Lord of Caldera - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Chapter 62
CLANG!

“Kugh!” Ray staggered backward from the impact of Toby’s strike. Toby pressed his advantage, giving Ray no time to recover. Though Toby was clearly in control, he remained cautious—his opponent, after all, possessed the blood of the ancients.

‘I can’t let my guard down. He might pull off a reversal at any moment,’ Toby thought.

Luckily for him, Ray’s battle experience seemed lacking. In terms of raw physical ability, they were evenly matched—Ray had less brute strength but made up for it with speed and explosive power. However, he lacked the seasoned swordsmanship and adaptability of a more experienced knight. He fought like a novice still learning the ropes of battle.

‘Time to end this,’ Toby decided.

He calculated his final move, raised his sword high, and swung with all his might.

CLANG!

A deafening sound reverberated throughout the training yard. Ray’s body swayed sideways, and his sword flew out of his hand, spinning into the air. All eyes followed the sword’s arc as it soared and clattered to the ground with a metallic ring.

In the silent arena, Ray stood unsteadily, staring at his empty hands, while Toby lowered his sword.

For a moment, no one spoke. The weight of what they had just witnessed left the crowd speechless. It was Werner who broke the silence.

“The victor is Sir Toby,” he declared.

“It was a good match,” Toby said, bowing slightly.

“…It was a good match,” Ray echoed hesitantly, following suit. The duel had ended, yet the audience remained silent, too stunned by the incredible display they had just witnessed.

Clap, clap, clap.

“Marvelous!” Count Bill’s voice boomed across the arena, breaking the tension. He stepped onto the training ground, clapping his hands as he approached Toby and Ray, his face full of admiration.

“I thought the age of heroes had ended with our ancestor, Leonik, but I was mistaken! We have two knights here today who are worthy of being compared to the legendary heroes of old!” the count proclaimed, his eyes glowing with pride.

“You honor us with your words,” Toby replied humbly, bowing his head.

“T-Thank you for your kind words,” Ray added, still uncertain of how to handle such praise.

“Nonsense! I’m not even doing you justice. To think that two such champions stand among us today—blessed with the strength to protect all of humanity. What a gift this is!” the count exclaimed, raising his voice for all to hear.

Though they served different lords, the count was praising both as protectors of humanity—knights who could stand against the monstrous threats of the world. He was elevating their stature to that of heroes wielding swords against the enemies of mankind.

“And to think that both of you serve my sons—how could a father not be proud? In honor of your duel, I will host a grand feast. You must both attend,” the count continued.

“How could I refuse an invitation from you, my lord?” Toby replied with a broad smile, eagerly accepting the offer.

“I… will attend as well. Thank you,” Ray said, still a bit awkward but respectful.

With the count’s invitation, the knights erupted in cheers.

“Blessed be the return of heroes!”

“May the goddess protect these mighty knights!”

The knights, who revered martial prowess above all, led the cheering, and soon the servants joined in, swept up by the excitement of witnessing such a heroic event. Sylas, clapping alongside the others, looked over at his father and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

‘He doesn’t usually notice the little details, but in moments like these, Father can be surprisingly sharp,’ Sylas thought.

The duel had been a display of extraordinary power—so much so that it could have easily incited fear. People might have started to see these two knights not as human but as terrifying, inhuman beings, especially given their overwhelming strength.

‘But Father stepped in right at the critical moment and turned it around, making sure they’re seen as heroes instead of monsters,’ Sylas mused.

Those with overwhelming strength are often viewed in one of two ways—either as heroes or as demons. By intervening at the right moment, the count had firmly cemented Toby and Ray as heroes in the minds of the family and the spectators. Now, no one would view them as threats. They would be celebrated as the heroes of a new era.

“Ah, Ulrich, you mentioned earlier that Sir Ray would remove his helmet after the duel, didn’t you?” the count said, turning toward his eldest son.

“Yes, indeed. It’s time for that,” Ulrich replied with a calm smile. His earlier tense expression was now completely hidden, replaced by his usual composed demeanor.

“Sir Ray, please remove your helmet,” Ulrich said, turning to his knight.

“Yes,” Ray responded.

Ray lifted the helmet from his head, and as soon as the crowd saw what lay beneath, gasps and cries of shock filled the air.

“A woman!?”

Ray’s long red hair cascaded out from under the helmet like a waterfall. Her skin was pale as pearls, and her emerald-green eyes shone brightly. She was young—barely older than a flower in full bloom.

“A woman was the one fighting so fiercely just now!?”

“And she’s so young, too—she looks barely nineteen or twenty.”

“At that age, a man would just be finishing his apprenticeship as a knight.”

As the astonished murmurs spread through the crowd, Count Bill’s eyes widened in surprise. He had noted the youthful sound of her voice, but he hadn’t expected the knight to be a woman!

“Well, this is unexpected. I’ve encountered a few female knights before, but not many,” the count remarked.

There were no formal laws against women becoming knights, but due to the physical demands of the role, it was rare. And for a woman as beautiful as Ray, the path of a knight seemed even more unusual. Many such women would choose a more comfortable life through marriage into a powerful family rather than enduring the hardships of knighthood.

Ulrich stepped forward, still smiling. “I chose not to reveal that Sir Ray was a woman because I wanted her skills to be judged on their own merits, not her gender.”

“Hmm, I see,” the count nodded, understanding. People often let their preconceived notions cloud their judgment. Ulrich had made sure Ray was evaluated for her abilities, not her appearance.

“How old are you, and have you been officially knighted?” the count asked.

“I’m nineteen. I was knighted by Viscount Elias of the western territories,” Ray replied.

“Impressive! At your age, I was still an apprentice knight myself!” the count exclaimed with a hearty laugh.

“A true Valkyrie walks among us! With a sword like yours, I wouldn’t be surprised if you ascend to stand beside the goddess herself one day!” he added.

“You honor me, my lord,” Ray replied, her face turning red with embarrassment. Despite trying to maintain her composure, the emotion in her eyes was clear—she was deeply moved by the count’s praise.

‘This is Father’s true talent,’ Sylas thought as he watched the scene unfold.