Chapter 86
KqeqpWThe Count of Altrierc stroked his chin and asked.eSXT
mn8UL“What kind of person is Aint Armian?”TgX
b5AudD“He is someone who can become a blade worthy of hunting bulls.”n7nR
i3P1JPu“So even a merchant recognizes his worth.”2gC
TctdkThat was the highest of compliments.LLIP
8K9px“Go to the private residence. Katrina has been waiting to see you for a while.”EZkJ8E2
bSeCt9z“How is the Countess?”0TD5
uD26onX“I don’t understand what she likes about someone trying to devour the foundations of our family…”nlKq3gs
Pknez“Raising a new pillar and sharing it is not devouring, it’s a legitimate distribution of profits.”BJyX9iM
DnAUCeThe Count waved his hand dismissively, as if he didn’t want to hear more, and dismissed him.jrJtFa
YjwBnzF“Oh, but before you go.”5XX2
qMrJHis gaze changed.gM0vi1
yyFc1H“You still haven’t told me what the price is for mobilizing my knights. Nor how you found out about it.”9Gf
HmBx5Zh“That is a secret of my family, I cannot reveal it.”fwutt
PAniAlthough, in truth, it was a personal secret.C2qsh
MYgJ0“As you may already suspect, the monster hordes didn’t emerge naturally—they were summoned by the Corrupt. And that summoning requires sacrifices.”j72
G9S4So then, my lord.4GqYyc
mgVk“Do you know where the surviving desert clans are located?”blAWn7
vgpXo***WwboW
81sT6Clack.cSxLw
hbtlbyHAs he exited and closed the door, Fernan remembered something he had forgotten.xMC
TGtdh‘Ah, I forgot about the mines.’fZUegZ
cKXeUXeWell, maybe it didn’t matter.AO8
JmR4B3CIn a context like this, he couldn’t propose developing mines, and he hadn’t yet come up with an offer attractive enough to tempt the Count.61OdR6
ErNuTp7He still had time.HPh1Bn2
AZYAt least there was no risk of someone coming to steal the mines from him.ttw3o
GEtDujDAt that moment, he crossed paths on the stairs with a man.AQOu
3pxlLuS“Fernan?”B3UZhkD
QjJf“Ludger.”7oeip9T
nCvj“The Count seems to enjoy unpleasant things.”o1s
ehC77The two exchanged glances charged with tension.m5d
p9YJI‘So after me, his private audience is with Ludger…’pLOevpV
fjeRAnd they had even made sure they crossed paths. It was far too deliberate.fQvke
NLBM1‘There’s been some dispute recently between Altrierc and Schwaben…’HXx
bNfHe had heard there had. That meant all this was just a political display.EPMFUt
2WpSAnd in the process, the Count had used him.OocG1j
wP3y‘Hm.’BOvfE
3K0cv6xWell, things like that could be overlooked if he considered the relationship they already had and the one they could still build.PBHQ1kw
bZatIn the end, those small accumulated details turned into a large debt, and exploiting it all at once was more profitable.iq73Rs
Ac4Go26“Let’s go, young master.”2yk4I
P4N“Yes.”AeJD
1JDTpePassing by Ludger, Fernan reached another door with Rapelle.F9Hn
e3FMeAb“Come in.”nzBZ2sa
Y3hBefore he could knock, a female voice sounded from inside.SBYBn3r
hkHzDUpon entering, he saw a woman with her legs crossed, gazing out the window.iQryLe
MLXHer black hair fell to her waist, her skin was slightly sun-kissed, and her blue eyes sparkled like sapphires.nqkk2
DE9VIt was Katrina of Altrierc, the lady of the house.MOxvsR
uXObsnq“Welcome. Coffee? Or tea?”Ltb
oWfU“Will you serve it yourself?”OfCsIF
TViyxDy“Consider yourself lucky. Not even the most arrogant prince-electors taste a cup poured by me.”dxpbmd5
Gko“Then it’s an honor.”iB9474
b82zp3Fernan sat across from her.CXRW
XwHIIa“You don’t look well. They say you faced a Demon.”dDkb
Ou0vM“It wasn’t that serious. It wasn’t as impressive as it seemed.”K0OcNy
vOov87j“Really?”SFZHb5
5v5LVDC“Really.”8kQel
qYs3bThe coffee the Countess served him was delicious.8401
hng“The aroma is excellent.”eEh5Vx
8eppi“It’s from the beans you gave me. Don’t you remember?”r6CB
8ptxkDX“You still haven’t finished them?”YV2Xp
053c“You know I prefer liquor over this.”iZoc
kdYMIYv“That’s why I came prepared. Here I have an Orbis, a 55-year vintage, the pride of Fridian.”Qxm
gpwgvU0Fernan pulled a bottle from his subspace.zLRQV
KYYz“It seems you’ve been distancing yourself from Schwaben lately.”x2IIQ47
0rdw6KThe Countess raised an eyebrow as she accepted the liquor.f28L
bfy3f5“What makes you think that?”Fj54R1x
8ab6zvE“The Count received me before Ludger. That’s no small matter.”bKq
B7z8ZbIt might seem trivial, but among nobles, hierarchy and prestige were very strict matters.zc3i
QYLBZvDEven though the prince-electors chose the emperor, and even if they could match imperial power, the emperor was still the emperor.ixkl
SW9iSkUnder normal conditions, the Count should have seen Ludger first, not him.tsp
yR9Bv“That’s right.”81Ay7
HEn8gKatrina nodded calmly.9eZI0Hc
7Q38“Maybe it’s because after three consecutive coronations, Schwaben has grown too arrogant.”ulq
lLFdKPIt wasn’t that they desired the throne—they simply didn’t want to be mere vassals.pmwPkT
GApGQq“Hearing so much about their obsession with securing the throne is exhausting.”6NIiQro
PIciQm5The imperial succession wasn’t hereditary, but decided by the vote of the prince-electors.LnkV
OFztdYSThat inevitably empowered the nobility.rNhSbe3
0NMd“So don’t play dumb. I admitted it only because I know they used you.”QcovIv
8XMIn the midst of that subtle warning, Fernan pulled an elegant box from his subspace.YiXfxZ
Ea2SOsq“A gift for you, my lady.”jbE
EFF“Oh, is there still room for gifts between us?”0fq
fJmZGt2Despite her words, she pounced on the box with the speed of a hawk catching its prey.F3J
BaqMClick. Several fine glass bottles were revealed.RvM6Dz8
PQNR5C“What is this?”hkdY68x
hl6“The new cosmetics from the Flos brand, from the Golden Turtle Company.”10y2Svf
AGHT5Flos was the company’s luxury line.YCU030E
gCG“This one brightens and softens the skin. This perfume enhances the body’s natural scent. And this shampoo leaves hair shiny and silky.”80w0Q
AQG“And this one?”iHJg
x5Fif9“This one has the effects you’ve long desired, my lady.”QDHh
m4Z0“Really?”dhP
ndC0jFThe Countess’s eyes lit up. She uncapped a bottle and applied a bit to her palms, rubbing them together.JlS7
4C6OD4But there was no immediate change—her hands remained marked by calluses and scars.Rtne4E
IOhBn0“I don’t feel anything.”Dja8
VhkTn“You already know. Cosmetics don’t work miracles in a single use. I can’t promise the marks will vanish completely, but after using the whole bottle, the difference will be noticeable.”sg6Vk
TuaV“I’ll trust you.”9Yk
dxevqDThe Countess closed the box with a satisfied expression.woPqy
dv5ad3“And what about Emond?”7i5Pm
LK8“He’s doing well. He’s already established himself as a teacher.”iarR69g
D8F9“Of course—who do you think his parents are?”V3buu
GS8“And Alcmion?”xPm
5vxSy“He’s in Falansia.”mGen
jp8PFalansia was one of the seven fortresses along the wall. And also, on the most dangerous line.lR7ST
VCul“He must be having a hard time.”JJmD
Qvn“Young people must be forged through hardship.”88qb
cbuk9gq“He’ll enter the Academy next year, right?”9O1B
ihBIGdA“That’s not certain. If he doesn’t have enough talent, he might fail.”NA5jl
MRvc6K“Impossible.”Gfi4
YYQAlcmion was considered the most talented of the Count’s descendants. Even if he wasn’t without his issues, the idea of him failing was absurd.DAKjzn
IMq1Y“I think he’ll make it.”WUl5
wHAb33w“You’re his senior. I’d like you to guide him well.”stw
hhGSMNS“I will.”KHOZWh
VcguThe conversation continued animatedly.zhc
7n9***Hl5
YLBFDM2It is often said that the Academy is the cradle of the Empire.rpPb
61duAnd it was true. Not every inhabitant of the Empire could attend, but most of those with talent passed through its halls.NGgne
4ewA64zIn Altrierc, outstanding knights were abundant, and naturally, many were graduates of the Academy.QvzoG
XWRlEven those who had already left continued to show great interest in the institution.BuIcK3
u1FpoFa“Pleased to meet you, I’m Creffin. I’m an instructor of the knight academy students of Altrierc.”vWHI
xrj0UkhGrad entered the annex alongside Creffin.dEy
Pv27“I’ve brought him for a practice duel. As you know, the purpose of this deployment is to gain experience.”yMW
dkeThe professor looked at the gathered students and continued.uw8
gZHpJ“When the Academy sends its students abroad, it is also tradition for them to spar and interact with local knights or mages. It’s not mandatory, only those who wish to participate.”fN5M
IkLnBThe Academy was the best educational institution in the Empire, but it wasn’t the only one.4Zm
vaRaj0In particular, the knight academies of Altrierc and Bercheff were highly prestigious, to the point of being compared with the Academy in the training of knights.X54UP
qD3UTM— Participate without hesitation.x9sHsS
tC122aO— The knights of Bercheff and Altrierc always live up to their names. Bercheff perhaps a bit more.suKTwyn
js7xuC— The more dueling experience, the better for you. Nothing bad will come of it.fKa
vlVAint’s thoughts aligned with Gardner’s.tx2
GvUAfter the battle with Andromalius, he had felt his shortcomings keenly and craved real combat more and more.yquR
UpBThat’s why he had wanted to come to Altrierc—even if Fernan hadn’t said anything, he would have ended up here anyway.IUVWfO
FVjJP“I want to participate.”ryQn
eeXXjYUBut someone raised their hand before him—Luina.MjOO
ELM6gEx“Oh, the cadets will be thrilled to face the winner of the jousting tournament.”qPt
Rmf6“I want to participate too.”Z9E1
FOY3“And I.”qFwu2
arC7After them, Aint, Almon, Alia, and Verian also raised their hands. The duel was agreed upon, and everyone headed to the training field.ceCV
xXp38The fort was always occupied by troops, so its training ground was enormous. The dueling area was in a separate section.KQjAl2
uoMkCwThe appearance of the Academy students immediately attracted the attention of knights and soldiers training there.rFaVOrZ
3A60“Cadets, gather!”SLqd
z2fXyhAt Creffin’s command, over a hundred students from the knight school gathered around the dueling area.khRg49
2NMp“The Academy students have agreed to spar with you. Volunteers?”PSU
KadaxWithout a second’s hesitation, absolutely everyone raised their hands.wamH
ivJlPA“Good. Who wants to go first?”jE5
JuBS9“Alberi Fesley, from Class 1.”ywG
6oKYiA man in his twenties stepped forward.6uVFB0E
k7xAt the knight academy of Altrierc, there were no school years—just four classes, from 1 to 4, divided strictly by skill level.LTrlP5
zhs6b1“And from the Academy? Who’s up first?”scU
IWsGrad scanned his students, but Alberi pointed directly.Tm2y
uKuzHM“I want to face Luina Bercheff, winner of the jousting tournament.”gBOwXM
hKw“Oh. Good choice. And you, Luina?”6S3d4
BOiCBm“If I’m challenged, I have no reason to decline.”ckeU
z6eLuina stepped forward.WTYmg9
EJC“The duel will be with blunt training swords.”gSq0kp6
VjuThe Academy’s defensive artifacts were too expensive to waste on a simple duel outside of Pellenberg.dscC0lr
oFob3b“Why did you choose me?”0194Q
JyLnAQZ“Just as winning the jousting tournament makes you the best at the Academy, I am also the best at the knight academy of Altrierc. And I believe our academy is not inferior to the Academy.”kSsogO
Cxj98O“I see.”lZRpVtA
CDzSLuina nodded calmly.GXDKHb
QT8“You know my surname, right? Bercheff.”xG9
AkPcyrs“Of course. That’s exactly why I chose you.”O2PJW
mQmS“No aura allowed! Begin!”vVSgm6
3asGIClang!RaH8ew6
8sfZThe training swords clashed and sparks flew.kwQB0Rs
CDioGWith just one exchange, the result became clear.4lWhQ
2c5R“…Ugh!”9ALi
rbNCMzAlberi stepped back with a groan. Luina followed immediately, giving him no room to breathe.FmF9PT
ugVNX5She was an experienced knight. And an experienced knight was like a wolf—once they smelled an opening, they never let go.Lso
tvRClang! Clang!w2xW
W47AY9wLuina’s sword danced. Points became lines, lines became planes, blocking all angles and cutting through every trajectory of her opponent.5mU1Q
aJXUUyjOne step became two, two became three.Q7G
F39Alberi could barely block, dodge, and endure. Nothing more.R6aE
txl2Clang!TQXO
nQ4QTAlberi’s sword flew from his hands and spun through the air.jzpfZK
CeeW“Haah… haah…”mlpcGfl
4IygCDrenched in sweat after just a few moments, his figure stood in stark contrast to Luina, who showed no sign of fatigue.jLSz
aHjDXGShe placed her training sword against her opponent’s neck.6anqve
Yrn“Finished.”gYPaEu
vYER7VGIt was a common thing—men always wanted to measure and rank, even among the strong.QN2
wGw8duWho was the strongest among the Royal Knights and Archmages? The question remained a topic of debate, as did which noble house stood at the top.cu9lx
VZJEveryone mentioned Armian, but ever since the throne changed hands a century ago, the dispute had reignited.KbFD8xl
ZeT0KAltrierc and Bercheff. Bercheff and Altrierc. The comparison was always there.whXs
XfrEven if they all trained knights, not all produced the same caliber.FfZFllc
fFNXNot all electors were equal, and not all knights were either.44MtpY
KSkWhich of the two houses that had protected the first Emperor was stronger?kWcf
VuKCLIt was always a burning question.Fi5
VUXAnd so it was.YjW
7lV8Altrierc had always been compared to Bercheff.iBUYsdg
DXRvjAnd Luina had grown up hearing those comparisons until she was sick of them.uL7e
bVXEven if her territory was devastated by the Monster Wave.8n809Ko
0UwN4FEven if they had sold the rights of the Golden Edict and their former glory had withered.h2hESK
LgfEven so.jpzFy
6ecfch“Next?”NtK7RD
T9FYOShe must not cower before those of Altrierc.ENj
VFnShe must not lose.KGxaJ
cv1hNS9If she fought, she must win.yLdubi
ARo8QBecause she was a Bercheff.MXeL
rxVkfw“No one else? Are there only cowards in Altrierc?”rCI26da
Tdqm374Luina’s eyes burned with determination.qBQ
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