Chapter 115 - Fragment (4)

Rhapsody’s legion, which had been blocking the entrance to the Caravan estate, no longer had any justification. My innocence had been proven in the names of the nine goddesses and the seven gods. Across this vast continent, nothing was more certain than the gods’ testimony. Rhapsody’s legion were no longer judges who had come to defend their honor. They were thugs who had fallen for their immature youngest master’s lies and inflicted violence on the weak.

That alone was a devastating blow to Rhapsody. But the reversal did not end there. With their justification for continuing the war gone, they now found themselves unable even to return to their own stronghold. The reason the legion had traveled so far was Toma Rhapsody. And Toma Rhapsody was now bound by the nine goddesses and the seven chief gods, unable to move.

With divine punishment upon them, there was nothing they could do. They had no means of dispelling the light the gods themselves had cast down, and even if they could, it would be the worst possible choice. Every religious adherent on the continent would condemn them, and countless Paladins would hunt them down. Then the Heavenly Empire would intervene—the mightiest empire, which held dominion over the continent.

Killing everyone here to eliminate the witnesses was impossible, too. White’s watchers stood beside Toma Rhapsody without so much as blinking. The swords of the north, the most uncompromising of all five families, would not leave until their mission was complete. Never.

Besides, if they withdrew and left Toma Rhapsody here, they would all be dead men. It was well known that Rhapsody’s master doted on his son. Even if they had to abandon their dignity, their honor, everything, they had to bring Toma Rhapsody home. Unless they wanted to face the wrath of the swordmaster who had fashioned seven swords.

Yes.

The situation had been completely reversed.

Just as I had planned.

* * *

“I greet the lord of this small domain.”

While I was concentrating on recovering, a man came to visit me where I was staying. Unusually, he was armed in pure white from head to toe. I knew who he was without needing to ask where he came from.

“You must be a knight of White.”

“A knight? Though we serve a single liege, we are not called knights. The world calls us watchers.”

A watcher.

The man who had introduced himself that way looked at me with an unwavering gaze.

“Forgive my ignorance of the world. How should I address you, then, sir?”

“Simply call me Sir Kalshen.”

Kalshen.

Having given his name, the man slowly sat down.

「You can tell just by his face that he’s a dull sort. Those whiteys always are.」

Whiteys?

I did not know precisely what the word meant, but it hardly sounded complimentary. Still, as Master had said, Kalshen’s first impression was that of an exceedingly dull knight. In other words, he looked like the quintessential knight. And even the faint aura around him made his strength unmistakable.

“Young lord, you recently requested our aid. Our master sent us to repay a past kindness.”

“Yes.”

“We arrived in this small domain as ordered. While assessing the situation, we witnessed the Rhapsody family’s injustice and their violation of the law. We therefore immediately took Toma Rhapsody into custody in accordance with our duties as watchers. First, I would like to apologize for that. You are the lord of this small domain, yet we acted without consulting your wishes.”

“It’s all right.”

“From now on, we will stand guard around Toma Rhapsody, who has committed a grave crime. Our original mission was to eliminate the enemies threatening you and ensure your safety, but a watcher’s duties take precedence over all other missions. We will compensate you for this at a later date. Your right to summon us will also remain intact, rather than being expended.”

When he finished, Kalshen drew a snow-white medal from inside his clothing and held it out. Its shape differed from the one Daisy had given me, but its flawless white color was the same. As I carefully accepted it, Kalshen continued.

“We also request your permission for us watchers to remain on this land until Toma Rhapsody’s judgment is complete. If you grant it, we will pay suitable compensation.”

“You have my permission.”

I nearly blurted out the mercenary question, “What will you give me as compensation?” I could have asked, but for some reason, I felt I ought to maintain my dignity before this noble knight. Sure enough, when I refrained from asking, a faint smile appeared on Kalshen’s face. Yes, my knack for reading the room worked even on the Five Families. Sir Kalshen would go home and tell them Lord Arhan was a dignified man who seemed free of greed, so they ought to compensate him generously. A very satisfying reward would come my way.

「Stop entertaining such undignified thoughts.」

Liam ruined the mood.

As Kalshen smiled, I cleared my throat.

“But is it really necessary to stay at Toma Rhapsody’s side? I hear you haven’t left him for even a moment since he ended up like that... If the gods have bound him and no one can touch him anyway, couldn’t you simply watch from a distance?”

“You are correct. No one in Rhapsody’s legion over there can undo the bonds imposed by the nine goddesses and the seven chief gods. But there is always a ‘what if’ in this world.”

Kalshen glanced outside.

“We never know what might happen. That is why we intend to fulfill our duties as watchers to the letter, rather than wait at ease. Besides...”

The smile vanished from Kalshen’s lips.

“The current head of the Rhapsody family, Hugo Rhapsody, is famous for doting on his son. He may well put his son above the duties and responsibilities he bears. Given a choice between the fate of the world and his son, he is the sort of man who would choose the latter without hesitation.”

“... To that extent?”

“Yes. The atrocities he has committed make it plain. You may not know, young lord, having grown up in a small village, but Hugo Rhapsody’s bizarre exploits are practically horror stories.”

A doting father.

A man whose bizarre exploits bordered on horror stories.

That alone might have made him merely an eccentric, but adding the word swordmaster changed everything. An unpredictable swordmaster. Even summed up so briefly, nothing could be more terrifying. Judging by his expression, Kalshen seemed to be imagining that dreadful future as well.

“We must hope Hugo Rhapsody does nothing foolish.”

“What will you do if he does?”

I asked out of simple curiosity.

At my question, Kalshen closed his eyes, then answered plainly.

“Fulfill my duty as a watcher.”

* * *

The Caravan estate.

A village on the outskirts of even the Iron Kingdom’s backwaters. Somehow, this shabby village had ended up hosting two of the Five Great Families. A truce had been declared for the time being, but there was no avoiding the tension in the air. Of course, it was not all bad.

“Those people are spending a staggering amount.”

Whatever the situation, someone had to manage the estate. Here, that role belonged to Haylin. Back at her regular duties, she cheerfully reported on the estate’s circumstances.

“They’re spending money like water!”

White’s watchers. The legion Rhapsody had brought.

Whatever their purpose, they were people, too. And people were animals who needed food and drink to survive. The supplies the legion and the watchers had brought were reserves they might need at any time. So they purchased their necessities at the nearest village, the Caravan estate. An entire legion of customers! For a shabby village, it was as good as gold coins raining from the sky. They even paid a premium. They refused their change, saying it would only get in the way.

“We won’t have to go hungry now, my lord.”

The estate’s residents lavished praise on me, saying it was all thanks to me. In their eyes, I seemed to be a lord who had stood face-to-face against the Five Great Families renowned across the continent, a hero who had overcome his ordeal in the end. I told them it had all come about through one coincidence after another, but they continued to heap praise on me. The village held several festivals. It was a little awkward, but I was glad to see everyone shaking off their sorrow and anxiety and rejoicing.

“My lord.”

Of course, not everyone was happy.

“We’re leaving.”

“...”

“We know we’re all safe because you stepped forward. We know how splendid and brilliant your courage was. But who will ease the injustice done to our father? When we think of how he died in humiliation, we simply cannot remain on this land. We’re sorry, my lord.”

The old guard’s children.

Some of the guards who had witnessed what happened could not rejoice. Haylin gave them generous compensation, but farmhands who had spent their lives harvesting crops wanted no gold coins. They simply missed the father, grandfather, and husband who had loved songs, old stories, and his family. I could say nothing to them as they left.

The Caravan estate soon regained its vitality.

But that vitality could be extinguished at any moment.

I looked at the legion that still had not left.

They could snuff out this cheerful bustle whenever they wished. If they chose to, I would not be able to stop them. Taking Edan Rhapsody’s eye and winning the duel had been the result of one coincidence piled upon another. In the end, there was only one thing I needed to prepare for a tragedy that could strike at any time. Strength.

I had to grow stronger.

While I was wrestling with those thoughts, someone came to see me.

“Descendant of steel.”

The witch, Audrey.

“I know you’ve been through a lot. But I have to ask. I don’t know much about swords, but I can feel that your soul has grown quite a bit.”

She was holding a sword.

“Can you hold this within you now?”

「Soaring」.

A blade that held a legend.

* * *

“Heh heh. That worked out well.”

“Are they really just letting it end like that? Once a duel starts, doesn’t one of them have to die before it ends? Hmm, that looks less like a duel and more like young orcs playing...”

“Human duels are always boring.”

Sherdik, the orc elder, chuckled as he watched events unfold. The orcs under his command and his daughter Sherijik looked thoroughly dissatisfied. And why wouldn’t they? They had come prepared to run wild, only for things to end so anticlimactically. All their excitement had gone cold.

“Let’s go home, you troublemakers.”

With everyone visibly dejected, Sherdik stared at the orcs preparing to withdraw. Then he pointed at one of them.

“Except you.”

The orc Sherdik had singled out was his own daughter.

Sherijik. A peerless beauty born once in a thousand years.

“What? Why am I staying here, Father?”

“Reading the movement of the stars, I think you ought to stay here! It will be good for you, too. Watching the heir of steel is great fun. I’d stay myself if I could.”

Sherdik chuckled at his daughter.

“And stake your claim on my prospective son-in-law, eh?”

Unbeknownst to Arhan, an enormous crisis was approaching.

“Make it nice and sticky!”

A truly tremendous crisis.