Chapter 26: Chapter 26 – The Winner of the Dungeon Trial (2)

Captain Varos stared at the core for several long seconds.

His grip tightened slightly.

"...There should not have been a Mid-Tier creature inside this dungeon."

The atmosphere instantly grew colder.

The examiners looked at one another uneasily.

Some nobles above narrowed their eyes.

Because everyone understood what that meant.

A low-tier dungeon accidentally containing a Mid-Tier Minotaur?

Impossible.

This was the Sinclair family’s examination grounds.

Every monster.

Every trap.

Every route.

Carefully controlled.

Meaning—

Someone had intentionally placed that creature there.

Someone had wanted Eternia Sinclair dead.

And if she died?

The blame would naturally fall on her weakness.

After all—

What could an illegitimate child possibly do against a Mid-Tier monster?

The realization spread quickly throughout the arena.

Whispers turned darker.

"...Someone tried to eliminate her..."

"Who would dare interfere with the trials?"

"No... the real question is why she survived."

Captain Varos slowly exhaled.

Then his gaze landed on Eternia again.

For a brief moment—

Something flickered in his eyes.

Respect.

"...You killed this?"

Eternia answered calmly.

"Yes."

"...Alone?"

"...Mostly."

She glanced toward Leon and Kael briefly.

The two immediately stiffened.

Especially Leon.

Captain Varos stared at her for several seconds before finally placing the Minotaur core back down.

Then—

He turned toward the arena.

His voice exploded outward through mana amplification.

"The winner of the Second Dungeon Trial..."

The crowd held its breath.

"...Eternia Sinclair."

The arena shook with noise.

Some shocked.

Some furious.

Some excited.

An illegitimate daughter had just defeated the family’s greatest prodigy in a direct trial.

Not by luck.

Not by technicality.

But overwhelmingly.

Etherius remained silent.

His expression unchanged.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on Eternia.

Sharp.

Focused.

As though reassessing her entirely.

Eternia herself nearly sighed in relief.

"...I survived."

That single thought echoed louder than the cheers.

Because to everyone else, this was a victory.

But to her—

This was survival.

Godfrey’s warning still lingered in her mind.

"If you lose... you will wish you were never born."

A faint chill ran down her spine.

Fortunately—

She had won.

Barely.

As the crowd continued erupting into discussion, the candidates gradually began dispersing.

Leon suddenly approached her awkwardly.

The beautiful silver-haired boy avoided eye contact completely.

"...Eternia."

"Hm?"

He hesitated.

Then lowered his head slightly.

"...Sorry."

She blinked once.

"...For what?"

"...During the Minotaur fight."

His voice became quieter.

"I couldn’t protect you."

Kael silently stood nearby, arms crossed, though even he looked somewhat guilty.

Leon clenched his fists tightly.

"I froze."

The words sounded painful for him to admit.

"That thing was too strong... and the corridor was too narrow. I..."

Eternia stared at him quietly for a moment before speaking.

"Don’t worry about it."

Leon looked up slightly.

Eternia continued calmly.

"I already knew you couldn’t properly swing that giant sword in such a tight corridor."

"...Still..."

"You helped after."

"That doesn’t change the fact that—"

"It’s fine."

Her tone remained steady.

Simple.

Honest.

Leon froze slightly.

Then lowered his head again.

"...Sorry."

Eternia looked at him carefully this time.

Silver hair.

Delicate features.

Long eyelashes.

That soft apologetic expression.

"...So cute."

The thought appeared in her head instantly.

Her face remained completely expressionless externally.

But internally—

She was genuinely stunned.

"...How is he even real?"

In her previous life, she had spent years surviving among rough mercenaries, desperate mages, and murderous nobles.

Then suddenly—

This unbelievably pretty swordsman appeared apologizing to her with watery eyes.

"...Dangerous."

Very dangerous.

She quickly pushed the thought aside.

Kael looked between them suspiciously.

"...Why are you staring at him like that?"

"...No reason."

"Your face got weird."

"It didn’t."

"It definitely did."

Leon looked confused between the two of them.

Eternia immediately turned away before anyone noticed anything else.

"...Focus."

She mentally slapped herself.

"...I’m here to become the strongest, not get distracted by pretty faces."

Still—

As they walked away from the arena together—

Her eyes unconsciously drifted toward Leon again.

"...Seriously though."

"...Why is he so cute?"