Hintleyya didn't know that Noah had already guessed her identity, only that she didn't know she was actually the Platinum Position of the Shieldless League. Noah essentially still treated Hintleyya as one of the Shieldless League's assassins, not realizing she was management.
However, Hintleyya's matter wasn't the main focus. Before Maria faced the Left-Handed Knight, Noah wasn't idle. Not only did she ask Kuro for training help, but within this week, she also prepared better equipment for Maria than the previously damaged sword and shield. She even specifically adjusted the weight distribution for Maria to make it easier for her to use. These were all things that could be achieved by spending money, and Noah had certainly invested heavily in Maria's equipment these past few days.
Maria felt that Noah was giving too much, even starting to feel a little uneasy—but Noah's excuse, of course, was that if Maria won, she could earn it back twofold.
So now, Maria only needed to focus on how to win!
It was clear from Zofia that even just entering the threshold of the official competition, her ability to attract money was not comparable to an ordinary competition Knight. Zofia, as only a top sixteen contestant, could afford a large house with a super large garden. As long as Maria overcame the Left-Handed Knight, the Nearl Family family wouldn't just avoid having their Knight qualifications revoked; they would likely experience a second spring.
Or rather, if Maria had consistently refused the terms of those capitalists, it wouldn't have been that difficult for her to become a true Knight.
However, because she was a Nearl—a Knight bearing the name of Nearl—she would not acknowledge the invitations of those capitalists who tarnished the name of Knight, nor would she ever join them in their corruption.
As an independent Knight, entering the official competition, although she dared not dream of becoming a new champion like her Sister Magarette, she would absolutely not give up, and she would absolutely not become a lackey for the capitalists!
Although that was indeed what she thought…
"Too slow! At this speed, who do you expect to hit?" But her opponent now was Kuro. Although Noah had never told her Kuro's true identity, and because Kuro's mask had a special effect that hindered recognition, even though Maria had seen her many times, she couldn't discover the true face beneath the mask. But the only thing Maria knew was that Kuro was an incredibly powerful warrior.
Her opponent seemed to be empty-handed, even too lazy to wear armor, and even had her hands behind her back, yet Maria's attacks were always dodged with the smallest movements. Several times, the sword was almost millimeters from touching Kuro's body, but it was impossible. To this day, Kuro had not even drawn a weapon; she had only used leg techniques, her hands never leaving her back. "Accelerate, keep accelerating. After taking off your armor, your speed must increase; you can no longer maintain such a slow pace."
"It's not something you can just do by saying it!" Maria gripped her sword with both hands, constantly attacking Kuro. Even in her cast-off state, her speed had indeed increased significantly, but the problem was that while she had become stronger, it didn't mean she could cross a mountain that was originally insurmountable. Maria had thought her strength was no longer what it used to be, but after meeting Kuro, her dream was shattered.
She couldn't hit her in the past, and she still couldn't hit her now. In fact, with the increase in her strength, she increasingly felt how vast the gap in power between herself and Kuro was.
"A frog in a well" and "shortsighted" couldn't even describe her previous views. She had thought she would gradually approach Kuro, even have a chance to surpass Kuro, but now it seemed the gap in their strength might be much larger than she imagined.
"But you must do it—" Kuro mercilessly kicked the sword out of Maria's hand, then stopped a spinning kick just before it hit Maria's cheek. If she had wanted to, Maria would have already flown away. After confirming this, Maria silently chose to surrender.
She couldn't even make Kuro draw her sword…
Kuro's power still exceeded her imagination. The recent combat, rather than guidance, was more like teasing. Kuro's teaching method had always been a very standard 'learn through combat,' meaning what she could offer was practical combat that stopped just short of lethal, performed with immense strength. If one couldn't improve through actual combat, this teaching method could easily deliver a devastating blow to one's self-esteem.
Fortunately, Maria was no ordinary person; her low spirits lasted only an instant. When Noah wheeled up to her to wipe her sweat, she immediately brightened up with a smile.
Maria's progress had been very fast. From only knowing basic swordsmanship at first, to mastering the Lightsaber that Manner taught her, and finally even developing the Repentance Sword. Her previously weak close combat skills also improved rapidly in Kuro's practical combat lessons. It could be said that if this Knight's competition truly had a so-called protagonist, then Maria would be the most suitable person to be the protagonist. Noah truly felt a little pained for this Sister who she had always held in her hands.
If she hadn't participated in the Knight's competition, she wouldn't have had to work so hard.
But since she chose this path, she had to be prepared for it.
So no matter how much her heart ached, Noah could only cup her cheeks and encourage her. "You can do it."
"Yes!"
However, this simple encouragement was like a magical elixir, comparable to a Senzu Bean, for Maria. She immediately sprang up, and in her mental exhilaration, her wounds healed. Then she picked up her sword from the ground and shouted at Kuro, "Again! This time, I will definitely touch you!"
Although a bit reckless, this was Maria—Noah couldn't help but think with a smile.
The battle between the stubborn Maria and the iron-willed Kuro continued. There wasn't much time left before facing the Left-Handed Knight, and only such high-frequency combat could allow Maria to make more breakthroughs. As for what Manner was doing at this time…
Uh… he was still reading the newspaper. Or rather, every evening, after he got off work and finished dinner, he would stroll to the entrance of the Howling Guard, then unfold the day's newspaper and read it on a bench, just like a normal office worker.
The people inside the Howling Guard were already numb. The first time, they were as if facing a formidable enemy. The second time, they were silent with fear. The third time, they were hysterical. By now—they were numb. Manner was just there; if you dared to go out, you had to be prepared to be cut down. Although he wasn't there twenty-four hours a day, if you did something when he wasn't there, he might not be reading the newspaper next time he came.
Under this kind of mental pressure… it was a testament to the strong will of these Witch King Remnants that they hadn't collapsed.
"…What exactly is this guy planning to do! Can't he just get it over with?!"
The High Tower Sorcerer was already numb. All she could think about now was, why not just fight him? Since he had already discovered their group… and he was squatting there reading the newspaper every day, why didn't he just come in and kill them! Why didn't he come in and fight? She couldn't take it anymore!
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