Chapter 276: They're Definitely A Race That Is Suitable For Motherhood
Without a trace of emotion, Steven finished dealing with the Wind Knight—the brave fool who'd rushed forward to be defeated.
He had to admit, the guy was fast.
But that was all there was to it.
Quick to arrive, and just as quick to be sent packing. So fast, in fact, that the Candle Knight standing nearby didn't even have time to react, much less cover him.
Before she could move, he had already charged ahead—to defeat.
Of course, Steven hadn't killed him outright.
That burden would fall squarely on the Knights' Association and the K.G.C.C. He was, at most, just the instrument.
Soon, the same black hole that had devoured the Wind Knight opened again on the very wall he'd been slammed into. It spat out his battered, unconscious body—bruised, bloodied, but still breathing—then promptly vanished once more.
The entire fight had lasted no more than a moment.
If not for the drones broadcasting everything live, most of the audience wouldn't even have understood what had happened.
The cheers and chants that had filled the arena before were suddenly cut off—like someone had stuffed a gag in every mouth at once.
All eyes turned to the man at the center of the arena: the Black Hole Knight.
A knight certified by the association… someone with a single-character title… defeated in a single strike?
From the moment he entered the field to the moment he was taken out, the whole thing hadn't lasted a minute.
What kind of monster was this guy?
The question echoed in every spectator's mind. The Wind Knight wasn't just any single-character knight—he'd made it to the top eight in this very tournament, and had reached the semifinals in the previous one.
And yet he hadn't lasted a single round against the Black Hole Knight.
The pressure was simply overwhelming.
Then, as the silence stretched on, both the audience and the drones turned their attention to the only other person left on the field—
The Candle Knight.
Steven's gaze followed.
"He's given his answer. What about you, Candle Knight? Or should I say—Miss Viviana?"
He cast a glance at the elegant young woman, letting his voice deliberately emphasize the word knight.
Because frankly, she didn't look the part at all.
No heavy armor—just an ornate ceremonial robe. No imposing presence—just the air of a delicate noble maiden.
She radiated softness, not the unyielding strength one would expect from someone bearing the title of knight.
If anything, she looked more like a princess waiting to be protected by a knight, rather than someone who'd be called one.
Steven had read his fair share of tabloids about this girl before.
But now, seeing her up close… he knew most of that was just nonsense.
If she really was the kind of woman the rumors painted her to be—some indulgent noble who kept male servants like pets—then there's no way she'd still have those clear, untainted eyes staring back at him.
He met her gaze without hesitation.
Truth be told, he wasn't fond of the idea of hitting women.
So, he was really hoping she'd give him an answer worth hearing.
"You seem to know the matter of Knighthood quite a bit," Viviana replied, her voice calm.
"So perhaps you're not as ignorant of the Major as you pretended to be."
"But I'm curious… would you really go so far as to make enemies of both the General Chamber of Commerce and the Knights' Association—just for the sake of an answer?"
Compared to the Wind Knight who'd attacked without hesitation, Viviana was clearly far more composed.
She wasn't just stalling—she had genuine questions she wanted to ask this strange, dangerous man.
More importantly, she understood something that the Wind Knight hadn't:
She couldn't beat him.
She had fought the Wind Knight before. And yes, she had won.
But to defeat him in a single effortless strike the way the Black Hole Knight had?
Impossible.
That alone told her just how vast the gulf was between them.
Even if her teacher—the Grand Knight of the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi Kazimierz herself—were standing here, Viviana doubted she could match this level of dominance.
So instead of rushing into battle like the Wind Knight had, she found herself more curious about why the Black Hole Knight was doing all this.
Because based on his words and actions so far, he didn't seem like someone who was simply trying to cause chaos.
On the contrary, it looked like he was truly here… seeking an answer.
"Is that so wrong?"
Steven waved his hand in front of his nose, expression full of disdain.
"I'm just disgusted by people who parade around under the banner of 'knight' while defiling everything the title is supposed to mean. These knights reek of money and politics. Watching them makes me want to vomit."
The drone broadcasted their conversation live, and many in the audience—who'd been shouting for the Candle Knight to beat the Black Hole Knight down—gradually fell silent.
Because the Black Hole Knight wasn't entirely wrong.
Was the Major they were watching now really the same as the noble traditions passed down through Kazimierz's history?
Still, self-reflection wasn't a skill many of the audience possessed. Most just saw the Black Hole Knight words as yet another way of mocking the system.
"Stop yapping and smash his face in!"
"Rip that smug mouth off his face!"
"Miss Viviana, I want to be your dog—your loyal manservant!"
"..."
Steven looked up, puzzled by the sudden spike in chaotic noise from the stands.
He expected them to want more fighting—that much was natural.
But why were there always a few complete lunatics mixed in?
Chuckling to himself, he shook his head and extended a hand toward the girl standing before him.
"So," he said, voice firm yet calm, "as last Major's third-place finalist—do you believe you're worthy of being called a knight?"
He curled his outstretched hand into a fist, repeating the same question once more.
If she couldn't give him a satisfactory answer either… then he'd just have to regretfully send her off the stage as well.
But to his surprise, the Candle Knight didn't respond with a raised sword or battle cry.
Instead, she shook her head gently—and gave him an answer that genuinely caught him off guard.
"I'm still searching for the answer to that question myself," she said softly.
"There are many times I wonder if I'm more of a poet than a knight. After all, I'd rather praise the world with verse than clash blades in violence."
As she spoke in her refined, noble tone, she slowly raised her sword—and pointed it directly at Steven.
"But right now, as long as I stand within this arena… I am the Candle Knight. And that fact means I must fight you."
"As for whether I deserve the title of knight—aren't you the perfect one to help me find that out?"
She gave him a smile—sweet and graceful, soft as moonlight.
It didn't feel like she was about to fight him.
It felt more like… she was accepting an invitation to a dance.
What the hell?
First, there's Alina, and now, the Candle Knight, Vivian.
Are all the females of the Elafians this gentle?
...They're definitely a race that is suitable for motherhood.
Shaking away the nonsense that had briefly clouded his thoughts, Steven forced himself to refocus.
Thanks to his time with Alina—that tender-hearted deer girl—Steven had a decent impression of the Elafians, especially the female portion. They were gentle, kind, and often overly earnest.
Which is why…
Maybe he could go a little easy on her.
At least, enough to keep her from losing too miserably.
With that decision made, Steven smiled and gave a polite nod.
Then, like a gentleman inviting his partner onto the ballroom floor, he offered her the first move.
She clearly had something she wanted to understand through this battle—something she needed to prove.
If that was the case, he'd give her the chance.
Viviana didn't hesitate.
After a courteous bow of acknowledgement, she gracefully raised her sword—and launched into her attack.
With a sweep of her blade, it was as if a candle had been lit in the arena.
A gentle light spread outward, soft but radiant, illuminating the entire battlefield—
And with that light came shadows, deep and dark, which surged toward Steven like a tide… and swallowed him whole.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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