The glowing window was standing right there before my eyes.
[Condition fulfilled.]
[Temporary authorization granted.]
[Partial Unlock: MONARCH'S FLAME.]
I didn't know what it meant. It looked like some kind of automated system. Like a steam machine. Or rather… a computer program?
I could still feel the heat beneath my skin, but unlike earlier, this one was pleasant.
There was something comforting about that pulsing warmth beneath the glowing cracks spreading across my skin.
Coming back to my senses, I started looking around me.
The creature seemed to have disappeared as suddenly as it had arrived. Most of the guards were lying on the ground. Some were groaning while others remained motionless, suggesting the worst.
Suddenly, probably from exhaustion and adrenaline, my legs gave out beneath me. I fell heavily onto the ground. To my right lay Lise's body, smiling at me with her blood-covered face.
The scenery faded into darkness.
When I woke up, I found myself in a room, the sunlight blinding me.
Around me, Lise, Captain Doran, and a few soldiers were staring at me with worried expressions, as though I might melt before their eyes.
"Young master!"
"Young master!"
"Young master, how are you feeling?!"
Lise grabbed me in her arms and began sobbing.
"Oh young master, please never scare me like that again."
While Lise was still hugging me, Captain Doran gave me a thumbs up along with a wide grin whose secret belonged to him alone.
"I'm glad you made it out unharmed, sir."
After a long minute, Lise let go of me and looked at me with moist eyes. Her gaze felt different somehow, strangely softer.
Using all my strength, I straightened myself up and sat my aching body on the mattress. I rubbed my sleepy eyes.
"Where are we?"
Doran was the first to answer.
"We arrived at the heart of the Tower."
The heart of the Tower? That capital city was located at the center of the Tower and extended across all its floors. On every floor, the same city appeared. It was a place outside of time and space.
The journey should have taken several days, so how could it possibly—
"You slept for three days, young master…"
"We thought you would never wake up."
I see.
So I had remained unconscious for that long. No wonder they had all been worried.
But I didn't have time to concern myself with that kind of thing.
"When is the evaluation scheduled?"
Doran scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Tomorrow…"
Lise immediately followed up.
"Don't worry, we already sent a letter of apology saying that you would not be able to participate due to your condition."
"Inform the examiners that I will participate."
"Huh?"
Lise stepped toward me worriedly, her hands slightly raised.
"You don't realize what you're saying, young master…"
"I fully realize what I'm saying."
I looked Lise straight in the eyes.
"I have to participate."
If we failed to appear, it would be perceived as a sign of weakness, and who knew what might happen once the state of Uruk realized it.
At best, political pressure.
At worst, an invasion.
Seeing that my gaze did not waver, Lise finally gave up.
"…Alright."
Doran gestured toward one of the guards, and the man quickly left the room.
The Tower's noble family examination took place every year. It allowed the administrators of the Tower to determine whether we were still capable of resisting monster attacks.
It was also necessary to maintain a relatively equal balance of power between all families in order to avoid conflicts as much as possible. As a result, if a family was judged too weak, it would either be replaced or dissolved. Its territories would then be divided among the neighboring families.
I remained seated in bed resting for half a day before finally descending the hotel stairs.
If I wanted even the slightest chance of not getting crushed by the other families, I needed to become stronger, even if only a little.
I headed toward the hotel's inner courtyard where the guards and Doran were gathered, busy training.
I waved my hand toward him.
"Doran!"
He turned toward me with a surprised expression.
"Young master… You're already back among us?"
I smiled.
"I wasn't going to stay sitting around all day. Besides, I have a favor to ask you."
He slid his sword back into its sheath and looked at me attentively.
"What kind of favor?"
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"I want you to teach me how to fight."
Doran looked completely shocked. He was the kind of person whose emotions could be read like an open book. Realizing that made me smile slightly.
It was true that I had never really been the fighting type, but for him to look that surprised just because I asked him to train me… it was almost insulting.
At first, Doran was reluctant to train me, but after several minutes of insisting and trying to convince him by explaining that it would be better for me to train before the examination, he reluctantly accepted.
Doran might have looked like a tough guy because of his build, but he truly had a soft heart.
I picked up a wooden sword resting against a wall before joining Doran, who was gesturing for me to come to the center of the courtyard.
I stood facing him and Doran began explaining.
"First of all, grip your sword firmly with both hands." He turned sideways to demonstrate. "Your right hand above your left."
I imitated him.
Even though these kinds of basics were not entirely unfamiliar to me, my skills were extremely limited, so I diligently repeated the basic movements he showed me.
He taught me how to swing my sword without letting its weight drag me along and how to block a strike while minimizing the impact.
Doran spent the entire afternoon teaching me various movements. Once he left, I continued practicing the motions alone until sunset.
When I finally decided to return for supper, I could barely stand, and Lise watched me worriedly throughout the entire meal. Once it ended, I let my body collapse onto the soft mattress that tried its best to mask the pain of my sore muscles.
The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I immediately headed toward the inner courtyard where Doran and the other guards seemed to have set up some kind of circle using ropes tied to swords planted into the ground.
"What is this supposed to be?" I innocently asked Doran.
He looked at me with a sadistic grin.
"Today, we're going to train in duels."