Chapter 112: A New Beginning (3)

It was my first time going through the procedures for leaving the country, and they turned out to be ridiculously simple.

After checking in my suitcase and other luggage, all I had to do was pass through customs, briefly show my face, and receive a few stamps on my passport. That was it.

I had imagined something more complicated, like a drug-sniffing dog inspecting my body or going through multiple tedious procedures…

However, I was satisfied with the fact that I had managed to avoid the annoying swarm of journalists.

‘Finally, I was about to board a plane for the first time.’

It was a modest excitement, but for someone who had never flown despite my age, it felt like a big event.

Moreover, what added an extra touch of excitement was that I would be flying on a private jet.

The fact that my first flight would be so luxurious made a sense of euphoria bubble deep in my chest.

—However.

In front of me, what stretched out was a narrower aisle than I had expected.

On both sides, rows of seats were lined up one after another, reaching all the way to the farthest end.

…

Economy class.

And not just that—it was economy class on a budget airline.

I discreetly glanced at the Sword Master and Abel.

Both were completely covered with masks and caps, moving with precision as they searched for their seats, as if they were used to this.

Suddenly, the Sword Master turned around and looked in my direction. He spoke to me as I stood there, frozen in the middle of the aisle.

“Don’t you see you’re blocking the way? Hurry up and get over here.”

His tone was deliberately lower, probably to avoid being recognized. With a hand gesture, he urged me to follow him. Resigned, I followed while suppressing an uncomfortable expression.

As I approached, the Sword Master pointed to a window seat to my left.

“That’s your seat. Normally, I don’t give up the window seat, but since it’s your first flight, I’ll make an exception this time.”

“….”

I sat down without saying anything else.

A sense of embarrassment hit me belatedly. How humiliating. My behavior was ridiculously predictable.

‘I wasn’t always like this.’

It seems my brain has completely lost itself in this damn world.

Lost in my thoughts, I heard the cushion beside me being pressed. Abel had taken her seat and quickly removed her shoes to put on a pair of flight slippers.

‘Now I had to spend another ten hours with her.’

The flight time to Switzerland, where the Nibelung territory was located, would take approximately ten hours.

After having spent three uncomfortable hours on the bus, now I had to endure triple that time next to her.

It was quite an awkward situation.

‘Should I ask her to switch seats?’

I looked past the aisle, where the Sword Master was already asleep, his eyes covered by a sleep mask.

“….”

I let out a small sigh and looked away.

‘It’s not right to wake someone who’s sleeping.’

Abel, who had finished getting comfortable, motioned with her eyes toward the space under my seat.

“The slippers are down there. On long flights, the pressure can make your feet uncomfortable.”

“…Oh, right.”

As she said this, Abel put on a pair of disposable headphones, probably using them as earplugs rather than for listening to music.

I couldn’t help but feel curious. How was it possible that people from one of the most prestigious families in the world, like the Nibelung, behaved so ordinarily?

It seemed too natural to be a disguise, yet there was also an air of elegance and dignity that set them apart from everyone else.

That contrast created a strange discomfort swirling in my chest.

However, it would be rude to ask. There could be complicated circumstances, like financial difficulties or family issues. After all, being famous didn’t always mean being wealthy.

Suppressing my questions, I pulled out the slippers from under my seat and put them on.

“You should sleep during the flight. The flight attendants will wake you when the meals are served. Even if it’s your first flight and you’re excited, don’t expect too much. It’s nothing special.”

With those words, Abel took out a sleep mask and put it on.

The mask had a small embroidered rabbit. It looked like it had been used many times, as it was wrinkled and frayed at the edges.

‘….’

Abel crossed her arms and leaned back against the seat, letting her head fall to the side.

‘Did she fall asleep that fast?’

After sleeping so much on the bus. I let out a brief sigh of amazement before resting my elbow on the window frame.

The view beyond the small window was the runway.

Even though it was just a stretch of asphalt, it made me feel inexplicably excited.

…Moments later, a voice announced the imminent takeoff.

―Buzz

The engine began to vibrate strongly, and the plane tilted slightly backward before ascending into the sky.

I felt my body lift slightly off the seat, accompanied by a combination of gravitational force and a strange sense of weightlessness.

That moment would be something I would never forget—the starting point of a unique vacation.

***

After more than nine hours of flight, we finally arrived in Switzerland.

Perhaps due to its location at the foot of the Alps, the weather was surprisingly cool for summer.

For someone like me, exhausted by Korea’s scorching heat and humidity, the climate felt refreshing. Moreover, the excitement of my first trip abroad added a special touch, making me smile without even realizing it.

‘It’s truly beautiful.’

The scenery was incredibly breathtaking.

The mountains surrounding the airport, part of the famous Alpine range, rose majestically, their snow-capped peaks blending with the clouds despite it being summer.

Even the buildings, which combined modern and historical elements, had a unique charm.

There was no doubt why Switzerland was considered such a renowned tourist destination.

After passing through an entry process similar to the departure one, I finally reunited with the Sword Master and Abel. Being citizens of the country, they had completed the procedures faster and were already waiting for me.

The Sword Master welcomed me with a comment as soon as he saw me.

“It looks like you handled the procedures well, even though it’s your first time.”

“Yeah, there weren’t any major difficulties.”

To my surprise, Korean was also an official language in Switzerland in this world.

Although it was somewhat absurd, it was undeniably convenient. As a Korean, I felt an unexpected sense of pride in it.

Abel, still drowsy, spoke in a sleepy tone.

“Grandpa, when will Mr. Gaines arrive?”

“He said he’ll be here soon, dear.”

The Sword Master responded with a kind and warm gaze, although his face was partially covered by a mask.

However, one word in his sentence caught my attention.

‘Dear?’

Abel visibly flinched, as if her drowsiness had vanished entirely. Her face turned a bright red.

“G-grandpa, don’t call me that in front of Kang Geom-Ma!”

The Sword Master, looking puzzled, replied.

“And how should I call you? I’ve always called you that since you were little.”

“I-it’s just… Well, he’s here, and besides, I’m already grown up.”

“Hahaha, grown up, you say? To me, at seventeen, you’re still just a baby.”

Suddenly, the Sword Master turned his gaze toward me. Interrupting his laughter, he lowered his voice.

“…Although of course, there are always exceptions. Still, Abel, to me, you’ll always be my dear girl.”

“Grandpa, stop! You’re embarrassing me!”

The affectionate family exchange made me smile. But just at that moment—

—Chiiriiik.

The sound of tires screeching against the asphalt caught my attention.

More than ten sleek black sedans stopped in front of us. From one of the vehicles, which had an especially elegant design, a middle-aged man stepped out.

He wore a perfectly ironed, impeccable suit, without a single wrinkle.

Before I could wonder who he was—

“…!”

Suddenly, well-built young men began stepping out of the cars one after another, quickly forming a fan-shaped formation around the middle-aged man.

—Tap. Tap. Tap.

With an imposing and elegant stride, the man approached us.

When he was close enough, he gave a formal bow and said:

“Sword Master, Lady Abel, welcome home.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young men behind him executed a synchronized military salute with perfect precision.

The Sword Master removed the mask covering his face and spoke with a faint smile.

“Every time I return, does it have to be this exaggerated? It makes me uncomfortable. Besides, I’m retired now—these formalities are unnecessary.”

“Please don’t say that, Sword Master. You are a hero of humanity, and this is the least we can do.”

“When you were younger, you didn’t say things like that. It seems age has made you more flattering.”

“Hahaha, I suppose being in this field for so long has changed me. Ah, by the way, the President of the UN Permanent Council, Jebas Wallon, regrets not being able to welcome you in person.”

“Ah, man! We’re talking about you, why do you have to bring him up?”

“Sword Master, you remain as humble as ever.”

The middle-aged man smiled kindly. Then, his gaze turned toward me.

“Sword Master, could this young man be the Sashimi Saint everyone has been talking about…?”

“That’s enough.”

The Sword Master cut him off abruptly.

“I can’t go into details, but I’d appreciate it if you kept his presence here a secret. Though sooner or later it will be known, for now, it’s best to keep a low profile. And it would be even better if you ensured that those behind you also remain silent.”

“Ah, understood. No problem.”

“I trust you, Gaines.”

The Sword Master patted him on the shoulder. Gaines nodded with a somewhat uneasy expression before changing the subject.

“Anyway, I hope you all had a pleasant trip. I will personally take you to the main residence. Please, get in.”

The Sword Master and Gaines continued conversing amicably, though it was evident that there was a hierarchical relationship between them.

The Sword Master was clearly superior, while Gaines was in a subordinate position.

At first, I thought he was a butler. However, the color of his attire stood out.

Even his gestures exuded dignity.

Intrigued, I turned to Abel, who was standing beside me, and asked.

“Who is that man?”

“Mr. Gaines? Well, he’s…”

Abel replied as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“…The President of Switzerland.”

“……”

What?

***

It had been three hours since we left the airport.

A line of black sedans traced a dark line through the mountains of the Alps.

After approximately thirty minutes of climbing the mountain roads, the landscape opened up, revealing a clearing in the middle of the forest.

There, an ancient castle with an austere yet majestic design stood prominently.

It didn’t have a flashy exterior—an old fortress heavily marked by time. However, it didn’t feel old.

The stone walls, reflecting its long history, created a sense of grandeur.

This was the headquarters and mansion of the Nibelung.

Castle Sigurðr.

As I mentioned before, this place was the exclusive domain of Siegfried, the Sword Master. In other words, it was territory where his authority was absolute.

To put it more simply, even the President of Switzerland, who was currently driving my car, would be treated here as a foreigner in his own country.

Though, to be honest, even I didn’t fully understand this situation. But it seemed that these kinds of things were common in Europe, so I had no choice but to accept it as a cultural difference.

—Screech

The convoy stopped in front of the castle gates.

Before I could reach for the door handle, one of the uniformed men rushed to open it for me.

‘…This is too much.’

Fortunately, there wasn’t a red carpet rolled out, or it would have been unbearably awkward.

Once we got out, the men once again formed an orderly line and gave a military salute.

The Sword Master responded with a brief nod and spoke.

“Gaines, thanks to you, we arrived without any problems.”

“Please, don’t say that, Sword Master. To be honest, I hadn’t driven in a long time, except for occasional outings with my wife, so this was a nice change. Thanks to you, I could also enjoy the fresh air for the first time in a while.”

The Sword Master let out a short laugh, though it seemed tinged with a slight hint of melancholy.

He didn’t seem to fully appreciate the excessive courtesy.

As the two exchanged light words, Gaines suddenly turned to me.

With a broad smile, he extended his hand.

“……”

“Earlier, I didn’t get the chance to introduce myself properly. I’m Gaines Sebastian.”

“I’m Kang Geom-Ma.”

I extended my hand somewhat awkwardly and shook his.

Gaines smiled in satisfaction.

“I saw the video of your duel during the academy festival. Since then, I’ve become a big fan of yours, Sashimi Saint, haha.”

“I’d rather you not call me that.”

“Huh? But it’s an honorary title from the headlines. Why don’t you like it?”

They attached ‘Sashimi’ to it.

Gaines showed a disappointed expression and clicked his tongue.

“…Well, if you prefer, I’ll call you Kang Geom-Ma.”

“……”

Although it also bothered me that he used ‘Geom-Ma,’ I decided not to say anything to avoid dragging out the conversation.

“Either way, it’s an honor to meet you. I hope we can maintain a good relationship in the future.”

For the leader of a country to say something like that to someone like me, just a simple student, made it difficult to find an appropriate response.

“Ah, Gaines, enough of that. He’s just a young boy.”

“Haha, my apologies, Sword Master. But you know, geniuses have a way of attracting people. I suppose I got carried away by his charisma.”

After a bit more light conversation, Gaines bowed his head toward the Sword Master.

“I will take my leave now, Sword Master.”

“Why don’t you stay for dinner before you go?”

“I would love to, but I have a lot of pending work. I hope we can meet again on another occasion. Until then.”

After saying his goodbyes, Gaines returned to his car. Before getting in, he gave me a wide smile, deepening the wrinkles around his eyes.

The tires rolled down the slope one by one.

As I absentmindedly watched the rear of the black sedans disappearing, the Sword Master suddenly asked a question.

“What do you think of Gaines?”

I scratched my neck, thinking about my answer.

“Well… I don’t know, he seems pretty approachable for someone of his status.”

“Ha, so that’s how he seemed to you.”

The Sword Master let out a weary laugh and shook his head as he spoke.

“Think about this: the entire world has its eyes on who will be my successor. In this context, by inviting you to my territory, what do you think Gaines, as a witness, will take from it?”

“Ah…”

“I’ve known him for a long time, but he’s not as friendly as he appears. He’s someone who prioritizes his own interests above loyalty. The good thing is that if he sees something as beneficial, he knows how to keep his mouth shut.”

“……”

“When you reach a high position, most of the people around you are like him. That’s why you must not be fooled by appearances. You have to question everything, constantly analyze, and if necessary, use them to your advantage.”

With his gaze fixed ahead, the Sword Master continued speaking calmly.

“The title of Seven Stars is a weight that can even make a president bow his head. You shouldn’t accept too many gestures of kindness like today’s, but you also shouldn’t reject them all. If you don’t exercise your power, you’ll be ignored, and that will reduce your influence.”

“…It’s complicated.”

The Sword Master gave me a gentle pat on the back.

“You’ll get used to it with time. That’s why I brought you here. Anyway, you must be hungry. Let’s get something to eat first.”

“I… want to enjoy the scenery a little before going in.”

The Sword Master responded with a slight nod. Abel looked at me with a somewhat annoyed expression, but in the end, she followed the Sword Master inside the castle.

“……”

I remained silent, contemplating the sunset stretching before me.

The sky was beginning to darken.

The night’s darkness crept forward, pushing away the pink hues of twilight. It was a majestic landscape that left me lost in thought.