Chapter 102
Step, step.
Weight in his footsteps.
Reverence in his gaze, Luteon dropped to one knee.
"I greet the Empire's Saintess."
She was an existence he could not easily dare to look up at.
The proxy of the god the Empire served, and simultaneously a woman who had reached the rank of Master.
A woman who became the object of admiration for all who wielded spears.
Exceptional divine power and talent for the spear.
As a saintess, her virtue and compassion were flawless—that was her.
"Luteon. It's been a while."
It was the Saintess of the Holy Empire, Aili.
"You remember me?"
"Of course. There aren't many who would forget the occasion when one of the Kingdom's Four Great Noble Houses took up the spear. After all, it's not a common occurrence."
However, the majority welcomed Luteon.
A body that received the grace of the Sword God—following the right god would naturally bring greater blessings from the Spear God.
"I abandoned and forgot about such things as family long ago."
"I know. I'm the one who brought you in. How could I not know?"
"Yes."
Luteon naturally recalled the time he met her.
When he was feeling weary of his family and disillusioned with life, he encountered the saintess.
It came to him as fate.
Enduring harsh training and reprimands after entering the Empire was all for her sake.
Luteon gazed at the saintess whose pink hair swayed, then hardened his expression at her question.
"You met Kallias."
"…Yes."
It wasn't a name he wanted to hear from the saintess's lips.
"How was he? Was he strong?"
"……"
"Seeing as you have nothing to say, he must have been quite strong. I heard his skills were pathetic."
"I merely fell for his scheme."
"That's also part of strength, isn't it?"
"I believe he either hid his true abilities or obtained some opportunity from a sacred artifact."
It was still a mystery.
Kallias's strength.
Where its true origin lay.
"I'm curious."
"Pardon?"
"I've wanted to meet him at least once."
"What do you mean… He's not someone worthy of the saintess's interest. Even I fell because a troll appeared, not because of his skills."
"I know, I received the reports."
"Then why……"
"It's interesting. And he's apparently quite famous, and handsome too?"
"There's not much difference between him and me."
"Hmm, I suppose."
Luteon's brow furrowed.
'Why is she showing interest in that guy? As the Empire's saintess…'
Rather than such a worthless fellow, she should be showing interest in the Kingdom's Masters.
She was someone who could single-handedly lay waste to a castle.
The very first thing she did after becoming the saintess was bring down a small nation that had rebelled against the Empire.
Even Luteon hadn't expected such a remarkable saintess to show interest in a mere reprobate of a single kingdom.
"It's just personal interest. Call it fandom, in a way."
"Fandom… what is that?"
The saintess only smiled an enigmatic smile.
She did not answer.
"Luteon."
"Yes."
"In the end, you failed."
"……"
"Anyone can fail. What's important is not experiencing the same failure twice."
The saintess tossed a dispatch to Luteon.
"The Kingdom's Archbishop made contact. He said he'll be proceeding with the grand scheme soon. It's regrettable, but for the prosperity and peace of the Holy Empire, Karpe must fall this time."
It had to be. Only by doing so.
"So that they can stand against them. So, Luteon."
"Yes."
"Help the Archbishop and bring down Karpe this time for certain."
Luteon rose from his place, grasped his spear, and brought it to his chest as he spoke.
"For the peace of the Empire and—"
"For the god Lactus."
* * *
On the road returning to the holy city.
I read through what amounted to a journal regarding the crafting of corpse swords that Gid had left behind, etching his techniques and essence into my mind.
His atrocious deeds were described in full detail, and the bastard's atrocities that made my head throb just from reading made me close the book several times.
However, I read it again and again.
Because there were usable parts.
'To think he intentionally prevented the corpse sword ritual from completing fully in order to create a corpse mass—what an interesting concept.'
This was a setting I had never created.
It also meant this world wasn't simply a game.
The growth system I originally created was, after all, a game system, so it was merely an NPC element that handled the creation and enhancement of swords.
I had never originally designed such detailed aspects.
'It's a method born from knowledge and experience accumulated over a long period.'
I read Gid's journal with a continuous mix of amazement and bewilderment.
I planned to exclude the excessively cruel or inhumane methods and compile only the usable parts. Dexter the dwarf in the north would probably appreciate it if I passed it along.
'It wouldn't be bad to arrange a meeting between Dexter and Trual either.'
According to the news, he was making swords and armor for knights in the north as a way to pass the time.
Seeing as there was no mention of the god-strengthening sword, he seemed to be struggling quite a bit.
Closing the book, I looked at Kaladi at the far end and urged my horse onward.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at the villa.
It could now safely be called a mansion rather than a villa.
Construction was slowly progressing here and there.
The basement behind the villa was being converted into a workshop for Beatrice, and the side area would serve as a training ground for the Six Flags Unit.
This was possible because the original size of the villa was grand enough to put great mansions to shame.
"You've returned."
It was Pedro.
Former assassin, now a genuine guard, Pedro.
Seeing as his condition had improved from before, he seemed to have survived well.
"Did you meet Zenos?"
"Yes, thanks to him I lived."
"Good. Did you get hired as a guard?"
"This suits me better. Plus I'm also teaching the children swordsmanship, so please pay the proper salary."
"I will."
He was quite skilled, so having him take charge of security here gave me some peace of mind.
Creak.
As the gates opened and I entered, I could hear the sounds of children training.
"I'll need to build a separate training ground."
The mansion was swarming with kids, so it was noisy.
"It's bustling, which is nice."
"Is it?"
"After only seeing people dying, seeing children isn't bad."
Well, perhaps that was true.
It was noisy, but.
But.
"Who is that?"
Some blue-haired woman was instructing the children.
"Good! Perform the downward strike I taught you one hundred times in that exact posture!"
A familiar voice.
"Why are you here."
The woman with swaying water-colored hair was the one destined to become the Lütz Paladin, and simultaneously the candidate discussed as the next saintess.
Esther Sol Ciliad.
"Ah, y-you've returned."
"……It's been a while."
"Yes, it's been a while. W-well, I ended up here somehow……"
An explanation seemed necessary.
Just as she was about to say something—
"I greet the Lord of the North!!"
Allen and Aron suddenly appeared.
"Why are you two……"
Wait a moment.
The fact that they were here meant—
"Hi, I'm here."
Emily was here too.
* * *
Looking at Esther sipping tea on the office sofa, I nodded.
"I see."
Esther said she encountered Emily while traveling to subjugate bandits.
She recognized Lucent, the sword I had given, and thinking Emily was my disciple, felt warmly disposed toward her…
'But why would she feel warmly about my disciple?'
Doesn't Esther dislike me?
She shouldn't have good feelings toward Emily, who is my disciple.
It was a bit strange, but I let it pass.
She thought Emily was my disciple and intended to check her skills, but after Emily called Kallias "Dad," she learned she was his daughter and ended up coming here together.
"Seeing the children training, I thought it was a good opportunity, so I was teaching them."
"A good opportunity?"
"I've become a special instructor at the Royal Academy in a few months. I've never taught anyone, and especially have no experience teaching children……"
She said she was trying teaching the children as a test.
Even though it was an instructor position she took on at the request of the Order, it was just like her to devote herself fully to a task she had taken on.
"Your daughter is a child with outstanding talent. Teach her one thing and she comprehends ten. I've never seen a child like that. She's supposedly only twelve years old."
"A genius who works hard."
"Pardon? Ah, yes……"
I had never said such a thing before.
Esther fell silent.
She didn't know he had this side to him, but as they say, blood is thicker than water. They said Zervan's blood was cold, but it didn't seem so.
Even within Kallias's characteristic terse way of speaking, she could sense a certain affection.
"Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, if you don't mind, I'd like to come occasionally and teach the children."
Kallias realized she had already grown attached to the children.
Esther originally liked children, and from the children's perspective, the name Esther was quite famous, so Kallias welcomed it with open arms.
If she was here, Emily would gain a lot, and the Six Flags Unit would also learn from her coming and going.
Esther might not belong to the Five Stars, but that was purely because she lacked a sword, not because her skills were insufficient.
"Do as you wish."
"Yes. Then."
Esther, who had risen from her seat and was about to open the door and leave, stopped for a moment.
"But……"
Did she have more to say?
As I watched her quietly, wondering what it was, Esther hesitated uncharacteristically.
"What is it."
When I asked out of frustration—
"Is she truly… your biological daughter?"
"She is."
"I… see. I understand. By any chance, do I know the person?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Emily's……"
Is she asking about her mother.
"She's been dead for a long time."
"Ah. Excuse me."
"Don't worry about it."
"Then……"
"You may go."
Afterward, Allen and Aron entered.
"My lord, you seem to have become even stronger than when we last met."
"You've grown stronger. Remarkable."
The two said they had escorted Emily down from the north.
They were ones who showed exceptional loyalty to me, and since we had a certain bond, I didn't dislike them either.
Therefore, I decided to give Aron the Galaximon, the heirloom of the Arpen family.
"Are you giving this to me?"
"If you can wield it."
It seemed difficult for now, but if it was Aron, he would be able to wield it in no time. I knew he had escaped several crises on the battlefield because of his immense strength.
"It seems impossible right now, but I think I'll be able to use it once I get used to it."
He said so after lifting and swinging it a few times. While even the Six Flags Unit members struggled to lift it, Aron lifted it without difficulty.
I hesitated briefly, but giving it to Aron was indeed the right choice.
I wasn't accustomed to greatswords, and I had also obtained a new sword this time.
'Having too many swords becomes a problem.'
A corpse sword is not a simple weapon.
It is a weapon forged by refining souls and flesh, so it also affects the user.
Since Kallias possessed a personal subspace, the effect was relatively minor, but that didn't mean it was nonexistent.
It was more efficient to quickly dispose of weapons that were of lower grade or didn't suit him.
Rather than selling or discarding them, it was better to give them to someone who had sworn loyalty.
Moreover, Allen and Aron were knights who had fought together on battlefields from the north.
They could be trusted.
"Allen, I'll give you this."
"This is… a cultivation manual?"
"Correct."
Unlike the one I had given Joseph, it was a complete book with both upper and lower volumes.
Unlike Aron, who despite his appearance was from a now-extinct noble family and had his own cultivation method, Allen did not.
"Thank you! I will certainly live up to your expectations, Your Excellency!"
If a force was going to be built anyway, it was right to invest in subordinates. No matter how strong one became alone, there was little one could do.
"You two should also train here for a while. Brans."
"Yes!"
"Give Allen and Aron one room each, and… bring Emily."
"Understood."
A moment later.
"Hello."
"……I was just about to call for you."
Where should I start?
The silence between Kallias and Emily lasted for quite a while.
I had originally intended to bring Emily. But it was too early.
I was thinking of bringing her at least after the civil war had settled down.
'It can't be helped.'
There was still some leeway.
She could stay for a while and then be sent back to the north.
"Grandpa scolded you."
"Why?"
"For not sending a single letter."
"I was busy."
I was just about to send one, too.
Maybe I shouldn't.
"As soon as I arrived in Karadi, I heard from the kids. That you went around beheading nobles."
"……It was for the sake of Karpe."
"I suppose so. Oh, right. And I heard from Lini, you registered me for the Academy too? She said it was hard to get into."
"Yeah. It'll be a good opportunity."
"Thanks."
"……It's nothing."
Submitting a recommendation with the rank of a count wasn't that difficult.
"How was meeting Esther?"
"She's strong. Stronger than I thought."
"Did you learn a lot?"
"Yeah, I want to learn more."
"That's good."
If it was Esther, she could teach her many things. Kallias was pleased with the meeting between Esther and Emily.
"I also sparred with Reban this time."
"Who won?"
"I did, obviously."
"Good job. Did you also spar with Lini?"
"Yeah, Lini was a bit sneaky so it was difficult, but I won. Oh, and I also sparred with a kid named Flora."
"How was she?"
"She's not much right now, but she has good instincts. I think she'll get strong soon. The rest of the kids are just crybabies."
Emily continued talking and Kallias replied, forming a monotonous exchange of questions and answers.
However, neither Emily nor Kallias found it boring.
Though there was no change in their expressions, they seemed more joyful than ever.