Hearing Aridia's words, Shien was rather surprised.
"I never thought I was held in such high regard by the captain of the Royal Knights."
With a fairly surprised expression, Shien turned his gaze toward Aridia.
"You deserve such an evaluation." Aridia spoke as formally as ever. "You are the only young person besides Princess Roxielusty who has taken one of my sword strikes without so much as a scratch. Before you and Princess Roxielusty appeared, the youngest person to achieve that was thirty-three years old."
That was precisely why Aridia held Shien in such high regard.
"Originally, I believed that aside from Princess Roxielusty, only the Empire's Valkyrie could take one of my sword strikes unharmed while still in her teens or twenties. The fact that you can do so proves that, even if you are inferior to those two, the gap cannot be too great."
"Furthermore, you have befriended the Dragon Demon Lord among the Six Great Demon Lords, formed a connection with the Moon Demon Lord, and tamed Artur's Black Dragon. I do not believe that can be attributed to luck alone."
"Thus, I once made a bold guess. Perhaps you possess strength no less than Princess Roxielusty's, even when she uses the Holy Sword and her Unique Skill."
"Because only when facing Her Highness in that state did I sense the same threat."
"Am I correct?"
Aridia had spoken so much in one go, completely unlike his usual taciturn self.
It was clear from this that Aridia truly took Shien seriously.
However, Shien did not feel pleased because of it.
"Are you sure that, aside from Roxie and me, no one else can make you feel threatened?" Shien finally said mockingly. "Have you forgotten the power within your daughter, Captain?"
The instant those words fell, Aridia's eyes