Terminally-Ill Genius Dark Knight-Chapter 219

219. Academy Swordsmanship Festival [3]

“What should I do…”

“What do you mean, ‘what should I do’? Naturally you should participate. Even if she’s a family, since we’re at the academy, she’s just a sparring partner, right? Why are you agonizing over something so trivial?”

After Vernon’s class ended, my companions gathered briefly before we part.

Naturally, the topic of the swordsmanship festival came up, and this was the conversation that had just taken place between Thalia and Paracelsus.

Honestly, this damn bastard.

I clicked my tongue while looking at Paracelsus.

“Can’t you be a little more considerate? There are circumstances involved here.”

“You noble sir are too soft. That’s the problem. Honestly, do opportunities like this come easily to others? Think about it. It’s a chance to grow stronger. These kinds of opportunities don’t come often.”

Paracelsus shrugged as he continued.

“The barren East, the barren East… Everyone says that, but honestly, the East was full of trash. After the war, no high-ranking knights ever passed through, and all that was left were insignificant lowlifes. I actually think it’s fortunate that an opportunity like this has come.”

“That’s true, but…”

Thalia’s voice grew smaller as she spoke.

A brief silence fell.

It was only natural.

This wasn’t an issue others could easily weigh in on.

Of course, Paracelsus’s point was understandable.

Participating in the Academy Swordsmanship Festival meant proving that one’s skill was on par with the top-tier students, even the third-years.

And now, a chance to spar directly had come?

How many could refuse that?

In fact, Paracelsus had been disappointed that even in the desolate East, where he had just survived the war-torn era, he hadn’t found a worthy rival.

Moreover, among the participants this time was a senior whom even aspiring knights admired.

Cell von Stiliner.

At a time when the Stiliner family’s influence was said to be waning slightly, she was the one who, following Robert, displayed exceptional talent and once again raised the White Flame to its peak.

Naturally, many competitive knights longed to face her.

'….The problem is that it’s crushed Thalia’s motivation.’

Thalia had trauma. Unsurprisingly, it was related to her sister, Cell.

“I’ve never once beaten my sister with a sword. And now, of all people, my first opponent is her… I’m not ready yet.”

“What a cruel coincidence. Pairing sisters together like this, as if someone planned it. It’s downright malicious, Though I don’t know whether it was the faculty or just random” ṝἁNọВĚŠ

Eleanor snorted and crossed her arms. Recently, the two had grown quite close, and now she was even taking Thalia’s side.

But Thalia’s mood showed no signs of improving.

Even at a glance, she looked slumped, drained of energy, and her hands were trembling. She was trying hard not to show it, but my eyes wouldn’t be fooled.

As I pondered, Leon spoke in a serious tone.

“If it’s something you must overcome, then there’s no choice but to face it. Cell von Stiliner…. I’ve heard she’s an exceptional knight, but when the time comes to clash, you can’t back down. The outcome is decided after the battle, so what’s important is not to fear it.”

“…Ng. Thanks.”

To be honest, Leon’s advice wouldn’t be much help.

The reason was simple, talent level (格).

Something called Level, at times, is what makes people the most miserable.

It’s simple.

Thalia had a prodigy talent. Cell had a genius talent.

That was an insurmountable difference.

Leon, who was offering advice, was also a genius. That meant he wasn’t the most suitable person to give advice to others.

Let’s recall how the trait [Genius] functioned in this world, which was once a game.

It was a damnable trait that operated on a completely different level from lower-tier traits, setting the starting line for all units apart from the very beginning.

'Can Thalia win?’

No.

That much was clear.

Moreover, how could she defeat an older sister who not only had a year’s advantage but also surpassed her in innate talent?

At least in the game, there was absolutely no way.

'Even if Cell deliberately held back, Thalia would only feel more powerless. She wouldn’t stand a chance. Instead, she’d be left with nothing but misery, and the sisters would reach the worst possible outcome.’

It was unfortunate, but that was reality. The sisters, who shared the positive trait [Upright Nature], would both give their all. If one won or lost, they would accept it.

That you were the victor.

That I, the inferior one, was defeated, and in the end, you were the one who triumphed.

Knights aren’t an easy bunch, but these kind-hearted sisters would ultimately accept it and bless each other.

After all, the Stiliner family was like that from the start.

The problem was that here, Thalia von Stiliner could break.

'Thalia. In the original story, she would grow into a terrifying monster strong enough to kill me… But because I took a spot in the swordsmanship festival, the bracket changed. Now she’s facing her sister too soon, and in the worst case, her talent might be crushed.’

That couldn’t happen.

What if the butterfly effect I caused prevented Thalia from blooming into her full potential?

If that happened, she would lose herself in the future.

'…If Thalia fails to awaken even in the episode where Cell dies, that’s unacceptable.’

That must never happen.

Especially if it was a butterfly effect caused by me, Nox. All the more reason I had to help her.

So, I decided to lend her a hand as well.

“Your worries are understandable. But instead of bottling it up, why not focus on what you’re good at?”

“What I'm… good at?”

Thalia’s expression brightened slightly as she looked up at me with a faint hint of hope.

She seemed to expect something, but honestly, I didn’t have any grand solution.

So, meeting her gaze squarely, I spoke with a bit more emphasis.

“Effort. Repetition without end. Moving forward without regret.”

Having said that, I also looked straight at her.

“Isn’t that what you’re best at?”

I recalled the first time I met Thalia. Back then, she had been lost in despair over her repeated defeats against her sister.

Her vague goal of becoming a knight had become her shackles, and I hadn’t known whether it would ultimately destroy her. But in the end, Thalia resolved to become a knight in her own way.

Because that was the only way she could escape her sister’s shadow, even just a little.

So, I added.

“I might be able to help you a little, too.”

“R, really…?”

“Though, honestly, I’ll probably end up taking first place in the swordsmanship festival anyway, so it might not mean much. But if you want.”

The faint blush and smile on Thalia’s cheeks were etched into my pupils before I realized. As they shimmered transparently, I stood up from my seat.

She began to follow me.

Paracelsus, irritated by my words, snapped.

“…See, this is the problem with you nobles. Always excluding us commoners from your little discussions. Right? And what? You think you’ll take first place? You think I’ll just let that happen?!”

**********

Eldain Academy grounds, Third-Year Knight Training Hall.

Shwaaat——!

Leaving a sword trace behind, White flame first form precisely cuts through the magic scarecrow.

It was an academy-certified item, one that couldn’t be cut through with mere strikes or sword slashes, a top-tier model personally approved by Professor Lars. Yet, despite its reputation, it began to collapse far too easily.

A white flame burned brightly as it precisely struck, leaving a deep gash in the scarecrow. Creek. The high-quality scarecrow tried to regenerate the wound on its body, but the White Flame’s unique demon-repelling technique made recovery impossible.

Thud!

Soon, the scarecrow collapsed powerlessly onto the ground. free𝑤ebnovel.com

“Haa…”

White Flame.

The flickering white fire was the symbol of the Stiliner family.

“…Thank you.”

Cell von Stiliner accepted a towel from her attendant and wiped away her cold sweat.

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

What she was shedding was cold sweat, not the exhilaration of giving her all.

[How was it? My power?]

The voice echoed in her mind.

It was breaking her.

In fact, she had known from the beginning.

When she first picked up the sword for the sake of the Stiliner family’s revival, she was no genius. Robert, too, had only begun placing real expectations on her about five years ago, from that day onward.

[You… need power, don’t you? Right?]

At some point, she had begun hearing a mysterious voice. Before she could even realize what that dark, corrupting force strangling her was, the young Cell had been more focused on earning her father’s approval.

The head of the Stiliner family, Robert, had been under considerable pressure at the time.

Though Thalia might not have seen it, the Robert that Cell knew was in a precarious state.

The imperial family had been sending constant letters threatening to revoke their ducal status, and he had even considered arranging a marriage with the Reinhavers. Even the lowest-ranking Reinhaver was someone the imperial family couldn’t ignore outright. Their prestige alone could ensure the Stiliners’ survival as a ducal house.

Though twisted, the reason Robert had no choice was for the sake of the countless people in his territory who revered him, who were willing to die for him.

He had lived by the principle of noblesse oblige.

But he still lacked a true successor to the White Flame form. And it was true that the ducal house’s standing was weakening.

'If our rank is stripped away, more people will look down on the Stiliners. That’s undeniable. Father will suffer even more… And Thalia, who should inherit the family in my place, will collapse too.’

From the very beginning, Cell had never cared about title or succession. Her only duty was to stand at the pinnacle, maintaining this devil’s power, this balancing act, just long enough for Thalia to grow. She couldn’t afford to lose her mind.

Everything was for her father and her sister.

From the beginning. Yes, from the very beginning.

Unfortunately, Cell von Stiliner knew. That in the end, she would be remembered in history as a trash who sold her soul to a demon. That she would never earn her father’s recognition and would be cast aside.

But there was one thing she didn’t know.

That her belief that she was maintaining balance was nothing but delusion. That the power she wielded was already tainted by a viscous darkness. The demon Belial’s power had been eroding her all along, and in the end, it would kill Cell.

Also.

Cell would never achieve what she so desperately desired. Instead, she was fated to bring ruin to her family with her own sword. Because to demons, the White Flame Form was one of the most terrifying swords.

Over the past several centuries, that pure white flame had slain far too many demons. It was why the Stiliners had become a ducal house in the first place.

That was precisely why Belial had targeted Cell.

To exploit Robert’s kind nature, his inability to bring himself to cut down his own daughter.

To exploit Thalia, who hadn’t yet amassed enough strength to kill her sister, and the other weaklings.

And ultimately.

To completely erase from the continent that which posed a threat to him. the White Flame itself.

Demon was that kind of existence after all.

The only ones who knew this truth were the demon Belial.

And Nox von Reinhaver.