Chapter 252 - The Walking Red Flag Swordmaster

Mountainbreaker, Janine Clive.

The youngest child and only daughter in a family of knights with three sons, she had never been expected to become a knight herself. Yet she began manipulating aura simply by watching her much older brothers duel. At nine, she defeated her teacher. At fifteen, she defeated her eldest brother, who had reached the rank of sword expert.

At twenty, she became a swordmaster, and she had served King Heodret faithfully for twelve years. A swordswoman of blinding speed who fully deserved to be called a one-woman army, Janine Clive was everything a swordsman aspired to be.

“Zed Swallowww!!!”

And now that woman stood outside someone else's castle, howling a man's name. It was pure horror.

Isabella, who had been watching the scene unfold, greeted Ferda as he hurried out.

“Greetings, Lord Regent. And... Sir Zed is here as well.”

Her eyes held disgust as she looked at Zed.

“Haha, good day, Administrator. You look as intelligent and beauti—”

“Shut up. How can you say that after what you've done?”

“I'm sorry.”

Zed quietly shut his mouth and assumed a contrite expression. Ferda turned to Isabella.

“Mountainbreaker is a famous figure. Why wasn't she allowed inside?”

“The Doppler incidents have everyone on edge, and fear of Demons is running high. There have been calls not to admit outsiders indiscriminately, especially uninvited nobles, so we're strictly screening everyone who enters. And...”

“And?”

“She started doing that before I even heard she'd arrived.”

Her gaze was disapproving. She clearly disliked Janine, but she disliked Zed even more.

“We'll handle things here. You may go back.”

“Understood. For your own good, Sir Zed, you'd better resolve this quickly.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Zed climbed onto the battlements. But he couldn't seem to bring himself to show his face. After hesitating several times, he sought out his partner in crime.

“Pepe. What does her expression look like?”

“Look for yourself. Why are you making me do it?”

“Mountainbreaker's a real beauty.”

Drooling like a dog at the dinner bell, Penelope poked her head out.

“Not my type, but she does look really young for a swordswoman over thirty.”

“Her expression, you crazy bitch.”

“Like a tiger that's had about four nose hairs plucked.”

“I'm fucked.”

Zed buried his face in his hands. Ferda looked down at him, finding his excessive reluctance pathetic.

“Shouldn't you take responsibility?”

“For what?”

“If a swordmaster comes all this way demanding it, surely it's the price of not keeping your dick in your pants. Having your first child born a bastard isn't a pleasant prospect.”

“What? Hold on. Do you think I'm some irresponsible idiot who goes around getting women pregnant?”

“Isn't that exactly what you are?”

“Ha! Just how little do you think of me?”

Zed looked deeply affronted.

Absurd as it was, Ferda could understand why he was so confident. The Great Thief, Zed Swallow. His handsome face and freewheeling exploits had led hundreds upon hundreds of women to claim they were his lovers. Just as many had claimed to be carrying his child.

'All lies, of course.'

What those lovers hadn't known was that Zed belonged to the Red-Eye Clan. Those of its bloodline possessed eyes that distorted the flow of mana, but the supposed bastards had no such ability.

It really was remarkable. He fucked around that much, yet not a single woman had become pregnant.

In any case, if it wasn't that sort of responsibility, what exactly was Janine Clive, Mountainbreaker, demanding he take responsibility for?

“That's not important.”

Desperate to wriggle out of that responsibility, Zed began scheming.

“Here's what we'll do.”

He scratched a diagram into the stone floor and outlined his plan.

“First, I'll show myself and talk her into a swoon. Then, Lord Regent, you bind her in one shot with those stealthy shadows of yours! That should buy us a few seconds, right? Then, Pepe, you rush in and wipe her memory. Perfect, isn't it?”

“W-w-w-what?! You want me to grab that lunatic's head?”

“His Lordship will hold her tight. Won't you?”

“Would you mind not assuming I'm part of this?”

This man really was unbelievable.

“Besides, would a swordmaster like her fall so easily to a third-rate devil's memory-wiping spell? Mountainbreaker has fought mages dozens of times.”

“What! Are you calling my magic pathetic?! Are you looking down on me?!”

“Then will you go in?”

“I am a pathetic, third-rate devil. I bow my head before Your Lordship's magnificent judgment. Woof, woof!”

Eager to save her own skin, Penelope sided with Ferda.

“In that case... we'll have to coax that witch into somehow—”

“Zed Swallowww!!”

First, they needed to stop that eardrum-splitting howl. Ferda leaned over the battlements, showing himself.

“Sir Clive. Please, would you stop shouting?”

At Ferda's courteous request, Janine placed a hand over her chest and greeted him formally.

“I greet the Regent of the Grand Duchy of Valdrova! Lord Regent Ferda! I am Janine Clive, a knight of the Heodret Kingdom! Please forgive my discourtesy on another's land!”

Her voice was distinctly quieter than her shouting, yet every word rang clearly in Ferda's ears. Its resonance alone gave him a sense of the heights she had attained.

“I had a disagreement with the sentry, who said outsiders could not be admitted without proper authorization. I respect the relationship between the Heodret Kingdom and the far east, and wish to resolve this matter amicably!”

“What fault could possibly be yours? Mountainbreaker, I'm certain you've done nothing wrong.”

Ferda looked down at Zed with cold contempt in his eyes.

“Zed Swallow! I know you're there! Show yourself at once! If you're a knight, face me like one!”

Zed tried to sneak away. Not a chance.

Ferda flicked his fingers, binding Zed's feet with shadows before wrapping his entire body. Zed looked bewildered as his body went rigid. Before he could react, Ferda forcibly hauled him upright.

Then something astonishing happened. The instant he came into view, Zed's demeanor transformed completely. The look of impending doom vanished, replaced by an unctuous womanizer.

“Were you looking for me, Janine?”

“Zed...!”

Zed wasn't the only one who changed. The moment she saw his face, the anger melted from hers, leaving it positively dripping with sweetness. He gave her a wistful look.

“Janine, I'm sorry... I couldn't bring myself to face you, so I kept hesitating. Will you forgive me?”

“I-I understand. I want to see you up close. Could you come down here so we can talk?”

“I'm afraid I can't.”

“Why...?”

“I, too, am a knight, am I not? I am sworn to Lord Regent Ferda, and His Lordship is currently in very poor health. He would be in danger without me at his side.”

Ferda wondered whether he should just throw the bastard over.

“So please, allow me to speak to you from here.”

“Yes, very well.”

She nodded readily even to that absurd request.

“Why haven't you answered my letters?”

“Your... letters?”

“Yes. Haven't I been sending you letters regularly? Why haven't you replied immediately?”

Zed struggled to hide his incredulity as he answered.

“Janine... A letter takes three days to arrive after it's sent.”

“Why didn't you hire an express courier? I sent one every single day. Why didn't you send any to me?!”

Express couriers were the fastest messengers available, charging over fifty times what an ordinary mail carrier did. Zed, who pinched every penny, would never use such a service. Even Ferda avoided them whenever possible. Besides, they had only been apart for a week.

“Did you really not miss me at all?”

“That's not it.”

“Don't lie! Didn't you promise to be my pillar of support?!”

Janine was furious. Ferda shot Zed a questioning look, silently asking what on earth she meant.

“Well, you see...”

* * *

[“You're remarkably vigorous. Nothing like those men who offer nothing but empty flattery.”]

[“What are you saying? Can't you feel this last blaze of effort, determined not to miss the chance of a lifetime?”]

[“What chance of a lifetime?”]

[“I wanted to be known not as a man who bedded Mountainbreaker, but as one who satisfied her.”]

[“Hmph. Such a teasing tongue. If you weren't reasonably good-looking, you'd have lost your head by now.”]

[“You honor me. I never knew a swordmaster so strict about discipline had such a girlish side.”]

[“Wh-what are you talking about? Girlish! Don't insult me with such words!”]

[“It's all right. You can show that side to me whenever you like. For this moment, at least, I'll be your pillar of support.”]

[“H-hmph. I don't believe men's empty flattery. If you truly love me, come at me again with everything you have.”]

* * *

“That's what happened.”

“...”

“She said she didn't believe me! What am I supposed to do if she goes and believes it anyway? Am I wrong?”

“I'm not the one you need to convince.”

Ferda gestured below with his eyes, indicating the person Zed needed to persuade. With every moment the conversation stalled, Janine's face grew more anxious.

“My love—no, Janine. No, no, Sir Clive.”

Zed drew a line.

“What happened that night meant a great deal to both of us. But weren't you the one who suggested we leave it as a single night of passion, Sir Clive? I respected your wishes.”

“Didn't you say you wanted me?! Was that a lie?!”

“Of course not, my love. I mean, Sir Clive!”

Damn this mouth! His womanizing instincts kept tripping him up. Janine's face grew increasingly crazed and venomous.

“There! You say you love me too! How long will you keep lying to yourself? How long will you toy with this maiden's heart, Zed Swallow?!”

“Pfft! Thirty-two, and she calls herself a maiden. Has she no shame?”

Penelope's voice carried with uncanny clarity. Silence fell.

There were two mouths here capable of bringing doom upon them.

The air turned icy. It felt as though the entire castle might be blown away at any moment. When Ferda looked down at Janine, her face was scarlet as she bellowed.

“Which bitch was that?! What bitch d-dares insult a knight of King Heodret?!”

“Sir Clive! The rude wretch who shouted that is named Penelope! If it will soothe your anger even a little, I'll gladly throw this goddamn bitch down to you!”

“Aaaargh! What are you doing?! You crazy bastard! Let go! Let me go! Eeeeeek!!”

Penelope thrashed about, squealing like a pig being dragged to slaughter. Ferda didn't care anymore. More than anything, he just wanted this to end.

“I heard there was trouble... What in the world is going on?”

Garnet arrived amid the growing chaos. She climbed onto the battlements, took one look, and nodded.

“I understand.”

“Do you really?”

“In short, the problem is Sir Zed's dick, isn't it?”

Correct. Her ability to process information truly befitted the head of Black Bandana. Garnet regarded Zed as though he were a bug.

“Well, that was an intelligence operat—”

“Shut your fucking mouth.”

Zed closed his mouth.

Garnet let out a long sigh and bowed to Ferda.

“I'll clean up Sir Zed's mess. If you're angry, please set it aside.”

“This was bound to happen sooner or later. What is there to be angry about?”

Nothing was more foolish than getting angry over the inevitable.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“How do you intend to resolve it, though?”

“I'll go down and speak with her. I believe an amicable conversation with Mountainbreaker should settle the matter.”

Could there really be an amicable conversation? Ferda had his doubts, but Garnet was the only person he could trust completely. Now an envoy, she went out through the gate and began speaking with Janine.

It was like watching someone walk up unarmed to pet a wild tiger. No one could relax.

“Isn't Garnet going to get herself killed?”

An ill-omened remark, but Ferda was privately worried too.

Their conversation continued for about ten minutes. Just when it seemed they might be wrapping up, something astonishing happened. Janine embraced Garnet. Then she wiped away the tears that had welled up and looked toward the battlements.

“Lord Regent Ferda! I shall take my leave now. Please forgive the disturbance I've caused in your domain.”

What else could he do but forgive her? Ferda raised a hand to signal that it was all right.

Janine's courteous tone turned vicious as she cursed Zed.

“You worthless, brainless piece of shit! Stop living like that!”

She flipped him the middle finger and turned her horse around.

An unavoidable catastrophe had just been averted with words alone. Garnet returned looking exhausted.

“There will be no more trouble with Mountainbreaker.”

Her face seemed to radiate a savior's halo.