Chapter 58

Chapter 58 – My Children (1)

Underneath the training ground, the three of them had expressions full of sympathy. A sense of camaraderie, perhaps?

“Master is a bastard who would make even demons cry......”

“I wish I could turn back time. Kirian of the past, why on earth did you sell your soul to that devil......?”

“......From now on, I should be more careful.”

Harun, Kirian, and Jan responded in turn. The boy named Winzer was already sprawled out like a frog. His limbs were trembling.

“Shall I continue?”

“Huh? Oh......”

At Ancelot’s question, the examiner finally came to his senses.

“S-Stop! Th-That’s enough!”

“Then, now I can leisurely watch the others.”

Whoosh!

Ancelot jumped down from the training ground.

“Stretcher! Bring the stretcher! Quickly!”

The examiner’s loud voice immediately followed.

“I’m back.”

“Good work, Master!”

Harun, who recovered first, quickly pulled out a towel and offered it to him.

“......!”

“......!”

Jan and Kirian turned to him with expressions that seemed to say, ‘Look at this guy.’ In response to their stares, Harun just smiled.

‘This is the kind of awareness you develop when you crawl up from the bottom, you pampered young masters.’

Harun knelt on one knee and presented the towel.

“Please wipe yourself.”

“No need. I didn’t even break a sweat. Give it to them later.”

“As you command!”

“And you two.”

Ancelot once again shook his fist at the other two.

“I’ll say it again, but if you end up like my last opponent, you’re dead. I won’t let it slide.”

“......”

At that moment, both Kirian and Jan had the same thought.

‘Mother, am I really doing well?’

‘They say life is hell. Hersen, where you are must be heaven.’

Of course, Ancelot wasn’t someone who couldn’t read their expressions.

“Harun.”

“Yes, Master!”

“Judging by their expressions, they seem nervous about the test?”

“......!”

Both of them swallowed the words that had risen to their throats. It wasn’t because of the ‘test’, but because of ‘you’, you jerk.

“You know that if you lose, it’s collective responsibility, right?”

“......”

Soon, Harun’s cold gaze turned toward them. The faint sound of a beast’s growl was a bonus.

Ancelot nodded.

“I like your spirit.”

“Grrr......”

“Bite.”

“Woof!”

Immediately, Harun rushed at Jan.

“Ah! Hey, you crazy bastard! Why are you biting my shoulder!”

“Grrrrr! Woof woof! Woof woof woof (If you lose! You’re dead! By my hands)!”

“Ack! He really thinks he’s a dog!”

Smack!

Watching the scene, Ancelot smiled and smacked Jan on the back.

“......Ugh...... You too, really......!”

“Stop complaining and take it. I’m passing on good energy.”

“......!”

Jan’s eyes widened.

Jan’s legs, which had been contracting repeatedly, exploded forward.

Swooooosh!

Without hesitation, he brought the wooden sword down on his opponent’s head, who was now wide-eyed like a rabbit.

To Jan, Haiman de Foltaine wasn’t just a test opponent. He was none other than Jan himself.

‘To become a better version of myself than yesterday.’

He cut away his worthless past with this full-force downward slash.

***

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!

The sharp sounds of blows echoed repeatedly.

It was Jan’s one-sided offensive.

“......Not bad.”

I found myself smiling as I looked up at the training ground. Kirian and Harun were already in a frenzy, shouting for blood. That’s what camaraderie is all about, I suppose.

“You broke our promise.”

At that moment, a new voice pierced my eardrums.

‘There he is.’

I only glanced sideways. Duke Herman was quietly watching the training ground.

“Are you looking down on my warning?”

“Of course not. Who would dare take the words of one of the country’s few Masters lightly?”

“Then why did you do it?”

“To protect your honor, Duke.”

“......”

Duke Herman turned to me with his characteristic smiling face.

“What nonsense is that?”

“I will become a much greater person than I am now. Soon, the name Ancelot will resonate throughout the continent.”

“So?”

“If it becomes known that someone like me was defeated by a mere rookie swordsman from the Kingdom of Hart in the past...... Wouldn’t people find it strange?”

My skills were already acknowledged by Duke Herman.

“Eventually, some people would start to investigate the truth of that incident, and they would inevitably discover your corrupt dealings, tarnishing the honor of the Herman family.”

“Hahaha, child. Power and influence can erase existing crimes and create new ones.”

Duke Herman smiled broadly as he spoke.

“And I have that power.”

“Scary.”

“You ignored my warning. So, you wouldn’t particularly mind if I were to punish you, right?”

I shrugged lightly.

“It’s unfair, but if that’s the nature of power, there’s nothing I can do. What punishment do you have in mind?”

“This year’s international diplomatic event will be held here in Bromhill. It’s been decided since it coincides with the coronation of the new king.”

“I see.”

“On that day, the knights of the Duchy of Meeke will be killed.”

Twitch.

For the first time, I turned my full attention to him. Of course, it was a laughable statement.

“You’re going to harm an envoy visiting the country? The Kingdom of Hart’s reputation will plummet.”

“It’s fine. I’ve already concocted a plausible story.”

“A story......?”

“The exiled seventh prince of the Duchy of Meeke and Count Arsene conspired together. Driven by personal vengeance, they attempted to assassinate the royalty accompanying the Meeke delegation.”

He said such horrendous things with a smiling face which made it even more chilling. However,

“What’s your reason for going so far?”

“There’s no reason. It just happens because I will it.”

“I assert that this isn’t love for your child. It’s twisted affection.”

“Hahaha, do you think that child is my hidden offspring?”

I shook my head at the man who was laughing slyly.

“Not your child, but the daughter of the woman you loved.”

“......!”

It was as if I could hear the sound of something cracking. For the first time, Duke Herman’s smiling face hardened.

Slowly, but surely. Soon, a severe, expressionless face stared straight into my eyes.

“......It seems the one who should die isn’t the knights of Meeke, but you.”

It was the first time I had seen that expression since meeting the sly Duke Herman.

***