"None of your business! Anyone who lays a hand on Hina—I'll kill them!!!!… Atsujin-Totsu—"
"No!!… Don't…!!!!…"
Doooooooom…
Bitter memories were flashing through his mind.
Vale opened his eyes. He was in the infirmary. His arms and stomach were bandaged.
"That bastard… he knocked me out."
But suddenly, he thought of Hina.
"Hina… what happened?!"
Vale jumped off the bed and ran out. In the corridor, a nurse stopped him.
"Sir Vale, you must not move! Please return to your bed immediately!"
But Vale grabbed the wall with one hand, pressed his other hand to his chest, and ignored her, continuing forward.
The sunlight hit his face as he moved.
"I'm almost there… just wait, Hina…"
But just as he was about to reach the exit, his vision blurred and darkness swallowed him again.
A Few Hours Later – Infirmary:
Vale opened his eyes once more. Beside him, someone sat holding an ohitsu (covered food container).
"You're awake, Vale-sama."
Vale snapped his eyes open.
"Hina?!!!"
He quickly sat up, clutching his stomach. "Ugh… my stomach…" It ached from all his rapid movements.
"Don't strain yourself!"
Hina sat beside him on a chair. Seeing her, Vale immediately pulled her into his arms. Hina's face turned bright red, steam almost rising from her head.
"V… V… Vale-sama?!!!"
Tears filled Vale's eyes.
"Forgive me, Hina… I couldn't protect you… I couldn't win the match…"
Hina placed her hand on his head, gently stroking his hair.
"Win or lose, no matter what, you'll always be my hero."
After a few moments, Vale let go of Hina, wiped his tears, and muttered,
"It's all that brat's fault… he kicked me. If I find him, I'll kill him."
Hina held his hand and said softly,
"No, that's not how it is. He actually saved both of us."
Vale blinked in confusion.
"But he was the one who kicked me!"
Hina sighed and began to explain.
"Three days ago, when you were fighting Leoris… he was the one who saved me."
Vale's eyes widened.
"Three days ago?!!!… So I've been unconscious for three days?"
Hina nodded and continued the story after Vale was knocked out.
Arena – Three Days Ago:
"No!... Don't…!"
When Vale had lowered his sword, ready to strike Leoris, Zeno kicked him hard in the stomach, smashing him against the wall and knocking him unconscious.
Leoris froze, mouth open, staring at Zeno.
Hina rushed to Vale.
"Vale?!… Can you hear me?!"
But Vale didn't respond.
Hina anxiously turned to Zeno.
"We need to get him to the infirmary immediately!"
Zeno approached Vale, but Leoris shouted,
"No one is allowed to touch him!!"
Zeno stopped dead in his tracks.
Shiiink—
Leoris drew his sword. It whizzed past Zeno, heading straight for Vale.
Zeno remained unmoved… completely still…!!
"If my armor doesn't turn red with his blood, I'll lose my honor!"
Leoris raised his sword, but suddenly a hand grabbed him from behind. Furious, he turned.
"How dare you touch me, lowly brat?!"
Zeno's eyes burned with rage.
"So you want your armor to be stained with blood? Fine… I'll do it myself."
Zeno drew back his fist. With maximum power, the air around him almost exploded as he struck Leoris in the stomach.
The armor shattered.
"Ughhfffghh!!"
Leoris was hurled through the arena wall, crashing into the dark forest. Trees toppled from the impact. With white eyes and blood pouring from his mouth, he collapsed unconscious onto a tree trunk.
Zeno hoisted Vale over his shoulder and carried him. Hina, tears streaming down her face, thanked Zeno profusely.
Zeno turned to Hina.
"Clearly, you care for him a lot."
Hina's face flushed deep red once more…
Infirmary:
Vale held his head, recalling Zeno's cheerful face as he reached out his hand in friendship.
"So he… saved you!!!… What an idiot I am! Where… where is he now?!"
Hina lowered her head, saddened.
Vale gently lifted her chin, meeting her tearful eyes.
He quickly dressed, grabbed his sword beside the bed, and told Hina,
"Don't move from here. I'll be back soon."
With a surge of anger, he stormed out.
"This time, I'll definitely kill that bastard!"
Royal Detention – Dungeon:
A figure, battered and chained, stood lifelessly, his limbs bound to the wall.
A presence approached the dungeon, casting eerie shadows and light.
The prisoner lifted his head. A figure in gleaming gray armor, a black cloak, and metal boots stood before him. A torch in hand, his face was terrifyingly serious.
"So you left Leoris in that state?! Truly… impressive. That blot on our honor… defeated by a lowly rebel like you!"
Zeno, captured by Leoris's father, had endured severe torture.
"But I'll erase that blot by executing you publicly, to serve as a lesson for others."
Zeno laughed.
"Hahaha… thank you… haha… hey…!"
His eyes, bloodied and wild beneath his hair, looked like a monster—but he still smiled.
"Thanks for the laugh, father of a loser who doesn't even understand the art of combat!"
Leoris's father grew even angrier.
"Soldiers! That savage will be executed not tomorrow, not later—NOW! Bring him!"
The guards unchained Zeno and dragged him away.
Leoris's father climbed into a royal carriage, followed by Zeno secured in a barred cart.
After a few moments, Arisa and Vale arrived. They searched the dungeon but found Zeno's cell empty.
Vale, noticing the fresh blood on the chains, grasped the truth.
"Princess Zeno was here… they just took him. Come on, let's go!"
City Square:
"Citizens, by order of the Ashborne family, a first-rank noble family of the Shamrock Empire, a public execution will take place! Zeno, from the remote village of Ashin, who violated royal law and brutally assaulted Emperor's nephew, Leoris Ashborne, to near death, will be executed publicly as an example for others! The executioner will be Valkrist Ashborne, first son of Ashlor Ashborne!"
Zeno remained completely calm, even smiling as he sat in the carriage.
He stepped down, climbed the execution platform, and placed his head into the stock.
Valkrist drew his sword, the crowd surrounding the site, eagerly watching every move.
Valkrist lowered his sword…
Shqqqqqqqqqqq...