Chapter 77
LfQGTime passed quickly.aHU
5A7FYjAThe semifinals of the jousting tournament unfolded just as everyone had anticipated.b895NH
qT0FMZLuina Bercheff defeated Kuntz Bair, and Rob Kaelin beat Valoshi Bienderk.iV5
utbZ0vqAfter a short day of rest, the day of the final arrived, also the last day of the festival.dhcQM
jLPPqzThe jousting tournament final and the magic tournament final.FH10
WSO8DlyThe entrance to the stadium where both would take place was packed with people who had come to witness the matches.mGnxI0
LOv5“Welcome, Lord Fernan. Allow me to guide you.”Xxizjf
6mXWithout waiting, Fernan went straight into the VVIP seats, but he stopped when he saw someone occupying his place.HmHxXih
V3k“What are you doing? Come and sit.”iw7
uBaq“That’s my seat.”zktD
C4d“There are plenty of seats.”Exs
NkcFThe VVIP seats were arranged like small private rooms, separated by panels to maintain privacy.eCUT
HUGg“When exactly did you arrive, Father? You’re a busy man.”1qZD
irELD“No matter how busy I am, not so much that I can’t come to see my son at least once. Though I didn’t come just for you.”Iom
ZEn“So, as an extra.”flGUB
4gYSomeone like Duke Pellenberg didn’t move lightly.VHr
wNCJm9Of course, this time there was a greater matter—the demons—which had made him act in person; but it made no sense to handle just one matter when he could attend to several.RFzXjZ
MxoU“Man is a cunning animal. Even if he receives a fair reward, if he doesn’t hear a word of gratitude, he may end up holding a grudge.”ZEAe
e96gx“Are you talking about the rector?”7vXBp9
kHWiA0“The rector is not that type. But simple words of gratitude, which cost nothing, can sometimes be worth more than a fortune.”H2DK
0gIOb1“I understand.”ipc1ow
j1wTCBut Fernan knew that wasn’t all. He was certain his father and the rector had discussed the demons.OPLB
ADw5Probably about the path forward.BprvnE8
7MhYOgq“Did the other prince-electors also come?”BBcI0
jHTlST“I’m the only one who moved personally.”oLU
WwKgDvThe title of prince-elector wasn’t a light one. And since they believed what had appeared were corrupted ones, not demons, they wouldn’t move so easily.jh8oQ
p4sfEven so, it meant the emissaries of the prince-electors were scattered across the VVIP seats.OoVly0
e8HH“How much of it is true?”Rqa7j
mYzOaA0Though his father asked the question loosely, Fernan understood without difficulty.yn8
8kq“All of it.”Kwzk
V0oDMi“Then, which parts were left unrecorded from the start?”ioi
oB0Just as the rector had noticed, the duke had also realized the recording was full of cuts.OMDY1ki
ghN8“From the moment Luina Bercheff stood before Aint Armian.”SgpeX3n
niWIqH“The necklace.”gTN
FZvZThe duke’s gaze fell on the necklace Fernan wore around his neck.Xrc
n7Dg6E“So you trimmed down what you did with my artisans and facilities, and that’s what you ended up with.”AgNi
aodvC“Correct. It’s a golem.”lyReD
FJNThe small Wooden raised its hand. The duke, knowing it was an ego golem, wasn’t surprised.O3M
DmK5“Seems it was quite effective against Andromalius.”qkdY
KfWiHB“I drove him to a state close to death.”5kG
c1YY6fu“You hid it well.”V6l
SnldAn ego golem was an artifact capable of shaking the whole continent.Ooqpw
yZ0“But you were careless.”WMWrycu
olUPHe hadn’t been. In the recording, no trace of Wooden remained. What the duke pointed out wasn’t the golem.GGGm
pUv“The judges who received the rector’s letter have already begun moving.”0pT
Hymlbz3“…The problem isn’t the golem, but that I myself appeared in that place.”OMg
VzmKfdI“Stay quiet. If a rabid dog bites you, there’s no cure. Above all, never say that you knew beforehand that a demon was going to be summoned.”CsGH0
KIBThe sudden blow nearly made him lose control of his expression, but Fernan held back.En66
Jz5Se“I didn’t know.”ocE68
UYnON8p“I’ll leave it at that.”pfnB4X
aCjmz3“It’s the truth.”u3Epkx9
VyiHg“Curious that right at that moment, you were in the place where the demon appeared.”RuicmY
8Iy“Pure coincidence. If I had known, I would’ve avoided it. I’m not stupid enough to walk straight into it alone.”jh38O
TTa“The branch of the World Tree.”WFDgg
a0LgR0“It’s already repaired.”lgnBDY
mkJ7HxS“And yet, a demon emerged.”pd2Iw
6Ta5He had nothing to say.7VJiL
0CJS7Zc“I didn’t know.”CIvwMG
5WUL6OBut there was no need to insist further. The duke didn’t seem intent on pressing on, and looked away.7aAZv
w7S“You’re right.”laAw5B
TkufjDtBy then, the finalists were already stepping onto the stage.4FSg
j4C2yNUpon seeing Luina Bercheff, the duke’s eyes shone with interest.shm8FAF
C6gGA“At that age, with such an achievement… the Bercheff family is not finished yet.”xVXFpwy
zazle“Did you really think of letting them fall?”aV0vG
yv5Wk“A family that collapses just because a secret sword art is taken from them doesn’t deserve the title of prince-elector.”NearV0S
bvZh“In any case, right now they no longer hold that title.”SiHk3B
VSeAnd it was the duke himself who had driven them to sell their golden decree, the symbol of their rank.u2hYLNb
nDefZ“A secret sword art is not the original, but a copy. And it’s not as if we would have spread it to the world, so the Bercheff family wouldn’t have suffered much.”bXs
ux2cStill, between the two options, they chose to sell the golden decree instead of handing over the secret art.0tFfB6X
pSZbPW“But against us, they wouldn’t have been able to use their strength properly.”aFtdoh
6pedPossessing a swordsmanship manual wasn’t only for learning it. Analyzing it thoroughly to create a method of countering it was its true value.PlGt
b7bWSc“Do you already feel attached to her because you partnered with her?”wa6vK
f2j1O“Luina will become a Royal Knight.”jrX
xHV“And you intend to flatter her from now?”amGUT0X
RRJ“Words of gratitude cost nothing.”Pd1
qGl“And from someone in position, they’re worth gold.”yOIiig0
FSLFgsDThe duke took a sip of cold tea that had already been prepared.wPlmd0
ODvwAk“Begin the match!”joG
7gHhDKThe final began.qvN
CimLuina Bercheff and Rob Kaelin. Two knights mounted on their steeds galloped toward each other.5EvyH6
1ZzLb────!ocF
zu093ZHA thunderous crash tore through the air.Pf9V2
iZ7byiThe shockwave spread in all directions, though it couldn’t pierce the magic barriers protecting the stands.fDWU
PJU1Ih“Albinos Bercheff is already a Royal Knight.”xVzwTa
yQS0It was an unexpected remark.s9Mun
n2zj“I know.”JMy
W5YP“If Luina Bercheff becomes a Royal Knight, the Bercheff family will have two.”9Q9
xRNt“Yes.”je492
0gGMuzv“Not a bad deal. Royal Knights can’t be bought with money.”ijH
w1K7K────!034N
m8rAZHSecond clash. Still no victor.QC6iX
nsxRTAmid the noise, Fernan responded without changing his expression.r645O
v6Mm“I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken.”iFFiEh
6aytxn“Are you saying you bake bread to give it to beggars?”7141A0
J65Wi“I haven’t even baked bread.”QjELhoU
X808s6“You used mandrake as firewood.”FVuaq
ahJUjitHe was talking about the mandrake root Fernan had given Luina.cASo
GLIM6K─────!skZ
yY8nXThird clash. Both dismounted and drew their swords.COLy0R
ZOtJkB“Flour isn’t just for bread.”a8yYZu6
PiA7oL“An investment only ends when you sell and receive payment.”vcJl
fkA“I will receive it.”nEQ
fyTAnd he had already recovered the initial capital.AURGy
sM8NThe simple fact that at that moment he was speaking with the duke, without being repudiated, was worth more than the capital invested.B9sv4Mq
RIHxwf─!a5HJ8
Pde──!C0wKfuX
XnCQMdUClashing swords.FeeZWG
n2ZTSilver traces and an energy blue as the sky bit into each other.UjUqey
sDnZSi“A beautiful and rare sight.”uJS
aJoWSiIt wasn’t easy to witness a duel between descendants of Royal Knights.qMK
Dzw4W“Father.”4TQFL
CVjsvrThe duke barely turned his head in silence.oNE
vid75“I want to make a deal.”FsZt
zqGuz─!L27
SSj“Speak.”SGHwTR
fRh─!kJRbgTc
iGH“What kind of man is the Mercenary King?”51JY
7Kp2e5Y“Is that a deal?”9jiI
ZKFc“It’s just a question.”ZeA5ItW
TeWGJ“He’s a Royal Knight. A man who, without being a knight, received the title of greatest knight of all.”q5w
ULHU1b7Anyone knew that.ptgF
LnJMG“You gave him the obsidian vein, didn’t you?”J3GpZx8
6CXGW0“I never said I would develop it.”r6sv
24W0ovp“So you won’t?”tToYB
W6Uw5“I didn’t say that either. It’ll go as your report stated.”KUUXSE
25kO8“Nothing more?”cHb39r
loa“He’s a mercenary to the core.”hF8
oK565hh─!dRbXDv
sgPSHiThe duel between the two knights grew fiercer. Fragments of shattered aura tore through the surroundings.7HoSWjr
BE6Even so, neither Luina nor Rob gave an inch.c9iIuR
2j8fQCIt was like a dance.s5N
7O5HsA spectacle in itself.WzD4eM
2YIA duet of man and woman tracing a sword dance that filled the arena entirely.iodz
09ADjKKThe audience, mesmerized, fell silent before the grandeur of the scene.IURlO5h
2bAOnly one, Fernan, paid more attention to the duke’s voice than to the battle.d8qioTr
p7tkEEb“He completes any assignment he accepts. No matter what, he prioritizes the client’s orders. He’s someone you enjoy hiring with money.”n94
uIoczD3Though that didn’t mean the client was the absolute master.aQk
dlH“Garrett Schreiner has his limits. If you cross them, he pays the penalty and abandons the mission immediately.”rgO
P61“That’s all?”a0B
DVAFRX“No matter how strong he is, do you think he could’ve earned the title of king by doing as he pleased?”JC6Y
i5c773lThat was good intel. Once he accepted a job, he almost always followed the client’s decisions.IRbNem
8GlLgi“Then, even in an emergency, if the client orders him not to act, would he stay put?”qjBqT
FFFm“Do you see Garrett as a dog?”6nX
PxfOn the duke’s usually impassive face, an expression appeared—rarely. A dry laugh.7vWM
tA8“Never.”kKvtX9V
9eu“If it poses no issue for Garrett or his mercenaries, then yes.”S17wN4T
JuSiTtjThat was it. Fernan discreetly clenched his fist.EHlffqU
GgO9L“But Garrett doesn’t take just any job. If the requester isn’t up to par or he’s not interested, he declines.”ZM5xNKd
Smu“I know he only accepts one or two jobs a year at most.”jgX
5fqKbEBut it didn’t matter. Fernan had the perfect bait to lure the King of Mercenaries.REi
o3M“Thanks.”5NiHbS
6gwH“Forget about clumsy approaches. Garrett isn’t someone easy.”1hviz2
R8K“How could someone who is a Royal Knight be easy?”0ZJ6e
zNkylnHe wasn’t planning anything special. Mercenary and client. When they met, all he’d do was hire him.NqDIoJ
EoB4‘A mercenary. His king.’jpI9Nvs
sqVbTo hire him to fight against the demons. A Royal Knight. That was Fernan’s last resort.EZ8S
NznTruthfully, he didn’t know if it was the right thing, or if it would only hinder Aint’s growth.4QZ
RCBSBut it was also true that relying solely on Aint felt unsettling.qJGQT4p
CjajMcGThat’s why he’d considered the King of Mercenaries. A man who put the client’s will above all else.aUc
PtjYs‘Because he could hold back until he decides Aint can’t win.’MMghi
jFnYNMThe simplest thing would be to rely on the family’s strength. But that wasn’t right.d4i5RC
0PDA fight against demons could bring irreparable losses to the family, and there was no way to justify knowing in advance they’d be summoned.hMQP7
0YjqSeeing the future was Fernan’s greatest secret—and his greatest weapon. A truth he couldn’t share with anyone.7D2
Ar4───!a3hjTs
ACQq─!DJt8o
p4eYa──!yNi
aF4While Fernan and the duke talked, the duel had reached its climax.ZL8fUT2
pqIuIThe aura blades forming on their swords were harder and sharper than ever. At any moment, the attacks could trigger defensive artifacts.tB8HOH
PyBf3hDespite the hundreds of exchanges, their swords didn’t slow. Nor did their faces change.ZDXP
KGyTheir strikes were as light as they were heavy, and the stadium floor had cracked as if meteorites had fallen.hcCD
tNGv“How did that golem perform?”WkH8
lQ5srR4“……”Bya
LYvjP“I’ll tell you how to hire Garrett. The rest is up to you.”gji1aj
Qw3NkO“It tore apart and killed Andromalius’s serpent.”pFLqv
WuF“That little snake?”aqX7
cR9o“It grew over twenty meters long.”2MpL6
NXPi“A monster, then. Well, I guess it was worth the cost. When you said you’d waste those expensive things on a mere golem, I thought you were crazy.”vSUTth
PKNbFegIf it could destroy a demonic beast, its performance was more than proven.huQz9
5iIFKTI“It’s the perfect companion for a merchant.”92Aq
qnyaThunk!IHob
NeUThe little Wooden hanging from his collar cheerfully waved. The duke observed it indifferently.A2n
PNkAt that moment—VZZd
OvQWaaaaah!67kafo7
IHmYy9DA deafening roar shook the stadium.dYZjQT
HyFEd“It’s been decided.”cqz
SFdcThe duke rose from his seat after checking the battlefield.Ecl4tN2
FvOQAk“Can you trust the ones shown in the sphere?”dE9V1v
qwLDJLuina, Aria, Verian, and Aint.W0NlY9H
z4S“I can trust one completely, negotiate with another, and blackmail a third.”4Bmhg
5SWDL2x“And the last?”72O8A
Hr7ta“I can persuade them.”xTma
Npo“If you don’t want the judges to discover the truth about the demons, you’ll have to seal their mouths well. If you’ve already been paid in advance, as a merchant, you must deliver.”P9a4F
AgXuvHe meant the rector.6l6YiF
rMH“I’ll keep it in mind.”zlVf6H
SYhnAs the duke departed first, Fernan called after him.wazKn
NmZIGP“Aren’t you going to watch the Magic Tournament final?”qp33
Qy373Zd“I just wanted to see who you can trust.”ifiDV
zswzIFernan smiled as he looked at the stadium.RkgIf
mrr3From the start of the festival until now—qPNI
jCm42KcHe’d already gathered the funds to hire the King of Mercenaries.5OiuQOv
XhnBjcAnd besides—bmka
92Sv“Sir, the first report on Gismond Ert has arrived.”Bd6l
otrkuHe’d also received information about that strange man.5VpXM
rfS***hQs
qvAJStrong.k7Zu
Bf3Luina knew it from the first clash of lances.xb4var
pqBpNo, in truth, she knew it even before crossing weapons.Dli
tK24MHer opponent was Rob Kaelin.ufwlms
EtO6INGrandson and disciple of a Royal Knight.0cxxMR
gAF8V8TLast year’s jousting tournament winner.q3h
FAKHe’d lived two more years than her. For some, two years meant little, but for a prodigy, two years were an insurmountable wall.4NnPoXb
u7CEven so, Luina felt no fear. In the midst of that cold hostility and surge of sinister aura, she stepped forward and swung her sword.1sLAJBm
yKDIf he was a Royal Knight’s grandson, she was a Royal Knight’s daughter. A knightess who had fought a demon and emerged victorious.VCie
rC9BRob Kaelin was, without doubt, formidable. He was strong.1bZ
rPNABut he wasn’t as terrifying as a demon. Not as strong as one.NpFH
gAFWThat’s why she knew she wouldn’t lose.Geszu
lk5fMg‘I said I would win.’jfTm
pfAmFor a knight, a promise was as valuable as life itself.4QQMYn
gLKL8That’s why she had to win.bxe2bYi
yGMRqP9No—even if not for that, she wanted to win.arB
G1upcl3Not all jousting champions became Royal Knights.2Q3
q0OCsBut except for two who never entered the academy, all the others had won the tournament.3q420
iVrBYlThat’s why Luina had to win.YC2
Q9eThe swords clashed. Rob Kaelin was stronger than any student she had ever faced in the academy.xj7zv
ZwanFpEach clash of blades made her teeth grind.K0Yss
wX0xOVIBut she could endure it.vV1D61
xf8SZYACompared to the battle with Andromalius, where every blow tore her muscles and burst her veins, this was nothing.8SZ5HOv
KeqANot the pressure, nor the destructive force, nor the speed.PXpRM
k5HNothing told her she couldn’t win.hfJq
zboIfAnd that conviction became reality.Fz4A1VJ
nwA1─!TVi
kD7ZP20After hundreds of clashes, their swords met once more.1EXuxv
CZJ6yoHClang, screech—3oibr
9RPEb37The blades slid against each other.Fe6eiK
MBMhLuina dropped low and raised her arm. Her opponent’s torso was exposed.rsBF
4A77jHShe lifted her knee, but the hard aura shielded his armor. Using the momentum, she shoved him, and both crashed down in a tangle like colliding carriages.D4hdMa
XJYrXCrash!8Ek2
xZm5xWBoth rose, panting.0hlH
ATM1xYtStaggering, they lifted their swords. As if by silent agreement, they unleashed the last of their aura.3HZPe
0nhyB4Both Luina and Rob knew—this would be the final clash. They had barely any strength or aura left.vdPC
brRvu6v‘Sharper. Even sharper.’CUYqkoo
PlnhTaGLike when she gave everything, desperately, to pierce the demon’s heart.687
taoTheir swords, deadlier than ever, collided.t1KEuv
sB59A flash of mixed aura engulfed the stadium.AbSnChr
0tDAnd when the light faded—wvX
fpv“Huff, huff…!”yxj
ycQcIhThe one still standing on both feet was Luina.aZT
JXrGHcOn the ground, Rob stared at the sky while the bracelet on his wrist glowed faintly.VdQkkqk
5tK5H…Did she win?Tepc0r
WSixl0X“…Ha, I didn’t think I’d lose.”6k5E
FZC9xEnYes, she had won.4BE0
3NPFjkLuina instinctively looked up toward the box where the high nobles sat, where she assumed Fernan was.YhK5P
aPCDx6uShe didn’t know why she looked there first.cQiL2R
cItShe simply wanted to.tcPGz9m
hn7Gu0jBecause without Fernan—ZmBYI9
84vpThat victory wouldn’t have been possible.8I5BH
PAw1She wouldn’t have been top of her class, or even there at all.t9m
8jHyLLuina raised her sword high.Oh7X
lWLMt“Luina Bercheff is the victor!”qGYWqnx
8z2QzThe judge proclaimed the tournament champion.RZ5bQU
hcugJaLuina didn’t know, but at that moment, golden drops like tears of gold fell from Fernan’s eyes.sdeKlRf
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