Chapter 50 - Miltiades’s Shock

“Yay! You’re the best!” I grabbed his neck and celebrated. He looked at my giddy self with a mixed expression as if he were thinking ‘as long as she likes it’. “I have no one else but you! I like you the most in the world!” I kissed Miltiades’s cheek, and his eyes widened. He was so cute I wanted to kiss his other cheek. 

“…!” The people next to us were shocked. Callian put his hand over his mouth and made a face as though he had seen something he wasn’t supposed to.

“The saintess… kiss… kissed… His Majesty!” He made it sound like I had killed someone. I looked at Miltiades, who remained frozen.

“…?” I waved my hands in front of his eyes, but he didn’t give a response. It looked like he wouldn’t react to anything.  ‘Wait! Is this an opportunity?’ I grabbed onto my frozen dad as a great idea came to my mind. “Daddy! There’s one more thing I want!” 

* * *

“… So you brought me here?” Kais said when we reached the training grounds. 

“Yup!” I smiled and nodded. Kais looked at me with a dumbfounded expression as I continued, “I worked really hard for this precious opportunity.” 

“…”

It was an opportunity made by a kiss. A spar between Kais and Miltiades. ‘Does he think it’s easy to get such an opportunity?’ I was hoping that Kais would act better after experiencing Miltiades’s strength, but it was a good chance for him as well. He would drastically improve after going against a strong opponent. 

“You told me that you won’t make me regret this.” Kais flinched. 

I looked at his star-like eyes and smiled. “Remember what I said? Prove to me that you’re useful.” When I said that, his gaze immediately changed. He seemed like a different person as he wordlessly looked into my eyes. Even though I was pretending like this was a fair exchange, Kais probably knew the truth. There was no reason for me to make such a deal. 

“Try blocking his attacks for thirty seconds,” I told him what to do as I handed him a sword. Enduring Miltiades for 30 seconds would be a feat for anyone, but Kais made a face. 

“… Ten minutes,” he softly replied and grabbed onto the weathered sword. “I’ll win.”

“…!” Kais held the sword and walked toward the middle of the training grounds. ‘Is he crazy?’ I wondered. He was declaring his win against Miltiades while being nine years old. 

Miltiades was already standing in the middle of the training grounds with a sword in his hands. He then saw Kais nod at him without an ounce of fear. ‘Well, at least he’s enthusiastic.’

Miltiades’s eyebrows twitched. He seemed to be annoyed. “Let’s start.”

Hearing his words, Kais positioned himself. He didn’t look like a kid as he launched himself at Miltiades. 

Pat!

Miltiades avoided Kais’s attack as if he didn’t care, then grabbed onto his neck. 

“Ugh!”

Miltiades threw Kais to the ground in one second and asked, “Are you going to try again?”

I didn’t know if he had gotten hurt after being thrown onto the floor, but Kais’s expression wasn’t good. I stood up in worry. However, Kais grit his teeth and got up.

Miltiades’s eyes flashed. He initially didn’t care, but it now seemed like he was having fun. Nevertheless, Kais lost in one second again.

“He’s impressive for a young kid.”

“I want to move like His Majesty.”

“It’s probably difficult for him to breathe with that bloodlust.” 

Berrict seemed to be having fun watching Kais. Callian looked at Miltiades’s movement and remarked, “That’s His Majesty for you. No unnecessary movements!”

I shook my head and turned back to the spar. It looked more like a punishment than a spar. After falling to the floor and getting up a few times, Kais had started panting. 

“It’s time to end it.” Miltiades spun his sword a few times as it glinted gold. 

‘Is he going to use aura on a kid?’ He was getting too serious! I was holding my hands together and fidgeting when I saw Miltiades point his sword at Kais’s neck. “…!” I held my breath.

Kais was the most surprised of all of us. The sword that had been pointing at his throat was now stuck into the wall next to him. A bit of Miltiades’s aura had scratched his neck and left a thin trail of blood.

“Remember this feeling, kid.” Miltiades slowly spoke, “The next time you feel it, you’ll be dead.”

“…!” It sounded like he was threatening Kais, but he was teaching him. If Kais ever felt an aura assault him like this, death was certain. 

Miltiades threw his sword. It couldn’t deal with the aura and broke apart. I hadn’t cared when I had seen divine power for the first time, but I was interested in seeing Miltiades’s aura. ‘How can someone be that bright?’ 

Miltiades looked at me after throwing his sword. I had to… clap! “Daddy, you’re so cool!” Miltiades smiled as he saw my genuine happiness. He was proud of himself. My favorite character was so cute that I couldn’t breathe.