Chapter 120

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 120

“...So. You’re saying they gave it to you, and you just took it?”

“Yep.”

I nodded confidently, and the four of them exclaimed in surprise, ‘Hey!’ They couldn’t believe I’d just accepted it without a fuss. ‘Surely you didn’t just take it without a fight, right? Right? Damn it, say no!’ their expressions seemed to plead.

“Guys, calm down. I’m also a noble of the Empire, just like you.”

It’s customary to refuse, I know. But of course, I did try to decline. I waved my hands, insisting I couldn’t accept it.

But the lord, his family, and even the knights insisted I take it. They said if I didn’t accept, they would never be able to rise again.

I couldn’t understand what they meant, but their desperation was so palpable that I ended up accepting.

Of course, I expressed my gratitude. I wouldn’t just take it and leave without a word.

Still feeling uneasy about it, I discreetly asked the Queen the night before I left, ‘I received a sword. Can I really take it with me?’

The Queen gave me a cryptic look and said that gifts are a matter between the giver and the receiver, and it wasn’t her place to interfere.

“No way. That’s no ordinary sword, even at first glance.”

“I may not be skilled in swordsmanship, but I’d bet my tail that’s a legendary blade.”

“Don’t go around betting your tail when you don’t even have one, Wilhelm.”

“Fine, I’ll bet one of my arms, then.”

“You’re insane.”

Have these guys lost their minds again after just two weeks apart?

They’re truly something else. And these are the pillars that will lead the Empire?

“Young lords, please, I beg of you, maintain your dignity.”

“Wouldn’t you say the most undignified one here is Young Lord Karl?”

“I agree with Young Lord Wilhelm.”

“As do I.”

“Will you all shut the fuck up?”

I subtly revealed the greatsword imbued with the blessings of the Church, and they immediately backed down with a ‘Yes, sir.’

Sigh.

I’m afraid rumors might start circulating about me being a ‘Count with a Duchy and Imperial County in his grasp.’

Damn it.

“How did things go? Did it work out?”

“That’s classified information. You want me to spill state secrets?”

“No, but you could give me a hint.”

“It worked out.”

And I even managed to beat them up a bit.

The last thing I heard before leaving Lasker was that the knights I defeated are now all undergoing hellish training.

Even if my father is Count Friedrich, I’m still young. They were defeated without being able to do anything against such a young man.

But if you think about it, it’s actually those guys who should feel wronged.

Honestly, those young knights probably haven’t experienced real warfare.

The Empire and Lasker fought when my father was still active, which was over 20 years ago.

Our Empire shares borders with Avileshti and the Elves, so war is inevitable, but Lasker is different. If they don’t fight the Empire, they don’t fight at all.

At most, they’ve probably just swung their swords around a bit, yelling ‘Yah! Yah!’ They haven’t suffered like I have, rolling around and screaming in agony.

Even if they did suffer similarly, their mindset might have been different from the start.

‘To be precise, they do share a small border with Avileshti, but they consider each other so lowly that they wouldn’t even think of fighting.’

Sword and magic. Similar, yet never to be mixed.

In cases like this, there are two possibilities, either they fight to the death, or they hate fighting so much that they build a wall and pretend the other doesn’t exist.

Luckily for Lasker and Avileshti, they fall into the latter category.

I say ‘luckily’ because if they had fought, our Empire would have devoured them both.

The reason they fall into the latter category is because of our Empire’s existence.

They both have the mindset that they don’t want to be caught in the crossfire and suffer as a result.

“Anyway, did anything happen while I was gone?”

“Nothing, right? Oh, wait, there was something.”

“I didn’t know we had a guest.”

“Oh? You didn’t know? She’s been visiting the estate occasionally since you left for Lasker. She tells us stories about you, and they’re quite interesting. Your mother has been sharing them with your sister, the Crown Princess.”

“...”

So, she’s basically been acting as a storyteller. Damn, she’s a clever Elf.

“From what Eloise has told us, you two seem quite close.”

“We just eliminated some Kanfras together during the train terror incident last year.”

“So you’re comrades in arms.”

“...If that’s how it’s interpreted, then maybe a little...”

I was about to say that was a stretch, but Eloise chuckled and suggested we go inside and talk.

She said she’d been visiting my family for about two weeks.

In that short time, she seems to have made a good impression with her characteristically friendly personality. Or rather, her straightforward personality.

Even my mother doesn’t seem uncomfortable, so she must have scored some points somehow... I can’t even imagine how.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a special thank you. They said you were a great help in Lasker.”

I sat down with my parents for tea and told them about the delegation.

“All I did was participate in a friendly match.”

“That’s why it was so unexpected. A friendly match at a coronation ceremony?”

“That’s what they wanted. Or rather, it was the Queen of Lasker’s wish.”

“It seems she wanted to stimulate the stagnant minds and hearts of her knights.”

My father’s assessment was accurate. That’s exactly what the Lasker’s Queen wanted.

“By the way, what’s with that sword, Karl?”

“Oh, this? I received it as a gift, but I haven’t drawn it yet. Honestly, Mother, I’m not really familiar with swords like this.”

The reason I came home was because of this sword. I wanted to stash it away in a display case somewhere because it was a hassle to carry around.

It’s a kind of trophy, I thought. If I display it, I can brag about it later, right?

“Wait a minute, Karl? Can I see that sword?”

“Eloise? No, hey, wait a second.”

Before I could stop her, Eloise took the sword. And then, she suddenly drew it.

I was about to scold her for doing that in front of my parents, but her next words stopped me.

“...Is this really a sword?”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, it felt strange from the moment I saw it. How should I put it? This is a bit...”

“It feels like it’s been artificially concealed.”

It was my father who finished Eloise’s sentence.

My mother, who was sitting next to him, looked at the sword drawn from its sheath and tilted her head, saying, ‘That’s strange.’

It’s a bit sad that I’m the only one who doesn’t understand what’s going on.

“This is really strange.”

Elowise examined the sword, flicking the blade with her finger.

Tick tick!

It sounded like something was wrong...

“Father.”

“One moment.”

Suddenly, my father grabbed a sword from the display case. And then he swung it?!

Clang! Crack!―

Before I could stop him, my father’s sword struck the one I received as a gift.

And with that blow, the blade shattered into pieces!

“Father?! What are you doing?!”

“Shh.”

My father put his index finger to his lips and pointed at the shattered sword with his other hand.

Beneath the broken blade, another blade, jet black in color, stared back at me.

[TL/N: New Weapon Unlocked!]

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]