Chapter 193
Valhalla, one of the landmarks of Atlas and the continent's premier knight training institution.
Reina Draker was adapting to the new culture of Valhalla, different from the academy.
Furthermore, Reina had a big worry these days.
She stared intently at the cute Devil Bear patterned gift box placed in front of her.
"..."
It was a gift from the second son of the Roswell Clan, the man called Durban the Slasher at the academy.
Reina drew the sword she was wearing on her waist and slashed the cute patterned box.
Slice
The cute Devil Bear doll inside the box was also cut in half, with cotton spilling out.
Reina sheathed her sword and said,
"Throw it away."
One of the Turunn Clan's vassal students, who was prostrating beside Reina, took the halved box and went outside.
As Reina shook her head and was about to head to the training ground,
The woman watching her from the side clicked her tongue and said,
"Reina, if you keep doing that, you won't be able to get married later."
Olga was a cadet who entered Valhalla with Reina and was five years older than her.
She was the daughter of the Argo Clan, a powerful Clan that ran a transportation company in the port city of Iason.
Despite coming from a merchant Clan, not a warrior Clan, she was a unique individual who, wanting to become a knight, trained herself and entered Valhalla.
Reina said to Olga in a firm voice,
"I have no intention of getting married."
"That's what you think. Your Clan might not agree."
Reina shook her head at Olga's words.
"I received the Draker name, so there's no reason for the Turunn Clan to force me into marriage."
But she knew.
That someday, she too would have to marry someone, and that someone would likely be determined by an agreement between clans.
'Even so, it won't be Durban the Slasher.'
Olga, seeing Reina frowning, giggled and said,
"The Roswell Clan isn't a bad option. Durban... he's a bit lacking, but I don't think he'll cause trouble with his Clan's backing."
"If you like him so much, you can have him."
"I can't. I already have a fiancé."
Her fiancé was none other than the second son of the Siemens Clan, Edward Siemens.
Although she said it in a calm voice, Reina knew better than anyone that Olga wanted to escape the fate her Clan had set for her.
Reina said to Olga,
"Olga, when you're feeling irritated, sparring is the answer."
"...That sounds a bit strange, but anyway, you're saying let's go spar?"
Just as Reina and Olga were about to head to the training ground together,
A servant approached and whispered to her. Reina was surprised to hear the servant's words.
"What? Zeke Draker?"
***
A restaurant specializing in southern cuisine located within Valhalla. It was the place where she had dined with Diego before.
Although Zeke wasn't particularly fond of southern cuisine, he strangely often remembered the food here even after graduating from Valhalla.
Around the time the food was served, Reina appeared in the restaurant.
Thud!
A dozen or so people in black uniforms lined up behind Reina.
As Reina entered the restaurant, they waited outside in an upright posture.
Zeke clicked his tongue at the sight.
'Even after coming to Valhalla... the Turunn Clan is still the same.'
Reina spotted Zeke and sat across from him.
"It's been a while, Zeke Draker."
"Yes, it has. Reina."
Reina was slightly flustered by Zeke's unexpectedly friendly greeting.
She collected herself and asked Zeke,
"What brings you here?"
Zeke looked at Reina and said,
"Let's eat first. Have you tried the food here?"
Reina shook her head.
Zeke pushed the steaming southern dishes that had just been served towards Reina.
"Try it. The food here is quite good."
Reina looked at Zeke with suspicion as he suddenly appeared and urged her to eat.
Zeke ignored Reina's stare and started eating first.
Watching Zeke, Reina's appetite was also stimulated, and she began to eat.
"Hmm?"
Reina, who was trying southern food for the first time, was surprised by the unexpected taste.
To prevent muscle loss, Reina mainly ate meat with little fat, and supplemented any lacking nutrients.
As a result, the southern food, with its blend of strong spices and seasonings that she rarely tasted, appealed to her palate.
Munch. Munch. Munch.
Reina had a large appetite.
After she swept through the table once, the plates were quickly emptied. In the end, Zeke had to order twice more food.
"Whew."
Only after piling up a mountain of plates next to her did Reina finally come to her senses.
Then, noticing Zeke looking at her in surprise, she became slightly embarrassed and looked away.
"...It was quite a delicious meal."
"Yes, I'm glad you enjoyed it."
To Zeke, who had regressed across 20 years of time, both Reina, who was around the same age as him, and Alice, who was even younger, seemed equally young.
He was simply happy that Reina ate more than he expected.
Wiping her mouth, she returned to her usual sharp gaze.
"I heard that you recently dispelled the curse of the haunted mansion."
It seemed that the news of Zeke completing the mission had spread widely.
Zeke nodded while sipping the tea he had ordered.
"Yes, it wasn't easy, but I managed to succeed."
In reality, it was a mission he had stumbled upon without any hardship, but Zeke spoke nonchalantly as if it wasn't.
Reina, unaware of the circumstances, nodded and asked Zeke,
"What is the reason you wanted to see me?"
Zeke put down his teacup and got to the main point.
"I want to meet the head of the Turunn Clan."
Reina's eyes widened at the unexpected words.
The head of the Turunn Clan, Rex Turunn.
He was considered one of the strongest knights among all the previous Turunn knights and one of Draker's Black Knights.
Despite that, he had rejected the Draker name, chose the Turunn name, and became the head of the Clan.
Reina asked Zeke with a stern expression,
"Why do you want to see the head of the Clan?"
Zeke looked into Reina's eyes and said,
"To challenge the Trial of Struggle."
"What?"
Reina was taken aback by the words "Trial of Struggle".
She unconsciously rose from her seat and shouted at Zeke,
"You...! Do you even know what the Trial of Struggle is?"
Zeke nodded while sipping his tea.
"Yes, I do."
"And you still want to do it?"
Reina stared blankly at Zeke, then sat down, noticing the gazes of those around her, and said,
"I know you're the youngest person to be promoted to Blue Knight and have gained fame as the Knight of Dispelling. But the Trial of Struggle is no joke. Even renowned knights of the Clan shake their heads at the Trial of Struggle."
"I know. That's why it's even more worthwhile."
Reina frowned at Zeke's words.
'Crazy, the Trial of Struggle, of all things.'
The Trial of Struggle was the name of a special dungeon managed by the Turunn Clan.
The Turunn Clan had managed that dungeon since long ago, and anyone could enter it to prove their valor.
However, the level of the dungeon itself was so high that no one had ever reached the deepest level.
Zeke said to Reina,
"I know that you need to be recognized by the head of the Clan to enter the Trial of Struggle."
The head of the Clan, Rex Turunn, was an unprecedented figure who had entered the 100-floor Trial of Struggle and reached the 90th floor.
It was said that until the generation before Rex Turunn, many people entered the Trial of Struggle recklessly and never returned.
Therefore, after Rex Turunn became the head of the Clan, he tested the challenger's strength, judged whether they could enter the Trial of Struggle, and only then allowed them to enter the dungeon.
Reina looked at Zeke and said,
"It's possible to be tested by the head of the Clan. But once you take the test, you can't back down. You must enter the Trial of Struggle."
"That's what I want."
Reina clenched her teeth as she looked at the nonchalant Zeke.
'Is the gap between us widening again like this?'
When they were in the cradle, she didn't think much of Zeke.
She only thought of him as a weak direct descendant who was always thinking about how to skip training.
But one day, he suddenly changed, and now he had gone so far that she had to look up to him.
Zeke slowly rose from his seat.
"I would appreciate it if you would consider it and contact me. If you connect me with the head of the Clan, I will reward you sufficiently, Reina."
"Why do you want to see the head of the Clan through me? You could go directly yourself."
Zeke grinned at her words.
"Wouldn't it look better if I went at your invitation, Reina, rather than visiting the Turunn Clan myself? I was also curious to see how you were doing."
Reina was flustered by Zeke's unexpected words.
Zeke was simply curious about the growth of Reina Draker, the future Five-Star Knight known as the Flash Knight, but she took it differently.
For a moment, Reina lowered her head, her face flushed red.
Zeke, seeing this, thought she was trembling with anger at his words.
'I guess I made a mistake. Well, it makes sense that she'd be upset. Her rival is already challenging the Trial of Struggle.'
Zeke clicked his tongue and left the restaurant after paying for the meal, leaving Reina with her head bowed.
As soon as Zeke left, Olga, who was sitting where she could see Reina, quickly approached her.
She exclaimed to Reina,
"Hey, hey, Reina! Was that person really Zeke Draker? The winner of the Draker Martial Arts Tournament! The continent's youngest Blue Knight and the youngest Valhalla graduate!"
Reina managed to compose her expression and raised her head.
"Yes, that was Zeke Draker."
Olga cheered at her words.
"Right! Right! I can't believe I actually saw Zeke Draker! I saw the final match between Zeke Draker and Helen Draker at the Grand Stadium during the martial arts tournament. You saw it too, right Reina?"
"...You know I participated in that martial arts tournament?"
"Ah, right. Anyway, did I show you before? The Zeke Draker knight scrapbook I made!"
"No, I haven't seen it."
"Really? I guess I didn't show you. I'm a member there, you know. Yong Yong."
"What's that?"
"Zeke Draker's fan club."
"..."
"The name I submitted was chosen in the fan club name contest. Yong Yong. It's catchy, right?"
Reina stared at Olga in disbelief, then burst into laughter.
Just then,
Someone opened the door and entered.
He then approached Olga and Reina.
It was the second son of the Roswell Clan.
The man who swept the academy with the name Durban the Slasher.
The man approached Reina with a large, colorful bouquet in his arms. Durban the Slasher shouted to Reina,
"Reina Draker! I, the second son of the Roswell Clan, Durban Roswell, formally request to court you!"
Olga exclaimed, "Oh my, oh my," and watched Reina's reaction to Durban's confession with interest.
However, Reina only glared at Durban with a cold expression.
She gestured, and the Turunn Clan students waiting outside rushed in.
Reina said in a cold voice,
"Get rid of him."
The Turunn Clan students in uniform dragged Durban out. Durban shouted like a tragic hero from a play,
"Let me go! Reina Draker! Accept my heart!"
Durban the Slasher didn't hesitate even in his confession.
Olga clutched her stomach and laughed as she watched Durban being dragged away.
"Reina, why don't you go on a date with Durban?"
Reina glared at Olga with intense eyes, as if she couldn't let this one slide, and Olga whistled, pretending not to notice, and turned her head away.
She recalled Zeke Draker's face, who had calmly declared that he would challenge the Trial of Struggle.
'Zeke Draker.'
For a moment, she unconsciously imagined herself standing with Zeke.
The two of them, exchanging blows and testing each other's skills every day.
In her imagination, Zeke and Reina were facing each other, smiling while sweating.
'What am I thinking...?'
She shook her head, trying to shake off the thought.
Then, she said to Olga, who was watching Durban still shouting as he was dragged outside,
"Olga, I need to go back to my family home for a while."
"Huh? Why?"
She pursed her lips and then slowly spoke,
"I'm going to challenge the Trial of Struggle too."