After a while, the procedure for the winner of the hunting festival took place. A priest handed a sword to the Pope. It was an honorary sword made by a master, something only a Knight of Honor could receive.

The Pope, holding the sword, lightly kissed the blade for the blessing.

It was the moment when the sword, adorned with glory, would be handed over to its new owner.

“The grand title of Knight of Honor seems disappointingly mundane for such a majestic procedure.”

A sharp voice intruded into the silent hall.

“I dare claim that I am the one who vanquished that monster, Your Holiness.”

“Your Grace, did you defeat that monster?”

The priest who verified the monster asked Calis. It seemed to be a simple confirmation, as the question was pure and showed no signs of doubt.

However, Calis couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated. He floundered like a fish, only muttering with his mouth.

Sedric, observing his foolish attitude, smirked. Even a nod of agreement would have smoothly facilitated the proceedings, but this fool was trying to seize an opportunity by making things difficult.
In frustration, Cedric nudged the man’s side with his elbow.

Only then did Calis regain his composure and open his mouth.

“Um, well….”

But for some reason, everything that came out of his mouth was embarrassingly inadequate. Even that seemed irritating, and he subtly grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“Why would you ask the obvious question to the priest? Unless it’s our hero of the century, who else would have vanquished that monster? Surely you don’t believe, Your Holiness, that the lover of Emperor Freihard, trembling next to the duke, destroyed the heart of the monster? With those delicate arms? Haha!”

Ultimately, Cedric, who was frustrated, stepped forward and resolved the situation. The priest also laughed at the ridiculous question of whether Cloé had really banished the monster.

“I asked in vain because I wanted to hear a heroic tale. Yes, then, Your Holiness, I will convey that Duke Calis Arhen annihilated the monster.”

“Haste aside, you can hear the heroic tale at the Pantheon Temple.”

“Yes, that’s right. As one of the Knights of Honor, you can listen to His Excellency’s story in detail there.”

Receiving a definite answer that Calis, who had defeated the leader of the monsters, would become the winner of the hunting festival and a Knight of Honor, Cedric’s face noticeably brightened.

Later, the priest and other priests set a schedule to collect the corpse of the monster and withdrew.

The man who had been smiling so single-mindedly until the door of the mansion closed suddenly changed his expression. Cedric, with a cold gaze as chilling as his eyes, raised his voice with a voice as cold.

“What are you silently standing there for?”

“Oh, well… I… I’m not sure if I can receive the title of Knight of Honor. Saying that I defeated the monster….”

Calis confessed the truth with embarrassment.

He threw off his jacket with the determination to kill Cloé. He looked sharply. The arrow from the straight woman pierced the head of the monstrous creature. The breathing of the ferocious monster, shedding blood, gradually ceased.

So, Calis couldn’t deny that the hero who defeated the fearsome monster was not him but that woman. Unfortunately, the one who banished the horrifying monster was that woman.

“Do you mean to say that woman defeated the monster?”

“……. ”

“Ha! Is it a sense of conscience to say that the Knight of the century not only failed to defeat the monster but also sought the help of a powerless woman? Calis Arhen, you really want to die!”

In response to Cedric’s words, Calis quietly licked his lips. It was a humiliating and hurtful remark, but sadly, he couldn’t offer any rebuttal.

“On that day, you killed that monster, Calis Arhen. Your name will be raised in the Pantheon Temple! If you’re going to babble strange words, you’d better spit out everything you’ve received from me so far and quietly disappear.”

“……. ”

“You’re unlucky, aren’t you? Swish!”

Cedric, annoyed by the mastermind who tried to ruin his plan, lit a pipe in frustration. After inhaling the smoke, he sternly advised a moment later.
“I should seek revenge, Duke. You probably couldn’t kill that woman in this hunting festival, so after establishing yourself as a Knight of Honor, you should subtly eliminate her without anyone noticing. I’ll provide you with money, honor, and opportunities for revenge; all you have to do is play the part.”

Cedric, who looked disdainfully at the defeated opponent, clicked his tongue. His heavy footsteps vanished outside the mansion.

Calis, left alone in the mansion, stared blankly at the corpse of the monster.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Gradually, his hand, mimicking the resolution of someone who had made up their mind, clenched into a fist.

“Anyway, I was the one who finished off the monster in the end. That clueless princess wouldn’t know how to defeat a monster. Nothing to be scared of. If I just follow Duke Theodore’s orders, everything will be fine.”

At the time when the woman defeated the monster, Calis diligently slashed towards the fallen body of the monster.

For the ignorant Cloé, it would seem that Calis finished off the monster.

Yes, he was crazy. What was the reason to retreat just because he got beaten a few times by a nasty woman?

All he had to do was quietly follow the path his master had laid out for him. If he did just that, he could get rid of this notorious reputation and rise again after healing his injuries.