcome.

The only question was whether Sylas would accept the challenge.

“Dragonslayer, will you accept the challenge of a Royal Guard who has yet to slay a dragon? I humbly seek instruction from you as your lesser,” Karon said, his words an obvious provocation.

Luke’s smile widened. Far from annoyed, he found the blatant provocation immensely satisfying. This was precisely what he had been waiting for.

Rising from his seat, Sylas bared his teeth in a grin.

“Gladly.”

Duels at banquets were far from rare occurrences. Where so many people gathered, conflicts were inevitable. It was common enough that people joked about “a duel for every banquet.”

But this particular duel was anything but ordinary.

“The Dragonslayer versus the Royal Guard? What kind of match-up is this?”

The nobles watched with tense expressions as the two men faced each other. On one side stood Sylas Corleone, the Empire’s hero with connections spanning the continent. On the other was Karon Aidern, a knight of the Royal Guard, the sword of the imperial family.

Both had earned their reputations through their strength, and a loss here would be a significant blow to either side.

“No matter who wins, this will cause a massive stir.”

“But will His Majesty even allow the duel to proceed?”

A blemish on the Royal Guard’s reputation would also reflect poorly on the imperial family. Surely, the risk-averse Emperor wouldn’t permit such a reckless display.

“A duel between the Dragonslayer and the Royal Guard? What a spectacle!”

“…!?”

The Emperor’s enthusiastic response left the nobles dumbfounded. What could he be thinking, so readily approving such a volatile match?

Unbeknownst to the others, the Emperor hadn’t made this decision lightly. He had been swayed by the Royal Guard Captain’s request the day before.

“Your Majesty, to restore the honor of the Royal Guard, I humbly ask you to permit a rematch,” the Captain had said.

“Is there any need to make a big deal out of a fight with trainees? Winning barely salvages their pride, and losing would only tarnish it further,” the Emperor had replied.

“On the contrary, Your Majesty.”

“On the contrary?”

“Against an ordinary opponent, Your Majesty’s words would be true. But this is the Dragonslayer we speak of—the man who slew six dragons in succession. Simply standing their ground against him elevates the Royal Guard to his level. Even in defeat, they will be excused, given the caliber of their opponent.”

“Hmm, I see your point.”

“So please, Your Majesty, grant us this rematch. Even if they are mere trainees, they represent the budding future of the Royal Guard. As their seniors, we cannot let this pass.”

After brief deliberation, the Emperor had agreed. The Captain’s reasoning had been sound.

“Fame and reputation grow as they pass through the mouths of others. By challenging the Dragonslayer, even the act itself becomes a feat.”

As long as they avoided a crushing defeat, merely holding their ground for a time would have the public viewing the Royal Guard as equals to the Dragonslayer.

And the imperial family, supported by such a Guard, would be revered even more. It was, in every way, a winning proposition.

“There’s no need to move this elsewhere! This hall is more than spacious enough for a duel. Everyone, step back and make room!” the Emperor declared.

At the Emperor’s command, the nobles hastily retreated, forming a wide circle around the improvised dueling ground. As he said, the banquet hall was vast enough for a proper duel.